Michigan DNR photo A hunter is seen with a crossbow in this photo from the Michigan DNR. A recent change in archery regulations has produced an uptick in interest in bow and crossbow hunting.

HANCOCK — The upcoming archery season’s changes have changed local sporting goods business in the Copper Country. With hunters now able to purchase combo tags with the ability to harvest antlerless deer for the season beginning Oct. 1, many are taking advantage of the opportunity and it is reflected in purchases made in preparation for the hunt. The change has also drawn in hunters to attempt archery for the first time according to local store owners and managers.

“I am ordering more new bows this year for people than any year in the past,” Hancock’s Northwoods Sporting Goods’ owner Rick Freeman said. “So it seems like because of being able to get a doe during archery season, a lot of new people are getting into the archery, which is good for me because I’m selling new bows.”

Freeman said there is a slight uptick in combo license sales, which increases the chances of hunters being successful by taking a doe or buck. Freeman said customers who normally buy a single deer tag are now purchasing double tags this year. The recent Liberty Hunt for youths and disabled hunters last weekend also underwent changes which allowed buck harvests, and Freeman said he had out of state hunters purchasing tags for their children. The changes all around even have Freeman changing his normal tag purchase.

“I’m getting a combo tag this year. This is the first year I’m ever getting a combo,” Freeman said.

L’Anse’s Indian Country Sports Manager Ashley Engelhardt said she has noticed a growing trend in archery hunting the past few years, and hunters have been coming into the shop to have their bows restrung.

“I’ve noticed that over the last couple of years, so it’s not necessarily just after this last year, but I know from the customers I’ve been talking to they are definitely excited to take advantage of the ability to take a doe during archery this year,” Engelhardt said. “They’re really happy about it.” She added while there is normally a rush leading up to firearm season, this year there are more hunters this year who are making preparation purchases for archery season.

While the interest in archery is growing, hunters’ weapon of choice is differing by location. Northwoods has seen an uptick in bow sales, while Indian Country Sports is reporting more customers using crossbows. Freeman recommends those new to archery to try crossbows since there are similarities to firearms, and Engelhardt recommends new archery hunters to watch online videos to learn how to properly operate compound bows and crossbows.

“There’s always a lot of locals who you know have been doing it a while too. So if you’ve got somebody that’s experienced, it would be a really great idea to get out and learn from them, and then also just practice coming up to season,” Engelhardt said. She added the store has been selling many archery targets, and they are a good items to use for practice.

Other purchases which have been made in preparation for the season are baiting items such as salt bricks. Freeman also recommends purchasing field cameras for hunters to familiarize themselves with the deer traffic coming through the hunting grounds. With the preparation purchases underway, Engelhardt said hunters are hoping the changes improve the buck population.

“I know that a lot of the customers that have been talking in the store say that a lot of areas have a higher population, too high of a population of does concentrated in certain areas. So hopefully, with taking out a few of these does, it’ll help the the buck population and we’ll start seeing some nicer bucks in the area,” she said.

With the uptick in new archery hunters this season, Freeman suggests if anyone has any questions regarding the season’s regulations to direct them to the Michigan DNR, and to be safe while hunting.