Bigger than golf

That’s right, the shooting and hunting sports generate more revenue than golf.

New statistics show that hunting gear and firearm sales topped $3.7 billion in 2006, up 4.1 percent from the previous year. Only exercise equipment performed better, with sales of $5.22 billion, according to NSGA’s most recent “Sporting Goods Market” report. Golf equipment, which claimed the No. 2 spot the previous year, fell into the third spot with $3.66 billion in sales.

People keep saying that we have a dying sport, and yet the actual economic numbers just don’t back those statements up.   It’s also good information to toss in the face of anyone who thinks that shooting and hunting groups are “fringe” groups.