Data Shows Significant Rise in Female Hunters
OutdoorHub 06.17.14
Current research shows not only is the average hunter spending more money a year, that hunter is becoming more and more likely to be a woman, a trend retailers across the nation should pay attention to according to experts. The most recent U.S. Census Bureau found there are 13.7 million hunters in the nation – 11 percent of them are women. This number is growing according to the National Sporting Goods Association, which released information that between 2008-2009 while the total number of hunters in the U.S. decreased slightly, the number of female hunters increased by 5.4 percent. This means retailers could benefit by catering to this increasing number of women hunters by carrying gear from companies like Próis® Hunting & Field Apparel, which makes high performance hunting apparel exclusively for women.
“The numbers are not a huge surprise for us as we’ve personally seen the passion for hunting grow among women through the last decade,” said Próis President and Founder Kirstie Pike, referring to colleagues at her company, which is primarily made up of women who hunt. “This is part of the reason we started Próis, to focus on that growing trend.”
Próis was started by Pike after many years of frustration attempting to find hunting gear – designed for men – that worked for her and her body. And, the numbers show she’s most likely not alone. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife study found women hunters spent more than $71 million on hunting clothing alone in 2011, female hunters spending $4.2 billion on all hunting gear that same year. In addition, its not only the number of female hunters getting larger, the average annual spend of hunters is growing as well averaging $2,800 a year.
With statistics like these retailers looking to sell to the female hunting market could find additional profits in upcoming years. This is especially true in the target shooting market, which has seen an incredible explosion in the number of women joining the sport. According to a 2013 National Shooting Sports Foundation report, females now represent 22 percent of shooters accounting for $220 million in firearms and gear sales. Moreover, and perhaps most notably, females comprised of 37 percent of all new target shooters entering the market.
“While the market is clearly prime for women’s hunting gear, what will separate us from others is the fact our product is without a doubt, superior,” said Pike. “Every detail is paid attention to from design and manufacturing through field testing, making for truly high performance gear.”
