Please do not judge those who may use or choose to use crossbows in conjunction with disability based upon the supposed statements of one person.

According to the Illinois DNR and state statutes ...

The Department of Natural Resources offers two special permits for people with disabilities:

Crossbow: Special permits may be issued by the DNR to qualified handicapped persons allowing them to use a crossbow to hunt species during regular archery seasons. This permit must be carried by the hunter along with all required hunting licenses, stamps or permits. To qualify for a crossbow permit, a person must either have a permanent physical impairment due to injury or disease, congenital or acquired, that renders him/her so severely disabled as to be unable to use a conventional bow and arrow device, or must be legally blind.

Permanently handicapped persons, as defined by law (520 ILCS 5/2.33), may apply to the DNR’s Office of Law Enforcement for an exemption to allow the use of a crossbow. A physician’s certification is required (see Disabled Outdoor Opportunities - Special Permits on page 27).

(jj) Nothing contained in this Section shall prohibit the use of bow and arrow, or prevent the Director from issuing permits to use a crossbow to handicapped persons as provided by administrative rule. As used herein, "handicapped persons" means those persons who have a permanent physical impairment due to injury or disease, congenital or acquired, which renders them so severely disabled as to be unable to use a conventional bow and arrow device. Permits will be issued only after the receipt of a physician's statement confirming the applicant is handicapped as defined above.


Unless your " pin in the ankle " person has another disability that prevents his from using a conventional bow, then both he ( definately ) and any physician(s) ( likely ) are violating the law.

Unless of course it can some how be proved that his ankle pin prevents him from drawing back a regular bow, which I doubt.

I would suggest finding out who this person is. ( name, address, vehicle plate, etc ) and perhaps consider having him investigated.

Unless he is BS-ing you as to his reason for a permit and has another legitimate condition, his actions could have a negative effect on those who are legitimately disabled who may seek to obtain a permit for a crossbow.

His actions can also have a negative effects on other states like New York where there is legislation to change crossbow laws that are so strict that even people striken with Multiple Sclerosis are unable to qualify for a permit. The New York bowhunters association unfortunately opposes such legislation in the belief that if qualifications are relaxed that every Tom, Dick, and Harry with a hangnail will be out there with a crossbow. While the proposed New York legislation shouldn't relax restrictions to such a degree that anyone with a hangnail would qualify, having this person being qualified in Illinois as disabled with an ankle pin does not help the situation.

If what you say about him is true, then JERKS like him hurt legitimately handicapped persons who may not be able to bowhunt as is the case in places like New York.