Effective date: October 30, 2026
Last updated: October 30, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how CrossbowHunting.org (“CrossbowHunting.org,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, stores, and protects personal information when you visit www.crossbowhunting.org (the “Site”), submit a form, or take part in our community forum. By using the Site, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.
1. Who We Are
CrossbowHunting.org is an independent, United States–based information resource covering crossbow, compound bow, traditional bow, slingshot, and other specialty hunting-weapon regulations for all 50 U.S. states. We also host a community forum and publish articles contributed by hunters.
For any question about this policy or your personal information, contact us at [email protected].
2. Information We Collect and Why
We collect only the information we need to operate the Site, respond to you, and keep the Site secure. We do not require you to create an account to read our state regulation pages or articles.
2.1 Article Submission Forms
When you submit an article or field report, we collect your name, email address, the article content, and any optional details you choose to provide (such as a short author bio or website). We use this information to review, edit, and publish your submission, to credit you as the author if your article is published, and to contact you about your submission. Submissions are processed with the Contact Form 7 plugin and stored in our WordPress database using the Flamingo plugin.
2.2 Contact Forms
When you contact us through a form on the Site, we collect your name, email address, and the content of your message. We use this information solely to read and respond to your enquiry. These messages are also stored in Flamingo.
2.3 Forum Registration and Participation
If you register for our forum (powered by wpForo), we collect a username, email address, and password. Passwords are stored only in hashed (encrypted, non-reversible) form; we cannot see your password. We use this information to create and identify your forum account, display your username alongside your posts, send account-related emails (such as password resets or reply notifications you request), and moderate the community. Anything you post in the forum, including your username and profile information you choose to add, is publicly visible.
2.4 Server and Access Logs
Like virtually every website, our hosting servers automatically record standard technical information when you visit, including your IP address, browser type and version, operating system, referring page, the pages you request, and the date and time of each request. This information is used to operate, maintain, and secure the Site, diagnose technical problems, and protect against abuse, spam, and attacks. Server logs are maintained by our hosting provider and are not used to build profiles of individual visitors.
2.5 Information We Do Not Collect
We do not collect payment information, as the Site has no e-commerce or paid features. We do not knowingly collect sensitive personal information such as government identification numbers, financial account details, health information, or precise geolocation.
3. Legal Bases for Processing
Where applicable law requires a legal basis for processing personal information, we rely on: your consent (for example, when you submit a form or register an account); our legitimate interests in operating, improving, and securing the Site; and compliance with legal obligations.
4. Cookies
Cookies are small text files placed on your device by a website. We use a minimal set of cookies that are necessary for the Site to function and stay secure. We do not use advertising or cross-site tracking cookies.
4.1 WordPress Cookies
If you log in, WordPress sets authentication cookies (such as wordpress_logged_in_* and wordpress_sec_*) to keep you signed in, and a wordpress_test_cookie to check that your browser accepts cookies. These cookies expire when you log out or after a set period (typically two days, or up to two weeks if you select “Remember Me”).
4.2 wpForo Forum Cookies
Our forum software sets session and preference cookies to keep you logged in to the forum, remember which topics you have read, and store display preferences. These cookies are necessary for the forum to work properly.
4.3 Cloudflare Security Cookies
Our content delivery and security provider, Cloudflare, may set strictly necessary cookies such as __cf_bm (bot management) and cf_clearance (set after a security challenge is passed). These cookies help distinguish legitimate visitors from automated traffic and protect the Site from attacks. They do not identify you personally and are not used for advertising.
4.4 Managing Cookies
Most browsers let you view, block, or delete cookies through their settings. If you block the cookies described above, you can still read the Site, but you may be unable to log in to the forum or pass security checks.
5. Third-Party Service Providers
We use a small number of trusted service providers to host and deliver the Site. These providers process information on our behalf and only as needed to provide their services.
- Cloudflare, Inc. (content delivery network and web application firewall) — routes traffic to the Site, protects it from malicious activity, and may process visitor IP addresses and request data for security purposes. See the Cloudflare Privacy Policy.
- Brevo (email delivery) — delivers emails sent by the Site, such as form confirmations, forum notifications, and password resets. Brevo processes the recipient email address and message content. See the Brevo Privacy Policy.
- DreamHost, LLC (web hosting) — hosts the Site, its database, and server logs in the United States. See the DreamHost Privacy Policy.
Our pages contain links to official state wildlife agency websites and other external sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites, and we encourage you to review their policies.
6. How We Share Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to anyone. We do not share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising. We share information only: with the service providers listed above, to the extent necessary to operate the Site; when required by law, subpoena, or other legal process; when necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of CrossbowHunting.org, our users, or the public; or in connection with a merger, transfer, or sale of the Site, in which case this policy will continue to apply to information previously collected.
7. No Advertising Networks or Tracking Pixels
The Site does not use advertising networks, retargeting services, social media tracking pixels, or third-party analytics trackers. We do not track you across other websites. If we introduce an analytics or advertising service in the future, we will update this policy before doing so.
8. Data Retention
- Form submissions (article submissions and contact messages) are retained in Flamingo for up to 12 months, after which they are deleted. Published articles remain on the Site with author credit unless you ask us to remove them.
- Forum account data is retained for as long as your account is active. If you request deletion of your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information; public posts may be retained in anonymized form to preserve the integrity of discussion threads.
- Server logs are retained by our hosting provider for a limited period consistent with its standard operating and security practices.
9. Data Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information, including encrypted HTTPS connections across the entire Site, hashed passwords, a web application firewall, and restricted administrative access. No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, however, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
10. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you and receive a copy of it;
- Correct inaccurate or incomplete personal information;
- Delete your personal information, including your forum account;
- Withdraw consent you have previously given; and
- Object to or request restriction of certain processing.
Residents of certain U.S. states (including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia, and others with consumer privacy laws) and visitors from the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom may have additional rights under applicable law. To exercise any of these rights, email us at [email protected]. We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling a request, and we will respond within the time required by applicable law (generally within 30 to 45 days). We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights.
WordPress also allows registered users to request an export or erasure of their personal data. You may make such a request by contacting us at the address above.
11. Children’s Privacy
The Site is intended for a general adult audience and is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us at [email protected] and we will promptly delete it. Young hunters are encouraged to use the Site with a parent or guardian.
12. International Visitors
The Site is operated from the United States, and information we collect is stored and processed in the United States. If you access the Site from outside the United States, you understand that your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where data protection laws may differ from those in your country.
13. Do Not Track Signals
Because we do not track visitors across third-party websites or use behavioral advertising, the Site does not change its behavior in response to browser “Do Not Track” signals.
14. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we do, we will revise the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. Material changes will be highlighted on the Site. Your continued use of the Site after an update means you accept the revised policy.
15. Governing Law
CrossbowHunting.org is based in the United States. This Privacy Policy and any dispute relating to it or to your use of the Site are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict-of-law principles, except where the law of your state or country of residence requires otherwise.
16. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact:
CrossbowHunting.org
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.crossbowhunting.org