Listed herewith is a summary of crossbow hunting regulations in the United States. This page is intended as a quick reference, and as such there may be details about regulations in your state that are not mentioned here (e.g. are scopes legal in hunting? can I use a crank? etc). Regulations also change frequently from state to state. Please contact your local DNR (or equivalent) office or click the link under your state for the latest information.

ALABAMA
Crossbows are legal for all persons during the entire deer-hunting season.
http://www.outdooralabama.com

ALASKA
You may use a crossbow in any hunt that does not restrict weapons. "Certified bowhunters only", "bow and arrow only", or "muzzleloader only" hunts or areas specifically exclude other weapons, including crossbows. Scopes and other optical enhancement devices are not permitted.
http://www.state.ak.us

ARIZONA
Crossbows are legal only by permit for disabled hunters.
http://www.gf.state.az.us

ARKANSAS
Crossbows must have at least a 125-pound pull and a mechanical safety. Deer, turkey and bear hunters are required to use arrowheads at least 7/8-inch wide. Poison may not be used on arrows. Magnifying sights may be used. Crossbows are not allowed for taking elk.
http://www.agfc.state.ar.us

CALIFORNIA
California states that "a crossbow is not archery equipment and may not be used during the archery season." Except with a Disabled Archer Permit, crossbows may not be used during any archery season or during the general season when using an archery only tag.
http://www.dfg.ca.gov

COLORADO
Crossbows are permitted except during archery seasons without disabled permit.
http://www.dnr.state.co.us

CONNECTICUT
Crossbows are legal only for disabled hunters by permit.
http://www.dep.state.ct.us

DELAWARE
A crossbow may be substituted for a shotgun from Nov. 11 - 19. Crossbows must be from 150 to 200 lbs. and manufactured after 1980. May be used during archery season by disabled hunters with a permit.
http://www.dnrec.state.de.us

FLORIDA
Crossbows are prohibited during archery season without a Disabled Person Crossbow Permit. Crossbows are permitted during other seasons for birds and mammals. Crossbows are also permitted during the alligator hunting season.
http://myfwc.com/

GEORGIA
Crossbows (scopes legal) are allowed for hunting feral hog and any game except waterfowl.
http://www.gohuntgeorgia.com

HAWAII
Crossbows are legal by special disabled permit only.
http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr

IDAHO
Crossbows are legal in big game seasons restricted to short-range weapons. Permitted for use during archery season by disabled persons with a permit.
http://www.fishandgame.idaho.gov

ILLINOIS
Crossbows are legal for disabled hunters by permit only.
http://www.dnr.state.il.us

INDIANA
Crossbows are legal hunting equipment during the late archery deer season. Deer hunters may use crossbows to harvest deer of either sex only in the late archery season.
http://www.in.gov/dnr/

IOWA
Crossbows are permitted for disabled hunters with permit.
http://www.iowadnr.com/

KANSAS
Crossbows are permitted for disabled hunters with permit.
http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us

KENTUCKY
Crossbows may be used from October 1-21 and November 10 – December 31, 2007. Hunters using crossbows during a firearms deer season must follow all firearm season restrictions, zone guidelines and hunting requirements in effect during firearms seasons. Crossbows are also permitted during muzzle-loader only season. Disabled hunters with a permit may use a crossbow to hunt deer during the bow-only deer season.
http://fw.ky.gov/

LOUISANA
Crossbows are legal for disabled hunters by permit. Residents 60 years of age and older may use a crossbow without a special permit or license.
http://www.wlf.state.la.us

MAINE
A crossbow hunting license is required for hunters 16 years of age or older to hunt bear with a crossbow during the bear hunting season, or to hunt deer with a crossbow during the open firearm season on deer.

A resident or nonresident 10 years of age or older and under 16 years of age may hunt with a crossbow if that person holds a valid junior hunting license (no crossbow license required).
http://www.maine.gov/ifw/

MARYLAND
Crossbows may be used to hunt deer only, with the exception of special crossbow permits for disabled hunters who may pursue all game legal for a vertical bow. All hunters may use crossbows for four weeks of archery season and four weeks of gun season.
http://www.dnr.state.md.us

MASSACHUSETTS
Crossbows are permitted for disabled hunters with permit.
http://www.masswildlife.org

MICHIGAN
Crossbows are legal to use by a person 12 years of age or older during the Nov. 15-30 firearm deer season. Disabled hunters with a permit may use a crossbow during archery season.
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/

MINNESOTA
Crossbows are permitted for disabled hunters with permit.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us

MISSISSIPPI
Crossbows are permitted for disabled hunters with permit and hunters 65 and older.
http://www.mdwfp.com

MISSOURI
Crossbows are classified as firearms and are permitted during firearms season. Disabled hunters with a permit may use a crossbow during archery season.
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/

MONTANA
Crossbows are legal only during gun season. No provision for disabled hunters.
http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting

NEBRASKA
Crossbows with a draw weight of 125lbs or more are legal to hunt deer and antelope during the firearms season. Disabled hunters with a permit may use a crossbow during archery season.
http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us

NEVADA
Crossbows are illegal for hunting.
http://www.ndow.org/about/pubs/pdf/huntregs/appbro/index.shtm

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Crossbows are legal for all hunters with a crossbow hunting permit during firearms season and for all hunters on Long Island with a Long Island deer permit. Disabled hunters may use a crossbow pursuant to disabled hunter regulations without purchasing a crossbow permit. Crossbows are prohibited during the youth hunting weekend for deer.
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us

NEW JERSEY
Crossbows are prohibited, but a crossbow permit may be issued to a disabled hunter who cannot use a conventional bow as described in the game code. This permit is issued only if the need to use a crossbow is certified by a licensed and certified New Jersey physician.
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com

NEW MEXICO
Crossbows are legal sporting arms for cougar, bear, deer, elk, pronhorn, javelina, barbary sheep, persian ibex, oryx, turkey, and bighorn sheep. Hunters that qualify with a permanent mobility limitation may use crossbows to hunt waterfowl and upland game. Sights on crossbows shall not project light nor magnify.
http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us

NEW YORK
A Modified Crossbow Permit may be issued to permanently disabled individuals whose disability is so severe that they are physically unable to operate a mechanical device attached to a regular bow.
http://www.dec.state.ny.us

NORTH CAROLINA
Crossbows legal only for disabled hunters by permit.
http://www.ncwildlife.org

NORTH DAKOTA
Crossbows are not legal, except with a permit from the Game and Fish director. Contact the Department for additional information on crossbow regulations.
http://gf.nd.gov/

OHIO
Crossbows with a draw weight of not less than 75 lbs and no more than 200 lbs are legal arms for archery firearms and muzzleloader seasons.
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us

OKLAHOMA
Hunters who have a permanent disability to the extent that they cannot use a conventional longbow, as certified by a physician licensed to practice in Oklahoma or bordering state, may hunt with a crossbow. A person who qualifies to use a crossbow shall have in their possession while in the field written evidence of such certification signed by the physician.
http://www.wildlifedepartment.com

OREGON
Crossbows are illegal for hunting.
http://www.dfw.state.or.us

PENNSYLVANIA
With a crossbow of not less than 125 pounds and not more than 200 pounds, it is lawful to take:
• Bear or elk
• Deer during any firearms season for deer
• Deer in Wildlife Management Units 2B, 5C and 5D
• Turkey during the spring gobbler season
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us

RHODE ISLAND
Crossbows only legal for hunters who posses an official adaptive Aid/Crossbow permit obtained through the DEM division of licensing.
http://www.dem.ri.gov/

SOUTH CAROLINA
Crossbows are illegal during archery-only season. Crossbows are legal during firearms and muzzleloader seasons; legal for disabled hunters by permit.
http://www.dnr.sc.gov/

SOUTH DAKOTA
Crossbows legal for disabled hunters during archery season.
http://www.state.sd.us

TENNESSEE
Crossbows are legal during muzzleloader and firearms season. Crossbows are also legal for disabled hunters during archery season by permit only.
http://www.state.tn.us/twra

TEXAS
Crossbows are legal during a general open season or Eastern spring turkey season. Telescopic sights are lawful. Only a person with an upper-limb disability may use a crossbow to hunt deer and turkey during the Archery Only Open Season. Disabled hunters must have in their possession a physician's statement certifying the extent of the disability.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us

UTAH
Crossbows legal only for disabled hunters by permit.
http://www.wildlife.utah.gov

VERMONT
Crossbows may be used by disabled hunters (with permit) for any game that may be taken by bow and arrow.
http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com

VIRGINIA
Crossbows are legal to use by any hunter. A crossbow license is required during an archery season.
http://www.dgif.state.va.us

WASHINGTON
Crossbows approved for use by qualifying archers with disabilities.
http://www.wdfw.wa.gov

WEST VIRGINIA
Class Y permit holders may hunt with a crossbow in established archery seasons.
http://www.wvdnr.gov/

WISCONSIN
Crossbows are legal for disabled residents and nonresidents under Class A, B, C or crossbow permit, and residents age 65 and older.
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us