Craig Daily Press / Businesses: Hunters will come despite recession

By Nicole Inglis

August 31, 2009

Since the fall, the stock market has taken a dive, home foreclosure rates doubled and many businesses struggled.

But the recession might not stop the annual pilgrimage of big game hunters from pouring into Craig, local business owners and representatives said.

Hunting season stretches from mid-August to January, but the four main hunting seasons bring a boon to local businesses from October to mid-November.

Archery season began Sat­urday, and while Dream Archery owner Rick Harmon said his store was packed Friday, he is a little concerned about the economy hurting business.

“Oh yeah, I’m worried about it,” he said. “Everyone’s got to worry.”

Still, he said, it’s hard to slow down avid hunters.

“It’s kind of like a religion here,” he said. “That, and a lot of people here hunt to survive. It’s the way they feed their families; they don’t buy any other meat.”

Patrick Jennings, sales director at the Holiday Inn of Craig, said most of the out-of-state hunters book their rooms for the following year before they check out of the hotel.

“Out of 152 rooms, we have about 90 rooms per day already booked up for the main hunting seasons,” he said. “We’re expecting it to be a little slower, but hunting season is always real good for us.”

The Holiday Inn may face some challenges, he said, but not because of the economy. Two more brand name hotels — the Hampton Inn & Suites and Candlewood Suites — have moved to the area, increasing the number of hotel rooms available by about 75 percent.

Jennings said the competition could be a problem but that out-of-state hunters still will come to Craig if they draw tags for the animals and areas they want to hunt.

“There’s still the biggest elk herds in the country here,” Jennings said. “Hunting is a pretty big boom for us. People take it pretty darn seriously.”

Randy Looper, who owns Elk Run Inn, said most of his returning guests booked their rooms last year, as well.

“I’m sold out during the four main hunting seasons,” Looper said. “The only difference is, I normally have a huge waiting list, and this year I only have a two- to three-person waiting list.”

Looper said the difference isn’t the economy: It’s the animals.

“The hunting has stunk the last few years,” he said. “Last year it was warm, so the elk didn’t come down to the lower elevations. There were people who didn’t even see an animal the whole time they were here.”

But, he said, if out-of-town hunters get the tags they need for the area, financial barriers won’t stop them.

Most spend between $8,000 and $20,000 for a hunting trip.

“Money really isn’t anything to them,” he said “People will still come from Wisconsin and New York. Hunting is what makes this town. If you take that away, there really isn’t much.”

Angela Cordova, an employee at Dark Horse Discount Liquor and a hunter, said the store’s business increases by about twice as much during hunting season.

“People will still come from Texas and New York,” she said. “They’re very dedicated to this town and the businesses. We hope that doesn’t change.”

However, she said, hunters might cancel their trips if they are denied tags. She said there were no tags this year in the area she usually hunts.

Robin Sloan, member of Bears Ears Sportsman Club, said she and her family did get the tags they hoped for, but many hunters did not.

“If you draw a tag, you’re going to come,” she said. “But it all has to do with the changing migration and the number of tags. If they don’t draw, they don’t come.”  Click Link Below For Full Story!

via Craig Colorado / Craig Daily Press / Businesses: Hunters will come despite recession.

Hunting industry impacts West Texas : Hunting : gosanangelo.com

Influx of hunters anticipated much like rain

By Jerry Lackey (Contact

jlackey@wcc.net or 949-2291″Welcome hunters” banners are posted along main streets in downtown sections of just about every rural town in West Texas come November. Both ranchers and merchants anticipate the annual influx of deer and turkey hunters much like a general rain.The seasonal guests bring an economic impact to rural Texas that keeps small communities and rural residents in business. The economic impact figures, which include money for gas, food, hotel/motel rooms and a variety of other things, normally turn over seven times for every dollar spent in a community.Jason Johnson of Stephenville, Texas AgriLife Extension economist-management specialist, said 1.2 million hunters spend $1.5 billion in Texas annually.”More than just the landowner and hunter benefit from the hunting trip and the hunting lease,” stated Johnson. “Restaurants, hotels, equipment stores — pretty much everything reaps the benefits from hunting.”Hunting is a tremendous opportunity for rural economic development since 65 percent of hunters come from urban areas,” Johnson said.”Many of the lodging facilities from all parts of town San Angelo see a sizeable impact from the hunters each year,” said Mikala Brownfield, president of the San Angelo Lodging Association. “Even though many hunters stay at the deer leases and in RVs, there are apparently many that would rather have the convenience of staying at the hotels and motels in town.”Brownfield, who has been general manager of the Hampton Inn in San Angelo for 10 years, said some groups of hunters have stayed at the hotel a couple times each year. They usually stay a week at a time.”I have worked many early morning shifts and get to talk to them hunters before they head to the deer lease at 5 a.m.,” he said. “What a great bunch of guests. They always make a point of telling me how good the hunting is in the area, but what brings them back is the great hospitality they receive from the people of San Angelo.”Brownfield said since the hunters start early, they are normally back in town by mid-afternoon. “They are always looking for places to go and things to do, which means they are more than likely spending their money in one way or another. I am always amazed at the impact hunting must have on our local economy,” he added.Another gauge of visiting hunters to the Concho Valley can be monitored at the San Angelo Regional Airport. Just about any day during November through December, outfitters’ vans line the airport parking area picking up or returning hunters to American Eagle flights.Chase Akin, owner of the Harkey Ranch southeast of Christoval, hosts hunters from all over the nation.”We deal with 10 different outfitters, he said, including: Five Star Outfitters, Coby Howell, Briley Outfitting, Frank Carter, Terry Owen of Fort McKavett Ranch, and Jim Roach’s Magnum Guide Service at Eldorado.”The Harkey Ranch, comprising 2,560 acres, lies in northern Schleicher County, about 30 miles south of San Angelo. The property is high fenced and divided into four large pastures. One pasture is exclusively whitetail deer habitat and the other three contain 36 exotic species.According to Parks and Wildlife statistics, Llano County is visited each year by more than 15,000 hunters who leave behind about $3.5 million.The whitetail density in Kimble County, as determined by the Quality Deer Management Association, is about 45-plus deer per square mile, said Connie Booth, executive director of the Junction Chamber of Commerce.It is one of the most densely populated deer areas in the United States.”Although the whitetail deer is the most widely distributed and hunted deer in Kimble County, it is only one of many animals hunted throughout the year,” Booth said. “Junction has a large number of hunting ranches as well as leases that offer many types of exotics for hunting year around.”Axis, Fallow deer and feral hogs can be found free ranging along the south, north and main Llano River bottoms throughout Kimble County.  Click link below for full story.

via Hunting industry impacts West Texas : Hunting : gosanangelo.com.

Fishing industry hurt by the economy | The Dispatch

Tony Garitta

The economic slowdown has aversely affected numerous industries including the fishing industry.

A February 2009 survey conducted by AnglerSurvey.com indicates that only 54 percent of the respondents plan to fish waters outside of their home states this year. A February 2008 survey had more than 59 percent of the respondents planning to fish out-of-state waters.

For those states where fishing is a major economic drawing card and tourist attraction, the news is disheartening, though expected.

The 2009 survey also asked fishermen to indicate their favorite saltwater game fish.

The striped bass emerged as the most popular with 20 percent of the surveyed anglers indicating that they fished for striped bass at least once during the season.

The various species of flounder ranked second in popularity with 19 percent of the respondents indicating they targeted flounder of some kind.

The rankings of other species were grouper, snapper, and sea bass (14 percent); redfish, also called red drum or channel bass (13 percent); spotted sea trout and weakfish (13 percent); and bluefish (12 percent).

The survey inquired about the most targeted species, not the most commonly caught or kept species.

Fishermen who participate in the surveys are eligible for a monthly drawing for a $100 certificate and an annual drawing for a $1,000 fishing tackle shopping spree. For details, visit www.AnglerSurvey.com and click “Take the Survey.”  Click link below for full story!

via Fishing industry hurt by the economy | The Dispatch | Davidson County’s News Source.