As the 2024 archery deer season approaches, Mike DeBolt, owner of ProFormance Archery, finds himself at the heart of a bustling business.
The archery deer season runs from Sept. 28, 2024 through Feb. 2, 2025.
DeBolt said in recent weeks he has been patronized by an influx of bow hunters getting ready for deer season.
"Business is definitely heating up,” DeBolt told the Mount Vernon News. “A lot of people are getting their gear ready—cables and strings replaced, arrows restocked. It’s a busy time with all the preparations."
DeBolt emphasized that now is the crucial time to get ready for the season.
"I’m a full-service pro shop and work on all kinds of bows, including crossbows and compounds,” he said. “The big thing right now is people pulling their bows out of the closet and finding they need new strings and cables. We’re two weeks out from the season, and with demand so high, they might not find what they need elsewhere. I’ve got a good stock, but that doesn’t guarantee availability. Strings and cables could be back-ordered by three to four weeks. If they don’t get them in time, they might miss the first couple of weeks of the season."
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources reports the 2023-24 archery deer harvest saw 100,951 deer taken, marking the first time the archery season has surpassed 100,000 deer.
Many area residents are again observing larger deer populations this year.
"There’s talk about more deer this year, but it really depends on where you are,” DeBolt said. “In my area, there seem to be quite a few does and yearlings, though not many bucks yet. The bucks usually show up later in the year."
Reflecting on his own plans for the season, DeBolt hopes to hunt more than he did last year.
"I only managed to hunt about three days last year,” he said. “My grandson got his first deer, which was a great experience for him, so I didn’t mind too much after that. The trail cameras didn’t show anything that got me excited. But the one I got two years ago was a surprise—I’d never seen him before."
Nurturing the love of the outdoors in the next generation and qualifying hunters for city hunts
DeBolt said he was proud to be able to guide his grandson’s 2023 harvest.
"He’s 13 and took his first deer last year with a crossbow,” he said. “It was a good experience for him, and he’s already talking about this year’s hunt."
He added that he just recently helped two other young hunters get set up.
"I just had a granddad and his two grandkids come in to qualify for the Newark City hunts," he said. "They had to shoot six arrows in a six-inch group at 20 yards to prove their proficiency.
Qualifying is an important step for hunting inside the city limits of Newark, Heath and Granville.
“It's crucial to ensure that young and new hunters can handle their equipment safely and effectively," he said.
Locally, DeBolt serves as a key figure for local hunters needing to qualify for city hunts.
“For hunting within Newark, Heath, and Granville city limits, they must come here to qualify,” DeBolt said. “I verify that they can shoot a bow, whether it’s a compound or crossbow."
The City of Newark Urban Deer Hunting Program was established in 2009. It aims to manage deer populations to reduce vehicular crashes and property damage. Hunters participating in the program must first harvest a doe before being authorized to take a buck.
Participation is restricted to bow hunting within city limits under strict regulations, and hunters must pass an archery proficiency test and meet approval requirements from the Newark Division of Police.
"This process has been in place for many years, and I’m the only range around that handles these qualifications,” DeBolt said. “Hunters often have to undergo background checks due to private and city-owned properties involved. If something goes wrong, like breaking a window or causing injury, the city needs to be able to demonstrate that the shooter was proficient."
The Village of Granville’s Wildlife Management Program is administered by the Granville Police Department.
In Granville, bow hunting is authorized on select public and private properties, with hunters chosen based on specific qualifications and required to adhere to both Ohio hunting regulations and village-specific rules.
DeBolt named "Shooter of the Year", wins second consecutive archery state championship
In addition to hunting, DeBolt is celebrated for his achievements on the archery tournament circuit. His off-season included winning a second straight state championship being named Shooter of the Year.
"In the offseason, I’ve been keeping my skills sharp and recently won my second consecutive state championship,” he said.” I competed in 36 national events and six state-level events, winning my division in the men’s senior class at the state championship. The state-level ASA (Archery Shooters Association) tournament was particularly rewarding."
He described the competitive landscape.
"There are 15 qualifiers throughout the state for the ASA state federation,” DeBolt said. “They take your top five scores and combine them for the state championship. I shot five of the 15 qualifiers and was about ten points behind the leader going into the state championship. I ended up beating him by several points and was named State Champ and Shooter of the Year."
DeBolt recalled the details of the competition.
"We had a 30-target course with a break halfway through, and my class involves guessing yardage. You have to estimate the distance, set your sight, and hope for a good shot."
DeBolt’s dedication to both target shooting and hunting exemplifies his deep commitment to the sport, underscoring his expertise and passion for archery.
"Winning the state championship in the men’s senior class was a major achievement,” he said. “The competition was tough, but I managed to pull ahead and claim the title.”
He said while deer hunting is the biggest game in town, ProFormance also has a dedicated target shooting base of customers.
"I have a pretty good following for target shooting, but the hunting is the bread and butter. Target shooting kind of gets you through the summer and winter,” DeBolt said.
