As the numbers of hunters across the country increases, local economies are reaping the benefits.

Outdoors enthusiasts seem to be solving the budget problem with more hunters because of a groundbreaking program that sends hundreds of thousands of newcomers into the field.

Concerned about the impact of too many restrictions on the ability of sportsmen and sportswomen to pass on their hunting traditions to the next generation, a trio of national organizations launched a program designed to remove the red tape, and bolster hunting recruitment.

The program, Families Afield, was kicked off in 2005 by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the National Wild Turkey Federation and the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance. Their efforts have been joined by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and the National Rifle Association.

The purpose of the program is to promote passage of “Apprentice Hunting License” legislation. Under this new license, an experienced hunter can take a newcomer into the field to hunt under close supervision before the completion of a hunter-education course.

To date, 30 states have passed Families Afield style laws, and new data shows that more than 598,532 apprentice licenses have been sold since the program began. And the safety rate of the supervised apprentices has exceeded that of the average hunter.

Even more encouraging was data from a study on the first class of apprentices from the state of Ohio that began in 2006. Over the three-year period, roughly half of the purchasers of apprentice licenses continued hunting.

In today’s tough economic environment it also is important to consider the economic impact that Families Afield has built in such a short amount of time.

According to Today’s Hunter, published by the National Shooting Sports Foundation in 2008, the average hunter spends just under $2,000 per year on expenses related to hunting. This includes food, lodging, equipment, travel costs, licenses and more.

By keeping half of the 598,532 apprentice hunters, with an average expenditure of $2,000, Families Afield already has had an estimated impact of nearly $600 million.

Families Afield is a proven program that helps increase hunting numbers, while promoting a safe experience and provides much needed fuel to a slowly recovering economy. More information can be found at familiesafield.org.