Two takes on crossbows during archery deer season

Kelly Presley reached for an analogy to explain crossbow sales.

‘‘ It is most comparable to selling lots of guns when people fear they can’t buy guns,’’ he said. ‘‘ That is what it is most like.’’

The spike in gun sales comes from fear; the spike in crossbow sales comes from excitement. Illinois opened inseason bowhunting to general use of crossbows this year.

Harvest during archery season has spiked. Though Sunday, harvest was at 27,703 deer, compared with 22,985 for the same period in 2016. Rut signs also have risen. Males jumped to 64 percent of the harvest last week.

Presley, the owner of Presleys Outdoors in Bartonville, noted: ‘‘ Itwas a very, very good increase [ in crossbows]. It has taken archery to a new level and broke into a new [ area].

‘‘ I would say 40 percent of the crossbows are to new hunters. That gives us a chance to build long- term relationships with new customers.’’

I called venerable Chicagoarea archery expert Fred Lutger, the owner of Freddie Bear Sports in Tinley Park. He had an old- school take.

‘‘ We sell a few, but we have always sold a few,’’ he said. ‘‘ People are not rushing in to buy them.’’

Even at 70, he’s not a big advocate of crossbows.

‘‘ To me, it is harder to practice with them because you have to cock them,’’ he said. ‘‘ If you hunt out of a tree stand, they are awfully hard to cock in a tree stand. You almost have to go down to the ground.’’

Cocking involves stepping on a front piece, then pulling back with a rope.

‘‘ Bowhunters are more fun,’’ Lutger said. ‘‘ Start out with a bow and shoot arrow after arrow without cocking. I am not seeing that crossover.’’