Each year, Georgia’s hunters and anglers generate $18 million in license fees and $8.5 million in federal excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment. That’s $26.5 million that directly supports the state’s wildlife conservation efforts.

Fishing and hunting contribute more than $2 billion annually to our state’s economy and directly support more than 21,000 jobs in Georgia.

Beyond fees and taxes paid by hunters and anglers, which support the purchase of conservation lands and public access to thousands of acres for all of Georgia’s population, there are benefits not often recognized or
noticed.

For instance, deer hunting leases in Georgia account for more than $105
million, a higher reported value than the production of peaches or wheat.
According to the 2005 Georgia Agricultural Commodity Rankings report,
hunting leases outrank more than two-thirds of other agricultural
commodities. Adding additional hunting and fishing lease and membership
costs provides well over $125 million to landowners.

These lease payments translate directly to the payment of property taxes.
This helps families keep their farms and provides local governments income
in support of education funding for local schools, transportation for
maintenance and repair of local roads, public health and public safety.
Therefore, hunters and anglers create a positive economic impact in the
lives of all Georgians.

Hunters donate much of their harvest to many statewide humanitarian
programs in an effort to curb the hunger of many Georgians in need of a hot meal.

Thousands of parents and grandparents are sitting quietly, fishing with
children, talking, reflecting on the wonder of nature, how fortunate we
are as Georgians and how we treasure the state’s natural resources.

Glenn Dowling is executive vice president of the Georgia Wildlife Federation.