Note: Crossbows cannot be shipped to NC or NY states.
U.S. Crossbow Hunting Regulations
U.S. Crossbow Hunting Regulations
Below is a summary of crossbow
hunting regulations in the United States. This page is intended as a quick
reference, and as such there may be details about regulations in your state
that are not mentioned here (e.g. are scopes legal? can I use a crank? etcetera).
Regulations can change frequently from state to state. Please contact your
local DNR (or equivalent) office or click the link under your state for the
latest information.
You may use a crossbow in any hunt
that does not restrict weapons. "Certified bow hunters only",
"bow and arrow only", or "muzzleloader only" hunts or areas
specifically exclude other weapons, including crossbows. Scopes and other
optical enhancement devices are not permitted. http://www.state.ak.us
Crossbows must have at least a
125-pound pull and a mechanical safety. Deer, turkey and bear hunters are
required to use arrowheads at least 7/8-inch wide. Poison may not be used on
arrows. Magnifying sights may be used. Crossbows are not allowed for taking
elk. http://www.agfc.state.ar.us
CALIFORNIA
California states that "a
crossbow is not archery equipment and may not be used during the archery
season." Except with a Disabled Archer Permit, crossbows may not be used
during any archery season or during the general season when using an archery
only tag. http://www.dfg.ca.gov
COLORADO
Crossbows legal for all hunters
during gun seasons and for handicapped hunters during archery season. http://www.dnr.state.co.us
A crossbow may be substituted for a
shotgun in November and December. May be used during archery season by disabled
hunters with a permit. Check with state regulations for additional details. http://www.dnrec.state.de.us
FLORIDA
Crossbows are now legal in the
Central zone , South zone , and in the
Northwest zone.. Click on the Florida link
below for additional crossbow information. Crossbows also legal for handicapped
hunters by permit. http://myfwc.com/
Crossbows are legal in big game
seasons restricted to short-range weapons. Permitted for use during archery
season by disabled persons with a permit. http://www.fishandgame.idaho.gov
ILLINOIS
Crossbows are legal for disabled
hunters by permit only and hunters over the age of 62 with permits and tag. See
state regulations for details. http://www.dnr.state.il.us
INDIANA
Crossbows are legal hunting
equipment during the late archery deer season for antlerless deer. Deer hunters
may use crossbows to harvest deer of either sex only in the late archery
season. http://www.in.gov/dnr/
IOWA
Crossbows are permitted for disabled
hunters with permit. Residents 70 and older may purchase a statewide antlerless
deer license to hunt with a crossbow. http://www.iowadnr.com/
KANSAS
Crossbows with a minimum draw weight
of 125 will be allowed in regular forearms deer and turkey season. http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us
KENTUCKY
Crossbows may be used in designated
weeks, see state regulations. Hunters using crossbows during a firearms deer
season must follow all firearm season restrictions, zone guidelines and hunting
requirements in effect during firearms seasons. Crossbows are also permitted
during muzzle-loader only season. Disabled hunters with a permit may use a
crossbow to hunt deer during the bow-only deer season. http://fw.ky.gov/
LOUISIANA
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife
and Fisheries Commission now has the ability to establish a bow and arrow only
season, and a bow and arrow and crossbow season in special deer hunting
seasons. http://www.wlf.state.la.us
MAINE
A crossbow hunting license is
required for hunters 16 years of age or older to hunt bear with a crossbow
during the bear hunting season, or to hunt deer with a crossbow during the open
firearm season on deer.
A resident or nonresident 10 years of age or older and under 16 years of age
may hunt with a crossbow if that person holds a valid junior hunting license
(no crossbow license required). http://www.maine.gov/ifw/
MARYLAND
Crossbows may be used to hunt deer
only, with the exception of special crossbow permits for disabled hunters who
may pursue all game legal for a vertical bow. All hunters may use crossbows for
four weeks of archery season and four weeks of gun season. http://www.dnr.state.md.us
New for the 2009 season! In Zone 3
(southern Michigan), anyone
12 and older can hunt with a crossbow during any hunting season as long as they
have the
appropriate licenses. Meanwhile, anyone who has obtained a crossbow permit
because of
a permanent disability can continue to use a crossbow. Certain restrictions
apply see state regulations for details.
Crossbows are permitted for disabled
hunters with permit and hunters 65 and older, also in primitive weapon and deer
gun seasons. http://www.mdwfp.com
MISSOURI
Crossbows are classified as firearms
and are permitted during firearms season. Disabled hunters with a permit may
use a crossbow during archery season. http://www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/
MONTANA
Crossbows are legal only during gun
season. No provision for disabled hunters. http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting
NEBRASKA
Crossbows with a draw weight of 125lbs
or more are legal to hunt deer and antelope during the firearms season.
Disabled hunters with a permit may use a crossbow during archery season. http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us
Crossbows are legal for all hunters
with a crossbow hunting permit during firearms season and for all hunters on
Long Island with a Long Island deer permit. Disabled hunters may use a crossbow
pursuant to disabled hunter regulations without purchasing a crossbow permit.
Crossbows are prohibited during the youth hunting weekend for deer. http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us
NEW
JERSEY
NEW * On Tuesday, June 16,2009 the New
Jersey Fish and Game Council voted on adopting proposed amendments to the 2009 – 2012
Game Code. The Council voted to adopt all the proposed amendments except
amendment 29, which proposed boundary changes to Deer Management Zones 19 and
23. The full proposal containing the amendments can be viewed at www.nj.gov/dep/rules/proposals/040609b.pdf (PDF) on the NJ DEP website.
The most significant amendment
adopted expands the definition of "bow" by removing the prohibition
on all draw locking and draw holding devices and by including crossbows in the
definition. This allows the use of crossbows in any bow and arrow hunting
season and other hunting seasons for all species where the use of bow and arrow
is allowed. Crossbows must have a minumum draw weight of 75 pounds and a
minimum stock length of 25 inches.
Crossbows are legal sporting arms
for cougar, bear, deer, elk, pronghorn, javelina, Barbary sheep, persian ibex,
oryx, turkey, and bighorn sheep. Hunters that qualify with a permanent mobility
limitation may use crossbows to hunt waterfowl and upland game. Sights on
crossbows shall not project light nor magnify. http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us
NEW
YORK
A Modified Crossbow Permit may be
issued to permanently disabled individuals whose disability is so severe that
they are physically unable to operate a mechanical device attached to a regular
bow. http://www.dec.state.ny.us
NORTH
CAROLINA
Crossbows legal only for disabled hunters
by permit. Regulations are pending. http://www.ncwildlife.org
NORTH
DAKOTA
Crossbows are not legal, except with
a permit from the Game and Fish director. Contact the Department for additional
information on crossbow regulations. http://gf.nd.gov/
OHIO
Crossbows with a draw weight of not
less than 75 lbs and no more than 200 lbs. Crossbows are legal arms for
archery, firearms and muzzleloader seasons. http://www.dnr.state.oh.us
OKLAHOMA
Residents of Oklahoma who are 60
years of age or older may use a crossbow. In addition, hunters who have a
permanent disability to the extent that they cannot use a conventional longbow,
as certified by a physician licensed to practice in Oklahoma or bordering
state, may hunt with a crossbow. A disabled person who qualifies to use a
crossbow shall have in their possession while in the field written evidence of
such certification signed by the physician. http://www.wildlifedepartment.com
Pennsylvania Game Commissioners gave
final approval to a proposal to legalize crossbows for archery hunting
statewide beginning with the 2009-2010 seasons. Magnifying scopes are legal.
There is a sunset review scheduled for 2012.
Crossbows only legal for hunters who
posses an official adaptive Aid/Crossbow permit obtained through the DEM
division of licensing. http://www.dem.ri.gov/
NEW* Where the open season is
designated as “archery,” only legal archery equipment/crossbow as specified
below may be used. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us
Crossbows may be used by disabled
hunters (with permit) for any game that may be taken by bow and arrow. http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com
VIRGINIA
Crossbows are legal to use by any
hunter. A crossbow license is required during an archery season. http://www.dgif.state.va.us
WASHINGTON
Crossbows approved for use by
qualifying archers with disabilities. http://www.wdfw.wa.gov
WEST
VIRGINIA
Class Y permit holders may hunt with
a crossbow in established archery seasons. http://www.wvdnr.gov/
WISCONSIN
Crossbows are legal for disabled
residents and nonresidents under Class A, B, C or crossbow permit, and
residents age 65 and older. http://www.dnr.state.wi.us
WYOMING
Crossbows are legal during archery
seasons, and must have a 90 pound minimum draw weight, shoot a 16 inch bolt and
can not be cocked with a leverage-gaining device. http://gf.state.wy.us/
