SPRINGFIELD, Mo.—More women than men took up hunting last year, according to new net figures from the National Sporting Goods Association.

While total hunters in the U.S. decreased slightly (.05 percent) between 2008 and 2009, the number of female hunters increased by 5.4 percent, netting 163,000 new participants. Growth areas for women included muzzleloading (up 134.6 percent), bowhunting (up 30.7 percent) and hunting with firearms (up 3.5 percent).

Data also show women outpaced men among net newcomers to target shooting with a rifle, where female participation grew by 4.1 percent.

New hunters and shooters are cause for celebration because more participation helps with funding for conservation, according to officials with National Hunting and Fishing Day. Congress established NHF Day, set for Sept. 25, 2010, to recognize America’s sportsmen and women for their leading role in fish, wildlife and habitat conservation (more info at www.nhfday.org).

“New hunters, shooters and anglers are a good thing for everyone who loves the outdoors,” said Denise Wagner of Wonders of Wildlife museum in Springfield, Mo., the official home of NHF Day. “Hunting and fishing license sales, combined with special taxes on firearms and ammunition, bows and arrows, and rods and reels generate about $100,000 every 30 minutes, totaling more than $1.75 billion per year, for conservation. When it comes to funding for wildlife and wild places, more is definitely better.”

The growth in new participation among women, perhaps counterintuitive to traditionalists, is no surprise to Steve Sanetti, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the shooting, hunting and outdoor industry.

He explained, “Over the past several years, our industry has worked hard to help build this segment of our market. We’ve developed shooting and hunting products especially for women, reached out with welcoming and instructional workshops for women, and encouraged existing hunters and shooters to introduce their spouses, daughters and other newcomers to shooting sports and outdoor lifestyles. I believe these efforts are paying off, which is a bright spot for our industry as well as for conservation.”

Also unsurprised at the number of female hunters and shooters are the women Olympians of the USA Shooting Team, whose ever-increasing visibility has made them effective ambassadors, role models and recruiters of women to traditional outdoor sports.

“Shooting is one of the most fun and empowering things you can teach a young girl or a grown woman,” said Corey Cogdell, 23, a lifelong hunter and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in trap shooting. “Most men are surprised to find out that I am an avid outdoors woman and are often intrigued to learn how they can get females in their own lives involved in hunting and shooting.”

Connie Smotek, 45, a two-time Olympic skeet shooter, bronze medalist in the 2009 World Cup, and avid bird and big-game hunter, added, “Shooting and hunting are activities which a woman can enjoy for a lifetime.”

Cogdell and Smotek are among the many USA Shooting Team members who parlayed early interests in hunting into international success in shooting sports—an opportunity that didn’t exist for women until comparatively recently. Women’s shooting wasn’t officially added as an Olympic sport until 1984 (although U.S. rifle shooter Margaret Murdock won a medal competing against men in the 1976 games). Since then, U.S. women have won 10 Olympic medals in shooting, which is a growing source of pride.

Four of those 10 medals were won in the past four Olympics by Kim Rhode, a double-trap and skeet shooter now among the most elite and enduring athletes in all of sports.

The entire USA Shooting Team is serving as honorary chair for NHF Day 2010.

Sponsors for NHF Day 2010 include Wonders of Wildlife, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Bass Pro Shops, Smith & Wesson, Sportsman Channel, Realtree, Cabela’s, GunBroker.com, Yamaha, Pope and Young Club and Izaak Walton League of America.

For more information about NHF Day, visit www.nhfday.org.

Participation statistics are from the National Sporting Goods Association report “Sports Participation in 2009–Shooting Sports.”

via Women Outpace Men as New Hunters – National Hunting and Fishing Day.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.—One of the great annual traditions in the outdoors, National Hunting and Fishing Day, is set for this Saturday, Sept. 27.

For the past 37 years, the day has served as a public reminder that hunters and anglers are America’s premier conservation supporters. Through licenses and excise taxes, they now generate $100,000 every 30 minutes for fish, wildlife and habitat programs—benefiting all citizens who appreciate wild things and wild places.
Top 5 ways to observe National Hunting and Fishing Day 2008:
1. Introduce a newcomer to the outdoors.
2. Visit your sporting goods retailer, treat yourself to a new piece of hunting, fishing or shooting gear, then get outside and enjoy it.
3.  Organize, volunteer or attend a National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration in your area. Many event listings are posted at www.nhfday.org.
4.  Remember those whose service to our country will prevent them from joining us afield this fall. Appreciate the freedoms that make hunting, fishing, shooting and conservation possible.
5.  Log on to www.nhfday.org to learn more about the historic conservation leadership of hunters and anglers. Share the story with non-hunters! While online, enter to win a new ATV or bid on National Hunting and Fishing Day commemorative items.
Urged by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, formalized by Congress, proclaimed by every U.S. President since Richard M. Nixon, National Hunting and Fishing Day has an official home and national coordinator in Wonders of Wildlife.

The Springfield, Mo., museum develops communications campaigns, event-planning tips, promotional items and free online tools to help build public appreciation for hunters, anglers and shooters. Learn more at www.nhfday.org.

Honorary chairman for 2008 is outdoor TV personality Michael Waddell.

National Hunting and Fishing Day sponsors include Wonders of Wildlife, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Bass Pro Shops, The Sportsman Channel, National Wild Turkey Federation, Realtree, Cabela’s, Woolrich, GunBroker.com, Outdoor Channel, Safari Club International, Hunting Heritage Trust, Smith & Wesson, Field & Stream and Outdoor Life, and Yamaha.

N. C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

National Hunting and Fishing Day on Saturday, Sept. 27, recognizes that economic impact while celebrating – and encouraging – outdoor recreation. All four of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s education centers will host and participate in National Hunting and Fishing Day events:

* John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center in Fayetteville will hold a wildlife expo for youth. For more information, call Kris Smith at (910) 868-5003.
* Centennial Campus Center for Wildlife Education in Raleigh will also hold a wildlife expo. For more information, call Beth Gunn at (919) 707-0205.
* Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education in Corolla, will be a part of a Ducks Unlimited Greenwings youth event at Mackay Island Wildlife Refuge. For more information, call Sharon Meade at (252) 453-0221 ext. 8.
* Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education near Brevard will hold an introductory fly-fishing seminar, along with fly-fishing and fly-tying demonstrations. For more information, call Emilie Johnson at (828) 877-4423.

“Spending by sportsmen supports a wide range of businesses while benefiting wildlife conservation and habitat protection,” said Walter “Deet” James, North Carolina’s Hunting Heritage Biologist. “Those dollars generated by hunting and fishing have a ripple effect throughout the state, for rural areas, mom and pop businesses, the tourism and travel industry, manufacturing and retail, and much more.”

Hunting and fishing are popular recreational pursuits for residents and visitors, who are apparently quite willing to open their wallets to enjoy the North Carolina outdoors. The economic stimulus of hunting and fishing equates to $4.7 million a day for North Carolina, according to the report “Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy ~ A force as big as all outdoors.” It reports hunting and fishing directly supports 29,000 jobs and provides $818 million worth of paychecks around the state.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission recently published “The 2006 Economic Benefits of Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife Watching in North Carolina,” which provides in detail the economic stimulus on market sectors, employment contributions and other factors of this important travel, tourism and recreational demographic.

According to its authors, Southwick Associates, economic data can help increase awareness of the importance of fish and wildlife, and, as a result, boost conservation efforts and public recreational opportunities.

For information on hunting and fishing opportunities in North Carolina and a free download version of “The Economic Benefits of Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife Watching in North Carolina” click here. For more information on National Hunting and Fishing Day, go to www.nhfd.org.