Are You an "Average" Hunter?

The Outdoor Industry Association’s Outdoor Foundation recently released “2023 Special Report: Hunting”—with survey results from 2022—includes information on participation, motivation and demographics. It also features details that paint a picture of the average hunter.  

With that in mind here’s a snapshot of what the organization found. How well does it fit you?

Hunters in General

• 80%—Introduced to the sport by a family member
• 55%—Headed afield for the first time under the watchful eye of a parent
• 63%—Experienced their first hunt sometime between the ages of 6 and 17
• 81%—Harvesting food/meat is a primary motivation
• 39%—Found the biggest hurdle is poor access to hunting areas

Firearm Hunters

• 90%—Pursued deer
• 82%—Rank harvesting food/meat as a primary motivation
• 68%—Hunted in more than one state
• 28%—Live in households with an annual income at or above $100,000
• 73%—Purchased new gear in 2022

Archery Hunters

• 84%—Pursued deer
• 81%—Ranked harvesting food/meat as a primary motivation
• 86%—Hunted in more than one state
• 30%—Live in households with an annual income at or above $100,000
• 76%—Purchased new gear in 2022

With the rather notable different in participation in other states—86 percent for bowhunters, vs. 68 in firearms—method of take doesn’t move the statistical needle significantly. There are some notable differences, however, buried in other results.

The number of females in both groups were roughly the same in 2022 at 24 percent. The study’s authors noted that while the ratio of women hunters using a firearm has steadily climbed the past few years, those using archery equipment has remained the same. With the popularity of the Hunger Games movie franchise the researchers found it surprising there was no increase at all. The number of Hispanic hunters, however, improved from 2015’s 9.7 percent to 12.2 percent in 2022.