OUTDOOR NATION – STATE OF THE INDUSTRY – January/February 2021

THAT TITLE SEEMED like a perfect one for this special section when we conceptualized it six months ago. We knew COVID-19 would likely still be somewhat of an issue having impact on the outdoors world but like everyone we were hoping for the best.

At the time of this writing (early December 2020) things are still very much up in the air with cases skyrocketing.

So “The State Of The Industry” is up in the air but we decided to move forward with this piece and give you an overview of some of the impact already felt and what may happen moving forward in various sectors of our industry.

Sporting Expos

January-February is the time for sporting expos and there has been much change in that regard. The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s (NSSF) Shooting, Hunting & Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas was cancelled.

“While there has been a concerted effort to expand the allowable levels for large gatherings by the county and state, with positivity rates peaking during our key planning period we have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 show. Sadly, these spikes are currently transpiring worldwide,’ reported NSSF officials.

“Given the sheer complexities, diminishing timeline and immense logistical planning required to conduct a trade show as large as SHOT, NSSF simply could not move forward at this point with so many unknowns and variables.”

The Wild Sheep Foundation’s “Sheep Show” was cancelled as a boots on the ground event and turned into a virtual one called Sheep Week: The Experience slated for Jan. 11-16.

The Houston Boat Show was also cancelled as well as various regional shows around the country.

Just before publication of this issue we got news that both the Dallas Safari Club and Houston Safari Club Foundation cancelled their expos that were both scheduled in February.

Dallas Safari Club officials have a virtual expo planned during the same dates, Feb. 11-14 and Houston Safari Club Foundation officials are working on other events to be announced throughout 2021.  The Houston Fishing Show has rescheduled for April 14-18.

Other shows were up in the air on dates ranging as far into 2021 as September. Go to fishgame.com for more information on other shows which will be posted as we receive them.

Fishing & Hunting Participation

Numerous states including Texas showed upwards of 10 percent increase in fishing and hunting license sales. Fishing in Texas was listed was protected early on by Gov. Greg Abbott as an activity that was allowed during the earliest coronavirus restrictions and many anglers took to the water.

“Many people have hit the water and some of them for the first time or maybe the first time in a long time which is a good thing for fishing and for people,” said CCA President Pat Murray.

“Fishing is a good way to get away from things and sort of get refreshed and the more people who fish and learn to care about fisheries the more conservation that can be enacted for our fisheries.”

In an article at Redriverradio.org  John Silovsky, Wildlife Division Director at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said with with participation up so was funding to the tune of more than 80 million from the previous year from licenes sales, excise taxes and other fees.

Guns & Ammo

A report in Forbes showed a fascinating trend in ammunition sales.

“U.S. imports of shelf-ready ammunition plunged 34% in the three months ended Aug. 31 compared to the same period in 2019, according to the most recent data from Chris Rogers of S&P Global Market Intelligence Panjiva.”

Forbes also noted Federal background checks for gun purchases totaled 3.64 million in July 2020.

“It’s the third-largest monthly tally since the FBI started tracking background checks in 1998, and follows a record total in June.”

According to the San Antonio Current, From January through October, the FBI conducted more than 1.9 million background checks for gun sales in Texas.

“That’s more than any full year on record and also the third-highest in the nation this year, behind Illinois and Kentucky.”

Hunting and Fishing Travel

According to the International Council On Game and Fish Wildlife Conservation, the COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving globally. Travel restrictions can be introduced or lifted from one day-to-the-next. For the latest country-specific travel restrictions, we advise checking travel agency websites in the first instance.

For US hunters and travelers, travel is permitted to those countries which are open for international visitors such as, South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Turkey, Tajikistan are all open for travel according to TWG Travel.

“Most of the countries require a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate which must be issued within a certain period prior to departure or arrival. These vary from within 48 hours prior to departure for Zimbabwe to within 14 days of arrival for Zambia.”

“One of the things we’ve told our members and have spoken about on our ‘Hunter Matters’ radio program is for hunters to not cancel their hunts but postpone them. That will help the outfitters who are struggling right now,” said Joe Betar, Executive Director of the Houston Safari Club Foundation.

Moving Forward

COVID-19 will continue to have an impact on our world and this industry for awhile. No one knows along but all of this is not going go away overnight.

All we can do is try to stay as safe as possible and move forward when the opportunity presents itself. We will continue not only reporting on our normal in-depth fishing, hunting, gun and wildlife coverage but also how this situation is impacing the great outdoors.

The silver lining here is the outdoors is the safest place to be.

Social-distancing is done best on a bay flat, flipping a jig around a dock on a lake, in the deer or duck blind or calling in turkeys.

Spend as much of that time with family and other loved ones and know that this too shall pass.

 

—a special report by CHESTER MOORE

 

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