Shooting Sportsman

What Shooting Sportsman does

Shooting Sportsman is a privately-held, Rockport, Maine-based magazine publisher founded in 1987 that produces a bimonthly print and digital magazine covering wingshooting, fine shotguns, bird dogs, and the sporting lifestyle. It reaches its audience through two annual subscription tiers — a $14/year digital-only plan and a $33/year print+digital bundle — both providing six issues per year plus access to nearly 40 years of archived editorial and high-quality audio narration of articles. The underlying technology is a digital magazine platform with browser-based delivery (no app required), archival search, and audio narration, alongside a traditional print fulfillment pipeline operated through CDS Fulfillment and eMagazines for digital distribution.

The company monetizes through three streams: recurring subscriptions (digital and print), sponsored content and advertising placements (e.g., Negrini cases, Purina Pro Plan, Eukanuba), and Reader & Writer Adventures — hosted hunting trips priced between $5,990 and $10,995 per person at destinations in Georgia, the UK, and Spain. Its primary customer segments are bird hunters and wingshooters, fine gun enthusiasts, bird dog owners and trainers, and (for the adventure line) affluent adventure travelers. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via its own storefront, supported by an editorial site, an email newsletter, and organic social channels on Facebook, X, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.

Shooting Sportsman also operates an Endorsed Lodge Program — a curated network of vetted hunting lodges across 15+ US states — and maintains a multi-decade partnership with Orvis, including loaner gun arrangements at Orvis Sandanona. The business is small, with a disclosed management team of two named executives (Director of Wingshooting Terry Bombeke and Shoot Manager Ryan Doughty), no disclosed parent company, no institutional funding, and no app or public API presence.

Name

Shooting Sportsman

Legal name

Shooting Sportsman Magazine

Website

https://shootingsportsman.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Shooting Sportsman is a privately-held bimonthly magazine founded in 1987 covering wingshooting, fine guns, bird dogs, and the sporting lifestyle. It serves hunters, shotgun enthusiasts, and sporting dog owners via digital and print subscriptions, sponsored content, and hosted adventure trips.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sporting Lifestyle Magazine

NAICS

Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Hunting, Shooting Sports & Archery Retail (CRAMABAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hunting & Fishing Lodges (Sporting Lodges) (THAGAIAJ)

Keywords

• Wingshooting magazine
• Shotgun reviews
• Bird dog training
• Hunting lodge endorsements
• Sporting lifestyle content

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Recurring annual subscriptions for digital-only or print+digital access to the magazine, delivered 6 times per year
2. Sponsored Content & Advertising: Partner-sponsored articles and advertising placements throughout the magazine and website content
3. Reader & Writer Adventures: Hosted hunting trips and shoots at featured destinations, generating revenue through participation fees ranging from $5,990 to $10,995 per trip

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Shooting Sportsman is a bimonthly magazine covering wingshooting, fine shotguns, bird dogs, and the sporting lifestyle, published continuously since 1987. It sells print and digital subscriptions at $14–$33 per year, offers a digital archive spanning nearly 40 years with audio narration, hosts Readers & Writers Adventures (curated guided hunting trips in the US, UK, and Spain priced $5,990–$10,995), and operates an Endorsed Lodge Program featuring vetted hunting destinations across 15 US states.

Product overview

Shooting Sportsman is a bimonthly print and digital magazine dedicated to wingshooting, fine shotguns, bird dogs, and the sporting lifestyle since 1987. The publication offers two subscription tiers: a digital-only option at $14/year and a print+digital bundle at $33/year. Content verticals include wingshooting articles, fine gun reviews, dog training, travel destinations, and gear guides. Related services include an Endorsed Lodge Program (a curated network of vetted hunting lodges across 15 US states), Readers & Writers Adventures (hosted group hunts in Georgia, UK, and Spain), and seasonal gift and gear guides.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shooting Sportsman Digital Subscription Annual digital-only subscription providing 6 digital issues per year with instant access, high-quality audio narration, and access to nearly 40 years of archives. Priced at $14 per year.
• Shooting Sportsman Print + Digital Subscription Combined print and digital subscription delivering 6 print issues annually plus free digital access and archive access for $33 per year. First print issue arrives within 6–8 weeks after order processing.
• Shooting Sportsman Magazine Bimonthly magazine covering wingshooting, fine guns, bird dogs, and the sporting lifestyle. Content includes shotgun reviews, hunting destination coverage, dog training tips, and gear guides.
• Endorsed Lodge Program A curated network of hunting lodges and resorts vetted by Shooting Sportsman, offering world-class wingshooting experiences at endorsed properties across 15 US states including Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
• Readers & Writers Adventures Hosted hunt experiences organized by Shooting Sportsman, offering guided wingshooting trips at destinations including Georgia quail hunts ($5,990–$7,150), British driven pheasant shoots ($10,995), and Spain partridge hunts ($10,995). Trips include accommodations, meals, guides, ammunition, and gun permits.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fishing Creek FarmscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGeorgia-based hunting lodge endorsed by Shooting Sportsman as part of the magazine's Endorsed Lodge Program, offering world-class wingshooting experiences to readers.
• Pine Hill PlantationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGeorgia quail hunting lodge featured in Reader & Writer Adventures and Endorsed Lodge Program, hosting annual mule-drawn wagon hunts.
• Flying B RanchcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIdaho-based wingshooting lodge endorsed by Shooting Sportsman, known for Western bird hunting and gourmet cuisine.
• Heartland Lodge (Harpole's)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerIllinois-based endorsed lodge featured in the magazine's lodge endorsement program.
• Meemo's FarmcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMichigan-based crown jewel wingshooting lodge endorsed by the magazine.
• Joshua Creek RanchcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTexas-based hunting destination offering pheasant and other bird hunting experiences, featured in both editorial content and endorsements.
• SouthWind PlantationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGeorgia-based quail hunting plantation hosting Reader & Writer Adventures trips with classic walk-up bobwhite quail hunts.
• Orvis CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo-decade relationship with Orvis; Guerini shotguns serve as loaner guns at Orvis Shooting Grounds; Greg Carpiniello serves as Gun Department Manager at Orvis Sandanona.
• Negrini Cases / International Case CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored content partnership featuring Italian gun case manufacturer; Stephen Lamboy founded International Case Company as US importer 16 years ago.
• Purina Pro PlanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVeterinary health content sponsorship for hunting dog nutrition and care articles.
• EukanubaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDog health and nutrition sponsorship for sporting dog content and health tips articles.
• Orvis Sandanona Shooting GroundscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Orvis shooting facility where Guerini shotguns serve as loaner guns; staff writers contribute gun reviews.
• Purdey Audley HouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBritish gunmaker showroom featured in Reader & Writer Adventures itineraries for UK-driven shooting trips.
• Beretta GalleryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeretta retail gallery featured in Reader & Writer Adventures itineraries.
• Holland & HollandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnglish gunmaker showroom featured in Reader & Writer Adventures itineraries.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ShootingSportsman
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shooting-sportsman

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shooting Sportsman