Economic and operational profile of recreational waterfowl hunting enterprises in the middle and upper Gulf Coast of Texas

Public use of wildlife resources in Texas operates almost exclusively through the sale or gift of private land trespass rights. A growing number of private landowners are supplementing their annual income with revenues from recreational waterfowl enterprises. The primary objective of this study was to describe the operation and commerce of the recreational waterfowl hunting industry in the middle and upper Gulf Coast of Texas.;I successfully interviewed 25 landowners and waterfowl outfitters in the middle and upper gulf coast of Texas in 1995 and 1996. Short-term, season, and year leases were the 3 leasing strategies used by the cooperators. Short-term leases were commonly operated by commercial waterfowl outfitters who provided services such as guides, decoys, and guns. Short-term leases generated the greatest total variable cost figures among all lease types. Season leases were the most common (19) among private operators and produced the most profitable gross margin per day. Year lease operations were least common and generated the greatest fixed cost figures to enterprise operators. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).