2012-2013 Hunting & Trapping Regulations Guide - New York State ...

Crossbow HuNtING
new YoRk state depaRtment of enviRonmentaL ConseRvation
Crossbow Hunting Qualifications and Certificate
To hunt with a crossbow in New York, hunters
will need to read and have an understanding of
the information on this page. They will need
to complete the "Certificate of Qualification"
below and carry the completed certificate while
afield with a crossbow.
geneRaL infoRmation
• Crossbows may only be used to hunt deer
and bear.
• Crossbows may only be used during the early
bear season, regular firearms seasons, late
muzzleloader seasons.
• Crossbows cannot be used during bowhunting
seasons or in ‘Archery Only’ areas of
the state.
• The hunter needs a current year’s license to
hunt big game.
• If hunting with a crossbow in the late muzzleloading
season, the muzzleloading privilege
is also required.
CRossbow safetY RuLes
• Before shooting your crossbow, read and
thoroughly understand your crossbow
owner’s manual.
• Always identify your target and the area
beyond it before shooting.
• Make sure your crossbow’s limb tips are free
of obstructions before shooting.
• If hunting from a tree stand, always cock
the crossbow on the ground before climbing
into the stand.
• Do not place the bolt on the crossbow until
you are safely in your stand.
• Never raise or lower a cocked crossbow with
a bolt in it from a tree stand.
• Keep ALL fingers below the crossbow’s rail
when shooting a bolt.
• Never carry a cocked crossbow with a bolt
in it while walking.
• Never dry-fire (cock and fire without loading
a bolt) a crossbow.
• Never use a cocking device to uncock a
crossbow.
• To uncock a crossbow, shoot a bolt tipped
with a field point into soft ground or a target.
Fill in, cut out, and keep with your hunting license.
• Always observe a maximum effective range
for hunting of less than 40 yards to prevent
wounding game.
• To understand how bolts function, though
not mandatory, consider taking a bowhunter
education course.
LegaL RequiRements
foR CRossbows
• A bow, a string, and either compound or
recurve limbs with minimum width of 17
inches (tip of limbs, uncocked).
• Mounted on a stock with a trigger and working
safety that holds the string and limbs
under tension.
• A minimum peak draw weight of 100 pounds
and a maximum peak draw weight of 200
pounds.
• A minimum overall length from the butt of
the stock to the front of limbs of 24 inches.
• A minimum length of the bolt of 14 inches.
(The arrowhead is to be nonbarbed, 2 or more
cutting surfaces at least ⅞" wide).
• A crossbow is considered unloaded if the
bolt is removed, regardless whether it is
cocked or uncocked.
suggested RefeRenCes
to Review
• NYSDEC Crossbow
Frequently Asked Questions
www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/68802.html
• North American Crossbow Federation:
Crossbow 101 (video)
northamericancrossbowfederation.com/
infoEdu2.php
• NYSDEC Sportsman Education
www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7860.html
Practice safely, practice often, and learn
the capabilities and limitations of the
crossbow and the bolt it shoots.
new YoRk state depaRtment of
enviRonmentaL ConseRvation
Crossbow Certificate of Qualification
I certify that I have read and understand the safety rules and legal requirements of crossbow
use in New York. I acknowledge that I have reviewed the training requirements required for
use of a crossbow while afield.
Print Name ______________________________________________________________________
Signature ________________________________________________________________________
DEC ID# _________________________________________________________________________
- -
(this is your back-tag number)
Date ____________________________________________________________________________
HIGHlIGHts oF
CHaNGes For 2012–2013
Youth firearms deer Hunt
At press time, a proposed youth hunt for
deer remained tentative. Check DEC's
website for updates.
more Bowhunting Opportunity
Bow season in the Southern Zone and the
regular season in Westchester County
(bowhunting only) will now begin October
1 each year. In the Northern Zone, a new
bowhunting season will run for 7 days
following the close of the regular season
in areas that also have a late muzzleloader
season.
greater use of deer management
permits (dmps)
DMPs can now be used during all seasons
in the Northern Zone and Bonus DMPs
(see page 34) will be available in Wildlife
Management Unit (WMU) 9A.
mandatory antler restrictions
in more wmus
Mandatory antler restrictions have been
implemented in WMUs 3A, 4G, 4O, 4P,
4R, 4S and 4W. Hunters in these units may
not take an antlered buck unless it has at
least one antler with 3 or more points.
The restriction applies to all hunting
seasons (bow, regular and muzzleloader)
on public and private land. Youth hunters
(ages 12-16) are exempt from the 3 point
restriction.
deer management focus area established
in portions of tompkins County
This program will intensify use of
traditional hunting to assist communities
with the burden of overabundant deer
populations. Hunters that register with
the Focus Area program and have access
to hunt in the focus area will be eligible
to take 2 antlerless deer per day and
participate in a special season in January.
See www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/82382.html
for details.
Crossbow law expires on
december 31, 2012
At press time, legislation was pending that
would authorize limited use of crossbows
for big game hunting beyond December
31, 2012 (when the previous legislation
expires). Check DEC's website for updates
this fall.
10 2012–13 HuNtING & traPPING GuIDe