APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Wisconsin gun dealers continue to struggle with keeping shelves stocked with ammunition, just as gun-deer hunting season is set to begin.
Supply chain disruptions from the coronavirus pandemic and increased demand for guns and ammunition has left shelves empty in some cases. And when a shipment does arrive at local gun stores, ammunition is quickly snapped up.
Mark Konrad has been a hunter his whole life, but has never seen an ammo shortage as bad as this one. He drove from about 50 miles to get the ammo he needed at The Reel Shot in Appleton just before gun deer hunting season begins.
“The shells are really hard to come by, and I called here today and drove all the way from Kewaunee.”
Konrad tells FOX 11 the shortage has been so bad, he’s even switched the type of gun he uses to ensure he can get ammo.
“I always shoot a 12-gauge shotgun and I just switched to a 28-gauge because there seems to be more ammo.”
Steve Gyldenvand helps purchase all the ammunition at The Reel Shot in Appleton. But the ongoing supply chain problems are making that job pretty tough.
“It’s a lot of begging with suppliers, lot of sleepless nights, and lot of small victories when we get the ammunition in.”
He says the ammunition that is in stock right now, isn’t necessarily the highest in demand. The ammo that is in demand, is being limited to what’s sold to the store.
“The real high demand stuff is limited to one case a time so for hunting ammunition, 10 boxes,” said Gyldenvand. “Ten boxes don’t go a long way when you’ve got people clambering for it.”
While ammunition for hunting is in high demand and low supply, ammunition for handguns is starting to appear back on the shelves.
“During the summer it was tough to get that stuff in but in the last few weeks lately it’s been coming in more steadily,” said Mike Williams, hunting manager and buyer at The Reel Shot.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation estimates about 8.4 million people bought a gun for the first time last year.
The FBI says one indicator of the surge in gun sales is that federal background checks for gun purchases climbed 40% last year to a record 39.7 million.
In Wisconsin, the Department of Justice says background checks for handguns surged 174% last year from the previous year.
Gun deer hunting season is set to begin November 20th.
The Reel Shop is encouraging hunters to buy the ammo they need right whenever they see it available to avoid missing out.
