Crossbow hunting laws are rapidly evolving with many states modernizing to increase hunter access while maintaining safety. Yet some states remain restrictive or outright prohibit hunting with crossbows. If you’re planning a hunt in 2025, always check your state wildlife agency for current regulations in your area. Here’s a refined and updated guide to U.S. crossbow hunting laws by state, as of June 2025, using information from Barnett, TenPoint, and other sources, including various State Departments of Wildlife conservation. Each state is summarized in a short bullet list with a follow‑up paragraph.
Click each State for a Link to their Department of Wildlife Conservation
Alabama
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Legal for all deer seasons with permit; magnified scopes allowed.
Alabama permits crossbows during all deer seasons. Hunters must have the appropriate permit, and the use of magnified scopes is allowed, making it accessible and hunter-friendly.
Alaska
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Allowed in firearms seasons and by disabled hunters during archery.
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Must complete crossbow certification (since July 1, 2018) for big game.
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Prohibited in bow‑only areas.
Alaska permits crossbows broadly during general firearms seasons and via special exemptions for disabled hunters in archery zones, provided certification is completed and a card carried along with the hunter. Crossbows are strictly banned in bow‑only areas.
Arizona
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Handicapped: allowed in archery‑only with permit.
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Everyone: allowed during general firearm seasons.
In Arizona, crossbows are widely available to all hunters during firearms seasons, but are only usable in archery season by handicapped hunters under a restrictive permit system.
Arkansas
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Allowed in archery season.
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Requirements: ≥125 lb draw weight, must include a mechanical safety.
Arkansas classifies crossbows as archery weapons—hunters with a minimum‑power, safety‑equipped model may hunt in the regular archery season with no handicap or age limitations.
California
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All hunters: allowed in gun seasons.
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Because of disability, use in archery season is allowed with a Disabled Archer Permit.
California is fairly liberal—any hunter may use a crossbow during gun seasons. Archery season use is restricted to disabled hunters with the appropriate permit.
Colorado
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All hunters: allowed during gun seasons.
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Handicapped: also allowed in archery season.
Colorado joins several Western states in expanding crossbow access to all hunters during firearms seasons, with additional accommodations for hunters with disabilities during archery seasons.
Connecticut
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Legal for all hunters in archery season.
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Requirements: ≥125 lb draw weight, rifle‑style stock, mechanical safety, ≥18‑inch bolt, use of scopes is okay.
Connecticut’s laws are highly permissive—crossbows are regulated as archery equipment with clear specifications and all attributes, including telescopic sights, adjustable stocks, and rangefinding equipemnt allowed.
Delaware
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Allowed during all deer seasons.
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Requirements: ≥125 lb draw, mechanical safety, use of scopes allowed, orange outerwear required during gun seasons.
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Transport rule: no cocked crossbows in vehicles.
Delaware’s regulations permit crossbow use year‑round for deer, with safety specifications and hunter‑orange mandates; transporting a cocked crossbow in a vehicle is expressly forbidden.
Florida
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Crossbow season runs ~1.5 months before firearm season.
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Must carry hunting license + crossbow permit.
Florida distinguishes crossbow hunters with a special extended season, but mandates both a standard hunting license and a crossbow‑specific permit during that period.
Georgia
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Allowed during all hunting seasons.
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Season opener: ~1.5 months before the general firearms season.
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Transport rule: no cocked crossbows in vehicles.
Georgia provides among the broadest access to crossbow use with no restrictions by class or season, though early opening and transport safety rules apply.
Hawaii
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Hunting is allowed only via a disabled‑hunter permit.
Hawaii restricts all crossbow hunting to those with disabled‑hunter permits—no general allowance for non‑disabled hunters.
Idaho
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General weapon seasons: open to all.
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Archery season: only disabled hunters are allowed to use crossbows
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License, tags required.
Idaho’s hybrid model allows crossbow use during any‑weapon hunts statewide but limits archery season use to disabled hunters only
Illinois
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Allowed for all during archery season (from beginning to end).
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Specifications: 125 to 200 lb draw weight, Crossbow must be ≥24‑in length, bolts ≥14 in, broadheads ≥⅞‑inch diameter, mechanical safety.
Illinois permits crossbows in archery only through season’s end, with precise technical requirements—no general seasons or firearms eligibility.
Indiana
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Allowed during entire archery season.
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Specifications: ≥125 lb draw weight, with a mechanical safety.
Indiana aligns with archery‑season use only, applying power and safety requirements.
Iowa
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Late muzzleloader season: residents only.
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Handicapped: may use during archery/turkey seasons.
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Seniors (65+): antlerless archery license.
Iowa limits general crossbow use to muzzleloader season, but handicapped and seniors have broader options during archery.
Kansas
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Open for use in all archery seasons.
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Specifications: mechanical safety, no electronic arrow‑control devices.
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Any weapon season is accessible to all.
Kansas treats crossbows as archery gear but also includes them in any‑weapon hunts, making them broadly available with power/safety and ammunition specifications.
Kentucky
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Crossbows are legal throughout the archery season.
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Special early-access exceptions exist for disabled hunters, youth, and hunters aged 65+.
Kentucky offers full archery-season crossbow access, with extra flexibility for youth and senior hunters.
Louisiana
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Crossbows are legal during both archery and firearm seasons.
Louisiana is one of the most permissive states, treating crossbows equally across all big game hunting seasons.
Maine
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Legal only during firearms seasons for deer and bear.
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Prohibited during the general archery season.
In Maine, crossbows are allowed during firearm seasons but are not permitted during traditional archery seasons.
Maryland
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Crossbows are legal during any season that permits vertical bows.
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Must have a minimum draw weight of 75 lbs.
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Scopes are allowed.
Maryland fully integrates crossbows as archery equipment with generous season access and modern sighting allowances.
Massachusetts
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Crossbows are restricted to hunters with a permanent disability permit.
Massachusetts has one of the most limited policies in the U.S., requiring a medical disability certification to use a crossbow.
Michigan
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Legal statewide during firearm seasons.
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In the Upper Peninsula, crossbows are prohibited during late archery and muzzleloader seasons, unless the hunter is disabled.
Michigan is broadly accessible to crossbow hunters, but Upper Peninsula-specific limitations still apply.
Minnesota
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Allowed for all hunters during firearms, turkey, and bear seasons.
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During archery season, use is limited to hunters who are aged 60+ or disabled.
Minnesota balances accessibility with age/disability exceptions during bow seasons while offering full inclusion in gun-related hunts.
Mississippi
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Crossbows are fully legal during all archery seasons.
Mississippi is fully open to crossbow use for big game without restrictions based on age or ability.
Missouri
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Legal in archery seasons for both deer and turkey.
Missouri offers modern hunters crossbow privileges in key archery seasons for big game.
Montana
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Crossbows are only legal during firearm seasons.
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Not permitted during archery-only hunts.
Montana maintains a traditional split, excluding crossbows from archery seasons entirely.
Nebraska
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Classified as archery equipment, and legal for all big game.
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Use permitted during archery seasons.
Nebraska recognizes crossbows as equivalent to vertical bows and allows them for big game hunting throughout archery seasons.
Nevada
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Allowed only during “Any Legal Weapon” big game seasons.
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Prohibited in archery-only hunts.
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Specifications: ≥125 lb draw weight, ≥14‑in draw length, ≥18‑in stock length, includes a mechanical safety, ≥16‑in bolt length.
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Nevada reserves crossbow use for big-game, any-weapon seasons, excluding archery hunts, and enforces dimension/length and power standards.
New Hampshire
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Handicapped: permitted in archery season.
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All hunters: allowed during firearms season.
New Hampshire blends handicap-based archery allowances with full access during firearms season, even offering region-specific permits. Check local wildlife offices for details.
New Jersey
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Allowed in all archery seasons and any season where a vertical bow is allowed.
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Specifications: ≥75 lb draw weight, ≥25‑in stock length.
New Jersey includes crossbows fully with bow hunting seasons, subject to moderate power and stock‑length minimums.
New Mexico
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Only usable by Certified Mobility Impaired Hunters.
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Also legal in any legal weapon or muzzleloader hunts.
New Mexico restricts general archery use to mobility‑impaired hunters but opens crossbows during any‑weapon and muzzleloader hunts.
New York
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Crossbows are legal during portions of the regular firearms and muzzleloader seasons for big game.
- Crossbows may be used to take bear during the early bear season, early muzzleloader season in the Northern Zone, regular firearms seasons in the Northern and Southern Zones, and the late muzzleloader season in the Southern Zone.
- Crossbows may be used to take deer during the early and late muzzleloader season in the Northern Zone and the late muzzleloader season in the Southern Zone
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Crossbows may also be used to take deer or bear during limited portions of bowhunting seasons as follows, provided that the hunter possesses a NY State muzzleloading license:
- During the last 14 days of the early bowhunting season in the Southern Zone;
- During the last 10 days of the early bowhunting season in the Northern Zone; this includes the 7-day early muzzleloader season in the Northern Zone;
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Age restriction: Hunters must be ≥12 years old to use a crossbow.
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Pending legislation (as of 2025): Senate Bill S6360A proposes redefining crossbows as longbows, which would allow their use during archery seasons. Click Here for the Status of this bill.
New York has one of the most restrictive crossbow policies in the Northeast. While use is allowed during firearms and muzzleloader seasons, crossbows remain generally prohibited in regular archery seasons, though efforts are underway to change that through active 2025 legislation. The New York Crossbow Coalition is helping to advance this legislation through the legislative process.
North Carolina
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Allowed anytime bow & arrow use is legal.
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Specifications: ≥100 lb draw weight.
North Carolina offers all-hunter access aligned strictly with bow seasons, subject to a strong-draw minimum.
North Dakota
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Handicapped: archery permitted.
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All hunters: allowed in Deer Gun & Youth Deer seasons.
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Specifications: 75–200 lb draw weight, a mechanical safety, ≥14‑in stock, and bolt lengths.
North Dakota provides a multi-season crossbow structure: archery season for handicapped, gun seasons for all, with clear equipment specifications.
Ohio
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Allowed during archery season.
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Specifications: mechanical safety, ≥25‑in stock length.
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Prohibited for migratory birds.
Ohio restricts crossbows to archery hunts with safety/stock rules; and they’re explicitly banned for migratory bird hunting.
Oklahoma
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Allowed whenever conventional vertical bows are allowed.
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Specifications: ≥100 lb draw weight, a mechanical safety, bolts ≥14 inches in length.
Oklahoma treats crossbows equally with conventional bows, broadening use through standard archery seasons with moderate specifictions.
Oregon
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Illegal statewide.
Oregon remains one of the few states to prohibit crossbow hunting entirely.
Pennsylvania
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Allowed during archery seasons (deer, bear, turkey, elk, small game) and firearms seasons.
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Specs: ≥125 lb draw weight, broadheads ≥⅞‑inch in diameter
Pennsylvania offers broad access across all seasons with standard equipment mandates, reflecting modern thinking towards using crossbows
Rhode Island
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Classified as archery equipment.
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Allowed in deer & small-game archery seasons.
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Prohibited for turkey or other birds.
Rhode Island allows crossbows during limited archery hunts, but excludes them from turkey or broader bird seasons.
South Carolina
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Defined as archery equipment.
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Allowed in all seasons that allow vertical bows.
South Carolina treats crossbows as full archery tools—broadly legal during any bow season.
South Dakota
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Only handicapped hunters are allowed in archery season.
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Specs: ≥125 lb draw weight, mechanical safety mandatory, no scopes or lighted pins.
South Dakota restricts archery-season crossbow use to handicapped hunters, with strict limitations on accessories.
Tennessee
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Allowed during all seasons, including regular archery.
Tennessee fully integrates crossbows into every season, offering one of the most liberal policies in the nation.
Texas
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Allowed in archery and firearm seasons.
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Exception: Grayson County restricts them to disabled archers.
Texas largely includes crossbows statewide, with one county level exception limiting use to the disabled.
Utah
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Handicapped: archery use only via permit.
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General firearms seasons: allowed.
Utah’s approach favors use in firearms seasons for all, while restricting archery-season crossbows to handicapped permit holders.
Vermont
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Any bow season: allowed for ≥50-year-olds and handicapped hunters.
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Younger hunters: disabled-only.
Vermont introduces age-based access to older hunters who gain full archery privileges, while younger hunter use is disability-based.
Virginia
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Allowed during archery and firearm seasons.
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Archery‑only season: crossbow permit required.
Virginia allows crossbows widely but requires a dedicated permit to ensure compliance during archery-only hunts.
Washington
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Handicapped: archery season with permit.
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All: allowed during modern firearm seasons.
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Specifications: ≥125 lb draw weight, mechanical safety; no retractable broadheads.
Washington offers a mixed model—archery use for the disabled, but all hunters may use crossbows in firearm seasons with equipment rules.
West Virginia
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Allowed in archery for most big game, with some county-level restrictions. (check local wildlife offices)
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Allowed in firearms seasons.
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Specs: ≥125 lb draw weight, bolts ≥18 inches in length, broadheads ≥¾‑inches in diameter.
West Virginia has mostly liberal policies, but local limits apply; firearm season use is statewide.
Wisconsin
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Allowed during archery seasons.
Wisconsin treats crossbows as archery weapons with no additional qualifiers.
Wyoming
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Allowed during archery seasons.
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Specs: ≥90 lb draw weight, ≥14‑in draw length, ≥16‑in bolt length
Wyoming permits archery-season crossbows that meet moderate power and dimension criteria.
General Notes & Trends
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Broad archery inclusion: CT, GA, SC, TN, VA, etc.
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Firearm-season access only: AK, CA, CO, ID, etc.
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Restricted to archery season use only or by age/disability (VT, IA, SD, WA).
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Prohibited state: Oregon.
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Typical Equipment specifications that are regulated by states are- (draw weight, mechanical safety, stock/bolt length specifications) Pick the right crossbow for your use
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