States Where the Most People Hunt With a Bow

Hunting is an increasingly popular pastime in the United States. According to the FWS, the number of licensed hunters hit a 35-year high in 2021, topping 15.9 million for the first time since 1987. Hunting is also big business in the United States. Americans spent a combined $1.1 billion on hunting licenses, stamps, tags, and permits in 2022 alone. Deer are by far the most commonly hunted game in the U.S., and while most deer are harvested with a rifle or a shotgun, more than 1.5 million deer were taken with a bow in 2022.

• Share of deer harvested with a bow or crossbow, 2022: 6% (approx. 1,759 deer)
• Total deer harvested, 2022: 29,315 (74.4% antlered buck, 25.6% antlerless deer)
• Paid hunting license holders, 2022: 227.4 per 1,000 people (132,185 total)