Many Hunters Still Enjoy Small Game and Upland Hunting

With more than 10 million hunters pursuing the white-tailed deer in the United States, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, this iconic creature reigns supreme as the most hunted species of game animal in North America.

Walk by the newsstand in the fall and glance at the covers of outdoor magazines and it would seem deer and other big game are virtually all that is of interest. But that perception would be wrong. In fact, according to a recent study by HunterSurvey.com, about half of sportsmen surveyed said they had hunted small or upland game in the past year.

Species such as squirrels, rabbits, quail, pheasants and similar furred and feathered game still draw hunters into our nation’s fields and forests by the millions every year. “Small game and upland hunting often served as a hunter’s first experiences pursuing game before deer, turkey and elk populations became so plentiful; and for many hunters, they still are.

With abundant opportunities available to hunt various small game and birds, it would seem interest among many sportsmen is still there,” says Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates, which designs and conducts the surveys. “For those not pursuing small game, by promoting such hunting we may be able to help expand their hunting opportunities and fun, and thereby increase overall hunting activity.”

And what is the type of firearm of choice for these small game hunters? The website  found the low-recoiling rimfire in either .22 caliber or .17 caliber remains a favorite among these sportsmen with 67 percent of those surveyed reporting they used them when hunting. Shotguns remain tops for bird hunting, to no surprise.