Hunting and Fishing Reel in Millions for Mesa County Businesses

Hunting and fishing activities generate substantial economic impact for Mesa County, supporting a diverse range of local businesses that extend beyond those directly serving sportsmen. A September study by the Common Sense Institute estimated these activities contribute more than $2.4 billion in direct annual business revenue across Colorado and support 14,766 direct jobs statewide. When broader economic effects are considered, these figures rise to over $6.1 billion in business revenue and more than 25,000 jobs.

This spending spreads widely across the economy. Hunters and anglers, both from other states and local residents, make purchases that benefit guides, retailers, lodging properties, restaurants, landowners, and small stores located along routes to public lands, including Grand Mesa and various game-management units.

Jason McMillan, owner of GuideWest Outfitters in the town of Mesa, experiences this visitor-driven activity directly. After working for 17 years as head guide, McMillan took over the outfitting business in 2022. He notes that his hunters travel from across Colorado and states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Texas, upstate New York, and several Southern states, often seeking elk hunting opportunities unique to western Colorado. McMillan's business provides jobs for two to seven local guides during the season and leases hunting ground.

McMillan emphasized that his clients spend money in nearby communities, even when the hunt itself occurs away from town. After a successful hunt, the economic chain continues, with McMillan's business utilizing meat processors in Grand Junction and taxidermists in the region. For some clients, the connection to the area deepens, with some purchasing land nearby and others discussing moving to the region. McMillan guides around the town of Mesa, near Powderhorn Mountain Resort, and in other parts of the region, including Game Management Unit 40, west of Grand Junction near the Colorado National Monument, a sought-after area for elk and mule deer.

The Mesa Bloom Market, co-owned by Steve Grisier, also reflects this economic activity. Located along Colorado Highway 65 in the town of Mesa, on the way to Powderhorn Mountain Resort and the Mesa Lakes area, the market opened in late May 2020. It sells everyday essentials, local products, fishing supplies, and live bait. Grisier observes a steady stream of devoted anglers and families, noting that many of the “tourists” are actually from Grand Junction.

During the summer, the market sees considerable sales of live bait, with customers frequently asking for fishing recommendations for the lakes on Grand Mesa or other local spots. Grand Mesa boasts around 300 lakes and reservoirs, with roughly one-third capable of sustaining trout. In winter, ice fishing also draws customers from Junction and the local area. For longer stays, Grand Mesa Lodge and Mesa Lakes Lodge rent cabins beside several lakes. Grisier describes summer as particularly busy due to fishing and other outdoor activities, with fall colors producing some of the store's busiest weekends, overlapping with hunting season.

Hunters often stop for snacks, food, or steaks for their camps, and successful hunters buy ice to cool their game. Grisier also sees hunters purchase jewelry or locally made keepsakes when leaving town. He recognizes repeat visitors and guides who bring returning clients through the store, highlighting the sustained engagement with the area.

While a specific study on the exact economic impact of hunting and fishing in Mesa County is not available, a Colorado Mesa University (CMU) study published in 2022, using 2019 data, estimated that all outdoor recreation contributed $321.6 million directly to Mesa County’s gross domestic product and supported 7,620 direct jobs. Additionally, the 2026 Western Slope Agriculture Report, produced by CMU and the Grand Junction Business Incubator Center, found that some agricultural producers earn income through big-game hunting and outfitting, with McMillan’s land leases serving as an example.

Grand Junction benefits when hunters and anglers purchase gear at local businesses such as Western Anglers Fly Shop, Sportsman’s Warehouse, and Bass Pro Shops. According to the city’s 2026 budget information, 2 percentage points of its 3.39 percent sales tax, with grocery food exempt, are allocated to the city’s general fund.