OK here is the State By State low down on crossbows.
*
Crossbow Permitted:
Wyoming,Texas ,Arkansas,Tennessee,Alabama,Goergia,Virginia and Ohio.
*
Limited Season Heavy Restriction:
Califoria,Arizona,Colorado,Montana,Nebraska,Missou ri,Indiana,Michigan,Florida,SouthCarilina,Maryland ,Delaware,NewHampshire,Alaska and Pennsylvania
*
Legal by Disability:
Washington,Idaho,Utah,NewMexico,Oklahoma,Kansas,No rthDakota,SouthDakota,Minnisota,Iowa,Illinois,Wisc onson,Louisiana,Mississippi,NorthCarolina,WestVirg inia,Connecticut,Vermont,Massachusetts,NewJersey,R hodeIsland and Maine,
*
CROSSBOWS ILLEGAL:
Nevada,Oregon and NewYork
*
Undetermined:
Kentucky and Hawaii
*
So what can we read into this? Your opinions Please!!!!!!![/align]Political,Deer Populations or what?
Eric S. Stacy [/align]

This year Minnesota is allowing crossbow during rifle season..
IT'S A START........

Think Missouri is in the legal by disability section,if I read the hunting
regs right!

Latest data I have. New Mexico recently went for disabled I believe, New York allows them if you can't wiggle a finger, must use "blow-tube" for a trigger. Hawaii just went disabled.





Written by Administrator

Tuesday, 16 May 2006


Brought to you by Horton Crossbows
[/align]
Alabama
Crossbows legal for all persons during the entire deer hunting season.
http://www.outdooralabama.com/
334-242-3469

Alaska
Crossbows are illegal in bow-only areas, but can be used where guns and bows are legal weapons. No provision for handicapped hunters.
http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/
907-267-2347

Arizona
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters on a very restrictive permit basis, or for anyone during general firearms seasons.
http://www.azgfd.com/
602-942-3000

Arkansas
Crossbows legal during archery seasons; must have minimum draw weight of 125 pounds and mechanical safety.
http://www.agfc.state.ar.us/
501-223-6300



California
Crossbows legal for all hunters during gun seasons. Also, the California Game Commission voted on April 22, 2004 to adopt the following language to their regulations: "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, archery season, or general session. Under these conditions, archers must provide to the Department and retain in his/her immediate possession while taking or attempting to take big game written verification of the disability, including: the person's name and signature, address, date of birth, driver's license or DMV number, physician's name and signature, physician's license number and address and a description of the disability."
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/
916-653-7203


Colorado
Crossbows legal for all hunters during gun seasons and for handicapped hunters during archery season.
http://www.dnr.state.co.us/
303-297-1192

Connecticut
Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit.
http://www.dep.state.ct.us/
860-424-3011

Delaware
Crossbows legal Monday through Saturday of November shotgun season and during any gun season in December or January.
http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnrec2000/
302-739-5297

Florida
Beginning in October 2006, there will be a five-day crossbow season between the existing archery season and muzzle loading gun season in the Central and South hunting zones. In the Northwest Zone, the crossbow season will be seven days long and will open the Monday following Thanksgiving. Click on the Florida link below for additional crossbow information.
Crossbows also legal for handicapped hunters by permit.
www.floridaconservation.org/
850-488-8573

Georgia
Crossbows legal in all seasons starting 2003.
http://www.gohuntgeorgia.com/
770-918-6416

Hawaii
Crossbows legal by special disabled permit only.
http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/
808-973-9787

Idaho
During an any-weapon 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.
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/
800-554-8685

Illinois
Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit.
http://www.dnr.state.il.us/
217-782-7305

Indiana
Crossbows legal only in late archery season and only for antler less deer.
www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/huntguide1/hunt.htm
317-232-4080

Iowa
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters with permit.
http://www.iowadnr.com/
515-281-8688

Kansas
Crossbows and draw locks legal only for permanently disabled hunters by permit.
http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/
316-342-0658


Kentucky
Crossbows legal for all hunters during rifle and muzzleloader seasons. Legal in archery season for handicapped hunters. *Liberal crossbow regulations are currently under consideration, resolution is expected by June 2006.
www.kdfwr.state.ky.us/
800-858-1549

Louisiana
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by permit and for hunters age 60 and older.
www.wlf.state.la.us/
225-765-2350

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. A person who applies for the crossbow hunting license, other than a junior hunting license, must submit proof of having successfully completing an archery hunting education course and a crossbow hunting course or evidence of having previously held adult archery and crossbow hunting licenses issued specifically for the purpose of hunting with a crossbow or bow and arrow in this State or any other state, province or country in any year after 1979.
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
http://www.state.me.us/ifw/education/safety/crossbowsafety.htm
207-287-8000

Maryland
Crossbows: First 2 weeks and last 2 weeks of the regular archery season. All regular gun seasons and muzzleloader seasons. Age 65 and over legal throughout Archery season.
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/
410-260-8540

Massachusetts
Crossbows for handicap with permit.
http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dfw/
508-792-7270

Michigan
Crossbows legal for bucks only during firearm season and for handicapped hunters by permit during archery season.
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr
517-373-1263

Minnesota
Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/index.html
888-minndnr

Mississippi
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters with permit and hunters 65 and older.
http://www.mdwfp.com/
601-432-2400

Missouri
Crossbows for handicapped archers by permit and during firearms season.
www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/
573-751-4115

Montana
Crossbows legal only during gun seasons. No provision for handicapped hunters.
http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/
406-444-2535

Nebraska
Crossbows legal during deer and pronghorn firearms season and for handicapped hunters by permit during archery season.
http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/
402-471-0641

Nevada
Crossbows illegal.
www.ndow.org/
775-688-1500

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.
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/
603-271-3422

New Jersey
Crossbows are prohibited, but a Bow Use Permit may be issued to disabled hunters who cannot use a conventional bow as described in the Game Code. This permit is issued only if the need is certified by a licensed and certified NJ physician.
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/
609-292-2965

New Mexico
Crossbow use is allowed by Certified Mobility Impaired Hunters during all hunts.
http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/
800-862-9310

New York
Crossbows illegal.
www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/huntfish.html
No phone number listed.

North Carolina
Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit.
http://www.ncwildlife.org/
919-733-7291

North Dakota
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by permit.
http://www.gf.nd.gov/
701-328-6300

Ohio
Crossbows legal during archery season; Draw weight must not be less than 75 pounds and no more than 200 pounds.
www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/default.htm
614-265-6300

Oklahoma
Crossbows legal only 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.
www.wildlifedepartment.com
405-521-2730

Oregon
Crossbows illegal.
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/
503-872-5268

Pennsylvania
Crossbows legal statewide in archery season for disabled and temporarily disabled hunters by permit. Legal for all hunters statewide for bear and elk and during any of the firearms deer seasons, including the regular two-week concurrent deer season, the early muzzle loader season and the late flintlock season. In addition, in Wildlife Management Units (WMU’s) 2B, 5C, & 5D – the most urbanized areas of the state – crossbows are legal during any established deer season.
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/
717-787-4250

Rhode Island
Crossbows only legal for hunters who posses an official Adaptive Aid/Crossbow Permit obtained through the DEM Division of Licensing.
http://www.state.ri.us/dem/
401-222-6647

South Carolina
Crossbows illegal during archery-only season; legal during firearms and muzzle loader seasons; legal for handicapped hunters by permit.
http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/
803-734-3886

South Dakota
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters during archery season.
http://www.sdgfp.info/Index.htm
605-773-3485

Tennessee
The use of crossbows is now permitted during all seasons including the regular archery season.
http://www.state.tn.us/twra/
615-781-6500

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.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/
512-389-45055

Utah
Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit.
http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/
801-538-4700

Vermont
Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit.
http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/
802-241-3700

Virginia
At the June 23, 2005, meeting of the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries the Board approved the use of crossbows for hunting during the upcoming fall hunting season. Previously, only disabled hunters could hunt with crossbows. For more specific crossbow information click on the following link: www.dgif.state.va.us/hunting/crossbow.asp
www.dgif.state.va.us/hunting/regulations/index.html
804-367-1000

Washington
Crossbows approved (effective 5/5/04) for use by qualifying archers with disabilities.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/
360-902-2519

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.
http://www.wvdnr.gov/
304-558-2771

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.
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/
608-266-2621

Wyoming
Crossbows legal during archery seasons; Must have 90 pound minimum draw weight, shoot a 16 inch bolt and cannot be cocked with a leverage-gaining device.
http://gf.state.wy.us/
307-777-4600

Coutesy: CrossbowHunting.net

Louisiana, although disabled only, runs from October 1- January 31.
Same for regular archery.

I may qualify in Texas this year!Since I have developed a cyst on my right wrist I may be able to get the doctors note and buy a archery tag and be legal,other than that I may hunt with it during general season.

For Texas it has to be a permanent upper limb disability. A temorary medical condition, like a broken arm or sprained wrist, does not qualify. I don't think a cyst will do it either unless it can't be removed or unless you have a very friendly doctor.

Also, the crossbow is legal for any game other than migratory birds during any firearms season or for any animals that have no closed season. Archery deer season is the only time they can't be used, except by the disabled. But they allow the draw lock device with no restrictions!!

Eric: You guys in La. can use them year round on hogs, right??

Awshucks, Horton's info is out of date and the link doesn't work. Deer hunters here in Indiana can use a crossbow only during our late archery season, but according to the current hunting guide may take a deer of either sex. Here's the correct link:

IDNR Hunting Guide 2007-2008

You can take all other legal game with one during their appropriate season(s). Varmints may be taken with a crossbow at any time.

YUKON TERRITORIES
Crossbows illegal.
http://www.environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/
867-667-5221



Last Updated ( Friday, 20 April 2007 )