BOAZ - As hunters took to the woods Monday, the first day of gun deer season, local hunting supply retailers have seen an upswing in business in the days leading to the opening as people stocked up on rifles, ammunition and other needed items.
''We have been busy Sunday and Monday,'' said Scott Cain, owner of Cain's Outdoors in Boaz. ''People have been coming in to get supplies.''
Many people have been in to stock up on ammunition to make sure they have plenty when they go out into the field, he said.
Ronnie Dodd, owner of Dodd's Sporting Goods in Ellenboro, said they have been selling rifles, scopes and ammunition in the days leading up to the start of hunting season.
''Gun sales are up, way up,'' he said. ''We have stocked up around 400 pieces.
''It has been hard to keep things in stock as people have been buying.''
Dodd said some people are still buying guns in response to foreseen limits that might be put in place by the current presidental administration.
''We have been selling more handguns than rifles,'' he said.
The big sellers in the days leading up to the start of hunting season include well known brands like Winchester and Remington, Dodd said. The popular ammunition has been .223, .243 and 25.06. They have also sold a lot of 30.06 and .270.
A sales representative at the Crossroads General Store in Newark said they have seen a lot of ammunition sales over the past few days and they still have a wide variety available.
Although many people have been saying the recession has hit them hard and they are not spending as much as they have in the past, Cain said their business has not seen much of a drop off this year.
''Traditionally, some people who have been laid off from their jobs still have gone hunting,'' Cain said adding people had planned on going out and still go anyway.
''Some go out to hunt in order to supplement their grocery bill,'' he said.
There have been people who have repaired older guns rather than buying new ones, he said of an increase in gun repair work being brought in.
He has also seen more youth coming in with a parent to get supplies to go out hunting during youth hunting events lately.
''It is nice to see the increase,'' Cain said. ''It is good to see them going out.''
As many people went out Monday to hunt, business slowed down some.
''We were really busy Sunday, but things have slowed down (Monday) because people are out in the woods,'' Dodd said.
In addition to their local customers, they have been seeing more people coming in from out of state.
Cain said he is expecting to get many hunters coming in from Ohio looking for supplies, ammo and especially muzzleloading supplies.
''Their deer season starts next Monday,'' he said.
