NUMBER OF U.S. HUNTERS GREATER THAN EXPECTEDPosted 01 Nov 14:16 by donna@southwickassociates.comFernandina Beach, Fla. – A new study funded by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and carried out by Southwick Associates has found that the pool of American hunters is much larger than previously thought. This discovery can lead to major conservation and economic benefits.  If many “casual hunters” (hunters that do not purchase a hunting license on an annual basis) can be converted into annual license buyers, a major benefit would be realized. This report estimates that 21.8 million Americans hunted at least once over the past five years. Previous estimates have shown over 14 million youth and adults hunt each year, but not all hunters take to the field every year. Conducted in partnership with 17 state wildlife agencies, the study assessed license sales patterns and found that 78 percent of the U.S. hunters who bought a license in a given year also purchased one again the following year. By examining purchasing patterns over multiple years, it was determined that for every two hunters in the field this year, one is taking the year off. “Considering hunters’ contribute over $1 billion every year to wildlife conservation via licenses and excise taxes, if half of the hunters who lapsed this year actually bought a license, conservation dollars would have increased by $97 million,” reported Rob Southwick, President of Southwick Associates. “This estimate doesn’t even include the extra dollars possible from increased hunters’ excise taxes. Considering the limited government dollars allocated for wildlife and the tremendous impact hunters provide to rural communities, increased efforts to boost hunter numbers would make smart conservation and economic sense.” The NSSF study monitored license-buying patterns over multiple years, producing results for various segments of hunters, and described the lifestyles, habits and demographics of various segments of the hunting community. “We know there are many types of hunters with a wide range of interests. This study reveals who our hunters are beyond the usual demographic descriptions. We now have a better idea of hunters’ regional purchasing habits, recreational choices and overall lifestyle preferences,” said Jim Curcuruto, Director of Research and Analysis for NSSF.  “The results will be used to strengthen existing hunting participation programs and develop new programs designed to convert the casual hunter into an annual license buyer.  Savvy industry marketing and communications professionals will use these data to enhance their advertising efforts.” said Curcuruto.

State DEC to issue 5,000 extra deer-hunting permits By Adam Bosch Published: 2:00 AM - 11/03/10 State environment regulators will be handing out 5,000 extra deer-hunting permits across the state, including 890 in our region.The state Department of Environmental Conservation said last week it received fewer applications in some regions than expected for permits that allow hunters to harvest female deer. The leftovers will now be sent out randomly to applicants who previously were denied during the application period. Those permits are expected to be sent out this week.Regular deer season opens Nov. 20.abosch@th-record.com

Working to Keep a Heritage Relevant By ERIK ECKHOLM Published: September 25, 2010 HAMBURG, Pa. — To millions of Americans, autumn means not just N.F.L. games and the World Series but also the start of hunting season — a few months packed with chances to stalk deer, bear, ducks and doves with rifles, shotguns, bows and even black-powder muskets.  “Hunting is one of those sports where you can’t have too much stuff,” said Dan Gechtman, 46, one of many customers streaming into Cabela’s, a hunting and fishing megastore here, on a balmy afternoon. “This store is on steroids,” he said while trying on a camouflage suit that fluttered with artificial leaves and taking in the dazzling array of products, stuffed animal dioramas and a laser-shooting arcade. In some rural areas, hunting is still so universal that schools close on the opening day of deer season. President Obama, in a ritual White House act requested by sporting fans and manufacturers, proclaimed Saturday National Hunting and Fishing Day. But as the hunters revel in their preparations for their annual forays into the wild, hunting enthusiasts are gearing up to reverse the long-term dwindling of their ranks. As the nation becomes more urban and teenagers seek other recreation, the popularity of hunting is declining. The latest federal survey, in 2006, found that 12.5 million people hunt each year, down from 17 million in 1975. Other studies suggest that perhaps 18 million people hunt occasionally, but in any case, hunters represent a shrinking part of the population. The graying ranks and the impulses that have sustained stores like Cabela’s, even in the recession, are typified by Gerard Dick, 72, who has hunted since childhood and through a career as a high school science teacher. He owns plenty of weapons, he said, but on Thursday afternoon he was checking out a small rifle with a camouflage-covered stock. “I’ll use it on turkeys and groundhogs,” he said. The decline in hunters is a concern for state fish and game agencies, which are financed through licenses and excise taxes on sporting goods, as well as for pro-hunting conservation groups and advocates like the National Rifle Association. “We’re concerned that in the future we aren’t going to have adequate dollars to manage our wildlife resources,” said John E. Frampton, director of South Carolina’s Department of Natural Resources and president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. “We also want to preserve an important part of our heritage.” Mr. Frampton serves on a new federal advisory board intended “to help promote and preserve America’s hunting heritage for future generations,” in part by drawing in more youths and women. While declining interest and shrinking wildlife habitat may be the main threats to the pastime, hunting and gun groups are worried by the occasional efforts to restrict it, like the ban on mourning dove hunting in Michigan that was promoted by animal rights advocates. South Carolina is one of four states, along with Arizona, Arkansas and Tennessee, that will vote this fall on adding the right to hunt and fish to their constitutions. Ten states already have such provisions, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. None of these long-term worries were on the mind of Victor Hakes, 53, as he wandered in Cabela’s on Thursday afternoon with his wife, Shawna, and their grandson after making a two-hour drive from northern Pennsylvania. Mr. Hakes, who builds custom trailers, bags deer and turkeys every year but has not yet shot a bear, “although I passed over two cubs,” he said. On this trip he was just buying boots, but his eyes shifted toward the gun racks. “I’ve got 10 rifles and shotguns, and she won’t let me buy any more,” he said, nudging his wife with a laugh. Their 3-year-old grandson, Aiden Jaeger, looked with wide eyes at a huge stuffed moose. “He’ll be a hunter and a fisherman,” Mr. Hakes said, expressing a hope that Aiden would buck the national trend and carry on a family tradition.    

Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy A force as big as all outdoors  A dollar here. A hundred dollars there. It adds up to more than you might think. America’s 34 million hunters and anglers are an economic powerhouse, driving the economy. They’re passionate about their pastimes. And they spend passionately too. Multiply individual spending by those many millions of people, and you’re talking a major force in our economy, through booms as well as recessions. They directly support 1.6 million jobs. They spend more than a billion dollars just on licenses, stamps, tags and permits. And they generate $25 billion a year in federal, state and local taxes. By any measure, hunters and anglers are among the most prominent and influential of all demographic groups.  Without hunters and anglers, our economy would be a lot smaller. $76 billion smaller, in fact. That’s how much they spend each year on their passion for the outdoors. If a single corporation grossed as much as hunters and anglers spend, it would be among America’s 20 largest, ahead of Target, Costco and AT&T. But hunters' and anglers’ influence goes even further. They create an economic “ripple effect” of $192 billion a year. They keep people working: not just in typical hunting and fishing jobs, but also in gas stations, retail, restaurants and hotels throughout every state and congressional district of the USA. There are other numbers, too. For instance, Americans spend more time hunting and fishing each year than days spent running the Federal government (737 million days vs. 486 million). Together, hunters and anglers are a significant voting bloc. In fact, their voting potential was 31% of all votes cast in the 2004 presidential election. Eighty percent of sportsmen are “likely voters,” far more than the national average. They can change the tide of elections. And, as you might guess, they tend to favor pro-sporting candidates.  Add up the populations of America’s two largest cities, New York and Los Angeles. Roughly, that’s 12 million people—a pretty enormous number. But it’s still less than the number of people who hunt. More people hunt than play tennis. More people hunt than ski. And they spend more time doing it, too. The average hunter spends 18 blissful days engaged in his passion each year. With 12.5 million individuals, that’s 220 million days spent in the woods, fields and wetlands each year. Of course, the bigger story isn’t the time they spend. It’s the money. At $1,992 per hunter per year, that’s $24.9 billion pumped into our economy. And where do those billions go? Well, $2.1 billion goes just into food and drinks consumed on hunting trips. That’s enough to feed 360,000 soldiers for a year. Another $56 million goes towards boat fuel alone, plus $30 million for boat trailers, motors and accessories. Bow hunters alone spend $674 million just on their bows and arrows. All this spending adds up to support close to 600,000 jobs—more than the number of people employed by McDonald’s corporation. Quick: Guess what American anglers spend $1.1 billion a year on. No, it’s not their equipment. (That costs $5.3 billion.) Not food ($4.3 billion). Not even lodging ($2 billion). Nope. That $1.1 billion is what anglers spend just on bait. That’s twice what ski enthusiasts spend on all of their pricey gear (a mere $615 million). Obviously, sportfishing is one of America’s favorite outdoor pastimes—outranking football, basketball, baseball and tennis. One in every six Americans 16 and older goes fishing. One quarter of all men do. And, perhaps surprisingly, some eight percent of all women. Besides spending lots of money, anglers spend an average of 17 days a year on the water. That’s in stark contrast to the 13 days the average American spends on vacation. And during those 17 days, they’re supporting not just bait stands and boat makers, but gas stations, local motels, grocery and convenience stores, and of course, sporting goods retailers.  Hunters and anglers have historically been — and continue to be — the largest contributors to government wildlife conservation programs. Through excise taxes and license revenues, they have contributed more than $10 billion dollars to conservation, and annually provide more than 80% of the funding for most state fish and wildlife agencies. American sportsmen know that their passion for the outdoors must be matched with active participation in the political process. Lawmakers and regulators make decisions every day that affect sportsmen. Hunters and anglers pay attention, and take those decisions into account when they vote. And there are even more hunters and anglers than the licensed sportsmen cited in this report. Including those who don’t require licenses, there are an estimated 18.6 million hunters (1.6 million under 16). And an estimated 44.4 million people (8.4 million under 16) who fish. It is estimated that there are 40 million sportsmen of voting age in the United States – nearly a third of the entire vote. Nearly 8 in 10 hunters always vote in presidential elections, while 6 in 10 always vote in non-presidential elections. A huge majority of all sportsmen consider themselves “likely voters.” Approximately 20% of the entire population of major swing states – Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida – hold either a hunting or fishing license, or both. 8 in 10 sportsmen state that a candidate’s position on sportsmen’s issues is important in determining whom they will vote for. Polls show that the American public has an overwhelmingly positive attitude toward hunting and fishing. Americans understand that hunting and fishing serve multiple needs – sustenance, recreation and conservation. The fact is, hunting and fishing have been part of the American culture since before our nation began. So it’s no wonder that these timeless pursuits are perceived more favorably. You've seen the national economic impact of hunting and fishing. Now, here's  how the states stack up. Every single state makes a contribution through revenue, taxes and jobs, but these are the states where hunting and fishing truly drive the economy.   This report was produced by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. CSF is the most respected and trusted hunting and fishing organization in the political arena. With support from every major hunting and fishing organization, CSF is the leader in promoting sportsmen’s issues with elected officials. CSF works directly with the bi-partisan, bi-cameral Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus in the U.S. Congress, as well as affiliated state sportsmen’s caucuses in state legislatures around the country. www.sportsmenslink.org                                                               ~In Partnership with~ The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the shooting, hunting and firearms industry, whose purpose is to provide trusted leadership in addressing industry challenges and to deliver programs and services to meet the identified needs of their members. NSSF concentrates efforts on measurably advancing participation in and understanding of hunting and the shooting sports; reaffirming and strengthening their members' commitment to the safe and responsible use of their products, and promoting a political climate supportive of America's traditional firearms rights. www.nssf.org For over 30 years, SCI’s mission has been to protect and expand the freedom to hunt, instituting sustainable use conservation worldwide while protecting hunting heritage. To that end, SCI is involved at all levels of government – from state and local to national and international. SCI chapters in the U.S., with the assistance of the Government Affairs Department, get involved with state legislative and regulatory issues, with federal plans that affect management, conservation and hunting access on public lands, as well as national legislative issues. www.scifirstforhunters.org National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is the leading association representing the recreational boating industry. NMMA's nearly 1,700 member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers in North America. The association is dedicated to industry growth through programs in public policy, market research and data, product quality assurance and marketing communications, and provides leadership necessary to unite the industry in pursuit of its primary goal: To make boating the #1 choice in recreation. Visit NMMA.org for more information.   The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers represents the common interests of its members and provides a forum to enable them to advance public policies that meet consumer and societal needs for clean, safe, efficient, and affordable personal transportation. www.autoalliance.org  CSF also gratefully acknowledges the following for their contributions: American Sportfishing Association, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, InterMedia Outdoors, Fountain and Associates, Patrick O’Malley, Southwick and Associates        

LYME-DISEASE CARRIERS Deer ticks spreading, pose risk to hunters   Saturday, October 9, 2010  02:56 AM   By Frank Thomas THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Black-legged ticks, at lower right, sometimes called deer ticks, are considerably smaller than the more common dog tick. Four-season danger Unlike the common American dog tick, which hides during cold weather, deer ticks hunt during warmer winter days and in the early spring. Some tips for dealing with them: Check everywhere. Dog ticks search for hairy areas on the body before latching on to suck blood. The deer tick isn't picky and will attach itself to any exposed skin. Respond quickly. Even if you are bitten by a Lyme-disease-infected deer tick, you have 1 1/2 days before the tick can transmit the disease. You won't know what bit you. Deer-tick saliva carries a numbing agent. Get a grip. To remove the tick, use tweezers. Grasp the bug as close to the skin as possible and pull. See a doctor. Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics. The sooner treatment is started, the better. Sources: Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio State University Hunters and hikers should be wary of a potentially disease-carrying parasite that has established a foothold in Ohio, the state Department of Natural Resources warns. A reproducing population of black-legged ticks, or deer ticks, has been found in Coshocton County, said Glen Needham, an entomologist with Ohio State University. The tick, which can carry Lyme disease, is fairly common in surrounding states, and hikers have come across single ticks in Ohio for years. But scientists didn't discover a population large enough to reproduce and sustain itself until this past spring, he said. "We're not sure if they'll turn up in other areas around the state. ... We catch them when citizens send in ticks for examination," Needham said. "But with the hunting season already started, we wanted to give hunters and people out looking at fall colors more of a heads-up than in the past." Lyme disease is a potentially debilitating infection. It starts with a bull's-eye-shaped skin rash around the bite that appears between three and 30 days after a tick attaches itself to the person. Other symptoms include fever, chills, headache, fatigue and severe joint pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control. "It can be painful, debilitating almost to the point of crippling," said Steve Lonsinger, director of environmental health at the Coshocton County Health Department. Doctors confirmed nearly 30,000 Lyme disease cases nationwide last year, according to the CDC. It is the most common insect-transmitted infection in the U.S., Needham said, adding that, of the deer ticks found in Ohio that he's examined, few carried the disease. The ticks turned up on several farms in Coshocton County, Lonsinger said, and the state will now look at other areas to determine the scope of the infestation. "We're not surprised that there's a population here. It's just that we hadn't found them before," he said, adding that many scientists think the pest hitched a ride with migrating birds. Hunters are particularly vulnerable because deer ticks, which are smaller than dog ticks, blend with camouflage clothing, Lonsinger said, adding that the parasites are common in wooded areas rather than fields. "You need to do a whole-body check," he said. "These little ticks move so quickly that even if you get them on the outside of your clothing, they can work their way to your skin. And you need to make sure they don't get into your home. Check your clothing."