Outdoor Writer

Arizona's Hunters and Anglers Have a Significant Impact on the Economy Spending $1.3 Billion a Year WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Arizona's 418,000 hunters and anglers are among the most prominent and influential of all demographic groups, spending more than $1.3 billion a year on hunting and fishing, according to a new report. The new report, "Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy ~ A force as big as all outdoors," spotlights the immense impact hunters and anglers have on the economy at the national and state level. In Arizona, spending by hunters and anglers directly supports 21,000 jobs, which puts $708 million worth of paychecks into pockets of working residents around the state. Of course, government coffers also benefit -- spending by sportsmen in pursuit of these outdoor activities generates $124 million in state and local taxes. These latest figures demonstrate that season after season hunters and anglers are driving the economy from big businesses to rural towns, through booms and recessions. "Because sportsmen enjoy hunting or fishing alone or in small groups, they are overlooked as a constituency and as a substantial economic force," stated Jeff Crane, president of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. "When you compare spending by hunters and anglers to other sectors, their impact on the state's economy becomes more tangible." Sportsmen support nearly twice as many jobs in Arizona as Raytheon, one of the state's largest employers (21,000 jobs vs. 11,000). Annual spending by Arizona sportsmen is nearly three times more than the combined revenues of The Go Daddy Group, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Cold Stone Creamery - the state's fastest growing companies ($1.3 billion vs. $481 million). Annual spending by Arizona sportsmen is nearly twice as much as the cash receipts from cattle, the state's top agricultural commodity ($1.3 billion vs. $737 million). Arizona sportsmen could fill the stadiums of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Arizona Cardinals, 3½ times (418,000 vs. 112,000). The economic stimulus of hunting and fishing equates to an astounding $3.8 million a day being pumped into the state's economy. "Spending by sportsmen benefits not only the manufacturers of hunting and fishing related products, but everything from local mom and pop businesses to wildlife conservation," noted Doug Painter, president of National Shooting Sports Foundation. "And because most hunting and fishing takes place in rural areas, much of the spending benefits less affluent parts of the state." On the national level, 34 million sportsmen age 16 and older spent more than $76 billion in 2006, supporting 1.6 million jobs. If a single corporation grossed as much as hunters and anglers spend, it would be among America's 20 largest, ahead of Target, Costco and AT&T. And if all hunters and anglers had voted during the last presidential election, they would have equaled 31 percent of all votes cast. If all hunters and anglers living in Arizona voted, they would have equaled 32 percent of all votes cast in the state. These statistics are impressive and, if anything, they underestimate the impact of sportsmen since they do not take into account the millions of hunters and anglers under 16 years of age or people who were not able to get out and hunt or fish in 2006. When sportsmen's spending is thought of in business terms and compared to other sectors of the economy, it is quite remarkable. From small rural towns scattered across our country's landscape to the bottom-line of Fortune 500 companies located in major cities, if you take away hunting and fishing you take away the equivalent of a multi-billion dollar corporation. "It is a fairly simple equation – hunters and anglers mean jobs in states and local communities that have made the effort to maintain their hunting and fishing opportunities," said Crane. "The economic impacts that sportsmen have on state economies should be a wake-up call to state governments to welcome and encourage hunting and fishing in their state." The report, "Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy ~ A force as big as all outdoors," was produced by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation with support from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, National Marine Manufacturers Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation and SCI - First For Hunters. The report uses the results from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation and statistics provided by the American Sportfishing Association and Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

For the most part, I feel safer in Mexico than in Maryvale or south Phx. Of course, I imagine you've heard some of the 'horror stories' from these, as well. If not, just read the newspaper or watch film at 10 on any local TV station. And most definitely watch out for those black helicopters circling your house. -TONY

Gabe, We have owned two time shares in Mazatlan for years and do nothing but drive when we go down. I also drive down to fish the bass lakes. If you obey the laws and do not act like an "ugly American," you won't have any problem. If you have a passport, you won't need a birth certificate. With no passport, bring your BC and also be sure you have a photo ID to go with it. Since you will not be leaving Sonora, you won't need a Mexican vehicle permit, but you will still need to get a Mexican visa, which is available at Milepost 21 heading south on Hyw. 15 from Nogales. AND... there is absolutely no need to drive in downtown Nogales. When you go south on I-19 to the border, do not continue on to central Nogales. Instead, get off at the Mariposa Rd. exit #4, then turn right and go a couple miles to the commercial border crossing/station. Just drive thru the US side without stopping, and when you get to the Mexican side, you'll come to a narrow single lane pass thru that has a sign above showing Hermosillo on it. You'll also see a Mexican customs station off to the right. THERE IS NO NEED TO STOP THERE! Just go straight ahead under the Hermosillo sign and over the speed bump and you'll be on a FENCED 4-lane highway with limited access and no pedestrian traffic that completely bypasses downtown Nogales. A bit farther along you will come to the Mexican customs station. There's usually one or two Mex. customs officers standing outside. Just stop, and they will let you know whether they want you to pull into an inspection space. In most cases, they merely wave you thru. If they do tell you to pull over, just be courteous and allow them to do their thing. It's usually no more than a cursory looksee and maybe a question of "what is this?" Then watch for the place to obtain your visa on the right side of the highway at MP21. It's easy to spot and well-signed. Pull in, park and bring your proof of US citizenship -- and a pen so you don't have to wait -- to the main "Migracion" building nearest the lot. One of the officers will give you a visa form to fill out and will look at your passport or other papers. He will sign and stamp your visa, which is good for 6 months. The visa costs about $20, which you can pay (CC ONLY!)either there in the bank area (Banjercito), or at any Banamex bank (cash; not sure about CCs) in Hermosillo when you get there. There's a bank directly across the street from the Fiesta Americana hotel, which is at the first major intersection as you head into the city where you would turn to take the truck bypass to Guaymas. When you leave the visa-area parking lot, you will funnel thru a single lane that has a STOP (ALTO) sign and a traffic light thingie on the left. If the light turns green when you stop, just proceed on to the highway and be on your merry way. If it turns red, you MUST turn to the right into the inspection area. In all the times we have driven thru this, we have had to do the latter only once about 10 years ago. From there, other than a few toll plazas (they take US dollars) it is smooth sailing to Hermosillo. Have fun. -TONY

hawkeye, The link goes no where other than to a video on photobucket, and no ad appears to pop up. Perhaps you inadvertantly clicked on something else on that page that triggered the ad. If something actually got added to your browser, you should definitely check your security setting as suggested. -TONY

Keith, Just visited Box's web site and see where he also has a new Pickett book -- BLOOD TRAIL -- coming out in May 2008! Blue Heaven is set to debut officially on Jan. 8. -TONY

Aha. I'll check it out. Thanks. -TONY

Hey Ron, that buck looks familiar. Good looking mount! -TONY

I'm not a big fan of western novels, so I've read maybe only two L'amour books over the years and even that was a very long time ago. So what's the genre of Blue Heaven? Author? -TONY

If you have extra time while you're in Gustavus, book a trip on the tour boat that leaves from the Glacier Bay NP lodge. It's a well spent few hours. Of course, you'll probably see many of the same areas on your fishing trip. -TONY

Nope. Nothing to fill out. Only thing I have to do is contact the right person and ASK for the info. As you said, it's all a matter of public records available to anyone for the asking. -TONY

Noel, Gustavus is a neat place! Several years ago, I flew in there and spent a couple days at the Gustavus Inn. I was there mostly to take photos in the NP, so I didn't do any fishing. -TONY

That's exactly what I plan to do in my IN THE FIELD column in RM G&F magazine. I do a lot of it for cases in the other states every month. -TONY P.S. -- It's "precedent."

Yup, and the beat reporters can do that because of the Freedom of Info Act, of course. In reality, if I wanted to take the time, I could do the same with the AGFD. Or if the agency knows the news will likely be released through another source and is looking for an "atta boy" from its adoring public. -TONY

Nice pix, Amanda. Glad it doesn't snow in Glendale. -TONY

I'm working on it, Bill. This has been an ongoing debate between myself and the folks at the AGFD for the last few years. In reality, we're lucky we got as much as we did on this case because several years ago, the department decided that providing info on poaching cases -- charges, convictions, etc. -- provided the wrong sort of publicity for hunting. To that aim, most of what you normally see is requests for information on suspected poaching incidents but little after-the-fact information if someone is nabbed. Also, when results are provided, the cases often involve another agency such as the USFWS, who doesn't have such a policy. Thus, I have urged the folks at AGFD to change its policy and do like most every other state does -- provide the outcome of such cases. Of course, all of the information is available if someone requests it because of the Freedom of Information statutes. In the case of someone being charged and yet not convicted, I'm sure the powers are concerned about litigation. BUT...revealing such would be no different than what occurs daily in the local papers when the names of murderers, rapists, pedophiles, etc. are printed when they are merely charged with the crimes. Anyway, hang loose on the names. I'll post them as soon as I get them. -TONY

Yup. Looks like it.

Mike is talking about not being able to upload smilies as attachments here without having them appear onscreen with the ugly black box background. (see below) I had tried the roach here as an attachment, but then I deleted it because of the BB. I then uploaded it to my personal web site and just used the URL here. And what do you have against roaches? They make great pets. -TONY

Geez, Kev, you don't wanna squish it. That'll mess up your monitor. You need to get a predator to take care of it. -TONY

Bingo! I was wondering how long it would take for someone to provide this info. The pheromones from deer subspecies differ little. -TONY

This is the bill the Terminator signed in Oct. The CA game commission "accepted" it on Dec. 10 and added rimfire ammo to it for the taking of any rodents, varmints, etc. Note the BOLD type and the non-mention of the possession of lead ammo in one's home, office, vehicle, on a shooting range or in Disneyland. -TONY LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 821, Nava. Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act. (1) Existing law regulates the taking of birds and mammals, and prohibits the taking of specified nongame birds. Existing law permits the Department of Fish and Game to preserve the California condor, and requires the Fish and Game Commission to establish a list of endangered species and a list of threatened species. Existing law generally provides that a violation of the fish and game laws is a crime. This bill would enact the Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act to require the use of nonlead centerfire rifle and pistol ammunition when taking big game and coyote within specified areas. The act would require the commission to establish, by regulation, by July 1, 2008, a public process to certify centerfire rifle and pistol ammunition as nonlead ammunition, and to define nonlead ammunition by regulation. The act would also require the commission, to the extent funding is available, to provide hunters within these areas with nonlead ammunition at no or reduced charge through a coupon program. Under the act, a person who violates those requirements would be guilty of an infraction punishable by a $500 fine for the first offense. Because the act would create a new crime, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. The act would also declare the Legislature's intent to protect vulnerable wildlife species, including the California condor, from the ongoing threat of lead poisoning. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act. SEC. 2. It is the intent of the Legislature to protect vulnerable wildlife species, including the California condor, a federally listed endangered species and a state listed endangered and fully protected species, from the ongoing threat of lead poisoning. SEC. 3. Section 3004.5 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to read: 3004.5. (a) Nonlead centerfire rifle and pistol ammunition, as determined by the commission, shall be required when taking big game with rifle or pistol, as defined by Section 350 of the department's mammal hunting regulations, and when taking coyote, within the department's deer hunting zone A South, but excluding Santa Cruz, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and San Joaquin Counties, areas west of Highway 101 within Santa Clara County, and areas between Highway 5 and Highway 99 within Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Kern Counties, and within deer hunting zones D7, D8, D9, D10, D11, and D13. ( By July 1, 2008, the commission shall establish, by regulation, a public process to certify centerfire rifle and pistol ammunition as nonlead ammunition, and shall define, by regulation, nonlead ammunition as including only centerfire rifle and pistol ammunition in which there is no lead content. The commission shall establish and annually update a list of certified centerfire rifle and pistol ammunition. © (1) To the extent that funding is available, the commission shall establish a process that will provide hunters within the department's deer hunting zone A South, but excluding Santa Cruz, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and San Joaquin Counties, areas west of Highway 101 within Santa Clara County, and areas between Highway 5 and Highway 99 within Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Kern Counties, and within deer hunting zones D7, D8, D9, D10, D11, and D13 with nonlead ammunition at no or reduced charge. The process shall provide that the offer for nonlead ammunition at no or reduced charge may be redeemed through a coupon sent to a permitholder with the appropriate permit tag. If available funding is not sufficient to provide nonlead ammunition at no charge, the commission shall set the value of the reduced charge coupon at the maximum value possible through available funding, up to the average cost within this state for nonlead ammunition, as determined by the commission. (2) The nonlead ammunition coupon program described in paragraph (1) shall be implemented only to the extent that sufficient funding, as determined by the Department of Finance, is obtained from local, federal, public, or other nonstate sources in order to implement the program. (3) If the nonlead ammunition coupon program is implemented, the commission shall issue a report on the usage and redemption rates of ammunition coupons. The report shall cover calendar years 2008, 2009, and 2012. Each report shall be issued by June of the following year. (d) The commission shall issue a report on the levels of lead found in California condors. This report shall cover calendar years 2008, 2009, and 2012. Each report shall be issued by June of the following year. (e) The department shall notify those hunters who may be affected by this section. (f) A person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of an infraction punishable by a fine of five hundred dollars ($500). A second or subsequent offense shall be punishable by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more than five thousand dollars ($5,000). SEC. 4. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.

Nice pix, Doug. I love that one of Rica all snowed up. -TONY

Probably the same thing as they now do if you possess shotgun shells with lead pellets in a home near a lake -- nothing. Me thinks the possession part means having them in the field in the designated "condor country," just like having shotgun ammo with lead pellets when waterfowl hunting is a no-no. -TONY

Superb job by all! Congrats to the gals. -TONY