West Virginia businesses ready to rack up profits from buck season

But there are stops to make before hitting the field, including buying ammunition, clothing, licenses, food, gasoline and more.

West Virginia’s economy rakes in hundreds of millions of dollars every year due to the popularity of hunting in the state.

According to a report that reflects state data from 2020, West Virginia has nearly a quarter of a million licensed hunters.

West Virginia generated more than $14 million in revenue in 2020 from issuing hunting and fishing licenses.

Each year, the hunting industry contributes more than $456 million to the West Virginian economy in retail sales alone. This figure includes the sale of bows and arrows, rifles, shotguns and hunting accessories like cold weather camouflage apparel, feeders, targets and more.

The total economic impact of hunting on the West Virginia economy, including the total multiplier effect, was $549 million in 2020, according to the report.

West Virginia’s hunting industry employs more than 4,200 individuals whose salaries equal more than $151 million dollars annually, for an average of approximately $36,000 per employee, according to the report.

ATR Performance in Fairmont has seen an uptick of 20-30% in the sale of bolt action rifles and related ammo this hunting season, said owner Josh Pyle, as people come in to stock up on ammo or consider a new rifle prior to the season.

“It’s a trend each year,” Pyle said.

Although ATR does not carry other hunting products such as cold weather apparel, freezers and feeders, ATR does see more individuals utilizing their indoor range through the winter than in the summer months, Pyle said.

While many hunters across the state use an outdoor range to zero their optics, due to them generally being a longer distance, there is still a nominal uptick in foot traffic at ATR’s range, Pyle said, as some folks may not want to brave the brisk temperatures outside.

While there are some pairs and families who go to the range to zero their scopes, the range is mostly attended by individuals training handgun marksmanship as pistols are the most sold item at ATR Performance, Pyle said.

Dick’s Sporting Goods is another outdoor outfitter that sees an uptick in sales throughout winter and the West Virginia hunting seasons, said Assistant Store manager Louis Stoper.

A mix of families and individuals upgrading their arsenal and trying on hunting gear for the first time flood into Dick’s Sporting Goods each hunting season, Stoper said.

Dick’s carries several hunting accessories, including cold weather apparel, bows, rifles, ammunition, targets and more, Stoper said.

Dick’s Sporting Goods also provides hunters with their licenses and specific tags all throughout the year, Stoper said.

Those wishing to participate in the West Virginia rifle season for antlered deer are required to purchase their tags and licenses prior to the start of season.

Residents have been purchasing their licenses and tags throughout the year, so there usually isn’t a line to get your hunting license, Stoper said, even a week before the season starts.

Hunters in Barbour, Jackson, Mason and Upshur counties are reminded the Division of Natural Resources requires any deer taken Monday and Tuesday in these counties must be checked by DNR biologists to gather information about the physical characteristics and age of deer harvested in order to better manage the state’s deer population.

A list of locations where hunters can have their deer examined in each of these counties is available at WVDNR.gov.