Click here to download the catalog as a PDF file. To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. Carolee Anita Boyles HUNTING 2008 Six Dealers Dealers Offer Offer Their Their Perspectives, Perspectives, Strategies Strategies Six “We’re up significantly in the sale of hunting products, both this year and last year,” Hall said. “One thing we attribute that to is that we’ve worked very hard to market to non-shooters and non-hunters.” Those sales haven’t come immediately, Hall said, but over time a trickle has turned into a flood. “Easily half of our increase in sales is to new shooters,” he said, pointing out that new shooters and hunters have a “pay to play” attitude. “They come in and say, ‘I want to go turkey hunting. Who do I pay to do that?’” Hall said. “The hunters and shooters of today are not the hunters and shooters of yesterday who would go to a farmer and ask permission to hunt, or would have a friend who was a farmer. These hunters are truly urbanites who are willing to pay to hunt.” Jeff Corey at Tri-State Outfitters in Moscow, Idaho, also had good fall sales. “Our hunting season was great last A s the U.S. economy continues to take a beating, what’s ahead for firearm and hunting retailers? There are mixed signals. Data from the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) shows a 9.1 percent increase in background checks during the first five months of 2008, as compared to the same period in 2007. That contrasts with last fall, when many dealers saw a downturn in their hunting season profits. A combination of bad weather, high ammunition and fuel costs, and the economy in general contributed to a slump in year-end sales. What is the forecast for this fall? Dealers throughout the nation offer dramatically contrasting predictions: from “a decline” to “a lot of reason to be optimistic.” In Oklahoma City, Miles Hall, owner of H&H Gun Range, says his sales are up. Hunting Is “Bright Spot” year,” Corey said. “It was way up from previous years.” Corey is hoping the 2008 fall season will be as good as last year, but he sees the possibility of a downturn. “I think we have to see some stagnation because of price changes,” he said. “Ammo prices and gun prices both are going up. We’re seeing a lot of price changes, not just once every 10 months to a year, but every two or three or four months. That’s happening with firearms also — they’re way up.” As he plans for fall, Corey is buying inventory in preparation for a good hunting season. “Hunting last year was the one bright spot and I’m anticipating that it will be good this year, because our firearms sales have been so good,” Corey said. “I think that’s partly politics and partly people wanting to get out and hunt.” To make sure he attracts customers, Corey is expanding his promotions. New for 2008, the Remington Model 11-87 Sportsman ShurShot Camo Cantilever has a 23" fully rifled barrel and ambidextrous stock in Realtree Hardwoods HD. 24 AUGUST 2008 www.shootingindustry.com