State crossbow deer kill exceeds vertical bow harvest

For the first time in Wisconsin, hunters using crossbows last fall killed more deer than those using vertical bows, according to preliminary 2017-'18 harvest data from the Department of Natural Resources.

In addition, the combined crossbow and archery buck harvest set a state record for antlered deer killed with bows.

Both events, though milestones, are not a surprise and represent a continuation of trends in Wisconsin and other states.

According to DNR data from last week, the total crossbow kill was 47,086 deer in Wisconsin, while archers (using compound bows, recurves and stick bows) registered 45,034.

And the combined bow buck kill of 53,154 in 2017-'18 surpassed the previous high of 51,823 set in 2015-'16.

Hunters using crossbows took 27,371 bucks and 19,715 antlerless deer this season, while archers registered 25,783 bucks and 19,251 antlerless.

The 2017-'18 data reflect registrations as of Jan. 10, three days after the primary crossbow and archery deer seasons ended.

However, the registration figures are considered preliminary, since a few hundred deer are likely to be killed in metro zones open to hunting through the end of the month.

The use of crossbows by hunters and the number of deer harvested with crossbows increased significantly in Wisconsin after a 2013 change in state law allowed hunters of all ages and physical abilities to use the equipment. It had previously been restricted to those with disabilities or over the age of 65.

Over the last four years, the crossbow deer harvest in Wisconsin has gone from 26,891 deer (15,768 bucks and 11,123 antlerless) in 2014-'15, to 34,094 (20,594 and 13,500) in 2015-'16, to 39,776 (23,562 and 16,214) in 2016-'17 to 47,086 (27,371 and 19,715) this season.

Meanwhile, the number of deer killed with vertical bows declined from 54,810 (30,433 and 24,377) in 2014-'15, 53,004 (31,229 and 21,775) in 2015-'16, 48,272 (28,172 and 20,100) in 2016-'17 and 45,034 (25,783 and 19,251) this year.

License sales have followed the same trajectories for the two categories. Crossbow licenses increased from 69,022 in 2016-'17 to 82,660 this year (through Jan. 11), according to DNR records,

And archery licenses declined from 166,161 in 2016-'17 to 152,186 this year.

(Numbers from 2014 and 2015 are not included since an "upgrade" option was available which allowed hunters to use both crossbows and vertical bows and confound direct comparisions).

The license sales figures from the last two years don't tell the full story, either, as they don't include conservation patron license holders (46,805 resident patrons in 2017-'18) who have crossbow and archery privileges.

It's unknown how many patron holders used crossbows or vertical bows, according to the DNR.

In a survey sent out this month to bowhunters, the DNR is for the first time gathering data on crossbow use and effort.

Such information is necessary to estimate hunter success rates. Although wildlife managers assume higher success rates among crossbow deer hunters than vertical bow users, Wisconsin officials said they'd wait to see the results of in-state work before discussing such differences.

While some crossbow details are being researched in Wisconsin, it's already clear the trends in the Badger State are mirroring experiences elsewhere.

Michigan, for example, has allowed crossbow use during its archery deer season since 2009. The first year, 19% of hunters used a crossbow during the Michigan archery deer season. The percentage increased to 37% in 2011, 44% in 2012 and 50% in 2013.

Increased crossbow use in Michigan also corresponded with fewer gun deer license sales and more bucks being killed earlier in the year, according to state officials.

The same shifts have been observed in Wisconsin, as gun deer licenses dropped below 600,000 in the last two years, lowest in more than 35 years.

And as evidenced by the record bow buck kill this season, more hunters are taking antlered deer with arrows and bolts than ever before. Most bow-killed bucks in Wisconsin are taken before the nine-day gun hunt in November.

All of this, of course, is playing out against a backdrop of generally lower participation in hunting .

Overall deer-license sales have fallen over the last few years, including a drop from 833,990 in 2016-'17 to 824,505 this season.

Anecdotally, however, crossbows are helping keep some deer hunters in the woods later in life and helping to re-engage some vertical bow hunters who quit years ago.

The average ages of crossbow and archery license buyers in Wisconsin is 50 and 35, respectively, according to a sample from the 2014 season.

This year's deer harvest also continues a decades-long trend toward an increasing percentage of the buck kill occurring during the bow seasons.

In 1967, bow hunters took 1,714 bucks, 2% of the total antlered kill that year. In 1977, the numbers increased to 16,790 and 7%. In 1987, it was 21,278 and 15%. In 1997, 26,812 and 23%. And in 2007, 38,000 and 22%.

All of this increase took place before crossbow use was expanded. In 2013, the last year before crossbows were legal for all hunters, archery hunters killed 41,517 bucks, 29% of the antlered deer kill that year.

This year, the 53,154 bow buck kill was 34% of the total antlered deer harvest.

And the total bow kill (antlered and antlerless, crossbow and vertical bow) of 92,120 deer was 30% of the 2017-'18 Wisconsin deer harvest.

The Wisconsin DNR hopes to have results of its bowhunters survey available by mid-year.