Supporting American Hunting and Shooting… for the Right Reasons
Zac K. 06.20.25

Opinions towards American hunting and shooting have shifted as the country itself has shifted from rural to urban living over the past century. But, a recent study by the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports (CAHSS) says the country is still massively in favor of hunting and shooting sports. However, the survey’s subjects appeared to put a big emphasis on the reason behind the activity. In their research, the CAHSS surveyed 2,212 Americans through phone or online questionnaires, with both groups receiving the same set of questions. Their study showed that Americans are “most likely to approve of hunting and shooting when motivated by food, conservation, or safety.”
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“Fair chase would appear to be a factor in approval of hunting: the lowest-rated methods are hunting on high-fenced property, hunting using high tech gear, and hunting over bait—for these, disapproval is as high or higher than approval.”
A similar percentage approved of sport shooting, with 74 percent approval in that category. But again, there were caveats.
What practical use does the knowledge from this survey give? According to the Steven Leath, Executive Director of the CAHSS, it shows that shooters and hunters must be careful to maintain public trust, and not take support for granted.
To that end, Scott Lavin, Director of Research & Partnerships for CAHSS, said the study’s findings can shape policy and outreach efforts and help the industry keep numbers strong. For more details, check out the survey here.