Amid Deer Hunting Season, Nationwide Ammunition Shortage Impacts Hunters

Written by HLRBO| 11/29/2021

From Wisconsin to Minnesota, New York, and everywhere in between, it seems the so-called Great American Hunting Ammunition Shortage that started during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic isn’t going anywhere as hunters continue to grapple with nationwide ammo shortages. In the midst of gun deer season, hunting ammunition is becoming increasingly hard to find due to supply chain disruptions still lingering from the Covid-19 pandemic as well as surging demand for guns and ammo. Gun dealers around the country say they’re struggling to keep shelves stocked as firearms sales climb due to unease from the pandemic, civil unrest, and the 2020 presidential election. Pat Kukull owns Superior Shooters Supply in Superior, Wisconsin, and said this summer they had a shortage of shotgun ammunition for trap shooting, with vendors sending a mere two percent of the usual 500 cases they receive. She said there’s been absolutely nothing for pheasant, grouse, or waterfowl hunters. “Now, we’re moving into rifle season, and we haven’t had any .30-30 shells in a year to speak of, really,” said Kukull.”

Many ammo shops have been forced to ration their ammunition to one box per person as The National Shooting Sports Foundation reports 8.4 million people bought a gun for the first time last year. The FBI says background checks for gun purchases climbed 40% last year to a record 39.7 million — another signal of a surge in demand. A survey earlier this year found that out-of-stock ammunition issues have caused 50% of hunters and target shooters to cancel or reduce the frequency of their trips to the range or field. The survey found that an additional 17% of hunters were satisfied with the amount of ammunition they had on hand.

If you’re gearing up for deer season and are worried about having enough ammunition, here are a few tips: • Broaden your search — Just because your local store is sold out of ammo or limiting the amount you can purchase doesn’t mean you’ll be SOL everywhere you look. The best source for ammunition is found online. Of course, you have to make sure it’s legal to buy ammo online in your state first. If it is, a quick Google search should point you in the right direction. While you’re on Google, try searching for ammunition shops in your region and see how their supply is doing. If you find one nearby that’s stocked up, it’s worth the drive to go get it while you can. Seek out smaller, off-the-beaten-path gun shops, farm supply stores, and other general stores that the average hunter might overlook. • Opt for quality — In a shortage, the saying ‘quality over quantity is a motto you should live by. Even during the worst shortages, you’ll still be able to find ammo for most calibers. But, it will be the more expensive premium loads. Yes, the per-round price is much higher, but with that additional cost comes improved downrange performance. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the accuracy you can attain when shooting with the finest. So, treat yourself. • Consider switching calibers —Another shortage’ hack’ is to consider switching to a less common caliber because the most common calibers are most likely to be impacted by the shortage. What better excuse to try something new? For example, the .22-250 Remington is a great alternative to the .22 LR, .223 Rem, but its ammo hardly ever sells out. When all fails, be patient, use what you have on hand, and count on the internet to help you find little-sought-after ammunition shops and brands until the shortage passes.