Crossbow Impact on Bowhunting Loses Steam

— 2018 archery season: Of the 87,629 bowhunting harvest, 47,632 (54.36%) have been bucks. The “vertical” bow harvest (40,405) was 53.65% bucks, and the crossbow harvest (47,224) was 54.96% bucks.

— 2019 archery season: Of the 92,714 bowhunting harvest, 54,063 (58.3%) have been bucks. The “vertical bow harvest (41,532) was 58.35% bucks, and the crossbow harvest (51,182) was 58.3% bucks.

— 2020 archery season: Of the 113,567 bowhunting harvest, 64,681 (56.95%) have been bucks. The “vertical” bow harvest (47,836) was 56.72% bucks, and the crossbow harvest (65,731) was 57.12% bucks.

— 2021 archery season: Of the 99,141 bowhunting harvest, 60,751 (61.3%) have been bucks. The “vertical” bow harvest (39,733) was 61.2% bucks, and the crossbow harvest (59,408) was 61.3% bucks.

— 2022 archery season: Of the 97,000 bowhunting harvest, 56,000 (58%) have been bucks. The “vertical” bow harvest (37,476) was 57% bucks (21,361), and the crossbow harvest (59,524) was 58.2% bucks  (34,639).

— 2023 archery season: Of the 89,480 bowhunting harvest, 54,415 (60.8%) have been bucks. The “vertical” bow harvest (35,536) was 60.4% bucks  (21,466), and the crossbow harvest (53,955) was 61% bucks  (32,949).

These 10 years of practically similar buck-shooting charges don’t shock Pritzl. “When it’s time to resolve whether or not to let an arrow fly, the weapon doesn’t actually matter,” he mentioned.