This is a pretty complete and up to date map on crossbow regs. They only update that I saw missing was Indiana will be full inclusive next year.

http://www.barnettcrossbows.com/crossbowregulations/index.html

 

That list is not up to date. I live and hunt in Maryland and crossbow are legal from Sept 15 until Jan 31. You can use them in all the seasons, during gun seasons you just have to wear orange.

 

Looking over the list on the Barnett website it would seem that those states which do allow crossbows the majority of them require special conditions - disabilities which limit vertical bow use, or age restrictions. Although helpful, probably a more useful presentation of such a list might be as a "grid" listing the states top-to-bottom, with columns right-to-left which would indicate restrictions, if any. There was only 1 state which totally bans crossbow hunting - Oregon.

I believe Michigan, Delaware and Alabama (to name a few) have realized that it's time to enter the 21st century. California, of course, considers crossbows to be firearms (???) - I thought firearms were classified as weapons which require some sort of explosive propellant to discharge a projectile from within an enclosed tube or barrel.. oh that's right, crossbows have triggers, and the bolts rest in a rail that's part of a barrel, and optical sights equitable to those which can be mounted on rifles, shotguns, handguns can also be mounted on crossbows..
..

I apologize for the diatribe on California - it's just that the correlation they make is so ridiculous I couldn't help myself. :sword:

 

Eh its California what'dya expect? They require background checks in that state for inline muzzleloaders but don't requre checks for traditional muzzleloaders. Go figure.

 

Eh its California what'dya expect? They require background checks in that state for inline muzzleloaders but don't requre checks for traditional muzzleloaders. Go figure.

Wow, that sounds kinda silly to me. I believe they need a couple real hunters who know what is going on to create the hunting laws and regulations. Leave the concrete buildings and interstates and city life and regulations to someone else.

 

Maine has joined the ranks of states that allow Crossbows. Its inclusion is not with difficulties however. The only legal
time a hunter can hunt with the crossbow is during the legal firearm season on deer and bear. Very few Maine hunters
want to spend the money for a crossbow, just to compete against someone with a gun. Our deer herd was decimated
back in 1998 with the ice storm that knocked out power to over 600,000 homes. The herd started to recover only to
be pushed back by two consecutive severe winters. Snow had accumulations of 130 to 200 inches during the
2007-2008, and 2008-2009. After the snows all melted, people were finding deer carcasses 5 and 6 feet up on spruce
and pine tree limbs. Now that Maine has such a shortage of deer, few hunter want to give up their privilege to take a
deer with gun. Its unfortunate that the gun and crossbow season coincide as the same dates each year.
One bright light is a law to allow Maine lifetime license holders over 70 to hunt with a crossbow in any legal season
on any bird or animal, including moose if the individual has been picked in the lottery for a moose. Individuals must
have completed the Archery, and Crossbow safety courses.

There are approx 3000 moose available each year picked by a lottery of hopeful participants. Still, many hunters
fail to kill a moose or deer. Thirty years ago, most Mainers had idea coyotes were in Maine. Now they are in
every town and county. Many deer died due to starvation and the elements during the hard winters, and coyotes
were able to feast.

Like many other states, Maine is slow to adopt trends, that sportsman want, and when they do, they try to make
it difficult in the process.

 

Release #042-12​

BOARD MAKES EXPANDED USE OF CROSSBOWS PERMANENT
BOARD ALLOWS USE OF BAIT ON ‘RED TAG’ FARMS IN SOUTHEAST;
BOARD TAKES OTHER ACTIONS​

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to a regulatory change that makes permanent the lawful use of crossbows in archery deer and bear seasons.
The specific action taken by the Board was removing the sunset date provision inserted into the regulatory changes that permitted crossbows in 2009. The sunset provision required the Board and agency staff to review the impact of expanded use of crossbows on the deer and bear resource before June 30, 2012.
Based on staff input to the Board, while there were increases in the archery harvests of deer and bear that could be attributed to the inclusion of the crossbow, the agency staff did not view the increase as unsustainable and the increased recreational opportunity was an added benefit.

 

All Pa. has to do now is put a bounty on coyotes so we get our deer population back up again. The area I live in is really hurting for deer.

 

All Pa. has to do now is put a bounty on coyotes so we get our deer population back up again. The area I live in is really hurting for deer.

Smart move, 40 years ago we had no coyotes in most of Maine, and coyotes went unchecked, and now they are everywhere, and deer
are scarce except along the coast. Heavy snows yard the deer up, and make easy pickins for the yotes.

 

In south Carolina crossbows are legal to hunt with from Aug 15 (in the lower part of the state) and Sept in the upper part of the state until Jan 1st. During the gun season you just have to wear orange to go hunting.

 

Tenpoint has a list that is upto date on thier site.

I get a kick out of listening to the anti's talk about how powerful crossbows are,whenever they come up in discussion.

My fav is there is ALWAYS a guy who swears that they shot thru a telephone pole at 100 yards,or some similar such nonsense.
I always ask that person what kind of crossbow it was..and they always answer the same "I dont know..it was my cousins brothers uncle dads" type of answer.

Point is,crossbows are no more powerful,or fast,as a compound bow whose draw weight is half that of the crossbow. Point that little fact to an anti,and they shut up quick.

I realise that this thread isnt about the antis..but I used that scenario to get to my point..that crossbows are a viable and accurate hunting weapon,and thru education of the masses,we will see more states open up to allow them.

Write letters to your politicians,organize a group to get petitions going,contact crossbow manufacturers to get them more involved (most are very active in getting legislation passed)...and keep pounding away at it...dont give up and soon we will be legal nationwide!!

 

Here are the regs for Alaska 2012-13

Go to page 19 for Crossbow restrictions... cannot use in restricted weapons hunts Page 20 (Archery/Bow or muzzle loader)
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/regulations/wildliferegulations/pdfs/general.pdf

Since a crossbow is not considered a "Bow" by definition on page 20... looks like optical scopes and electronic optical enhancements are good as long as they do not project light (laser)

georgeb

 

My fav is there is ALWAYS a guy who swears that they shot thru a telephone pole at 100 yards,or some similar such nonsense.
I always ask that person what kind of crossbow it was..and they always answer the same "I dont know..it was my cousins brothers uncle dads" type of answer.

AH, you have not seen one of those?? It's the All New 2013 Parker RPCB ( Rocket Propelled Cross Bow ) BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! You got to wear a welder's helment when you shoot it .... BWAHAHAHA!!!!

 

Michigan crossbow hunter here. Can be used through all seasons. No restrictions on seasons or arrow velocity. Aslong as your licensed and have a free crossbow stamp (free for everyone, no application, just ask for it when purchasing license, one crossbow stamp is good all year for all seasons, again its free for everyone) then your legal to hunt with a crossbow.
Couple years ago we had velocity restrictions, but those were lifted.

 

Michigan crossbow hunter here. Can be used through all seasons. No restrictions on seasons or arrow velocity. Aslong as your licensed and have a free crossbow stamp (free for everyone, no application, just ask for it when purchasing license, one crossbow stamp is good all year for all seasons, again its free for everyone) then your legal to hunt with a crossbow.
Couple years ago we had velocity restrictions, but those were lifted.

I can only wish

 

Looking over the list on the Barnett website it would seem that those states which do allow crossbows the majority of them require special conditions - disabilities which limit vertical bow use, or age restrictions. Although helpful, probably a more useful presentation of such a list might be as a "grid" listing the states top-to-bottom, with columns right-to-left which would indicate restrictions, if any. There was only 1 state which totally bans crossbow hunting - Oregon.

I believe Michigan, Delaware and Alabama (to name a few) have realized that it's time to enter the 21st century. California, of course, considers crossbows to be firearms (???) - I thought firearms were classified as weapons which require some sort of explosive propellant to discharge a projectile from within an enclosed tube or barrel.. oh that's right, crossbows have triggers, and the bolts rest in a rail that's part of a barrel, and optical sights equitable to those which can be mounted on rifles, shotguns, handguns can also be mounted on crossbows..
..

I apologize for the diatribe on California - it's just that the correlation they make is so ridiculous I couldn't help myself. :sword:

I do not doubt you about California stating that xbows are considered firearms, but I cannot find any documentation which states that, I have lived and hunted in California for many years. I also called the California DOJ, they said that they had never heard of that. So, I was just wondering where this information originated. As far as I can see the California does not see xbows as firearms...and in the written definition of stated firearms in the state right now xbows are not included in that category as defined.
Just curious as to where this info comes from....am I missing something.

 

After some more checking...I have found documentation on the California attorney generals website an California dfg website that states xbows are not considered firearms in this State...they can only be used for hunting....they can only be used during firearms seasons unless you have a disability that will allow you to hunt in the archery season.

 

Wyoming allows crossbow hunting during the archery season which includes the month of September in many areas and special archery seasons in specific hunt units at different times up through January. In additon to your individual big game license you will need an archery permit. Anyone that is otherwise a qualified hunter can use a crossbow and there is no restriction on cocking aids. They can also be used during firearm seasons like vertical bows but you have to wear flourescent orange during rifle seasons (a hat will qualify). Archery only season full camo is fine. The specific crossbow regs for 2012 by WGFD are:

Chapter 32

.............(c) For the taking of any big or trophy game animal with the use of a crossbow, the crossbow hunter shall be equipped with a crossbow of not less than ninety (90) pounds draw weight which has a minimum draw length of fourteen (14) inches (from front of bow to back of string in the cocked position) and a positive safety mechanism. Crossbow bolts shall be at least sixteen (16) inches long.

(d) The broadhead of arrows or crossbow bolts used to take any big or trophy game animals shall be made of sharp steel and have a minimum cutting width of one (1) inch.

 

terryB you can do a lot here in alabama except hunt turkey with a crossbow. oct 15-jan 31st one a day

 

I can only wish

Same here Bobbyd!! N.Y.S. sucks......

 

Terry B,
Check out this link on Ten Points site: www.tenpointcrossbows.com/images/Crossbow_Seasons_Maps_US_Jul12_current.JPG Get all your crossbow hunting friends together , find out who your House of Representatives and State Senators are and all of you get together and start hitting them with a massive email and phone calling program and tell them what you want. Use information from other states that have recently passed new crossbow legislation. North Carolina for one just completely revamped the rules and regs on crossbows in 2011, and now everyone can use them during regular archery seasons and during the gun seasons as well. It is considered a legal weapon anytime the seasons are open for any game species. Now is a good time of year to start your crossbow campaign, as all the Senators and Reps will be returning to work from Christmas and New Years vacations. Once you start your program don't let up until you get what you want. You may also wish to contact the Hunter Services Division of the NRA and ask for their help as well. Good luck and don't give up.........

Hunt Safe,
Land Shark, Founding Director
North Carolina Crossbow Federation :clapping:

 

Thanks Land Shark I guess I'll get my butt in gear since I know no one up here who wants to get pro active.

 

Land Shark can you post that web site so I could click on it. I tried copy and paste but didn't work. Thanks bobbyd

 

Here it is straight from the CBN site: http://www.crossbownation.com/forum/forum/86-north-carolina-crossbow-federation/ The one for Ten Point is:http:// www.tenpointcrossbows.com/images/Crossbow_Seasons_Maps_US_Jul12_current.JPG It looks the same except for the http:// part at the beginning. If this does not work then all you have to do is go to the forums page and scroll down to the State Crossbow Orgnizations page and you'll see us right there. Not much there in the way of info for getting a state organization up and running. Like I mentioned earlier just get all your crossbow friends together and start an email campaign to your House Reps, since they are the ones who usually control state laws, unless your states wildlife agency controls it. Anyway, find out who controls what and start letting them know what you all want. Check out other states crossbow regs and use them to make your case. It worked for us. Good luck and don't give up.

Hunt Safe,
Land Shark :clapping:

 

Is Ohio a legal crossbow state ?