Rising gasoline prices will impact the amount of hunting participation this fall. According to a poll of 2,481 sportsmen and women conducted by HunterSurvey.com, more than 40 percent of hunters indicated that rising gas prices will cause them to reduce their outdoor activities or reduce their travel distance this fall. The rest either indicated that rising fuel prices would not hinder their outdoor activity, or they weren’t sure of the impacts rising gas prices would have on their hunting this fall.
Rob Southwick, an economist and president of HunterSurvey.com, said, “We’ve seen in past research that rising gasoline prices depress hunting license sales in many areas, but the recent increases in fuel prices are unprecedented. Many hunters gradually accept higher prices and will return to the woods and participate in hunting as they have before. However, until the effects of higher fuel prices can be moderated via higher efficiency engines and other solutions, we might loose some hunters completely.”
The specific results of the survey were as follows:
Hunters
Higher prices will not affect my hunting activities.—41.6 percent
Higher prices will cause me to hunt less this year.—15.8 percent
I will probably hunt the same amount this year, but not travel as far or use a boat as much because of rising fuel costs.—25 percent
I am not sure how gasoline prices will affect my hunting this year.—17.1 percent
HunterSurvey.com is a monthly online national survey of sportsmen that provides industry and policymakers with information on hunting trends and activity. For more information, visit SouthwickAssociates.com or e-mail Rob Southwick at Rob@southwickassociates.com.