Daniel EadesExtension Specialist
Community, Economic & Workforce Development
West Virginia University
The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the WV Deer Farmers Assoc., WV DNR, and financial support from WVU Grants for Public Service
Deer Farming and WV Agriculture
West Virginia (All Farms)1
• 45% of farms 50-179 acres• 24% of farms 10-49 acres
• Avg farm sales: $27,500• 49% of farms sold less than
$2,500
Deer Farming Trends2
• Avg farm PA: 68.5 acres; 30% less than 10 acres
• Avg farm OH: 29.2 acres; 82% less than 50 acres
• Avg sales PA: $ 53,650• Avg sales OH: $71,391
1. USDA Ag Census, 20072. Shepstone Management Company
Counties with One or More Deer Farms Survey Respondents
77.0%
10.7%
7.4%
1.5%
1.3%
0.9%
0.7%
0.3%
0.2%
0.1%
0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%
Breeding Stock
Hunting
Semen
Antlers
Leather/Hides
Other
Venison
Urine
Lodging/Dining
Deer Watching
Breeding only74%
Breeding & Hunting
22%
Hunting only4%
West Virginia Deer Farms by Industry Segment
Sales of West Virginia Deer Farm Products
2009-201164%2006-2008
14%
2005-20034% 2002-2000
14%
Before 20004%
< 10 Acres59%
10-19 Acres18%
20-29 Acres14%
50-99 Acres4%
100+ Acres5%
Figure 4. West Virginia Deer Farms by Year Established Figure 5. West Virginia Deer Farms by Acres of LandWest Virginia Deer Farms by
Year EstablishedWest Virginia Deer Farms by
Acres of Land
WV Deer Farm Numbers
• Avg. of farms reporting sales: $22,000
• Employ an estimated 46 workers; pay $343,00 in wages
• Spent estimated $1.9 million on capital expenditures and operations
• 97% of spending occurred in West Virginia
Leading Purchases by West Virginia Deer Farm Operations
Real Estate $559,741 30%
Farm Equipment $190,619 10%
ATVs $173,468 9%
Stock/Animal Purchases $149,752 8%
New Construction $136,198 7%
Fencing $118,909 6%
Vehicles $104,573 6%
Grains $79,718 4%
Supplement Feeds $46,767 3%
Fuel $39,528 2%
Total Impacts from Spending and Payroll
• Employment: 66 jobs
• Output (Sales): $1.44 Million
• Value Added (GSP): $1.03 Million• Labor Income $784,000• Indirect Business Taxes $ 62,000• Other Property Income $185,000
Study, Model, and Policy Considerations
• The impacts presented are conservative estimates• Ignores travel and tourism spending• Assumes non-respondents are NEW operations
• Jobs represent 12 months of work but NOT necessarily full-time employment
• Input-output models are NOT• Feasibility studies• Cost-benefit studies• A complete picture
Table 1. Assumptions for Economic Impact Calculation
From Surveys
Median Non Response Value
Survey + Non-Response
Sales $300,300 $950 $14,250 $314,550
Employment (WV) 31 1 15 46
Wages, Salaries, Benefits (WV)
$318,504 $1,650 $24,750 $343,254
Intermediate Expenditures (Total)
$1,347,498 $36,508 $547,620 $1,895,118
[1] The median number of employees, while small, seems to be a reasonable assumption. Ohio, which has a well developed industry, reported average employment of only 2.4 jobs per operation.
