What's happening
This bill allows the use of crossbows for hunting big and small game during the entire archery-only season in Wyoming County.
Why it matters
Expands hunting access and inclusivity. By allowing crossbow use during the full archery-only season in Wyoming County, this bill may increase participation among hunters who are unable to use traditional vertical bows due to age, injury, or physical limitations.
Could impact game populations and hunting pressure. Extended crossbow use may lead to higher harvest rates of big and small game, potentially affecting local wildlife populations and resource management strategies in Wyoming County.
Creates a local exception and potential precedent. This unique provision for Wyoming County could set an example for other counties seeking similar exceptions, potentially influencing statewide hunting regulations in the future.
May shift hunter safety and enforcement considerations. With more hunters using crossbows throughout the season, wildlife officers may need to adjust enforcement and safety messaging, and there could be implications for hunter education and licensing.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Crossbows for Hunting
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Allow Crossbow Hunting Year-Round
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor David DiPietro
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5486
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 2, 2019
Introduced by Sen. GALLIVAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to taking big and small game by crossbow in Wyoming county
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 10 of section 11-0907 of the environmental conservation law, as added by section 14 of part EE of chapter 55 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
10. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, or any prior notwithstanding language in this article, the department may, by regulation, authorize the taking of big game by the use of a crossbow by any licensed person in any big 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 this section in which a shotgun or muzzle loader is permitted provided however, that any crossbow use during an archery-only season shall only take place during the last fourteen consecutive days of such archery-only season in the southern zone provided that such archery-only season shall consist of not less than forty-five days, except that the department shall authorize the use of such crossbow for the taking of big game by any licensed person for use during the entirety of the archery-only season within Wyoming county, and only during the last ten consecutive days of any archery-only season in the northern zone provided that such archery-only season shall consist of no less than twenty-three days. Any muzzle loading season which occurs at the same time as a special archery season may only occur during times when crossbows are authorized to be used.
§ 2. 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.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11313-02-9
S. 5486 2
Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, or any prior notwithstanding 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 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 provided however, that the department shall authorize the use of such crossbow during the entirety of the archery-only season within Wyoming county.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to taking big and small game by crossbow in Wyoming county
Purpose
This bill authorizes the use of a crossbow by hunters licensed to use such implement to hunt big and small game during any part of the archer- y-only season within Wyoming County only.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends section 11-0907 of the environmental conservation law regarding the taking of big game with a crossbow during the archery-only season to permit such during the entire archery-only season within Wyom- ing County.
Section 2 amends section 11-0933 of the environmental conservation law governing the taking of small game with a crossbow to permit such during the entire archery-only season within Wyoming County.
Section 3 establishes the effective date.
Justification
Crossbow hunting in New York State has proven to be a safe and effective option for many hunters since their use was first authorized in 2014. Unfortunately, for crossbow users in Wyoming County, the time in which they are able to hunt has been severely impacted due to current statuto- ry provisions that restrict the use of a crossbow during the archery- only season. This exception would ameliorate the situation for such hunters within Wyoming County exclusively.
Legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.