Bass Pro Shops
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Heritage & History
Bass Pro Shops was founded in 1972 by Johnny Morris — literally from the back of his father's liquor store in Springfield, Missouri. Morris, an avid angler frustrated by limited tackle selection, started selling specialized bass fishing lures from an eight-foot section of Brown Derby Liquor Store.
:::callout
From 8 feet of shelf space to 170+ stores and a $5.5 billion acquisition of Cabela's — Bass Pro Shops became the world's largest outdoor retailer by turning stores into destinations, not just places to buy gear.
:::Key milestones:
- 1972 — Founded in Springfield, MO (fishing tackle only)
- 1974 — First standalone retail location
- 1980s — Expanded into hunting, camping, apparel; became full outdoor retailer
- 1995 — Flagship Outdoor World opened in Springfield (500,000+ sq ft)
- 2017 — Acquired Cabela's for $5.5 billion; combined 170+ locations
- Present — Largest outdoor retailer in North America; stores across US and Canada
Bass Pro pioneered the concept of destination outdoor retail — massive stores with aquariums, wildlife displays, restaurants, and shooting ranges that draw families as much as shoppers.
Shopping Guide
Bass Pro Shops stores are big-box destinations, typically 150,000-300,000 square feet combining retail with entertainment. Here's what to expect:
Department breakdown:
Department Strengths Notes Fishing Largest section; deep selection of rods, reels, lures Staff often has local fishing expertise Hunting Extensive archery, waterfowl, deer gear Varies heavily by region Firearms Full guns + ammo department See Firearms section below Camping Car camping to light backpacking More mainstream than ultralight/technical Boating/Marine Boat sales, electronics, accessories Some locations have full marina services Apparel National brands + house labels RedHead, World Wide Sportsman, Natural Reflections Pricing strategy:
- Competitive on high-volume items (ammo, popular firearms, mainstream gear)
- Less competitive on specialty/low-volume products
- Regular sales and seasonal promotions
- Bass Pro Club membership for additional discounts (modest benefits)
:::callout
Best deals at Bass Pro: Ammunition during normal supply periods, seasonal clearance on hunting clothing, and their house brand products (RedHead, World Wide Sportsman) which offer good quality at 20-30% below comparable national brands.
:::Customer service reality:
- Fishing departments — generally excellent, staffed by experienced anglers
- Firearms departments — highly variable (see below)
- Busy weekends — expect crowds and understaffing relative to customer volume
- Phone service — notoriously difficult; plan on in-person visits for firearms questions
Firearms Department
Bass Pro's firearms department is a significant revenue center, but the experience is polarizing among gun buyers.
What they stock:
Category Brands Typical Selection Hunting rifles Remington, Winchester, Savage, Ruger, Browning .30-06, .308, .270, magnums Shotguns Remington 870, Mossberg 500, Benelli SBE, Beretta O/U Hunting focus, some tactical Handguns Glock, S&W, Sig Sauer, Springfield, Ruger CCW and full-size; mainstream models Modern sporting S&W M&P15, Ruger AR-556, others Varies by state/location Ammunition All major brands Subject to purchase limits during shortages The good:
- Extensive inventory you can handle before buying
- Competitive pricing on common firearms
- One-stop shopping (gun + optic + ammo + case)
- Online ordering with in-store pickup
- Shooting ranges at select locations
The bad:
- Long wait times at the gun counter (30 min to 2+ hours during peaks)
- Staff knowledge varies wildly between locations and employees
- Overly cautious interpretation of regulations — some customers report denials that exceed legal requirements
- Phone inquiries to firearms department are nearly impossible
- Transfer process for online purchases can be slow and inconsistent
:::callout
Experienced gun buyers' consensus: Bass Pro is great for browsing, handling firearms, and buying ammunition. For the actual purchase transaction, many prefer local gun shops for faster service and more knowledgeable staff — then return to Bass Pro for ammo and accessories.
:::Ammunition strategy:
- Popular calibers (9mm, .223/5.56, .308, 12ga) usually well-stocked in normal times
- Purchase limits during shortage periods (enforcement varies by location)
- Bulk packs available for range shooters
- Pricing competitive with online retailers when factoring shipping
Store Locations
Bass Pro Shops operates 170+ locations (including Cabela's branded stores) across the United States and Canada.
Notable flagship stores:
Location Feature Size Springfield, MO (Outdoor World) Original flagship; aquarium, hotel, restaurants 500,000+ sq ft Memphis, TN (The Pyramid) Former sports arena; cypress swamp, alligator habitat 535,000 sq ft Las Vegas, NV Forum Shops location; outdoor retail in casino district 165,000 sq ft Regional inventory specialization:
- Western stores — Big game hunting gear, magnum rifles, elk/mule deer focus
- Southern stores — Bass fishing dominance, deer hunting, dove/quail
- Gulf Coast — Saltwater fishing, waterfowl, inshore marine
- Northern stores — Waterfowl, ice fishing, cold-weather hunting gear
- Coastal stores — Offshore fishing tackle, marine electronics, boat accessories
Store features (varies by location):
- Indoor shooting ranges (select locations)
- Firearms training and concealed carry classes
- Archery ranges and bow tuning services
- Restaurant/deli
- Wildlife displays and aquariums
- Boat sales showroom
Hours: Most locations open early morning to late evening, 7 days/week. Extended hours during hunting season and major sales. Firearms department hours may be more restricted than general store hours.
References
- Bass Pro Shops official site: basspro.com
- Company history and Johnny Morris biography
- Store locator and firearms purchase guidelines
- Consumer reviews: Reddit, Yelp, AR15.com forums
Read the original article in The Handbook | By Boise Gun Club Editorial Team
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