United States Crossbow Hunting Regulations.
Regulation of crossbow hunting is primarily performed by the state law; additional regulations are imposed through United States environmental law in the case of migratory birds (such as ducks and geese) and endangered species. Crossbow hunting regulations vary widely from state to state, and govern the areas, time periods, techniques and methods by which specific game animals may be harvested.
Some states make a distinction between protected species and unprotected species for crossbow hunters (often vermin or varmints) for which there are no hunting regulations.
Crossbow hunters of protected species require a hunting license in all states, for which completion of a hunting safety course is sometimes a prerequisite.
United States Crossbow Hunting Regulations Game Categories.
Typically wild game animals are divided into several categories for regulatory purposes. Typical categories, along with example species, are as follows:
- Big game: White-tailed deer, moose, elk, caribou (reindeer), bear, sheep.
- Small Game: rabbit, squirrel .
- Furbearers: red fox, mink.
- Predators: Cougar (mountain lion/panther), coyote.
- Upland game bird: grouse, chukar, pheasant, quail, dove.
- Waterfowl: duck, Canada goose.
Crossbow hunting of big game typically requires a "tag" for each animal harvested. Tags must be purchased in addition to the hunting license, and the number of tags issued to an individual is typically limited.
Crossbow hunting of smaller wild game is restricted by "bag limit" and "possession limit."
- A bag limit is a maximum number of a specific animal species that an individual can harvest in a single day.
- A possession limit is a maximum number of a specific animal species that can be in an individual's possession at any time.
United States Hunting Regulations Weapons.
Weapons used in hunting are also typically regulated by game category, area within the state, and time period. Specific seasons for bow hunting and or crossbow-hunting are often established to limit competition with hunters using more effective weapons.
More states are now blending bowhunting / crossbow hunting.
Allowing crossbows in normal bowhunting seasons gives equal opportunity to individuals who would not normally be capable of using a handbow effectively to now hunt along-side bowhunters.
The mind-set to this is quite simple as both handbows and crossbows shoot arrows to an effective distance of 35 yards, any shot beyond this is risky at best and not fair or sporting for the game animal being hunted, the most likely result would be a non fatal shot, leaving a wounded animal to suffer.
Blended Bowhunting / Crossbow-hunting States.
U.S.A. Crossbow Hunting Regulations
Alabama:
Crossbows legal during archery seasons.
Alaska:
Crossbows are illegal in bow-only areas, but can be used where guns and bows are legal weapons. No provision for handicapped hunters.
Arizona:
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters on a very restrictive permit basis, or for anyone during general firearms seasons.
Arkansas:
Crossbows legal during archery seasons.
California:
Crossbows legal for all hunters during gun seasons.
Any person with a physical disability which prevents him/her from being able to draw and hold a bow in a firing position, may use a crossbow or device which holds a string and arrow in the firing position to assist in the taking of birds and mammals under the conditions of an archery tag.
Colorado:
Crossbows legal for all hunters during gun seasons and for handicapped hunters during archery season.
Connecticut:
Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit.
Delaware:
Crossbows legal Monday through Saturday of November shotgun season and during any gun season in December or January.
Florida:
Crossbows are now legal in the Central zone, South zone, and in the Northwest Zone, with special seasons and provisions.
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by permit.
Georgia:
Crossbows legal during archery seasons.
Hawaii:
Crossbows legal by special disabled permit only.
Idaho:
During any Firearm hunting season you can hunt with a crossbow without any other permit besides your hunting license and proper tag.
Crossbows also legal for handicapped persons by permit-to hunt with a crossbow during an archery season, you must also have a valid archery permit as well as a hunting license and a proper tag.
Illinois:
Hunters 62 years of age and older are now permitted to use a crossbow without a special permit. Hunters using a crossbow will need an archery deer permit and proof of age in the form of an official ID.
Crossbows also legal for handicapped hunters by permit.
Indiana:
Crossbows legal only in late archery season and only for antlerless deer.
Iowa:
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters with permit. Resident hunters 70 years old and older may purchase one statewide antlerless-deer only license to hunt deer with a crossbow.
Kansas:
Crossbows of at least 125 pounds draw weight will be allowed during the regular firearms deer and turkey seasons.
Crossbows and draw locks legal for permanently disabled hunters by permit.
Kentucky:
Crossbows legal for all hunters during rifle and muzzleloader seasons.
Legal in archery season for handicapped hunters.
Louisiana:
Crossbows allowed in a bow and arrow and crossbow season in special deer hunting seasons.
Maine:
Effective January 1, 2006, with a valid crossbow hunting license, a person may hunt bear with a crossbow during the open season on bear and may hunt deer with a crossbow during the open firearm season on deer.
The crossbow hunting license may not be used to hunt deer during the archery season, muzzle loading season, or expanded archery season.
Crossbows are still permitted otherwise for disabled hunters.
Maryland:
Crossbows legal during the entire bow season in the Suburban Deer Archery Zone (Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties).
Age 65 and over legal throughout Archery season.
Massachusetts:
Crossbows for handicap with permit.
Michigan:
Crossbows used for hunting are restricted to no more than 350 feet per second with certain provisions.
Minnesota:
Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit.
Mississippi:
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters with permit, hunters 65 and older, and during primitive weapon and deer gun seasons.
Missouri:
Crossbows for handicapped archers by permit and during firearms season.
Montana:
Crossbows legal only during gun seasons. No provision for handicapped hunters.
Nebraska:
Crossbows legal during deer and pronghorn firearms season and for handicapped hunters by permit during archery season.
Nevada:
Legal for all hunters in firearms season.
New Hampshire:
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by permit.
Legal for all hunters in firearms season.
Legal for all hunters on Long Island with Long Island Deer Permit.
New Jersey:
Crossbows legal during archery seasons.
New Mexico:
Crossbow use is allowed by Certified Mobility Impaired Hunters during all hunts.
New York:
A modified crossbow permit is available for persons meeting a defined physical disability.
North Carolina:
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by permit. In March 2009 the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission adopted the proposal to allow the use of crossbows, without permit, anytime bow and arrows are legal weapons, but on April 21, 2009 the North Carolina Rules Review Commission has referred a number of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s proposed rules changes to the General Assembly, due to written opposition. This action is required under state law. As a result, these rules changes will not be implemented until reviewed by the Legislature next year. Legislators have 30 days from the start of the next session to propose a bill disapproving the rule. If no bill is proposed, the rule automatically goes into effect.
North Dakota:
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by permit.
Ohio:
Crossbows legal during archery seasons.
Oklahoma:
Crossbows legal for age 60 and over. Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by permit. Hunters with a permanent disability which prevents use of a conventional bow with a physician's certification. Crossbow must be a minimum draw weight of 100 pounds and equipped with safety devices. Crossbows may not be transported in a motorized vehicle unless uncocked or disassembled.
Oregon:
Crossbows illegal.
Pennsylvania:
Crossbows legal during archery seasons.
Rhode Island:
Crossbows only legal for hunters who possess an official Adaptive Aid/Crossbow Permit obtained through the DEM Division of Licensing. Crossbows must be a minimum draw weight of 150-pounds and 24-inches wide.
South Carolina:
Crossbows legal during archery seasons.
South Dakota:
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters during archery season.
Tennessee:
Crossbows legal during archery seasons.
Texas:
Crossbows legal during archery seasons. (Except: Grayson County.)
Utah:
Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit.
Vermont:
Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit.
Virginia:
Crossbows legal during archery seasons.
Washington:
Crossbows approved (effective 5/5/04) for use by qualifying archers with disabilities.
West Virginia:
Crossbows legal with a Class Y Crossbow Permit for individuals who have been determined to have a permanent physical impairment which renders them so disabled as to be unable to use a conventional bow and arrow device. An application must be completed and submitted by the hunter and a licensed Physician to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources for consideration.
Wisconsin:
Crossbows are not legal to use except by disabled hunters issued a Class A, B, or Crossbow permit; resident hunters 65 years of age or older issued a valid archery hunting license.
Wyoming:
Crossbows legal during archery seasons.
