Sport Shooters’ and Archers’ Attitudes Toward Shooting and

Appropriate Behavior on Public Lands

Presented to theNational Rifle Association

September 12, 2008

Martin JonesResponsive Management

Methodology Recreational shooters aged 16 years or older who shot on

federal public lands in the past 2 years

Sample selected from five different states:

• California (n = 202) Arizona (n = 211)

• Virginia (n = 206) Oregon (n = 200)

• Colorado (n = 207) Total n = 1,026

Focus groups conducted in Phoenix, AZ, and Denver, CO

Survey and focus groups conducted May - June 2008

The Recreational Shooter

The Recreational Shooter

Typically male

Average age is 49-56 years old

Split in area of residence (urban vs. rural)

Typically are members of a sportsman’s or conservation organization

Typically have hunted in the past 2 years

The Recreational Shooter

Average years shooting on federal lands is 25-36 years

Average days per year shooting on federal lands is 10-15 days

Typically shoots with friends and family

Typically shoots on Forest Service or BLM lands

Survey Results

In general, how satisfied have you been with your shooting experiences on federal lands in the past 2 years?

3

6

3

35

53

3

5

2

28

62

1

3

67

26

2

3

6

64

27

1

5

5

1

40

50

0 20 40 60 80 100

Very satisfied

Somewhatsatisfied

Neither satisfiednor dissatisfied

Somewhatdissatisfied

Very dissatisfied

Percent

California (n=202)

Arizona (n=211)

Virginia (n=206)

Oregon (n=200)

Colorado (n=207)

How important are recreational shooting areas and ranges on federal lands to your shooting participation? Would you say

they are very important, somewhat important, or not at all important?

0

2

11

86

0

2

15

82

0

74

20

5

2

79

13

7

0

8

14

77

0 20 40 60 80 100

Very important

Somewhatimportant

Not at allimportant

Don't know

Percent

California (n=202)

Arizona (n=211)

Virginia (n=206)

Oregon (n=200)

Colorado (n=207)

Do you consider yourself primarily a recreational shooter, primarily a hunter, or both about equally? (Asked of those

who have hunted in the past 2 years.)

9

38

53

0

5

48

47

0

42

55

3

0

55

41

4

0

5

39

56

1

0 20 40 60 80 100

Primarily arecreational

shooter

Primarily ahunter

Both aboutequally

Don't know

Percent

California (n=160)

Arizona (n=197)

Virginia (n=201)

Oregon (n=180)

Colorado (n=194)

2

16

30

29

22

2

18

13

40

27

2

29

23

17

30

5

8

33

43

12

2

12

22

29

35

0 20 40 60 80 100

An area not designated or typically used forrecreational shooting

An area typically used by recreationalshooters but not designated as an official

shooting area

A designated shooting area

A designated shooting range

Don't know

Percent

California (n=202)

Arizona (n=211)

Virginia (n=206)

Oregon (n=200)

Colorado (n=207)

When shooting on federal lands, do you mostly shoot in an area not designated or typically used for recreational shooting, in an area typically used by

recreational shooters but not designated as an official shooting area, in a designated shooting area, or at a designated shooting range?

Have any of the recreational shooting areas and ranges that you use on federal lands been closed in the past 2 years?

3

61

36

3

73

2314

84

2

22

76

22

74

23

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

No

Don't know

Percent

California (n=202)

Arizona (n=211)

Virginia (n=206)

Oregon (n=200)

Colorado (n=207)

Why was the site closed? (Asked of those who have had a recreational shooting area or range on federal lands that

he/she used closed in the past 2 years.) (Part 1)

5

26

15

12

21

8

8

14

18

14

27

14

12

2

7

32

50

7

4

0

0

20

16

34

14

11

0

14

25

40

21

2

6

10

8

0 20 40 60 80 100

Conflicts with other shooters

Litter and trash being left behind by shooters

Property damage

Conflicts with other recreationists in the area

Conflicts with or complaints from home orland owners adjacent to the federal land

Road closures / no access

Fire hazard

Mu

ltip

le R

esp

on

ses

Allo

wed

Percent

California (n=73)

Arizona (n=49)

Virginia (n=28)

Oregon (n=44)

Colorado (n=48)

Why was the site closed? (Asked of those who have had a recreational shooting area or range on federal lands that

he/she used closed in the past 2 years.) (Part 2)

3

5

0

4

8

3

2

8

0

2

4

8

4

4

7

11

4

4

7

7

0

11

9

9

8

4

0

4

2

2

0 20 40 60 80 100

Illegal dumping of household waste ortrash, such as furniture or appliances

Environmental damage

Irresponsible, rude, or rowdy behavior

Unsafe shooting practices

Other

Don't know

Mu

ltip

le R

esp

on

ses

Allo

wed

Percent

California (n=73)

Arizona (n=49)

Virginia (n=28)

Oregon (n=44)

Colorado (n=48)

In your opinion, what role should hunters and shooters have in keeping recreational shooting areas and ranges clean on

federal lands?

1

11

0

44

89

1

5

0

57

87

1

5

91

43

0

2

7

90

39

1

0

2

1

40

94

0 20 40 60 80 100

Self-policing

Participation in volunteer clean-up days

Hunters and shooters should not have arole in keeping recreational shooting

areas and ranges clean

Other

Don't know

Mu

ltip

le R

esp

on

ses

Allo

wed

Percent

California (n=202)

Arizona (n=211)

Virginia (n=206)

Oregon (n=200)

Colorado (n=207)

Percent of those who indicated that the following issues are a major problem at recreational shooting areas and ranges on

federal lands. (All shooters) (Part 1)

50

47

31

22

18

0 20 40 60 80 100

Illegal dumping of household waste or trash,such as furniture or appliances

Litter and trash being left behind by shooters,such as shells, clay pigeon fragments, or food

wrappers

Property damage, such as shooting at signs,trash cans, or structures

Unsafe shooting practices, such as targetshooting with no backstop or using

inappropriate targets

Irresponsible, rude, or rowdy behavior, such asdrinking alcohol, fighting, or reckless driving

Percent

Percent of those who indicated that the following issues are a major problem at recreational shooting areas and ranges on

federal lands. (All shooters) (Part 2)

17

9

8

4

0 20 40 60 80 100

Environmental damage, such as shooting attrees

Conflicts with other recreationists in the area,such as hikers

Conflicts with or complaints from home or landowners adjacent to the federal land

Conflicts with other shooters

Percent

67

64

62

61

61

60

0 20 40 60 80 100

Irresponsible behavior provides ammunition foranti-hunting and anti-shooting groups

Keep it Safe, Keep it Open

Irresponsible behavior is a threat to the future ofthe shooting sports

Irresponsible behavior causes shooting areasand ranges on federal lands to shut down

Irresponsible behavior robs you and yourchildren of a place to shoot

Irresponsible behavior gives shooters a badreputation

Percent

Percent of those who think the following messages would be very effective at stopping people from participating in or causing unsafe shooting practices, property and environmental damage, and other

irresponsible behavior at recreational shooting areas and ranges on federal lands. (All shooters) (Part 1)

58

58

57

54

54

49

0 20 40 60 80 100

Irresponsible behavior threatens our right toshoot

You can be fined for irresponsible behavior

Irresponsible behavior hurts the shootingheritage

Irresponsible behavior jeopardizes your safety

Irresponsible behavior jeopardizes the safety ofothers

Good behavior results in great shooting

Percent

Percent of those who think the following messages would be very effective at stopping people from participating in or causing unsafe shooting practices, property and environmental damage, and other

irresponsible behavior at recreational shooting areas and ranges on federal lands. (All shooters) (Part 2)

Percent of those who think the following messages would be very effective at stopping people from leaving shooting debris

or other litter behind at recreational shooting areas and ranges on federal lands. (All shooters) (Part 1)

63

61

50

48

0 20 40 60 80 100

Keep it Clean, Keep it Open

You can be fined for not cleaning up yourshooting debris and litter

Leaving behind shooting debris and other littergives shooters a bad reputation

Keep it Clean, Keep it Safe

Percent

Percent of those who think the following messages would be very effective at stopping people from leaving shooting debris

or other litter behind at recreational shooting areas and ranges on federal lands. (All shooters) (Part 2)

42

31

31

22

0 20 40 60 80 100

Leaving your shooting debris at the shootingareas and ranges IS littering

Leaving behind shooting debris and other littermakes the shooting site an eyesore

Leaving shooting debris and other litter at theshooting areas and ranges hurts the

environment

Leaving shooting debris and other litter at theshooting areas and ranges makes them

unhealthy

Percent

Percent of those who think the following sources are very credible for information on shooting and shooting issues.

(All shooters)

19

28

32

75

62

52

45

44

42

14

0 20 40 60 80 100

NRA

A local sportsman's organization

Forest Service

Other shooters

National Shooting Sports Foundation

Bureau of Land Management

SCI

A local conservation organization

Izaak Walton League of America

A professor of natural resources at auniversity in his/her state

Percent

Communications Implications

Most shooters have experienced trash, litter, and environmental damage at shooting sites and areas

For focus group participants, emphasis on enforcement and fines are as important as education and communication

Messages best when kept simple, positive, and when enlisting the help of shooters

Messages may be successful when paired with a visual (firearm or cartridge case)

Popular Messages Tested

“Keep it clean, keep it open”

“Keep it safe, keep it open”

“You can be fined for not cleaning up your shooting debris and litter”

“Protect public sport shooting. Respect the land. Respect the sport.”