Participation of women shooting off the charts
ANational Shooting Sports Foundation study in 2015 highlighted an incredible increase in the number of women participating in the shooting sports.
Those results verified what shooting sports enthusiasts already knew: Women comprise the fastest growing segment of the shooting sports.
The number of women target shooters increased from 3.3 million in 2001 to 5.4 million in 2013, an increase of 60 percent, according to the report. During that same period, the number of women hunters grew by 85 percent from 1.8 million to 3.3 million. And overall, the percentage of hunters who are women increased from 10 to 19 percent.
As impressive as those numbers were at the time, new research shows that women have continued to embrace the shooting sports at an amazing pace. So much so that results of this latest study could change things significantly for the shooting industry.
Conducted by Shoot
Like A Girl, an organization founded by women to promote the shooting sports, the study found that participation by women in the shooting sports has increased by as much as 189 percent in some shooting disciplines since the NSSF report was released in 2015. The study focused on multiple shooting disciplines. Among them were pistol, rifle, shotgun and archery, as well as hunting.
“It is a known fact that women have been the fastest growing demographic for several years now, and we continue to grow,” said Karen Butler, president and founder of Shoot Like A Girl, in a release. “There is a chance that our data is a course correction for the industry, too, based on the responses received after our query of a sizable number of women.”
Butler’s purpose in conducting the survey was “to show the magnitude of the impact and importance of women participating in shooting sports.” She also “wanted to provide the industry with hard facts so manufacturers and businesses will continue to increase products and opportunities for female participation in the shooting sports industry.”
As noted in the NSSF report, women have three priorities concerning the shooting sports — personal and home protection, learning to hunt, and spending time at the range with friends and family. Specific shooting activities that attract their interest are practical pistol, clay target shooting, long-range shooting and plinking.
Along with making their presence known on the shooting range and on the hunt, women also account for an increasing percentage of American anglers. In its 2017 Special Report on Fishing, the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation pointed out that women account for 35 percent of all anglers. Also, fishing saw an increase of 1.5 million participants during 2016, and those most likely to be in that group are young females. In fact, women account for 45 percent of new participants.
The only problem is they also are most likely to drop out of the sport, but the RBFF, whose mission is to increase participation in recreational boating and fishing, has plans to change that.
“New this year will be an effort to reach out to the female audience,” reads a post on the RBFF website. “Seeing trends in female fishing participation, we are taking aim and hoping to make female anglers feel more welcomed and empowered in the community.”
Safety summer camp
The Nevada Firearms Coalition will host a Conservation and Firearms Safety Summer Camp for ages 14 to 19 from June 11 to 15 at the Clark County Shooting Park Education Center. The fee is $125. For more information, visit nfac.org.
Freelance writer Doug Nielsen is a conservation educator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. His “In the Outdoors” column, published Thursday in the Las Vegas Review-journal, is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NDOW.
Any opinions are his own. Find him on Facebook at @dougwritesoutdoors.
He can be reached at intheoutdoorslv@gmail.com.
Lake Mead — Anglers are finding shad early in the morning and using the bait fish to catch striped bass. Coves around Government Wash have been producing quality fish, including largemouth, smallmouth and striped bass. In addition to live shad, various lures and reactions baits have caught fish. Catfish are biting anchovies at night right below the shelves.
Lake Mohave — Anglers are finding good action for black bass in the vicinity of Cottonwood Cove. Smallmouth bass averaging two pounds are taking tube baits in the green pumpkin color variation. Fish are coming from 10 to 15 feet of water near grass beds and submerged brush.
Laughlin — Shore fishermen are catching striped bass and catfish with anchovies. Catfish are more active at night and can be caught in some of the backwater areas. Largemouth bass are hitting white or green spinnerbaits in the marshy coves.
Las Vegas urban ponds
— Bass and sunfish are still in spawning mode at most of the ponds, but should be completing this cycle soon. Trout are still biting at Floyd Lamb and Veterans Memorial parks, and at Cold Creek. Mealworms are catching the fish.
Kirch Wildlife Management Area — Bass anglers found success over the weekend with black or olive Woolly Buggers. Some trolled the flies while others worked the tule beds from float tubes. Trout action was good at Dacey with stocked rainbows taking midge patters fished six to 10 inches off the bottom. One angler reportedly hauled in an
18- to 20-inch fish from the dam. Water levels remain good and shoreline anglers are finding the best fishing at Haymeadow and Cold Springs. Keep in mind that the upper ends of Dacey, Adams-mcgill, Cold Springs and Haymeadow reservoirs are closed until August 15. All of Tule is closed.
Eagle Valley Reservoir
— According to Ranger Ben Johnson, fishing has been very good. Trout are taking a variety of baits and lures, but gold or silver spinners have been especially good. Bait anglers are catching fish with night crawlers or rainbow colored Power Eggs. Largemouth bass are taking spinnerbaits, but all bass must be released April 1 through June 30. Crappies are taking silver minnow jigs. All campground facilities are open.
Echo Canyon Reservoir
— Water levels are good and so is the fishing. Rainbow trout are taking night crawlers and rainbow-colored Power Eggs. Bass fishing is good though most of the fish are on the small side. Larger fish are still spawning. Anglers are finding good action all around the reservoir. All campground facilities are open.
Upcoming fishing events
— Fly Tying Tuesdays continues on May 15 from 6–7:30 p.m. at the Nevada Department of Wildlife Las Vegas office. This is a free class for those 12 years of age and older. Equipment and materials will be provided. Register online at https:// register-ed.com/programs/ nevada/210-angler-education.
For more information contact Abbey Czarnecki at 702-4865127, ext. 3850.