Officials in Vermont, along with those who cater to outdoors enthusiasts, are worried about a decline in hunting and fishing licenses issued by the state.
Hunting in Vermont is at an all-time low. In 2000, the total number of hunting licenses issued peaked at over 100,000. About a decade later that number was only 75,000.
It’s hurting state revenues, and the department’s Susan Warner tells WCAX-TV that hunting provides an economic boost when the state needs it -after leaf peeping season and before ski season.
In 2006 the hunting generated almost $400 million, but five years later that number was down by a third.
Warner says her department is looking at ways to try and bring in more hunters from out of state.