Crossbow Sate to State Regulations

Alabama

Crossbows legal for all persons during the entire deer hunting season. Magnified scopes are now allowed on crossbows only.
www.outdooralabama.com/hunting/
334-242-3469

Alaska

Crossbows are illegal in bow-only areas, but can be used where guns and bows are legal weapons. Legal in archery season for handicapped hunters with an approved Methods and Means Exemption Form.
www.adfg.state.ak.us
907-465-4190

Arizona

Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters on a very restrictive permit basis, or for anyone during general firearms seasons.
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.com/hunting/pages/default.aspx
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."
www.dfg.ca.gov
916-445-0411

Colorado

Crossbows legal for all hunters during gun seasons and for handicapped hunters during archery season.
www.wildlife.state.co.us
303-297-1192

Connecticut

Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by permit and for anyone during the January archery season on private property in Deer Management Zones 11 & 12. Draw weight must be a minimum of 125-pounds and a maximum of 220-pounds, have a permanently fixed rifle stock and mechanical safety, minimum finished arrow weight of 450-grains or higher and a minimum arrow length of 18-inches.
www.dep.state.ct.us
860-424-3011

Delaware

Crossbows legal during all deer seasons. Crossbows may be equipped with a scope.

It is unlawful to transport a crossbow on or within any vehicle while the crossbow is in the cocked position. Deer may be hunted with crossbows provided hunter orange is displayed when it is also lawful to hunt deer with a gun.

www.fw.delaware.gov
302-739-9911

Florida

August 30, 2010. Effective July 2011, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission passed a new rule which will extend zonal crossbow seasons by a month. The new rule adds 30 days to each crossbow season in zones A, B, and C, and adds 33 days in zone D, thereby coinciding with the archery season on private land only.

www.myfwc.com/recreation/hunt_index.aspx
850-488-3831

Georgia

Crossbows legal in all seasons starting 2003.
www.gohuntgeorgia.com
770-918-6416

Hawaii

Crossbows legal by special disabled permit only.
www.hawaii.gov/dlnr
808-587-0400

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.
www.fishandgame.idaho.gov
208-334-3700

Illinois

Hunters 62 years of age and older are now permitted to use a crossbow without a special permit. Hunters using a crossbow will need an archery deer permit and proof of age in the form of an official ID. Crossbows used in hunting as authorized by a permit issued under this section shall meet all of the following specifications:

1) Shall have a minimum peak draw weight of 125 pounds and a maximum peak draw weight of 200 pounds.
2) Shall have a minimum overall length (from butt of stock to front of limbs) of 24 inches.
3) Shall have a working safety.
4) Shall be used with bolts or arrows of not less than 14 inches in length (not including point) with a broadhead. Broadheads may have fixed or expandable blades, but they must be barbless and have a minimum 7/8 inch diameter when fully opened. Broadheads with fixed blade must be metal or flint-, chert-, or obsidian-napped. Broadheads with expandable blades must
be metal.

Crossbows also legal for handicapped hunters by permit.
http://www.dnr.state.il.us/admin/Digest/
217-782-6384

Indiana

Crossbows legal in entire archery season beginning December 31, 2011. Crossbows must have a minimum draw weight of 125-pounds and a mechanical safety.
www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2343.htm
317-232-4200

Iowa

Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters with permit. Resident hunters 70 years old and older may purchase one statewide antlerless-deer only license to hunt deer with a crossbow.
www.iowadnr.com
515-281-5918

Kansas

Beginning in 2008 - Crossbows of at least 125 pounds draw weight will be allowed during the regular firearms deer and turkey seasons.

Crossbows and draw locks legal for permanently disabled hunters by permit.
www.kdwp.state.ks.us
620-672-5911

Kentucky

Crossbows legal for all hunters during rifle and muzzleloader seasons, and portions of archery season (dates change annually). Legal in archery season for handicapped hunters.

www.kdfwr.state.ky.us/
800-858-1549

Louisiana

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Commission now has the ability to establish a bow and arrow only season, and a bow and arrow and crossbow season in special deer hunting seasons.
www.wlf.state.la.us/hunting
225-765-2350

Maine

Crossbows legal for persons 16-years of age or older to hunt bear with a crossbow during the bear hunting season, or to hunt deer with a crossbow during the open firearm season on deer. Also legal for disabled hunters.
http://www.maine.gov/ifw/hunting_trapping/hunting/index.htm
207-287-8000

Maryland

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife and Heritage Service now allows crossbows to be used to hunt any game species during any open season where a vertical bow may be used (excluding waterfowl and certain furbearers). This would permit the use of a crossbow during the entire deer bow season in all counties. Minimum draw weight is 75-pounds, telescopic sights are permitted and the crossbow must have a working safety.
www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide
1-877-620-8367 (in state) or 410-260-8367 (out of state)

Massachusetts

Crossbows may be used by certain permanently handicapped persons by permit only.
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/regulations/abstracts/hunt_fish_abstracts.pdf
508-389-6300

Michigan

August 17, 2010, Effective immediately, crossbow regulations have expanded for hunters statewide.

The crossbow regulation changes include the following:

-Lowered the minimum age for crossbow use from 12 to 10 years of age statewide.

-Expanded the use of crossbows to all legal hunters during all archery and firearms seasons statewide, except in the Upper Peninsula, where crossbow use will remain prohibited during the late archery and muzzleloader seasons, unless the hunter is disabled (Crossbows may only be used in the Upper Peninsula by anyone 50 years of age or older during the Oct. 1-Nov. 14 bow hunting deer season statewide).

Hunters using crossbows will still be required to obtain a free crossbow stamp. The stamp, which is free, will help the DNR monitor and survey crossbow hunters. http://www.michigan.gov/dnr
517-373-1263

Minnesota

Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by permit. Also legal for anyone during firearms season and Turkey and Bear seasons.
www.dnr.state.mn.us
888-646-6367 or 651-296-6157

Mississippi

Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters with permit, hunters 65 and older, and during primitive weapon and deer gun seasons.

May 19, 2010 - The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) Commissioners voted to approve Public Notice of Intent Number W12 3174(I). This approval applies to all Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the State, unless otherwise stated in individual WMA regulations.

The legal definition changes include:

Primitive Weapons: Primitive weapons are those defined by Public Notice LE-2280 and Archery Equipment. 

Archery Equipment: Longbows, recurves, compounds, and crossbows are legal archery equipment.

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.
www.fwp.mt.gov
406-444-2535

Nebraska

Crossbows are legal archery equipment for big game (deer, antelope, elk, turkey & bighorn sheep).
www.outdoornebraska.ne.gov
402-471-0641

Nevada

Crossbows may only be used for hunting big game during an "Any Legal Weapon" hunt. Crossbows are not allowed for archery hunts. Crossbows must have a minimum 125-pound draw weight, minimum draw length of 14-inches from front of bow to nocking point, minimum 18-inch stock and a positive mechanical safety. Arrows must be minimum 16-inches and have a broadhead.
www.ndow.org/
775-688-1500

New Hampshire

Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by permit. Legal for all hunters to take a deer in firearms season. Legal for all hunters on Long Island in Moultonborough with Long Island Deer Permit. Crossbow hunters must purchase a crossbow hunting permit.
www.wildlife.state.nh.us
603-271-2461 or 603-271-2462

New Jersey

Crossbows are legal in any bow and arrow hunting season and other hunting seasons for all species where the use of bow and arrow is allowed. Crossbows must have a minimum draw weight of 75 pounds and a minimum stock length of 25 inches.

www.njfishandwildlife.com
609-292-2965

New Mexico

Crossbow use is allowed by Certified Mobility Impaired Hunters during all hunts. Crossbows may now be used in "Any Legal Sporting Arm" or Muzzleloader" hunts unless otherwise restricted.
www.wildlife.state.nm.us
505-476-8000

New York

Beginning in 2011, crossbows can be used only during the Regular firearms seasons in the Northern & Southern Zone, during the Late muzzleloading & bowhunting seasons, and during the January firearm season in Suffolk County beginning with the 2011-2012 hunting seasons and continuing until December 31, 2012 for Deer and Bear only. Crossbows must have a stock with a working safety, minimum limb of 17-inches, minimum draw weight of 100-pounds and a maximum of 200-pounds, overall legth minimum of 24-inches and arrow minimum of 14-inches.

A Modified Crossbow Permit for physically challenged people authorizes the use of a crossbow modified with a device that requires no hand movement, since it is released by means of a person's discharge of breath.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/68802.html

www.dec.ny.gov

518-402-8924 or 518-402-8985 for Modified Crossbow Permit information

North Carolina

Effective August 1, 2010, allows the use of crossbows anytime bow and arrows are legal weapons. Crossbows must have a minimum draw weight of 150-pounds.
http://www.ncwildlife.org/hunting/index.htm
919-707-0050

North Dakota

Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by permit.

Effective September 1, 2011, the following new regulations will go into effect:

1. Crossbows are now legal for hunters during the rifle season.

2. Crossbows are now legal for all hunters during primitive weapons season. Note: Crossbows used during the primitive weapons season may NOT be equipped with optics that have any magnification. Only scopes and red dots with 1x magnification may be used during the primitive weapons season.

www.gf.nd.gov
701-328-6300

Ohio

Crossbows legal during archery season.
www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/default.htm
614-265-6300

Oklahoma

Crossbows and conventional bows with draw lock devices are a legal means of hunting whenever conventional bows are allowed.
www.wildlifedepartment.com
405-521-3851

Oregon

Crossbows illegal.
www.dfw.state.or.us
503-947-6000

Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners has approved the expanded lawful use of crossbows to include both the archery deer and bear seasons. The Board included a sunset date for the expanded crossbow use requiring a future vote on the measure again before June 30, 2012.

*The use of magnified scopes was approved on April 21, 2009.

www.pgc.state.pa.us
717-787-4250

Rhode Island

Crossbows legal in shotgun season and for hunters who possess an official Adaptive Aid/Crossbow Permit obtained through the DEM Division of Licensing. Crossbows must be a minimum draw weight of 150-pounds.
www.dem.ri.gov/pubs/regs/index.htm
401-222-6800

South Carolina

Archery equipment is now defined as " a bow and arrow, a long bow, a recurve bow, a compound bow, or a cross bow.”

www.dnr.state.sc.us
803-734-3886

South Dakota

Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters during archery season. Must have a minimum draw weight of 125-pounds and a functional mechanical safety device. Telescopic sights and lighted sight pins are prohibited.
www.gfp.sd.gov
605-223-7665

Tennessee

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

Texas

Full-inclusion of crossbows in archery seasons except Grayson County.

www.tpwd.state.tx.us
512-389-4800 or 1-800-792-1112

Utah

Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit.
www.wildlife.utah.gov/dwr

801-538-4700

Vermont

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

Virginia

Crossbows are legal during archery season and firearms season. A crossbow permit will be required if the season is "archery only".
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/
804-367-1000

Washington

Crossbows legal for qualifying archers with disabilities. Crossbows are also legal in firearms season. Crossbows must have a minimum draw weight of 125-pounds, minimum 24-inch limbs, minimum draw length of 14-inches and a working safety. Magnified scopes and retractable broadheads are not legal.
http://wdfw.wa.gov
360-902-2200

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.
www.wvdnr.gov
304-558-2758

Wisconsin

Crossbows are not legal to use except by disabled hunters issued a Class A, B, or Crossbow permit; and hunters 65 years of age or older issued a valid archery hunting license.
http://new.dnr.wi.gov/Default.aspx?Page=763cade6-b5e8-4f0e-8e56-1c5e98a5adc4
608-266-2621

Wyoming

Crossbows legal during archery seasons; Must have 90-pound minimum draw weight, minimum draw length of 14-inches and shoot a minimum 16-inch bolt.
http://gf.state.wy.us
307-777-4600

Conquering Buck Fever - The Hard To Cure Hunting Disease

Alot of bow hunters find that buck fever is very hard to cure and it is joked about as being a hunting disease but conquering buck fever is not impossible with a little work. You have to admit when you see a buck like this coming in your direction its very easy for Buck fever to set in. Once it sets in everything seems to fall apart. Believe me I have had more than my fair share of buck fever experiences over the years and it is very hard to conquer. The first bad experience was a huge buck in a power line that stood quartering toward me at 15 yards for what seemed like an eternity. When I first saw this buck turning in my direction the excitement was overpowering. I knew I was going to kill this monster and in my mind I already had him hanging on the wall. But when he stopped, not giving me a shot at 15 yards, in my mind I was telling myself that I may not get a shot. That's when my left leg started shaking. It got so severe that I just new he was going to notice me and be gone forever. That magnified the shaking and I tried pushing me leg against the seat on my hang on stand. When I did that my foot started tapping the floor of my tree stand uncontrollably and that's when it went completely to pieces. Needless to say that deer lived to see another day.

Fear of failure is the root to Buck Fever and can be fatal to your hunting season and every hunting season if you don't cure it.

Shooting practice will build your confidence. When you can sit in your tree stand or blind, looking around at your effective shooting range with all the confidence in the world, knowing that if anything steps into that circle you can centershoot it with ease. That is the first step to conquering Buck Fever. If you ever have any doubts on your shooting ability, you need to shorten your effective range and practice until your confidence is there. Any doubts will start the onset of buck fever.

Buy a range finder. It doesn't have to be anything fancy or expensive, your not trying to shoot ranges at a 1000 yds. There are range finders on the market for under $150 dollars that work just fine and will give you years of usage. When that trophy buck is heading your direction,having to guess the yardage is another thing that can start the onset of buck fever. When you are not 100% sure of your yardage it brings your confidence level down a little and when your confidence level starts to slip, the fear of failure starts creeping in and opens the door for buck fever. It can happen fast and can be on top of you before you realize whats happening.
Several years ago I had a shoot through rest that my arrow would fall off of during practice every once in a while. Even though it never happened while drawing on a deer it was always in the back of my mind and started the onset of buck fever one cold November morning when a large mature buck came cruising by my stand at 25 yards. Needless to say, Buck Fever got the best of me and the deer lived.

Doubting yourself. When that moment of truth comes and you have any doubts what so ever  that you can pull that shot off, it will probably never happen. If you can just say "There he is, thats what I've been looking for", knowing that what ever happens you can handle it, there is an excellent chance buck fever won't set in. There is absolutely nothing wrong with shaking after the shot, its shaking before the shot that gets you. I usually shake like a leaf and can hardley call my wife to tell her I killed a big one after the shot. It usually takes me 15 minutes or so to get down out of my tree stand after I just shot a big buck.

Quit looking at the antlers. You know a shooter when you see one. One glance will tell you whether or not you want to shoot this buck. Whether its an 80'' or 170'' buck, you know at first glance if its a buck you will be happy with or not. Just watch the body and look for a good shot opportunity, forget about the antlers. All the Glory is after the shot anyway. DON'T TRY TO COUNT THE POINTS! If you are so seasoned to killing monster bucks that you need to count the points and look at the mass to tell if this is a buck you want to take, then you already have the Buck Fever problem mastered and this article isn't helping you anyway.



 Good Luck and Happy Hunting
Dan Whited

A Bow Hunters Worst Enemy

I hear alot of bow hunters complain about things they think ruin their hunt, here are a few.
4 Wheelers keep deer out of my hunting area.
Beagles from rabbit and bird hunters.
Coon hunters run the deer out the night before.
Farm equipment in the field kept the deer from moving.
Chainsaws and wood cutters
Kids yelling and playing from a near by house.

 All of these things have very little or no affect on your hunt. The deer in these areas are used to it. Hunters fear that the deer will be run out of their hunting area or that all of the commotion will turn the mature bucks nocturnal. The truth is the hunter himself has probably already turned the mature bucks nocturnal from traipsing all over the woods scouting in August and September.
Hunters feel they are getting in and out of the woods pretty clean as long as they sneak in and out quietly and pay attention to the wind.
  Walking out after a hunt will leave your scent on the ground for  hours. Even with the best rubber boots on the market or scent lock hunting boots they will still smell you. I have waded across a creek in rubber boots to get to my stand and  had a 1 1/2 year old buck lock up on my trail 2 hours later. I have also had mature bucks cross my trail 15 minutes after I have been on stand and never notice. You just never know when they will miss or nail your scent trail, but I can tell you that if you are hunting the same stand 2 -3 times a week they will pick up your scent a couple of times and start avoiding the area.
 Several years ago I hung a stand in what I knew was going to be a hot spot. Hung the stand about 22' high, and a southwest wind was going to be perfect, plus I had easy access in and out. I was so excited for season to start and just knew I was going to kill a nice buck if I just had patience. The first day I hunted this stand I saw a 120'' nine pointer and 10 does. The very next day I saw 6 does. The third day I saw 1 doe. Over the next week I hunted this stand several more times and saw no deer. When I started hunting other stands I started seeing deer again. I never saw this buck again until the middle of November when he was hot on the trail of a doe.
Bow Hunters can be their worse enemy and never even realize it.

Bow Hunting Big Mature Whitetails

We all appreciate and enjoy watching our favorite hunting stars bow hunting big mature whitetails on TV, anticipating the upcoming season with dreams of that beautiful mature buck stepping into a shooting lane at 20 yards. If your anything like me, you probably feel the excitement as the hunters arrow disapears behind that giant bucks shoulder and the dissappointment when he misses. This is the adrenelin rush that keeps us in a treestand or a ground blind for hours on end.
Over the years I read everything I could get my hands on about whitetail deer and how to hunt them successfully. I subscribed to several deer hunting magazines and read every article, absorbing everything my brain could absorb looking for that "SECRET" to killing mature bucks. All that reading did help me to better understand whitetails and their habits and after a few years I did have a couple of 1 1/2 year old bucks and several does under my belt but it didn't get me that giant buck I ached for.
About ten years ago while setting around a fire sharing bowhunting stories with a freind, I blurted out "there is a way to kill a mature buck every year with a bow and I'm going to figure it out". Of course I was laughed at and told that I better join Team Realtree and hunt full time if I want that to happen.
My Quest was on to prove to myself that there is a way to successfully kill mature bucks every year and its working. I Have hunted and killed seven mature bucks in the last nine years. One of them had a deformed rack so I didn't have him mounted but he was 3 1/2 years old so he counts as a mature buck.
I want to share with you some helpful tips so you to can start succesfully harvest big bucks.