Just like every other outdoorsman I would rather be outside in the back country than behind a desk. I proud to be an outdoorsman, knowing my activities have a very positive effect on today’s economy. The fees I pay for registering my ATV, hunting licenses, fishing licenses and park passes go directly to supporting and maintaining the outdoors here in Colorado.
That has nothing to say about the economic impact the outdoorsman has on the local economy through trip expenses and sporting equipment purchases. Together the hunters, fisherman, campers and OHV users contribute over 2 billion dollars to Colorado’s economy every year. On a national level that figure is estimated at over 75 billion dollars to the nations economy every year.
But it is sad to say there are environmentalist, anti-motorist groups, and animal rights activists filled with hate that want this all to go away. These groups instead of adding to our economy, uses their money for legal fees, lobbyists, negative advertising campaigns and protests in an attempt to stop the recreational activities that most outdoorsman enjoy.
They are even going as far as demanding that the government use the money from the outdoorsman to stop the outdoorsman. Now to say this makes me a little upset is an understatement, it down right pisses me off. If these “groups” contributed a fraction of what the outdoorsman does to our economy then I might feel differently.
I understand that not all outdoorsman are saints but the overwhelming majority of outdoorsman truly have a love and passion for the outdoors and do not want to see it destroyed. That’s why we have no problems with the fees we must pay to enjoy our activities. Currently these fees are used to provide enforcement, education, maintain the balance of wildlife and provide maintenance for trails and other areas.
Every year I read more and more stories about protestors illegally trespassing on private land in order to stop or sabotage a hunt. Here in Colorado OHV trails have been damaged, littered with nails and other items in an attempt to stop motorized use of public lands. These kind of blatant and costly acts are happening all over the country.
Times are hard enough without some groups trying to hurt economic growth just to produce a negative image of the outdoorsman. If these groups put as much effort into stimulating the economy as they do promoting their own individual agendas, the state of the economy would be much different.
Get outside, enjoy outdoor recreation and do your part to provide a positive image of the outdoorsman and help boost the economy.
Related posts:
[...] the original post: The Outdoorsman and the Economy | ATV Camping Blog ← !8!# Ride your ATV in Tucson, Arizona | !8: Discount Polaris Atv [...]
[...] The Outdoorsman and the Economy | ATV Camping Blog [...]
[...] help the outdoorsman there are different solunar calenders available charting these sun and moon phases. These calenders [...]
[...] true outdoorsman does both bow hunting and gun hunting because both offer the thrill of the hunt and the chance to [...]