AUSTIN, Texas — Many hunting ranches had a slow start in 2008 but finished with a banner year, proving that hunters will always be in pursuit of big deer. The American Deer & Wildlife Alliance (ADWA) announces a new partnership with the Pennsylvania Deer Farmers Association (PDFA) in pursuit of growing the deer industry in North America.
As one of the largest state deer associations, PDFA is instrumental in protecting landowners, breeders and ranchers rights to raise and hunt deer on the land they own.
“Now that our industry has 250-inch-plus deer available to hunt we can add the World Wide Big Game revenues to the $15 billion dollar deer industry. Every year we just need a small percentage of those total dollars to shift our industry, and the numbers are huge,” says Dave Griffith, President of the Pennsylvania Deer Farmers Association. “Our industry can do nothing, but grow. There will be economic ups and downs but our greatest enemy will be legislation and regulations that will negatively impact our industry.”
Pennsylvania is currently ranked second in commercial deer and elk farms, third in deer and elk sold, fourth in total deer and elk farms, and fifth in total deer and elk kept. Deer farms can be found in 60 of 67 counties in the state, and elk farms can be found in 30 counties. Eighty-two percent of deer and elk farms have been created since 1990, indicating a fast-growing industry.
According to surveys pointed to in studies, Pennsylvania’s deer and elk farms expect to reach $47.1 million in sales by 2010, up from $16.8 million in 2001. This growth is a factor of varied industry trends, beginning with the diversity of enterprises and products involved. Deer and elk farms turn out a broad array of products and services, ranging from deer urine to venison meat. Services offered include hunting, breeding stock and tourism-related activities. To more information on the Pennsylvania Deer Farmers Association, visit www.padfa.com.
“Deer farms are moving from a ‘niche farm sector’ to a mainstream one and the future for the deer industry is bright,” says ADWA Director of Operations Annie Jones. “Its $40.3 million of direct farm receipts in Pennsylvania compare nicely with other farm sectors for which the Keystone State is well-known.”
Jones says ADWA encourages individuals working within the deer industry to support regional organizations in Pennsylvania, Texas, Indiana, Kentucky and all other states. “State deer farming associations are on the front line in looking out for our collective rights, and they understand that more exposure for deer and elk breeders significantly benefit everyone within the industry.”
For more information on the American Deer & Wildlife Alliance and/or to become a member, please call 877.331.8607 or visit www.deerwildlifealliance.org.
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, the American Deer & Wildlife Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to the growth of the deer and wildlife industry, and to help educate consumers and the youth on the conservation issues which effect deer and wildlife as well as the industry. For more information on the American Deer & Wildlife Alliance, call 877.331.8607 or visit www.deerwildlifealliance.org.
