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Angling, hunting, trapping, and sport shooting

Leaving a large economic footprint

In 2018, Canadians spent $18.9 billion on fishing, hunting, trapping, and sport shooting. This spending has a ripple effect on the economy and helps a broad range of industries.

It contributes $13.2 billion to Canada’s GDP, supports 107,000 jobs, and generates $6.1 billion in government revenues.

These activities affect a wide range of industries:

Direct impacts

Spending on these activities directly impacts retailers and service providers, such as outdoor gear stores, restaurants, gas stations, and hotels.

$5 billion in GDP

66,000 jobs

$3.5 billion in labour income

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Indirect impacts

These retailers and service providers support a range of suppliers by buying goods and services. This makes up the supply chain.

$5.6 billion in GDP

24,000 jobs

$1.8 billion in labour income

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Induced impacts

Spending the profits and earnings from direct and indirect transactions supports businesses in the wider economy.

$2.6 billion in GDP

17,000 jobs

$1.1 billion in labour income

Money spent on

Gear

Food

Lodge

Fuel

Major Purchases

Total footprint

$13.2 billion to GDP

107,000 jobs

$6.1 billion in tax revenues

$6.4 billion in labour income

Fishing

  • Leaves a large economic footprint
  • 3 million anglers in Canada
  • $10 billion spent on fishing in 2018

Contributed $7 billion in GDP

Supported 58,000 jobs

Generated $3.5 billion in labour income

Hunting

  • In 2018, more money was spent on hunting than fishing in the territories and three of the Atlantic provinces
  • 1.3 million hunters in Canada
  • $10 billion spent on fishing in 2018

Contributed $4.1 billion in GDP

Supported 33,300 jobs

Generated $2 billion in labour income

Shooting

  • Sport shooting is growing in popularity
  • An estimated 1.4 million Canadians participate in shooting sports
  • $2.6 billion spent on sport shooting in 2018

Contributed $1.8 billion in GDP

Supported 14,500 jobs

Generated $868 million in labour income

Trapping

  • Many people who trap do so as part of tradition
  • 45,000 trappers in Canada
  • $131 million spent on trapping in 2018

Contributed $91 million in GDP

Supported 738 jobs

Generated $44 million in labour income

Sources: The Conference Board of Canada; Statistics Canada; RCMP, 2017 Commissioner of Firearms Report; Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Survey of Recreational Fishing in Canada, 2015; provincial/territorial licensing agencies and/or affiliates.

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