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Tom Venesky: Crossbows a big reason for Pennsylvania’s vanishing small-game hunter numbers

Squirrel hunter numbers have declined drastically over the years, and the columnist wonders if the small-game seasons will ever rebound. (Photo by Jessica Peacock, Flickr)

It is easy to point to declining populations as the reason why fewer people hunt for small game today. Same thing with turkeys – which, until recently, it was believed that a drastic drop in turkey numbers was to blame for the sharp decline of hunters pursuing the birds in the fall. 
There’s a reason why fewer people are hitting the hedgerows for rabbits and the mountains for turkeys, and I don’t think it has anything to do with availability of game.

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