Americans’ Attitudes Toward Hunting and Sport Shooting 2026

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This study was conducted for the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports (Council) by Responsive Management to measure Americans’ attitudes toward hunting and sport shooting. In addition, the study examined how approval of hunting varies by motivation, species, and method, and how approval of sport shooting varies by motivation. Finally, this report includes a trends analysis, which is discussed in the body of the report. The study entailed a scientific, probability-based multimodal survey of U.S. residents aged 18 and older using a three-pronged contact effort by telephone, text, and online.

Responsive Management, in coordination with the Council, developed the survey questionnaire based in part on the previous surveys, with separate versions for telephone and online surveying. Note that there were slight differences between the telephone and online versions of the survey to accommodate each survey mode, but otherwise the versions were identical. Responsive Management conducted pre-tests of both versions of the questionnaire to ensure proper wording, flow, and logic in the survey.

Many quality control measures were taken to ensure the integrity of the data. These measures include the coding of the survey to ensure proper flow and follow-up questions, staff training, monitoring of telephone surveys, and examination of the results of select questions and open-ended responses to identify invalid surveys. These are fully explained in the body of the report.

The analysis of data was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics as well as proprietary software developed by Responsive Management. The data were weighted (as fully explained in the body of the report) so that the final sample was representative of all U.S. residents 18 years old and older. The survey was conducted in March 2026, and Responsive Management obtained 2,228 completed questionnaires nationally.

Throughout this report, findings of the survey are reported at a 95% confidence interval. For the entire sample of U.S. residents, the sampling error is at most plus or minus 2.08 percentage points.

This summary shows the topline results among the overall sample of U.S. residents. The body of the report includes extensive analyses by region and demographic characteristics as well as trends analyses.

BASIC APPROVAL OF HUNTING AND RECREATIONAL SHOOTING

About three-fourths of U.S. residents approve of legal hunting (72% approve) and legal. recreational shooting (75%). Disapproval is at 14% for hunting and 15% for shooting.

The trends analysis shows slightly less approval of hunting in 2026 compared to the last few years, with a steady decline from the high of 81% in 2021. Note that the decline from 2025 to 2026 (going from 73% to 72%) is not statistically significant at the 95 percent confidence level. However, over the past 2 years (2024 to 2026, with approval going from 76% to 72%), the decline in hunting approval is statistically significant (p < 0.05).

For recreational shooting, approval increased by 1% from 2025 to 2026 (going from 74% to 75%). As with hunting, the peak approval was at 81% in 2021. The changes in approval of shooting are not significant over a 1-year or 2-year period.

Approval of hunting is highest in the Midwest Region and lowest in the Northeast and Pacific West Regions. Approval of recreational shooting is highest in the Midwest and Mountain West Regions.

Regardless of their own opinions of the activities, over four fifths of Americans agree that it is okay if other people go hunting or sport shooting in accordance with laws and regulations: 84% agree that it is okay for others to go hunting, and 82% agree that it is okay for others to go sport shooting. Disagreement stands at 8% and 10%, respectively.

The survey asked residents to select the statement that best describes their opinion of the shooting sports. The majority of Americans (58%) think that the shooting sports are perfectly acceptable. Meanwhile, 22% think shooting sports are okay but with reservations, and 12% think they are inappropriate now, a sum of 34% of adult Americans who do not find shooting sports completely acceptable. In the trends analysis, there was virtually no change since 2025.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans say that their opinion on hunting and recreational shooting has remained about the same over the past few years (64% regarding hunting, 63% regarding recreational shooting). Otherwise, they are fairly evenly split on saying that their opinion has become more favorable or less favorable: 18% say more favorable and 15% say less favorable regarding hunting, and 19% say more favorable and 16% say less favorable regarding recreational shooting.

The large majority of Americans (68%) say that most sport shooters know how to safely handle firearms and are careful; however, 15% say that they do not know how to properly handle firearms. When the latter is added to the percentage who responded with don’t know on the question, 32% do not unequivocally say that most sport shooters know how to safely handle firearms and are careful.

APPROVAL OF MOTIVATIONS FOR HUNTING

Residents were asked about their approval of hunting for 11 different motivations. The highest approval is hunting for food—the top two in the ranking are for the meat and to get locally sourced food. Conservation, protection of humans from harm, and wildlife management complete the top tier in the ranking. Three more form a middle tier: protection of property, spending time in nature, and spending time with friends and family. There is a marked break here, with the remaining motivations below 50% in approval. Hunting for a trophy is at the very bottom, where a majority disapprove. (The sums of strongly and moderately for both approval and disapproval are shown below each bar, summed on unrounded numbers.)

APPROVAL OF SPECIES HUNTED

The graph below shows approval of hunting for 14 different species. Hunting of common species, such as deer and wild turkey, has the highest approval, while hunting of less common species, such as mourning dove and wolf, has lower approval (with hunting of African species being at the bottom of the ranking). (The sums of strongly and moderately for both approval and disapproval are shown below each bar, summed on unrounded numbers.)

Trends analysis found a noticeable increase in approval for hunting four predator species: black bear, grizzly bear, mountain lion or cougar, and wolf. For all four predator species, the increases in hunting approval are statistically significant (p < 0.05).

APPROVAL OF HUNTING METHODS

As shown below, the approval of hunting is affected by the hunting methods themselves. Fair chase appears to be a factor in hunting approval: the lowest-rated methods are hunting using high-tech gear, hunting on high-fenced property, and hunting over bait—for these, disapproval exceeds approval. In contrast, at the top in approval are hunting with a bow and arrow and hunting with a firearm. (The sums of strongly and moderately for both approval and disapproval are shown below each bar, summed on unrounded numbers.)

APPROVAL OF MOTIVATIONS FOR SPORT SHOOTING

As was done with hunting, the survey looked at approval of recreational shooting according to reasons for shooting. The top approval percentages are for competition, self-defense, and practice for hunting. However, there is less variability in approval of motivations for shooting compared to approval of hunting motivations shown previously, with approval of shooting motivations ranging from 63% to 74%. (The sums of strongly and moderately for both approval and disapproval are shown below each bar, summed on unrounded numbers.)

CONSERVATION

A large majority of Americans (62%) consider themselves to be conservationists, whereas 20% do not and 18% do not know. (The survey did not provide a definition; rather, it allowed residents to define the term for themselves.)

GENERAL REMARKS ABOUT TRENDS SHOWN IN THIS REPORT

Public attitudes toward hunting and recreational shooting remain an important measure of the relationship between Americans, outdoor traditions, wildlife conservation, and the values that shape public acceptance of these activities.

The 2026 survey presents a cautiously encouraging, yet increasingly important picture of public opinion. While 72% of Americans approve of legal hunting and 75% approve of legal recreational shooting, both activities remain below their peak approval levels of 81% in 2021. Hunting approval declined slightly from 2025, although the one-year change was not statistically significant. The decline over the past two years, however, is statistically significant. Approval of recreational shooting increased slightly from 2025, suggesting greater stability in public attitudes toward that activity.

Importantly, the research demonstrates that public acceptance extends beyond personal approval. More than eight in ten Americans believe it is acceptable for others to participate in legal hunting and recreational shooting, even when they may not personally approve of or participate in those activities. This distinction represents an important foundation of public tolerance and an opportunity to strengthen understanding across diverse audiences.

As in previous years, the reasons people participate matter considerably. Hunting for meat, locally sourced food, wildlife conservation, and wildlife management continues to receive strong public support. Conversely, hunting primarily for trophies and methods perceived as inconsistent with fair chase receive substantially lower approval. These findings reinforce the importance of responsible practices and communicating hunting’s contributions to conservation, wildlife management, and the sustainable use of natural resources.

The results also reveal noteworthy developments. Public approval of hunting several predator species, including black bears, grizzly bears, mountain lions, and wolves, increased significantly. Meanwhile, support for recreational shooting remains relatively consistent across motivations, with self-defense training, competition, and preparation for hunting receiving particularly strong approval.

Demographic and regional differences continue to shape public attitudes, underscoring the need for outreach strategies that recognize the distinct values, experiences, and perspectives of different audiences. The findings also demonstrate that public support should never be taken for granted, particularly as societal expectations and perceptions of hunting and recreational shooting continue to evolve.

For state wildlife agencies, conservation organizations, industry partners, and R3 professionals, the implications are clear. Sustaining public support requires more than promoting participation. It requires demonstrating relevance, reinforcing responsible practices, building trust, and clearly communicating the broader benefits these activities provide.

The Council views this research as an essential resource for informed decision-making, strategic communication, and effective recruitment, retention, and reactivation efforts. Understanding not only whether Americans support hunting and recreational shooting, but also why they do or do not support them, provides a foundation for strengthening public trust and sustaining these traditions for future generations.

Ultimately, the 2026 findings reinforce a critical message: the future of hunting and recreational shooting depends not only on those who participate, but also on the understanding, acceptance, and confidence of the broader American public.