UNITED STATES CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Below you will find a brief summary of the current crossbow hunting regulations. Please check the links provided to verify that the laws have not been changed since this was last updated. Once you have learned your state laws feel free to check out our crossbow reviews.
ALABAMA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are legal for everyone during the deer hunting season.
Website: www.outdooralabama.com
Phone Number: 334-242-3469
ALASKA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are legal during nonrestricted hunts. “Certified bowhunters only”, “bow and arrow only”, or “muzzleloader only” hunting or any areas or seasons where only certain weapons are allowed will also apply to crossbows. Scopes and any other optical enhancement devices will not be permitted for use.
Website: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/
Phone Number: 907-267-2347
ARIZONA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are legal to hunt with only by disabled hunters with a permit.
Website: www.gf.state.az.us
Phone Number: 602-942-3000
ARKANSAS CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are required to have a minimum of a 125-pound pull and also must include a mechanical safety. Deer, turkey and bear hunters are required to use 7/8-inch wide or greater arrowhead. Poison use is not allowed. Scopes and other optical sights are permitted. It is not permitted to hunt elk with a crossbow.
Website: www.agfc.com
Phone Number: 501-223-6300
CALIFORNIA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbow hunting requires the use of a Disabled Archery Hunting Permit.
Website: www.dfg.ca.gov
Phone Number: 916-653-7203
COLORADO CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbow hunting is permitted for all hunters during firearm seasons and for “disabled hunters only” during archery season.
Website: www.dnr.state.co.us
Phone Number: 303-297-1192
CONNECTICUT CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are considered legal archery equipment and maybe use as such.
Website: www.dep.state.ct.us
Phone Number: 860-424-3011
DELAWARE CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
May hunt with crossbows during all deer seasons. Crossbows used for deer hunting are required to have a minimum pull weight of 125lbs, be made after 1980, and include mechanical safety. Scopes are permitted.
Website: www.dnrec.state.de.us
Phone Number: 302-739-5297
FLORIDA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbow season runs concurrently with archery season. Permits are required to hunt with a crossbow.
Crossbow use is permitted during all deer seasons. Crossbows must have a minimum pull weight of 125lbs, be made after 1980, and include a mechanical safety. Scopes are permitted.
Website: http://myfwc.com
Phone Number: 850-488-8573
GEORGIA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are legal during all hunting seasons.
Website: www.gohuntgeorgia.com
Phone Number: 770-918-6416
HAWAII CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows legal with a disabled hunters permit.
Website: www.hawaii.gov/dlnr
Phone Number: 808-973-9787
IDAHO CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are legal during seasons that permit any weapon. They are also allowed for handicapped hunters during the archery season.
Website: www.fishandgame.idaho.gov
Phone Number: 800-554-8685
ILLINOIS CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are permitted for use by disabled hunters by permit only and for hunters that are over the age of 62 with proper permits and tags.
Website: www.dnr.state.il.us
Phone Number: 217-782-7305
INDIANA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows can be used during the entire archery season. It has to include a mechanical safety and a pull weight of at least 125 lbs.
Website: www.in.gov/dnr
Phone Number: 317-232-4080
IOWA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are allowed for disabled hunters with a permit. Residents above the age of 70 may purchase an antlerless deer license to hunt with a crossbow.
Website: www.iowadnr.com
Phone Number: 515-281-8688
KANSAS CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are legal for all hunters in the archery deer seasons.
Website: www.kdwp.state.ks.us
Phone Number: 316-342-0658
KENTUCKY CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are allowed during designated weeks, see the state regulations. Crossbows are also allowed during firearms and muzzleloader seasons. Disabled hunters may use a crossbow to hunt deer during the archery deer season with a permit.
Website: http://fw.ky.gov
Phone Number: 800-858-1549
LOUISIANA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
See state regulations.
Website: www.wlf.state.la.us
Phone Number: 225-765-2350
MAINE CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows may be used by all legal hunters during all archery and firearm seasons statewide, with the exception of the Upper Peninsula. See state regulations for details.
Website: www.michigan.gov/dnr
Phone Number: 517-373-1263
MARYLAND CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows may be used while hunting deer only, with the exception of crossbow permits for disabled hunters. Disabled hunters with a permit may pursue all game legal for a regular bow. Hunters are permitted to use crossbows for 4 weeks of archery season and 4 weeks of firearms season.
Website: www.dnr.state.md.us/
Phone Number: 410-260-8540
MASSACHUSETTS CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are only permitted for disabled hunters and require a permit.
Website: www.masswildlife.org
Phone Number: 508-792-7270
MICHIGAN CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows may be used by all legal hunters during all archery and firearm seasons statewide, with the exception of the Upper Peninsula. See state regulations for details.
Website: www.michigan.gov/dnr
Phone Number: 517-373-1263
MINNESOTA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are only permitted for use by disabled hunters with a permit.
Website: www.dnr.state.mn.us
Phone Number: 888-MINNDNR
MISSISSIPPI CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are legal during Archery Season.
Website: home.mdwfp.com
Phone Number: 601-432-2400
MISSOURI CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are considered firearms and are allowed during the firearms season. Disabled hunters may use a crossbow during archery season with a permit.
Website: www.mdc.mo.gov
Phone Number: 573-751-4115
MONTANA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are only legal during the firearms season.
Website: http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting
Phone Number: 406-444-2535
NEBRASKA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are legal during both firearm and archery seasons.
Website: www.ngpc.state.ne.us/
Phone Number: 402-471-0641
NEVADA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are permitted during the firearms season.
Website: http://www.ndow.org/
Phone Number: 775-688-1500
NEW HAMPSHIRE CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are permitted 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 without purchasing a crossbow permit. Crossbows are not permitted during the youth deer hunting weekend.
Website: www.wildlife.state.nh.us
Phone Number: 603-271-3422
NEW JERSEY CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
The use of crossbows is allowed in any bow and arrow hunting season and other hunting seasons for all species where the use of bow and arrow is allowed.
Website: www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2009/gamecode09.htm
Phone Number: 609-292-2965
NEW MEXICO CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are legal for cougar, bear, deer, elk, pronghorn, javelina, Barbary sheep, Persian ibex, oryx, turkey, and bighorn sheep hunting. Disabled hunters may use crossbows to hunt waterfowl and upland game. Sights on crossbows shall not project light nor use magnification.
Website: www.wildlife.state.nm.us
Phone Number: 800-862-9310
NEW YORK CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
See state website for a complete listing of regulations regarding the use of crossbows for hunting.
Website: www.dec.ny.gov
Phone Number: 518-402-8924
NORTH CAROLINA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are permitted anytime bow and arrows are allowed.
Website: www.ncwildlife.org/fs_index_04_hunting.htm
Phone Number: 919-733-7291
NORTH DAKOTA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are legal for hunters during the rifle season.
Website: www.gf.nd.gov
Phone Number: 701-328-6300
OHIO CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are considered legal archery equipment.
Website: http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov
Phone Number: 614-265-6300
OKLAHOMA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are permitted. Check the state link for full details.
Website: www.wildlifedepartment.com
Phone Number: 405-521-2730
OREGON CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are not permitted for hunting.
Website: www.dfw.state.or.us
Phone Number: 503-872-5268
PENNSYLVANIA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are permitted during the archery season.
Website: www.pgc.state.pa.us
Phone Number: 717-787-4250
RHODE ISLAND CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are only permitted for use by hunters who possess an official adaptive Aid/Crossbow permit from the DEM division of licensing.
Website: www.dem.ri.gov/
Phone Number: 401-222-6647
SOUTH CAROLINA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are allowed during archery seasons.
Website: www.dnr.sc.gov/
Phone Number: 803-734-3886
SOUTH DAKOTA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are permitted for disabled hunters during the archery season.
Website: www.state.sd.us/
Phone Number: 605-773-3485
TENNESSEE CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are permitted during firearms, muzzleloader and archery season.
Website: www.state.tn.us/twra
Phone Number: 615-781-6500
TEXAS CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Where the season is designated as “archery,” only legal archery equipment/crossbow may be used. See the state regulations for complete details.
Website: www.tpwd.state.tx.us
Phone Number: 512-389-4800
UTAH CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are permitted only for disabled hunters with a permit.
Phone Number: Website: www.wildlife.utah.gov
801-538-4700
VERMONT CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are permitted to be used by disabled hunters for any game that may be taken by bow and arrow.
Website: www.vtfishandwildlife.com
Phone Number: 802-241-3700
VIRGINIA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are legal to use by any hunter. A crossbow license is mandatory during an archery season.
Website: www.dgif.state.va.us/
Phone Number: 804-367-1000
WASHINGTON CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are approved for use by qualifying disabled archers.
Website: http://wdfw.wa.gov
Phone Number: 360-902-2519
WEST VIRGINIA CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are permitted for qualifying disabled archers.
Website: www.wvdnr.gov
Phone Number: 304-558-2758
WISCONSIN CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are legal during archery season.
Website: www.dnr.state.wi.us
Phone Number: 608-266-2621
WYOMING CROSSBOW HUNTING LAWS
Crossbows are permitted during archery seasons, and require a 90-pound minimum draw weight, shoot a minimum 16 inch bolt and can not be cocked using a leverage-gaining device.
Website: http://gf.state.wy.us
Phone Number: 307-777-4600
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