Attracting Young members to gunclub

dto001

How's it goin lads,
What do gun clubs do to attract younger members? We are a fairly small club but the average age is mid 30s so we are trying to find ways of attracting younger local members to the club. Any ideas?
Cheers

Gravelly

dto001 wrote: »

How's it goin lads,
What do gun clubs do to attract younger members? We are a fairly small club but the average age is mid 30s so we are trying to find ways of attracting younger local members to the club. Any ideas?
Cheers

Might sound obvious, but the first thing to do is make it so you can be found - the gunclub near me has no website, no Facebook or Twitter, and a Google search of the name gives no results whatsoever. The "land preserved" signs they put up list no contact number or email. The only way to contact them is to actually already know one of the members and happen to have their number! When I suggested that perhaps it would be a good idea to set up a FB page it was met with "sure jaysus do you want every fool in the county joining" - this from a club actively seeking members - probably doesn't help that the average age is about 60 I suppose.

Rathcormac Gun Club is an excellent example of how to do PR for a gun club.

Tommyaya4

Lad if average age is mid 30s I'd say your doing well only in the last year have the old brigade relented some power to younger members and we are not actively seeking new members up to this you nearly had to be born into the club

Walter Mittys Brother

The only shooting younger people want to do is on the X Box thing. They'd not be into going out in the countryside & actually getting some exercise!

best way to attract them would be offer them drugs, fags & booze!

Bogwoppit

Walter Mittys Brother wrote: »

The only shooting younger people want to do is on the X Box thing. They'd not be into going out in the countryside & actually getting some exercise!

best way to attract them would be offer them drugs, fags & booze!

You don't have to be young to be attracted by that!

123shooter

Walter Mittys Brother wrote: »

The only shooting younger people want to do is on the X Box thing. They'd not be into going out in the countryside & actually getting some exercise!

best way to attract them would be offer them drugs, fags & booze!

But then you would have to purchase all for them........light the fags............open the bottles........and whatever with the drugs.

Not just because they are incapable and couldn't be bothered to learn, but because they are entitled and it is their right to have those things done for them.

The pussy generation would want you to hold gun, aim and pull trigger as they say 'fire'.

BattleCorp

I think the main problem with attracting younger members (age 16 - 24) is the cost. Shooting can be an expensive hobby, especially at the start.

I know plenty of youngsters who would love to shoot regularly but just don't have the money.

DipStick McSwindler

This post has been deleted.

123shooter

BattleCorp wrote: »

I think the main problem with attracting younger members (age 16 - 24) is the cost. Shooting can be an expensive hobby, especially at the start.

I know plenty of youngsters who would love to shoot regularly but just don't have the money.

True but we have all been there. Just life.

I was 25 when I bought my 1st shotgun and started clay shooting. I took out a loan and I paid it back. Even with high unemployment I found work.

harr

Glad to see a gun club seeking out younger members, if most lads are mid thirties that's a young crowd compared to most.
As mentioned above make sure you can be contacted, the one local to me has no listings at all and unless you know someone in club next to impossible to become a member, a lot of gun clubs are a closed shop and don't particularly want new members.
Even my local one was near impossible to join even though I am living here all my life, I was told sure come down to a meeting when one on and bring a letter stating you want to join and we will vote on it..problem was no info anywhere on when meetings were on..I gave up after months of trying, I wouldn't mind but they have huge amounts of land to shoot on and probably only have about 15-20 active in club while membership might be up around 50 a lot don't shoot regular.
I ended up joining one a few mile away and got in no hassle only to happy to have new members.
Anyway back to your question, Facebook and maybe a few posters up around the place. My one had an open day so to speak where they set up an information stand with the procedures on how to get your permit and had different guns on display and did demonstrations with clays and a range for a .22 it got a lot of interest and I think we got about 20 new members all aged between 16 and 25.

123shooter

IrishFeeney92 wrote: »

Im 24, only thing that has put me off joining a club is the cost. Ive been to two different clubs shooting clays with friends and thoroughly enjoyed it but cant make the leap yet as its just too expensive for me

+1 on finding the club too, Having an adequate Facebook and google maps location will help wonders

We just attended Sunday clay shoots and joined those or paid on the day.

As regards other shooting, you make friends on those clay shoots by not acting the bollox and you will surprised who invites you for a bit of rough shooting.

Nekarsulm

Jeez, our local game club was so depressing I left after one year (back when I was 18).
More interested in arguing about football and falling out with each other than shooting......

Thats over 30 years ago and I don't think I've missed much since......

Edit, have however joined in with a bunch of lads setting up a clay range, and it's very different. No actual membership list, just a common enjoyment of shooting.
Facebook page, Christmas shoot with barbecue , game tasting night, twice weekly shoots, just installed cooking facilities in the building (shipping container) etc.

Walter Mittys Brother

BattleCorp wrote: »

I think the main problem with attracting younger members (age 16 - 24) is the cost. Shooting can be an expensive hobby, especially at the start.

I know plenty of youngsters who would love to shoot regularly but just don't have the money.

It can be as cheap as you want it to be. Granted they might not be able to afford a Beretta but there are loads of cheap guns for sale out there.
Lots of them seem to be able to find cash for top of the range mobile phones etc. We all have to make choices on what we spend our limited disposable cash on. I don't drink, smoke and my mobile cost €20 so I manage to have a bit of cash for my shooting. All my kit is far from expensive and all I can afford is the cheapest cartridges. I'd rather a day in the fields than down the pub or on the sofa.

Every shooting person I know would have no problem helping anyone who shows an interest in our sport. All they have to do is ask.

tac foley

Is there no list of official gun clubs, as published over here by the NRA/NSRA?

The idea that a 'gun club' can exist without a website or a single email address is grotesque, to say the least.

tac

blackpearl

BattleCorp wrote: »

I think the main problem with attracting younger members (age 16 - 24) is the cost. Shooting can be an expensive hobby, especially at the start.

I know plenty of youngsters who would love to shoot regularly but just don't have the money.

When i started i paid 5 pound for a secondhand single barrel shotgun, a pair of dunnes stores wellies everybody knew someone in the army old seacondhand gear the old boy had dogs, amo was dear enough thank god for winchester western at the time 10 in a box you were not long making sure your shot counted no long shots ,you can still go down this route if you are starting now ,compared to some hobbies it is not that expensive most young people could not be bothered to many other things going on in their world,also the sad greedy older hunters who wont let them join gunclubs shame on yous these people will in the long term be the end of hunting .

riffmongous

First thing I'd say is to check the attitude, not much point in attracting young people if they are going to be met by a bunch of auld fellas spouting 'youth of today' ****e.

After that, there has to be some way to find the club if you do a google search, and then a bit of info and not just a phone number, a few photos would be great. I'm not a huge fan of Facebook but it is free and most young people are on it so it's an easy way to be found.

Luckysasha

Would joining a gun club be a good way of getting in to clay shooting. I am interested in the clay side of things but like a lot of lads I would have no heed in the hunting element. I have enquired at a few clay shooting grounds but most of the lads I find are only shooting clays in the off season then it's back to the game shooting when the season opens.

Walter Mittys Brother

riffmongous wrote: »

First thing I'd say is to check the attitude, not much point in attracting young people if they are going to be met by a bunch of auld fellas spouting 'youth of today' ****e.

This made me smile. Respect is earned. It's not an entitlement. Young & not so young these days would do well to remember that.

Walter Mittys Brother

Luckysasha wrote: »

Would joining a gun club be a good way of getting in to clay shooting. I am interested in the clay side of things but like a lot of lads I would have no heed in the hunting element. I have enquired at a few clay shooting grounds but most of the lads I find are only shooting clays in the off season then it's back to the game shooting when the season opens.

Loads of clay shooting around all year but you may find you'll have to travel to various clay grounds around the country if your going to take it seriously.

123shooter

Walter Mittys Brother wrote: »

This made me smile. Respect is earned. It's not an entitlement. Young & not so young these days would do well to remember that.

True and when younger we all had stick off the wrinklies telling us 'what is was like when we were your age'.

But they aren't called the 'pussy generation' for nothing.

sharkfox

Is it the general rule that you have to be from the area? I tried my the closest one to me but was told I wasn't from the area so no go. If anyone knows any clubs near athlone that are taking new members id be interested in applying

Walter Mittys Brother

sharkfox wrote: »

Is it the general rule that you have to be from the area? I tried my the closest one to me but was told I wasn't from the area so no go. If anyone knows any clubs near athlone that are taking new members id be interested in applying

In mine if your from within the area you have the "right" to apply to join. You need a majority vote in your favour at AGM to get membership. If your not from the area you need two existing full club members to nominate & second you and a majority vote in your favour at AGM to get membership. All new members serve a 12 month probation period. Only ever seen 4-5 refused in approx 35+ YEARS, and in these circumstances it was for a good reasons namely threatening landowners and caught shooting out of season etc. Seen a lot get membership, get firearms and never join again especially younger shooters. This makes clubs wary I reckon.

Walter Mittys Brother

123shooter wrote: »

True and when younger we all had stick off the wrinklies telling us 'what is was like when we were your age'.

But they aren't called the 'pussy generation' for nothing.

Nail on the head

I'm still getting stick off the really older lads. Most of the time there's no malice in it. Thing is I'm not a big girlz blouse and give as good as I get. The older lads enjoy the banter

sharkfox

Walter Mittys Brother wrote: »

In mine if your from within the area you have the "right" to apply to join. You need a majority vote in your favour at AGM to get membership. If your not from the area you need two existing full club members to nominate & second you and a majority vote in your favour at AGM to get membership. All new members serve a 12 month probation period. Only ever seen 4-5 refused in approx 35+ YEARS, and in these circumstances it was for a good reasons namely threatening landowners and caught shooting out of season etc. Seen a lot get membership, get firearms and never join again especially younger shooters. This makes clubs wary I reckon.

I didn't have two full members nominate me, I only know one person in it. I've a strong feeling the one I do know might not have even bothered handing my application in for the agm. He's told me a few different stories before and after the agm about my application so I stopped asking. I've a good few permissions in better ground so it was him that lost out in the long run because I don't bring him hunting with me anymore.

I'd say the younger lads are just joining up to get the licence that bit handier through the club and not have to go knocking on doors.

Gravelly

sharkfox wrote: »

I didn't have two full members nominate me, I only know one person in it. I've a strong feeling the one I do know might not have even bothered handing my application in for the agm. He's told me a few different stories before and after the agm about my application so I stopped asking. I've a good few permissions in better ground so it was him that lost out in the long run because I don't bring him hunting with me anymore.

I'd say the younger lads are just joining up to get the licence that bit handier through the club and not have to go knocking on doors.

Funny enough, the reason I didn't join my local club in the end was similar - aside from the whole freemason-like secrecy, which I felt was a bit over the top, I had a look at the land they've got and realised that most of what they have is open intensively farmed grassland, while the permissions I have myself are a nice mix of bogland, woodland, and old pastureland with nice big hedgerows.

sharkfox

Gravelly wrote: »

Funny enough, the reason I didn't join my local club in the end was similar - aside from the whole freemason-like secrecy, which I felt was a bit over the top, I had a look at the land they've got and realised that most of what they have is open intensively farmed grassland, while the permissions I have myself are a nice mix of bogland, woodland, and old pastureland with nice big hedgerows.

My permissions are much the same as yours so. I mostly use the rifle but bought a shotgun a few years ago and thought it would be handy to get into a club for clays and meeting new hunters.

Gravelly

sharkfox wrote: »

My permissions are much the same as yours so. I mostly use the rifle but bought a shotgun a few years ago and thought it would be handy to get into a club for clays and meeting new hunters.

I go to the clay range for clay shooting, I'm lucky that there's a lot of lads living near me who aren't in a club but do a bit of hunting.

CZ455Mad

Just throwing in my opinion into this one...

-First off not every young person is into drink drugs and all that
-Secondly acting like that or even saying things like that... here, the clay range, a local gun club or even the local pup helps no1
-I come from a near total non shooting background and it was an older friend of my father got me into it ( 23 years old now ) and it was only for the way he made me feel so welcome that I actually got into it
-Easy way of getting into younger groups is to have a Facebook page as many of the lads here have said and FLOOD it with pictures!

*Not looking for an argument just throwing in my opinion*

HappyShooter

CZ455Mad wrote: »

Just throwing in my opinion into this one...

-First off not every young person is into drink drugs and all that
-Secondly acting like that or even saying things like that... here, the clay range, a local gun club or even the local pup helps no1
-I come from a near total non shooting background and it was an older friend of my father got me into it ( 23 years old now ) and it was only for the way he made me feel so welcome that I actually got into it
-Easy way of getting into younger groups is to have a Facebook page as many of the lads here have said and FLOOD it with pictures!

*Not looking for an argument just throwing in my opinion*

I have to agree with this. With the attitude in some of these posts younger people wouldn't want to join the clubs! Why would anyone want to join a club where all the members are their parents age and older and they feel judged anytime they are around other club members? They should be made feel welcome and be shown what the sport is all about!

While posting here you should also consider that this is an open forum so these "young people doing nothing but drugs" can see what you post - like seriously? Will I generalise and say all older people do is drink whiskey and smoke pipes?

Anyway, rant over.

grassroot1

HappyShooter wrote: »

I have to agree with this. With the attitude in some of these posts younger people wouldn't want to join the clubs! Why would anyone want to join a club where all the members are their parents age and older and they feel judged anytime they are around other club members? They should be made feel welcome and be shown what the sport is all about!

While posting here you should also consider that this is an open forum so these "young people doing nothing but drugs" can see what you post - like seriously? Will I generalise and say all older people do is drink whiskey and smoke pipes?

Anyway, rant over.

It seems there is confusion as to what a gpa/gunclub is or more to the point what some of the posters think it is.
To answer the question above The reason you want to join a gunclub is to have the chance to go wildfowling or rough shooting.There are no all night parties or raves it is simply a group of individuals coming together to improve sport in their area.
In regard to the Facebook page what pictures and of what would you put on a facebook page. Most sport is enjoyed on your own except for the company of your dog.

Please do not disregard the X Box factor it is having an effect on all sports, young people are becoming more and more isolated from society and stuck in their bedrooms.

If you wish to join a club you will only get there through sheer determination,get to know as many club members as possible before you send in an application. You may only get one shot so make sure the deck is loaded in your favour.

blackpearl

grassroot1 wrote: »

It seems there is confusion as to what a gpa/gunclub is or more to the point what some of the posters think it is.
To answer the question above The reason you want to join a gunclub is to have the chance to go wildfowling or rough shooting.There are no all night parties or raves it is simply a group of individuals coming together to improve sport in their area.
In regard to the Facebook page what pictures and of what would you put on a facebook page. Most sport is enjoyed on your own except for the company of your dog.

Please do not disregard the X Box factor it is having an effect on all sports, young people are becoming more and more isolated from society and stuck in their bedrooms.

If you wish to join a club you will only get there through sheer determination,get to know as many club members as possible before you send in an application. You may only get one shot so make sure the deck is loaded in your favour.

Your right about the xbox,when i was young their was no xbox the only thing you had was going to footballs with the ould fella and lucky for me he was big into feildsports, shooting,following the hunt and fishing the xbox box has ruined a lot of young people from getting into outdoor sports,they become to into these games talking to oneanother on head phones i banned it in my place their was war but you know what they started going out more 2 of them are now into fishing and one into hunting after a few weeks they forgot all about the xbox .

CZ455Mad

[/QUOTE]
It seems there is confusion as to what a gpa/gunclub is or more to the point what some of the posters think it is.
To answer the question above The reason you want to join a gunclub is to have the chance to go wildfowling or rough shooting.There are no all night parties or raves it is simply a group of individuals coming together to improve sport in their area.
In regard to the Facebook page what pictures and of what would you put on a facebook page. Most sport is enjoyed on your own except for the company of your dog.

Please do not disregard the X Box factor it is having an effect on all sports, young people are becoming more and more isolated from society and stuck in their bedrooms.

If you wish to join a club you will only get there through sheer determination,get to know as many club members as possible before you send in an application. You may only get one shot so make sure the deck is loaded in your favour.[/quote]

You have all fair point but what I'll have to pull you on is that anyone that is serious enough at a young age to take up shooting isn't looking for an all night rave or anything even remotely similar to that! I have several friends who are both members and non-members of local clubs and have no illusions of what they are doing when they go out shooting. So simpley put and not trying to offend but wait up and smell the coffee. Young shooters are few and far between and it's stereotyping young shooters that all they want out of a club is an " all night rave " is the EXACT reason that young shooters are few and far between.

No offence to be taken from anything I'm saying just voicing my opinion

grassroot1

CZ455Mad wrote: »

It seems there is confusion as to what a gpa/gunclub is or more to the point what some of the posters think it is.
To answer the question above The reason you want to join a gunclub is to have the chance to go wildfowling or rough shooting.There are no all night parties or raves it is simply a group of individuals coming together to improve sport in their area.
In regard to the Facebook page what pictures and of what would you put on a facebook page. Most sport is enjoyed on your own except for the company of your dog.

Please do not disregard the X Box factor it is having an effect on all sports, young people are becoming more and more isolated from society and stuck in their bedrooms.

If you wish to join a club you will only get there through sheer determination,get to know as many club members as possible before you send in an application. You may only get one shot so make sure the deck is loaded in your favour.[/quote]

You have all fair point but what I'll have to pull you on is that anyone that is serious enough at a young age to take up shooting isn't looking for an all night rave or anything even remotely similar to that! I have several friends who are both members and non-members of local clubs and have no illusions of what they are doing when they go out shooting. So simpley put and not trying to offend but wait up and smell the coffee. Young shooters are few and far between and it's stereotyping young shooters that all they want out of a club is an " all night rave " is the EXACT reason that young shooters are few and far between.

No offence to be taken from anything I'm saying just voicing my opinion[/QUOTE]

None taken,I was just highlighting that some expect more from clubs than is available.
I am all for youth recruitment and to be fair most young kids that are interested are no problem they have probably have been introduced by a parent though to be fair.
However there is a slightly older age group who expect everything to fall into place for them and they really have to work for it if they want to shoot which some are not prepared to do.

HappyShooter

Young shooters are clearly the minority in the shooting sports in Ireland. There are plenty of ways to increase the number of members of your club, by not just young people, but people of all ages.

It is all well and good to set up a Facebook page, but it needs to be done right. When you set one up (which you probably should), it needs to stand out. By this, I mean it needs to be flashy, well maintained and look relatively professional. Contact details should be available and relevant details should be published in the about section, such as what the club is about. Prospective members can also message the Facebook page to express their interest. Photos should be taken by the club and put on the page, don't use stock photos because they aren't directly related to your club. Sponsored posts on Facebook are a great way to target certain age groups, people with certain interests, etc. They cost a few euro but they come up in the target markets news feed giving you a much greater reach online.

Posters work well too, they also need to be flashy and colourful to catch young people eyes. There are far too many bland A4 size posters being put up on notice boards in shops nationwide, so make it look different with a photo and include contact details, etc.

This is how I would market a club to young people, others may do it differently. Obviously leave all the criticism of young people expressed here off the Facebook page and posters!

dodderangler

Never mind young people. From what I've heard it's hard enough for anyone of any age to get into a lot of clubs now and the rules are ridiculous. Only saying from what I've heard.
Will younger people help with the rearing and upkeep of pheasant rearing and pest control though or will they only join to be part of pheasant and duck seasons?

CZ455Mad

Speaking from my own side I'm 23 and am not a club member yet I do hatch pheasant eggs out my back using my chickens ðŸ‘

Larry60

Back in the eighties when I first started shooting and was living neat Bray in Co. Dublin there was a waiting list of thirty something waiting to join the local Gun Club and in the years I lived there I never got to join, however when I moved to the North West there was no problem joining the local gun club as they welcome new members.

dto001

Cheers for all the replies, one more question in regards to facebook pages: if I start one how do I stop all the anti crap that you see all the time as I wouldn't like people to get abuse and possibly targeted at home etc.? If it's a closed group then it would defeat the purpose of the whole exercise would it not?

HappyShooter

Don't set up a group, set up a page. This would make it easier to find, but the Anti's can find it just as easy! Best thing to do is wait until they post and when they do block them from the page. The two local clubs near me don't have a problem with anti hunting spam.

blackpearl

HappyShooter wrote: »

Don't set up a group, set up a page. This would make it easier to find, but the Anti's can find it just as easy! Best thing to do is wait until they post and when they do block them from the page. The two local clubs near me don't have a problem with anti hunting spam.

Some of the worst antis against hunting are people who use to hunt themselfs and for some reason gave it up .

Gravelly

blackpearl wrote: »

Some of the worst antis against hunting are people who use to hunt themselfs and for some reason gave it up .

Same with smoking, drinking, and religion!

jonnysnapshop

hey lads long story short, im 24 from the wicklow area but have been living in dublin for four years. im moving back at the end of the year and i want to take up hunting. have friends of my mother who shoot and hunt and have been giving me advice. iv got my safety cert the gun has been ordered and ill be getting a safe very soon but wont be going ahead obviously until im back in wicklow (no chance of getting licence here iv been told). the gun im getting is a ruger american chambered in .270. im looking to join a club in wicklow to learn to shoot and obviously help with obtaining my licence because as of yet i dont know any farmers with more than ten acres. if you guys could offer any help im technically a young person who is dying to get into it! much appreciated

Really Interested

123shooter wrote: »

But then you would have to purchase all for them........light the fags............open the bottles........and whatever with the drugs.

Not just because they are incapable and couldn't be bothered to learn, but because they are entitled and it is their right to have those things done for them.

The pussy generation would want you to hold gun, aim and pull trigger as they say 'fire'.

And you wonder why young people are not interested in your company.

From what I see the 18-25 year group are very active just look at any local gym or sports club. I am surprised that gun clubs dont use the internet, and advertise why pretend to shoot when you can feel a real gun in a safe environment.

Make it interesting and dont make young people feel they not wanted might be a good start.

Really Interested

jonnysnapshop wrote: »

hey lads long story short, im 24 from the wicklow area but have been living in dublin for four years. im moving back at the end of the year and i want to take up hunting. have friends of my mother who shoot and hunt and have been giving me advice. iv got my safety cert the gun has been ordered and ill be getting a safe very soon but wont be going ahead obviously until im back in wicklow (no chance of getting licence here iv been told). the gun im getting is a ruger american chambered in .270. im looking to join a club in wicklow to learn to shoot and obviously help with obtaining my licence because as of yet i dont know any farmers with more than ten acres. if you guys could offer any help im technically a young person who is dying to get into it! much appreciated

http://www.hilltopshootingsports.com/index.asp

If these guys are anywhere near you might be worth a shout just looked at their diary of events very spartan for August. It might be an idea if clubs arrange a once a month coffee or pub evening where members could give people advice on how to get licence put people in touch with farmers etc.

jonnysnapshop

thats a brilliant idea if there was a meet like that id be there

Really Interested

jonnysnapshop wrote: »

thats a brilliant idea if there was a meet like that id be there

If gun guys dont want the sport to literally die out they need to make it inviting to new members. From what I see it can be even more exclusive than certain golf clubs.

jonnysnapshop

i hope not that bad i hope im not wasting time annd money

Luckysasha

I have been shooting pistol and rifle for about a year now at my current range. A month ago I took up clay shooting there as well and since then I have received a few offers to go game shooting just from the lads I shoot clays with. Maybe this is a route some lads could go down even just to get some experience of shooting safety and etiquette before they go out in the field as such

jonnysnapshop

great idea thanks sasha . ghetting in contact with a local club now