TenPoint eNewsletter Signup Talkin' TenPoint Trophy Room Popular Links 
Crossbow Regulations & Updates Computer Screen Photos

Crossbow Regulations News & Updates

Thirty years ago in North America only Arkansas, Ohio, and Ontario allowed hunters unrestricted use of crossbows during archery season. During the next ten years, Wyoming and the Canadian Provinces of British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut lifted their restrictions.

Since 2002, however, there has been significant growth in unrestricted crossbow use. Joining the states and provinces above, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana*, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland*, Pennsylvania**, South Carolina, Tennessee, and the Province of Quebec have added crossbows to their entire archery season, portions of it, or in select areas of their state during archery season.

Why the Recent Growth in Crossbow Use?

Whitetail deer populations have exploded from the middle of our continent eastward in the past twenty years. While 19 states show an increase in the number of hunters between 1995 and 2005, 31 states have lost hunters, creating a net loss for the country. Two of the big three hunting states, Michigan and Pennsylvania have lost 16% and 12% of their hunters respectively, more than the total number of hunters in North Dakota.

Fewer youngsters are taking up hunting, and existing hunters are opting out in historically larger numbers. To cause more concern, recent data from some popular bowhunting states shows that bowhunters start quitting the sport in their mid 40’s, and this trend continues in a straight line downward through age 65+.

Wildlife experts believe this decline is caused primarily by time constraints. At the most demanding time in their careers and while raising families in a complex society, bowhunters find less time to devote to a sport that requires practice to maintain proficiency. Eventually, as bowhunters reach their later years, their physical limitations become the primary reason for leaving.

The age profile of crossbow hunters, on the other hand, shows a more encouraging trend. While time constraints cause a similar drop in participation around age 45, crossbow hunters recover their peak participation levels between ages 50 and 60, after their children are raised and their careers stabilize. Furthermore, the decline in crossbow participation after age 60 is significantly slower than that of the vertical bowhunter. Crossbows require less practice time and demand less physically from the hunter.