Utah NICS Checks & Outdoor Economics: 5-Year Story At A Glance

Curious how Utah’s outdoor life and the local economy tie into firearm background checks? We analyzed five years of data to see how NICs checks line up with income, jobs, and participation in hunting and shooting sports. Short version: the stronger Utahns’ wallets and the busier our seasons in the field and at the range, the more background checks we tend to see.

What This Utah Chart Shows

  • Time frame: 5 years
  • Measures of checks: Total, Adjusted, Handgun, Long Gun
  • Factors compared: Personal Income, Consumer Spending, Employment, Hunting & Trapping, Shooting (incl. Archery)
  • How to read it: “r” tells how tightly two things move together (closer to 1 means a stronger positive link). “p” shows if the relationship is likely real and not random (below 0.05 is typically considered meaningful).

Plain-English Takeaways

  • Income stands out: As personal income rises in Utah, total NICS checks rise too (strongest link on the page).
  • Hunting & shooting matter: Participation in Hunting & Trapping and Shooting (incl. Archery) both line up well with checks—especially for total and handgun checks.
  • Employment helps, spending is softer: Jobs correlate positively with total checks, while broad consumer spending shows a smaller, less certain link with handgun and long-gun checks.
  • Adjusted vs. total: The adjusted series (which removes some administrative “noise”) still shows solid ties to income and outdoor participation, just a touch milder than total checks.
 

Why It Matters For Utah’s Shooting Sports

For retailers, ranges, and event organizers, these patterns are useful planning signals. When paychecks are healthy and the outdoor calendar is buzzing, interest in new firearms and accessories tends to follow. That doesn’t mean one causes the other on its own, but they often move in the same direction here in Utah.

  • Retailers: Watch local income and hunting participation to time inventory, promotions, and staff schedules.
  • Ranges & clubs: Membership drives and match schedules can track with peak participation months and years.
  • Hunters & new shooters: Expect busier counters and fuller classes when seasons pick up and the economy hums.

Details Spotted In The Visualization

  • Activity/event: Hunting & Trapping; Shooting including Archery; background checks related to firearm purchases.
  • Location/setting: Utah, statewide view.
  • People & roles: Hunters, recreational shooters, retailers, range staff, instructors.
  • Noteworthy features: Strong positive links (especially for TotalChecks) with income and outdoor participation; several “not significant” relationships for consumer spending and long-gun checks.

Final Thoughts & Call To Action

Utah’s five-year view tells a clear story: strong paydays and active hunting and shooting seasons walk hand-in-hand with more NICS checks. If you’re a shop owner, match director, or just planning your next purchase, keep an eye on those signals. Check out our interactive NICs Checks Dashboard page for more insights.