Ah, the great outdoors. 🌄 Nothing like a fishing trip with the boys, where cracking open a cold one at 5am isn't frowned upon. 🎣 We're talking about opening a fresh can of bait, of course. Don't be a silly lush. 😏🍺
According to a recent report, wildlife-based recreation contributed almost $12.5 billion to Ohio’s economy in 2022. That's pretty…wild, huh? 🫎
Here’s Five Fast Facts on how outdoor recreation impacts Ohio's economy:
- 🤓 It All Adds Up - The report looked at four different types of recreation: fishing, hunting, target shooting, and wildlife viewing. Together, all four of these activities packed a big economic punch for Ohio in 2022. They provided nearly 80,000 jobs, $4 billion in income, $1.1 billion in local and state taxes, and over $600 million in federal taxes.
- 🐟 Go Fish - According to the report, roughly 18% of Ohio’s adults fished in 2022, or around 1.7 million people. Altogether, they spent $5.5 billion last year and supported more than 34,000 jobs. The most popular counties to fish are along Lake Erie and the Ohio River, and 37% of fishing enthusiasts took at least one trip to Lake Erie.
- 🤫 Be Vewy Vewy Quiet - Hunters spent $1.9 billion last year and supported 12,000 jobs. Ohio has around 500,000 hunters who each spent an average of $3,500 on their trips in 2022. White-tailed deer were the most popular game species, and 91% of hunters took part in the season. While many hunters use multiple weapons, firearms were used by 83% of hunters, and 72% used a bow.
- 🎯 Right On Target - If hunting Bambi's mom isn't your thing, there's always target shooting. Over a million target shooters in the Buckeye State spent $2.6 billion in 2022, which supported more than 22,000 jobs. Outdoor shooting ranges were used by 71% of target shooters, and 46% checked out indoor ranges. The state's most populated counties (Hamilton, Franklin, and Cuyahoga) were ranked the most popular for target shooting.
- 📸 Just Lookin' Around - In 2022, people who like to look at all the pretty nature (AKA wildlife viewers) brought $1.6 billion into Ohio’s economy and supported 11,500 jobs. Bird watchers were the biggest bunch (91%) with a flock of 4.1 million viewers.
🔥Bottom line: We know it's getting kinda chilly out there, but make sure to get outdoors when you can! Head to a state park to get some sunshine and beat that cabin fever. Layer up when you're getting dressed, too. Don't rely on any bear hugs to keep you warm and toasty.
What's your favorite Ohio state park?
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