Survey: Shooting Ranges and Clubs may be Missing Opportunities with Majority of Enthusiasts
OutdoorHub 09.19.11
Fernandina Beach, Fla. — A recent survey of nearly 3,500 shooting enthusiasts conducted on ShooterSurvey.com discovered only 26 percent of respondents claim membership at a shooting range or sporting clays club. With nearly three out of four shooters not associated with these private ranges or clubs, the survey also explored the reasons for not joining.
Top reasons included:
- 37% said they are not interested or have no need to join
- 27% said it is too expensive
- 25.1 % said they have another nearby range that is open to the public or free of cost
- 18.3 % said the nearest range or club is too far
- 15.7 % did not identify a specific reason only citing “other”
- 4.8 % said nearby ranges or clubs did not offer the type of shooting that interests them
- 3.9 % said they do not feel welcome there.
“With more than 19 million recreational shooters in the United States, these numbers show there is a huge segment of enthusiasts that could be brought into the fold by tailoring programs and resources that might overcome their reasons for not being a member of a range or shooting club,” said Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates, which designs and conducts the surveys at HunterSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and AnglerSurvey.com. “Private clubs can offer shooters a great chance to improve their skills and increase their opportunities to enjoy a variety of shooting activities.”
Of those shooters who are members of a range or sporting clays club, ShooterSurvey.com explored what those people would like to see improved or offered at their shooting range. Top responses included:
- 29% want more shooting benches or target stations
- 24.2% want more competitions
- 14.3% want more shooting benches or equipment that better fit women and youth
- 13.9% want more/cleaner restrooms
- 13.1% want improved food/beverage options.
Of those surveyed, 36.2 percent didn’t want anything changed at their range or club as they are happy with it the way it is and 3.1 percent actually want fewer competitions held.
To help continually improve, protect and advance the shooting sports and outdoor recreation, all sportsmen and sportswomen are encouraged to participate in the surveys at HunterSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and AnglerSurvey.com. Each month, participants who complete the survey are entered into a drawing for one of five $100 gift certificates to the sporting goods retailer of their choice.
About AnglerSurvey.com, HunterSurvey.com and ShooterSurvey.com:
Launched in 2006, AnglerSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com help the outdoor equipment industry, government fisheries and wildlife officials and conservation organizations track consumer activities and expenditure trends. The information above represents only a small sample of the vast amount of data collected from the complete survey results and available to government agencies, businesses, the media and other interested parties. Results are scientifically analyzed to reflect the attitudes and habits of anglers and hunters across the United States. Find them on Facebook at http://facebook.com/huntersurvey and http://facebook.com/anglersurvey.
