Take Aim This August: Celebrate National Shooting Sports Month
August is National Shooting Sports Month — a time to step outside, embrace the shooting sports lifestyle and recognize the vital role target shooters play in our nation’s heritage and conservation legacy. Whether you're a lifelong hunter, an occasional clay buster or someone who's always wanted to try your hand at a new discipline, this is your invitation to join millions of Americans in celebrating the shooting sports.
“Most NWTF education and outreach events feature some form of shooting sports," said Mandy Harling, NWTF national director of education and outreach programs. "The shooting sports offer a unique opportunity in that age, gender and ability don’t matter, anyone who is willing to learn can have fun. There is nothing better than seeing the smile on a person’s face when they hit the target for the first time!”
Organized by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), National Shooting Sports Month promotes participation, safety and the all-around enjoyment of shooting sports. It's also a time to recognize the undeniable impact shooters have on conservation.
More than 60 million Americans participate in recreational shooting each year, contributing billions of dollars to the U.S. economy and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. But perhaps less discussed — yet equally significant — is the role these individuals play in funding wildlife conservation.
Thanks to the Pittman-Robertson Act, a landmark piece of legislation passed in 1937, an excise tax on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment funnels critical funding into state wildlife agencies for habitat restoration, hunter and shooter education and access projects. While hunters have long been celebrated for their contributions through Pittman-Robertson, the growing number of non-hunting firearm owners and target shooters are contributing significantly to these efforts too.
For hunters, August is the perfect pre-season tune-up. Take advantage of the extra daylight and warm weather to get to the range, dust off your shotgun, zero your rifle or dial in your archery setup. Practicing now helps ensure ethical, confident shooting when the season opens, and it’s a great way to bond with family, friends or fellow members of your NWTF chapter.
For newcomers, there’s never been a better time to start. Shooting sports are welcoming, accessible and incredibly rewarding. Whether it’s trap, skeet, sporting clays, target pistol shooting or 3D archery, there’s a discipline for every interest, age and ability level. Local ranges, events and instructors are ready to help you get started safely and confidently.
NWTF is proud to support National Shooting Sports Month and encourages our members and supporters to get out and engage. Visit a local range, introduce a friend to shooting, attend a safety class, or participate in a friendly competition. Every shot fired in practice is also a shot fired for conservation.
Looking for a Place to Shoot?
Check out the NSSF website to help you find local ranges, events and opportunities near you.
Let’s make this August count. Take aim, have fun and help conserve the wild places we all cherish.