Recent Xbow Data

MD

Archery Stamps sold to those over 65

2002-2003 359

2003-2004 (First year MD allowed 65 and over to use crossbows) 699

2003-2004 1,084

2004-2005 1,379

2005-2006 1,798

____________

These are the most impressive numbers IMO

Now.....if only each archery stamp sold came with a $5. donation to the states archery spokesman.
That's what is needed to protect the sport

Some Ky data, a little bit dated I think

Cornell – Kentucky Crossbow Survey
Cornell University’s report on the expansion of crossbow seasons, which was conducted for Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources,
contains completed surveys from 3240 hunters and 360 landowners.
All respondents were asked if they would support or oppose expanding crossbow season from its current time frame to a time frame that
runs concurrently with archery season. They were asked this separately for deer and turkey and were allowed to say they strongly oppose,
somewhat oppose, neither support nor oppose, somewhat support or strongly support this change.
While about one-fourth of those surveyed opposed this change for deer (24% landowners, 25% hunters) or turkey (24% landowners, 25%
hunters), roughly six out of ten either somewhat or strongly supported expanding crossbow season. Those from the hunting sample were even
more supportive than landowners, but only by a small margin (59% landowners Vs. 63% hunters for deer; landowners Vs. 62% for turkey).
· 59% of landowners and 63% of hunters sampled support the expansion of crossbow season for deer
· 58% of landowners and 62% of hunters samples support the expansion of crossbow season for turkey
· For those opposed to crossbows, the report lists the primary reasons
· 68% of landowners and 78% of hunters sampled thought that an expanded crossbow season would recruit new hunters

Here's a compilation of harvest data for those interested:
condensed from "The Crossbow is Here to Stay by C.J. Winard, a little easier to read than the above.

The states of Arkansas (1973) and Ohio (1976) have one of the longest running crossbow seasons. Both states allow vertical bow and crossbows within the same archery season. In 1989, the crossbow deer harvest in Ohio exceeded the vertical bow harvest for the first time. This same trend has continued. In 2004, crossbow hunters took about 29,000 deer (58 percent) and vertical bowhunters took 21,000 (42 percent). Additionally, both crossbow and vertical bow hunters enjoy about 1.8 millions recreational days each.
In 1994, Ohio established urban deer units. Deer in these urban areas were prone to under-harvest and overabundance. Typically, these areas account for five percent of the total deer harvest. Once established, crossbows accounted for about 35 percent of all deer harvested in these urban areas. By comparison, crossbow hunters take 15 percent of the total deer harvest outside the urban areas, while vertical bowhunters take 10 percent. Overall, the success rate between crossbow and vertical bowhunters are similar, averaging about 14 percent.
In Arkansas, the latest survey indicates a success rate of 12 percent for crossbows, while vertical bowhunters enjoy a 17 percent success rate. Last year’s data shows that Arkansas crossbow hunters only took 3.3 percent of the total deer harvest, while vertical bowhunters took 6.6 percent. Interestingly, this data has been consistent through the last number of years. Participation rates for Arkansas and Ohio have also been similar, increasing from less than five percent in the early 1980s to over 35 percent of all deer hunters.
Data from deer biologists in both states say, “Contrary to claims by anti-crossbow groups of herd decimation and severe restrictions on hunting opportunity and harvest, neither one of our states have modified our respective regulations as a result of the crossbow. Modern firearms have and will always account for the majority of the harvest and have the greatest impact on deer populations in both Ohio and Arkansas.”
Although each state has large differences in crossbow harvest, the data clearly states that crossbows are not causing any negative impacts on their deer herds. In fact, the opposite is true, especially in the area of urban deer management. Data from Ohio also suggests that about 20 percent of all bowhunters hunt with both vertical and crossbows. It’s believed many of these hunters use their vertical bows in the early season and then switch to the crossbows for the late season.
The state of Georgia made crossbows legal during the archery season in 2002. Wildlife biologist, Nick Nicholson of the Georgia DNR reports that during the second year of crossbow use an estimated 9,300 new archery hunters participated in the archery deer season. The vast majority of these new crossbow hunters, or over 6,900 hunters, indicated that they were new to archery hunting.
Additionally, Nicholson reports a large portion of these crossbow hunters were over 50 years old. Many of these folks were most likely retired archery hunters who came back to archery hunting through the use of crossbows. The Ohio data also reflects a crossbow preference among older hunters. They found that among regular (non-senior) archery hunters, participation mirrored the harvest. Approximately 55 percent of archers hunted with a crossbow and 45 percent used a vertical bow. However, among senior hunters, the split was closer to 80:20 in favor of crossbows.
The Georgia data from 2003-04 indicates that the number of crossbow hunters comprised 24.8 percent of all archery hunters (or, 1 crossbow hunter per 4 compound / traditional bowhunter) and 9.1 percent of all hunters. The Georgia DNR also calculated the success rate of crossbow hunters. Crossbow hunters took 21.8 percent of the total archery harvest and only 2.6 percent of the total deer harvest. When you compare the success rate of crossbow hunters (.49 deer per hunter) with compound / traditional hunters (.51 deer per hunter) the data is almost identical. These results suggest whatever additional deer are taken with crossbows are not significant on a statewide basis. In fact, with the very liberal deer season limit in Georgia, any additional deer taken with whatever weapon is most welcomed.
In addition to Arkansas, Ohio and Georgia the states of Alabama (2004), Kentucky and Virginia (2005), and Wyoming (no one knows the actual year crossbows were legalized crossbows, evidently, it’s always been on the books as a legal weapon) allow crossbows during the entire archery season. In these states the bow season has not been shorten or restricted. In fact, some of these states have increased their archery season length and bag limits due to burgeoning deer populations

And more pro data from Virginia

• During the 2005 deer season 214,675 deer were reported
killed by hunters in Virginia. This total included
100,927 antlered bucks, 20,357 button bucks, and 93,391 does (43.5%). The 2005 kill figure represents a 3% decrease from the 221,492 deer reported killed in 2004. It is, however, 4% greater than the past 10-year average of 206,900. • Across the state, deer kill levels were down 13% in the northern mountains, up 1% in the northern piedmont,
down 11% in the southern mountains, down 2% in the southern piedmont, and up 6% in tidewater.• Archers, not including crossbow hunters, killed 17,291 deer. The 2005 bow kill was up 8% from the 16,055 deer taken by archers in 2003. The bow kill comprised 8% of the total deer kill.• Crossbows, which were legal for all deer hunters for the first time in fall 2005, resulted in a deer kill of 5,476 deer or 2-1/2% of the total deer kill.FACTVA Total Archers: 72,694 VA Crossbow Hunters: 19,760 27%