Southwick Associates

Camouflage Covers Most Hunter Purchases

donna — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:06:57 +0000

For Immediate Release: February 2, 2012
Contact: Donna@southwickassociates.com

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — From clothing and firearms to wallets, flashlights and even furniture, hunter-styled camouflage has become an essential feature of the products hunters buy for use in the field and at home. Asked by HunterSurvey.com and ShooterSurvey.com what percentage of their hunting equipment purchases were in camouflage patterns, less than six percent of respondents said none. That means a whopping 94 percent of the sportsmen surveyed purchased at least one camouflage item in 2011.

As such, it is no surprise that the second most deciding factor is brand loyalty itself, which was the second most selected factor on HunterSurvey.com (56 percent) and AnglerSurvey.com (57 percent). In breaking down the larger numbers, 18 percent of sportsmen said between 71 to 80 percent of the items they bought were in camouflage, 11 percent said between 81 and 90 percent were camo and 15 percent said at least half of their purchases were camo. Just over 7 percent reported everything they purchased for hunting had some camouflage on it.

This just goes to show how sporting consumers identify with the look and perceived benefits of camouflage products. Since its initial development in the 1980s, camouflage can be found on virtually every product a hunter wishes to own,” says Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates, which designs and conducts the surveys at HunterSurvey.com and ShooterSurvey.com.

While the survey did not question the motivations behind purchasing camouflage-covered equipment, likely reasons include the concealment benefits of camouflage products while in the field and the prevalence of hunting products on store shelves in camouflage. Many sportsmen also identify with and prefer the look of camouflage on items, which help them announce to others that they are proud sportsmen. “Wearing or displaying camo is a lifestyle choice, announcing to others they are a proud hunter or closely associate with the hunting lifestyle,” reports Rob Southwick.

Interestingly, professional endorsements by sporting and other celebrities were only chosen by 9 percent of sportsmen as having an impact in their purchase of a particular brand. To help continually improve, protect and advance the shooting sports and outdoor recreation, all sportsmen and sportswomen are encouraged to participate in the surveys at HunterSurvey.com and ShooterSurvey.com. Each month, participants who complete the survey are entered into a drawing for one of five $100 gift certificates to the sporting goods retailer of their choice.

About AnglerSurvey.com, HunterSurvey.com and ShooterSurvey.com: Launched in 2006, AnglerSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com help the outdoor equipment industry, government fisheries and wildlife officials and conservation organizations track consumer activities and expenditure trends. The information above represents only a small sample of the vast amount of data collected from the complete survey results and available to government agencies, businesses, the media and other interested parties. Results are scientifically analyzed to reflect the attitudes and habits of anglers and hunters across the United States. Find them on Facebook at http://facebook.com/huntersurvey <http://facebook.com/huntersurvey> and http://facebook.com/anglersurvey <http://facebook.com/anglersurvey>.

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Sportsmen Offer Insight on What Influences Purchase Decisions

donna — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 20:43:45 +0000

For Immediate Release: December 10, 2011
Contact: Donna@southwickassociates.com

Sportsmen Offer Insight on What Influences Purchase Decisions

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — When it comes to choosing particular hunting, shooting or fishing brand products, nothing influences sportsmen more than their own personal experiences. Research conducted by HunterSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and AnglerSurvey.com found that a whopping 78 percent of hunters and shooters and 77 percent of anglers cited “personal experience” as the number one deciding factor that affected their selection of a particular brand.

As such, it is no surprise that the second most deciding factor is brand loyalty itself, which was the second most selected factor on HunterSurvey.com (56 percent) and AnglerSurvey.com (57 percent).

“This is a clear message to companies that if they provide a product that delivers on its promises every time a sportsmen uses it, they may well have made that hunter, shooter or angler a customer for life,” says Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates, which designs and conducts the surveys at HunterSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and AnglerSurvey.com.

Ranking almost as high as brand loyalty was the suggestion from an experienced sportsman they know, meaning respected friends also hold sway over how a person views a particular product.

Where advertising and media are concerned, despite suspicion in the news that print publications, such as magazines, are on the decline in popularity and influence, participants in the surveys put them ahead of television, radio and the internet as sources of information that most influenced their buying decisions. In fact, 23 percent of hunters, shooters and anglers said magazine ads or feature articles influenced their buying decisions, just slightly ahead of 20 percent for internet articles, 12 percent for TV commercials and programs and 3 percent for internet ads.

“The value of a written article that discusses the merits of a product certainly still holds a lot of influence with today’s sportsmen,” Southwick says.

Interestingly, professional endorsements by sporting and other celebrities was only chosen by 9 percent of sportsmen as having an impact in their purchase of a particular brand.

To help continually improve, protect and advance the shooting sports and outdoor recreation, all sportsmen and sportswomen are encouraged to participate in the surveys at HunterSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and AnglerSurvey.com. Each month, participants who complete the survey are entered into a drawing for one of five $100 gift certificates to the sporting goods retailer of their choice.

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Survey Results Provide Crucial Data to Game Agencies, Outdoor Product Manufacturers

donna — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:50:18 +0000

Survey Results Provide Crucial Data to Game Agencies, Outdoor Product Manufacturers

For Immediate Release: Nov. 11, 2011

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — With challenging economic times lingering and more activities vying for people’s attention and hard-earned dollars, government agencies, manufacturers and retailers more than ever need to understand precisely what their constituents and consumers want. Then they must deliver—or risk becoming irrelevant, underfunded and ultimately out of operation. And while gut instinct and direct consumer feedback certainly serve leaders in the decision-making process, nothing beats solid, empirical data. One of the best ways to obtain this data remains through detailed surveys of the very people an organization or business hopes to serve.

In the outdoor industry, the survey information collected and provided by AnglerSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com, designed and conducted by Southwick Associates of Fernandina Beach, Fla. since 2006, is recognized as a top source for measuring and understanding the habits and interests of dedicated sportsmen and sportswomen. Each month, hunters, shooters and anglers from across the United States participate in surveys that explore a variety of purchasing decisions, their participation in particular outdoor activities, their opinions on wildlife-related issues and legislation and more.

This information is vital in aiding game departments, nonprofit organizations, recreational program managers, the media, manufacturers and service providers in creating programs and products that will better protect outdoor opportunities and best serve the hunting, shooting and angling public.

It’s just as important for sportsmen and sportswomen, who truly care about protecting the outdoor opportunities available to them and who want to see better products that serve their interests, to participate in these fun, easy-to-take surveys where they can be heard and share their honest opinions in a format that has the power to effect true change.

“Surveys remain one of the best tools available to measure the pulse of an entire constituency or consumer base and make the most informed decisions based on real data, not just anecdotal evidence,” says Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates. “As a company seeking to deliver the best outdoor survey information available, it is important to design surveys in a way that attracts a broad cross-section of sportsmen by being fun and easy to take, yet still delivers the accurate data necessary for solid decision making.”

Sportsmen interested in participating in the surveys can visit AnglerSurvey.com and/or ShooterSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com (the Hunter Survey and Shooter Survey direct to the same site) and simply click on the “Take the Survey” button if a first time participant. Surveys are designed to take only a few minutes to complete. Once you complete the survey, you will receive an email invitation each month when a new survey is ready to be taken. It’s that easy to make a real impact in the future of hunting, shooting and angling.

About Southwick Associates: Southwick Associates (http://southwickassociates.com) was founded in 1989 to serve state fish and wildlife agencies, as well as the sportfishing and hunting industries. We specialize in economic and business statistics related to fish and wildlife. Our expertise includes measuring retail expenditures by anglers, hunters, wildlife viewers and other outdoor recreationists; quantifying the jobs, tax revenues and other economic impacts of outdoor recreation; tracking trends within outdoor industries as well as identifying major distribution channels and the overall structure of specific outdoor-related industries; and analyzing the value of fish and wildlife resources and their uses including land transactions, new business ventures, fish kills and more.

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Majority of Sporting Licenses Purchased at Local Retailers; Game Regs Booklets Remain Popular

donna — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:47:24 +0000

Majority of Sporting Licenses Purchased at Local Retailers; Game Regs Booklets Remain Popular

For Immediate Release: Nov. 10, 2011

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — As state game agencies around the country employ the internet to make hunting and fishing licenses easier for sportsmen to buy and information on sporting regulations simpler to obtain, the traditional route of purchasing a license at a local retailer before heading outdoors remains a popular option. Research conducted by HunterSurvey.com and AnglerSurvey.com found that 58 percent of those hunters surveyed still purchase their licenses through a retailer, while 61 percent of surveyed anglers bought theirs at a local store as well. Retailers often count on their role as a sporting license vendor to lead to additional sales of hunting- and fishing-related equipment when consumers visit to buy a permit.

Game agency efforts at using the internet have not gone unrewarded however, and there is plenty of evidence that a sizable number of sportsmen appreciate the convenience on-line availability provides. As many as 24 percent of hunters and 25 percent of surveyed anglers reported purchasing licenses online. Additionally, more than 17 percent of hunters and just over 14 percent of fishermen bought permits directly through a game agency or government office or through some other source. Of 5,750 hunters and shooters surveyed, 90 percent said they had either purchased a license or planned to purchase a license this year. Nearly that same percentage of the 2,391 anglers surveyed had either purchased or planned to purchase a license.

“This indicates a real win-win for game departments, sporting goods retailers and sportsmen,” said Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates, which designs and conducts the surveys at HunterSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and AnglerSurvey.com. “The traditional experience of going to the sporting goods store to buy a license and other key items before the season or a big trip can still be had, while those seeking the ultimate in convenience, particularly when making a last-minute purchase when a store might otherwise be far away or closed, is also available. It’s always a good thing for consumers to have options that make participating in hunting and fishing easier, particularly when a lack of that convenience might make them less likely to engage in the activities they enjoy.”

Even with every state game agency in the country now providing regulations, season dates, bag limits and other hunting and fishing information online, as well as the popularity of digital products such as websites, apps, mobile phones and smart tablets, it is interesting to note that the printed regulations book remains a critical resource to today’s hunter and angler. More than 84 percent of surveyed hunters said they had received or expect to receive the regulations booklet. Of that number, a whopping 96 percent said they have read or plan to read the booklet, with more than 54 percent revealing they read it more than once and nearly 24 percent citing they use it as a resource throughout the season.

On the fishing side, 89 percent of survey respondents said they have read or plan to read the regulations booklet, with more than 54 percent revealing they read it more than once and 17 percent saying they use it as a resource all season.

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November 2011 Southwick Newsletter

donna — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:40:16 +0000

November 2011

Welcome to the newsletter focusing on the economics, business and statistics of fish and wildlife and their associated outdoor recreation.

In This Issue:

Conservation, Recreation and Preservation Generate an Impressive $1 Trillion Per Year for U.S. Economy
Southwick Associates Media Monitor Provides Answers to the Most Elusive Social Media Marketing Questions
Just One Extra Day of Hunting – The Economic Benefits of Adding Sunday Hunting in Pennsylvania
One Reason to Look Forward to 2012! Results from the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation Will Provide New and Better Data

Conservation, Recreation and Preservation Generate an Impressive $1 Trillion per Year for U.S. Economy

A new report, authored by Southwick Associates and commissioned by the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), reveals that officials looking for cost-effective ways to stimulate the economy should look no further than out their own windows: the great outdoors and historic preservation generate a conservative estimate of more than $1 trillion in total economic activity and support 9.4 million jobs each year.

“As a former Secretary of the Interior, governor, senator, and mayor, I have witnessed firsthand how historic preservation, conservation and outdoor recreation result in tremendous benefits to our nation’s economy,” said Dirk Kempthorne. “This study is a valuable tool for reaffirming and quantifying those benefits.”

The report is packed with information. Highlights include:

In 2006, according to the Outdoor Foundation, the total contribution from outdoor sports in the United States was nearly $730 billion per year, generating more than 6.4 million jobs and $99 billion in federal and state tax revenues. This includes hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking, camping, snow sports, paddle sports and bicycling.

In 2006, the combined spending effect of hunting, fishing and wildlife watching associated with National Forest Service land totaled $9.5 billion in annual retail sales, supported 189,400 jobs and provided $1.01 billion in annual federal tax revenues.
Every million dollars invested in residential historic rehabilitation generates approximately 36 jobs, $1.24 million in income and nearly $200,000 in state and local taxes.
In 2010, 15 million visitors to Civil War battlefields managed by the National Park Service in just five states (Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia) generated 7,700 jobs.

“It is important to note that, unlike many studies released in recent days that attempt to project future jobs to be created by yet-to-be enacted legislation, the jobs and benefits we report currently exist. Any jobs associated with future conservation investments would be over and above the figures reported here,” reported Rob Southwick, President of Southwick Associates, who authored the study.

“Natural resource conservation and historic preservation programs provide hundreds of thousands of jobs and strong returns on public investments that primarily help rural communities and cannot be exported abroad,” said John L. Nau III, chairman emeritus of the Civil War Trust and co-chair of the AVCRP. “This country needs jobs that leverage private investment and conserve our precious natural resources and historic spaces.”

Readers can access the report on the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s website. If you would like to discuss details of the study and its implications, contact Rob Southwick at rob@southwickassociates.com.

Southwick Associates Media Monitor Provides Answers to the Most Elusive Social Media Marketing Questions

Manufacturers and media companies have a new tool to help shed light on sportsmen’s media usage and the purchasing habits of various media audiences. Southwick Associates launched the Southwick Associates Media Monitor (SAMM) in 2011 to:

Help manufacturers & retailers make better decisions about where to invest ad dollars;
Assist media companies in identifying each property’s strengths and audience interests and to monitor competing media properties; and
Explain the cross-over between traditional and new media.

Based on requests from various companies in recent years, the Media Monitor was launched to track sportsmen’s use of television, print, web and social media. Below are just a few examples of the types of information reported by SAMM:

Social Media Results:

Media Preferences for U.S. Anglers: 2nd Quarter 2011 Only

SAMM can also rate media properties by their audience’s:

preferred hunting, shooting and fishing-related brands,
types of retailers shopped,
price points, and more.

If you are interested in utilizing SAMM to compliment your efforts, you can obtain results or discuss customized research by contacting Courtney Olson at Courtney@c2csalesandmarketing.com or 303-955-2194.

Just One Extra Day of Hunting – The Economic Benefits of Adding Sunday Hunting in Pennsylvania

As one of the few states not allowing hunting on Sundays, the state of Pennsylvania is currently debating if Sundays should be open to hunters and if so, under which conditions. Many reasons are argued including tradition, family recreation benefits, and economics.

Hunting is a deep-rooted tradition in Pennsylvania. Each year, 950,000 licensed hunters take to the field and woods, nearly three times the number of people who live within the Pittsburgh city limits. One of 14 state residents holds a hunting license. Each hunter on average spends $1,800 annually on gear, trip expenditures and preparations. With nearly 1 million hunters, this adds up to $1.7 billion in retail each year for the state economy. Considering the multiplier effects as these dollars exchange hands, Pennsylvania enjoys 27,500 jobs and $210 million in state and local tax revenues courtesy of resident and non-resident hunters.

A 2005 survey by Southwick Associates showed 43 percent of Pennsylvania’s hunting takes place on Saturdays. In the same survey, Pennsylvania hunters reported they would hunt 27 percent more days if Sundays were available.

This summer, Southwick Associates updated the estimate of Sunday hunting’s economic potential. If Sunday hunting was allowed in the 2010-11 season, Pennsylvania would have enjoyed:

7,400 additional jobs, and
$57 million more in state and local tax revenues

While some of these impacts may occur if hunters engage in other activities on Sundays, the state will still experience a gain. Considering the top competitor to hunting is watching TV, according to soon-to-be released NSSF research, the economic impact created by the dollars associated with watching football or NASCAR on Sundays will be lower compared to dollars associated with a day of hunting. The opening of Sundays is also expected to encourage more residents to hunt who otherwise are obligated elsewhere on Saturdays, and to encourage current resident and non-resident hunters to spend their weekends pursuing game in-state rather than in neighboring states who offer the additional day. Even if Sunday hunting was only permitted during the two Sundays of the general firearm season for deer, 3,300 jobs are expected, along with the $23 million in additional tax revenues. Just like any business, providing greater opportunities to customers to enjoy a product will create more sales and greater economic impacts. Pennsylvania now has the opportunity to serve its hunting community and the state economy.

One Reason to Look Forward to 2012 — New Results from the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation Will Provide New and Better Data

Every five years since 1955 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), in partnership with state natural resource agencies, has conducted the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. The results provide the data needed to quantify the economic impact of wildlife-based recreation, and is considered to be the most important source of data on fish and wildlife recreation in the United States. Federal, state non-profit and private organizations rely on the Survey to manage fish and wildlife, develop marketing and communications plans and analyze trends.

Southwick Associates in gearing up for the release of the 2011 Survey and is ready to conduct additional analyses upon its release. As done with every survey since the 1985 survey, Southwick Associates will produce economic impact reports for hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing for the nation as a whole and for individual state resource agencies. The data is expected in mid-2012, with the initial economic impacts to be released later in the year. States interested in custom, detailed economic impact reports are encouraged to contact Southwick Associates for details (rob@southwickassociates.com).

In Future Issues:

Licensing trends and changes
What is taking away our sportsmen and women? Hunting & fishing’s competition
The importance of staying in contact with hunters and anglers year-round
Lessons from 2011 angler & hunter recruitment efforts

Southwick Associates, Inc. specializes in natural resource & environmental economic, business and statistical research. Our staff is comprised of economic, business and statistics professionals throughout the U.S. who have in-depth experience measuring the values, benefits and revenues possible from fish, wildlife, and water-related natural resources plus their associated industries. We can help clients better address many business, legal, legislative and public communication issues through the practical application of reliable and accurate economic information and statistics.

For information and other reports, visit our Web site at www.southwickassociates.com

If you wish to be removed from our distribution list, please send an email with “remove from newsletter” added in the subject line, to donna@southwickassociates.com.

Newsletter Editor, Jodi Valenta, Mile Creek Communications, LLC, Stevenson, CT

Southwick Associates hosts live Q&A Webinar on Media Monitor (SAMM) Nov. 15th at 4:00 p.m. eastern.

donna — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:26:17 +0000

Southwick Associates hosts live Q&A Webinar on Media Monitor (SAMM) Nov. 15th at 4:00 p.m. eastern.

For Immediate Release: November 8, 2011

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — On Tuesday, November 15^th at 4:00 pm eastern, Southwick executives will be hosting a live webinar, including a question & answer session, for those wanting to know more about the Southwick Associates Media Monitor (SAMM). This session is has limited attendance; registration is free and easy but required and early action is advised.

Reserve your webinar seat now by clicking on this link. Directions for attendance will be sent to you in a separate email.
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/796973598

For those savvy publishing or television professionals seeking to know how their products and just as importantly, their competitor’s products, are received by consumers, or if you are a business owner, marketer, or ad agency looking to increase exposure for your products or services, Southwick Associates now offers the Southwick Associates Media Monitor (SAMM).

For years, Southwick Associates’ monthly Hunter Survey, Shooter Survey and Angler Survey reports have set the benchmark for reliable data used by nonprofit organizations and outdoor product manufacturers to understand the participation and purchasing decisions of consumers and constituents. Now, Southwick combines this understanding of consumer decision making with newly updated survey data to determine not only which products are the most popular, but which media outlets are having the most influence on these consumer buying decisions.

From over 1,000 media properties, SAMM measures total media consumption (magazines, television shows, websites and social media) of hunters, shooters and anglers, and SAMM can ultimately help to match a sportsman’s purchasing preferences to specific tv programs, magazine titles, websites and social media applications. Never before has this information been available.

“SAMM provides marketers with the data to determine which media sportsmen are using and which ones most influence their decisions to buy products,” says Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates.

Company marketing executives, publishers, tv producers, networks, ad buyers and others can purchase the quarterly reports, individual reports, or they can request customized reports that will pull data specific to their particular business or marketing plans. Please plan on joining us on November 15, 2011 at 4:00 eastern. Simply click here and follow the directions: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/796973598

About Southwick Associates: Southwick Associates was founded in 1989 to serve the fish and wildlife management community, as well as the sportfishing and hunting industries. We specialize in economic and business statistics related to fish and wildlife. Our expertise includes measuring retail expenditures by anglers, hunters, wildlife viewers and other outdoor recreationists; quantifying the jobs, tax revenues and other economic impacts of outdoor recreation; tracking trends within outdoor industries as well as identifying major distribution channels and the overall structure of specific outdoor-related industries; and analyzing the value of fish and wildlife resources and their uses including land transactions, new business ventures, fish kills and more. Participate in our panels at AnglerSurvey.com , HunterSurvey.com, and ShooterSurvey.com or visit our website at Southwick Associates.com.

Contacts: Courtney@c2csalesandmarketing.com, (303) 955-2194

Hunters, Shooters Give and Receive Gifts Related to their Sport During the Holidays

donna — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:24:08 +0000

Hunters, Shooters Give and Receive Gifts Related to their Sport During the Holidays

For Immediate Release: November 1, 2011

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — While choosing the right gift for some friends and family may be a perplexing decision during the holidays, apparently that choice is much easier to make if that person hunts or shoots. Asked if they gave or received hunting or shooting items as a holiday gift this past year, 59.8 percent of those sportsmen and women questioned by HunterSurvey.com or ShooterSurvey.com said they had.

Of the respondents who said they had given or received a gift related to their sport, hunting-related items seemed to be the ones most often unwrapped with 65.7 percent of the gifts falling in that category. Shooting items accounted for 29.5 percent of the gifts given to sporting men and women.

“These findings certainly won’t come as a surprise to anyone who has stood in line at a cash register or tried to find a parking spot at an outdoor retailer during December, but it does underscore the value to hunting and shooting retailers and manufacturers in structuring special promotions that will appeal to the sporting consumer during the holidays,” said Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates, which designs and conducts the surveys at HunterSurvey.com and AnglerSurvey.com.

Those who hunt, fish and target shoot are invited to participate in the surveys conducted on HunterSurvey.com and AnglerSurvey.com. Each month, participants who complete the survey are entered into a drawing for one of five $100 gift certificates to the sporting goods retailer of their choice.

About AnglerSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com: Launched in 2006, AnglerSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com help the outdoor equipment industry, government fisheries and wildlife officials and conservation organizations track consumer activities and expenditure trends. The information above represents only a small sample of the vast amount of data collected from the complete survey results and available to government agencies, businesses, the media and other interested parties. Results are scientifically analyzed to reflect the attitudes and habits of anglers and hunters across the United States.

Sportsmen Purchases Remain Steady

donna — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:21:09 +0000

Sportsmen Purchases Remain Steady

For Immediate Release: Oct. 17, 2011

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — A look at the buying habits of sportsmen in 2011 compared to the previous year reveals purchases of hunting and fishing equipment have remained steady in the current year, and in fact, even slightly improved.

In the most recent survey at HunterSurvey.com, participants were asked if they were buying more, less or the same amount of hunting equipment so far this year compared to 2010. Those responding they were buying more accounted for 24.7 percent of the responses, a 4.9 percent increase over the previous year. Meanwhile those purchasing the same amount dropped one point to 39 percent as those reporting they were buying less dropped 3.1 percent.

Asked the same question except as it relates to the purchase of fishing equipment, AnglerSurvey.com respondents saying they were buying more jumped a statistically insignificant 1.5 percent from 16.2 to 17.7 percent. Those buying the same increased 4.4 percent, while those indicating they had bought less dropped 3.6.

“While everyone in the hunting and fishing industry would love to see the ‘buying more’ responses make a significant jump, at least some of the fears of a so-called double dip recession, at least where these markets are concerned, does not appear to be on its way. Sportsmen are pretty much buying the same amount of gear,” said Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates, which designs and conducts the surveys at HunterSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and AnglerSurvey.com.

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New Report: Conservation, Recreation and Preservation Generate $1 Trillion Per Year for U.S. Economy

donna — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 13:18:24 +0000

New Report: Conservation, Recreation and Preservation Generate $1 Trillion Per Year for U.S. Economy

News for Immediate Release Oct. 12, 2011
Contact: Vaughn Collins, 202-639-8727, vcollins@trcp.org, Alan Rowsome, 202-429-2643, alan_rowsome@tws.org

With unemployment rate still over 9 percent in the third quarter Labor Department jobs report, study illustrates job growth potential

WASHINGTON – Officials looking for cost-effective ways to stimulate the economy should look no further than out their own windows: That’s where the authors of a new economic study demonstrate that the great outdoors and historic preservation generate a conservative estimate of more than $1 trillion in total economic activity and support 9.4 million jobs each year.

“As a former Secretary of the Interior, governor, senator and mayor, I have witnessed firsthand how historic preservation, conservation and outdoor recreation result in tremendous benefits to our nation’s economy,” said Dirk Kempthorne. “This study is a valuable tool for reaffirming and quantifying those benefits.”

“Sportsmen put billions of dollars of their own money annually into conservation through the licenses they buy and the excise taxes that they pay on hunting and fishing equipment,” added Lindsay Thomas, a former U.S. Congressman and current chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. “This combined with the other taxes that are paid through activities associated with outdoor recreation and historic preservation total over $100 billion annually contributed to state and federal coffers.”

Conducted by Southwick Associates, the study is packed with highlights including:

In 2006, the total contribution from outdoor sports in the United States was nearly $730 billion per year, generating more than 6.4 million U.S. jobs and $99 billion in federal and state tax revenues. This includes hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing and other outdoor sports that include hiking, camping, skiing, paddle sports and bicycling.
In 2006, the combined spending effect of hunting, fishing and wildlife watching associated with National Forest Service land totaled $9.5 billion in annual retail sales, supported 189,400 jobs and provided $1.01 billion in annual federal tax revenues.
Every million dollars invested in residential historic rehabilitation generates approximately 36 jobs, $1.24 million in income and nearly $200,000 in state and local taxes.
In 2010, 15 million visitors to Civil War battlefields managed by the National Park Service in just five states (Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia) generated 7,700 jobs.

Commissioned by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the study is being conducted as part of a larger ongoing effort by NFWF to determine the economics associated with natural resource conservation.

The study has commanded the attention of many, including America’s Voice for Conservation, Recreation and Preservation, a coalition of more than 770 organizations representing tens of millions of citizens with diverse political backgrounds who have united in support of conservation, recreation and preservation programs as a means to create jobs and improve the economy.

“The jobs that our public lands and cultural heritage create are jaw-dropping,” said William H. Meadows, president of The Wilderness Society and the AVCRP’s other co-chair. “This study is yet more evidence that investing in the environment is good for the fiscal health of our country.”

Inspired by the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, the TRCP is a coalition of organizations and grassroots partners working together to preserve the traditions of hunting and fishing.

Shooting Ranges, Clubs May Be Missing Opportunities with Majority of Enthusiasts

donna — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:13:32 +0000

Shooting Ranges, Clubs May Be Missing Opportunities with Majority of Enthusiasts

For Immediate Release: September 19, 2011

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — A recent survey of nearly 3,500 shooting enthusiasts conducted on ShooterSurvey.com discovered only 26 percent of respondents claim membership at a shooting range or sporting clays club. With nearly three out of four shooters not associated with these private ranges or clubs, the survey also explored the reasons for not joining.

Top reasons included:

37% said they are not interested or have no need to join
27% said it is too expensive
25.1 % said they have another nearby range that is open to the public or free of cost
18.3 % said the nearest range or club is too far
15.7 % did not identify a specific reason only citing “other”
4.8 % said nearby ranges or clubs did not offer the type of shooting that interests them
3.9 % said they do not feel welcome there.

“With more than 19 million recreational shooters in the United States, these numbers show there is a huge segment of enthusiasts that could be brought into the fold by tailoring programs and resources that might overcome their reasons for not being a member of a range or shooting club,” said Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates, which designs and conducts the surveys at HunterSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and AnglerSurvey.com. “Private clubs can offer shooters a great chance to improve their skills and increase their opportunities to enjoy a variety of shooting activities.”

Of those shooters who are members of a range or sporting clays club, ShooterSurvey.com explored what those people would like to see improved or offered at their shooting range. Top responses included:

29% want more shooting benches or target stations
24.2% want more competitions
14.3% want more shooting benches or equipment that better fit women and youth
13.9% want more/cleaner restrooms
13.1% want improved food/beverage options.

Of those surveyed, 36.2 percent didn’t want anything changed at their range or club as they are happy with it the way it is and 3.1 percent actually want fewer competitions held.

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