By JOHN McCOY
Charleston Gazette-Mail
(Gazette-Mail photo by John McCoy)
CHARLESTON, W.Va — West Virginians often associate hunters with a particular hue of fluorescent orange. Perhaps they should also associate them with a shade of green — the one found on dollar bills.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, hunters contribute $552 million a year to the Mountain State’s economy. That’s more than skiing ($250 million) and whitewater rafting ($248 million) combined.
“I view hunting in West Virginia as a tremendous economic engine,” said Paul Johansen, wildlife chief for the state Division of Natural Resources. “Hunters are responsible for $421 million in annual retail sales. Salaries and wages related to hunting total more than $153 million a year. Hunting creates and sustains more than 5,300 jobs, and it’s responsible for more than $35 million a year in state taxes.”
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