State Regulations

Selecting a state on the left will toggle open and close it's crossbow regulations. We have also provided links to each states official website. Be sure to double check the official page as regulations can change.

Alabama

Crossbows legal for all persons during the entire deer hunting season.

334-242-3829

Alaska

Crossbows are illegal in bow-only areas, but can be used where guns and bows are legal weapons. No provision for handicapped hunters.

907-267-2347

Arizona

Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters on a very restrictive permit basis or for anyone during general firearms seasons.

602-942-3000

Arkansas

If you get a chance you may want to add Arkansas to the list on the Stryker website. Here is the URL for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

501-223-6381

California

Crossbows, legal for all hunters during gun seasons. Crossbows may not be used to take game birds and game mammals during archery seasons. Legal for disabled hunters during archery season with permit. Must have a safety device.

916-653-7203

Colorado

Crossbows legal for all hunters during gun seasons and for handicapped hunters during archery season by permit.

303-297-1192

Connecticut

Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit for deer and turkey only.

860-424-3011

Delaware

Crossbows legal Monday through Saturday of November shotgun season and during any gun season in December or January. Permits are available for disabled hunters.

302-739-5297

Florida

There is a five-day crossbow season between the existing archery season and muzzleloading gun season in the Central and South hunting zones. In the Northwest Zone, the crossbow season will be seven days long and will open the Monday following Thanksgiving. Click on the Florida link below for additional crossbow information. Crossbows also legal for handicapped hunters by permit

850-488-8573

Georgia

Crossbows legal in all seasons.

770-918-6416

Hawaii

Crossbows legal by special disabled permit only.

808-973-9787

Idaho

Crossbows legal for handicapped persons by permit only.

800-554-8685

Illinois

Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit.

217-782-2965

Indiana

Crossbows legal only in late archery season and only for antlerless deer.

317-232-4080

Iowa

Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters with permit. Also 70 years and older, may use crossbow with permit for antlerless deer.

515-281-5918

Kansas

Crossbows and draw locks legal only for permanently disabled hunters by permit.

316-342-0658

Kentucky

Crossbows legal for all hunters during the defined crossbow seasons. Legal in archery season for handicapped hunters by permit.

800-858-1549

Louisiana

Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by permit and for hunters age 60 and older. Need a crossbow safety class well as permit.

225-765-2350

Maine

Crossbows legal for those holding a valid license to hunt big game; must also purchase a crossbow hunting license. Must show proof of successfully completing an archery hunting education course and a crossbow hunting course or show satisfactory evidence of previously holding an adult archery and crossbow hunting license. A resident or nonresident between the ages of 10 and 16 may hunt with a crossbow if they hold a valid junior hunting license. With a valid crossbow hunting license, a person may hunt bear with a crossbow during the open season on bear and may hunt deer with a crossbow during the open firearm season on deer. The crossbow hunting license may not be used to hunt deer during the archery season, muzzleloading season, or expanded archery season.

207-287-8000

Maryland

Crossbows: First 2 weeks and last 2 weeks of the regular archery season. All regular gun seasons and muzzleloader seasons. Age 65 and over legal throughout Archery season.

410-260-8540

Massachusetts

Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by permit.

508-792-7270

Michigan

Crossbows legal for bucks only during firearm season and for handicapped hunters by permit during archery season.

517-373-1263

Minnesota

Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit.

888-MINN-DNR

Mississippi

Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters with permit and hunters 65 and older.

601-432-2400

Missouri

Crossbows for handicapped archers by permit and during firearms season.

573-751-4115

Montana

Crossbows legal only during gun seasons. No provision for handicapped hunters.

406-444-2535

Nebraska

Crossbows of at least 125 lb. draw weight are legal during deer and pronghorn firearms season and for handicapped hunters by permit during archery season.

402-471-0641

Nevada

Crossbows illegal.

775-688-1500

New Hampshire

Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by permit. Legal for all hunters in firearms season. Legal for all hunters on Long Island with Long Island Deer Permit.

603-271-3422

New Jersey

Crossbows are prohibited, but a Bow Use Permit may be issued to disabled hunters who cannot use a conventional bow as described in the Game Code. This permit is issued only if the need is certified by a licensed and certified NJ physician.

609-292-2965

New Mexico

Crossbow use is allowed by Certified Mobility Impaired Hunters during all hunts.

800-862-9310

New York

Crossbows illegal.

518-402-8919

North Carolina

Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit.

919-733-7291

North Dakota

Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by permit.

701-328-6300

Ohio

Crossbows legal during archery season; Draw weight must not be less than 75 pounds and no more than 200 pounds.

614-265-6300

Oklahoma

Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit. Hunters with a permanent disability which prevents use of a conventional bow with a physician’s certification.  Crossbow must be a minimum draw weight of 100 pounds and equipped with safety devices. Crossbows may not be transported in a motorized vehicle unless un-cocked or disassembled.

405-521-2730

Oregon

Crossbows illegal.

503-872-5268

Pennsylvania

Crossbows legal statewide in archery season for disabled and temporarily disabled hunters by permit. Legal for all hunters statewide for bear and elk and during any of the firearms deer seasons, including the regular two-week concurrent deer season, the early muzzleloader season and the late flintlock season. In addition, in Wildlife Management Units (WMU’s) 2B, 5C, & 5D – the most urbanized areas of the state – crossbows are legal during any established deer season.

717-787-4250

Rhode Island

Crossbows only legal for hunters who possess an official Adaptive Aid/Crossbow Permit obtained through the DEM Division of Licensing.

401-222-6647

South Carolina

Crossbows illegal during archery-only season; legal during firearms and muzzleloader seasons; legal for handicapped hunters by permit.

803-734-3886

South Dakota

Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters during archery season by permit.

605-773-3485

Tennessee

The use of crossbows is now permitted during all seasons including the regular archery season.

615-781-6500

Texas

Crossbows legal during General Season with minimum draw weight of 125 pounds, a mechanical safety and a stock that is 25 inches or longer.

512-389-4505

Utah

Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit.

801-538-4700

Vermont

Crossbows legal only for handicapped hunters by permit.

802-241-3700

Virginia

Crossbows legal for hunting season.

804-367-1000

Washington

Crossbows approved for use by qualifying archers with disabilities.

360-902-2519

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.

304-558-2771

Wisconsin

Crossbows are not legal to use except by disabled hunters issued a Class A, B, or Crossbow permit; resident hunters 65 years of age or older issued a valid archery hunting license.

608-266-2621

Wyoming

Crossbows legal during archery seasons; must have 90 pound minimum draw weight, shoot a 16 inch bolt and cannot be cocked with a leverage-gaining device.

307-777-4600