Multidigits
03-09-2005, 04:46 AM
Georgia Crossbow Study
Georgia Crossbow Study Dispels Many Myths
By Bob McNitt
Following its decision to legalize hunting with crossbows, starting with the 2002 archery season, the State of Georgia's DNR has kept accurate records to reflect the impact the decision would have, on both the deer and the hunting community. Following the two-year study, the data collected dispelled several myths regarding the horizontal bow's impact on the resource and the hunting force.
In a report prepared by Nick Nicholson, Senior Wildlife Biologist for the DNR, the number of archery deer hunters and archery deer harvest increased significantly by 11.6-percent and 44.3-percent, respectively, during the 2003-04 season. Statewide, 36.7-percent of all deer hunters hunted with archery equipment during the 2003-04 season.
In 2003-04 there were about 9,300 additional archers, the majority of that increase being attributed to crossbow legalization. However, the data indicated that any additional deer harvest attributed to the legalization of crossbows was not significant at a statewide level. Nicholson notes, "If we assume all additional archers hunted with crossbows and the 0.49 deer per hunter harvest rate for crossbows is additive, then about 4,550 additional deer would be attributed to these new archery (crossbow) hunters."
The success rate for crossbows (0.49 deer/hunter) proved to be comparable to that of compound bows (0.51 deer/hunter). The survey indicates that 78.5-percent of archers use compounds. "It is less likely that a traditional archer would switch to a crossbow," Nicholson wrote. "Even if they did, the traditional archer success rate (0.46 deer/hunter) is only slightly lower than that of crossbow hunters. The data showed that older archers are more likely to report hunting with a crossbow. Archers over 50 years old were significantly more likely to report using a crossbow than archers under 50 years old."
Nicholson also notes that "The debate among hunters about legalization of crossbows is reminiscent of a similar debate on the 1977-78 legalization of compound bows. The technological leap from recurve bows to compound bows was much greater than the current move to crossbows. (Crossbows actually are more "primitive" than compound bows, having been around since the fourth century BC.) Crossbows provide the opportunity for older archers to participate in archery deer hunting longer. They also introduce additional hunters into the sport of archery. It is likely that many of them will seek increased archery hunting challenges and change to compound or recurve bows. Recruiting new archers and retaining older ones is a positive event for all hunters."
For more information visit the Georgia DNR website.
http://www.gadnr.org/index.html (http://www.gadnr.org/index.html)
http://www.realtree.com/community/n...tail.tpl?ID=709 (http://www.realtree.com/community/news-detail.tpl?ID=709)
Georgia Crossbow Study Dispels Many Myths
By Bob McNitt
Following its decision to legalize hunting with crossbows, starting with the 2002 archery season, the State of Georgia's DNR has kept accurate records to reflect the impact the decision would have, on both the deer and the hunting community. Following the two-year study, the data collected dispelled several myths regarding the horizontal bow's impact on the resource and the hunting force.
In a report prepared by Nick Nicholson, Senior Wildlife Biologist for the DNR, the number of archery deer hunters and archery deer harvest increased significantly by 11.6-percent and 44.3-percent, respectively, during the 2003-04 season. Statewide, 36.7-percent of all deer hunters hunted with archery equipment during the 2003-04 season.
In 2003-04 there were about 9,300 additional archers, the majority of that increase being attributed to crossbow legalization. However, the data indicated that any additional deer harvest attributed to the legalization of crossbows was not significant at a statewide level. Nicholson notes, "If we assume all additional archers hunted with crossbows and the 0.49 deer per hunter harvest rate for crossbows is additive, then about 4,550 additional deer would be attributed to these new archery (crossbow) hunters."
The success rate for crossbows (0.49 deer/hunter) proved to be comparable to that of compound bows (0.51 deer/hunter). The survey indicates that 78.5-percent of archers use compounds. "It is less likely that a traditional archer would switch to a crossbow," Nicholson wrote. "Even if they did, the traditional archer success rate (0.46 deer/hunter) is only slightly lower than that of crossbow hunters. The data showed that older archers are more likely to report hunting with a crossbow. Archers over 50 years old were significantly more likely to report using a crossbow than archers under 50 years old."
Nicholson also notes that "The debate among hunters about legalization of crossbows is reminiscent of a similar debate on the 1977-78 legalization of compound bows. The technological leap from recurve bows to compound bows was much greater than the current move to crossbows. (Crossbows actually are more "primitive" than compound bows, having been around since the fourth century BC.) Crossbows provide the opportunity for older archers to participate in archery deer hunting longer. They also introduce additional hunters into the sport of archery. It is likely that many of them will seek increased archery hunting challenges and change to compound or recurve bows. Recruiting new archers and retaining older ones is a positive event for all hunters."
For more information visit the Georgia DNR website.
http://www.gadnr.org/index.html (http://www.gadnr.org/index.html)
http://www.realtree.com/community/n...tail.tpl?ID=709 (http://www.realtree.com/community/news-detail.tpl?ID=709)