The data also reveal a troubling statistic for the agency: total bow license sales of 132,897 were 4% lower than at the same time in 2014. Deer hunting license sales are the biggest source of hunting program revenue for the DNR.
The report showed 42,245 total crossbow licenses sold through last Sunday, up 16% from the same time in 2014, and 90,652 total archery licenses sold, down 11%. The archery licenses are for users of vertical bows, including compounds, recurves and stick bows.