A look at the buying habits of sportsmen in 2011 compared to the previous year reveals purchases of hunting and fishing equipment have remained steady in the current year, and in fact, even slightly improved.
In the most recent poll at HunterSurvey.com, participants were asked if they were buying more, less or the same amount of hunting equipment so far this year compared to 2010. Those responding they were buying more accounted for 24.7 percent of the responses, a 4.9 percent increase over the previous year. Meanwhile, those purchasing the same amount dropped 1 point to 39 percent as those reporting they were buying less dropped 3.1 percent.
Asked the same question except as it relates to the purchase of fishing equipment, AnglerSurvey.com respondents saying they were buying more jumped a statistically insignificant 1.5 percent from 16.2 to 17.7 percent. Those buying the same increased 4.4 percent, while those indicating they had bought less dropped 3.6.
“While everyone in the hunting and fishing industry would love to see the ‘buying more’ responses make a significant jump, at least some of the fears of a so-called double-dip recession, at least where these markets are concerned, does not appear to be on its way," said Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates, which designs and conducts the surveys.
