The Great Outdoors Greatly Impacts the Economy

Do you know the annual economic impact that outdoor recreation has in Nebraska? Like my Game and Parks cohort, Cara Pesek, I expected the number to be big, but it’s bigger than we both thought — $2.4 billion annually! WOW! Hunting has an $848 million impact annually, fishing has a $324 million impact
annually, wildlife viewing has a $722 million impact annually and state parks have a $749 million impact annually. In this state, the great outdoors greatly impacts the Nebraska economy.

Okay, all that being stated. You know me to be a realist. So, I decided to see how much money I was putting into the local economy with regard to a one-day Canada goose hunting trip I took yesterday from Omaha to near Valley, NE. Now, I had already purchased the required permit and stamps for waterfowl hunting, that’s a given, and I’m not even adding those to this mix!

Here we go.

The prior night I drove from our Omaha Metcalfe Park Neighborhood home to Cabela’s in La Vista to buy shotgun shells (and to look around, of course, HA!). Approximate gas cost with the purchase of shells =  $32.00.

After the Cabela’s excursion, it was over to see a local decoy maker (you can never have enough decoys!) to purchase a few more. Approximate cost of gas and decoys = $45.00.

Then, the next day (yesterday) there was a gas fill for the old Wagner pick ’em up truck at Howell’s Amoco in Omaha’s Benson area and to say “hello” to Anne, Gary and the crew. Cost with gas, soda and snacks = $43.00.

Looking around the goose hunting blind, I’m seeing  more money that was (past tense) contributed to the economy. How many items do you recognize?

Goose harvested, see it in the foreground?

Sunset. Time to put away decoys, clean up the blind, grab the goose and head home.

On the way back in to Omaha, I made a quick pit stop here for a bottle of water and a couple of granola bars = $5.00.

After arriving home and plucking the goose, it was time to cook the wild game bird. Rough cost of cooking materials used bought from a local grocery store = $7.00.

Total contributed to the Nebraska economy on this hunt = $132.00.

Keep in mind, this is just ONE trip made locally to the great outdoors to do some hunting! When you stop and think about all of the costs involved or associated with any outdoor activity, they add up quickly, especially taking an outdoor trip that requires an overnight stay.

You’ll find those dollars related to outdoor recreation being turned over in the community numerous times and in more places than you expected! The bottom line: Nebraska’s great outdoors translates to great impact to our economy!

Oops! Forgot to add in the bag of dog treats for our waterfowl hunting dog – Buddy = $10.00.