Relates to crossbow hunting

1 Co-sponsor

• Joseph A. Griffo

BILL NUMBER:S5817

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to crossbow hunting

Purpose

To classify a crossbow as a bow and to require hunters to take the bow hunter safety education course, eliminate the 200 pound max draw weight for crossbows, and allow the use of a crossbow during the Columbus Weekend Youth Deer Hunt.

Summary of provisions

This bill amends various sections of the environmental conservation law to classify crossbows as bows for the purpose of requiring those who use crossbows to take the bow hunter safety education course, remove the maximum draw for crossbows, and authorize junior hunters to use crossbows during the youth deer hunt.

Justification

The current environmental conservation law states that in order to be licensed, bow hunters must take a safety course in basic hunter education which simply teaches the basic information about a crossbow. According to DEC, during the 2014-15 hunting season, 5,535 deer were harvested with a crossbow and there were no hunting related incidents involving a crossbow. But in order to further ensure responsible and safe crossbow hunting, this legislation would require those who use a crossbow to take an additional eight hour course on bow hunter education.

Due to the misconception that draw weight equates directly to energy, previous legislation has created restrictions on the maximum draw weight for crossbows for safety reasons. However, energy is a factor of speed and the weight of the object, which explains why a 290 pound recurve crossbow shoots slower than the 185 pound compound crossbow. This bill corrects that misconception.

In order to have a junior archery license which permits the hunting of deer and bear during season, an individual must be a resident holder between fourteen and sixteen years of age. During the Columbus Weekend Youth Deer Hunt, junior hunters are allowed to use bows, shotguns, muzzleloaders and rifles to hunt but they are currently prohibited from using crossbows. Amending this section of the environmental conservation law will allow youth with junior archery privilege to utilize crossbows during the youth deer hunt. These same junior hunters are already permitted to use a crossbow in the last 14 days of southern zone archery season, the last 10 days of northern zone archery season, all of the regular firearms seasons, and any late muzzleloader/archery season.

Legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This bill shall take effect immediately.