A variety of industries benefit from hunting, and support hunting on economic grounds, beyond the ecological arguments of hunter-gathering and pastoral use of marginal habitats.

In Tanzania it is estimated that a safari hunter spends 50-100 times that of the average eco-tourist, and at a lower environmental impact. The average photo tourist often demands luxury accommodations and at a higher number of visitors to make the endeavor financially viable. In contrast, the average safari hunter travels on foot, staying in tented camps and in vastly smaller numbers. Safari hunters are also more likely to use remote areas, uninviting to the average eco-tourist. They argue that these hunters allow for anti-poaching activities and revenue for local communities .

In the United Kingdom the game hunting of birds as an industry is said to be extremely important to the rural economy: The Cobham Report of 1997 suggested it to be worth around £700 million, and hunting and shooting lobby groups now claim it to be worth over a billion.

Hunting is also a major industry in the United States, with many companies specializing in hunting equipment or specialty tourism. Today's hunters come from a broad range of economic, social, and cultural backgrounds, including a significant luxury segment. In 2001, over 13 million hunters averaged eighteen days hunting and spent over $20.5 billion on their sport. The Outdoor Channel and OLN are cable television channels where programs such as Hunter's Handbook TV teach hunting safety and showcase new hunting destinations or products such as recreational vehicles, specialty clothing or firearms.

In the U.S., proceeds from hunting licenses contribute to game management programs (especially at the state level) including preservation of wildlife habitat. Some organizations such as Ducks Unlimited and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation provide sizeable funds to the enhancement and preservation of game animals, thereby augmenting or even exceeding government efforts. For instance, in 2004 the elk foundation reported that over a 20-year period it had preserved or improved some 4 million acres (16,000 km²) of habitat for a variety of wildlife.

Key parts of the agricultural industry may also support hunting. A marginal ranch or farm may be converted to a private "hunting preserve" to bring in tourist revenues, for example. Within American industrial forestry, deer are often considered pests, and hunters a key political ally to be used against more restrictive environmentalists.