4 Characteristics of a Good Shooting Partner

Valid or not, I often lump people into two categories: those who are at their best when working and interacting with people, and those whose greatest strengths are working with material objects and inanimate things. I put myself in the latter category and, as a result, have a great deal of admiration for those gifted at working with people. Even though I’m better at working with things than I am with people, I realize we were made to live in community, and life is better when we surround ourselves with good people.

While firearm sports can be a solitary endeavor at times, like life in general, they are better when we share them with others. So, having a hunting partner, a competition shooting partner, or just a range buddy is important. However, close friends who are worthy of the partner title are hard to come by. In 1990, about 3% of U.S. adults reported having no close friends, but by 2021, this figure had increased to 12%. By 2024, the percentage of Americans without close friendships rose to 17%, reflecting ongoing trends of reduced social interaction and changing lifestyle patterns.

That’s an unfortunate tendency, but it’s one that those of us in the shooting sports can avoid. Few activities build camaraderie the way hunting and shooting do. Time on the range, long days in the field, shared successes, and even shared failures have a way of forging strong friendships. But friendship and partnership are not the same thing — and that distinction matters.

Over more than fifty years behind a trigger, I’ve been fortunate to have both good friends and true partners in the hunting and competition worlds. Friends make the experience enjoyable. Partners make you better, safer, sharper, and more dependable when it matters most. The difference between the two is worth understanding, especially in pursuits where trust, accountability, and performance carry real weight.

So, let’s look at what makes a good shooting and hunting partner.

Ethics

The firearms world includes many people, not all of whom share the same moral and ethical standards. So, for two people to gel as “partners,” it’s important that they share the same ethics. It’s an unfortunate truth that some people consider hunting regulations and bag limits as guidelines for others, not for them. Likewise, competition rules only matter to some people if they get caught cheating. Keep these realities in mind when thinking about the difference between friends and partners. Two people, both with high ethical standards, will encourage one another to maintain those standards and may form a strong partnership as a result.

Encouragement

It’s no secret that the world is full of negative people. There are enough bad things going on in the world that no one needs to subject themselves to an echo chamber of negativity. So, if you’re thinking a friend might move up to become a shooting partner, tune in to the level of negativity being expressed by them. What’s their take on life, is the glass half full or half empty?

And while you’re assessing other people, take a good look in the mirror and consider your own level of negativity. When was the last time you encouraged a fellow competitor or another hunter? It can be easy to do this when they succeed, but like all of us, they really need that encouragement when a plan goes sideways and misses happen. Being an encouraging person is an important part of being a good partner.

Contribution

When it comes to contributing to a partnership, there are again two kinds of people, takers and givers. In a partnership, both are equally givers and takers. If one is an all-giver and the other is an all-taker, I wouldn’t call it a partnership. But don’t get me wrong, it’s important we have takers in our lives too, because they give us the opportunity to be givers. In my community of friends, I have several takers, and I get to bless them regularly by inviting them to come along on various hunts and range trips. Being a giver to them is important to me, and it’s good for my soul. But I don’t consider them partners. Partners contribute equally to a hunt or shooting event, making them a rare find.

Commitment

For a partnership to work best, both people should share the same level of commitment. Participating in the shooting sports can mean early mornings, long drives, physical hardship, and significant expenses. Because of work, family, or finances, not everyone can make the same level of sacrifice. That’s perfectly fine if both partners are at the same level, whether it’s highly committed or just casually committed; things can work just fine. When the level of commitment is widely different, people can still be friends, but a partnership is much more difficult.

As you’ve read through these four points, you’ve likely been thinking about the people in your own world and whether they are friends or partners. That’s fine, but don’t stop there. Perhaps the real question is more inwardly focused. Am I a friend or a partner? Being a friend is wonderful, but it’s not the same as being a hunting or shooting partner; that’s another level entirely.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Al Voth calls himself a "student of the gun." Retired from a 35-year career in law enforcement, including nine years on an Emergency Response Team, he now works as an editor, freelance writer, and photographer, in addition to keeping active as a consultant in the field he most recently left behind—forensic firearm examination. He is a court-qualified expert in that forensic discipline, having worked in that capacity in three countries. These days, when he's not working, you'll likely find him hunting varmints and predators (the 4-legged variety)