Bill Text: NY S00218 | 2025-2026 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes the taking of wildlife by the use of a crossbow; makes related provisions.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 5-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-08 - REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION [S00218 Detail]
Download: New_York-2025-S00218-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 218 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN SENATE (Prefiled) January 8, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. GALLIVAN, GRIFFO, HELMING, OBERACKER, ORTT -- 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 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: 1 Section 1. Paragraph a of subdivision 1, the closing paragraph of 2 paragraph a of subdivision 2, paragraphs 1 and 2 of subdivision 3, 3 subdivision 5 and subdivision 9 of section 11-0701 of the environmental 4 conservation law, paragraph a of subdivision 1 as amended by section 21 5 and subdivision 9 as amended by section 17 of part EE of chapter 55 of 6 the laws of 2014, the closing paragraph of paragraph a of subdivision 2, 7 paragraphs 1 and 2 of subdivision 3 and subdivision 5 as amended by 8 section 1-a of part R of chapter 58 of the laws of 2013, are amended to 9 read as follows: 10 a. entitles a holder who is twelve or thirteen years of age to hunt 11 wildlife, except big game, as provided in title 9 of this article 12 subject, specifically, to the provisions of section 11-0929 of this 13 article. It entitles such holder to possess firearms as provided in 14 section 265.05 of the penal law. [A holder who is twelve or thirteen15years of age shall not hunt with a crossbow.] 16 A holder may take fish with a longbow or crossbow as provided in 17 titles 9 and 13 of this article. 18 (1) who is between the ages of twelve and sixteen years to hunt wild 19 deer and bear with a longbow or crossbow during the special archery 20 season and during the regular season, as provided in title 9 of this 21 article, subject to the provisions of section 11-0929 and subdivision 3 22 of section 11-0713 of this [article] title; EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD00745-01-5S. 218 2 1 (2) who is eighteen years of age or older to hunt wild deer and bear 2 with a longbow or crossbow, as provided in title 9 of this article, in a 3 special [longbow] archery season; and 4 5. A non-resident bear tag entitles a person who has not been a resi- 5 dent of the state for more than thirty days who also possesses a hunting 6 license to hunt bear during the regular open season therefor or in an 7 open season fixed by regulation pursuant to subdivision eight of section 8 11-0903 of this article. It entitles a non-resident holder who also 9 possesses a hunting license with bowhunting privilege to hunt bear with 10 a longbow or crossbow during the open bear season. It entitles a non-re- 11 sident holder who also possesses a hunting license with muzzle-loading 12 privilege to hunt bear with a muzzleloader during the open bear season. 13 9. A muzzle-loading privilege when included on a hunting license enti- 14 tles a holder who is fourteen years of age or older to hunt wild deer 15 and bear with a muzzle-loading firearm [or crossbow], as provided in 16 title 9 of this article, in a special muzzle-loading firearm season. 17 § 2. Paragraph b of subdivision 6 of section 11-0703 of the environ- 18 mental conservation law, as amended by section 2 of part R of chapter 58 19 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows: 20 b. Except as provided in section 11-0707 and section 11-0709 of this 21 title, no person shall (1) hunt wild deer or bear unless such person 22 holds and is entitled to exercise the privileges of a hunting license, 23 and meets the requirements of this article; (2) hunt wild deer or bear 24 with a longbow or crossbow in a special [longbow] archery season unless 25 such person holds and is entitled to exercise the privileges of a hunt- 26 ing license with a bowhunting privilege and meets the requirements of 27 this article; or (3) hunt wild deer or bear with a muzzle-loading 28 firearm in a special muzzle-loading firearm season unless such person is 29 at least fourteen years old and holds a hunting license with a muzzle- 30 loading privilege and meets the requirements of this article. 31 § 3. Subdivision 6 of section 11-0713 of the environmental conserva- 32 tion law is REPEALED. 33 § 4. Subparagraph 3 of paragraph c of subdivision 3 of section 11-0901 34 of the environmental conservation law is REPEALED. 35 § 5. Paragraph c of subdivision 3 of section 11-0901 of the environ- 36 mental conservation law, as amended by section 19 of part EE of chapter 37 55 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows: 38 c. Wild small game and wild upland game birds shall be taken only by 39 longbow, crossbow or gun, or by the use of raptors as provided in title 40 10 of this article, except that: 41 (1) skunk, raccoon, bobcat, coyote, fox, mink and muskrat may be taken 42 in any manner not prohibited in this section or in title 11 of the Fish 43 and Wildlife Law; and 44 (2) frogs may also be taken by spearing, catching with the hands, or 45 by the use of a club or hook[; and]. 46 § 6. Subparagraph 9 of paragraph b and subparagraph 9 of paragraph c 47 of subdivision 4 of section 11-0901 of the environmental conservation 48 law, subparagraph 9 of paragraph b as added by section 6 and subpara- 49 graph 9 of paragraph c as added by section 7 of part EE of chapter 55 of 50 the laws of 2014, are amended to read as follows: 51 (9) with a crossbow unless such crossbow shall consist of a bow and 52 string, either compound or recurve, that launches a minimum fourteen 53 inch [bolt] arrow, not including point, mounted upon a stock with a 54 trigger that holds the string and limbs under tension until released. 55 The trigger unit of such crossbow must have a working safety. The [mini-56mum limb width of such crossbow shall be seventeen inches, have a] mini-S. 218 3 1 mum peak draw weight [of] shall be one hundred pounds [and a maximum2peak draw weight of two hundred pounds]. The minimum overall length of 3 such crossbow from buttstock to front of limbs shall be twenty-four 4 inches. 5 (9) with a crossbow unless such crossbow shall consist of a bow and 6 string, either compound or recurve, that launches a minimum fourteen 7 inch [bolt] arrow, not including point, mounted upon a stock with a 8 trigger that holds the string and limbs under tension until released. 9 The trigger unit of such crossbow must have a working safety. The [mini-10mum limb width of such crossbow shall be seventeen inches, have a] mini- 11 mum peak draw weight [of] shall be one hundred pounds [and a maximum12peak draw weight of two hundred pounds]. The minimum overall length of 13 such crossbow from buttstock to front of limbs shall be twenty-four 14 inches. 15 § 7. Subdivision 13 of section 11-0901 of the environmental conserva- 16 tion law, as amended by section 23 of part R of chapter 58 of the laws 17 of 2013, is amended to read as follows: 18 13. Persons engaged in hunting deer and/or bear with a longbow or a 19 crossbow must possess a current bowhunting privilege or a valid certif- 20 icate of qualification in responsible bowhunting practices issued or 21 honored by the department. 22 § 8. Subdivisions 11 and 16 of section 11-0901 of the environmental 23 conservation law are REPEALED. 24 § 9. Section 11-0903 of the environmental conservation law is amended 25 by adding a new subdivision 12 to read as follows: 26 12. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this article, the 27 department is authorized to adopt regulations which authorize the taking 28 of wildlife by the use of crossbow. A summary of regulations adopted 29 pursuant to this subdivision shall be published each year in the hunting 30 syllabus issued pursuant to section 11-0323 of this article. 31 § 10. Subdivision 10 of section 11-0907 of the environmental conserva- 32 tion law is REPEALED. 33 § 11. Subdivision 1 of section 11-0929 of the environmental conserva- 34 tion law, as amended by section 20 of part EE of chapter 55 of the laws 35 of 2014, is amended to read as follows: 36 1. A licensee who is twelve or thirteen years of age shall not hunt 37 wildlife with a gun, crossbow or a longbow unless he or she is accompa- 38 nied by his or her parent or legal guardian, or by a person twenty-one 39 years of age or older designated in writing by his or her parent or 40 legal guardian on a form prescribed by the department, who holds a hunt- 41 ing license. [A licensee who is twelve or thirteen years of age shall42not hunt with a crossbow.] 43 § 12. Subparagraph 5 of paragraph b of subdivision 2 of section 44 11-0929 of the environmental conservation law is REPEALED and subpara- 45 graph 6 is renumbered subparagraph 5. 46 § 13. Subparagraph 2 of paragraph a and subparagraph 1 of paragraph b 47 of subdivision 4 of section 11-0931 of the environmental conservation 48 law, subparagraph 2 of paragraph a as amended by section 8 of part EE of 49 chapter 55 of the laws of 2014, and subparagraph 1 of paragraph b as 50 separately amended by chapters 65 and 83 of the laws of 2024, are 51 amended to read as follows: 52 (2) discharge a firearm within five hundred feet, a long bow within 53 one hundred fifty feet, or a crossbow within [two] one hundred fifty 54 feet from a dwelling house, farm building or farm structure actually 55 occupied or used, school building, school playground, public structure, 56 or occupied factory or church;S. 218 4 1 (1) The owner or lessee of the dwelling house, or members of his imme- 2 diate family actually residing therein, or a person in his employ, or 3 the guest of the owner or lessee of the dwelling house acting with the 4 consent of said owner or lessee, provided however, that nothing herein 5 shall be deemed to authorize such persons to discharge a firearm within 6 five hundred feet, a long bow within one hundred fifty feet, or a cross- 7 bow within two hundred fifty feet of any other dwelling house, or a farm 8 building or farm structure actually occupied or used, or a school build- 9 ing or playground, public structure, or occupied factory or church; 10 provided further, that a nuisance wildlife specialist with a permit 11 issued pursuant to section 11-0522 of this article acting in furtherance 12 of the site specific deer management plan may discharge a firearm within 13 five hundred feet of any dwelling houses, structures, schools or play- 14 grounds, provided that the owners or lessees thereof have been notified 15 by certified mail of the date or dates, and time period of the expected 16 activity, and discharge a firearm within [two] one hundred fifty feet of 17 such dwelling houses, structures, schools or playgrounds provided that 18 all the owners or lessees thereof have provided written consent; 19 provided further, that a nuisance wildlife specialist with a permit 20 issued pursuant to section 11-0522-a of this article acting in further- 21 ance of the site-specific deer management plan may discharge a firearm 22 within five hundred feet of any dwelling houses, structures, schools or 23 playgrounds, provided that the owners or lessees thereof have been noti- 24 fied by certified mail of the date or dates and time period of the 25 expected activity, and discharge a firearm within two hundred fifty feet 26 of such dwelling houses, structures, schools or playgrounds provided 27 that all the owners or lessees thereof have provided written consent; 28 § 13-a. Subparagraph 1 of paragraph b of subdivision 4 of section 29 11-0931 of the environmental conservation law, as amended by section 8 30 of part EE of chapter 55 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as 31 follows: 32 (1) The owner or lessee of the dwelling house, or members of his imme- 33 diate family actually residing therein, or a person in his employ, or 34 the guest of the owner or lessee of the dwelling house acting with the 35 consent of said owner or lessee, provided however, that nothing herein 36 shall be deemed to authorize such persons to discharge a firearm within 37 five hundred feet, a long bow within one hundred fifty feet, or a cross- 38 bow within [two] one hundred fifty feet of any other dwelling house, or 39 a farm building or farm structure actually occupied or used, or a school 40 building or playground, public structure, or occupied factory or church; 41 § 14. Section 11-0933 of the environmental conservation law, as added 42 by section 22 of part EE of chapter 55 of the laws of 2014, is amended 43 to read as follows: 44 § 11-0933. Taking small game by crossbow. 45 Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, or any prior notwith- 46 standing language in this article, the department may, by regulation, 47 authorize the taking of small game and wild upland game birds by the use 48 of a crossbow by any licensed person [fourteen] twelve years of age or 49 older, in any small game season[, in any area designated in items (a),50(b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (i), (k), and (l) of paragraph a of subdivision51two of section 11-0907 of this title in which a shotgun or muzzle loader52is permitted]. 53 § 15. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that 54 the amendments to subparagraph 1 of paragraph b of subdivision 4 of 55 section 11-0931 of the environmental conservation law made by section 56 thirteen of this act shall be subject to the expiration and reversion ofS. 218 5 1 such subparagraph pursuant to section 6 of chapter 683 of the laws of 2 2023 and section 6 of chapter 704 of the laws of 2023, as amended, when 3 upon such date the provisions of section 13-a of this act shall take 4 effect.
