NSSF

Facts to Know

In 2006, hunters and shooters spent a remarkable $3.7 billion on hunting gear and firearms, according to recent studies.

Among all athletic and sports equipment categories, only exercise equipment performed better in 2006, with sales of $5.2 billion. In fact, golf equipment, which had held the number two spot, fell to third with this upsurge in hunting gear and firearms purchases.

This shopping by hunters and shooters plays a huge role in conservation. Special taxes on firearms, ammunition, bows and arrows contributed more than $280 million to conservation in 2007. The money is collected from manufacturers and then distributed to state conservation agencies by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

While the excise taxes are important—more than $3 billion since 1991— the money collected from hunting license sales is the No. 1 funding source for conservation in all 50 states—accounting for $753 million in 2006 alone.

Shopping for hunting gear and buying licenses: just two of the ways in which hunters, industry and conservation are tied together to give America the world’s greatest system for conserving habitat and managing wildlife.

You can learn more about this topic by reviewing “Press Releases” at www.nssf.org.

Pastimes for Both Genders

Anyone who thinks that hunting and shooting are pastimes reserved exclusively for men and boys—dads and sons— should take a look at the statistics. According to recent research, 72 percent more girls and women are hunting with firearms than in a previous five-year period. And 50 percent more are now target shooting. The statistics, taken from surveys spanning 2001 through 2005, show more than 3 million women now hunt, and over 5 million women now enjoy shooting.

Why the increase?

“More and more women are discovering that hunting and shooting sports are just plain fun, as well as great activities to share with family and friends,” said Doug Painter, spokesman to senior advisor for the firearm industry’s trade association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).

NSSF manages a variety of programs to keep hunters and shooters safe and active, and the industry trade association has witnessed firsthand the upswing in female participation. For example, in a recent two-year period, participation among teenage girls in NSSF’s popular Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) rose 178 percent. SCTP allows elementary to high school age youths to compete as a team on the local, state and national levels in trap, skeet and sporting clays.

For more information, visit online at www.nssf.org/sctp.

A Celebration of Hunting and Fishing

Sept. 27, 2008, will mark the 37th annual National Hunting and Fishing Day. The annual celebration, observed on the fourth Saturday of every September, recognizes the accomplishments of hunters and anglers, who provide nearly $2 billion a year for fish and wildlife conservation, habitat protection and resource management programs. In fact, through license fees and excise taxes, hunters and anglers generate $100,000 every 30 minutes for wildlife, fish and habitat programs. National Hunting and Fishing Day was founded by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and formalized by Congress in 1971. Every U.S. president from Richard M. Nixon to George W. Bush has recognized the day via official proclamations.

Honorary chairpersons over the years have ranged from sports stars to recording artists. In 2007, comedian and sportsman Jeff Foxworthy took the reins as honorary chairman and this year television hunting celebrity Michael Waddell is manning the post.

“I’m so humbled to be named honorary chair,” Waddell said. “National Hunting and Fishing Day has such a great tradition. And it’s awesome to be make a difference in the lives of people who hunt and fish just like I do.”

Wonders of Wildlife, the Springfield, Mo.-based National Fish and Wildlife Museum, serves as the official home of National Hunting and Fishing Day.

For more information, visit online at www.nhfday.org. 

Get Someone Started in Hunting

A survey showed that nearly 50 million Americans would like to give hunting and shooting a try, but many don’t have someone to show them the way.

Introducing someone new—a brother, sister, cousin or friend—to hunting helps them overcome such barriers and is a great way to enjoy outdoor adventure and have fun with family and friends.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s STEP OUTSIDE program, which encourages hunters to introduce newcomers to the outdoors, offers the following tips on providing a memorable first experience afield.

1. Instill safety, etiquette and ethics—use what you’ve learned in hunter education. Learning these skills gives newcomers the basics they’ll need to enjoy a lifetime of great hunting.
2. Keep it fun. Don’t get too serious or competitive. There ’s no need to turn novices into pros on their first outing. It’s far more important to just have a good time.
3. Start at the beginning. If you learned to hunt when you were young, today you likely perform the whole process automatically. Remember to explain and demonstrate—step-by-step—what newcomers should do, so they will feel comfortable later on their own.
4. Create instant success. Recognize small accomplishments. Shooting game is always a bonus and helps newcomers appreciate the experience even more. Many also take pride in providing a meal for their family.
5. Be positive. If you build a newcomer’s self-esteem and confidence, it is more likely they’ll enjoy hunting and want to go again. A well-timed compliment can go a long way.
6. Share your love of the outdoors. Help your guests notice things around them. Stop and listen to birdcalls and sounds of a rushing stream. Look for signs of wildlife. Help newcomers understand the important role that hunters play in the conservation of natural resources.
7. Provide appropriate equipment. Make sure equipment is the right size and weight.
8. Hands-on instruction helps. Everyone learns best by doing. Lecture is necessary, but as much as possible, intersperse the talking with doing.
9. Create a feeling of independence. Giving novices new skills and then allowing them the freedom to develop those skills on their own will prove rewarding for you both.
10. Choose the right location. Convenience is a consideration. Whether on public or private land, NSSF offers online resources to find great places to hunt through www.huntandshoot.org. This Web site is a portal to the hunting and shooting universe and provides links to a vast amount of helpful information, from new hunting and shooting opportunities in every state, to links to a variety of helpful directories and even to a growing collection of instructive videos on hunting and shooting that can be viewed online.
    
    “From local news to searchable databases of hunting and shooting locations in every state, www.HuntandShoot.org offers hunters and shooters an excellent starting point on the Web,” said Doug Painter, senior advisor for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the Web site’s founder.The site can help you find public hunting lands, shooting ranges, retailers, outfitters, taxidermists and more. New hunters and shooters can find helpful links to get started in hunting and shooting and find hunter safety courses in their area.

Busting Clays Complements Hunting

Nothing can get a hunter better prepared than practicing on targets. When you can combine that practice with being with friends, making it competitive and even building character, you’ve got a very special way to improve your shooting skills.

This very special opportunity is called the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP). It's been called the "Little League" of shotgun sports--trap, skeet and sporting clays. What’s more, competitors can win state and national championships, trophies and college scholarship awards. More than 10,000 youth shooters are participating this year, and the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) is always ready to welcome more.

Developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), SCTP gives elementary- to high school-age youths in nearly every state the opportunity to compete as a team at local, state and national levels.

"SCTP has become a big hit with youths and parents nationwide," said Zach Snow of NSSF, which manages the program nationally. "In just two years, the program has seen a more than 100 percent increase in participation, not to mention a 178 percent increase in female competitors."

In an SCTP survey, nearly all parents said competitive shooting is a positive influence in their child's development. Parents observed improved responsibility, teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership skills. In fact, 98 percent of SCTP parents believe shooting is just as important as other sports, and 94 percent would support shotgun sports as a school-based athletic program.

How to Get Involved

Getting a team started in your area can be "as easy as one, two, three," Snow says.

"The first thing is to find a coach, whether it be tugging on dad's shirt or finding someone at the local gun club or school who is interested in working with youths," he said.

"After that," Snow said, "find a local shooting range or club, see if they're willing to support you, and encourage some friends to come out. If everyone is interested, all it takes is visiting the SCTP Web site (www.nssf.org/sctp) and downloading the necessary forms."

To learn more about SCTP, visit the Web site and request a free "Information Packet." Also available is a free "Presentation Packet" including two DVDs that can help schools, clubs and others understand what the program is all about.

Contacting your SCTP state director is another way to learn more. A list of state directors is available online.

"Once you've got a team together, start practicing. If you've got other clubs in the area with teams, set up a local inter-club match prior to the state championship. And, maybe, we'll see you at nationals," Snow said.

For more information, visit www.nssf.org/sctp.