SHERMAN, TX -- A proposal to allow rifle hunting of deer in Grayson County, shot down. Josh Stevenson has been following this story for weeks, and he brings us more on the decision.

Whether or not Grayson County should have a rifle season for deer has been a hotly contested question over the last few months. Now Texas Parks and Wildlife commissioners have their say.

In Austin, Wednesday, commissioners took aim at the question of whether or not to have a rifle season for deer in Grayson county. After a huge outcry from bow hunters at a meeting a few weeks ago, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department decided to go with the will of the people.

"We've established the rationale for remaining archery season and we've heard it loud and clear," said TWPD Big Game Project Director Clayton Wolf.

So for now Grayson County will stay a haven for the bowhunter.

"We have a special heritage of bow hunting only in this county," said Brock Benson with the Grayson County Whitetail Association, a pro-bow group..

The decision to stay archery only comes with a pricetag--restrictions.

"We are going to propose antler restrictions and hunting by permit only," said Wolf.

Bow hunters say they are interested in doing what’s best for the deer in Grayson County.

"Because ultimately this is about the deer of Grayson County it's not about bow hunting or rifle season it’s about what’s best for the deer," said Benson.

In a first for Grayson County and the State, Texas Parks and Wildlife will rely on Grayson County hunters to collect data about the local deer population.

"Bow hunters from across the county would be happy to work with Parks and Wildlife to collect the data, anything they need," said Benson.

After keeping Grayson County a rifle free deer hunting zone, some hunters have already set their sights on the next target.

"We would like to see Grayson County used for a model to open up other bow only areas in other places like Collin County for example," said Benson.