From the Editor

Let me guess. You're male, married, at least 50 years old and attended college. Close? If so, then you're an average Shooting Sportsman reader, at least according to the results of our most recent survey. Several issues ago I mentioned that we were mailing questionnaires to 1,200 subscribers. Well, the results are in, and we've learned some interesting things.

For example, the average SSM reader owns 12 (!) shotguns: four side-by-sides, three over/unders, two autoloaders, two pumps and one "other" (single-shot, Drilling and so on). Even so, many readers remain in acquisition mode, with 65 percent having purchased at least two shotguns in the past year at an average cost of $3,700 per gun.

These guns don't just sit in safes, either, as in the past year readers spent about 22 days afield hunting (in order of descending popularity) pheasants, quail, doves, waterfowl, grouse, woodcock, chukar and Huns. And more than 85 percent took to the range, shooting a combination of sporting clays, skeet and trap an average of 27 times.

Of little surprise is that almost 92 percent report belonging to a sportsmen's or conservation organization, including the NRA, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Quail Unlimited, the Ruffed Grouse Society, SCI and Quail Forever. This is confirmation that SSM readers aren't simply consumers of resources but are willing to give something back.

And the statistic that pleased us most: Only 1.4 percent of respondents said they weren't likely to renew their subscriptions. I take this to mean that we're on the right track editorially and are providing a product of value.

A section at the end of the survey offered an opportunity for editorial input, and we received some interesting comments and article ideas. As always, if you have thoughts you'd like to share or story topics to suggest, please don't hesitate to contact me at

rstuart@shootingsportsman.com.


I recently was reading the results of another survey that contained a question about attrition in hunter numbers. In addition to the usual reasons cited (increasing expense, decreasing access to land, loss of habitat and so on), I was surprised to learn that a leading cause is hunters having no one to hunt with. If you ever find yourself in the latter situation, I have two suggestions.

First, take a kid hunting. Research has shown that for every 100 adult hunters today, there are only 69 youth hunters coming up to replace them. By taking a young person afield, you can mold a new hunting partner while helping ensure the future of the sport.

Of course you may live in one of the 20 states that have restrictive regulations regarding youth hunters. In an effort to remove these barriers, The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), US Sportsmen's Alliance and National Wild Turkey Federation teamed up to launch Families Afield in 2004. This education and outreach program has been making huge strides, and in the past several years 12 states have passed laws designed to encourage youth and newcomer participation. Efforts include lowering age requirements, developing mentoring programs and creating apprentice hunting licenses that allow people to hunt under the direct supervision of licensed adult hunters without first having to complete hunter education courses. (To become fully licensed to hunt alone, the new hunters eventually must complete hunter ed.)

For more information on how you can get involved, contact the NSSF, 203-426-1320; www.nssf.org.

My second suggestion is that you attend one of our Readers & Writers Adventures. From what I've seen, there's simply no better way to meet like-minded sportsmen and form friendships that can last a lifetime. Frankly, I've been amazed at some of the bonds that have been formed on these shoots and the longevity of the relationships. Just this past fall I walked into a South Dakota lodge and ran into three alumni of SSM events who hadn't known each other prior to our hunts but who now make annual trips together. I hear about this happening over and over.

This year we're planning trips to Oak Tree Lodge, in South Dakota, and Wynfield Plantation, in Georgia. (For details, see the Game & Gun Gazette, p. 14.) We hope to see you there.

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