Pennsylvania sportsmen, retailers and business leaders join forces to promote hunting

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A broad group of local and regional leaders representing Pennsylvania chambers of commerce, sporting organizations, small businesses and retailers announced the launch of the Hunting Works For Pennsylvania partnership today. Stressing the major impact hunting has on Pennsylvania's economy, the organization pointed to sportsmen and sportswomen as key drivers of instate commerce.

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"Like hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians, hunting is a very big part of my life.  I have always respected the hunting heritage in our state and I am thrilled to be a part of Hunting Works For Pennsylvania.," said Vern Ross, Hunting Works For Pennsylvania co-chairman and vice president of the National Wild Turkey Federation board. "Every Pennsylvanian is familiar with the 'Welcome Hunters' signs that appear in store fronts every hunting season. In many cases the hunters being welcomed to these businesses provide huge economic benefits to that business and its community, and that is why Hunting Works For Pennsylvania was formed, to talk about and educate folks on the economic benefits that hunters provide."

Nearly 1 million people hunt in Pennsylvania. According to the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, those hunters spend $986 million each year on the sport and the resulting economic impact translates to $121 million in state and local taxes, 15,000 jobs, and a $1.6 billion ripple effect on the state economy.

Rob Fulton, Hunting Works For Pennsylvania co-chair and president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Association of Travel and Tourism applauded Hunting Works For Pennsylvania for bringing the economic impact of hunting to the forefront.

"There are nearly a million people that hunt in Pennsylvania every year, 76,000 of them from out of state. Combined, those hunters spend millions on trip related expenses every year so after looking at the numbers it was a no-brainer that the Association of Travel and Tourism not only join this partnership but that we take on an active leadership role in the organization. Pennsylvania has something to offer everyone and it is important that we welcome and embrace every aspect of our travel and tourism industry," said Fulton.

This pattern of spending happens all over the state, with each hunter spending on average $1,260 per season on trip related expenses such as lodging, food and gas.

"Not only do hunters benefit our state and local economies, they directly benefit Pennsylvania conservation," said Janet Nyce, Hunting Works For Pennsylvania co-chair and member of the Governor's Council for Fishing, Hunting and Conservation. "Through the Pittman-Robertson Act, hunters pay an 11 percent excise tax on equipment. The money collected from this excise tax is used to conserve and restore habitat which benefits game and non-game species as well as anyone who loves the outdoors. Not enough people understand that hunters are true conservationists and that the bulk of the money that pays to manage our wildlife is provided by hunters. Getting a chance to more thoroughly educate the public about this connection is just one of the many reasons I was so pleased to become a co-chair for this organization."

The newly formed Hunting Works For Pennsylvania partnership has over 60 partner organizations and will be adding dozens more in the weeks and months to come. The effort is being supported by organizations such as the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

The Hunting Works For Pennsylvania partnership will monitor public policy decisions and weigh in on hunting-related issues that impact Pennsylvania jobs. Hunting Works For Pennsylvania will serve as a vehicle to facilitate important public policy dialogue and to tell the story of how Pennsylvania's hunting heritage positively affects conservation and jobs throughout the state.

About Hunting Works for Pennsylvania

Hunting Works For Pennsylvania is a local grassroots partnership of organizations focused on hunting and the economics derived from these activities and membership is free of charge. Hunting Works For Pennsylvania members are advocates for public policy that supports jobs and economic prosperity. As a grassroots organization we explain the role that hunting and the shooting sports play in both the heritage and economic health of Pennsylvania.

For more information on Hunting Works for Pennsylvania, please visit www.HUNTINGWORKSFORPA.com

SOURCE Hunting Works For Pennsylvania