Bucking The Trend: Big Sky Hunting Holds Steady, Adds Big Money To Economy

Hunters spent $324 million in Big Sky Country on gas, lodging, food, guide fees and other related expenses in 2016. That number doesn’t include money spent on gear like firearms and boots or hunting licenses.

Nationwide, the number of hunters has been in decline for decades. But Montana’s hunter population has held steady, an unsurprising anomaly perhaps, given the state’s outdoor tradition and easy access to game.

Hunters spent $324 million in Big Sky Country on gas, lodging, food, guide fees and other related expenses in 2016, according to statistics from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. That number doesn’t include money spent on gear like firearms and boots or hunting licenses.