This analysis of a recent study was published originally by the National Deer Association, a nonprofit conservation group. Pennsylvania’s late archery deer season runs Dec. 26-Jan. 23.

Crossbows can be a polarizing topic in the archery world, but their use during deer season continues to expand. The National Deer Association has monitored crossbow use since 2002. In Pennsylvania, crossbows were approved for general hunting use in 2009, but some traditional archery deer hunters continue to question the sporting arm’s impact on the deer harvest.

In 2019, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources published the most comprehensive evaluation of the potential impact of crossbows on the biological and social factors involved in white-tailed deer management. The report, “Wisconsin’s Evaluation of Crossbow Use and Season Structure,” removes the emotion and highlights the facts about crossbow use today.

Read the full report at deerassociation.com.

First Published: December 24, 2020, 12:00 p.m.