Statewide economic impact supports 171,000 jobs, generates $11.2 billion annually – more than twice as much as previous estimates; data suggest Michigan needs to do more to promote outdoor sports, address environmental threats
LANSING, Mich. – A first-of-its-kind study released Monday by Michigan United Conservation Clubs shows Michigan ranks first among the Great Lakes states for jobs created from hunting- and fishing-related purchases – and generates more than $11.2 billion annually.
The data also show 171,000 jobs are created and supported annually across Michigan by hunting and fishing, putting those related activities in the top 10 percent of the state’s job-creation industries. The greatest impact occurs in Southeast Michigan.
The economic overall effect is more than twice as much as previous estimates from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, according to the report.
Michigan United Conservation Clubs commissioned the groundbreaking study in partnership with the Michigan State University Eli Broad College of Business and with funding support from the C.S. Mott Foundation. The project’s goal was to more accurately quantify the impact sportsmen and sportswomen have on Michigan’s economic well-being.
“The research results reflect that the economic benefits for local communities in every region of the state by those who hunt and fish are vital to continuing Michigan’s prosperity now and in the future,” said Amy Trotter, MUCC executive director.
Findings from the MUCC-MSU study were released during a news conference at MSU’s Demmer Center in Lansing that in addition to Trotter was attended by Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Daniel Eichinger; state Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr., D-East Lansing; Bill Demmer, director of MSU’s internationally acclaimed sports shooting training facility that was the site of the news conference; Jeff Poet, president and co-owner of Jay’s Sporting Goods and a member of the Michigan Wildlife Council; and leaders in Michigan’s business, conservation and tourism sectors.
MUCC also hosted an afternoon news media teleconference that included Trotter; Eichinger; Dennis Eade, executive director of the Michigan Steelhead and Salmon Fishermen’s Association and a member of the Tourism Industry Coalition of Michigan; state Rep. Gary Howell, R-North Branch, chair of the House Natural Resources Committee; and state Rep. Leslie Love, D-Detroit, co-chair of the Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus.
The MUCC report is believed to be the most comprehensive effort to date measuring the annual statewide economic impact by Michigan’s 700,000 hunters and 1.1 million anglers: $8.9 billion from hunting and $2.3 billion from fishing stemming from purchasing gear and clothing, booking hotel rooms, buying meals and more.
“This is information the conservation community has long needed to improve our understanding of the financial importance of outdoor recreation,” Eichinger said. “MUCC, Michigan State University and the C.S. Mott Foundation deserve credit for their valuable scholarship that quantifies more clearly than ever how hunting and fishing are essential ingredients in Michigan’s diverse economic stew.”
The report shows that for every $1 million spent on hunting- and fishing-related purchases in Michigan, 19.61 jobs are created for state residents. Michigan tops the Great Lakes states by this measurement, followed by:
Ohio, where every $1 million spent on hunting- and fishing-related purchases creates 19.58 jobs
Minnesota, where every $1 million spent creates 19.48 jobs
Pennsylvania, where every $1 million spent creates 19.35 jobs
New York, where every $1 million spent creates 18.89 jobs
Indiana, where every $1 million spent creates 15.13 jobs
Illinois, where every $1 million spent creates 15.03 jobs, and
Wisconsin, where every $1 million spent creates 15.01 jobs
Previous estimates in Michigan and other states are based on a narrow formula that was applied most recently in 2011. Those estimates were derived from survey results of just 187 Michigan households and showed hunting and fishing contributed $4.7 billion annually to Michigan’s economy and supported 72,000 jobs.
The MUCC report is based on 2016 spending data and uses a new, state-of-the-art economic modeling formula to clarify in more precise detail the contributions of hunting and fishing to Michigan’s economy. The findings are based on a more robust analysis of data from the DNR and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Inspired by the report, members of Michigan’s conservation, small business, tourism and legislative sectors called for state government leaders to launch a bipartisan push in 2019 that prioritizes more funding to:
Prevent chronic wasting disease from spreading among Michigan’s deer herd
Contain and remediate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – contaminants known collectively as PFAs that have worked their way into Michigan’s lakes, rivers and groundwater – to ensure the state’s game, fish and waterfowl populations remain healthy and safe for human consumption, and
Increase the number of people who hunt and fish in Michigan by promoting the sports’ benefits and by appealing to more diverse audiences
“Because of the MUCC analysis, people who never hunt or fish should have a new appreciation for the economic power Michigan’s sportsmen and sportswomen deliver and that helps make our state a great place to live, work and recreate,” Howell said.
All tolled, hunting and fishing licenses generate about $62 million a year for wildlife and natural resources conservation projects in Michigan, with more than $40 million coming from hunting license sales. By law, that money is entirely dedicated to wildlife management and conservation activities.
Michigan is one of the top states in the nation for hunting license purchases.
In comparison with all states in the U.S., Michigan ranks 11th in terms of job creation resulting from hunting and fishing expenditures by residents and 15th nationally with respect to job creation arising from hunting and fishing expenditures by out-of-state residents, MSU researchers found.
The MUCC report was authored by Professor of Business Dr. Roger Calantone, Demmer Legacy Professor Dr. Shawnee K. Vickery and Dr. Joyce Wang, all within MSU’s Eli Broad College of Business.
In Michigan, every region feels the effect of hunting and fishing expenditures, according to the report:
Southeast (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, Livingston, Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Sanilac, Tuscola and Huron counties): $3.7 billion
South Central (Lenawee, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Ingham, Hillsdale, Branch, St. Joseph, Calhoun, Eaton, Barry, Kent, Ionia, Clinton, Shiawassee, Saginaw, Gratiot, Montcalm, Newaygo, Mecosta, Isabella and Midland counties): $3.2 billion
Southwest (Muskegon, Ottawa, Allegan, Van Buren, Cass and Berrien counties): $1 billion
Northeast (Bay, Arenac, Iosco, Alcona, Alpena and Presque Isle counties): $451 million
North Central (Emmet, Cheboygan, Charlevoix, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Kalkaska, Crawford, Oscoda, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Lake, Osceola, Clare and Gladwin counties): $960 million
Northwest (Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie, Manistee, Mason and Oceana counties): $440 million
Upper Peninsula: $681 million
“It’s clear that small businesses throughout the Great Lakes State rely on hunters and fishermen to keep their cash registers ringing all year long,” said Jeff Poet, president and co-owner of Jay’s Sporting Goods and a member of the Michigan Wildlife Council.
Additionally, license fees and surcharges on hunting and fishing pay for most of the wildlife conservation and habitat restoration work done by the DNR. But as the number of people hunting and fishing continues to decline with an aging population, state leaders are concerned about how the resulting revenue loss will affect Michigan’s economy – and natural resource conservation efforts.
A recent demographic analysis conducted by Michigan Technological University shows the number of firearm deer-hunting licenses sold in Michigan has dropped nearly 21 percent over two decades – from a 1998 high of 785,000 deer hunters to 621,000 in 2017. By 2035, projections are that the late-’90s rate will be cut by more than half.
“Hunters and anglers foot virtually the entire bill for conservation in Michigan and across the nation. A continued decline in that base has huge implications for how we manage conservation of our forests and fields, wildlife, our lakes, rivers and streams today and in the future,” Eade said.
While the DNR, sporting groups and the state’s Pure Michigan campaign are expanding their outreach to attract younger hunters, minorities and women, Howell and Love said they are committed to ensuring Michigan will explore more innovative strategies to adjust to the state’s aging hunters and fishermen population.
In Nebraska, for example, a grassroots education campaign is successfully utilizing a variety of hands-on activities, programs and Spanish-language messaging to engage families in high-density Latino communities and encourage them to become fishing enthusiasts.
“We must work together to better promote the joys and opportunities of hunting and fishing in the Great Lakes State to younger and more diverse audiences if we want to grow participation and ensure these sports remain a key cog in Michigan’s economy,” Love said.
