Field Notes from the CrossbowHunting.org Community
Maryland allows crossbows during archery season and also during muzzleloader, firearms and junior deer hunt days, making it one of the more permissive crossbow states. Crossbows must have at least…
Read More: Maryland Crossbow & Bow Hunting LawsMaine folded crossbow use into the archery hunting license, so hunters with an archery license may use a crossbow during the regular and expanded archery seasons and during the firearms…
Read More: Maine Crossbow & Bow Hunting LawsLouisiana treats the crossbow as archery equipment, so any licensed hunter with a deer license or combination license can use one during open archery deer seasons, and no disability permit…
Read More: Louisiana Crossbow & Bow Hunting LawsMontana keeps crossbows out of its archery-only seasons. FWP defines a hunting bow as a hand-drawn longbow, flatbow, recurve or compound, and devices with a gun-type stock or a string-holding…
Read More: Montana Crossbow & Bow Hunting LawsIllinois hunters may use a crossbow throughout the archery deer season, which for 2026-2027 runs October 1, 2026 through January 17, 2027, split around firearm and muzzleloader segments in counties…
Read More: Illinois Crossbow & Bow Hunting LawsConnecticut is one of the simplest states for crossbow hunters: DEEP classifies crossbows as legal archery equipment for every hunter, with no age or disability requirement. A legal crossbow must…
Read More: Connecticut Crossbow & Bow Hunting LawsDelaware permits crossbows during all deer seasons, including the archery seasons, making it one of the most accessible states for crossbow hunters. A legal crossbow must have at least 125…
Read More: Delaware Crossbow & Bow Hunting LawsFlorida separates archery and crossbow seasons. On private land, hunters with a crossbow season permit can hunt deer during the dedicated crossbow season, and crossbows are also legal during muzzleloading…
Read More: Florida Crossbow & Bow Hunting LawsGeorgia is one of the most permissive crossbow states. The Wildlife Resources Division classifies crossbows as archery equipment, so they are legal during the statewide archery deer season and also…
Read More: Georgia Crossbow & Bow Hunting LawsHawaii hunting is managed by the Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) under Hawaii Administrative Rules Chapter 13-123, with seasons, bag limits and legal methods set per island and per…
Read More: Hawaii Crossbow & Bow Hunting Laws