UNITED CROSSBOW HUNTERS of NEW JERSEY

The New JERSEY Division of Fish and Game's Crossbow Survey has been released !

               An Assessment of New Jersey Resident Hunter

                  Opinion on Crossbow Use                  

                       EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Crossbow has become a popular hunting tool throughout the United States, with only three states in the country not permitting Crossbow use of any kind. Interest in crossbows among New Jersey hunters has grown as well, as evidenced by requests to the Division of Fish and Wildlife to add the crossbow to the list of legal hunting weapons. 

The Fish and Game Council acknowledged this growing interest in Crossbows, as well as an objection to Crossbows among some hunters. Therefore, in order to supply the Fish and Game Council with sound data on which to base it’s decision, the Division of Fish and Wildlife conducted a scientifically sound survey. This was done to determine the opinion of a random selection of hunters who represented all New Jersey hunters, rather than just those who took the time to directly contact the Division.

The survey was conducted in December 2007 to determine the opinion of resident hunters on the expansion of Crossbow use for deer hunting in New Jersey. Currently, only people with disabilities are permitted to hunt with Crossbows.  A survey was mailed to 2,030 resident hunters who purchased licenses using the Division’s automated licensing system.   One thousand, forty-seven surveys were returned (51.6 %) indicating a very strong interest in this subject.  A summary of results follows:

PARTICIPATION IN DEER HUNTING IN NEW JERSEY

            ► Resident license buyers were asked which deer seasons they participate in. Only three percent of respondents were not deer hunters. User groups were defined by the seasons hunted, breaking down deer hunters into bow and gun hunters, gun-only hunters, and bow-only hunters. It was determined that 72% of participating deer hunters use both bow and guns; 23% hunt with guns only; and 5% hunt with bows only.

SUPPORT FOR CROSSBOWS FOR DEER HUNTING

            ► Total support (strong support and moderate support) for the expansion of the use of Crossbows for deer hunting was overwhelmingly in favor (73%) among all respondents.

            ► When broken down by user groups, total support was still in favor of crossbows: bow & gun hunters, 72%; gun-only hunters, 79%; bow-only hunters,  67%. The majority of non-deer hunters were also in favor of Crossbows (56%).

            ► When broken down by affiliation (hunt club member, NJ Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs member, member of both, or unaffiliated), support was still in favor of Crossbows: hunt club, 74%; Federation, 74%; both, 63%; unaffiliated, 74%. Total opposition (strong opposition and moderate opposition) between affiliations: hunt club, 23%; Federation, 25%; both, 30%; unaffiliated, 21%.

PLACEMENT OF CROSSBOWS

            ► Supporters of Crossbows were asked in which deer season(s) should Crossbow use be allowed. The selection “all bow seasons” was preferred (54%) by all respondents. The second most popular choice of all respondents was “all deer seasons” (24%).

            ► When broken down by user group, the favored response was still “all bow seasons”: bow & gun hunters, 53%; gun-only hunters, 55%; bow-only hunters, 53%. The second most popular choice among user groups were as follows: bow & gun hunters, “all deer seasons” (25%); gun-only hunters, “all deer seasons” (21%); bow-only hunters, “all deer seasons”, “all gun seasons”, and “permit bow season”, all tied at 8%.

SUPPORT FOR CROSSBOWS TO CONTROL DEER POPULATIONS

            ► Participants were asked if they support the use of crossbows in areas where it is difficult to control deer. Total support among all respondents was 74%.

            ► When broken down by user group, total support in favor of using crossbows in areas where it is difficult to control deer was: bow & gun hunters, 73%; gun-only hunters, 81%; bow-only hunters, 70%.

LEGAL AGE FOR CROSSBOW USE

            ► Participants were asked what age group(s) should be legal for crossbow use. The majority of all respondents chose age “17 and older” (23%); the second favored response was “all ages” (17%).

PARTICIPATION IN CROSSBOW HUNTING

            ► Respondents were asked how likely they were to hunt with a crossbow now, if legalized. The majority of all respondents (60%) will likely use a crossbow.

            ► When broken down by user group, the majority of hunters still agree they will use a crossbow now: bow & gun hunters, 62%; gun-only hunters, 59%; bow-only hunters, 54%.

            ► Respondents were also asked if they thought they might use a crossbow as they grow older. The majority of all respondents would use a crossbow as they age (64%). When broken down by user group, the majority of hunters think they will use a crossbow as they age: bow & gun hunters, 68%; gun-only hunters, 61%; bow-only hunters, 53%.

SUPPORT FOR CROSSBOW USE BY WOMEN AND YOUTHS

            ► The majority of respondents supported the use of crossbows by women and youths that cannot draw back a regular bow (57%).

AFFILIATION           

            ► The majority of respondents were unaffiliated (55%); 29% belonged to a hunting club, 10% belonged to the NJ Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, and 6% belonged to both a hunting club and the Federation.

YEARS HUNTED IN NEW JERSEY

            ► Participants were asked how many years they have been hunting in New Jersey. The majority (39%) of respondents has been hunting between 21 and 40 years. However, this data is biased in that Youth hunters (those with a free youth license, ages 10 through 16) were not included in this survey.  

AGE AND GENDER

            ► The majority of participating hunters were 40 years old or older (76%); however, this data is biased toward older hunters as Youth hunters (those with a free youth license, ages 10 through 16) were not included in this survey.

            ► The overwhelming majority of respondents were male (99%).