As a non resident AZ deer hunter starting in 2002 January after the Coues deer (20 years ago) and then every other years after that, there is no doubt that bow hunting deer hunters have increased both resident and non residents. With social media, sports shows, hunting websites, reasonable access and OtC tags at a reasonable price, the popularity of bow and arrow, and in January when most states deer seasons have been completed, and lets not forget, warmer temperatures. And if one has killed a number of whitetails, mule deer, the Coues Deer may seem like a very special species to go after.
We here in Colorado have seen this exact increase of bow hunters after elk. WE how have 43,000 bow hunters during the elk season and the splits is 49 % non resident and 51% residents. A huge increase since I first hunted elk in Colorado as a non resident in 1988 when there were only 27,000 bow elk hunter then. At least 80% of the elk units are OTC. There is no doubt that at some trailheads, crowding can be an issue and we have suggested to the Commission to reduce NR licenses to draw only, but that has not happen. Will it happen in the future? Hard to tell.
I would expect that if the data presented went back more years, the result would show a different conclusion being that, both resident and non resident archery deer hunts have increased. IN spite of the increase I have killed 6 Coues bucks and three in the last 6 years hunting every other year. my best, Paul