SECOND EDITION
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.
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
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
OBJECTIVE
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
VERTICAL BOW VS. CROSSBOW
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”
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.
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
POWER STROKE
1
ARROW TRAJECTORY (TOTAL INCHES OF DROP.)
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
CROSSBOWS VS. VERTICAL BOWS
2
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. Thi s 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.
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
CROSSBOW ARROW
TRAJECTORY
3
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
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
OH & MD DIVISION
OF WILDLIFE USER DATA
4
Hunters Using Bows and Arrows, Muzzleloaders, or Other Firearms 2006 & 2011
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
2006
2011
2006
Number
Number
Percent
Percent
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
11,633
12,730
93
93
219,925
281,884
100
100
Hunters
Total hunters
Hunters using other firearms
Total days of hunting
2011
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
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
NATIONAL PERCENT OF
BOW HUNTER PARTICIPATION
5
Source: NSSF Responsive Management – Phase III - Page 36
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
Number of Days Hunters Hunt in Year
By Age of Initiation
6
MATURE MARKET 30+ YEARS
AGE AT HARVEST, CROSSBOW, VERTICAL BOW
AND FIREARM, 2007-2008
Recode Weapon:
Crossbow (GREEN) • Vertical Bow (BLUE) • Firearm (RED)
Source: Unpublished date O.H.D.W. 2-19-2009
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
OHIO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE
7
MI - NEW MARKET 1ST YEAR
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)
BLUE - OHIO DEER HUNTING LICENSE HOLDER BY HUNTER AGE 2008-2009 SEASON
RED - MICHIGAN CROSSBOW STAMP HOLDER BY HUNTER AGE 2008-2009 SEASON
Source : Ohio & Michigan Deer Harvest Summary Reports
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
MICHIGAN VS. OHIO
8
“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”
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
GEORGIA WILDLIFE HARVEST
9
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”
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
NATIONAL CROSSBOW EDUCATION
MATERIALS & PROGRAM EXPANSION
10
GEORGIA
VIRGINIA
OHIO
MICHIGAN
MARYLAND
INDIANA
PENNSYLVANIA
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
BY STATE: CROSSBOW
STATISTICAL INFORMATION
11
GEORGIA DNR WILDLIFE RESOURCES DIVISION
YEAR
TOTAL Bowhunters
TOTAL Hunters
%Bowhunters of total
hunters
2010-11
2009-10
2008-09
2007-08
2005-6
122,316
107,792
91,234
78,640*
81,050
(21,454)**
88,667
(22,136)**
322,224
304,327
302,198
241,971
238,383
38%
35%
35%
33%
34%
304,310
33%
111,682
(22,738)**
97,392
(17,322)**
96,721***
292,209
37%
279,863
35%
294,619
33%
2004-05
2003-04
(See Note 1)
2002-03
2001-02
*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
Source: Georgia DNR Deer Harvest Summary Reports 2001-2011
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
GEORGIA
DEER HARVEST SUMMARY
12
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.
Source: VA Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Reproduced with permission from Carman Houston, IMS Department.
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
VIRGINIA HUNTER REPORTS
PARTICIPATION & HARVEST
13
STATEWIDE INFORMATION PERTINENT TO ARCHERY DEER
HUNTING IN OHIO 1981 – 2014 Page 1 of 2
CROSSBOW
Year
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
Source: ODW 2014 Unpublished Data
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
OHIO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE
14
EXCERPT FROM 2007 - 08
OHIO HARVEST REPORT
Source: Summary of 2007-08 Ohio Deer Season, Waterloo Wildlife
Research Station Publication 304 (R508) Page 3 of 18
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
OHIO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE
2007 - 2008 HARVEST REPORT
15
YEAR
CROSSBOW
HUNTERS
CROSSBOW
HARVEST
ARCHERY
HARVEST
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
*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
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
MICHIGAN 2009- 2013 CROSSBOW
USE & HARVEST SUCCESS
16
NOTE: Crossbows made legal in full archery season for the 2010-11 season
Source: Maryland DNR Deer Annual Deer Report 2004 - 2014
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
MARYLAND ANNUAL DEER REPORT
17
2012 DEER SEASON HARVEST
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)
827 (1)
930 (1)
928 (1)
1,091 (1)
8,452 (6)
Crossbow
Totals
129,748
132,752
134,004
129,018
136,248
*Crossbows were legal in only in the late archery season before the 2012-13 season.
Source: 2012-13 Indiana Deer Season Harvest - Page 10
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
INDIANA
18
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
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
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
PA. DEER HARVEST
ESTIMATES 2009-2013 SEASON
19
30 Years Ago
AR & OH
20 Years Ago
WY
CANADA: Ontario, British Columbia, N.W.
Territories, Nunavut
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
CROSSBOW HUNTING
FULL INCLUSION – ARCHERY SEASON
30 AND 20 YEARS AGO
20
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
CANADA: Ontario, British Columbia, N.W.
Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Quebec, P.E.
Island
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
CROSSBOW HUNTING
IN ARCHERY SEASONS
21
Gun Season & Archery Handicap
AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MA, MO, MT, ND, NH, NM, NV, SD, UT, WA & WV
CANADA: Alberta, Manitoba
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
CROSSBOW HUNTING
GUN SEASON & HANDICAP ONLY
22
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
CROSSBOW FUNDAMENTALS
SUMMARY
23