Jack Williams has been a hunter for his entire life and he says it means everything to him and his family. He thinks that, in part, came from his upbringing in Michigan.
"It's a family tradition with us," says Williams, "and the state you know we have all the seasons and it's wonderful."
And the state of Michigan knows that. That's why the Michigan Chamber of Commerce launched the Hunting Works for Michigan coalition.
"There are many individuals in our state that benefit from hunting, but don't themselves hunt, so we want people to understand the important positive role that hunting plays in our society, and the positive economic impact," explains the Michigan Chamber of Commerce's Richard Studley.
Studley says that the impact comes from millions of dollars flowing into the Michigan economy from hunting licenses, taxes, and revenue from hunters visiting the state.
"Hunters pay thousands and thousands of dollars in taxes, even millions of dollars when you look at travel and tourism," he explains, "recreation, sales tax, use tax, income taxes, property taxes, hunters make a very substantial contribution when they buy gasoline in our state."
And those hunters come from all over. Working in Total Firearms in Mason, Williams says he's seen hunters from across the world come to hunt in Michigan, including some family:
"We have family that come from out in Idaho, and California, and Florida, come up every year, and we see people at the shop come up for season, deer season."
Which shows him that Michigan is one of the best places to hunt in the country:
"I've got to believe Michigan is very close to the top if it's not number one," Williams smiles.
