Support Wisconsin's Proposal to Lower Age Restriction on Crossbows
 

Vote Yes on Question #86

On April 12, 2010, the Wisconsin Conservation Congress will host its Annual Statewide Fish & Wildlife Spring Hearings & Annual Conservation Congress County Meetings.

Question #86 in the Spring Questionnaire asks you to vote on whether or not to lower the age for those that can use crossbows during archery season to 55. While some oppose this change, recent data from a growing number of states with crossbow experience, including Wisconsin, strongly suggests that crossbows help manage the resource, improve bowhunter retention, bring retired bowhunters back into the fold, and recruit new hunters.

It is vital that you familiarize yourself with the data and attend your meeting this Monday, April 12, to support the change.

All of the states which have studied their participation data show that vertical bowhunter participation peaks between the ages of 39 to 44. This peak is followed by a straight line decrease in participation through age 65+. Wildlife experts attribute this decline to time constraints. As raising a family becomes more complex, vertical bowhunters find less time to devote to practice. In later years, physical limitations become the primary reason for quitting the sport.

Wisconsin's own data supports this trend (see chart below). A steady decline in participation around the age of 45 is followed by a spike in participation around the age of 65, coincidentally, the age when Wisconsin hunters may use a crossbow. It is no stretch to conclude such a dramatic percentage change in participation is due to the use of crossbows.

Attachment 8914
Percent Change in Wisconsin Hunter Particpation Rates by Age Groups, 2004-2007.

The data from states which allow crossbows during archery season shows a much different trend (see Georgia charts below). The typical decline in participation around age 40 recovers between the ages of 50 to 60, indicating at the very least that the vertical bow hunters return to the woods using a crossbow.

Attachment 8916
Age Structure of 2003-2004 Georgia Vertical Bowhunters


Attachment 8915
Age Structure of 2003-2004 Georgia Crossbow Hunters


In their opposition to crossbows, the few, but highly vocal traditional bowhunters unwittingly have taken the anti-hunting position of opposing inclusion, recruitment, and retention, all of which are critical to the future of sustainable archery seasons.

Wisconsin's own deer herd management modeling studies indicate that if current participation and harvest rates remain stable through the next 20 years, the size of the herd will grow to the point where hunters will no longer be able to manage the resource, and other means of harvesting deer will have to be introduced. These studies are the reason Wisconsin is showing interest in expanding the use of crossbows as a way to increase participation. Crossbows help archery seasons remain relevant as a deer management tool.

We urge you to vote yes on question #86.

For a chuckle?
 

Wisconsin's own deer herd management modeling studies indicate that if current participation and harvest rates remain stable through the next 20 years, the size of the herd will grow to the point where hunters will no longer be able to manage the resource, and other means of harvesting deer will have to be introduced.

I'm not opposed to 55 and older using crossbows with the max limit of 1 or 2 deer with a crossbow.

The above quote is what caught my attention. You appear to be very new to posting here and a quick search would show you what WI. hunters think of the DNR's ability to manage the deer herd. Trust me when I say very few hunters in this state think that we will be over run by deer any time soon. The DNR has issued so many extra tags and made unlimited extra tags available for $2.00 each they've set the deer herd population back several years already. Plenty of hunters are to blame for this as well that think they need to fill every tag they have no matter how many that may be.

The DNR has loused up deer counts for quite awhile with overestimating. I see they still are printing jibberish of how we'll be over run soon with deer if we don't get it under control. With averaging seeing less than one deer per day I'd welcome being over run.

I am not oppesed to 55 plus but if it gets on lower....We have a problem.

so did they? or not?

Why do you care what someone else kills their game with? State's that have full utilization have all shown increased recruitment in all age groups, and no deleterious effects on the game population. Nobody gets cheated when opportunity is increased, and nobody elected you the hunting police. :hit: