What the NRA Does for Hunters

by
posted on October 18, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
oneshot2015_fs.jpg (1)

The Institute for Legislative Action (ILA), established in 1975, is the lobbying arm of the NRA. It is committed to preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. When restrictive “gun control” is proposed at the local, state or federal level, NRA members and supporters are contacted via ILA grassroots efforts and respond with individual letters, faxes, emails and calls to their elected representatives to make their views known. As the political arm of the NRA, ILA has a long history of protecting hunting by sponsoring legislation and referenda promoting hunting opportunities and stopping anti-hunting laws and regulations.
Online: NRA-ILA.org.

The NRA is the premier leader in hunter/shooting education. In 1949, for instance, the NRA developed the first national hunter safety course. Since 1985, the organization has trained more than 1.6 million young hunters through the Youth Hunter Education Challenge.
Online: YHEC.NRA.org.

The NRA’s 114,000 certified marksmanship instructors annually train more than 750,000 beginners in the basic shooting skills necessary for hunting success.
Online: NRAInstructors.org.

The NRA’s Women on Target program has since 2000 conducted 3,155 instructional shooting clinics for 90,040 women, introducing them to the skills necessary to begin hunting.
Online: Women.NRA.org.

The NRA offers exciting training and education programs to help keep your hunting skills sharp and ensure you are equipped with what you need to be a better, safer, more responsible hunter. Courses are taught by certified instructors who have successfully completed the NRA Hunter Clinic Instructor curriculum. Topics include: wild turkey, whitetail deer and Western big game.
Online: HCIP.NRA.org.

Hunters for the Hungry is a state-by-state cooperative effort among hunters, sportsmen’s associations, game meat processors, state meat inspectors and hunger-relief organizations to help feed those in need. Over the past three years, such programs have delivered thousands of pounds of venison to homeless shelters, soup kitchens and food banks. The NRA supports these state-level efforts through its Hunters for the Hungry Information Clearinghouse. As part of the Association’s Hunter Services department, the Clearinghouse puts interested individuals in touch with programs in their area and fosters public awareness through education, fundraising and publicity. In addition, Hunter Services staff work in the field with governmental agencies conducting evisceration and meat processing preparation of whitetail deer distributed to area food banks. In all, Hunters for the Hungry programs provide 250 million hot meals per year to those in need.
Online: HuntersfortheHungry.NRA.org.

The Great American Outdoor Show is the largest outdoor show in the world, celebrating hunting, fishing and outdoor traditions that are treasured by millions of Americans. The show features more than 1,000 exhibitors ranging from shooting manufacturers and hunting outfitters to fishing boats and RVs, and archery to art covering 650,000 square feet of exhibit hall space. It also features a jam-packed schedule of informative seminars and entertainment including speaking events, demonstrations, fundraising dinners, archery competitions, celebrity appearances, country music concerts and more.
Online: GreatAmericanOutdoorShow.org.

NRA Outdoors is an exclusive outdoor-adventure booking agency run solely by the NRA. It searches out hunting  and  fishing opportunities worldwide and develops relationships with topnotch outfitters to keep constant tabs on their amenities, success rates, personnel and more, to steer interested hunters toward the hunt-of-a-lifetime.
Online: NRAOutdoors.com.

And, of course, there's always the NRA’s American Hunter, an Official Journal, is the largest-circulation, pure-hunting magazine in the world, with more than a million readers.

Latest

LEDE Composite Image
LEDE Composite Image

Standout New Hunting Guns of 2026

This year’s standout hunting firearms reveal an industry focused on refining proven ideas. Manufacturers are increasingly embracing features once reserved for premium models and including extras that a few years ago were considered aftermarket additions. Whether you’re chasing game close to home or venturing deep into the backcountry, today’s new hunting guns arrive more capable than ever before.

Massive Expansion of Hunting and Fishing Opportunities

The Department of the Interior recently announced the largest expansion of hunting and sport fishing opportunities in the history of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Service is also making more than 1,000 modifications to existing regulatory provisions, reducing complexity and making it easier for hunters and anglers to understand and comply with applicable rules. 

Behind the Bullet: The .25 WSSM

Quarterbores are back, so let's take a look at a fan favorite released just after the turn of the millennium: the .25 WSSM.

Henry Repeating Arms Introduces the Founding Fathers Collection

Henry Repeating Arms has introduced the Founding Fathers Collection, a series of seven Tribute Edition rifles honoring the men who shaped the American republic: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton.

Rethinking Ragù: Venison Ragù Bianco

In Italy, ragù simply refers to a slow-cooked meat sauce. Bolognese—ragù alla Bolognese—is just one regional variation that originated in Bologna and traditionally incorporates tomatoes, wine, milk, and finely minced meat simmered low and slow until deeply rich and complex. But some of the most beautiful ragù dishes in Italy contain little or no tomato at all. This version uses axis deer simply because that’s what I happened to have in the freezer, but this sauce works beautifully with almost any species of venison.

USFWS Releases 2026 Waterfowl Population Survey Results

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has released its 2026 Waterfowl Population Status Report. This report contains results from surveys and population estimation methods conducted by the USFWS, Canadian Wildlife Service and numerous state and provincial partners.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.