Australia's hunters and shooters contributed $2.4 billion to the economy last year, according to a report commissioned by the Department of Health.

Key points: A new report finds the economic benefits of hunting include $1.6 billion in flow-on activity

A new report finds the economic benefits of hunting include $1.6 billion in flow-on activity It also found that hunters had higher levels of wellbeing when compared to the general population

It also found that hunters had higher levels of wellbeing when compared to the general population Opponents of hunting have laughed off the findings, describing them as "rubbish"

Compiled by RG Consulting Group, the report said the benefits included $800 million in direct spending and $1.6 billion in flow-on economic activity.

It said if hunting was prohibited, some expenditure would be redirected to similar activities "such as camping, fishing, four-wheel driving", but that recreational hunting made a net contribution of $335 million and added 3,300 jobs last year.

Opponents of hunting have questioned the data, collected through an online survey of more than 16,000 hunters which formed the basis of the report, along with information from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Victorian Game Management Authority.

The report said there were more than 640,000 recreational hunters and shooters using firearms, knives, or bows to hunt game and pests and to shoot targets.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 14 minutes 28 seconds 14 m Deer Enemy: Frustrated farmers at breaking point dealing with wild deer ( Prue Adams )

It also said hunters engaged in more physical activity and had "higher levels of wellbeing" when compared to the general population.

More than 95 per cent of the survey respondents were male and there was an "even balance between living in regional and metropolitan areas", with most hunters aged 30 to 74.

Barry Howlett from the Australian Deer Association said the report showed hunting was serious contributor to the national economy.

"That $335 million [net economic spend], that's about half the current budget deficit is for Australia," he said.

"It's more than our export pork industry, it's more than our live sheep export industry.

"It's a significant amount of money."

He said he was not surprised by the findings that hunters had "higher physical activity" and "higher levels of wellbeing" when compared to the general population.

"There's big mental health benefits to hunting … we put that down to the community aspect," Mr Howlett said.

"It's like a camo-clad, more active version of the Men's Shed."

The report said more than 85 per cent of hunters found spending time outdoors was the most important aspect of hunting and shooting.

"If we look at Australia being increasingly urbanised and people being increasingly disconnected, hunting gives a really good drive and outlet for being in nature," Mr Howlett said.

He said he hoped the report would be used by governments to open up more public land to recreational shooting and hunting.

"We'd hope governments take notice that there are economic gains to be had by opening up areas. Let the hunters in," he said.

'All about violence and cruelty'

Laurie Levy from the Coalition Against Duck Shooting laughed at the results.

"It sounds like a lot of rubbish," he said.

"The numbers of duck shooters in Victoria had dropped from 100,000 down to about 13,000 active duck shooters today, and quite frankly this year was the quietest duck shooting season we've ever seen.

"There just aren't enough duck shooters to bring money into regional towns."

Mr Levy has publicly campaigned against duck shooting for 34 years and believes this year could be the last that it is permitted in Victoria.

He said a Roy Morgan poll in 2007 had showed 75 per cent of Victorians wanted duck shooting banned.

"Duck shooting is all about violence and cruelty to our beautiful native water birds," he said.

"And of course the other problem is climate change. Native water birds are in serious trouble.

"You only have to look at the state of the Murray-Darling river system. The Menindee Lakes in NSW are dry, native water birds are in trouble — down to their lowest levels."

Minister defends study

Rod Campbell, from the Australia Institute thinktank, questioned why the study of hunting and shooting was commissioned.

"Why is Australia's Health Department commissioning economic modelling about shooting? And does it do this for any other hobbies?" Mr Campbell said.

"I suspect the reason is political, I think here's a behind the scenes push on to liberalise Australia's gun laws and there's nothing like a dodgy economic study to get a push like that off to a good start?"

Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie defended the study, which was commissioned when she was Minister for Sport and Rural Health, saying there was clear lack of research in the field.

"It is important for governments and the community to have a solid evidence base about the social, economic and wellbeing benefits of shooting and hunting - just as it is for any other sport," Ms McKenzie said.

"Any claims that seek to link this report and its findings with imaginary calls to change gun laws are deceitful and plain wrong."