Research on Hunting With a Crossbow

In the mid-1970s, wildlife agencies in Ohio and Arkansas began testing short crossbow hunting seasons to measure the impact on hunters and the resources.

• Based on deer harvest data, the agencies concluded that the modern crossbow was a safe, humane, and user-friendly hunting tool that could provide increased opportunity for hunters without a negative impact on the resources.
• Because of the positive results, Ohio and Arkansas ultimately expanded their crossbow seasons to coincide with the general archery seasons.
• Many other states and Canadian provinces also have established crossbow seasons, based on the Ohio–Arkansas data.