Sure our numbers are dwindling, but us fellows that are left are doing our part for the economy. While we don’t spend much on sweaters knotted daintily around our neck or “tennis” bracelets, we spend a helluva lot of money where it counts..

If you take the entire Skiing industry, with the pricey equipment, exotic travel, and broken limbs – you get 661 million dollars. We spend 1.1 BILLION on just bait.

I would define that as “Spankage,” pure and simple.

If you want to include ice to keep the bait fresh, that’s another $378 million. None of that ice ever touches bait, we know that but they don’t – and no statistics are available for carbonated beverages, but it’s safe to assume none of us have liver tissue left.

From the “Bite me, PETA” department comes this little morsel:

Hunters and anglers have historically been — and continue to be — the largest contributors to government wildlife conservation programs. Through excise taxes and license revenues, they have contributed more than $10 billion dollars to conservation, and annually provide more than 80% of the funding for most state fish and wildlife agencies.

But before you get all complacent on me, know this disturbing tidbit;

It is estimated that there are 40 million sportsmen of voting age in the United States – nearly a third of the entire vote. Nearly 8 in 10 hunters always vote in presidential elections, while 6 in 10 always vote in non-presidential elections.

While you appear to be the salvation, you’re also the cause of the mess we’re in, as you pick them dimwits during the election, then fight them tooth and nail when they start drilling arctic wilderness.

Less “ice” before you vote next time. Meathead.