On August 26, 2025, NY Governor Hochul signed the overwhelmingly supported NY Crossbow Bill into law, marking the end of a decades long battle to include the crossbow as a choice for NY hunters, without special medical restrictions or modification.  I would like to applaud the Governor for hearing the will of the people and enacting this bill into law, which has taken effect immediately.

 Let’s take a moment to review some of the changes this law brings with it.  First, the restrictions placed on a legal crossbow, including maximum draw weight of 200 lbs., and minimum limb width of 17 inches have ben removed.  NY hunter may now use any modern crossbow regardless of draw weight (still must meet a minimum draw weight of 100 lbs.) and limb width.

 Second, the new law allows crossbow use throughout any early archery season.  This replaced the permissible timing during early archery season, which, in NY southern zone for example, was limited to the final 14 days of early archery.

 Third, and perhaps most importantly, crossbow use now requires hunters to successfully complete the bowhunter safety course, moving crossbow away from the muzzleloader privilege.  This means, effective immediately, if a hunter in NY wishes to use the crossbow – regardless of whether it is chosen during early archery, regular season, or extended season and holiday hunt (S. Zone only), or for it to be used in pursuit of small game and wild turkey, the hunter must now take the bowhunter safety course.  If you have been using the crossbow in its limited form under the ML privilege, but have never taken the bowhunting course, you will now have to.

 This law addresses some shortcomings of the old law, eliminating any confusion as to whether your crossbow is “legal,” and, perhaps most importantly, proper education on how the bolt lethality works, which is identical to the broadhead on an arrow, requiring the hunter to give more time before recovery efforts, most effective shot placement and blood tracking skills not taught in the basic hunter’s safety course.  Over the past several seasons, Deer Search, Inc. has tracked massive increases in calls during those last 2 weeks of early archery, as crossbow hunters, as it stood prior to 8/26/2025, relied upon what was taught in terms of safe and effective firearms use, but may be unaware of the different demands a successful archery harvest and recovery carries.

 As for its use and who really benefits most from this new law, although benefits are attached to crossbow in recruiting women and youth hunters to these critical conservation activities, the biggest winners are senior bowhunters who, through attrition of time, can no longer draw and hold a vertical bow effectively for an ethical kill.  These experienced bowhunters, having opportunity to return to the early archery woods, brings with it the hands-on mentoring of the new generation, imparting not just the skills needed to be an effective and successful bowhunter, but also passing on the knowledge required to become a woodsman, not just a hunter.  Returning these hunters to the woods will deliver profound benefit to the next generations, something not readily measurable, but will be noticed as increased harvest and reduced calls for deer recovery help.

 This is a very positive moment for hunting in NYS, something that would not have happened without the dedication to this effort from New York State Conservation Council, New York Crossbow Coalition, and the overwhelming majority of County Federations, like Erie County, not giving up and presenting facts, harvest history and recruitment insights gleaned from past ML stamp sales.

 Since this act was written to take effect “immediately upon enactment”, the new law starts THIS season.  Although the enactment happened after the deadline for updating the print version of the hunting regulations guide book, you will be able to get the updated regulations from the DEC website, as they will be able to update the online PDF of the booklet rather quickly.  In fact, I’m sure it is already completed and ready to roll out.  For more information, check the DEC website in the coming days to read and familiarize yourself with the new rules for crossbow use starting in 2025.

 We’re a little over 30 days from early archery opener in the Southern Zone, less than 30 days for northern zone early archery.  Hunters still have time to pick up a crossbow, bolts, broadheads, and practice bolts, get familiar with the operation and marksmanship before hitting the woods, if you so choose to use a crossbow.  Remember, you aren’t required to use a crossbow – it’s your choice.  But it’s a choice long overdue in New York. 

We applaud the Governor for the action and wish to recognize and thank the NYS DEC for their quick response and implementation.