It should be no surprise that most deer hunters use centerfire rifles, both in Arkansas and across the nation.
In whatever caliber, a modern rifle is familiar to most people who venture out in search of a deer. They may not be experienced or proficient hunters, but almost anyone can pick up a rifle, load it and get off a shot. Hitting something may be another story. Killing a deer in the woods under average hunting conditions is still another step.
We were a little surprised by a recent nationwide survey by Southwick Associates. It showed that 28 percent of those who pursued America's top big-game quarry used rifles for their deer.
Bows were the second most popular choice, used for deer hunting by 21 percent of survey respondents last season. Muzzleloaders, the choice of 18 percent of hunters surveyed, were not far behind. Fewer hunters used shotguns (15 percent) or handguns (5 percent).
In some areas of the country and even in a few places in Arkansas, especially more densely populated regions, rifle hunting is not allowed, so hunters must use a shotgun, bow, or muzzleloader of deer.
Another 12 percent of survey respondents reported that they did not hunt deer at all last season; and 1 percent listed their top weapon choice as "other." That's interesting. What is "other"? Vehicle, perhaps?
Deer hunters were asked to select their top choice of weapon in order to allow the survey takers to account for hunters who participate in multiple deer seasons for example, modern gun, bow and muzzleloader.
Our guess is that if this survey were limited to Arkansas, the modern gun percentage would be higher, the muzzleloader, bow and shotgun percentages close to the same and the handgun percentage lower. You seldom see somebody hunting deer with a pistol in Arkansas, but it does happen.
We noticed an absence - crossbows. The assumption is they are lumped with conventional archery gear under the heading of bows in this survey. Crossbows aren't allowed in some states.
In Arkansas, crossbows have become something of a niche item. Quite a few people use them for the basic reason, in our opinion, that they are easier to operate than a compound bow or a longbow. You may disagree with that comment.
With a crossbow, once you have mastered the trick of drawing the string back to cock it, all you have to do is drop the bolt or arrow into the slot, aim and pull the trigger. Once it is cocked, you essentially have a weapon equivalent to a short-range rifle - not in killing proficiency but in operation.
That cocking procedure can be a major hurdle until you learn it. Crossbows rated 150 pounds or 175 pounds take strength. That rating is the amount of force it takes to cock it. Simply put, you have to learn to use back and legs to reach the 150- or 175-pound level to get the bowstring pulled back to the cocking point. Arm strength alone won't do it.
After the rush of the late 1970s, early 1980s when crossbows came on strong in Arkansas, their use declined quite a bit and has leveled out. A good many hunters today have cross bows to take advantage of the long bow season before and after the modern gun hunt. They don't kill a large number of deer in proportion to modern guns or muzzleloaders or conventional bows, but they go hunting more. They are out enjoying the woods and the challenge of finding deer.
There was fear in some circles, especially the archery fans, when the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission expanded crossbow season to coincide with the five-month archery season. Opponents said the deer would be decimated.
Didn't happen.
