Crossbows are now classified as a legal method of take for all archery big game hunting in New York State and the changes are effective immediately. The new law—signed by New York Governor Kathy Hochel earlier this week—updates previous crossbow regulations that limited their use to specific dates in specific parts of the state. Now, crossbows can be used for any whitetail deer and black bear archery hunt.
Crossbows are a popular weapon for new hunters, longtime gun hunters looking for an entry point into archery hunting, and hunters with disabilities. While crossbows can sometimes be controversial among the archery crowd, some of whom claim that crossbow hunting isn’t real bowhunting, their popularity is spreading. New York is the 32nd state to allow for their use during archery season, according to a database maintained by Tenpoint Crossbow Technologies. Another 11 states consider them a lawful weapon of take during gun season, and five more states allow their use by hunters with disabilities. Other states offer limited seasons and opportunities. Every state except for one—Oregon—allows some form of crossbow hunting.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regulates hunting and trapping across 92 wildlife management units in nine regions. One important point of clarification with the new law concerns hunter education. Crossbow hunters who completed hunter safety before April 1, 2014 were previously required to complete a Crossbow Certificate of Qualification in order to hunt with a crossbow. But that certification is no longer valid, and all crossbow hunters must now complete bowhunter safety before they can legally hunt with a crossbow, according to DEC. Crossbows also must have a functioning trigger safety and a minimum peak draw weight of 100 pounds.
Sporting and outdoor advocacy organizations hail the move as a massive improvement to the accessibility of archery big game hunting in New York State. The New York Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers called the move a “major policy victory for wildlife and hunters.”
“Specifically, this law removes outdated equipment restrictions, gives the DEC the authority to regulate crossbows as they do other archery equipment, and opens up new hunting opportunities in areas like Westchester and Suffolk Counties,” reads a caption on an Instagram post from the chapter. Another benefit of increased access to crossbow hunting opportunities in New York is the potential for increased deer harvest in a state with an explosive population, the National Deer Association points out.
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“These changes can be a powerful tool in managing New York’s abundant deer population, which can threaten forest regeneration, agriculture, and public safety via vehicle collisions,” NDA’s director of policy Catherine Appling-Pooler writes in a press release about S6360A. “Giving DEC the flexibility to manage crossbow use alongside longbows is a smart, practical step toward healthier deer populations and balanced ecosystems.”
