On Wednesday, May 22, CSF’s Northeastern States Manager, Brent Miller, testified at a legislative forum on several pieces of legislation which will grant the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation the authority to regulate crossbows. Recent successes in states that have adopted crossbows throughout all deer seasons confirm that crossbows are a successful tool to recruit and retain hunters, thus bolstering conservation funding for state fish and game management agencies. Additionally, numerous peer-reviewed studies indicate that there is a high level of acceptance for crossbows as a management tool, particularly in areas of high human densities where localized overpopulation of deer are prone to occur. For more information on the use of crossbows as a hunting implement, click here or contact Brent Miller at brent@sportsmenslink.org.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
