Iowa hunters help support economy

It's that time of year again when hunters reflect on the past season. Maybe reminiscing about the time spent with family and friends, the missed opportunities to connect on birds or deer, and for some, it's time to thank our Creator for blessing us with a successful season and putting great wild game on the table and in the freezer.

As president of the Iowa Retailers Association, it's also time for myself and thousands of businesses around Iowa to say thank you to the hunters who bought coffee, meals, food, gas, equipment in our stores and lodging in our hometowns.

According to Hunting Works for Iowa (www.huntingworksforia.com), of which I am a co-chair, if it's an average year, hunters are just now finishing up spending that includes some really amazing numbers.

If it's an average year in Iowa, almost a quarter million people went afield. And on average, each one of these hunters spent nearly $1,100 on trip-related expenses and gear.

To put these numbers into further perspective, those quarter-million hunters accounted for nearly $228 million of spending within our borders. This spending generates nearly $110.5 million in Iowa salaries and wages and supports more than 6,000 jobs while generating $23.4 million in local and state taxes. All this spending has a nearly $360 million ripple effect on our Iowa economy.

Thank you to the Iowa hunters.

Jim Henter

Urbandale