Ohioans are arrow-minded – Cleveland.com

State wildlife officials, hunters, businesses help crossbow reach target audience

Saturday, November 15, 2008

D’Arcy Egan

Plain Dealer Columnist

The controversial cross bow slowly has gained acceptance around the country, and Ohio gets much of the credit.

Not only were Ohio wildlife officials among the first to embrace the crossbow as a deer hunting weapon, but two of the top crossbow companies are located in the Akron area. Horton Manufacturing Co., Inc., of Tallmadge, makes the most crossbows in the country; and nearby Ten Point Crossbow Technologies, of Suffield, isn’t far behind.

Ohio was the first proponent of deer hunting with a cutting-edge version of an ancient weapon. The crossbow was first allowed in the Buckeye state in 1976, but only for use during the statewide black powder rifle season. A year later, it had its own short 10-day season. Demand by hunters and a growing deer herd prompted the Division of Wildlife in 1984 to allow crossbows during the four-month archery deer campaign.

“Overall, archers take about 25 percent of the deer harvested in Ohio,” said Ottie Snyder of Horton. “Where they really excel is in the urban zones such as Cuyahoga County, where shotguns are not allowed.”

The total harvest last year was 232,854 bucks and does, and archers killed 78,639 deer. Crossbow hunters led the way with 42,292, a huge jump from the 29,397 deer they tagged in 2004. Compound, recurve and traditional bow hunters killed 36,347 deer last year  Click Link Below for Full Story!

Ohioans are arrow-minded – Cleveland.com.