Shop supplies top gear

Ammo, archery, blinds, decoys, fishing rods, knifes, slingshots, snare wire, outerwear and apparel.
If it’s in your nature to hunt, D and R Sporting Goods (DRSG) offer expert advice and carry all your camping, fishing, hunting and trapping gear and they share the passion of hunting.
Every sportsman and woman can complete their hunting checklist at this locally owned store. They have a large selection of hunting and trapping supplies and accessories.
Adrian Hager general manager and owner said the staff is committed to service, value, and a broad selection of quality gear. “We are totally devoted to service, knowledge and education for our customers. We like to pride ourselves on people being able to come in here and ask our opinions,” explained Hager.
Hager is an avid hunter, has worked in the local hunting supply industry for 13 years and attends trade shows and seminars. This experience allows him to select the best products to bring in. “I know what works and doesn’t work in the north,” Hager said.
The Ministry of Natural Resources Ontario moose hunting season opened one week early this year. “Traditionally hunting moose and deer big game with a rifle opened the Saturday of Thanksgiving; this year it is opening October 5, 2013.”
“Small game has been open since Sept. 15. From now until mid-December it will be peak hunting season for moose and upland bird hunting,” said Hager.
This year D and R Sporting Goods is carrying a Bulldozer Moose Call from Quaker Boy, Ken Caplin Moose Mag Moose Call, Ontario legal electronic 50 yard moose calls, a variety of new scents like Moose Balm (an aerosol canned moose urine) and a pop up cow moose decoy from Montana Decoy’s. Experienced staff can help new or regular hunters with their rifle and ammo needs.
The best-selling item this hunting season is a DVD series. “We sold a lot of Alex Gouthro Moose Madness and Quick Fix DVD series, which is a start to finish series for moose hunters.”
Several DRSG staff experienced in archery service customers in the excelling archery market.
“Our archery business is quite big; we have seen a big increase in people using traditional bows, recurve and long bows. People are using them for small and big game deer and moose. So that’s been kind of exciting,” Hager said.
The store is the exclusive dealer for Excalibur Crossbows. But they carry a variety of reasonably priced bows from $99 to $1000 according to Hager. The City of Thunder Bay changed the hunting bylaw to allow archers to discharge bows in the city limits and hunt deer. “It opened up a lot of new hunting opportunities for people to be able to hunt deer; given you meet the hunting criteria, ” Hager said.
The store offers light gunsmithing seven days a week, scope mounting, some fire arm repairs and repairs to store bought equipment and they address manufactured warranties for products. Hager noted, “This year our biggest selling feature is guns and ammunition.”