Follow The Money: Trophy Hunting Does Not Help Communities | Born Free USA (2024)

FAQs

Does trophy hunting help economy? ›

FACT: Trophy hunting is a tiny part of GDP.

It only accounts for around 0.03% of GDP.

Explanation: The statement that is true about the money spent on hunting in the United States, according to studies by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, is: It impacts the economy at $87 billion per year. Hunting in the United States has a significant impact on the economy, contributing $87 billion per year.

From hunting guides and lodge staff to taxidermists and local market vendors, big game hunting stimulates diverse employment opportunities. These jobs are essential for supporting families and communities in rural areas where alternative forms of income may be limited.

Utilizing public data to assess how much trophy hunting actually contributes to overall wildlife conservation funding, the following report takes a deep dive into conservation funding to answer this question and found that 94% of wildlife conservation funding is unrelated to hunting of any type and trophy hunting of ...

Trophy hunting facts:

Trophy hunting represents a source of unnatural mortality as trophy hunters often target healthy, reproductive-age animals, especially those that are large or have impressive physical attributes.

Trophy hunters use cruel and unsporting methods like baiting and hounding to target native carnivores like bears, mountain lions and wolves.

A new report by the Sportsmen's Alliance reveals that recreational hunters and sport shooters contributed $149 billion to the national economy, supported nearly 970,000 jobs and created over $45 billion in wages and income in 2020.

Texas had over 1 million paid hunting-license holders during 2018, according to the F&WS, a total that's No. 1 in the nation. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department estimates hunters harvest 430,000 to 500,000 whitetails annually, which is also No. 1 in the country.

Economic Impact

Deer hunting in the southeast supports an estimated 209,000 jobs with about $5.5 billion in salaries and wages. Those jobs contribute an estimated $2.1 billion in local, state and federal taxes.

Most trophy hunters are American.

Why is trophy hunting still legal? ›

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, trophy hunting provides an economic incentive for ranchers to continue to breed those species, which reduces the threat of the species' extinction.

Photographic safaris can be a positive alternative to trophy hunting. Shooting an animal with a camera, rather than a gun will not only save that animal's life, but enable it to continue to generate funds through photographic tourism for years to come.

2: Conservation hunting (including trophy hunting) is, in part, responsible for reviving animal populations, funding local communities, and protecting biodiversity.

Trophy hunters spend US$250 million per annum in the country. The impact of this spending on production in the economy is US$341 million. The agricultural and manufacturing sectors benefit the most from trophy hunting. Trophy hunting supports more than 17 000 employment opportunities.

Directly Supporting Conservation Today

Through the federal Duck Stamp, hunters help protect and restore habitat for migratory waterfowl and other birds and wildlife.

Hunters and anglers spend tens of billions of dollars annually on gear, food, lodging and a variety of other goods and services. Their spending supports our economy at every level – from coffee shops and gas sta- tions in small communities to major companies that manufacture fire- arms, boats, and fishing tackle.

Economic Impact

Deer hunting in the southeast supports an estimated 209,000 jobs with about $5.5 billion in salaries and wages. Those jobs contribute an estimated $2.1 billion in local, state and federal taxes. That includes a statewide high of $852 million in salaries and wages in Texas.

Not as cut and dry it seems. Trophy hunting, like all forms of hunting, is included in the 'sustainable use' argument. However, in a 2019 report the IUCN Ethics Specialist Group itself said trophy hunting was incompatible with the idea of 'sustainable use'.

Trophy hunting is the hunting of wild animals for sport, not for food. Usually, the animal is stuffed or a body part is kept for display. Most trophy hunters come from rich countries and pay high fees for their hunts. Many hunters claim that trophy hunting isn't bad for animals.