By DEBORAH GERTZ HUSAR

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

DETROIT, Ill. -- Nature-based tourism -- hunting, fishing, just spending time in the outdoors -- can provide an important economic boost in Illinois.

Gov. Pat Quinn delivered that message Saturday in Pike County, the state's deer hunting capital, on the second day of shotgun deer season.

"People want to come here, want to hunt here. We want to find out all the opportunities we can to grow our local economies, to accommodate our hunters, our fishermen, our bird-watchers, those who like to hike, kayak," Quinn said.

"A lot of economic activity occurs around deer hunting, around fishing, around everything to do with natural resources. People buy goods, services, supplies, stay overnight. They eat at restaurants, go shopping. It's very important we let the people of Illinois know that conservation and nature-based tourism is part of our economic recovery."

Pike County Farm Bureau President Terry Rush welcomed the opportunity to have Quinn at his Blue River Farm to talk about the economic opportunity Pike County has with deer hunting and nature tourism -- an estimated $25 million annual economic impact each year.

"The hunting industry and nature tourism is pretty unique, a new opportunity for this county and the state," said Rush, who manages 4,000 acres for deer and turkey hunting. "This deer-hunting business is the epitome of nature tourism, and it goes hand in hand with agritourism."

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Marc Miller said Quinn's visit helped promote the state's fantastic white-tailed deer hunting, its economic benefit, and its long-standing tradition that brings families and friends together around the deer camp.

"We hope to bring in more people to the area so they can enjoy this pastime, as well," Miller said. "We hope also to focus on the next generation, to bringing youth into the outdoors, to tackle nature-deficit disorder, and show all of them the tremendous fun and healthy lifestyle that comes from our outdoor tradition."

Seven-year-old Noah Petty, Rush's grandson, already likes to fish and dove hunt, and he's looking forward to deer hunting.

"It's good to promote hunting in Pike County," Noah said.

Quinn echoed the words of President Theodore Roosevelt, who once said conservation is a patriotic thing to do -- something that was as true then as it is today.

"We believe in helping and preserving our natural resources. We also believe in enjoying the outdoors and pastimes like hunting," said Quinn, who also stopped at fundraisers in Pittsfield, Quincy and at the Illinois Veterans Home.

"One reason I wanted to come here to Blue River Farm was to make sure everybody in Illinois knows about Pike County, West-Central Illinois, deer hunting and the opportunity to be in the outdoors," Quinn said. "It's important to get people out of urban areas into different parts of Illinois to spend money and to really get our economy back on track."

-- dhusar@whig.com/221-3379