Why Is Participation in Target Shooting Declining?

[Mark Damian Duda]

New nationwide survey research by Responsive Management reveals that economic factors are to blame for the recent decline in Americans’ target shooting participation, with ammunition costs and less disposable income topping the list of reasons why fewer people today are going shooting. Since 2009, Responsive Management has partnered with the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) to monitor participation trends in target and sport shooting. According to the two most recent trend surveys, recreational shooting participation remained essentially flat between 2020 and 2022 before declining during the period from 2022 to 2024. To investigate the specific reasons why fewer people are heading to shooting ranges, Responsive Management interviewed a large national sample of target and sport shooters to identify a representative subset whose participation has decreased within the last few years.

 

Please click here to learn more about the survey findings.

 

Mark Damian Duda

Executive Director

Responsive Management

ma...@responsivemanagement.com