Impact of Ammo shortage on New Hunters

[S.T.Fanatic]

Good slugs will not be available this year is what I heard.

I can't find ANY slugs PERIOD!!!

 

[Booner21]

I can't find ANY slugs PERIOD!!!

Sabots or rifled 12 or 20 gauge? Local Walmart had 100 boxes of federal truball slugs last week


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[Hoytvectrix]

I can't find ANY slugs PERIOD!!!

I was just in a fleet farm near the twin cities and they were fully stocked. Multiple brands and gauges. You might need to head a little north to get you some.

 

[MadMadHoosier]

If anyone sees H1000 powder anywhere, i’d appreciate a heads up!

 

[Mortenson]

I have been knapping off and on for probably 30 years. Grew up and lived in north central mo at the time and didn't have access to any type of lithic resource, so I started ordering obsidian from Oregon. A 50 pound box was 55 dollars postage paid, at the time, and i ordered several boxes over the years. Even though I have quality chert locally here in the ozarks, I still like to work with obsidian and glass, its what I learned with. I plan on making a lot of points in the next year or two and trying to harvest a deer with one.

What kind of tools do you like using? My kids have tried doing some abo-knapping using stones and deer antlers, but they aren't having much luck, except at hurting themselves. So for Christmas I just ordered them a set of various sized copper boppers and a pressure flaker that accepts copper nails. Do you think that's enough for them to stay busy? Anything else you'd suggest I buy?

 

[Mozark]

What kind of tools do you like using? My kids have tried doing some abo-knapping using stones and deer antlers, but they aren't having much luck, except at hurting themselves. So for Christmas I just ordered them a set of various sized copper boppers and a pressure flaker that accepts copper nails. Do you think that's enough for them to stay busy? Anything else you'd suggest I buy?

Congrats on getting the kids started!

My tool kit is pretty basic: hammer stones and larger copper billets for spalling, smaller billets for percussion flaking, pressure flaker, file, some sort of carborundum for grinding the edge and platforms, a piece of scrap leather to cover my thigh, and a smaller piece of leather for padding my hand. The biggest problem and expense for me was quality tool stone. I used beer bottle bottoms, old aquarium glass, slag glass, pretty much anything that was glass. Send me a PM with a shipping address and I will donate some freebies to the cause.

 

[Mortenson]

Cool pics! Thanks for the response. You are experienced for sure and those points look lethal. I'll send ya a PM sometime and maybe I can trade you some raw material. We live in area pretty rich in mineral resources. A local famous material is called Starved rock chert, aka Oneota. It's probably comparable to Mozarkite which is super nice.

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

Not sure if it is ammo related but I saw less hunters parked along the road this year than ever before. Something is just off. I also think the MN DNR has the deer numbers WAY over estimated.

 

[PatinPA]

Not sure if it is ammo related but I saw less hunters parked along the road this year than ever before. Something is just off. I also think the MN DNR has the deer numbers WAY over estimated.

My dad's been saying the same thing here in PA. I thought there was a good amount of shooting on the opening day but since then there hasn't been much.

 

[yoderjac]

I wonder if this has more to do with the attrition of baby boom hunters not being replaced by recruitment rather than deer numbers.

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

Iowa license sales are down 20%

 

[Mortenson]

Video games. Today's man-childs are raising their kids to do what they do, play games.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

Is that 20% from last year or in general?

To Jack's point, recruitment is definitely a looming crisis. The Wired To Hunt Podcast has had several episodes on it as an issue as well as a few programs that are working towards improving recruitment numbers.

Now related to ammo availability, I was in Scheels this past weekend and was blown away by the availability of ammo on their shelves. Seems like the retailers are finally catching up or sales are slowing down.

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

Is that 20% from last year or in general?

To Jack's point, recruitment is definitely a looming crisis. The Wired To Hunt Podcast has had several episodes on it as an issue as well as a few programs that are working towards improving recruitment numbers.

Now related to ammo availability, I was in Scheels this past weekend and was blown away by the availability of ammo on their shelves. Seems like the retailers are finally catching up or sales are slowing down.

Down 20% this year from last season is my understanding.

 

[PatinPA]

I wonder if this has more to do with the attrition of baby boom hunters not being replaced by recruitment rather than deer numbers.

Is that 20% from last year or in general?

To Jack's point, recruitment is definitely a looming crisis. The Wired To Hunt Podcast has had several episodes on it as an issue as well as a few programs that are working towards improving recruitment numbers.

Now related to ammo availability, I was in Scheels this past weekend and was blown away by the availability of ammo on their shelves. Seems like the retailers are finally catching up or sales are slowing down.

I just went on a search for ammo this weekend. Visited about 5 various shops from Bass Pro to local gunshops. There is more available but it's only the typical calibers. The local gunshops have a wider variety from what I've seen. Although they all laughed at me when I asked for 280. One guy said if I can find it, expect to pay $75 a box. Said nope, that gun will just stay in the safe. My other is a 300 savage. Couldn't find any of that either although I know where there is some. I just didn't want to drive that far to get it.

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

I just went on a search for ammo this weekend. Visited about 5 various shops from Bass Pro to local gunshops. There is more available but it's only the typical calibers. The local gunshops have a wider variety from what I've seen. Although they all laughed at me when I asked for 280. One guy said if I can find it, expect to pay $75 a box. Said nope, that gun will just stay in the safe. My other is a 300 savage. Couldn't find any of that either although I know where there is some. I just didn't want to drive that far to get it.

I bought some 300 savage this fall just because. $48 a box

 

[Hoytvectrix]

Down 20% this year from last season is my understanding.

Wasn't it up 20% from '19 to '20? I know the outdoor industry in general had something like 20-50% growth during covid.

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

Wasn't it up 20% from '19 to '20? I know the outdoor industry in general had something like 20-50% growth during covid.

No idea. This is just what one of my salesman from Ia. told me this morning. In general we know hunter numbers are trending downward.

 

[PatinPA]

I bought some 300 savage this fall just because. $48 a box

Ya I bought some last year for about the same. Thankfully I only shoot about once a year so a box lasts me a long time. My FIL gave me the 280 for my son to eventually use. It was his father's gun and he doesn't hunt. It came with 3 partial mismatched boxes. Some 145 gr, 150 gr, and some 180 I think. There's only about 3 or 4 shells in each box. Not enough for a full magazine out of any of them.

 

[PatinPA]

Ya I bought some last year for about the same. Thankfully I only shoot about once a year so a box lasts me a long time. My FIL gave me the 280 for my son to eventually use. It was his father's gun and he doesn't hunt. It came with 3 partial mismatched boxes. Some 145 gr, 150 gr, and some 180 I think. There's only about 3 or 4 shells in each box. Not enough for a full magazine out of any of them.

Also received a 16 gauge in that deal. I did find a box of them at Bass Pro which surprised the hell out of me. Just some 7 1/2 dove load but only $15. I just wanted something I can shoot out of it because I think only 16 gauge shells my FIL had was one punkinball.