Pennsylvania's game commissioners are set to vote July 9 on a proposal to limit crossbows to the first two weeks of the statewide archery season.

If passed, the proposal would allow hunters to use a crossbow in the first two weeks of the archery deer season without first having to obtain a disabled permit – good news for bow hunting enthusiasts fighting for more chances to practice the sport.

In April, commissioners decided to allow crossbows to be used in the full six-week archery season and in the two-day archery bear season.

Vertical bow users disapprove of the new crossbow rules, saying they defeat the purpose of scientific wildlife management, according to The Tribune-Review’s outdoors column.

Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives' Game and Fisheries Committee will also meet July 9 to review House Bill 965 that would redefine crossbows as bows and eliminate the need for a game commission decision on crossbow inclusion.