As manufacturers, retailers and reps across the archery and bowhunting supply chain look to 2026 and beyond, Washington has quietly moved from background noise to a front-and-center driver of our market. Tariffs, trade wars, tax policies and politics have all played an impactful role in the current industry environment. As such, the Archery Trade Association has sharpened its federal policy playbook over the last several years, and its advocacy is delivering concrete benefits: leveling the playing field with online sellers, protecting funding streams for archery programs, modernizing excise tax policy, and defending equipment definitions that matter for product design and customer expectations. Here’s a practical read for business leaders on what ATA is pushing, why it matters and how your business can benefit.
One of ATA’s most visible federal fights has been to address loopholes that let some overseas sellers avoid U.S. excise taxes and duty — an issue that disproportionately hurts domestic manufacturers and brick-and-mortar retailers. ATA has been a champion of legislative fixes and a leader of action to ensure excise taxes are collected on imported archery equipment sold through online marketplaces. In 2025, key congressional sponsors introduced bills targeting excise tax collection gaps, and the ATA has publicly flagged elimination of the de minimis rule — the policy that once allowed low-value shipments to enter duty-free — as a major industry win that will reduce unfair pricing pressure from some foreign sellers. For U.S. businesses, closing these gaps helps restore price parity, improves margins and redirects tax dollars back into conservation and programs that grow participation.
The federal excise tax that funds wildlife conservation under the Pittman-Robertson Act is foundational to hunting and shooting sports. But ATA has long recognized that the mechanism needs flexibility to support contemporary recruitment, retention and reactivation—known as R3—efforts in light of a long-term declining hunter base. ATA’s strategic priorities include supporting P-R modernization to let state agencies and partners invest in programs that expand participation — from youth archery in schools to research projects that align hunter recruitment with wildlife management needs. Modernizing how P-R funds can be used is not just good conservation policy; it directly supports demand for archery gear and services by making sure there are thoughtful, funded pathways to bring new archers and hunters into the fold.
Beyond taxes and trade, the ATA is active in the softer — but equally powerful — levers that grow long-term demand: access, active forest management, education, grants, and research. The association has pursued grant funding for targeted projects—for example, studies on crossbow participation—digital communication improvements, and R3 coordination, advocated to keep archery and hunter-education programs eligible for federal education dollars, and worked with partners to pilot school-based archery initiatives. For businesses, these efforts mean more well-informed, enthusiastic customers walking into independent retailers — and a stronger pipeline of future archers and bowhunters.
At the state level, regulatory ambiguity over what counts as “legal archery equipment” creates costs and confusion for manufacturers, state wildlife agencies, and archery hunters alike. ATA’s position statements and engagement with state and federal partners aim to simplify equipment rules, improve consistency, and let states manage seasons while avoiding outdated and confusing equipment bans that fragment the market. Clear, harmonized equipment standards reduce compliance headaches, shrink liability risk and let product designers innovate with predictable regulatory guardrails. Efforts over the last few years have led to the elimination or modernization of hundreds of state regulatory changes but there is much more to do!
ATA’s year-in-review summaries reveal a consistent pattern: the association monitors state sessions, works collaboratively with partners to leverage our impact, presses for excise tax fixes and supports projects that tie policy to participation metrics. That’s deliberate — policy wins that create predictable market conditions are far more valuable than one-off publicity.
Policy outcomes shape the competitive landscape in three tangible ways: (1) tax and trade fixes directly affect cost competitiveness versus foreign sellers; (2) P-R modernization and educational funding create end-market growth opportunities; and (3) regulatory clarity reduces compliance costs and supports innovation. For independent and domestic manufacturers, that combination translates to healthier margins, steadier demand and more predictable inventory planning.
Practical next steps for companies:
Public policy no longer sits at arm’s length from product lines and shop floors. The ATA’s federal priorities — from excise-tax reform to P-R modernization and trade enforcement — are about one thing for businesses: creating a fair, growth-oriented market for archery and bowhunting products. That’s why active engagement matters. When manufacturers and retailers invest time and expertise into advocacy, the returns show up in stronger demand, fairer competition and a healthier industry for decades to come.
