Wildlife based recreation in Wyoming increased by three percent in 2017 from the year before. That's according to a new analysis by the University of Wyoming. This is the second time the University of Wyoming analyzed the economic contribution of big game hunting, fishing and wildlife watching in the state.
The report looked at days spent hunting, licenses, and money spent during trips to hunt, fish and wildlife watch. Wildlife based recreation generated a total of over a billion dollars' worth of economic activity and supported nearly 10,000 jobs.
David Taylor, a professor at the UW Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics Department, conducted the analysis. He said it's a significant contribution to Wyoming's economy.
"10,000 jobs is kind of important in Wyoming," said Taylor. "It's equivalent of total employment in a place like Carbon or Lincoln or Uinta county."
Hunting expenditures were up from the year before but wildlife watching contributed the most to the economy with almost $380 million. Taylor said wildlife based recreation contributes to Wyoming's economic diversity, which he said the state could use.
