OCONTO FALLS, Wis. — It’s the busiest time of year at Rocky Ridge Shooters Supply in Oconto Falls.
Owner Mark Micauley sees firearms cross his shop’s work bench in the days and weeks before gun deer hunts begin.
“The most important thing for us right now is that most people want a new scope. “I realized that I was doing a lot of things,” he said. “Unfortunately, if people come in and something goes wrong, I only have a few days to fix the gun for them. If it’s a minor thing, I can usually take care of it. If that’s the case, unfortunately we need to consider selling them new guns.”
Hunting, especially deer hunting, is a big part of his business.
(Spectrum News 1/Nathan Phelps)
“This is deer hunting season, and later this year you’ll see them hunting coyotes and other predators during the winter months,” Micoly said. “And then spring comes along with turkeys. Of course there are lulls. There are about six months between turkey hunting and fall hunting. But our deer hunts are very large.”
Hunting Works for Wisconsin is an organization that promotes the economic impact of hunting in the state. According to the magazine, nearly 900,000 people hunt in Wisconsin each year, spending about $2.6 billion on the hunt. The average hunter spends $2,800 a year on the sport.
Kelly Schwartz with the Oconto Regional Tourism and Economic Development Corporation said the money is being used for things like food, lodging and amenities.
“We know hunting season is very important to local communities because we rely so heavily on outdoor recreation,” she said. “When you look at ammunition stores and shooting ranges, they have a huge impact on when people come, where they stay and what they continue to experience.”
Schwartz said there are more than 43,600 acres of public land in the county available for hunting, and the hunting season is also key to growing future business in the area.
“When you go for deer and turkey and experience what Oconto County has to offer outdoors, it’s a bridge to ‘I want to go back with my family.’ I want my kids to experience this, too. ” she said. “We really have a lot to offer outside.”
Micauley said it’s an exciting time of year for hunting-related businesses.
“Restaurants down the street, myself doing it with guns, lodging, local establishments, whether it’s bars or whatever, they’re serving in the evening. That’s a really big thing here. ” he said. Said. “Many people are preparing in earnest for this time of year.”
