SUMMIT STATION — Earlier this year at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show, National Shooting Sports Foundation president and CEO Steve Sanetti discussed the findings in the organization’s new report, “Women Gun Owners: Purchasing, Perceptions and Participation.’’
“In the past decade, the number of women owning firearms and participating in target shooting and hunting has soared,” Sanetti said. “This study helps us understand why women are choosing to purchase firearms and accessories and what shooting activities appeal to them most.”
These findings came from a well-organized and equally well-financed study conducted in 2014 and focused on women ages 18-65 who own at least one firearm. More than one third of women in the study were new gun owners, having purchased their first firearm within the last three years.
This group of new gun owners, who are primarily ages 18-34, reflects the changing demographics among women choosing to own firearms. This change is captured visually in NSSF’s new info-graphic “Girl Power” and complements the new report.
“The women’s market is a force in our industry, and manufacturers, retailers and shooting ranges are making changes to their products and services to satisfy women’s tastes and needs,” NSSF director of Industry Research and Analysis Jim Curcuruto said. “This report will assist anyone interested in knowing more about women’s enthusiasm for and attitudes toward firearms.”
Locally, far less scientific findings support the research conducted by the NSSF by observing the number of female shooters at the traditional muzzleloader shoots held the weekends of Memorial Day and Labor Day by Blue Ridge Rifles on its club grounds off Route 183, south of Summit Station on Coon Club Road. This year the first of these events will take place during the Eastern Pennsylvania Rendezvous and Muzzleloader Shoot, which will feature pre-1840 primitive-style and modern camping on its 22-acre range, Thursday-Monday, May 21-25.
Cathy Bates of Trappe has held several offices since Blue Ridge was founded in 1976 as a National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association charter club and a member of the Pennsylvania Federation of Black Powder Shooters. One of her duties at shoots has been registering competitors and selling targets, and she has seen various trends over the years.
“When this all began, it really was a ‘boys’ club,’ with mostly men shooting and the women staying in camp and doing the cooking,” Bates said. “Then, as the sport began to grow, a few women began to shoot, but few had their own rifles.
“Many of those early shooters among women have moved away from shooting, but now we’re seeing a second, and even third, generation of women shooters. They seek out the women who are veterans, and one thing that has changed from the early years is the number of women who own their rifles.
“Women enjoy shooting muzzleloaders because there is not the recoil that is had with cartridge shooting. I’d say most women begin by shooting percussion rifles, but more and more women are becoming flintlock shooters and a surprising number have custom rifles.”
Shooting events for campers and daily competitors this year is Saturday and Sunday, May 23 and 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Most matches consist of three or five shots at 25 yards, including the women’s event sponsored by Bass Pro Shops of Harrisburg and the juniors match for those 16 and younger for which no fee is charged for registration or re-entry targets because of grants from the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association and the Schuylkill County Sportsmen’s Association.
Specialty matches include the Yuengling 50-Yard Challenge and the primitive match comprised of novelty targets at varying distances sponsored by Cabela’s of Hamburg. In addition to the rifle matches, there are matches for pistols and smoothbores.
Separate from the firing line is a primitive archery woods walk and a knife and tomahawk area. There are also non-shooting events and contests and primitive games for children.
For information about activities at Blue Ridge Rifles Muzzleloader Club, access the club’s Facebook page.