By Shelia Watson
Contributing Writer

Hunting and fishing have always been a part of life in South Carolina, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that revenue generated from the sports ranks the Palmetto State as one of the top 10 in the nation.

“Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy — A Force as Big as All Outdoors” was produced by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation with support from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, National Marine Manufacturers Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation and SCI-First For Hunters. The report highlights the impact those groups have on the economy at the national and state levels.

It details several categories, including the total number of hunters and anglers, money spent, jobs supported and tax revenue generated.

South Carolina’s 595,000 hunters and anglers spend more than $1.8 billion a year on the sports, according to the report.

In South Carolina, spending by hunters and anglers directly supports 32,700 jobs, which amounts to $839 million in wages around the state. The state government benefits as well with $182 million in state and local taxes generated each year. These latest figures demonstrate that season after season, hunters and anglers are driving the economy from big businesses to rural towns, through booms and recessions.

“The economic impact that sportsmen have on state economies should be a wake-up call to state governments to welcome and encourage hunting and fishing in their state,” said Jeff Crane, president of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. “The evidence is clear: States that encourage hunting and fishing by providing access and maintaining healthy habitats and fisheries benefit many times over through jobs and taxes as well as enjoying a boost to travel and tourism.”

On the national level, 34 million sportsmen spent more than $76 billion in 2006, supporting 1.6 million jobs.

To put those figures in perspective, if a single corporation grossed as much as hunters and anglers spend, it would be among the nation’s 20 largest businesses, ahead of Target, Costco and AT&T.

If all hunters and anglers had voted during the last presidential election, they would have equaled 31% of all votes cast.

If all hunters and anglers living in South Carolina voted, they would have equaled 53% of all votes cast in the state.

“The numbers speak for themselves,” said John Frampton, director of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. “Hunting, fishing and other wildlife-related activities create jobs and support South Carolina businesses, big and small. In addition to the significant economic impact, outdoor activities provide families with an opportunity to reconnect and spend quality time together. Whether it’s hunting, fishing, hiking or bird watching, wildlife-related recreation brings people together and stokes our state’s economic engine.”

While the statistics are impressive, they likely underestimate the impact of sportsmen since they do not take into account the millions of hunters and anglers under 16 years of age or people who were not able to get out and hunt or fish in 2006.

“Because sportsmen enjoy hunting or fishing alone or in small groups, they are overlooked as a constituency and as a substantial economic force,” Crane said. “When you compare spending by hunters and anglers to other sectors, their impact on the state’s economy becomes more tangible.”