Archery deer hunting licenses in Wisconsin are down 14% from last year, but it's not likely because people stopped hunting - they are simply buying a different license and shooting a different type of bow.

The 2014-'15 Wisconsin hunting season marks the first time hunters of all legal ages and all physical abilities can use a crossbow to pursue deer.

Through Sunday, the Department of Natural Resources reported sales of 102,422 archer licenses and 36,460 crossbow licenses through Sunday. The archer total is down 16,609 from the same time last year.

But total deer hunting-related license sales are up. The state had sold 119,031 archer licenses as of Sept. 15, 2013.

And when all deer licenses are totaled (conservation patron, gun, archery and crossbow), Wisconsin has sold 288,508 through Sunday, 6% more than the same time last year.

A change in state law last year created a crossbow season and license. The crossbow season runs concurrent with the archery deer season.

The law allows hunters the option of paying $3 for an archery or crossbow "upgrade." The feature allows them to use either a crossbow or vertical bow.

Through Sunday, the upgrade has been purchased by 3,002 archers and 9,057 crossbow licensees.

It's early so the agency hasn't done a thorough review of the data. The DNR plans to do follow-up surveys and data checks to learn more about the trends in license sales.

"We don't know if these are new folks, folks switching over, lapsed hunters," said Keith Warnke, DNR hunting and shooting sports coordinator. "What we can say is it's people taking advantage of the great resource and opportunities."

Paul Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel blog http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/275124001.html