I would point out how in some cases without "exotic game ranching" in the United States some pretty amazing animals would have been extinct long ago. The scimitar horned oryx jumps to mind. It is my understanding that they were hunted to complete (or near complete)extinction in Africa.
As for the economic benefits I would say this. Over the last 24 months I have made 5 trips to Texas from Washington state. in those trips I have never flown alone so a total of 15 people have purchased round trip airfare, thus stimulating the economy of the airline. We spend money in the airport before each light,both ways. Our groups have spent in excess of $13000 to Texas ranches and another $2000 in local stores or small restaurants while traveling to and from, putting money both into your local economies and into your (Texas) tax system. Then after the hunt we have used 3 different Texas taxidermists ($3000++) and then a shipping company ($$$). That is a fairly large chunk of revenue raised both in taxes and in real spendable money for business owners in Texas. That is from only 5 people in less then 2 years. Plus as a business owner myself (small bar and grill) These represent the most sought after dollars. These are not the "locals", that you can count on month in month out. This is money removed permanently from 1 economic system (Washington State)and introduced into another economic system (Texas).
In my humble opinion the whole story could come down to pros vs cons
Pros; jobs (and loads of them from the guys on the ranch to the fence builders to the guy at the feed store and the good Lord knows how many large animal vets), tax money, tourism, animal welfare, personal income.
Cons; you might offend some bunny hugging liberal