Responsible handling of guns and other hunting equipment is imperative for retailers and their customers. Hunting equipment in the hands of people who do not know what they doing turns these valuable tools into dangerous weapons. Safety surrounding such items keeps people unharmed and the industry in positive light.

Many customers may think they already know everything about hunting products because they have been around guns for years. Familiarity does not guarantee a safe sportsman. It can lead to carelessness if renewed training is not made a priority. All gunmen, especially new hunters, casual shooters and lackadaisical lifetimers, need refreshers on proper handling and use of equipment. As a retailer, you can make it your responsibility to ensure safety walks out the door with your product.

1. As a hunting store, follow all safety and handling guidelines presented by the manufacturer.

2. Employees should be knowledgeable about hunting merchandise to help educate customers.

3. Information on training for hunting and sport shooting equipment needs to be available so customers know where to go to get further education.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Join industry associations for the most current and thorough information on hunting equipment

Industry associations have the most reliable, available information. They can be a retailer's best friend for new products, trends, research and regulations. Be your customers' best friend by passing on pertinent information you receive from the associations.

I recommend: In the American Hunters and Shooters Association's resource section, they offer information on gun safety and a map where you can select your local area to get close to home hunting and safety information. Join the National Sporting Goods Association. Aside from a Learning Center, the NSGA has a "Dan, the Answer Man" feature for members. This tool is the specialist you need to get the answers you cannot find anywhere else. State requirements vary, but a hunter education course is mandatory before hunting in the U.S.

Know where to get product specific information for the hunting gear you carry

Stay knowledgeable and your customers will be knowledgeable. Your employees are the first source of information a customer has for the hunting equipment you carry. If employees do not know answers to customer questions, make sure they know where to get the answers. Manufacturers often provide industry training and tips as well as a wealth of training on their specific products.

I recommend: For archers, Horton Manufacturing is full of valuable information including product manuals and general archery training for the hunt. The National Rifle Association has training for hunting and sport shooting equipment all over the nation. Become familiar with where your local trainings are held and when, so you can share that information with customers.

Complement your store with ideas and hunting products that encourage safety

Hunter orange clothing and safety harnesses will aid in keeping hunters safe in the field. Gun cleaning kits will keep the gun working reliably and safely when firing. As a responsible retailer, you should encourage customers to purchase locking gun cases for gun safety in the home.

I recommend: Maurice Sporting Goods supplies wholesale hunting equipment and can completely provide your hunter safety clothing, cases and cleaning equipment needs. They have six warehouses throughout the nation to allow for quick service. Posting pertinent equipment safety rules like these from The Firearms Safety Society will help remind hunters to be safe.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Encourage customers to take special care to keep guns and hunting equipment where children can not access them. Guns should be stored unloaded in a locked cabinet with the ammunition stored in a separate place.

Hunting and sport shooting equipment are items that must be continually replaced. Because of this, being able to provide hunters and sport shooters with the gear they need ensures that you will have many repeat customers.

Keep in mind that you should only sell hunting gear that is legal in your area, so check local laws before you order equipment. In addition, keep these suggestions in mind when you order hunting equipment for your business:

1. Meet the needs of local hunters by offering a varied selection of hunting gear.

2. Appeal to sport shooters, self defense enthusiasts and local law enforcement with sport shooting supplies.

3. Accommodate archers by offering quality archery supplies.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Keep a varied selection of hunting supplies in stock

In order to appeal to the largest number of hunters, you need to offer a complete line of hunting accessories, including apparel, rifles and ammunition. Before you order any of these supplies, you must familiarize yourself with the laws and ordinances in your area that govern the hunting equipment allowed for every season.

I recommend: Cals Sporting Armory is a hunting store. This store has a large selection of hunting rifles, accessories and apparel, including protective ear wear. MPC Sports has a full line of hunting gear, including targets, locks, sporting dog accessories and gunsmith products. This company offers discounted prices and affordable shipping options.

Sell sport shooting equipment

Sport shooting equipment can be used to target shoot. Some of the targets attach to mobile equipment for the shooter to practice hitting a moving target. Keep in mind that offering products for hunters, self defense and law enforcement allows you to appeal to the largest customer base possible.

I recommend: Delta Force has a variety of pellet guns and other equipment for sport shooting. This company offers discounted prices and shipping options. Sports Authority has a variety of sport shooting accessories, including decoys, life like targets, gun locks and clay shoots. This company offers special discounts for bulk orders.

Sell archery hunting equipment

Archery hunting equipment, such as crossbows and compound bows, will appeal to hunters as well as target archers. In order to accommodate anyone who likes to shoot a bow, you should keep a varied selection of archery equipment in stock.

I recommend: Dick's Sporting Goods has a complete line of archery equipment, including compound bows, crossbow packages and archery targets. All of these products are at wholesale prices. OnlineSports.com has full selection of archery accessories, including archery quivers. This company offers discounted prices and free shipping on orders that meet minimum qualification.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider offering hunting and sport shooting equipment safety classes to instruct your customers on the proper safety procedures to follow while using their equipment.

Hunting and sport shooting equipment education and training is important to anyone that plans to buy, sell, or trade hunting equipment. Sport hunting is a very popular recreational activity. For this reason, some stores have devoted themselves completely to hunting supplies.

In order to be successful, hunting supply stores must partake in some type of hunting and sport shooting equipment education and training. When thinking about increasing the knowledge of your hunting equipment sales staff, think about the following:

1. Educate them on laws regarding sales of hunting equipment.

2. Track dates for various hunting seasons and thus equipment promotions.

3. Obtain formal education in managing a retail sporting goods store.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know laws pertaining to selling and buying hunting equipment

Some types of hunting equipment, such as hunting rifles, have strict regulations for sale. Government has placed laws on selling and buying weapons including those used for sport hunting and shooting. Check with your state and the NRA for age requirements and other regulations for selling guns, archery products, and knives.

I recommend: NRAILA offers a fact sheet that discusses the rules and regulations for buying and selling guns. CGA discusses the legal aspects of buying and selling guns and ammunition.

Discover when to market specific hunting supplies

In most cases, hunting equipment sells are in correlation with the hunting seasons. Deer hunting equipment sales are most popular during deer hunting season. Know when specific game seasons are open and the types of weapons permitted. Advertise the hunting gear needed for the game during the particular hunting season.

I recommend: DNR offers the information for all hunting and trapping dates of specific game in Wisconsin. One can find information about hunting specific game in New Hampshire at NH Wildlife.

Seek education in hunting store management

In the field of hunting products, it's important to understand the purchase and merchandising of hunting equipment, advertising and promoting your wares, as well as basic gunsmithing for repairs. Your employees should understand managing a gun shop as well as sports hunting. Another source of education is to attend trade shows to learn the latest from manufacturers.

I recommend: Montgomery Community College offers an associate degree in business management in the field of shooting and hunting sport management; it equips people to work in a large or small retail hunting store. The Archery Trade Association has an annual trade show and also has publications of interest to those in the archery hunting equipment industry.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  It's important to stay current on rules and regulations regarding firearms. The National Association of Firearms Retailers offers continuing education classes in the form of free, one-day seminars. At these, owners and employees can learn how to pass an ATF inspection and how to prevent illegal purchases of sport shooting equipment.