Floridians eagerly await savings on hunting, camping, fishing supplies

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — On the heels of Florida’s Back to School Sales Tax Holiday that just ended in August, a new sales tax holiday will take effect next week with hunters, campers and fishermen in mind.

During the nearly four-month time frame from Sept. 8 until Dec. 31, the Hunting, Fishing and Camping Sales Tax Holiday is expected to save Floridians $44.8 million, according to the Florida Department of Revenue.

It’ll be the first time firearms, ammunition and related accessories are tax exempt in the state of Florida.

Nearly 100 customers of the gun shop at Bill Jackson’s Shop for Adventure in Pinellas Park got creative and took early steps to secure their items, according to supervisor Russ Abston.

“We’ve had customers come in looking for particular products knowing that the tax free holiday is going to start on Sept. 8, and they’ve been putting things on layaway to actually lock down that item, so they can get it tax free when the holiday starts,” said Abston.

“For example, if you’re buying a $1,000 handgun, rifle or shotgun, which is the average firearm purchase in our shop, you would save $70, and that’s money that can be spent on something else to help stimulate the economy in other places,” Abston added.

There’s a strong chance you’ll find 74-year-old Charlie Kent, along with his 79-year-old brother Howard, on the gun range at Bill Jackson’s most days of the week.

“We come with one of the guys from Seminole First Baptist Church, and we come down as a group to have the chance to get together and socialize and have good thoughts together,” said Charlie Kent, a retired firearms instructor and law enforcement officer who served nearly 30-years at the Indian Shores Police Department.

“I think a bunch of us are waiting to buy ammo,” he continued.

There’s a wide range of hunting, fishing and camping items that are tax exempt, including rods and reels under $75, sleeping bags under $50 and tents under $200.

There is no spending cap for most items you would find in a gun shop.

“We live in the state of Florida with a lot of sportsmen, so this is going to be a great thing. It’s going to be huge. It’s going to increase business, and it’s going to save people a lot of money,” said Abston.

For the full list of exempt items during the sales tax holiday, effective Sept. 8 through Dec. 31, click here.