Brand Info
Bass Pro Shops
Retailer
Bass Pro Shops interior exemplifies the chain's warehouse-scale retail model, combining sporting goods, fishing tackle, and outdoor equipment in a single large-format store.
Canmenwalker (CC BY 4.0)
| Overview | |
|---|---|
Headquarters | Springfield, MO |
| Tagline | Bass Pro Shops is a leading American retailer of outdoor recreation merchandise, including hunting, fishing, camping, and firearms. Founded in 1972 by Johnny Morris in Springfield, Missouri, Bass Pro operates over 170 retail and restaurant locations across North America, including Cabela's stores acquired in 2017. |
Products | |
| Key Products | What You'll Find, The Firearms Reality, Store Network, The BGC Take |
Links | |
| www.basspro.com | |
Bass Pro Shops
Reference article
From The Boise Gun Club Handbook
Johnny Morris started Bass Pro Shops in 1972 from eight feet of shelf space in his dad's liquor store in Springfield, Missouri. He was tired of driving hours to find decent bass lures, so he started selling them himself.
That eight-foot section became 170+ stores and a $5.5 billion empire when Morris bought out Cabela's in 2017. Bass Pro turned outdoor retail into entertainment -- massive stores with aquariums, stuffed animals, and restaurants that your wife might actually want to visit.
Key milestones:
- 1972 -- Started selling fishing tackle from Brown Derby Liquor Store
- 1974 -- First real store opens
- 1980s -- Added hunting gear, camping stuff, became full outdoor retailer
- 1995 -- Built the monster 500,000 sq ft flagship in Springfield
- 2017 -- Bought Cabela's, became the biggest outdoor retailer in North America
Morris figured out something most retailers missed -- turn shopping into a destination and people will drive two hours to spend money.
What You'll Findedit
Store Layout and Departments
Bass Pro stores run 150,000 to 300,000 square feet. Think Walmart, but with fish tanks and a restaurant.
Evolution from fishing tackle corner to outdoor retail giant
| Department | What's Good | Reality Check |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing | Huge selection, staff knows local waters | Their bread and butter |
| Hunting | Solid archery section, good seasonal gear | Varies a lot by region |
| Firearms | Full selection you can handle first | See the section below |
| Camping | Car camping to light backpacking | More Coleman than ultralight |
| Marine | Boat sales, electronics, accessories | Some stores have full marinas |
| Apparel | National brands plus their house stuff | RedHead gear is decent for the money |
Shopping Strategy
Bass Pro competes hard on high-volume items but you'll pay full retail on specialty gear. Their house brands -- RedHead, World Wide Sportsman -- give you 20-30% savings over name brands with decent quality.
- Ammunition stays competitive during normal times
- Seasonal clearance on hunting clothes saves real money
- Bass Pro Club membership benefits are modest
- Customer service quality varies significantly by department
Don't bother calling with questions. Plan on driving there.
The Firearms Realityedit
Inventory and Selection
Bass Pro's gun counter generates serious revenue, but the experience frustrates a lot of shooters.
| Category | Brands | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting rifles | Remington, Winchester, Savage, Ruger, Browning | .30-06, .308, .270, magnums |
| Shotguns | 870, 500, Benelli, Beretta | Hunting focus, some tactical |
| Handguns | Glock, Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, Springfield Armory, Ruger | CCW and duty size, mainstream stuff |
| Modern sporting | M&P15, AR-556, others | Depends on your state |
| Ammo | All the usual suspects | Purchase limits during panics |
Pros and Cons
The upside:
- Handle everything before buying
- Competitive prices on common guns
- full-service destinationping for gun, scope, ammo, and case
- Online ordering with store pickup available
- Some locations have shooting ranges
The downside:
- Wait times: 30 minutes to 2+ hours on weekends
- Staff knowledge ranges from excellent to concerning
- Conservative interpretation of regulations
- Phone calls to gun counter ineffective
Smart Buying Strategy
Most experienced gun buyers use Bass Pro for browsing and ammo runs, then buy from local shops for better service.
How savvy buyers use Bass Pro strategically
The selection helps you figure out what you want, but the transaction often goes smoother elsewhere. Ammunition strategy makes sense -- popular calibers stay stocked in normal times, bulk packs available, pricing beats online when you factor shipping costs.
Store Networkedit
Flagship Destinations
Bass Pro runs 170+ locations including the Cabela's stores they bought. Each store stocks for its region.
| Store | Why It Matters | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MO | The original; aquarium, hotel, full experience | 500,000+ sq ft |
| Memphis, TN | Built inside a pyramid; cypress swamp with live gators | 535,000 sq ft |
| Las Vegas, NV | Outdoor gear on the Strip | 165,000 sq ft |
Regional Variations
Regional inventory makes sense. Western stores stock magnum rifles and elk gear. Southern stores focus on bass fishing and whitetails.
Gulf Coast means saltwater tackle and marine electronics. Northern stores carry ice fishing gear and waterfowl stuff.
Store features vary -- some have shooting ranges and training classes, others just have the restaurant and wildlife displays. Most open early and stay late, seven days a week. Extended hours during hunting season.
The firearms counter keeps different hours than the main store, so call ahead if that's your primary mission.
The BGC Takeedit
Strategic Usage
Bass Pro Shops succeeds because Johnny Morris understood that outdoor retail works better as entertainment.
Bass Pro succeeds because Johnny Morris understood that outdoor retail works better as entertainment.
| Use Case | Bass Pro | Local Shop |
|---|---|---|
| Browsing/handling guns | Excellent | Limited inventory |
| Quick purchases | Poor (long waits) | Usually faster |
| Expert advice | Hit or miss | Generally better |
| Ammo runs | Good selection/price | Limited bulk options |
| full-service destinationping | Unbeatable | Not applicable |
Your non-hunting spouse might actually enjoy walking through these stores, which solves a real problem for many of us.
Bottom Line Recommendations
For firearms, use them strategically. Great for handling guns you're considering, stocking up on ammo, and browsing optics. The actual purchase often goes smoother at your local gun shop, especially if you value knowledgeable service and reasonable wait times.
Their house brand gear performs well for the money. RedHead hunting clothes and World Wide Sportsman fishing gear give you name-brand performance at 20-30% less cost.
The fishing departments earn their reputation -- these guys fish and they know local waters. The hunting and firearms departments vary wildly depending on who they hire.
Bass Pro works for gear you can evaluate yourself -- ammunition, basic camping equipment, fishing tackle, hunting clothes. For complex purchases requiring expertise, your local shops often serve you better.
But when your wife suggests a family trip to Bass Pro, say yes. Let the kids see the fish tanks, grab lunch, and stock up on ammo while you're there.
- Quail Creek Plantation(Okeechobee, FL)
- Val Verde Gun Club(Del Rio, TX)
- Boston Firearms(Everett, MA)
- 2aHawaii(Honolulu, HI)
Loading comments...