What changed in New York State Crossbow Law on August 27, 2025
On August 27, 2025, New York State officially modernized its crossbow hunting law, marking one of the most significant changes to hunting regulations in decades. Under the new law, crossbows are now legal for use during the entire big game archery season, a major expansion from the previous restrictions that only allowed limited late-season use. Alongside this shift, lawmakers eliminated outdated equipment restrictions, introduced clear safety standards, and required bowhunter education and an archery privilege for hunters. By redefining crossbows as longbows under Senate Bill S6360A, New York aligns itself with neighboring states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New Jersey, giving hunters more opportunities, expanding participation, and strengthening deer management efforts across the state.
1. Full Archery Season Access
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Old Law: Crossbows were only allowed in small portions of the archery season (last 14 days in the Southern Zone, last 10 days in the Northern Zone, including the 7-day early muzzleloader).
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New Law: Crossbows are now legal for the entire big game archery season, from opening day through the last hour of the season (except in Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties).
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Regional Context: With crossbows legal for the entire archery season starting August 27, 2025, New York hunters gain the same access that hunters in most neighboring states already have. New York was one of the last major holdouts; this reform aligns it with the broader Northeast trend and other states nationwide.
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Pennsylvania: Crossbows have been legal in the full archery deer season since 2009.
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Ohio: Full archery season access for decades; crossbows treated equally with vertical bows.
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New Jersey: Legal throughout all archery deer seasons since 2009.
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Vermont & Connecticut: Expanded in the last decade to allow crossbows broadly during archery.
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Massachusetts: Still more restrictive — crossbows generally limited to hunters with disabilities.
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2. Equipment Rules are Changed
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Old Law: Hunters faced strict dimensional restrictions on crossbows, including rules on limb width, overall length, and bolt length. According to the laws’ definitions, most commonly sold crossbows were illegal.
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New Law: These outdated restrictions are eliminated. Instead, the law focuses on safety standards:
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Must be a compound or recurve crossbow with stock and trigger.
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Bolt/arrow must be at least 14 inches.
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Minimum draw weight of 100 pounds.
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Must include a working safety mechanism.
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3. Licensing and Education
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Old Law: Hunters needed a hunting license and, in some cases, a muzzleloader license to use a crossbow during archery seasons.
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New Law: To hunt with a crossbow during archery season, hunters must:
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Have a valid NY hunting license.
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Complete a Bowhunter Education Course.
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Purchase the Archery Privilege on their license.
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4. Definition of a Crossbow by the Law
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Old Law: Crossbows were treated as a separate category, not fully recognized as archery equipment, which kept them excluded from much of the bowhunting season.
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New Law: Crossbows are redefined as longbows for purposes of hunting law, granting them the same access as traditional bows during archery seasons. Senate Bill S6360A proposed redefining crossbows as longbows, allowing their use during archery seasons. Click Here for the Official Status of this bill.
5. Removing Barriers for Participation
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Old Law: Complicated rules (equipment dimensions, muzzleloader license requirement, limited archery windows) discouraged many hunters.
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New Law: By eliminating red tape and focusing only on safety standards, the law makes it easier for:
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Youth hunters (12+).
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Older hunters who may struggle with traditional bows.
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New hunters who find crossbows more accessible. This increases participation at a time when hunter numbers are declining nationwide.
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6. Wildlife Management Benefits
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Expanding crossbow access gives hunters more time in the field, which can:
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Improve deer population management by increasing harvest opportunities.
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Help reduce deer-related issues like crop damage, vehicle collisions, and ecological impacts. Neighboring states that expanded crossbow seasons report higher hunter participation and more effective herd control.
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7. Legislative & Cultural Shift
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New York’s adoption of Senate Bill S6360A, redefining crossbows as longbows, marks a cultural recognition: crossbows are now considered legitimate archery equipment, not a lesser or separate category.
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This aligns with the modernization of hunting laws across the U.S., where technology is accepted so long as it is safe and ethical.
SUMMARY OF THE CHANGE IN NEW YORK STATE CROSSBOW LAW
| Old Law (before Aug 2025) | New Law (effective Aug 27, 2025) |
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| Archery Season Access: Crossbows are only allowed for short periods: • Last 14 days of early bow in Southern Zone. • Last 10 days of early bow in Northern Zone (incl. 7-day early muzzleloader). |
Full Archery Season Access: Crossbows are legal from opening day through the final day of the big game archery season statewide (except Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester). |
| Other Seasons: Crossbows are allowed during the firearms and muzzleloader seasons for deer and bear. | Same — still legal in firearms and muzzleloader seasons, plus full archery season. |
| Equipment Restrictions: Strict rules on limb width, overall length, bolt length. | Restrictions Removed: No dimensional limits. Hunters just need to meet basic safety/standards. |
| Safety Standards: Not consistently codified beyond dimensional rules. | Safety Standards Set: • Must be compound/recurve with stock & trigger. • Bolt ≥14 inches. • Draw weight ≥100 lbs. • Working safety required. |
| Hunter Requirements: • NY hunting license. • Muzzleloading license required for archery crossbow use. • Age 12+. |
Hunter Requirements: • NY hunting license. • Bowhunter Education Certificate. • Archery privilege on license. • Age 12+. |
| County Restrictions: Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester – no crossbow hunting. | Same — crossbows remain prohibited in these counties. |
| Legal Status: Crossbows are considered separate from longbows; archery use is restricted. | Redefined in Law: Crossbows recognized as archery equipment under S6360A, granting full season access. |
