Ammo shortage threatens rifle season

A nationwide ammunition shortage is nearing its one year anniversary, and anxious hunters are worried about the upcoming season. Jason Chaudier, manager at Woodland Firearms and Supply in Baraga, says it has been difficult since the 2020 election. He believes it may have started over political and safety concerns, and combined with decreased production thanks to COVID, it has morphed into the perfect storm.

Chaudier says the problems are widespread across all sportsman products.

Chaudier says he has been able to keep Woodland mostly in stock, but describes the buying process as “tough.”

Suppliers say components are locked in cargo ships anchored at sea, waiting their turn to unload at America’s congested ports. Southeastern Asia countries largely missed the first wave of the pandemic, but Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and hubs like Singapore have made up for lost time in recent months. Governments responded by shutting down factories responsible for goods like tennis shoes, apparel, and toys, and raw materials. Chaudier says it is a wake up call to be responsible when deciding how much production should be outsourced internationally. He warns that prices may be a lot higher than what customers are used to when they can find products.