Congressman Mike Ross on deer hunting

It’s finally that time of year again. Deer hunting season is underway for thousands of Arkansas families across our beautiful state. As family and friends come together and enjoy one of America’s oldest outdoor activities and traditions, I believe there is no better place to hunt than right here in The Natural State.

While hunting is an important tradition that must be preserved, it’s also an important part of our overall economy. America’s 34 million hunters and anglers generate $25 billion a year in federal, state and local taxes and billions more on licenses, stamps, tags and permits. All in all, hunters and anglers directly support 1.6 million jobs, according to the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation.

If a single corporation brought in as much as hunters and anglers spend, it would be among America’s 20 largest corporations, ahead of Target and AT&T. And, their impact stretches much further by creating an economic “ripple effect” of $192 billion a year across all sectors of the economy and all regions of the country.

In the latest National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, it found that over 350,000 people hunted in Arkansas every year – that’s about one in six adults. It’s clear that hunting is important to our state and, as an avid hunter and outdoorsman myself, it’s a very important part of my work in Congress.

I have fought hard for the rights of hunters, anglers and outdoorsmen in our nation’s capital since I first came to Congress. This year, I’m proud to serve as Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus – a bipartisan group of House members and Senators that actively promotes, protects and advances the rights of hunters and anglers in the U.S. Congress. With bipartisan leadership in both the House and the Senate, the Caucus is the sportsmen’s ally and first line of defense.

As a leader of the Sportsmen’s Caucus, I helped introduce earlier this year the Making Public Lands Public Act, H.R. 1997, to open hundreds of thousands of acres of federal public land to hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreational activities. Arkansas is home to thousands of acres of national forests and I believe the public should be able to enjoy these public lands. My bill will help ensure a fairer balance between conserving our public lands, promoting wildlife management and providing more Americans access to enjoy some of our nation’s most beautiful places.

In addition to leading the Sportsmen’s Caucus, I’m also proud to serve as Co-Chair of the Second Amendment Task Force, standing up and fighting for our Second Amendment rights. As your Congressman and as a life member of the National Rifle Association, I am leading the fight to oppose any and all efforts in Washington that restrict our right to own and bear arms.

While deer season is underway, there are hunting and angling opportunities throughout our great state all year long. We are so fortunate to live in a beautiful state with so many outdoor opportunities. These outdoor activities are an important part of our heritage and I encourage all Arkansans to experience what our great state has to offer. As your Congressman, I will continue fighting to protect and promote these important traditions and help make sure they are passed down for generations to come.