American gun owners fearing tougher gun laws are hoarding bullets, causing shortages for Canadian hunters.

Bill Johnson, a purchasing manager for Caldwell Industries, a western Canada ammo distributor, said supply problems lie with U.S. manufacturers.

"They’re experiencing a demand like they've never experienced before for reloading components — just regular ammunition — it's unprecedented," Johnson said.

According to the National Rifle Association in the U.S., Americans buy about seven billion rounds of ammunition annually. But by September this year, they had purchased nine billion rounds.

Many gun owners fear that the Obama administration will impose new gun laws, or new taxes on ammunition. This has led many to stockpile ammunition.

Johnson said there are large gaps on the shelves in his stockroom where boxes of ammunition are normally piled.

"We’re missing a lot of stuff. The cupboards are bare," he said.

Canadian orders are a low priority for U.S. companies like Remington and Winchester. Johnson has been waiting for some products since January.

"You know guys are gonna wake up in the middle of the night and say 'You know what? In my grandchildren's grandchildren's lifetime, we're never gonna use all this stuff.'"

Coquitlam, B.C., elk hunter Reg Pineiro went to three stores before he could find the cartridges for his rifle.

"I love the sport so much. I mean, I'll drive as far as it takes. I'm going hunting. I gotta get the ammo. I plan this all year."

Pineiro, who used to live in the U.S., isn't critical of the panic buying that's causing problems for Canadians.

"I'd do the same thing if all of a sudden I thought the government here was going to make it real hard for me to get ammo. I'd stock up, big time. It's a right."

But some are dealing with the shortage by rationing, according to Murray Gardner, a champion target shooter who was involved in writing the manual for Canada's fire arms safety course.

"It used to be, who's got the best price, now it's who's got it," Gardner said.

Gardner said the American hoarders have compounded supply problems created by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, meaning police rounds like 9 millimetre are hard to come by.

The RCMP said it's had delays in its orders, but no shortages. However, Port Coquitlam and District Hunting and Fishing Club range manager Peter Hobot said members have complained to him they're having trouble finding enough to practise with.

"So I'm having them coming on and saying 'I"m having a hard time getting this stuff.' I went to two or three different places before I finally got a couple of boxes."

Gardner said he expects the shortage to ease when panicked U.S. gun owners realize they went off half-cocked about Obama.