Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Freeman’s Gun Shop, in Hancock, is experiencing the same ammunition and firearms shortages as the rest of the country, which includes ammo for hunting. Shelves reserved for shotgun ammunition, normally filled, are all but empty, and hunters have placed their names on waiting lists to purchase what the store can obtain from suppliers.

HANCOCK — Industry experts predict that it will be at least the spring of 2021 before there is an ease in the firearm ammunition shortage, and a local firearms dealer says it may impact local hunting seasons.

Rick Freeman, of Northwoods Sporting Goods — Freeman’s Gun Shop in Hancock, said the ammunition shortage is very severe, but will it hamper deer hunting season?

“That’s hard to tell, because we’re still getting constant requests for ammunition every day,” said Freeman. “Now, we’ve put people on a waiting list; we actually have a list where they write their name and phone number down.”

The gun shop, he said, has developed a system by which they can at least supply the hunters who are serious about hunting.

Freeman said that their supply of ammunition is currently less than 10 percent of the shop’s regular inventory, and the shortage has local buyers concerned.

“They’re trying to buy more,” he said. “They call us daily, or stop by as often as they can.”

They can add themselves to the list, Freeman added, to spare themselves the trouble of calling or stopping in.

With big-game hunting, however, Freeman said the entire shortage is not all bad. Black powder enthusiasts will not find the difficulties locating supplies that firearms enthusiasts have been experiencing since the shortage began in March.

Freeman said he ordered large quantities of black powder merchandise about a month ago, saying he thinks he got “ahead of the curve on that one.”

Freeman said that in the event of nice weather in December, “everybody black powder hunts.” If the weather does not cooperate with hunters, however, only the die-hards will hunt, along with some who were not successful during the firearm season.

In a July 30, 2020 article titled “Why is the ammo gone?” Recoil Magazine reported doubts as to the shortage ending anytime soon.

“Some industry experts estimate that we won’t see a return to normal inventory levels for 12 months, even when assuming a Republican presidential victory in November,” Recoil stated. “Normal inventory is defined as being able to buy as much as ammo as you want and can afford from the internet or your local retailer.”

The article, by Caleb Giddings, said that prices may not return to pre-COVID levels for an up to 12 months after the shortage eases.

“The long term disruption to the supply chain tends to result in increased costs for manufacturers which will get passed on to the consumer until we see a full economic recovery,” Giddings stated. “Unless one of the factors causing massive demand suddenly changes or disappears, we can expect to see increased prices and rationing for some time to come.”