Ammo shortage 2021: Wisconsin hunters struggle to find ammunition due to supply chain issues

LAKE HALLIE, Wis. -- Deer hunting season in Wisconsin has arrived, but this year hunters may have a hard time finding ammo.

That's because the supply chain crisis is causing shortages of ammunition in outdoor gear stores, WEAU reported.

"It's terrible; it's just like car dealers trying to sell cars with no tires," said Dan Marcon, owner of Marc-on Shooting in Wisconsin.

He said his business has felt the squeeze of the gun ammunition shortage.

"I've been in the sporting industry, sporting goods industry, since I was 12, you know; I was hunting from northern Wisconsin since I was 12-years-old, and I've never seen ammunition this scarce, ever," Marcon said.

Marcon contacts 12 vendors every day. He said the supply just can't keep up with the demand.

"This spring, I had several cases of hunting ammunition in stock. I was out by September. So, I've probably had several hundred boxes of any caliber hunting ammunition in here and gone," he said.

He said just like many other products, supply chain issues and shipping has affected ammo.

RELATED: Labor shortage hits Santa supply as workers weigh COVID-19 risks

"The problem is we've lost one manufacturer in the United States already, Remington, we lost this past year in 2021. Hodgdon is a powder manufacturer; I was just informed in the last couple weeks that they're no longer in business, so they're a powder supplier. All the primers come from different places. There's only five manufactures of primer, only two manufactures of glue," Marcon said.

And often, with supply shortages, come price changes.

"The average price is going up six to seven, nine bucks a box for basic hunting ammunition, my cost," he said.

And Marcon said it doesn't look like the shortage is getting any better.

"Handgun ammunition is supposed to be coming scarce again this winter, we're told from our suppliers," he added.

Marcon suggests not waiting until you need ammo for hunting or other seasons.

"It's been drilled into our systems over the past years that you buy ammo in September, October, November for your hunt in November. Now you have to buy it January, February and put it away," he said.

The ammo shortage is not limited to Wisconsin. A number of sporting goods stores throughout the Midwest are reporting similar shortages.