The Department of Tourism has given marketing money to the Wisconsin County Forests Association to promote grouse hunting in the forests.
The Assistant Executive Director of the Association is Gary Zimmer. Zimmer says this is the second year of receiving Joint Effort Marketing money with an eye toward getting hunters to use the 29 Wisconsin county forests.
He says the county lands aren't as well known to people outside the region as other forests...
"....With 2.4 million acres of public land on county forests in the state, it is the largest system of it's type in the world. It is also a lot of public land available for hunting. One of the things brought up to us was a lot of folks, especially folks who come from other states aren't as familiar with our county forests and that available publi land to hunt on...."
The grant is for $2,025 dollars. Zimmer says the JEM grant from Tourism helps promote visitors who come to hunt grouse. He says they've developed brochures and interactive online maps that have much information along with online ads. He says a recent social media campaign generated thousands of hits.
State Senator Tom Tiffany of Hazelhurst says there's an alliance between hunting and tourism...
"...Sporting activities like hunting and fishing is a big part of tourism. To give a grant for sporting activities like grouse hunting I think that's really appropriate appreciate you guys recognizing what brings a lot of money into Wisconsin, grouse hunting.. "
About 100,000 hunters use the county forest land to hunt grouse and woodcock on 95,000 acres of forested habitat.
Regional Tourism Specialist Jeff Anderson says they recogized the traveler potential of marketing the county forests for hunters to use. Anderson says last year they provided $1.1 million JEM money for 61 projects with a return they figure of $31 million dollars.
