While sporting clubs across Australia have reported devastating losses in revenue since the outbreak of coronavirus, one less-conventional club has been thriving.
The Sporting Shooters' Association of Australia has seen a surge in sign-ups over the last few months, with the Canberra branch reaching close to 5000 members.
Securing its spot as most members nationally per capita, the Majura Park rifle range welcomed 100 shooters to the club in the three months to September.
The new Canberra members - a majority firearm owners - have contributed to the range reaching its training capacity since the club reopened after its COVID-19 closure.
One of Canberra's two physical gun stores, Shooters Wholesale Warehouse, also reported increased interest in shooting, recording a slight increase in ammunition sales and a dramatic increase in the sale of gun accessories.
Manager Oliver Smith said police had contacted the store, concerned COVID-19 could lead to weapon stockpiling, as was reported in the United States, but it hadn't occurred.
Mr Smith said the major increase in Canberra had been in people wanting to get their firearms' licence.
"When COVID shut a lot of the entertainment facilities in Canberra a lot of people were quite interested in getting out in the bush where they could socially distance," he said.
"I've had a huge increase of people coming in and getting their hunters' licence so they can learn how to ethically and sustainably manage pest species in Australia."
Mr Smith said customers had reported concerns over putting food on the table during the pandemic.
"I've definitely seen a huge increase in people wanting to hunt and provide food for their family, especially when it's sustainably harvested and free-range," he said.
Mr Smith said in addition to the two gun shops, there were around 20 gun dealers in the territory who operated privately.
The sale of guns has been heavily restricted since the introduction of Australia's National Firearms Agreement, which John Howard introduced after Martin Bryant used two military rifles to kill 35 people and wound 23 in Port Arthur in 1996.
Licence applicants need a genuine reason to own a firearm, such as membership to a gun club, hunting, work, target shooting, firearm collection or pest control.
ACT president David True said while ammunition sales nationally suggested Australians had been shooting more during the pandemic, there was no evidence of purchasing weapons as a means of defending themselves, as studies had found in the US.
Mr True said gun owners in Australia fundamentally saw gun licenses as a privilege used for two purposes: hunting and sport.
"I actually have competed in America with the Australian team on a couple of occasions where I have met a lot of like-minded people on their major complexes," Mr True said.
"Yes, their mindset is a little different to ours because they have their second amendment and they're allowed to bear arms, they can defend their country, they can defend against a non-democratic government."
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He said of the approximately 7100 licences which had been granted in Canberra, the majority were for hunting.
Women's membership was on the rise and retirees were increasingly heading to the Canberra range, Mr True said.
As an ACT member since the 70s, Mr True said the appeal was the camaraderie and taking part in one of the safest sports in Australia.
"I know it sounds odd but we don't have netball knee injuries or basketball knee injuries or injuries from contact sport," he said.
"Our sport is primarily non-contact."
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