Crossbow hunting has been steadily gaining popularity across the United States, yet until recently it has remained one of the least understood segments of the bowhunting market. While ample research exists on bowhunters as a whole, far less attention has been paid specifically to crossbow users — an increasingly influential group within today’s hunting landscape. That knowledge gap has made it difficult for agencies, industry partners, and conservation organizations to design fully informed recruitment, retention and reactivation strategies for bowhunters.
To address this need, the Archery Trade Association, in partnership with Responsive Management, has released a new national research study examining the role of crossbow hunting in the United States and its implications across the broader hunting and archery landscape. Titled, “Crossbow Hunting in the United States: Understanding Crossbow Hunters’ Participation, Characteristics, and the Factors That Contribute to Their Retention in Hunting,” the study represents the most comprehensive examination of crossbow hunters to date.
Developed through a collaboration between ATA and Responsive Management and funded by a Multistate Conservation Grant (F25AP00345) from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — jointly administered with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies — the research draws on more than 10,000 completed surveys from licensed bowhunters across 13 states. Those states represent all four regional fish and wildlife agency associations, ensuring that the findings reflect geographic and regulatory diversity across the country.
The timing of the study is especially relevant. Crossbows are often favored by older hunters, a trend that aligns with broader demographic shifts. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one in six Americans was age 65 or older in 2020, and that proportion continues to grow. As hunters age, many look for ways to remain active in the field, and crossbows can offer an accessible option that extends hunting participation later into life.
However, the study also challenges common assumptions. Initial findings reveal that crossbow use frequently begins much later in a hunter’s life, often after years — or even decades — of participation with firearms and vertical bows. Rather than replacing other methods, crossbows are commonly added to an already diverse hunting portfolio. The data also shows high levels of continued engagement among crossbow hunters, including participation in multiple hunting methods, sustained equipment investment, and strong overall retention within hunting.
Regulatory structures add another layer of complexity. While some states restrict crossbow use to hunters over a certain age or with specific qualifications, many others allow general use during archery seasons. As a result, crossbows may also serve as an entry point for novice or first-time hunters in certain regions, making them relevant not only to retention but also to recruitment efforts.
Beyond participation patterns, the research provides detailed insight into crossbow hunters’ equipment ownership and spending, harvest rates, regulatory perceptions, hunting preferences, and demographic characteristics. Regional and state-level findings allow agencies and industry stakeholders to better understand how crossbow use varies across the country and how it interacts with traditional archery equipment and seasons.
