New york hunting seasons offer deer, black bear, wild turkey and small game bagging opportunities for both resident and nonresident hunters. Links to hunting season information for big and small game species. Crossbows did not become legal hunting implements in new york state until 2014. Rick mcdermott, of pulaski, chairman of the new york crossbow coalition said the reason the crossbow legislation came out the way it did was the result of a strong grassroots effort by upstate. Dec recently surveyed hunters about their preferences regarding crossbow use. Crossbows may be used only by licensees who are 14 years of age or older 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 deer crossbow license will be required to hunt with a crossbow during the archery season, unless that individual has a valid resident youth hunttrap, deer license bundle, lifetime comprehensive hunting, or a lifetime comprehensive hunting and fishing license, or is exempt from needing a license. Gallivans crossbow bill s86a has been become part of budget bill s7508b. Join shane as he comes home on leave and looks to take out his very first deer ever with a crossbow. The states department of environmental conservation recently randomly selected, 10,000 licensed biggame hunters. Crossbow hunting in pennsylvania got a boost in 2009. Papa romes outdoors takes you crossbow hunting for big bucks in mountains, swamps and bogs in rain, hail, high winds and more.
Language in the state senates budget proposal that would have allowed. New york state office of parks, recreation and historic preservation. The states department of environmental conservation. The majority of the adirondack park is located in the northern zone, and regulations for the northern zone are shown below.
Sep 23, 2016 under rules established by the new york state legislature, bowhunters may opt to use a crossbow during latter portions of bow seasons. The use of a crossbow is legal in the following states during deer or game hunting seasons only. Crossbow hunting is growing across the country and the new law expands the opportunities for hunters to use crossbows when hunting in new york, said dec commissioner joe martens. The full departmentwide calendar can be found under home nmdgf calendar. Spring gobbler season wild turkey starts september 1. Nov 14, 2019 we now have some experience with crossbow big game hunting in new york. Hi frank, thank you for your dedication to bowhunting and for sharing your request about crossbow hunting season. Petition allow new york state hunters to use crossbows. Hunters using a crossbow during the last 10 days of the early bow season in the northern zone are not subject to the antlered deeronly requirement of the. May 09, 2017 senate progresses toward yearround crossbow use. In the southern zone, which includes western new york, the season begins oct. Proposed increase in days for ny fall crossbow hunting. Authorizes dec to adopt regulations authorizing the taking of wildlife using a crossbow and to include a summary. Time running out for proposed crossbow legislation the buffalo.
New york state office of parks, recreation and historic. A crossbow must have a peak drawn weight of at least 125 pounds. Crossbows may be used by any person age 14 or older to hunt deer, bear, unprotected wildlife and. Archery season runs september 27 to october 25 and december 9 to 15 certain areas only muzzleloader is october 19 to 25 and december 9 to 15 additional dates and regulations apply to certain areas firearm season runs october 26 to december 8. Hunters who plan to hunt with a crossbow must have in their possession while afield either their completed hunter. Deer hunting season dates new york hunting seasons. The decs 2017 whitetailed deer harvest summary noted the number of deer killed with a crossbow jumped 24. Nov 01, 2017 crossbow hunters harvested 9,439 deer during the 2016 season, or about 26 percent more than the 7,500 taken in 2015. Hunting fraternity fights for a crossbow season in new york john kekis december 14, 1995 gmt slowly, he takes aim, releases the safety, and activates the trigger. See rifle, shotgun, and bow areas for where these implements are allowed check out the crossbow hunting page for license and training requirements and details about hunting with a crossbow be aware of rules for importing big game into new york protect ny deer and moose from. New york seeking comment on crossbow rule regulations. During the late seasons, the regular season deer tag is valid for deer of either sex. Assembly bill 9623, introduced by assemblywoman aileen gunther dforestburgh on march 22, would permit crossbow use for both deer and bears, along with small game for residents ages 12 and older.
Crossbow regulations north american crossbow federation. The pennsylvania board of game commissioners expanded where and when hunters could use crossbows and. Oct 31, 2019 according to rick mcdermott, membership in the new york crossbow coalition rose by 33 percent in 2019. Please be aware that the details of crossbow use i. The decs 2017 whitetailed deer harvest summary noted the number of deer killed with a crossbow. Aug 28, 2014 new law takes effect for fall 2014 hunting season senator patrick m. Gallivan rci, elma says the department of environmental conservation dec has adopted final regulations to allow for the use of crossbows for big game and small game hunting in new york state starting this fall. Crossbow hunters seek senate approval pressconnects. In response to that push, new york bowhunters has urged its members to contact state lawmakers to reaffirm their position against the use of crossbows by any hunter including seniors and physically challenged during the archery season. The new law essentially treats crossbows as a muzzleloader.
Crossbows are also legal during fall and spring turkey seasons, elk season, firearms bear season, firearms deer season and small game seasons. Crossbows in new york tracking wildlife with joseph cea. We moved forward and received our 501c7, tax exempt status on november 17, 20. New york state has bear populations in the adirondacks, catskills, and appalachian hills. Your immediate help is needed if you would like to see crossbows included in the ny full archery season. The regulations stem from legislation first introduced by senator gallivan in 2012. Crossbows are allowed in new yorks southern zone from nov. Hunters using a crossbow during the last 10 days of the early bow season in the northern zone are not subject to the antlered deeronly requirement of the early muzzleloader season in wmus 6a, 6f, 6j, and. Seasons and bag limits for license year july 1, 2021june 30, 2022 will be proposed at the january 2021 meeting of the board of game commissioners.
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. The state of new york s budget for 20142015 allows for the reintroduction of a crossbow hunting season. The crossbow hunting season in the states southern zone starts saturday and runs. And, in an effort to push for expanded coverage for crossbow usage, the group has sent nearly 2,500 support letters to both the senate and the assembly each in new york. Crossbow hunting is growing across the country and the new law expands the opportunities for hunters to use crossbows when hunting in new york, said. Currently, crossbows can only be used for the last two weeks of the early archery season in the southern zone, the regular season when firearms can be used, and the late archery muzzleloader season. The department of environmental conservation has made it legal to hunt using a crossbow during the fall hunting season an exception being the nassau, westchester, and suffolk counties.
Crossbow hunting qualifications and safety information. For almost 30 years, a minor war raged over the use of crossbows for hunting in new york. Read more 6142656300 oklahoma crossbows and conventional bows with draw lock devices are a legal means of hunting whenever conventional bows are allowed. Alabama, delaware, kansas, nebraska, new hampshire, nevada, new york, pennsylvania, rhode island, utah. See rifle, shotgun, and bow areas for where these implements are allowed check out the crossbow hunting page for license and training requirements and details about hunting with a crossbow be aware of rules for importing big game into new york. The use of crossbows has been steadily increasing in new york in recent years. Deer and bear hunting seasons new york state department. New york bowhunters vice president richard kirschner, in an email to members, said crossbow advocates.
The use of crossbows in archery seasons remains a controversial subject for many. In the following states, crossbows can be used during firearm season. Nov 18, 2019 jeremy rowbotham shoots a good buck last day of the new york crossbow season 2019. Maine to allow xbow during october archery season in 2020. New york state hunting seasons are categorized by hunting zones. Hunting dates and seasons new hampshire fish and game. New york is the latest state to permit crossbow use during part of the general archery season and through the general firearms season when gov. Jun 12, 2019 in the southern zone, which includes western new york, the season begins oct. They can be used during the last two weeks of the southern zone regular bow season nov. Legislation proposed in the new york state assembly would allow hunters to use crossbows during open archery seasons. It would also allow the use of a crossbow on private property in any deer season a stipulation that will render those vehement anticrossbow members of the bowhunting community apoplectic. The department of environmental conservation has made it legal to hunt using a crossbow during the fall hunting season an exception. Hunters who plan to hunt with a crossbow must have in their possession while afield. Currently, crossbows are allowed during the final two weeks of the archery season, as well as during the late muzzleloader seasons and during any biggame season where a firearm is permitted.
Deer and bear hunting seasons new york state department of. Ny state senate bill s86a the new york state senate. You must be 14 years or older, have a standard hunter education course that has been completed. The bill calls for a minimum 14inch bolt arrow, a safety, a minimum limb width of 17 inches, a minimum draw weight of 100 pounds and maximum weight of. Changes on horizon as crossbow season opens saturday the. Crossbow hunting qualifications and safety information crossbows may be used by any person age 14 or older to hunt deer, bear, unprotected wildlife and most small game species except waterfowl and other migratory game birds. Crossbows are legal to use during the any weapon season, but are only legal in the archery season if you have a disabled archery permi. That portion of the law was widely criticized by crossbow users and by shops that sell the implements, since it was put in place after crossbows were first legalized for use in new york during the late muzzleloader season. The new law that authorizes the use of crossbows for hunting demonstrates governor cuomos commitment to increasing hunting opportunities here in new york state, said commissioner martens.
New jersey new jersey saltwater fishing new jersey hunting new jersey freshwater fishing. Crossbows may be used for big game hunting deer and bear during the last 14days of the southern zone archery season. Crossbow hunting legal again in new york outdoorhub. All must accompany a nys hunting license and in some cases a. 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 york crossbow coalition has reported that the senates environmental conservation committee met tuesday morning and took up bill s86. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. Under rules established by the new york state legislature, bowhunters may opt to use a crossbow during latter portions of bow seasons. Again, there may be further restrictions applied during these seasons such draw weights and the use of scopes.
Crossbow hunting is growing across the country and the new law expands the opportunities for hunters to use crossbows when hunting in new york. What is the latest count of states allowing full inclusion of crossbows. Crossbow expansion dropped from new yorks state budget. Proposed increase in days for ny fall crossbow hunting halted. And it was imposed after some new york hunters purchased crossbows with draw weights above that limit. Oct 16, 2019 crossbows did not become legal hunting implements in new york state until 2014. Dec sets crossbow hunting regulations ny state senate. Furthermore, nyb is opposed to the creation of any new hunting or fishing season or the extension of any existing season which will decrease the length of the archery only. Changes on horizon as crossbow season opens saturday.
There were no safety or damage incidents involving crossbow hunters. Be aware of rules for importing big game into new york protect ny deer and moose from chronic wasting disease. Within a week there was tremendous support for the issue and in march 2012 we filed the paperwork and became an incorporated business. I hereby make application to the director of the new hampshire fish and game dept. Andrew cuomo signed a bill into law in early april.
Deer, archery antlered and antlerless wmus 2b, 5c and 5d. One small group pushed hard to include the crossbow among legal hunting ordnance and another small group. The permit is valid for the following species, seasons and implements. Crossbow hunters seek senate approval binghamton new york news. Ny state assembly bill a527 the new york state senate. Please invite everyone that is interested in unshackling the crossbow in ny to join the group. A two year season ended december 31st of 2012 but a new law is building momentum. New yorks grassroots archery and hunting organization comprised and financed. Regular and late bow season and january 11january 31, 2020 dmfa, see specific season dates below. Crossbows may not be used to take carp or any other fish. A crossbow should be legal for all game, during all seasons, and in any. Allows 12 15 year olds to hunt with a crossbow removes the prior prohibition on 12 and year olds authorizes those physical unable to draw a longbow as determined by a physician to use a crossbow in a special archery season. Hunting fraternity fights for a crossbow season in new york. The inside story about how crossbows once again became legal.
Deer hunters and general are also taking fewer yearling bucks. New york offers hunting licenses can be purchased online, but nonresidents must provide proof of hunter education or a previous hunting license and proof of identity. Feb 20, 2019 papa romes outdoors takes you crossbow hunting for big bucks in mountains, swamps and bogs in rain, hail, high winds and more. The crossbow hunting for big game deer and bear begins this weekend over a large portion of upstate new york. Aug 28, 2014 crossbow hunting is growing across the country and the new law expands the opportunities for hunters to use crossbows when hunting in new york, dec commissioner joseph martens said in a statement. During the 2016 season, 9439 deer were harvested by crossbow hunters. According to rick mcdermott, membership in the new york crossbow coalition rose by 33 percent in 2019. View future big game season dates to plan for future hunting seasons summary of 201920 hunting seasons pdf.
Type of hunting season and time of day1 implements allowed2. Crossbow laws and regulations are crossbows legal in my. Alaska, arizona, california, colorado, idaho, iowa, michigan. May 17, 2017 crossbow hunters seek senate approval. New york hunting seasons, 20192020 hunting season hq. The pennsylvania game commission also lays out these requirements for all crossbows. New york governor andrew cuomo has unveiled 50 new outdoor projects for hunters, anglers, and other outdoor enthusiasts in the state. New york appears to be getting closer to allowing crossbows during big game seasons. New york crossbow coalition was born on february 3, 2012 as a facebook group. After years of heated debate over the expanded use of crossbows, new york, my home state, has now made them legal for use during the archery season. An effort to increase the length of the season when crossbows can be legally used by new york hunters has failed for now. Crossbow hunting information new york hunting seasons. The new york crossbow coalition, the driving force behind the push for full inclusion, said in an email to its members that the legislative option still.
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