Hunters across New York received big news this week as Governor Kathy Hochul signed Senate Bill S6360A into law, officially expanding crossbow hunting opportunities across the state.
The landmark decision, made this week, opens the door for crossbows to be used throughout the entire archery season for big game, placing them on equal grounds with trad bows and compounds.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has been granted the authority to establish and enforce the specific rules for crossbow hunting.
This regulatory shift means the DEC will now shape how crossbows are integrated into the season, ensuring safety, fair chase, and sustainable wildlife management remain top priorities.
What Hunters Need to Know
Under the new law, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) now has the authority to set detailed regulations, and they’ve already released a helpful Q&A guide for fall 2025 hunters.
License & Education Requirements
For bowhunting seasons (archery), you must have a valid hunting license plus the bowhunting privilege—which requires completing the NYS Bowhunter Education Course (available online or in person).
Any prior crossbow certificate or training no longer qualifies—only the Bowhunter Education Course counts now.
Tagging Game
Deer harvested during archery or muzzleloader seasons with a crossbow can be tagged just like with other bow methods—using bow/muzzleloader either-sex, antlerless tags, management permits, etc., depending on your Wildlife Management Unit (WMU).
During the regular firearm season when using a crossbow, use your standard firearm tag—no separate archery privilege required.
Age Eligibility
Hunters 14 and older with requisite licenses and privileges can use a crossbow anywhere bows are permitted.
Hunters ages 12–13 may only hunt with a crossbow if their county has passed a local law explicitly allowing it.
Equipment Specifications—Modernized and Simplified
Crossbow must include a working trigger safety and have at least 100 lb peak draw weight.
Gone are the old, cumbersome limitations – no minimum limb width, no minimum length, no maximum draw weight.
Why It Matters
Crossbow legalization in New York carries significant implications for hunters across the state. For starters, it greatly enhances accessibility and inclusivity. Crossbows level the playing field for older hunters, newcomers, or those with physical limitations, allowing them to continue enjoying the archery season.
Of course, not everyone sees the change as positive. Traditionalists argue that crossbows reduce the skill and stealth that define archery hunting, making the experience feel more like shooting than stalking.
Yet, as history shows, similar objections were raised decades ago when compound bows first entered the scene and were criticized for being “too easy.”
From a management perspective, expanded crossbow use also promises to improve deer harvest outcomes and opportunities. By offering hunters sharper, more accurate shots, crossbows can potentially help reduce wounding loss and ensure more efficient harvests, ultimately benefiting both hunters and wildlife populations.
Finally, this shift brings New York in line with much of the region. Once one of the few holdouts, the state now joins Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, and others that long ago embraced crossbows for the full archery season.
With the law taking effect on August 27, 2025, New York hunters are stepping into a new era that some would say better balances tradition with progress.
