Alaska’s newly revamped Hank Harmon Public Range reopens after a long-anticipated modernization effort. Three thousand miles east, Maine’s Fryeburg Shooting Facility underwent a complete rebuild of its own. Though separated by four time zones, these two facilities share a common purpose of providing free, public access to safe, well-maintained target shooting spaces.
Thanks to a change in data collection methodology new to the 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Associated Recreation, we can dive into data on target shooters for the first time since the Survey started in 1955. The hot off the press addendum, Target Shooting in the United States, reports that 47 million firearms and 19 million archery target shooters aged six and older fired or flung projectiles in 2021. You’ll notice that both of those numbers make the hunting population look small. Shooting sports are alive and well, and there are some particularly interesting insights when it comes to youth.
Fishing, boating, birding, and hunting in the United States, each by themselves, are an economic powerhouse for the American people. All these outdoor pursuits are enjoyed by millions over a broad range of household incomes and ages and other demographic characteristics.
Food is not a byproduct of hunting—it is the essence—locally sourced free-range protein that has never touched Styrofoam.
September 28 marks the 52nd National Hunting and Fishing Day, an annual event first proclaimed by President Nixon in 1972. Hunting and fishing and target shooting were then, and remain, lifestyle choices enjoyed by millions of Americans from all walks of life on every rung of the economic ladder.
For decades, American firearm, ammunition, and archery equipment manufacturers have shared a partnership with state and federal fish and wildlife agencies to support conservation as well as access to outdoor pursuits including shooting sports.
“It started with a coupon,” Darrell Pace told me via a telephone interview from his home in Hamilton, Ohio. “It was a buy an hour, get one-hour free teaser to shoot a bow. I had BB guns and liked to target-shoot, so I thought I would try it out.”
To select the U.S. archers for the 2024 Olympic Games, athletes are chosen based on their performance at specific Olympic Trial Qualification events. These trials, known as stages, take place around the country with six Olympic stages and three Paralympic stages. Stages for both Olympic and Paralympic qualification take place at the Arizona Cup hosted at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix, Arizona.
Sergeant Bill Freeman and his colleagues at The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) are working to ensure the state’s wildlife and wild places are for everyone.
“I spent some time in Charleston over this past weekend. I know, crazy. I was there for client work – a kids camp that I’ll tell you more about later. I was amazed at the work they are doing in wildlife conservation and many don’t know it exists.” -Michelle Scheuermann
Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson run in the American grain. The past is only prolog. There is more to be done as spelled out in state wildlife action plans, and I appreciate the attention Congress has given this issue through their consideration of Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. The future is ours to make.
There’s no doubt ATA members are crucial in the status and success of the industry. Not only do members make products, sell products and work with customers, but they also fund state agency projects that benefit wildlife, wild places and the outdoor community.
