SECOND EDITION

PROCESS • FUNCTION & DYNAMICS - Explain the basic functions, dynamics and

ballistics of the crossbow

• SURVEYS/STUDIES - Review the experience of states in which the

crossbow has been the subject of studies after being adopted as an archery

game management tool

• STATISTICS BY STATE - Compare impact of crossbows to other archery

equipment

OBJECTIVE The intent of this presentation is to make clear how crossbows can be used to

recruit, retain and create greater access when used during the archery season.

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ABSTRACT Lee Zimmerman - Director

The data contained in this compilation of information is intended to provide the user information about crossbows as they pertain to giving hunters an opportunity to participate, harvest, and hunt. Over the last 30 years crossbow hunting in the archery season has grown from three (3) states to being used currently in thirty one (31) states. These states have seen crossbows contribute to help grow the numbers of hunters due to both recruitment of young hunters and non hunters while helping retain aging hunters. In states that have recently included crossbows in the full archery season, like Indiana and Michigan, crossbows have been shown to increase the number of vertical bow hunters as well. This growth is most likely based on giving the vertical bow hunter other hunters to hunt with such as their friends and family that use crossbows . In states like Ohio, that have had crossbows for over 30 years in the archery season, the total number of hunters using archery equipment is over 70% of the total hunters. The 70% of Ohio hunters using archery is over double the national average of hunters using archery equipment. In both Ohio and Connecticut the archery harvest now is higher than the harvest taken during the regular gun season. This high percentage of crossbow use starts as shown in the following Ohio data with hunters having the earliest harvest success with a crossbow as compared to other forms of hunting equipment. The major growth in crossbow hunters has certainly contributed to the nation wide archery growth as seen on page 5 of this publication in the 2006 and 2011 USFW National Surveys.

Index

Page 1 - Power Stroke - Crossbow compared to vertical bow 2 – Arrow Trajectory - Drop in inches of crossbow arrow vs. vertical bow arrow 3 - Arrow drop of crossbows by draw weights 4 - Crossbow vs. vertical bow safety, violations, rates of success & recovery rates 5 – USFW percentage of hunters using bows, muzzleloaders & firearms 6 – Number of days typically hunted by age of initiation to hunting 7 – Earliest age of success by crossbow, vertical bow & firearms

8 - MI vs. OH- age of hunting license buyer

9 – Georgia Crossbow Study- First year crossbows legal in archery season

10 – National expansion of crossbow programs and educational materials

11 - 19 - Crossbow & vertical bow harvest data by state

20 - 21 - U.S. map of crossbows in archery season 22 – U.S. map of crossbows with handicap only regulations or use in gun season 23 - Summary

POWER STROKE

Power Stroke: The distance the string travels from

point of rest to full draw.

･ Crossbows - approx 12” to 14”

･ Vertical Bows - approx 20” to 22”

VERTICAL BOW VS. CROSSBOW

Draw Weight: The Crossbows require

a draw weight that is 2-3 times more

than a compound bow to generate the

same energy that propels the arrow

downrange.

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CROSSBOWS VS. VERTICAL BOWS

ARROW TRAJECTORY (TOTAL INCHES OF DROP.)

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CROSSBOW ARROW

TRAJECTORY

ARROW TRAJECTORY (TOTAL INCHES OF DROP.)

SUMMARY: Given the typical yardage/range that deer are shot at, hunters using a vertical bow or crossbow have relatively an equal chance of successfully hitting the deer due to the similar shooting characteristics of their respective equipment. This is clearly outlined in the ballistics comparison chart to the right that visually displays the amount of drop an arrow experiences over specific yardages. The “drop” is essentially the same for either an arrow from a vertical bow or crossbow. 3

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OH & MD DIVISION

OF WILDLIFE USER DATA

SAFETY - Since Ohio first legalized crossbows in 1976 through the 2003-04 season:

･ 15 accidents involved crossbows - 9 were self-inflicted ･ 12 accidents involved bow - 7 were self-inflicted VIOLATIONS - During a five-year period in the 1990’s 633 hunting implements

were seized by wildlife officers. ･ 95% were firearms ･ 2.7% were vertical bows ･ 2.2% were crossbows SUCCESS RATES - 2001-02 Hunting Season shows harvest percentage for

crossbows hunters was 15% with vertical hunters also having the same 15% success rate.

RECOVERY RATES - MD study from 1998 through 2006 shows the recovery rate

of deer shot at in the field with vertical bows and crossbows to be the same at 82% +/- 2.5%.

Source: Ortman, W. M. (2007). Archery incidents in Ohio, 1976-2006. Unpublished data, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, Columbus, Ohio. Source: “Wounding Rates of White-tailed Deer with Modern Archery Equipment” MD Natural Resource Department presented at 2008 SEAFWA Conference

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NATIONAL PERCENT OF

BOW HUNTER PARTICIPATION

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Hunters Using Bows and Arrows, Muzzleloaders, or Other Firearms 2006 & 2011

(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)

2006 2011 2006 2011

Hunters Number Number Percent Percent

Total hunters 12,510 13,674 100 100

Hunters using bow and arrow

3,501 4,472 28 33

Hunters using muzzleloader

2,484 2,981 20 22

Hunters using other firearms

11,633 12,730 93 93

Total days of hunting

219,925 281,884 100 100

Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple responses and non-response.

Source: USFW - 2006 National Survey 2006 Table 37, USFW – 2011 National Survey Table 32

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Number of Days Hunters Hunt in Year By Age of Initiation

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Source: NSSF Responsive Management – Phase III - Page 36

OHIO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE MATURE MARKET 30+ YEARS

Recode Weapon: Crossbow (GREEN) • Vertical Bow (BLUE) • Firearm (RED)

Source: Unpublished date O.H.D.W. 2-19-2009

AGE AT HARVEST, CROSSBOW, VERTICAL BOW

AND FIREARM, 2007-2008

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MICHIGAN VS. OHIO

MI - NEW MARKET 1ST YEAR

BLUE - OHIO DEER HUNTING LICENSE HOLDER BY HUNTER AGE 2008-2009 SEASON

AGE DISTRIBUTION OHIO DEER HUNTING LICENSE BUYERS AND MICHIGAN CROSSBOW STAMP

HOLDERS (Average age + 42 years for deer hunters and 54 years for crossbow stamp holders)

Hunter’s age on October 1, 2009 (Compiled from license sales thru 10-22-2009)

RED - MICHIGAN CROSSBOW STAMP HOLDER BY HUNTER AGE 2008-2009 SEASON Source : Ohio & Michigan Deer Harvest Summary Reports

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GEORGIA WILDLIFE HARVEST

“2003-2004 CROSSBOW DISCUSSION”

FIRST YEAR CROSSBOW LEGAL IN FULL ARCHERY SEASON

･ Increase in archery hunters was 9,300 from previous survey

･ Increase in archery crossbow hunters was 6,900

･ Increase in archery vertical bow hunters was 2,400

･ 13.5% of respondents previously used crossbows under the handicap rule

･ 31.1% of respondents had no prior use of archery equipment for hunting

･ Success rate :Vertical Bow +0.51/Crossbows +0.49 of total state hunter

population

･ 46.4% of new archers using crossbows were over 50 year old.

*Note - Crossbows placed in archery season during 2002-03 season.

Source: Nick Nicholson, Senior Wildlife Biologist, GA Department of Natural Resources “2003 - 2004 Crossbow Discussion”

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NATIONAL CROSSBOW EDUCATION

MATERIALS & PROGRAM EXPANSION

International Hunter Education Association Crossbow Education Included As Part of Archery Education Curriculum In 2010

National Bowhunter Education Foundation “Today’s Crossbow” Addendum

Introductory Crossbow Archery Program ICAP - Crossbows in School Program

Archery Trade Association “Explore Bowhunting”

North American Crossbow Federation “Crossbow Education 101”

“Fundamentals of Crossbow Dynamics”

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BY STATE: CROSSBOW STATISTICAL INFORMATION

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GEORGIA

VIRGINIA

OHIO

MICHIGAN

MARYLAND

INDIANA

PENNSYLVANIA

GEORGIA DEER HARVEST SUMMARY

GEORGIA DNR WILDLIFE RESOURCES DIVISION

Source: Georgia DNR Deer Harvest Summary Reports 2001-2011

*Crossbow and vertical bows hunter numbers combined in 2006 Hunter Summary till current.

** Crossbow hunters numbers of total hunters *** Crossbow legal only in archery season for handicap permit holders

Note 1: GA/DNR for 2003-04 data starting using a new survey method

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YEAR TOTAL Bowhunters TOTAL Hunters %Bowhunters of total

hunters 2010-11 122,316 322,224 38%

2009-10 107,792 304,327 35%

2008-09 91,234 302,198 35%

2007-08 78,640* 241,971 33% 2005-6 81,050 238,383 34%

(21,454)**

2004-05 88,667 304,310 33%

(22,136)**

2003-04 (See Note 1) 111,682 292,209 37%

(22,738)**

2002-03 97,392 279,863 35%

(17,322)**

2001-02 96,721*** 294,619 33%

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VIRGINIA HUNTER REPORTS PARTICIPATION & HARVEST

Source: VA Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Reproduced with permission from Carman Houston, IMS Department.

NOTE 3: Of the 16,133 Combo tags sold in 2008, as in any

other year, it can not be said which weapon the buyer is

using. The Sportsman’s Combo, Non- Resident Youth and

Resident Youth Combo license includes hunting with firearms,

vertical bows & crossbows.

Sportsman Combo (101) license new for 2007.

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OHIO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE

Source: ODW 2014 Unpublished Data

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STATEWIDE INFORMATION PERTINENT TO ARCHERY DEER

HUNTING IN OHIO 1981 – 2014 Page 1 of 2

Year CROSSBOW Vertical Total Harvest

No. of

Hunters Harvest

% of total

Harvest

Success

Rate

No. of

Hunters Harvest

% of total

Harvest

Success

Rate

(including

firearms)

1981-82 11,000 193 0.4% 1.8% 82,000 3,688 7.7% 4.5% 47,634

1986-87 41,000 2,477 3.7% 6.0% 80,000 3,921 5.8% 4.9% 67,626

1992-93 97,000 10,678 8.5% 11.0% 95,000 8,899 7.1% 9.7% 126,113

2001-02 106,000 24,098 14.6% 22.7% 88,000 17,428 10.6% 19.8% 165,124

2012-13 106,000 47,018 21.5% 18.2% 86,000 37,625 17.2% 21.2% 218,910

2013-14 110,000 49,041 25.6% 18.6% 75,000 36,520 19.1% 23.2% 191,503

OHIO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE

2007 - 2008 HARVEST REPORT

Source: Summary of 2007-08 Ohio Deer Season, Waterloo Wildlife Research Station Publication 304 (R508) Page 3 of 18

EXCERPT FROM 2007 - 08

OHIO HARVEST REPORT

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YEAR CROSSBOW CROSSBOW ARCHERY HUNTERS HARVEST HARVEST

*2009 Crossbows legal for all hunters in archery season for all hunters only in Zone 3 (lower 1/3 of Michigan) Source: MICHIGAN DEER HARVEST SURVEY REPORT 2009-2013

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MICHIGAN 2009- 2013 CROSSBOW USE & HARVEST SUCCESS

2009* 56,915

24,882

50,766

2010 90,600

38,000

54,028

2011 118,573 54,900 55,559

2012 142,548 59,771 57,202

2013 162,728 58,772 54,788

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MARYLAND ANNUAL DEER REPORT

NOTE: Crossbows made legal in full archery season for the 2010-11 season Source: Maryland DNR Deer Annual Deer Report 2004 - 2014

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Source: 2012-13 Indiana Deer Season Harvest - Page 10

*Crossbows were legal in only in the late archery season before the 2012-13 season.

INDIANA 2012 DEER SEASON HARVEST

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Number of deer harvested by type of legal hunting equipment during the 2007-2012 seasons. Approximate percent of total harvest shown in parentheses.

Equipment type 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012* Archery* 26,369 (20) 28,497 (21) 27,186 (20) 26,715 (21) 27,580 (20) Shotgun 68,520 (53) 65,839 (50) 61,920 (46) 54,683 (42) 51,815 (38) Muzzleloader 30,295 (23) 32,745 (25) 33,527 (25) 33,571 (26) 29,488 (22) Handgun 1,949 (2) 1,932 (1) 1,318 (1) 1,028 (1) 1,086 (1) Rifle 1,788 (1) 2,809 (2) 9,125 (7) 11,930 (9) 17,827 (13) Crossbow 827 (1) 930 (1) 928 (1) 1,091 (1) 8,452 (6) Totals 129,748 132,752 134,004 129,018 136,248

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YEAR TOTAL HARVEST ARCHERY HARVEST

2008-09* 335,850 64,880

2009-10** 308,920 75,540

2010-11 316,240 72,000

2011-12 336,200 83,970

2012-13 343,110 89,923

2013-14 352,920 100,700

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PA. DEER HARVEST

ESTIMATES 2009-2013 SEASON

NOTE: Crossbow and vertical bow harvest totals are combined *Crossbows legal in archery season in urban zones in 2004-05 season and for handicap hunters before the 2004-05 season. ** Crossbows made legal state wide for all hunters in archery season Source: PGC Deer Harvest Estimates 2008-14

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CROSSBOW HUNTING FULL INCLUSION – ARCHERY SEASON 30 AND 20 YEARS AGO

30 Years Ago 20 Years Ago AR & OH WY

CANADA: Ontario, British Columbia, N.W.

Territories, Nunavut

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CANADA: Ontario, British Columbia, N.W.

Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Quebec, P.E.

Island

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AL, AR, CT, DE, FL*, GA, IA*, IN, KS, KY*, LA, ME*, MD, MI, MS, MN*, NC, NE, NJ, NY*, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT*, WI & WY

*Special Regulations Apply

CROSSBOW HUNTING IN ARCHERY SEASONS

CROSSBOW HUNTING GUN SEASON & HANDICAP ONLY

CANADA: Alberta, Manitoba

Gun Season & Archery Handicap

AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MA, MO, MT, ND, NH, NM, NV, SD, UT, WA & WV

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SUMMARY

This collection of crossbow related materials has been

collated solely for educational and informational

purposes. State and local regulations changes can and

will occur. Always check with the appropriate regulatory

agency in your area to insure what the current

regulations are before beginning the use of

crossbows for any hunting usage.

For more information please contact the NACF at

www.northamericancrossbowfederation.com

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