How much shooting will there ACTUALLY be this season?

Each year GunsOnPegs, in association with Lycetts, conduct a wide ranging survey of thousands of game shots and hundreds of shoots. The Census has the support of all the major shooting organisations and each year it produces a number of fascinating stats, trends and insights about the shooting community. This year, in the light of COVID-19, the information is, if anything, more fascinating and more important than ever. Over 6,000 guns and 600 shoots took part in this year’s Game Shooting Census.

The good news is that 85% of shoots surveyed said that they were shooting this season. This is a marked improvement on the results of a survey carried out by GunsOnPegs in April, which suggested that as many as 33% of shoots could mothball for the season ahead.

 

That only 25% of shoots surveyed said that they were running fewer shoot days this season is also good news. Again, this is a marked improvement on the indications from the previous survey, which suggested that as many as 40% could run reduced seasons.

 

Those shoots that are reducing their season are doing so by an average of two days, though it should be noted that the largest of these shoots are reducing by more. Overall, the data says there will be a total reduction in shoot days of 27%.

 

The season will largely going ahead, but with some changes, such as the way we tip.
Credit: Primoris Sporting

The shoots most likely to be continuing as usual are private shoots that don’t sell any days, and those that are primarily run as syndicates, while the larger commercial shoots (those selling 50 or more days last season) are the most likely to have reduced their calendar this year. Those shoots that have mothballed cite the uncertainty and increased risk around COVID-19 as a principal cause for their decision, as well as game farm closures, guns being unwilling to pay deposits, and concerns around the safe transport of beaters. Encouragingly, only 10% of those mothballed say they do not intend to reopen for the 2021/22 season.

Perhaps unsurprisingly after months of lockdown, guns are raring to go. Only 6% say that they are not shooting this season as a result of COVID-19, and only 16% say that they would prefer not to shoot at all than buy a socially distanced shoot day (though we suspect that they would happily accept an invitation!). When asked what they would do if they were unable to go to shoot they usually attend for reasons of closure or a reduced programme, 69% said they would rebook elsewhere. Of those buying shooting this season, 30% are spending less, while 20% are spending more.

 

The enthusiasm of guns highlights the important role that shooting has in people’s lives, something underlined by 98% of guns stating that shooting benefits their mental and physical wellbeing. In the light of the trying times of the last few months, it is especially encouraging to see that there will be far more shooting this season than early indications suggested.

 

Further analysis of the Game Shooting Census and Shoot Owner Census will follow in the coming weeks and months.