S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6872
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 18, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER, LUPARDO, STECK, SANTABARBARA, BUTTENS-
CHON, LEMONDES, BARRETT, MILLER, BENDETT, BLANKENBUSH, MANKTELOW,
GALLAHAN -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ANGELINO -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
crossbows; and to repeal certain provisions of such law relating ther-
eto
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Paragraph a of subdivision 1, the closing paragraph of
paragraph a of subdivision 2, paragraphs 1 and 2 of subdivision 3,
subdivision 5 and subdivision 9 of section 11-0701 of the environmental
conservation law, paragraph a of subdivision 1 as amended by section 21
and subdivision 9 as amended by section 17 of part EE of chapter 55 of
the laws of 2014, the closing paragraph of paragraph a of subdivision 2,
paragraphs 1 and 2 of subdivision 3 and subdivision 5 as amended by
section 1-a of part R of chapter 58 of the laws of 2013, are amended to
read as follows:
a. entitles a holder who is twelve or thirteen years of age to hunt
wildlife, except big game, as provided in title 9 of this article
subject, specifically, to the provisions of section 11-0929 of this
article. It entitles such holder to possess firearms as provided in
section 265.05 of the penal law. [A holder who is twelve or thirteen
years of age shall not hunt with a crossbow.]
A holder may take fish with a longbow OR CROSSBOW as provided in
titles 9 and 13 of this article.
(1) who is between the ages of twelve and sixteen years to hunt wild
deer and bear with a longbow OR CROSSBOW during the special archery
season and during the regular season, as provided in title 9 of this
article, subject to the provisions of section 11-0929 and subdivision 3
of section 11-0713 of this [article] TITLE;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00745-01-5
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(2) who is eighteen years of age or older to hunt wild deer and bear
with a longbow OR CROSSBOW, as provided in title 9 of this article, in a
special [longbow] ARCHERY season; and
5. A non-resident bear tag entitles a person who has not been a resi-
dent of the state for more than thirty days who also possesses a hunting
license to hunt bear during the regular open season therefor or in an
open season fixed by regulation pursuant to subdivision eight of section
11-0903 of this article. It entitles a non-resident holder who also
possesses a hunting license with bowhunting privilege to hunt bear with
a longbow OR CROSSBOW during the open bear season. It entitles a non-re-
sident holder who also possesses a hunting license with muzzle-loading
privilege to hunt bear with a muzzleloader during the open bear season.
9. A muzzle-loading privilege when included on a hunting license enti-
tles a holder who is fourteen years of age or older to hunt wild deer
and bear with a muzzle-loading firearm [or crossbow], as provided in
title 9 of this article, in a special muzzle-loading firearm season.
§ 2. Paragraph b of subdivision 6 of section 11-0703 of the environ-
mental conservation law, as amended by section 2 of part R of chapter 58
of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
b. Except as provided in section 11-0707 and section 11-0709 of this
title, no person shall (1) hunt wild deer or bear unless such person
holds and is entitled to exercise the privileges of a hunting license,
and meets the requirements of this article; (2) hunt wild deer or bear
with a longbow OR CROSSBOW in a special [longbow] ARCHERY season unless
such person holds and is entitled to exercise the privileges of a hunt-
ing license with a bowhunting privilege and meets the requirements of
this article; or (3) hunt wild deer or bear with a muzzle-loading
firearm in a special muzzle-loading firearm season unless such person is
at least fourteen years old and holds a hunting license with a muzzle-
loading privilege and meets the requirements of this article.
§ 3. Subdivision 6 of section 11-0713 of the environmental conserva-
tion law is REPEALED.
§ 4. Subparagraph 3 of paragraph c of subdivision 3 of section 11-0901
of the environmental conservation law is REPEALED.
§ 5. Paragraph c of subdivision 3 of section 11-0901 of the environ-
mental conservation law, as amended by section 19 of part EE of chapter
55 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
c. Wild small game and wild upland game birds shall be taken only by
longbow, CROSSBOW or gun, or by the use of raptors as provided in title
10 of this article, except that:
(1) skunk, raccoon, bobcat, coyote, fox, mink and muskrat may be taken
in any manner not prohibited in this section or in title 11 of the Fish
and Wildlife Law; AND
(2) frogs may also be taken by spearing, catching with the hands, or
by the use of a club or hook[; and].
§ 6. Subparagraph 9 of paragraph b and subparagraph 9 of paragraph c
of subdivision 4 of section 11-0901 of the environmental conservation
law, subparagraph 9 of paragraph b as added by section 6 and subpara-
graph 9 of paragraph c as added by section 7 of part EE of chapter 55 of
the laws of 2014, are amended to read as follows:
(9) with a crossbow unless such crossbow shall consist of a bow and
string, either compound or recurve, that launches a minimum fourteen
inch [bolt] ARROW, not including point, mounted upon a stock with a
trigger that holds the string and limbs under tension until released.
The trigger unit of such crossbow must have a working safety. The [mini-
mum limb width of such crossbow shall be seventeen inches, have a] mini-
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mum peak draw weight [of] SHALL BE one hundred pounds [and a maximum
peak draw weight of two hundred pounds]. The minimum overall length of
such crossbow from buttstock to front of limbs shall be twenty-four
inches.
(9) with a crossbow unless such crossbow shall consist of a bow and
string, either compound or recurve, that launches a minimum fourteen
inch [bolt] ARROW, not including point, mounted upon a stock with a
trigger that holds the string and limbs under tension until released.
The trigger unit of such crossbow must have a working safety. The [mini-
mum limb width of such crossbow shall be seventeen inches, have a] mini-
mum peak draw weight [of] SHALL BE one hundred pounds [and a maximum
peak draw weight of two hundred pounds]. The minimum overall length of
such crossbow from buttstock to front of limbs shall be twenty-four
inches.
§ 7. Subdivision 13 of section 11-0901 of the environmental conserva-
tion law, as amended by section 23 of part R of chapter 58 of the laws
of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
13. Persons engaged in hunting deer and/or bear with a longbow OR A
CROSSBOW must possess a current bowhunting privilege or a valid certif-
icate of qualification in responsible bowhunting practices issued or
honored by the department.
§ 8. Subdivisions 11 and 16 of section 11-0901 of the environmental
conservation law are REPEALED.
§ 9. Section 11-0903 of the environmental conservation law is amended
by adding a new subdivision 12 to read as follows:
12. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY INCONSISTENT PROVISION OF THIS ARTICLE, THE
DEPARTMENT IS AUTHORIZED TO ADOPT REGULATIONS WHICH AUTHORIZE THE TAKING
OF WILDLIFE BY THE USE OF CROSSBOW. A SUMMARY OF REGULATIONS ADOPTED
PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE PUBLISHED EACH YEAR IN THE HUNTING
SYLLABUS ISSUED PURSUANT TO SECTION 11-0323 OF THIS ARTICLE.
§ 10. Subdivision 10 of section 11-0907 of the environmental conserva-
tion law is REPEALED.
§ 11. Subdivision 1 of section 11-0929 of the environmental conserva-
tion law, as amended by section 20 of part EE of chapter 55 of the laws
of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
1. A licensee who is twelve or thirteen years of age shall not hunt
wildlife with a gun, CROSSBOW or a longbow unless he or she is accompa-
nied by his or her parent or legal guardian, or by a person twenty-one
years of age or older designated in writing by his or her parent or
legal guardian on a form prescribed by the department, who holds a hunt-
ing license. [A licensee who is twelve or thirteen years of age shall
not hunt with a crossbow.]
§ 12. Subparagraph 5 of paragraph b of subdivision 2 of section
11-0929 of the environmental conservation law is REPEALED and subpara-
graph 6 is renumbered subparagraph 5.
§ 13. Subparagraph 2 of paragraph a and subparagraph 1 of paragraph b
of subdivision 4 of section 11-0931 of the environmental conservation
law, subparagraph 2 of paragraph a as amended by section 8 of part EE of
chapter 55 of the laws of 2014, and subparagraph 1 of paragraph b as
separately amended by chapters 65 and 83 of the laws of 2024, are
amended to read as follows:
(2) discharge a firearm within five hundred feet, a long bow within
one hundred fifty feet, or a crossbow within [two] ONE hundred fifty
feet from a dwelling house, farm building or farm structure actually
occupied or used, school building, school playground, public structure,
or occupied factory or church;
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(1) The owner or lessee of the dwelling house, or members of his imme-
diate family actually residing therein, or a person in his employ, or
the guest of the owner or lessee of the dwelling house acting with the
consent of said owner or lessee, provided however, that nothing herein
shall be deemed to authorize such persons to discharge a firearm within
five hundred feet, a long bow within one hundred fifty feet, or a cross-
bow within two hundred fifty feet of any other dwelling house, or a farm
building or farm structure actually occupied or used, or a school build-
ing or playground, public structure, or occupied factory or church;
provided further, that a nuisance wildlife specialist with a permit
issued pursuant to section 11-0522 of this article acting in furtherance
of the site specific deer management plan may discharge a firearm within
five hundred feet of any dwelling houses, structures, schools or play-
grounds, provided that the owners or lessees thereof have been notified
by certified mail of the date or dates, and time period of the expected
activity, and discharge a firearm within [two] ONE hundred fifty feet of
such dwelling houses, structures, schools or playgrounds provided that
all the owners or lessees thereof have provided written consent;
provided further, that a nuisance wildlife specialist with a permit
issued pursuant to section 11-0522-a of this article acting in further-
ance of the site-specific deer management plan may discharge a firearm
within five hundred feet of any dwelling houses, structures, schools or
playgrounds, provided that the owners or lessees thereof have been noti-
fied by certified mail of the date or dates and time period of the
expected activity, and discharge a firearm within two hundred fifty feet
of such dwelling houses, structures, schools or playgrounds provided
that all the owners or lessees thereof have provided written consent;
§ 13-a. Subparagraph 1 of paragraph b of subdivision 4 of section
11-0931 of the environmental conservation law, as amended by section 8
of part EE of chapter 55 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as
follows:
(1) The owner or lessee of the dwelling house, or members of his imme-
diate family actually residing therein, or a person in his employ, or
the guest of the owner or lessee of the dwelling house acting with the
consent of said owner or lessee, provided however, that nothing herein
shall be deemed to authorize such persons to discharge a firearm within
five hundred feet, a long bow within one hundred fifty feet, or a cross-
bow within [two] ONE hundred fifty feet of any other dwelling house, or
a farm building or farm structure actually occupied or used, or a school
building or playground, public structure, or occupied factory or church;
§ 14. Section 11-0933 of the environmental conservation law, as added
by section 22 of part EE of chapter 55 of the laws of 2014, is amended
to read as follows:
§ 11-0933. Taking small game by crossbow.
Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, or any prior notwith-
standing language in this article, the department may, by regulation,
authorize the taking of small game and wild upland game birds by the use
of a crossbow by any licensed person [fourteen] TWELVE years of age or
older, in any small game season[, in any area designated in items (a),
(b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (i), (k), and (l) of paragraph a of subdivision
two of section 11-0907 of this title in which a shotgun or muzzle loader
is permitted].
§ 15. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
the amendments to subparagraph 1 of paragraph b of subdivision 4 of
section 11-0931 of the environmental conservation law made by section
thirteen of this act shall be subject to the expiration and reversion of
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such subparagraph pursuant to section 6 of chapter 683 of the laws of
2023 and section 6 of chapter 704 of the laws of 2023, as amended, when
upon such date the provisions of section 13-a of this act shall take
effect.