New research commissioned shows the gamebird industry generates a $2.2 billion annual economic impact in states where gamebirds are raised and sold for hunting....
Gamebird Industry is Vital to Local Economies and the Future of Hunting
New research on the gamebird industry reveals a $2.2 billion annual impact on the states' economies where birds such as pheasant, quail and partridge are raised and sold for hunting. The research, commissioned by the North American Gamebird Association, was funded by NSSF – The Firearm Industry Trade Association and conducted by Southwick Associates, the nation’s top economic research firm specializing in outdoor recreation.
The industry, which includes farms that raise gamebirds and hunting preserves and clubs that buy them, supports 10,000 jobs and paid nearly $614 million in salaries and wages last year. The impact is also felt at all levels of government (federal, state and local), as the gamebird industry produced more than $256 million in tax revenue.
“These aren’t surprising figures," noted NAGA President Mike Martz, who owns Martz's Game Farm and Martz's Gap View Hunting Preserve in Dalmatia, Pennsylvania. "Demand for easy-to-access, turnkey hunting opportunities is at an all-time high."
The research, conducted through a survey of gamebird businesses in February and March of 2025, revealed that the average gamebird hunting preserve hosted more than 3,200 hunters this past year. More importantly, the data demonstrated how critical these hunting facilities are to the recruitment of new hunters, as 31.8% of hunting preserve customers were either first-timers or novice hunters. The survey also showed the wide range of ages that participated in hunting at a gamebird hunting preserve, with 48.7% being 45 or younger.
Gamebird farms have grown considerably in the 10 years since NAGA last gathered this research. The average pheasant grower produces 137,626 pheasants, while the average quail farm produces 133,545 quail.
Together, these farms and their hunting business partners spend about half of their revenue in their local communities and are heavily operated by families. The average gamebird business provides work for just shy of 20 people, with half of its labor pool from family members. The gamebird industry also plays a significant role in tourism, as one-third of visitors to hunting preserves travel to other states to participate. In addition to the expenses involved in hunting itself, these folks are buying fuel, meals and lodging.
“These findings are really encouraging!” exclaimed Martz. “They should convince our elected officials in Washington D.C. and in our own states how vital the gamebird industry is to the economy, family farms and the future of conservation. Our hope is that this research will make it easier for our businesses to get the help they need when facing challenges such as avian influenza or natural disasters. The findings are clear: gamebird businesses pack a real economic punch and need to be protected!”
More on this exciting research will soon be available on our website and in the July/August issue of NAGA News.
