Rehashing the Rehashables
We received some great comments from this piece last time, so I’m re-posting the basic questions. Your feedback on this would be greatly appreciated.
1. In the United States there are an estimated 80 million gun owners, of which 11 million buy big game hunting licenses. Yet, only half a million or so are currently participating in organized events with any regularity. The statistics published by manufacturers prove that most gun owners, especially hunters, shoot only one box of ammunition all year, give or take.
How do we close this gap? How do we get gun owners and hunters more active? What programs will get them out to the range and participating more?
2. We have hunter’s education and NRA basic courses for rank beginners. There are formal competitions and advanced classes for motivated and sophisticated shooters. But we have almost nothing for “middle of the road” folks, for people who are no longer beginners but aren’t really active or advanced shooters and not interested in competing.
What would be an ideal format to attract the annual deer hunter with a few years (or 20 years) experience who isn’t an active or advanced shooter and has no desire to become one?
Consider that for many hunters and most gun owners coming out for one or two events in addition to sight-in day would *double* their annual range time. A “middle” format event successful enough to attract most hunters four times a year would lead to an additional Billion rounds of ammunition being used! This would greatly benefit the shooting industry (additional sales), ranges (more activity) and the conservation groups (additional Pittman-Robertson funds generated.)
3. At what level are the marksmanship skills of typical big game hunters? If we took a statistically valid sample of hunters, what would their median shooting skill level be? And how do we improve this?
Dan
Sep 10, 2009 @ 11:31:45
Ok – here goes!
I am one of the 11 million that purchase a hunting license – and I have to pay “big bucks” because I live in another state but own land in Wisconsin ( where I can hunt on my own land) . I am also a Life Member in the NRA. I shoot several thousand rounds a year. I go to the range every Saturday and practice with at least 100 rounds. I am having a rifle built and plan on shooting in Service Rifle Competition. But, then I am only ONE of 11 million.
So, how about we invite a friend, co-worker, neighbor or a relative who doesn’t shoot to go out and shoot? You might be surprised how many would enjoy it!
I only WISH hunters would shoot more……they only shoot a couple of rounds a year to “sight in “ their hunting rigs – and that is about it. I sometimes believe that it has a lot to do with just plain lazyness! At the present time we have “Cowboy Action Shooting” which has grown by leaps and bounds over the last 10 years, CMP/NRA High Power Rifles, Small Bore Competition, Bench Rest Competition, IPSC Competition, Skeet & Trap Shooting, Metallic Silhoeute Shooting, Three Gun Competition, Tactical Shooting , Air Gun Competition and probably others that I don’t know about! With so many to pick from…..surely you can find something more manly to do than play golf or watch television?? How about we set up a course and show the average hunter just how BAD of a shot that he/she is? Many take BIG risks at maiming or wounding an animal because they shoot way beyond their skill level!
We could set up a system at local gun clubs where you could get “Certified” to hunt. I believe that they have a system in other countries where you MUST be able to hit a target such as a six inch pie plat at 100 yards to be able to hunt live animals. Also ….see above!
I am going to add a point here – One of my PERSONNAL pet peeves about hunters and gun owners in general – out of some 60-80 MILLION gun owners ONLY about 400,000 belong to the NRA! Why is that? If you do not agree with all of their politics – fine, but join the organization ANYWAY! They are but a few who actually are PROTECTING our rights to even own guns! I see a story about this – and some on gun “BLOGS” and there are ALWAYS a bunch of winers who have hundreds of reasons why they DON’T belong. They will go out and hunt or practice with ammo that is now costing about a “BUCK” a pop – but they won’t open their wallets and let out a LOUSY twenty-five to thirty five bucks to something to KEEP THEIR RIGHTS! We now have the most ANTI-AMERICAN/ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL bunch of louts in Washington that we have ever had – IF YOUR REALLY CONCERNED NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO “STEP FORWARD” and do the right thing!
Dan – MICHIGAN!
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