Sport Shooting

Each year, about 50 million American adults participate in some type of target or sport shooting activity, with the most popular activities being target shooting with a handgun, target shooting with a rifle, and target shooting at an outdoor range.

Responsive Management research indicates that the incentives with the highest likelihood of encouraging participation in the shooting sports focus on creating opportunities for hands-on, tangible experiences with the shooting sports. When introducing someone to shooting, it is important to provide a physical, tangible opportunity to experience the activity first-hand. Less active mechanisms of initiation to an activity, such as reading about the activity or watching others do the activity, are not nearly as effective at providing meaningful opportunities for persons to become involved in the shooting sports. Responsive Management research indicates that the most important reasons for participating in any of the shooting sports (other than hunting) typically include honing skills, having fun, and being with family and/or friends.

Americans, in general, view shooting sports as acceptable. In a recent study, Responsive Management found that 79% of Americans approve of recreational shooting, with most of them strongly approving. Responsive Management research also found that 63% of respondents indicated that shooting sports are perfectly acceptable today. This study found that men are more accepting of shooting sports than are women.
In addition to gender, Responsive Management analysis suggests that those who approve of recreational shooting are more likely to have the following characteristics than are those who did not indicate approval: reside in a rural area, be from 35 to 54 years old, and be white or Caucasian.

Responsive Management’s research on sport shooting has looked at Americans’ participation in various forms of target and sport shooting; trends in shooting participation; motivations for target and sport shooting; traditional and non-traditional pathways to sport shooting, including initiation into sport shooting; the overlap of participation in sport shooting and hunting; preferred firearms for target/sport shooting; constraints and barriers to sport shooting; the demographic characteristics of new and established sport shooters; and more.

Recent examples of Responsive Management’s research on sport shooting include the following:

Reactivating Non-Shooting Firearms Owners: This study was conducted to examine the opinions and behaviors of non-shooting firearm owners and other non-shooters in households with firearms. The study was conducted in support of efforts to reactivate these non-shooters by looking at their motivations for recreation, their opinions on and attitudes toward sport shooting, their constraints to participating, and their reactions to efforts to encourage participation. The study entailed two focus groups and a scientific survey of non-shooting firearm owners and non-shooters in households with firearms. Buy Now
Sport Shooting Participation in the United States in 2016: This report about sport shooting participation in 2016 is the latest in a series of studies conducted for the National Shooting Sports Foundation about this topic. Earlier studies were conducted in 2009, 2012, and 2014. These studies determined the regional and national participation rates in target shooting and sport shooting. As with the previous studies, this one entailed a telephone survey of U.S. residents ages 18 years old and older. Buy Now
An Analysis of the Trend in Participation in Sport Shooting 2009-2016: For nearly a decade, Responsive Management has conducted biennial surveys to measure sport shooting participation among adults in the United States. Each of the studies has looked at the extent of the American public’s participation in the full range of shooting sports, allowing us to examine not only participation rates but trends in participation over time. The studies showed a surge in overall shooting participation between 2009 and 2014, but a leveling off in 2016. The 2017 study measured participation rates for 10 shooting sports activities in 2016: target shooting with a handgun, target shooting with a rifle, target shooting with a modern sporting rifle, target shooting at an outdoor range, target shooting at an indoor range, long-range shooting, sporting clays, skeet shooting, trap shooting, and 3-gun shooting.
Americans’ Attitudes Toward Hunting, Fishing, and Target Shooting: This nationwide study was conducted for the National Shooting Sports Foundation to determine the opinions of United States residents about hunting, fishing, and target shooting issues. The study entailed a telephone survey of randomly selected U.S. residents properly proportioned among all the states to be representative of the United States as a whole. Buy Now
Connecticut Conservation and Education Firearms Safety Program Needs Assessment: This needs assessment was conducted to examine the current strengths and weaknesses of the State of Connecticut’s Conservation Education and Firearms Safety Program (the CE/FS Program). The research was undertaken to quantify and describe the scope, scale, and frequency of issues affecting the CE/FS Program; fully explore and document opinions on how to improve the CE/FS Program; and produce recommendations for program improvements. Data collection for the needs assessment included a review of CE/FS course documentation; personal interviews with past and present CE/FS Program personnel; a series of on-site observations of CE/FS courses in various disciplines; four focus groups with key groups (CE/FS instructors, Connecticut hunters, Connecticut sport shooters, and Connecticut general population residents); six surveys of key groups (Connecticut general population residents, Connecticut hunters and shooters, CE/FS course students, CE/FS Program instructors, Program staff, and stakeholders connected to the Program); and an online “Town Hall” forum website to facilitate discussion among Connecticut residents about key study topics. Buy Now
Survey of Hunters and Sport Shooters About Their Use of Optics Equipment: This study was conducted to explore hunters’ use of optics and their opinions on various brands of optics equipment. The purpose of this study was to assess brand awareness, examine hunters’ purchasing considerations and decisions, and explore marketing opportunities for certain products. The study entailed a nationwide telephone survey of hunters. (No report available – this is a confidential and proprietary industry study.)
Understanding the Impact of Peer Influence on Youth Participation in Hunting and Target Shooting: This study was conducted as a project of the Hunting Heritage Trust in cooperation with the National Shooting Sports Foundation to determine the impact of peer influence on youth participation in hunting and target shooting. The research entailed two focus groups and a nationwide scientific telephone survey of youth ages 8 to 17 years old. Buy Now
Understanding Activities That Compete with Hunting and Target Shooting: This study was sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation to examine the activities that compete with hunting and shooting—in other words, to examine the things that people do when they do not go hunting or shooting. The study entailed two telephone surveys: one of hunters and one of shooters. Each sample was stratified into active participants, intermittent participants, and ex-participants. Buy Now
Hunters’ and Shooters’ Attitudes Toward a Shooting Range in Northern Arizona: This study was conducted for the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) to determine opinions on and demand for a public outdoor shooting range among sportsmen and women who might use a shooting range. For this study, Responsive Management conducted a telephone survey of Arizona hunting license holders from the Flagstaff area. A smaller group of known supporters of a shooting range identified by the AGFD were also interviewed. Buy Now
Sport Shooters’ and Archers’ Attitudes on Shooting and Appropriate Behavior on Public Lands: This study was conducted for the Federal Lands Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Sports Roundtable to determine sport shooters’ and archers’ attitudes on shooting and their perceptions of appropriate behavior on public lands. The study also examined sport shooters’ and archers’ opinions of and reactions to various messages designed to curb problematic and irresponsible behavior by recreationists on public lands. Buy Now
The Future of Hunting and the Shooting Sports: Research-Based Recruitment and Retention Strategies: The purpose of this study was to better understand the factors related to hunting and sport shooting participation, identify strategies to better meet the needs of current and potential participants, and more effectively communicate to the public about these activities. The study included a comprehensive literature review of past research; focus groups in diverse geographic areas of active hunters and shooters, lapsed hunters and shooters, non-hunters and non-shooters, and anti-hunters and anti-shooters; two nationwide telephone surveys with hunters and shooters and the general population; and final report, including actionable recommendation strategies. Buy Now
The Public’s Attitudes Toward and Participation in the Shooting Sports: This study was conducted for the National Shooting Sports Foundation to examine the American public’s attitudes toward and participation in the shooting sports. The study entailed a telephone survey of the general population from across the nation. Buy Now
Study on the Best Location and Features of Shooting Ranges in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Area in Minnesota: This study was conducted to determine the best location and features of shooting ranges in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area so that the agency can most effectively allocate public resources. The study entailed two focus groups, one with firearms safety instructors and another with hunters, and two telephone surveys, one of instructors and the other of hunters. Buy Now
Women’s Participation in the Shooting Sports: This synopsis is a brief compendium of research about women’s participation in the shooting sports, including hunting, target shooting, trap shooting, skeet shooting, sporting clays, and archery. The full report includes an overview of women’s participation numbers, trends, activity levels, motivations, dissatisfactions, expenditures, and demographic information. Buy Now
Hunters’, Sport Shooters’, Archers’, and Anglers’ Attitudes Toward Messages Encouraging Them to Recruit Others Into Their Sport: This study assessed the attitudes and perceptions of sportsmen and women toward various messages encouraging participation in the STEP OUTSIDE® program. The study entailed three focus groups and a telephone survey to assess the motivations for and constraints against participation in the STEP OUTSIDE® program by known hunters, anglers, gun shooters, and archers. Buy Now

Reactivating Non-Shooting Firearms Owners: This study was conducted to examine the opinions and behaviors of non-shooting firearm owners and other non-shooters in households with firearms. The study was conducted in support of efforts to reactivate these non-shooters by looking at their motivations for recreation, their opinions on and attitudes toward sport shooting, their constraints to participating, and their reactions to efforts to encourage participation. The study entailed two focus groups and a scientific survey of non-shooting firearm owners and non-shooters in households with firearms. Buy Now
Sport Shooting Participation in the United States in 2016: This report about sport shooting participation in 2016 is the latest in a series of studies conducted for the National Shooting Sports Foundation about this topic. Earlier studies were conducted in 2009, 2012, and 2014. These studies determined the regional and national participation rates in target shooting and sport shooting. As with the previous studies, this one entailed a telephone survey of U.S. residents ages 18 years old and older. Buy Now
An Analysis of the Trend in Participation in Sport Shooting 2009-2016: For nearly a decade, Responsive Management has conducted biennial surveys to measure sport shooting participation among adults in the United States. Each of the studies has looked at the extent of the American public’s participation in the full range of shooting sports, allowing us to examine not only participation rates but trends in participation over time. The studies showed a surge in overall shooting participation between 2009 and 2014, but a leveling off in 2016. The 2017 study measured participation rates for 10 shooting sports activities in 2016: target shooting with a handgun, target shooting with a rifle, target shooting with a modern sporting rifle, target shooting at an outdoor range, target shooting at an indoor range, long-range shooting, sporting clays, skeet shooting, trap shooting, and 3-gun shooting.
Americans’ Attitudes Toward Hunting, Fishing, and Target Shooting: This nationwide study was conducted for the National Shooting Sports Foundation to determine the opinions of United States residents about hunting, fishing, and target shooting issues. The study entailed a telephone survey of randomly selected U.S. residents properly proportioned among all the states to be representative of the United States as a whole. Buy Now
Connecticut Conservation and Education Firearms Safety Program Needs Assessment: This needs assessment was conducted to examine the current strengths and weaknesses of the State of Connecticut’s Conservation Education and Firearms Safety Program (the CE/FS Program). The research was undertaken to quantify and describe the scope, scale, and frequency of issues affecting the CE/FS Program; fully explore and document opinions on how to improve the CE/FS Program; and produce recommendations for program improvements. Data collection for the needs assessment included a review of CE/FS course documentation; personal interviews with past and present CE/FS Program personnel; a series of on-site observations of CE/FS courses in various disciplines; four focus groups with key groups (CE/FS instructors, Connecticut hunters, Connecticut sport shooters, and Connecticut general population residents); six surveys of key groups (Connecticut general population residents, Connecticut hunters and shooters, CE/FS course students, CE/FS Program instructors, Program staff, and stakeholders connected to the Program); and an online “Town Hall” forum website to facilitate discussion among Connecticut residents about key study topics. Buy Now
Survey of Hunters and Sport Shooters About Their Use of Optics Equipment: This study was conducted to explore hunters’ use of optics and their opinions on various brands of optics equipment. The purpose of this study was to assess brand awareness, examine hunters’ purchasing considerations and decisions, and explore marketing opportunities for certain products. The study entailed a nationwide telephone survey of hunters. Buy Now
Understanding the Impact of Peer Influence on Youth Participation in Hunting and Target Shooting: This study was conducted as a project of the Hunting Heritage Trust in cooperation with the National Shooting Sports Foundation to determine the impact of peer influence on youth participation in hunting and target shooting. The research entailed two focus groups and a nationwide scientific telephone survey of youth ages 8 to 17 years old. Buy Now
Understanding Activities That Compete with Hunting and Target Shooting: This study was sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation to examine the activities that compete with hunting and shooting—in other words, to examine the things that people do when they do not go hunting or shooting. The study entailed two telephone surveys: one of hunters and one of shooters. Each sample was stratified into active participants, intermittent participants, and ex-participants. Buy Now
Hunters’ and Shooters’ Attitudes Toward a Shooting Range in Northern Arizona: This study was conducted for the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) to determine opinions on and demand for a public outdoor shooting range among sportsmen and women who might use a shooting range. For this study, Responsive Management conducted a telephone survey of Arizona hunting license holders from the Flagstaff area. A smaller group of known supporters of a shooting range identified by the AGFD were also interviewed. Buy Now
Sport Shooters’ and Archers’ Attitudes on Shooting and Appropriate Behavior on Public Lands: This study was conducted for the Federal Lands Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Sports Roundtable to determine sport shooters’ and archers’ attitudes on shooting and their perceptions of appropriate behavior on public lands. The study also examined sport shooters’ and archers’ opinions of and reactions to various messages designed to curb problematic and irresponsible behavior by recreationists on public lands. Buy Now
The Future of Hunting and the Shooting Sports: Research-Based Recruitment and Retention Strategies: The purpose of this study was to better understand the factors related to hunting and sport shooting participation, identify strategies to better meet the needs of current and potential participants, and more effectively communicate to the public about these activities. The study included a comprehensive literature review of past research; focus groups in diverse geographic areas of active hunters and shooters, lapsed hunters and shooters, non-hunters and non-shooters, and anti-hunters and anti-shooters; two nationwide telephone surveys with hunters and shooters and the general population; and final report, including actionable recommendation strategies. Buy Now
The Public’s Attitudes Toward and Participation in the Shooting Sports: This study was conducted for the National Shooting Sports Foundation to examine the American public’s attitudes toward and participation in the shooting sports. The study entailed a telephone survey of the general population from across the nation. Buy Now
Study on the Best Location and Features of Shooting Ranges in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Area in Minnesota: This study was conducted to determine the best location and features of shooting ranges in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area so that the agency can most effectively allocate public resources. The study entailed two focus groups, one with firearms safety instructors and another with hunters, and two telephone surveys, one of instructors and the other of hunters. Buy Now
Women’s Participation in the Shooting Sports: This synopsis is a brief compendium of research about women’s participation in the shooting sports, including hunting, target shooting, trap shooting, skeet shooting, sporting clays, and archery. The full report includes an overview of women’s participation numbers, trends, activity levels, motivations, dissatisfactions, expenditures, and demographic information. Buy Now
Hunters’, Sport Shooters’, Archers’, and Anglers’ Attitudes Toward Messages Encouraging Them to Recruit Others Into Their Sport: This study assessed the attitudes and perceptions of sportsmen and women toward various messages encouraging participation in the STEP OUTSIDE® program. The study entailed three focus groups and a telephone survey to assess the motivations for and constraints against participation in the STEP OUTSIDE® program by known hunters, anglers, gun shooters, and archers. Buy Now