Summary

The global hunting, fishing and trapping industry is on an upward trajectory, with a projected annual growth rate of 6.2% between 2020 and 2027. The United States holds a dominant market position, contributing around 30% to global sales. Despite this overall growth, the French hunting sector shows a downward trend, with the number of validated hunting licenses falling to 963,571 for the 2022-2023 season, reflecting a ten-year decline in the number of hunters in France. Hunting equipment and firearms strongly influence the market, but France faces a trade deficit in shotguns and rifles, as it imports far more than it exports, particularly from Italy and the USA.

French public opinion is generally unfavorable to hunting, with 83% of the population feeling unsafe walking in the countryside during the hunting season, and a majority in favor of a no-hunting Sunday. Nevertheless, the hunting industry continues to generate substantial income and employment. The market is marked by innovation, particularly in high-end hunting optics and technologically advanced firearms, such as smart shotguns. The sector remains highly regulated in France, with specific season opening and closing dates, hunting hours and zones defined for waterfowl hunting.

Trends and outlook for the French hunting market

The French hunting market is in slow decline in terms of active participation, as indicated by the steady decline in validated hunting licenses over the years. The annual number of new hunters has fallen significantly, approaching a halved figure in the space of fifty years. Despite the significant reduction in the price of the national hunting license, the trend continues with a decreasing number of hunters, suggesting that the reduction in costs is not sufficient to reverse the trend.

Although the total number of hunters is declining, market sales remain significant, estimated at around 3.5 to 3.7 billion euros in recent years. The French hunting industry is heavily dependent on imports, particularly for firearms, with domestic companies facing stiff competition from international players. Despite this dependence, sectors such as game farming and hunting equipment manufacturing have key national players who contribute to market sales.

In France, the typical hunter is predominantly male, aged over 55, often from a professional or managerial background. Female participation in hunting is on the rise, but represents only a small fraction of the total hunter population, suggesting a potential for market growth. The consumption habits of hunters reveal significant investment in equipment and vehicles, which contributes to the economic activity of the hunting market. However, public opinion is largely opposed to hunting, with safety concerns during hunting seasons being a major issue.

At a regional level, the impact of the hunting industry varies, with less industrialized regions being more dependent on hunting for their local economy. Despite its traditional roots, the hunting market is marked by innovation, particularly in high-end products such as hunting optics and smart guns.

Hunters cite contact with nature, camaraderie and the enjoyment of game meat as their main motivations for taking up the hobby.

The market is highly regulated, and companies in this sector have to navigate both import dependency and public opinion to maintain their position.

A comprehensive overview of the main market players

The hunting industry, though marked by a milieu of long-standing traditions and practices, remains a dynamic market where a variety of players contribute to its vitality and sustainability. This detailed exploration focuses on the major companies that have had a lasting impact on the hunting landscape. These entities not only define market trends, they also play a vital role in shaping the future of hunting, equipment manufacturing and wildlife conservation.

  • Excellence in shotgun manufacturing

    • Firearms manufacturers, a category dominated by a blend of heritage and innovation, are at the forefront of the hunting market. Among them is Verney Carron, a name synonymous with French finesse in shotgun manufacture. With a history dating back to the 19th century, Verney Carron has maintained its reputation by offering hunters reliable, elegant firearms that integrate cutting-edge technology with timeless design.

    • Chapuis Armes is another repository of French know-how. This company specializes in express rifles, used for big game hunting in France, and continues to preserve the prestigious heritage of national gunmaking through its superb products.

    • International heavyweights such as Italy's Beretta and Benelli have also carved out an important place in the market. Their presence illustrates the global interaction in the field of hunting equipment, where tradition meets technological advances.

    • In Russia, Kalashnikov redefines the modern hunting arsenal. Known the world over for its associations with military weaponry, the company leverages its technological prowess to create cutting-edge shotguns that blur the boundaries between traditional instruments and digital sophistication.
  • Equipment and clothing suppliers

    • When it comes to hunting equipment and clothing, few names are as universal as Décathlon. Their in-house brand, Solognac, has made a name for itself by offering a wide range of affordable, quality equipment, clothing and accessories, making hunting accessible to seasoned hunters and novices alike.

    • Specialized retailers such as Club Interchasse offer top-of-the-range hunting accessories and apparel, emphasizing quality and exclusivity for those seeking high-end hunting experiences.

    • Similarly, Jumfil, although less well known, offers specialized equipment that enhances the efficiency and comfort of hunting activities.

    • The distributor, Terres & Eaux, acts as a link between equipment manufacturers and the hunting community. It plays an essential role in ensuring that hunters have convenient access to the products they need.
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  • Number of pages : 30 pages
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  • Last update : 30/11/2023
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Summary and extracts

1 Market overview

1.1 Definition and scope of the study

Hunting is the pursuit of animals with the aim of capturing, killing or eating them. When hunting is subject to regulation, the practice of hunting outside its legal framework is called poaching. Destruction operations are subject to the right of destruction, which differs in part from the right to hunt. Cynégétique is the art of hunting.

The global hunting, fishing and trapping market is expected to grow at a sustained rate of 6.2% a year between 2020 and 2027. The United States is the largest national market, accounting for almost 30% of total market sales.

In France, for the 2022-2023 season, the number of validated hunting licenses totaled 963,571, a figure that has been declining for the past ten years.

The main players in the hunting market are rifle manufacturers such as France's Chapuis Armes and Verney Carron, Russia's Kalashnikov and Italy's Benelli and Beretta, hunting equipment manufacturers such as Decathlon, Jumfil and Club Interchasse, distributors such as Terres & Eaux and game breeders such as Gibovendée.

For several years now, hunting has been strongly contested, with a majority of French people opposed to it, and public opinion becoming more sensitive to animal suffering. However, the hunting market still has certain development prospects. One potential driver is market value: while hunters are becoming fewer in number, they tend to spend more on their hobby. The second potential driver is the development of hunting among women, who in 2023 will account for just 3.3% of all hunters.

1.2 Global market

At both global and European level, data on the hunting sector is patchy and dated. However, we do know that the United States, with its relatively flexible gun-licensing laws in most states, is a major player in this sector. It therefore seems interesting to examine the evolution of the number of ...

1.3 A national market suffering from declining volumes

A good indicator of the size of the French hunting market is the number of hunting licenses validated each season:

Evolution of the number of hunting licenses France, ****-****, in millions of permits Source: ****

This has been falling steadily since its peak in ****. In ** years, the annual number of new hunters ...

1.4 France, a net importer of shotguns

The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, or Harmonized System (***), is an international nomenclature developed by the world's customs organization to classify products traded internationally. Three different codes cover the shotgun sector:

******** - Shotguns and rifles for hunting or sporting purposes, smooth-bore (***) ******** - Shotguns and rifles for hunting or sporting ...

2 Demand analysis

2.1 Typical hunter profile

age

Hunters by gender France, ****, in Source: ****

The overwhelming majority of hunters are male, with women representing just *.*% of licensees in ****. However, this figure has been rising sharply over the past decade. In ****, women accounted for *.*% of licensees.

age

Breakdown of hunters by age France, ****, in Source: ****

**% of hunters are ...

2.2 Hunters' expenses

Hunter's personal expenses

Average expenditure by item France, ****, in Source: ****

The majority of expenditure is devoted to the purchase of a vehicle for hunting, which accounts for **% of total expenditure. Equipment is the second largest expenditure item at **%, followed by hunting access fees and territory maintenance at **%. Expenditure on transport, accommodation ...

2.3 Public opinion is generally anti-hunting

A large proportion of French people consider this activity to be problematic, particularly for safety reasons:

Do you personally feel safe walking in nature during hunting season? France, ****, in Source: ****

One of the reasons why the French are unfavorable to hunting stems from the sense of insecurity they feel when walking ...

2.4 Hunters' motivations

Hunters' primary motivation is the privileged contact with nature that this activity provides.

Hunters' main motivations France, ****, in Source: ****

Conviviality and contact with one's dog are the other two main motivations. But hunters also emphasize the benefits of eating their own game:

"What are your two main motivations for eating ...

3 Market structure

3.1 Hunting industry value chain

Source: ****

3.2 French hunting companies threatened by deindustrialization and foreign competition

Firearms:

The weakness of French shotgun exports (***) has been exacerbated over the past ** years by the closure of the famous Manufacture Française d'Armes et de Cycles de Saint-Etienne, better known as Manufrance, whose famous "Robust" shotgun has delighted generations of hunters. The shotgun market was fueled by demand from a ...

3.3 Hunting: a major revenue generator for local communities

The French hunting industry generates annual sales of *.* billion euros, contributing *.* billion euros in added value to the national economy (***). [***]

Hunting sales by region (***)

Source: ****

Share of hunting in regional GDP (***)

Source: ****

A comparison of the above maps is rich in lessons. While the regions in which the hunting market generates ...

4 Offer analysis

4.1 Hunting typologies

Types of hunting

Free-range hunting: the hunter is often alone or with two guns, sometimes accompanied by a tracker, but above all with his dog Hunting with hounds: this hunting method is mainly used for battues with trackers. It accounts for most of the roe deer and wild boar hunted in ...

4.2 A market in constant innovation

Although the hunting market has a rather traditional image, it is not immune to innovation. This mainly concerns hunting weapons, where numerous technological advances are made every year.

The high-end segment is, quite logically, the one where innovation is most prevalent. In particular, hunting optics are constantly being improved, with ever ...

5 Regulations

5.1 A strictly regulated market

Hunting opening and closing dates

Hunting season opens by ministerial decree, from the *st Sunday in September to the *th Sunday in September, depending on the department.

Hunting closes on the last day of February.

Hunting hours

As the notion of day is vague, the law specifies that the day begins ...

5.2 Hunting permits

The vast majority of French hunters hold departmental licenses (***). National and temporary licenses account for only **% of the total. The national license authorizes the holder to hunt in the various regions of France, while the departmental license limits hunting to the borders of the department in question. Finally, the temporary license ...

List of charts

  • Number of hunting licenses issued
  • Number of hunting licenses issued
  • Balance of trade in hunting rifles and shotguns
  • Shotgun imports
  • Shotgun exports
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Latest news

Verney-Carron rifles to equip Ukrainian army - 21/11/2023
  • 10.000 assault rifles, 2,000 sniper rifles and 400 grenade launchers to be delivered to Ukraine
  • The contract for this order is valued at 36 million euros
  • The Verney-Carron arms factory employs around 120 people
  • Sales at the Verney-Carron factory total 5.3 million euros
  • Production capacity increased to 30,000 assault rifles per year
  • The Cybergun Group, which owns Verney-Carron, has sales of 43 million euros
  • The Cybergun Group employs a total of 350 people at six manufacturing sites in France.
Rules for engaging hunting pens - 23/04/2023
  • Law no. 2023-54 of February 2, 2023 on limiting the enclosure of natural areas.
  • Maximum fence height limited to 1.20 m.
  • Fences must be installed 30 cm above ground level.
  • Existing fences must be brought into compliance by January 1, 2027.
  • Penalty for infringement: 3 years' imprisonment and a maximum fine of €150,000.
Registration of 40,000 icaunais on the new SIARM - 05/02/2022
  • Approximately 40,000 gun owners in the Yonne département and 176,000 in the Bourgogne Franche-Comté region.
  • Approximately 81,000 weapons held in the Yonne and 458,000 in the Bourgogne Franche-Comté region.
  • A quarter of gun owners in Yonne are hunters.
  • The new "Weapons Information System" (SIA) will replace the old Agrippa application, created in 2007.
  • The deadline for creating a personal holder account in the SIA is June 30, 2023.
  • The AIS will ensure real-time traceability of category A, B and C firearms.
  • Category D weapons are not covered by the AIS.
  • The AIS will automatically generate the European firearms registration card, saving time for prefectures, which used to issue an average of 25,000 cards a year.
  • The players concerned by the AIS in France include: a. Five million user-holders of firearms b. 2,500 professionals (manufacturers, importers, gunsmiths) c. 400 prefecture officials d. Four federations (hunting, shooting, ball-trap, ski-biathlon) e. Police and gendarmerie services
  • there are 18 gunsmiths in the Yonne département.

Companies quoted in this study

This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :

Beretta
Kalashnikov Concern (Baïkal)
Benelli Armi
Chapuis Armes
Verney Carron (Cybergun groupe)
Jumfil
CI LVC Club Interchasse
Gibovendée
Le-Chasseur
Chasseur Français
Armurerie du Moulin
Armurerie Auxerre

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