I wanted to share some thoughts with you regarding your piece in today’s Outdoor Wire regarding SHOT’s new “Archery Business Pavilion”. Let me assure you there is no “War in the Woods” or anywhere else when it comes to the trade shows and organizations representing the archery and firearms industries.

Despite separate core missions, crossover between the archery and firearms industries has always occurred and that crossover has been and always will be visible at the ATA Show and at SHOT Show. Hunting is where crossover has been the greatest between the ATA Show and SHOT Show. There are many products used by both gun hunters and bowhunters and thus crossover has always existed. Both shows have made sense for the majority of manufacturers in the general hunting products space who produce game calls, scent products, stands/blinds, optics, trail cameras, game/food processing, food plots/feeding, clothing, packs and cutlery/knives, to name a few.

While the vast majority of archery companies would not benefit from SHOT, firearms companies haven’t considered the ATA Show a good business decision either. Over the years the ATA Show has grown to support all of archery and bowhunting just as SHOT has supported the much larger firearms, hunting and shooting industries. Today, both ATA and NSSF are built to support their respective industries. If crossover companies are best served by an archery pavilion at SHOT or any other opportunity to reach their customers, then both associations are acting in the best interest of their attendees and respective industries.

Historically, there have been many companies that attend both shows. Since ATA is always earlier than SHOT, we spend considerable resources to coordinate not only getting those exhibitors out the door first, but we help expedite their transportation to SHOT. Our intent is to make a tough few weeks as easy as possible for the ATA members who are also NSSF members. In some years as many as 80-100 companies work both the ATA Show and SHOT Show.

So, there is no “War in the Woods”, no smoke, no fire, just more options for companies to reach their customers. If that results in more sales and higher profits for ATA members, we all win. Regardless, ATA and NSSF will continue our productive relationship for the benefit of all shooting sports and all hunting. Now let’s get back to work.

Best,

Jeff

JEFFREY POOLE

PRESIDENT & CEO

Archery Trade Association