Hunters have a big impact on Idaho's economy

BOISE -- A new study shows that hunting is on the decline, not only a national scale, but also in Idaho. The ripple effect runs deeply throughout the Gem State.

With so many things pulling for our time and money, hunters are struggling to keep this long time tradition alive.

But one Idaho family is breaking that trend and passing the hunting bug to the next generation.

"Statistically we know that it takes a hunter to make a hunter. And generally hunters come from hunting families," says Dan Papp, regional wildlife educator for Idaho Fish and Game.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has found a troubling trend: many people who called themselves hunters are now finding other things to do with their time.

"They're choosing to use their time differently than they did in the past for the traditional outdoor recreational activities," said Virgil Moore, deputy director of Idaho Fish and Game.

"Hunting is not a spectator sport. You got to get out of the bleachers, and you got to get out here in the woods and get connected with everything that's wild," said Dan Papp.

For Dan Papp, family is at the heart of this traditional activity. He's been hunting for decades; he introduced his son to the sport, who is now introducing his son as well.

"These are some of our closest times. They enable us to share what's gone on in the last week, since we last talked. And it's a time where we probably become the most intimate," said Dan Papp.

"My dad has become my best friend, and that is the biggest gift in the world. I thank God that he is truly my best friend, not only my dad, and he's my hunting buddy," said Russell Papp, second-generation hunter.

“It's not until you're here, connected with the land that you begin to feel a responsibility to the resources and the land. And hunters by in large have shown and proven that over the years," said Dan Papp.

When Sam Goodsell goes hunting with his father and grandfather, he says he's putting family at the top of his priority list, ahead of a busy city life.

"Probably quality time, maybe. Because you get to sit there, you can talk about stuff that's going on with your life," said Goodsell.  "You've got all this time to talk between the ducks, so it's really nice."

The Papps see hunting as more than just killing animals for sport or pleasure. It's what hunters do for the environment and wildlife that defines who they are.

"We feel that hunting and hunters is very important to the overall well being of all our wildlife in the state," said Dan Papp.

"Without hunting I don't think there would be that many animals, because hunting is maintaining and managing wildlife numbers," said Russell Papp.

That's why hunting experts worry when they see these numbers:

In 2006, 12.5 million people hunted in the U.S., that's a four percent drop from their study conducted five years ago, and a 10 percent drop from 10 years ago.

And this decrease is having an impact on more than just lost family quality time and the wildlife population.

There's a financial impact on the rest of us.

"Hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing is an $860 million a year spending by the public in this state," said Moore.

And two-thirds of that money comes from hunting and fishing.

So from an economic standpoint it is important to the state in terms of a major recreation activity," said Moore.

A chunk of what hunters spend on equipment, as well as license fees, goes right back into helping preserve local wildlife.

"There's 30 million people out there basically that have hunted or embraced the hunting ethic that have paid their way, and as a result we have the wildlife we have here today," said Dan Papp.

But with hunting numbers spiraling down there may not be enough to carry the weight to preserve Idaho's wildlife.

"It's a concern, it's not at a panic state, I think we're going to continue to have hunters, but we may not have the hunters numbers that we've had in recent years," said Dan Papp.

Some animal welfare activists welcome the declining numbers.

They’ve noticed the decline in hunters coincides with a 13 percent increase in wildlife watching since 1996.