BOARD MAKES EXPANDED USE OF CROSSBOWS PERMANENT
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to a regulatory change that makes permanent the lawful use of crossbows in archery deer and bear seasons.
The specific action taken by the Board was removing the sunset date provision inserted into the regulatory changes that permitted crossbows in 2009. The sunset provision required the Board and agency staff to review the impact of expanded use of crossbows on the deer and bear resource before June 30, 2012.
Based on staff input to the Board, while there were increases in the archery harvests of deer and bear that could be attributed to the inclusion of the crossbow, the agency staff did not view the increase as unsustainable and the increased recreational opportunity was an added benefit.
