The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners has approved the expanded lawful use of crossbows to include both the archery deer and bear seasons. The Board included a sunset date for the expanded crossbow use requiring a future vote on the measure again before June 30, 2012.

 The use of magnified scopes was approved on April 21, 2009.

 Crossbows are now legal for use by anyone in the archery deer seasons, as well as the archery bear season, as long as a hunter possesses a general hunting license and an archery stamp – as well as other required licenses, such as an antlerless deer license or permit, or a bear license – an archery hunter may use a crossbow to participate in the both the early and late archery deer seasons, as well as the two-day archery bear season. Presently, hunters do not need an archery stamp to participate in the archery bear season; they only need a general hunting license and bear license.

 A crossbow must have a peak drawn weight of at least 125 pounds; there is no maximum. A bolt or arrow must be equipped with a broadhead that has an outside diameter or width of at least 7/8 inches with at least two cutting edges on the same plane throughout the length of the cutting surface, and shall not exceed three inches in length measured from the tip of the broadhead to the point that fits against the bolt.

 For many years, Pennsylvania hunters have been permitted to use crossbows during fall turkey and spring gobbler seasons, elk season, firearms bear season and the two-week firearms deer season. These opportunities will continue as such.