‘Shooting ranches’ that stock and fence-in wild game for paying hunters date to the early 1990s and have recently increased in popularity.
According to a study by the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University, there are over 2,600 shooting ranches in the U.S. They are supported by some 7,000 deer-and-elk breeding operations that sell animals at auction for as much as $10,000 apiece. Combined, the breeding operations and hunting ranches have become a $3 billion business, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Private Hunting Ranches in USA Photo Gallery
ISLANDS
43.1 Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards
The 2016 Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards ranked favorite U.S. islands as follows:
1. Maui, HI
2. Kauai, HI
3. Oahu, HI
4. Big Island, HI
5. Sea Island, GA
6. Aquidneck Island (Newport), RI
7. Hilton Head, SC
8. Kiawah Island, SC
9. Longboat Key, FL
10. Amelia Island, FL
43.2 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards
The 2016 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards ranked the best U.S. islands as follows:
Continental United States
1. Hilton Head, SC
2. Kiawah Island, SC
3. Mount Desert Island, ME
4. Nantucket, MA
5. San Juan Islands, WA
6. Golden Isles (Jekyll Island, Little St. Simons Island, Sea Island, and St. Simons Island), GA
7. Florida Keys
8. Cumberland Island, GA
9. Mackinac Island, MI
10. Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Hawaii
1. Maui
2. Kauai
3. Hawaii, the Big Island
4. Oahu
5. Lanai
43.3 TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Poll
The 2016 Travelers’ Choice poll by TripAdvisor (www.tripadvisor.com) ranked the best islands in the United States as follows:
1. Maui, HI
2. Key West, FL
3. Oahu, HI
4. Island of Hawaii, HI
5. Mount Desert Island, ME
6. Hilton Head, SC
7. Amelia Island, FL
8. Marco Island, FL
9. Chincoteague Island, VA
10. Mackinac Island, MI
43.4 USA Today’s Readers’ Choice Poll
The 2016 Readers’ Choice poll by USA Today (www.10Best.com) ranked the best U.S. islands as follows:
1. Puerto Rico
2. Mackinac, MI
3. Whidbey Island, WA
4. Mount Desert, ME
5. Amelia Island, FL
6. Assateague Island, VA/MD
7. Dauphin Island, AL
8. Kauai, HI
9. Block Island, RI
10. Hilton Head, SC
