We haven’t heard much about hunting during the ongoing debate over gun violence. Perhaps that’s because hunting is widely seen as a traditional, enjoyable, and safe pastime, even among the majority of Americans who have never donned camo and hunting orange. Or perhaps that’s because most hunters don’t need AR-15s or high-capacity magazines. Or perhaps it’s because hunters are a minority among the 80 million or so gun-owning Americans.

How many hunters are there? In 2011, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (PDF), 15.7 million Americans older than six went hunting. That’s nearly 29 million less than went fishing, and 3 million less than went out to watch birds. Back in 1955, about 10 percent of Americans hunted; today it’s around 6 percent. Overall…