Crossbow Regulations
United States Regulations
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.
Read More
907-465-4190
Alabama
Crossbows legal for all persons during the entire deer hunting season. Magnified scopes are now allowed on crossbows only.
Read More
334-242-3469
Arkansas
Crossbows legal during archery seasons; must have minimum draw weight of 125 pounds and mechanical safety.
Read More
501-223-6300
Arizona
Crossbows are legal to hunt all game species in both the muzzleloaders and general hunting seasons. Crossbows may be used in the archery seasons by hunters with disabilities for big game species after obtaining a disability permit from the AZ Game & Fish. A list of crossbow hunting by big game species is shown on page 108 of the 2016-17 Arizona Hunting Regulations. Click on “READ MORE” to access this information.
Read More
602-942-3000
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."
Read More
916-445-0411
Colorado
Crossbows legal for all hunters during gun seasons and for handicapped hunters during archery season.
Read More
Accomodation Permit
303-297-1192
Connecticut
Effective 2013 Fall seasons, crossbows will be legalized for all archery hunters.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
850-488-3831
Georgia
Crossbows legal in all seasons starting 2003.
Read More
770-918-6416
Hawaii
Crossbows legal by special disabled permit only.
Read More
808-587-0400
Iowa
Crossbows legal for all hunters during the primitive weapons season. 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.
Read More
515-281-5918
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.
Read More
208-334-3700
Illinois
Crossbows legal for all hunters in LATE archery deer season. Crossbow legal for handicapped hunters in EARLY deer archery season. Crossbows are legal for hunters under 19 years of age during the archery season.
Read More
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.
Read More
317-232-4200
Kansas
Crossbows legal for all hunters during archery deer seasons.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
225-765-2350
Massachusetts
Crossbows may be used by certain permanently handicapped persons by permit only.
Read More
508-389-6300
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.
Read More
1-877-620-8367 (in state) or 410-260-8367 (out of state)
Maine
A person 65 years of age or older may hunt a wild bird or a wild animal with a crossbow during any open season on that wild bird or wild animal, subject to this Part. A person 65 years of age or older may hunt deer with a crossbow during a regular archery-only season established under section 11403 or in an expanded archery zone or during the muzzle-loading-only deer hunting season established under section 11404.
Read More
207-287-8000
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.
Read More
517-373-1263
Minnesota
A person age 60 or over may take deer, bear, turkey, or rough fish by crossbow during the respective regular archery seasons. Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by permit. Also legal for anyone during firearms season and Turkey and Bear seasons.
Read More
888-646-6367 or 651-296-6157
Missouri
Effective for the 2016 hunting seasons crossbows will be a legal method of hunting during the archery hunt for deer and turkey and legal during the fall firearms turkey season. Currently crossbows are for handicapped archers by permit and during firearms season.
Read More
573-751-4115
Mississippi
Effective July 1, 2013, crossbows are legal in all of Archery Season. Archer's are reminded that they are required to wear hunter orange during all gun seasons. The separate crossbow permit is no longer required.
Read More
601-432-2400
Montana
Crossbows legal only during gun seasons. No provision for handicapped hunters.
Read More
406-444-2535
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.
Read More
919-707-0050
North Dakota
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by permit.
Deer Gun & Youth Deer Seasons--Crossbows are legal during the deer gun season. Crossbows must: a) have a peak draw weight of 75 pounds and not more than 200 pounds, b) be equipped with a working safety to prevent accidental firing, c) have a stock at least 14 inches long, d) use bolts at least 14 inches in length.
Muzzleloader Season--Crossbows must: a) have a peak draw weight of 75 pounds and not more than 200 pounds, b) be equipped with a working safety to prevent accidental firing, c) have a stock at least 14 inches long, d) use bolts at least 14 inches in length. No magnification (1X) scopes are legal to use on crossbows during the muzzleloader season.
Read More
701-328-6300
Nebraska
Crossbows are legal archery equipment for big game (deer, antelope, elk, turkey & bighorn sheep).
Read More
402-471-0641
New Hampshire
A person 68 years of age or older to hunt by crossbow and to acquire a perpetual crossbow permit to take any species permitted to be taken by bow and arrow.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
505-476-8000
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.
Read More
775-688-1500
New York
Legal during a portion of archery season. More details to come.
www.dec.ny.gov
518-402-8924 or 518-402-8985
Ohio
Crossbows legal during archery season.
Read More
614-265-6300
Oklahoma
Crossbows and conventional bows with draw lock devices are a legal means of hunting whenever conventional bows are allowed.
Read More
405-521-3851
Oregon
Crossbows illegal.
Read More
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.
Read More
717-787-4250
Rhode Island
The crossbow is no longer classified as a firearm - it is now in the same classification as recurves, compounds and longbows. Crossbows are now Approved for use by all archery hunters during the Archery deer season provided the hunter has successfully completed the Bow Hunter education course or otherwise qualifies for an Archery deer permit.
The use of crossbow for hunting wild turkey or any wild bird is prohibited by law (RIGL 20-14-7).
Special permits are no longer required to hunt with the crossbow including those previously required for disabled hunters; however, use of Adaptive Aids for archery hunting still requires the special permit.
Read More
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.”
Read More
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.
Read More
605-223-7665
Tennessee
The use of crossbows is now permitted during all seasons including the regular archery season.
Read More
615-781-6500
Texas
Full-inclusion of crossbows in archery seasons except Grayson County.
Read More
512-389-4800 or 1-800-792-1112
Utah
A person who has obtained an any weapon permit for a big game hunt may use archery equipment authorized in this section to take the species authorized in the permit, including a crossbow or draw-lok.
Crossbows are legal for handicap hunters during the archery season by permit.
Read More
801-538-4700
Virginia
Crossbows are legal during archery season and firearms season. A crossbow permit will be required if the season is "archery only".
Read More
804-367-1000
Vermont Beginning in 2016 -17 hunting seasons, hunters 50 and older will be allowed to use a crossbow without first obtaining a crossbow disability permit. Crossbows legal for all hunters for all species EXCEPT deer. Crossbow deer hunting legal for handicapped hunters with permit.
Read More
802-241-3700
Washington
Crossbows are legal for all hunters during modern firearm seasons. Disabled hunters that qualify may get a special use permit that allows them to use a crossbow during archery or muzzleloader seasons. Crossbows must have a minimum draw weight of 125-pounds.
Read More
360-902-2200
Wisconsin
Legal in all of Archery Season - effective 2014 Seasons (will be reviewed in three years).
Read More
608-266-2621
West Virginia
Crossbows are legal for all hunters in the full archery season for deer, bear and turkey. Crossbows are also legal in all firearms seasons. Crossbows are NOT legal in the counties of Logan, Mingo, Wyoming & McDowell.
Read More
304-558-2758
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.
Read More
307-777-4600
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.
Read More
907-465-4190
Alabama
Crossbows legal for all persons during the entire deer hunting season. Magnified scopes are now allowed on crossbows only.
Read More
334-242-3469
Arkansas
Crossbows legal during archery seasons; must have minimum draw weight of 125 pounds and mechanical safety.
Read More
501-223-6300
Arizona
Crossbows are legal to hunt all game species in both the muzzleloaders and general hunting seasons. Crossbows may be used in the archery seasons by hunters with disabilities for big game species after obtaining a disability permit from the AZ Game & Fish. A list of crossbow hunting by big game species is shown on page 108 of the 2016-17 Arizona Hunting Regulations. Click on “READ MORE” to access this information.
Read More
602-942-3000
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."
Read More
916-445-0411
Colorado
Crossbows legal for all hunters during gun seasons and for handicapped hunters during archery season.
Read More
Accomodation Permit
303-297-1192
Connecticut
Effective 2013 Fall seasons, crossbows will be legalized for all archery hunters.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
850-488-3831
Georgia
Crossbows legal in all seasons starting 2003.
Read More
770-918-6416
Hawaii
Crossbows legal by special disabled permit only.
Read More
808-587-0400
Iowa
Crossbows legal for all hunters during the primitive weapons season. 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.
Read More
515-281-5918
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.
Read More
208-334-3700
Illinois
Crossbows legal for all hunters in LATE archery deer season. Crossbow legal for handicapped hunters in EARLY deer archery season. Crossbows are legal for hunters under 19 years of age during the archery season.
Read More
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.
Read More
317-232-4200
Kansas
Crossbows legal for all hunters during archery deer seasons.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
225-765-2350
Massachusetts
Crossbows may be used by certain permanently handicapped persons by permit only.
Read More
508-389-6300
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.
Read More
1-877-620-8367 (in state) or 410-260-8367 (out of state)
Maine
A person 65 years of age or older may hunt a wild bird or a wild animal with a crossbow during any open season on that wild bird or wild animal, subject to this Part. A person 65 years of age or older may hunt deer with a crossbow during a regular archery-only season established under section 11403 or in an expanded archery zone or during the muzzle-loading-only deer hunting season established under section 11404.
Read More
207-287-8000
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.
Read More
517-373-1263
Minnesota
A person age 60 or over may take deer, bear, turkey, or rough fish by crossbow during the respective regular archery seasons. Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by permit. Also legal for anyone during firearms season and Turkey and Bear seasons.
Read More
888-646-6367 or 651-296-6157
Missouri
Effective for the 2016 hunting seasons crossbows will be a legal method of hunting during the archery hunt for deer and turkey and legal during the fall firearms turkey season. Currently crossbows are for handicapped archers by permit and during firearms season.
Read More
573-751-4115
Mississippi
Effective July 1, 2013, crossbows are legal in all of Archery Season. Archer's are reminded that they are required to wear hunter orange during all gun seasons. The separate crossbow permit is no longer required.
Read More
601-432-2400
Montana
Crossbows legal only during gun seasons. No provision for handicapped hunters.
Read More
406-444-2535
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.
Read More
919-707-0050
North Dakota
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by permit.
Deer Gun & Youth Deer Seasons--Crossbows are legal during the deer gun season. Crossbows must: a) have a peak draw weight of 75 pounds and not more than 200 pounds, b) be equipped with a working safety to prevent accidental firing, c) have a stock at least 14 inches long, d) use bolts at least 14 inches in length.
Muzzleloader Season--Crossbows must: a) have a peak draw weight of 75 pounds and not more than 200 pounds, b) be equipped with a working safety to prevent accidental firing, c) have a stock at least 14 inches long, d) use bolts at least 14 inches in length. No magnification (1X) scopes are legal to use on crossbows during the muzzleloader season.
Read More
701-328-6300
Nebraska
Crossbows are legal archery equipment for big game (deer, antelope, elk, turkey & bighorn sheep).
Read More
402-471-0641
New Hampshire
A person 68 years of age or older to hunt by crossbow and to acquire a perpetual crossbow permit to take any species permitted to be taken by bow and arrow.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
505-476-8000
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.
Read More
775-688-1500
New York
Legal during a portion of archery season. More details to come.
www.dec.ny.gov
518-402-8924 or 518-402-8985
Ohio
Crossbows legal during archery season.
Read More
614-265-6300
Oklahoma
Crossbows and conventional bows with draw lock devices are a legal means of hunting whenever conventional bows are allowed.
Read More
405-521-3851
Oregon
Crossbows illegal.
Read More
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.
Read More
717-787-4250
Rhode Island
The crossbow is no longer classified as a firearm - it is now in the same classification as recurves, compounds and longbows. Crossbows are now Approved for use by all archery hunters during the Archery deer season provided the hunter has successfully completed the Bow Hunter education course or otherwise qualifies for an Archery deer permit.
The use of crossbow for hunting wild turkey or any wild bird is prohibited by law (RIGL 20-14-7).
Special permits are no longer required to hunt with the crossbow including those previously required for disabled hunters; however, use of Adaptive Aids for archery hunting still requires the special permit.
Read More
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.”
Read More
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.
Read More
605-223-7665
Tennessee
The use of crossbows is now permitted during all seasons including the regular archery season.
Read More
615-781-6500
Texas
Full-inclusion of crossbows in archery seasons except Grayson County.
Read More
512-389-4800 or 1-800-792-1112
Utah
A person who has obtained an any weapon permit for a big game hunt may use archery equipment authorized in this section to take the species authorized in the permit, including a crossbow or draw-lok.
Crossbows are legal for handicap hunters during the archery season by permit.
Read More
801-538-4700
Virginia
Crossbows are legal during archery season and firearms season. A crossbow permit will be required if the season is "archery only".
Read More
804-367-1000
Vermont Beginning in 2016 -17 hunting seasons, hunters 50 and older will be allowed to use a crossbow without first obtaining a crossbow disability permit. Crossbows legal for all hunters for all species EXCEPT deer. Crossbow deer hunting legal for handicapped hunters with permit.
Read More
802-241-3700
Washington
Crossbows are legal for all hunters during modern firearm seasons. Disabled hunters that qualify may get a special use permit that allows them to use a crossbow during archery or muzzleloader seasons. Crossbows must have a minimum draw weight of 125-pounds.
Read More
360-902-2200
Wisconsin
Legal in all of Archery Season - effective 2014 Seasons (will be reviewed in three years).
Read More
608-266-2621
West Virginia
Crossbows are legal for all hunters in the full archery season for deer, bear and turkey. Crossbows are also legal in all firearms seasons. Crossbows are NOT legal in the counties of Logan, Mingo, Wyoming & McDowell.
Read More
304-558-2758
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.
Read More
307-777-4600
Canada Regulations
Alberta
Crossbows legal for all seasons except archery-only. Legal in archery season for eligible handicapped hunters with a crossbow license. Crossbows must have a minimum draw weight of 100-pounds.
Read More
780-944-0313
British Columbia
Crossbows legal.
Read More
250-387-9771
Manitoba
Crossbows may be used during muzzleloader deer seasons and big game rifle seasons. A hunter may not be in possession of a crossbow while hunting during archery or shotgun/muzzloader seasons. A person hunting big game shall not be in possession of a crossbow requiring less than 150-pounds draw weight or an arrow using a broadhead less than 7/8 of an inch in width. Under the authority of a Disabled Crossbow permit, a permanently disabled archer may use a crossbow during an archery season.
Read More
204-945-6784
New Brunswick
In New Brunswick crossbows may be used by certified hunters during all hunting seasons
except for the deer archery season and for hunting migratory game birds.
Read More
506-453-3826
Newfoundland
Crossbows illegal.
Read More
709-729-2830
Northwest Territories
Crossbows legal.
Read More
867-873-7500
Nova Scotia
Allows the use of crossbows in all hunting situations where conventional bows may be used, except the special open season for bowhunting deer. The crossbow must have a draw weight of 150lbs (68kg) or greater and bolts with heads more than 2.2 cm in diameter. Crossbow hunters must also wear hunter orange or camouflage orange garments.
Read More
902-424-6723
Nunavut
Crossbows legal.
Read More
867-975-7700
Ontario
Crossbows legal; Minimum 119-pound draw weight and 12-inch draw length for moose and bear, 100-pound draw weight and 12-inch draw length for deer.
Read More
800-667-1940 or 705-755-2000
Prince Edward Island
Legal for hunting all game species, except migratory birds. A Firearm Safety Certificate is required.
Read More
902-368-4683
Quebec
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by special authorizations during bow season.
In 2008, most bow hunting seasons were replaced with crossbow and bow hunting seasons. Please consult the table of hunting seasons to find out these new terms and conditions. This new development does not apply to moose hunting in zones 13, 15, 16, 17 and 22 which have retained exclusive bow hunting seasons, except for certain wildlife sanctuaries, zecs and outfitter establishments with exclusive rights of these zones which had already replaced their bow hunting seasons with crossbow and bow hunting seasons.
Except in zones 17, 22, 23 and 24, hunting with a crossbow is always permitted during a firearm, a shotgun or a muzzle-loading firearm hunting period. In order to hunt with a crossbow, a resident must be the holder of a hunter's certificate bearing code A or B. Despite the information appearing on the back of the hunter's certificate, since 2007 code F no longer allows the holder to hunt with a crossbow.
Read More
418-627-8600
Saskatchewan
Crossbows legal only during muzzleloader and rifle seasons, except in the Regina, Moosejaw, Saskatoon, Buckland and Prince Albert wildlife management zones where crossbows are permitted during all open seasons. Crossbows must have a minimum drwa weight of 150-pounds and broadheads must have a cutting diameter of 7/8 of an inch.
Read More
306-975-4087
Yukon Territories
Crossbows illegal.
Read More
867-667-5652
Crossbows legal for all seasons except archery-only. Legal in archery season for eligible handicapped hunters with a crossbow license. Crossbows must have a minimum draw weight of 100-pounds.
Read More
780-944-0313
British Columbia
Crossbows legal.
Read More
250-387-9771
Manitoba
Crossbows may be used during muzzleloader deer seasons and big game rifle seasons. A hunter may not be in possession of a crossbow while hunting during archery or shotgun/muzzloader seasons. A person hunting big game shall not be in possession of a crossbow requiring less than 150-pounds draw weight or an arrow using a broadhead less than 7/8 of an inch in width. Under the authority of a Disabled Crossbow permit, a permanently disabled archer may use a crossbow during an archery season.
Read More
204-945-6784
New Brunswick
In New Brunswick crossbows may be used by certified hunters during all hunting seasons
except for the deer archery season and for hunting migratory game birds.
Read More
506-453-3826
Newfoundland
Crossbows illegal.
Read More
709-729-2830
Northwest Territories
Crossbows legal.
Read More
867-873-7500
Nova Scotia
Allows the use of crossbows in all hunting situations where conventional bows may be used, except the special open season for bowhunting deer. The crossbow must have a draw weight of 150lbs (68kg) or greater and bolts with heads more than 2.2 cm in diameter. Crossbow hunters must also wear hunter orange or camouflage orange garments.
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902-424-6723
Nunavut
Crossbows legal.
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867-975-7700
Ontario
Crossbows legal; Minimum 119-pound draw weight and 12-inch draw length for moose and bear, 100-pound draw weight and 12-inch draw length for deer.
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800-667-1940 or 705-755-2000
Prince Edward Island
Legal for hunting all game species, except migratory birds. A Firearm Safety Certificate is required.
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902-368-4683
Quebec
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters by special authorizations during bow season.
In 2008, most bow hunting seasons were replaced with crossbow and bow hunting seasons. Please consult the table of hunting seasons to find out these new terms and conditions. This new development does not apply to moose hunting in zones 13, 15, 16, 17 and 22 which have retained exclusive bow hunting seasons, except for certain wildlife sanctuaries, zecs and outfitter establishments with exclusive rights of these zones which had already replaced their bow hunting seasons with crossbow and bow hunting seasons.
Except in zones 17, 22, 23 and 24, hunting with a crossbow is always permitted during a firearm, a shotgun or a muzzle-loading firearm hunting period. In order to hunt with a crossbow, a resident must be the holder of a hunter's certificate bearing code A or B. Despite the information appearing on the back of the hunter's certificate, since 2007 code F no longer allows the holder to hunt with a crossbow.
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418-627-8600
Saskatchewan
Crossbows legal only during muzzleloader and rifle seasons, except in the Regina, Moosejaw, Saskatoon, Buckland and Prince Albert wildlife management zones where crossbows are permitted during all open seasons. Crossbows must have a minimum drwa weight of 150-pounds and broadheads must have a cutting diameter of 7/8 of an inch.
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306-975-4087
Yukon Territories
Crossbows illegal.
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867-667-5652
