In the old days, marketing in the hunting industry was simple: Get your gear on the shelves at a big-box store, run some ads in a couple of legacy magazines, and hope for a strong season.
But the modern hunters have changed – and so has how (and where) they shop.
An outdoor brand’s omni-channel strategies must match today’s hunting consumers who blend traditional, digital, and direct-to-consumer retail experiences. They might try on a jacket at Cabela’s, watch a review on YouTube, buy ammo from Amazon, and then order their optics straight from the manufacturer’s site.
According to Untamed’s 2025 Hunting Industry Insights Study:
- 67.7% shop at large sporting goods stores like Bass Pro Shops and Academy
- 46.3% buy from online marketplaces like Amazon and Walmart.com
- 38.7% purchase directly from brand websites
This isn’t an either-or audience: It’s a both-and audience.
Marketing Consistency Wins in a Fragmented Landscape
With hunters navigating between platforms and retailers, brands must meet them where they are, and more importantly, show up consistently across all those touchpoints.
That means:
- Uniform pricing and promotions across channels
- Cohesive storytelling from social to shelf
- Seamless product experience, whether in-store or online
- Visibility in retail planograms and influencer reviews
If your brand only excels in one channel, you’re leaving money (and loyalty) on the table.
The Role of DTC in 2026
Direct-to-consumer (DTC) isn’t just an e-commerce play – it’s a brand-building engine. While DTC still represents a smaller slice of the purchase pie, it offers critical strategic advantages:
- Control the brand story
- Capture first-party customer data
- Build loyalty programs and exclusive content experiences
- Launch new products or limited editions faster
- Create deeper engagement with your most loyal fans
Think of DTC as your flagship experience – the place hunters go to engage with your brand beyond the transaction.
Retail Still Rules – But It’s Evolving
Physical retail remains dominant in the hunting space, especially for high-touch purchases and seasonal spikes. But it’s no longer just about the aisle. Your retail presence needs to:
- Be supported by digital content and reviews
- Align with in-store sales rep training and demos
- Use QR codes or digital integrations to tell richer stories
- Feature regional or seasonal relevance (yes, geography still matters here)
Retailers are now ecosystems. If your brand isn’t helping tell the story at the point of sale, someone else will.
Omni-Channel Marketing Must-Haves for 2026
To stay competitive and capture a larger share of wallet, hunting brands should focus on these omni-channel moves:
- Sync messaging and creative across channels (social, retail, DTC, email, etc.)
- Leverage YouTube, influencers, and SEO to drive DTC traffic
- Use customer data from your DTC site to personalize retargeting and email campaigns
- Ensure product availability across preferred retail platforms during peak seasons
- Offer exclusive bundles or limited drops through your DTC site to drive urgency and engagement
The Takeaway
The modern hunting consumer doesn’t shop in silos – and neither should your brand.
Success in 2026 will belong to brands that move fluidly across channels, keeping storytelling and product experience consistent whether the customer is scrolling, shopping, or stepping into the woods. It’s not about picking a lane. It’s about owning every part of the journey.
To learn more, download a free copy of our 2025 Hunting Industry Insights Study.
