In the final days of the 2025 NYS Legislative Session, both chambers finally brought a new crossbow bill for full floor votes, resulting in passage of S6360A/ A8330A,an act clarifying the use of crossbows, redefining crossbow to be considered with other “bows”, moving qualifications to archery privileges, including Bowhunter’s Safety course requirements, and authorizing the DEC to promulgate regulations for its use in any season where long bows may be used.  This act also eliminates the archaic restrictions currently in place in NY, such as minimum width of 17 inches, and the maximum draw weight of 200 lbs. 

Since, 2014, when the official crossbow “compromise” was adopted, data collection concerning harvest and profiles of user groups has shown this implement indeed belongs in NYS as a choice for all hunters.  Harvest data shows easily sustainable use of this implement, and the biggest group of hunters that benefit from crossbow inclusion are the older hunters who struggle through age or physical limitations to ethically use a vertical today. 

Over the past decade of partial inclusion during early archery also illustrated the need to require the additional bowhunter’s safety education requirement, as through tracking the calls to Deer Search, Inc., it appears some users of the crossbow do not understand how the implement works, which is identical to how vertical bows work, as it isn’t the style of the bow, rather the projectile’s cutting broadhead, which requires hunters to be more patient before tracking and recovering the harvest.  Moving this implement to archery will go a long way in improving game recovery through proper education.

The legislation is currently sitting in the legislature, awaiting delivery to the Governor for signature.  The NYSCC is urging the membership to contact the Senate Majority Leader and the Speaker of the Assembly and ask to have this legislation delivered to the governor ASAP.  The act will take effect immediately upon signature, but it must be delivered first.  The longer the delay, the less likely these important changes will be included in the 2025 Big Game seasons.  For more information, please visit www.nyscc.com.  The NYSCC has implemented a new Action page, which is here, https://www.nyscc.com/action#/ and users can take action through this page, simplifying the process of getting in touch with your representatives to urge their action on our behalf.  It only works when WE use these tools.  Horses and water, right?