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Regulations by State 2006-2007
ALABAMA
Crossbows are legal for all persons during the entire regular deer-hunting season.
Except for crossbows, it shall be unlawful for any person to hunt wildlife with any mechanical device that holds a bow at full or partial draw, except a person holding a valid disabled permit issued by the Department is allowed to use a device that holds a bow at full draw provided the device has a full working safety to prevent accidental firings.
www.outdooralabama.com
ALASKA
May be used for big game or small game during general seasons. Not permitted during archery-only season.
www.state.ak.us
ARIZONA
Crossbows are legal for handicapped hunters on a very restrictive permit basis, or for anyone during general firearms seasons.
www.azgfd.gov
ARKANSAS
Crossbows must have a minimum draw weight of 125 pounds and mechanical safety. Crossbows are permitted during archery seasons.
www.agfc.state.ar.us
CALIFORNIA
May be used for big game during general firearms season. Also, permitted for small game.
www.dfg.ca.gov
COLORADO
Crossbows are legal for all hunters during gun seasons and for handicapped hunters during archery season.
www.dnr.state.co.us
CONNECTICUT
Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit.
www.dep.state.ct.us
DELAWARE
May be used during Archery Season by the handicapped, and by all during the general firearms and shotgun season.
www.dnrec.state.de.us
FLORIDA
Crossbows may be used for big game during the general firearm's season. Permitted for small game.
www.floridaconservation.org
GEORGIA
Crossbows are legal in all seasons.
www.gohuntgeorgia.com
HAWAII
Crossbows are legal by special disabled permit only.
www.hawaii.gov/dlnr
IDAHO
Crossbows are legal for handicapped persons by permit only.
www.fishandgame.idaho.gov
ILLINOIS
Hunters 62 years of age and older are now permitted to use a crossbow without a special permit. Prior to the change, only persons with a disability or persons who had obtained a special use permit were allowed to use the devices. Hunters using a crossbow will need an archery deer permit and proof of age in the form of an official ID. Crossbows used in hunting as authorized by a permit issued under this section shall meet all of the following specifications: - Shall have a minimum peak draw weight of 125 pounds and a maximum peak draw weight of 200 pounds.
- Shall have a minimum limb width of 24 inches and a minimum overall length (from butt of stock to front of limbs) of 24 inches.
- Shall have a working safety.
- Shall be used with bolts or arrows of not less than 14 inches in length (not including point) with a broadhead. Broadheads may have fixed or expandable blades, but they must be barbless and have a minimum 7/8 inch diameter when fully opened. Broadheads with fixed blade must be metal or flint-, chert-, or obsidian-napped; broadheads with expandable blades must be metal.
Hunters who are under 62 years old and wish to use a crossbow are still required to obtain a permit from the Department of Natural Resources.
www.dnr.state.il.us
INDIANA
Crossbows may be used during the late archery season for all hunters.
www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/hunt/season2.htm
IOWA
Crossbows are permitted for handicapped hunters with permit.
www.iowa.dnr.com
KANSAS
Crossbows are permitted for handicapped hunters with permit.
www.kdwp.state.ks.us
KENTUCKY
Crossbows are permitted for handicapped hunters with permit during the bow only deer season.
Crossbows may be used from October 1-22 and November 11 - December 31, 2006.� Hunters using crossbows during a firearms deer season must follow all firearm season restrictions, zone guidelines and hunting requirements in effect during firearms seasons.
www.kdfwr.state.ky.us
LOUISANA
Crossbows are legal for handicapped hunters by permit and for hunters age 60 and older.
www.wlf.state.la.us
MAINE
Crossbows are not recognized as a legal hunting weapon. Click here for more information.
Effective January 1, 2006, crossbows will be a legal hunting implement during the firearms season on deer and the hunting season for bear. The use of crossbow will still be prohibited for use during the regular archery season and expanded archery season as well as the muzzleloading deer hunting season.
www.state.me.us/ifw
MARYLAND
Any hunter who is 65 years of age or older or possesses a Resident Senior Hunting License can hunt deer with a crossbow in all Maryland deer hunting seasons. Crossbows are also legal for all hunters during the firearm and muzzleloader seasons.
www.dnr.state.md.us
MASSACHUSETTS
Crossbows are permitted for handicapped hunters with permit.
www.masswildlife.org
MICHIGAN
Crossbows are permitted for use by the physically challenged during archery season and for the taking of deer by a person 12years of age or older during the November 15-30 firearm deer season.
www.michigan.gov/dnr/
MINNESOTA
Crossbows are permitted for handicapped hunters with permit.
www.dnr.state.mn.us
MISSISSIPPI
Crossbows are permitted for handicapped hunters with permit and hunters 65 and older.
www.mdwfp.com
MISSOURI
Crossbows are permitted for handicapped hunters by permit in archery season and during firearms season.
mdc.mo.gov/hunt/
MONTANA
Crossbows are legal only during gun season. No provision for handicapped hunters.
www.fwp.state.mt.us
NEBRASKA
Crossbows are permitted for use by the physically challenged during archery and regular firearms season.
www.ngpc.state.ne.us
NEVADA
Crossbows are recognized as a legal hunting weapon.
www.ndow.org/
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by permit during archery season. Crossbows are legal for all hunters in firearms season.
www.wildlife.state.nh.us
NEW JERSEY
Crossbows are prohibited, but a bow permit may be issued to a disabled hunter who cannot use a conventional bow as described in the game code. This permit is issued only if the need to use a crossbow is certified by a licensed and certified NJ physician.
www.njfishandwildlife.com
NEW MEXICO
Crossbow use is allowed by Certified Mobility Impaired Hunters during all hunts.
www.wildlife.state.nm.us
NEW YORK
Crossbows are illegal. Except for Modified Crossbow Permit.
This permit allows qualified people to hunt big or small game with a crossbow that has been specifically modified with a device that only allows it to be discharged (fired) by means of a breath tube. This permit does not allow the use of an unmodified crossbow.
www.dec.state.ny.us
NORTH CAROLINA
Crossbows are legal only for disabled persons with a permit from the Wildlife Resources Commission.
www.ncwildlife.org
NORTH DAKOTA
Crossbows are not legal, except with a permit from the
North Dakota Game and Fish Department Director. When permitted, crossbows must: a)
have a peak draw weight of at least 75 pounds and not more than 200 pounds, b) be
equipped with a working safety to prevent accidental firing, c) have a stock at least 14
inches long, d) use arrows or bolts at least 14 inches in length, e) Battery-powered and
electronic-lighted sight pins and telescopic sights not exceeding a maximum power of four
by thirty-two millimeters may be attached to crossbows used for hunting, and f) crossbow hunters must comply with all other archery equipment regulations.
gf.nd.gov/
OHIO
Crossbows legal during archery season; Draw weight must not be less than 75 pounds and no more than 200 pounds.
www.dnr.state.oh.us
OKLAHOMA
Crossbows are legal for 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 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.
Crossbow: Minimum draw weight of 100 pounds and equipped with safety devices. Leverage gaining devices are permitted.
Bolts (arrows): Minimum of 14 inches in length and equipped with broadhead hunting type points not less than 7/8 inches wide.
www.wildlifedepartment.com
OREGON
Crossbows are illegal.
www.dfw.state.or.us
PENNSYLVANIA
Crossbows are legal state wide in archery season for disabled and temporary disabled hunters by permit. Legal for all hunters statewide for bear, deer and elk during any of the firearms seasons, including the regular two-week concurrent deer season, the early muzzleloader season and the late flintlock season. In addition, in Wildlife Management units-the most urbanized areas of the state-crossbows are legal during any established deer season.
www.pgc.state.pa.us
RHODE ISLAND
Crossbows only legal for hunters who posses an official adaptive Aid/Crossbow permit obtained through the DEM division of licensing.
www.dem.ri.gov/pubs/regs/index.htm
SOUTH CAROLINA
Crossbows may be used on private lands and WMA lands statewide during firearms and muzzleloader season only for deer and bear. Any person 62 years of age or older may use a crossbow to hunt during seasons when the use of archery & muzzleloaders are authorized for hunting. Crossbows are also legal for use statewide during any open season for deer (including archery only seasons), turkey, or bear by a person who suffers from an upper limb disability, provided the person while hunting, has in immediate possession a written statement certifying the disability.
www.dnr.state.sc.us
SOUTH DAKOTA
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters during archery season.
Special crossbow permit. The department secretary or an authorized agent may issue a special crossbow permit to a person who is permanently incapable of using a bow and arrow due to the loss of or use of one or both arms caused by birth defect, injury, or disease or who is confined to a wheelchair.
www.state.sd.us
TENNESSEE
Crossbows are legal during all hunting seasons.
www.state.tn.us/twra
TEXAS
Crossbows legal during general season with minimum draw weight of 125 pounds, a mechanical safety and a stock that is 25 inches or longer.
www.tpwd.state.tx.us
UTAH
Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit. A disabled person may use a crossbow to hunt deer, elk or pronghorn during the archery hunt.
www.wildlife.utah.gov
VERMONT
Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit.
www.vtfishandwildlife.com
VIRGINIA
Legal for all hunters, if hunting with a crossbow for any game species during any archery season you must have a state or county hunting license, a crossbow license, and all other applicable licenses or permits.
www.dgif.state.va.us
WASHINGTON
Crossbows approved for use by qualifying archers with disabilities (effective 5/5/04).
www.wdfw.wa.gov
WEST VIRGINIA
Legal for disabled hunters with a class Y Crossbow permit. A Class Y permit allows a qualified, physically challenged person to hunt with a crossbow during designated archery seasons.
www.wvdnr.gov/
WISCONSIN
Crossbows are not legal to use except by disabled hunters issued a class A, B, or Crossbow Permit; resident hunter 65 years of age or older issued a valid archery hunting license.
www.dnr.state.wi.us
WYOMING
Crossbows legal during archery seasons; must have a 90 pound minimum draw weight, shoot a 16 inch bolt and can not be cocked with a leverage-gaining device.
gf.state.wy.us/admin/regulations/
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