Threats To Hunting, Shooting & Wildlife Conservation

Research conducted for the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports by Responsive Management finds several key threats to the future of hunting and the shooting sports, found a steady decline in approval for legal hunting and legal recreational shooting since an 81% high in 2021. While the large majority still approve of both activities, the trend is a strong call for action.

One major threat is eroding cultural acceptance. While public support for regulated hunting and shooting remains a majority, the margin is narrowing. Broader societal concerns, most notably around gun violence, are increasingly shaping public perception, and legal, recreational shooting and hunting are sometimes being viewed through that lens. Studies show that a measurable share of Americans report that their opinions of hunting or target shooting have been negatively affected by growing concern about firearms-related violence. When fundamental public sentiment shifts, it raises the risk of reduced advocacy, more restrictive policies, and less social license for these activities.

Closely related is the issue with image and messaging. Public attitudes show considerable agreement with statements such as “Posting a photo of an animal that has been hunted does not show respect for wildlife,” or “Any activity involving guns, including hunting, promotes violence.” These perceptions challenge the traditional narrative of hunting and shooting sports as conservation-based, ethical, and culturally rooted. Without clear and compelling storytelling that resonates beyond existing participants, the activities risk being seen as outdated or misaligned with broader values, particularly among younger and urban audiences.

Another significant threat is barriers to recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3). Declines in participation, whether due to access limitations, rising costs, shifting leisure preferences, or diminished awareness, undermine the foundational base for sustainable hunting and shooting communities. Because these activities are a core funding mechanism for wildlife conservation in many states (via license sales, excise taxes, and related revenues), a contraction in participant numbers has downstream effects on habitat management, agency budgets, and public support. In other words, fewer hunters and shooters means fewer conservation dollars, fewer voices supporting access and management, and less generational continuity.

Finally, policy and regulatory shifts present a growing risk. As public concern about firearms increases, policymakers and agencies may adopt stricter measures that affect ammunition types, range access, permissible equipment, hunting methods, or public land use. While some of these changes may be science-based, others may be driven by perceptions and political pressure. If hunting and shooting sports are viewed as part of the firearms debate rather than distinct recreational-conservation activities, there is increased vulnerability. Combined with shifting demographics and cultural norms, the sport is at a crossroads: to maintain its place, it must respond proactively to these threats with strategic outreach, refined messaging, improved experiences, and diversified recruitment.