Hunters, anglers should make voices heard to politicians

When I was a young man, hearing the saying "The squeaky wheel gets the grease" rang as hollow as it did trite.

But over the years I have come to learn few statements hold more truth. One might even say the squeak, coupled with high emotion, often outweighs fact and nearly every other reasonable consideration when it comes to gaining the attention of those we elect to represent us.

Unfortunately, hunters and anglers tend to fly below the radar and generally don't squeak loudly. We're content to work hard on behalf of conservation programs or on habitat projects, but rarely do we trumpet our efforts. Perhaps we're afraid doing so could open the door to something bad. So we often end up riding in the back of the truck instead of up front with the folks who make the decisions.

I don't like riding in the back of the truck and don't think hunters and anglers should be content to do so, either. With a presidential campaign under way, perhaps it's time for us to become a squeaky wheel and let the politicians know why it wouldn't be a good idea for them to overlook the influence and contributions of the American sportsman -- and where we stand on national gun-control issues and the access to public lands, especially those in the West.

America's outdoor enthusiasts are an integral component in the country's economic engine, injecting billions of dollars annually into the economy and accounting for 1 percent of the gross domestic product. The 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, found more than 87 million Americans age 16 and older participated in some recreational activity related to fish and wildlife. That's 38 percent of the U.S. population and no doubt accounts for more than a handful of voters.

"Expenditures by this group pursuant to wildlife-related recreation were $120.1 billion," the report stated. "This spending equates to 1 percent of the gross domestic product, which means that $1 out of every $100 of all goods and services produced in the U.S. is associated with wildlife recreation."

Of those 87 million people who participated in wildlife-related recreation, nearly 34 million fished or hunted. While doing so, they spent more than $75 million on equipment, trip expenses, licenses, fees and other miscellaneous goods. Equipment purchases accounted for $40.3 billion and trip expenses for $25 billion. Sales of licenses and other goods totaled $10.6 billion. On average, each one of us sportsmen and women spent $2,225 on hunting, fishing or a combination of the two in 2006.

Some of that money ended up in the cash registers of small convenience stores such as R-Place in Ash Springs, north of Alamo. This long has been a favorite stopping point for hunters and anglers making their way from the Las Vegas Valley into central Nevada's backcountry. Restaurants, motels, sporting goods stores and guide services all benefit. Careless drivers might even contribute to the local economy by paying for speeding tickets.

In addition -- through federal excise taxes on firearms, ammunition and archery tackle -- hunters contributed $233 million toward wildlife conservation in 2006. Anglers and boaters added another $291 million. Together, these groups account for nearly $11 billion in excise taxes that have been collected and used for wildlife since those taxes were enacted.

While we're acting as the squeaky wheel, local politicians might want to consider this: In Nevada, hunters and anglers support as many as 5,000 jobs and generate $176 million in salaries and wages, $41 million in federal taxes and $32 million in state and local taxes. Those figures come from a report commissioned by the National Shooting Sports Foundation titled "Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy," which states Nevada hunters and anglers have an overall economic impact of $627 million.

• WATERFOWL HUNT FOR YOUTH -- Young hunters will have a chance to test their skills in a two-day waterfowl season set aside just for them. The hunt is open to youth ages 12 through 16, but an adult who is at least 18 years old must accompany them. Sorry, adults are not allowed to hunt with the kids.

The hunt will take place in Clark and Lincoln counties Feb. 2 and 3. Reservations will be required to hunt on the Overton Wildlife Management Area, and the Nevada Department of Wildlife will draw for positions at 8 a.m. Monday. You can attend the drawing at the agency's Las Vegas office, 4747 Vegas Drive, or its Henderson office, 744 S. Racetrack Road.

Doug Nielsen is an award-winning freelance writer and a conservation educator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. His column is published Thursday. He can be reached at doug@takinitoutside.com.