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BURLINGTON—Hunting in North Carolina will have some new guidelines beginning in August—with one of the biggest changes to the regulations focusing on crossbows.

People can now use the weapon to hunt large game. Before they were only allowed for target shooting or for hunters with disabilities. Matt Young has spent 15 years working as a bow mechanic. Typically he deals with the traditional bow, but soon he expects to see an increase in people using the more powerful crossbows.

"Hunting with a crossbow was allowed with a permit only for handicapped individuals and this year they've changed that to where anyone can hunt with a crossbow," said Young.

That means the folks at Alamance Archery will likely see a spike in sales as hunting season approaches. Young supports the new regulations because it could have an impact on the deer population in North Carolina.

"The deer population in this area has gotten out of control, basically. I see deer on the side of the road dead all the time," said Young. "You see more malnutrition deer now and it's going to help the environment, it's going to help the deer population and I think it's going to be a benefit all the way around."

Hunters will still be required to have the proper permits to use a crossbow. People can also bow hunt on Sundays on private land. The new rules take effect August 1.