THE RECREATIONAL HUNTING INDUSTRY

The activity of hunting for recreation supports a huge industry of equipment manufacturers, retailers and suppliers, outfitters, guides, cooks, etc. This industry has a substantial impact on the global economy.

Manufacturers

How would hunters be able to hunt without hunting equipment? And if manufacturers did not make such hunting equipment, how would hunting be carried on? In prehistoric times, our forefathers used to make crude hunting tools with their own hands, but the case is no longer so. Now we have a huge industry of manufacturers who specialise in producing hunting equipment, be it a good rifle, shotgun, or pistol, or ammunition to go with these firearms, or holsters to carry them, or binoculars to spot the furthest birds, or a spear or crossbow to go deer hunting. Manufacturing firearms or ammunition, however, requires licences from the government of the country where the manufacturer is located.

Retailers and suppliers

To make hunting equipment easily available to hunters, there are retailers and suppliers all over the world. Some of them also have an online presence. Hunters can visit these stores, whether they are real or virtual, and order or buy hunting equipment. If equipment needs to be shipped, the shipping can take place within a period ranging from two days to a week. While binoculars, holsters, crossbows, hunting knives, hunting boots, camping gear and other such gear can be purchased freely, firearms and ammunition for hunting purposes can be bought only if the hunter holds a licence allowing him to be in possession of these particular hunting gears.

Outfitters

An outfitter is an individual, or a company, which provides equipment and supplies for the pursuit of certain outdoor activities, including hunting. Hunting outfitters can provide accommodations, meals, transportation from the lodge to the hunting spot and back, guides on hunting trips, vehicles and equipment for hunting, and services after the hunter returns to the lodge with the dead game- such as dressing the meat, skinning the dead animal, etc. Outfitters also commonly provide licences required for hunting to their customers. For example, an outfitter in Newfoundland (where wild moose and caribou are common) can provide a valid moose or caribou licence to its customers. Deer hunting usually does not require a licence, but some hunting destinations in the world do require hunters to hold licences for hunting any animal.

Guides and cooks

Guides are either employed by outfitters for serving their customers, or are self-employed. Guides are commonly local people having knowledge of the local terrain, the species of animals available, and favourable weather conditions, of the time for open season and up-to-date information about licences required for hunting. Additionally, they may be experienced in hunting. Outfitters usually provide guides on a 1:1 ratio, that is, on a one guide to one hunter ratio. Guides travel with hunters on hunting expeditions and stay in hunters' camps if the hunting expedition lasts more than one day.

Cooks are usually experts in the kitchen. They commonly have a very good knowledge of the local cuisine, since hunters very often demand to taste local cuisine at the spots where they hunt. Cooks also have to be experienced in dressing meat of the dead game that hunters bring back.