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Post by papabear on Jun 2, 2015 18:06:21 GMT -5
Dear Friends, From a recent article I read. Obvious to see where some of the "PRESERVATIONIST" mentality is coming from within the DEC. Regards
In the United States, $55 billion are spent annually on wildlife watching, nearly 20% by New York State residents. New Yorkers spend $10.6 billion every year on wildlife watching: $6.5 billion out-of-state, $4.1 billion in-state. New York wildlife watching revenues exceed combined in-state fishing and hunting revenues of $3.6 billion. Generating 12% of the state's $33.8 billion in consumer outdoor recreation spending, wildlife watching creates about 36,600 New York jobs, $1.5 billion in wages and salaries, and $336 million in state and local tax revenue. Wildlife watching in New York State is big business.
Recognizing both the financial rewards and increased economic potential of wildlife watching tourism, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in April of 2013 launched the Watchable Wildlife Program (WWP). Requiring minimal capitol and infrastructure investment, the WWP’s guide and maps simply point the public to existing bird observatories, nature walks, fish-watching and wildlife rehab centers, where the local, regional and state economies all reap those nation-leading $4.1 billion in state revenues.
As the East’s first and most celebrated wilderness reserve, tourism in Adirondack Park, including 16 DEC wildlife watching sites, currently attracts 7-10 million visitors who generate $1.2 billion annually.
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wcs
Posts: 1,159
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Post by wcs on Jun 2, 2015 18:42:21 GMT -5
Wow. Those are some interesting numbers. The real kick is these wild life watchers and hikers don't contribute one cent to the lands or animals.
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Post by slyfox74 on Jun 2, 2015 20:37:11 GMT -5
It said wildlife watching revenues exceed hunting and fishing license revenues. So according to the author of the article, wildlife watchers do contribute and in fact exceed our contributions. My question would be; What constitutes wildlife watching vs. hunting, trapping or fishing, and what constitutes generated revenue from wildlife watching specifically? Binocular sales? Teva sandals and trail mix?
How are "they" gauging the money coming in from wildlife watching? This article is vague, and quite obviously skewed to fit the agenda of the anti-hunting, bunny huggers. What kind of jobs are created from wildlife watching? This is horse poop until I see actual facts and reliable sources. Wouldn't it make sense that someone buying binoculars and/or trail cams, or using hiking trails, and observatories could just as easily be a hunter. trapper, or fisherman? I know in the off season I sometimes use hiking trails. I hike around the Adirondacks and the St. Lawrence River Region. I sign in the trail books, I watch wildlife and birds. So what sets me apart as a hunter from that of a wildlife watcher? My frame of mind? I often see a deer in the off season and watch it. I usually think how delicious it would taste with some fresh corn on the cobb. I watch ducks too. I love them, especially the Wood Ducks. I like to find where they're feeding and watch them come in in the mornings. Around the first weekend of October I usually watch them over the barrels of my side by side Remington. So how does my wildlife watching in August, or the money I spend doing it get separated from the money I spend hunting them in the fall. Same with fishing. I watch Ospreys catch fish all the time while I'm fishing. I am mesmerized by the beauty and skill with which they pluck fish out of the water right in front of me while I catch nothing. In fact, now that I think about it. When I'm out fishing I usually watch more wildlife than anything else. I see Muskrats and Beavers, Otters, Foxes, Cormorants. all kinds of Wildlife gets watched by me when I'm fishing because I'm such a piss poor fisherman. So how is that money set apart from the worms I drown and the minnows that I set free at the end of the day? I watch the hell out of wildlife, and I just want to know how something so arbitrary gets counted in the State coffers.
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Post by mrlongbeard1 on Jun 2, 2015 23:23:57 GMT -5
I'd also like to know how they generated those$$$ numbers. Maybe they better start selling permits to use the wild life watching areas. I bet I know where the moneys came from that generated those areas to start with.. Some pay their way and others just ride on their shirt tails.. Have a great day..
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