For richer or for poorer? Hunting demographics spurs debate | PoughkeepsieJournal.com | Poughkeepsie Journal

By Bill Conners • Outdoors columnist

Hunting is a Rich Man’s Sport? Joe Proves It Isn’t, So there!

Here’s a quote from a published report of a few days ago: “Hunting is not a cheap alternative for a big vacation; hunting is not a poor man’s sport.”

Those words were offered up by Mark Duda, executive director of Responsive Management. The company does research centered on outdoor recreation and is based in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. The Shenandoah River is a fly fishing mecca; I can’t testify as to the quality of the hunting in that area.

The article I was reading was prompted by a reported uptick in hunting and fishing license sales in New York State. The 2008-2009 licenses went on sale Aug. 18. As compared to this same time last year (a month into the season), there have been an additional 75,000 licenses sold over last year.

Duda says historic data show that housing slumps can influence the numbers. The building and related industries slow down, folks have more time on their hands, so they pick up their guns and fishing rods and head off to the woods and streams  Full Story

For richer or for poorer? Hunting demographics spurs debate | PoughkeepsieJournal.com | Poughkeepsie Journal.