General Crossbow Regulations
- Age requirement: Crossbows may be used by hunters ages 14 and up with a valid hunting license and bowhunting privilege to hunt deer and bear during any season and in any location where a longbow is permitted. Hunters ages 12 and 13 that have a valid hunting license and bowhunting privilege may hunt deer with a crossbow only in those counties that have passed a local law allowing such hunters to do so. Licensees who are 14 or older may use crossbows to hunt unprotected wildlife and most small game species.
- Without landowner permission, crossbows may not be discharged within 250 feet of any home, school building or playground, public structure, farm structure in use, or occupied factory or church. In Suffolk and Westchester counties, this setback distance is 500 feet.
- Age requirement: Crossbows may be used by licensees who are 12 or older to hunt deer and licensees 14 or older to hunt bear, unprotected wildlife, and most small game species.
- Without landowner permission, crossbows may not be discharged within 250 feet of any home, school building or playground, public structure, farm structure in use, or occupied factory or church.
- A crossbow may not be possessed in or on a motor vehicle unless it is un-cocked.
- While on lands inhabited by deer or bear, and in or on a motor vehicle using artificial lights, a crossbow may not be possessed unless it is unstrung or taken down or securely fastened in a case or locked in the trunk of the vehicle.
Required Crossbow Safety Training
- To hunt deer or bear with a crossbow, a hunter must have proof of bowhunter education certification or proof that they held a New York State bowhunting license or stamp issued 1980 or later.
- Former Crossbow Certificate of Qualification is no longer valid.
Crossbow Specifications
- A legal crossbow consists of a bow and string, either compound or recurve, mounted upon a stock with a trigger that holds the string and limbs under tension until released.
- The trigger unit of such crossbow must have a working safety.
- Minimum peak draw weight: 100 pounds
Crossbow Regulations
Big Game
- Hunters must possess a hunting license and bowhunting privilege to deer or bear hunt with a crossbow during the bowhunting seasons.
- To hunt deer or bear with a crossbow during the Regular season, early bear season, or early antlerless deer season, hunters must possess a hunting license and proof of bowhunter education certificate or a bowhunting privilege.
- Crossbows may be used in any time and any place where other bows may be used, including in the archery only portions of Albany and Monroe counties (WMUs 4J and 8C) and in Suffolk and Westchester counties (WMUs 1C and 3S).
- See Deer and Bear Hunting Season dates
- Junior big game hunters (age 12-15) may not use a crossbow to take a deer during the Youth Deer Hunt weekend. Adult mentors who accompany a junior big game hunter on the Youth Deer Hunt weekend may not possess a crossbow (or firearm) while afield on those days.
Small Game
License Requirements: A hunting license is needed to use a crossbow to hunt small game species. A turkey permit is also required to hunt turkeys. All crossbow specifications remain in effect.
Crossbows may be used to take the following small game species during their respective open seasons.
- Wild turkey.
- Any migratory or upland game birds.
- Any other small game species.
- Unprotected wildlife (e.g. red squirrels and woodchucks) at anytime.
Crossbows may not be used under the following conditions.
- While hunting with a dog for any small game (except for coyotes) in the Northern Zone.
Fish
- Crossbows and longbows may be used to take carp. Users must abide by discharge setback distances for each implement. See Bowfishing for more information.
