MINNESOTA BOWHUNTERS, INC. – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 23, 2010
Contact: Tony Kuehn, MBI President, MBIpresident@mnbowhunters.org

MBI Opposes DNR Proposal to Allow Hunters Age 55 and Older to Use Crossbows during the Archery Season

Minnesota Bowhunters, Inc. (MBI) has gone on record that it opposes a recent Minnesota Department of Natural Resources proposal that would allow hunting with crossbows during the regular archery season for persons age 55 and older. DNR believes its proposal might help counter a downward trend in bowhunting participation that appears to start around the age of 50.

MBI is concerned that allowing healthy individuals 55 and older to use crossbows in the archery season is the first step towards full access of the weapon in that season. Tony Kuehn, MBI’s President, stated that “Bowhunting has forever been an inherently difficult and disciplined pursuit, culminating in tremendous satisfaction when one’s goals are achieved. The shorter learning curve and lesser skill associated with the crossbow may negatively affect the culture and aura that historically define our pursuit”.

The DNR, referencing a study entitled The Future of Hunting and Shooting Sports, Research-Based Recruitment and Retention Strategies (National Shooting Sports Foundation), has stated that age, health, time, family obligations, and work obligations are the main reasons why bowhunters drop from the sport. Because those are the primary reasons, MBI does not agree that a technological-based solution, such as expanding crossbow use in the archery season, is the correct approach to address the retention issue. According to Kuehn, “Bowhunting has proven to be a tremendous success story for Minnesota and participation in the sport continues to increase. There’s really no need to introduce crossbows in the archery season”.

MBI supports the current provision that allows disabled hunters to use a crossbow in the archery season. Such hunters need a doctor’s approval before DNR will issue a crossbow permit to that hunter. However, advances in the efficiencies of the compound bow made it possible for the Minnesota Legislature in 2007 to reduce the minimum draw weight to 30 pounds. MBI went on record in support of this change. Therefore, MBI believes that steps to address physical challenges to aging archers are already in place.

MBI understands the DNR's desire to retain licensed hunters and recruit new hunters but requests that DNR take time to find alternative solutions; not just those based on technology. MBI intends to collect data from states currently offering crossbow opportunities and believes this data will show that DNR’s proposal is not the answer to retain or recruit hunters. Once the data is better understood, MBI will offer to sit down with DNR to identify solutions that better address the issue.

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