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Teenage Girls Taking Up Shotgun Sports In Record Numbers





NEWTOWN, Conn.—The number of teenage girls participating in shotgun sports is up dramatically over the past five years, surveys show.

And there’s every indication that parents are pleased with their daughters’ new pastime.

Across the sports of trap, skeet and sporting clays, the number of female participants age 12-17 rose 56 percent—from 133,000 to 208,000—between 1999 and 2004, according to a National Sporting Goods Association report.

The upward trend also has been seen in the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s (NSSF) Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP), which in 2005 alone saw an 84 percent increase in participation by girls from elementary- through high-school age.

“Nationwide, over a third of all female participants in shotgun sports today are under 24. There’s a growing youth movement in shooting, and it’s a credit to the many programs that are opening doors and creating opportunities for women of all ages to enjoy outdoor lifestyles,” said Cyndi Dalena, NSSF director of shooting sports development.

In a 2005 SCTP survey, 94 percent of parents said the competitive shooting program is a positive influence in their child’s development. Overwhelmingly, parents observed improved responsibility, teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership skills. In fact, 98 percent of SCTP parents believe shooting is just as important as other sports, and 94 percent would support shotgun sports as a school-based athletic program.

“Part of the attraction and uniqueness of trap, skeet and sporting clays is that girls can compete with boys. Shooting is not all about strength or speed. It’s also about coordination and concentration, and more and more girls are discovering that those skills are great equalizers,” said Dalena.

Overall, there were 1,309,000 total female participants of all ages in shotgun sports in 2004, up 11 percent from 1,177,000 in 1997.

Growth also is being documented in hunting. Between 1997 and 2004, 2,426,000 women of all ages hunted, up more than 20 percent compared to 2,018,000 in 1998.

SCTP, now in its fifth year, provides school-age girls and boys nationwide with the chance to compete as a team for state and national championships in trap, skeet and sporting clays. Other youth development programs like 4-H Shooting Sports and the Boy Scouts of America’s Venturing Program are also opportunities for youths to get involved in shooting sports.

The Becoming an Outdoors Woman program and the National Wild Turkey Federation’s (NWTF) Women in the Outdoors program focus specifically on introducing women to activities like shooting and hunting. NWTF, the National Rifle Association, Second Amendment Foundation and other organizations also publish outdoor or shooting magazines especially for women.

Other programs like NSSF’s STEP OUTSIDE program introduce newcomers—including many girls and women—to shooting as well as hunting, fishing and archery.

For more information, visit www.nssf.org and www.nsga.org.
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