The 2024 Minnesota deer archery harvest saw significant growth, marking a notable trend in the state's hunting patterns.
Key Archery Harvest Trends in 2024
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Overall Increase: Archery harvests rose by 16% compared to 2023, totaling approximately 27,497 deer. This makes it the second-highest archery harvest on record, following the 2020 season .
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Crossbow Adoption: Following the legalization of crossbows for all hunters in 2023, crossbow usage surged. In 2024, crossbows accounted for 48% of the archery harvest, with a 28% increase from the previous year .
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Vertical Bow Use: Traditional vertical bowhunters also experienced a 7% increase in harvests, indicating a continued preference for this method among a segment of archery hunters .
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Demographics of Harvest: Both crossbow and vertical bow hunters harvested similar proportions of adult bucks and does, with adult bucks comprising approximately 47–48% and adult does around 40–42% of the total archery harvest .
Implications and Outlook
The recorded rise in archery harvests demonstrates that crossbow legalization has played a pivotal role in expanding hunting access and drawing more participants to the sport. If these positive trends persist, bowhunting participation is poised to grow even further, likely resulting in improved harvest numbers in future seasons.
For Minnesota hunters, this momentum points to a thriving archery landscape filled with opportunities. Both newcomers and seasoned hunters can look forward to more chances to enjoy the season and achieve success in the field.
