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ABOUT CROSSBOWS IN NEW YORK
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NOTICE; In New York State
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Captain is well known in fishing and hunting circles. His son is following in the Captain’s footsteps! |
This
Kansas , 132″ 8 point. Not a monster but a good respectable buck that came New York I would not have been able to do any kind of bowhunting this fall.
Ernie |
Crossbow Controversy Continues – Bill Hilts Jr. LATEST UPDATE HERE FROM JUNE 6 2015 New legislation is being proposed in the Senate and Assembly (A8021 and S5817) that would allow the crossbow to be used with the bow privilege (instead of the current muzzleloader privilege), as well as eliminate the 200 pound restriction and allow it to be used in the Youth Hunt held over Columbus Day weekend. It would also allow crossbows to be used for bow fishing opportunities. As soon as the word was out that the legislation was being proposed, We were not sure what was going to happen with this one as the |
IT’S LEGAL IN NEW YORK!
New Update………………..NOTE: This update just came in, in July but the information is useful Written by Bill Hilts Jr. and appeared in his Sunday ColumnCrossbow Comments Deadline is July 21 – Open letter to DEC relative to the comments deadline of July 21: “Finally, some regulations that make some sense. Crossbows are needed as a hunting tool on a number of levels – physically challenged, women, youth, seniors and even for guys like me that are getting a little older. I’ve been hunting with them in Ohio since 1990 – great experiences and I love using them. However, the rules that are being proposed are not liberal enough. It’s CRAZY that youth can’t use a crossbow during the youth deer hunt in October … but they can use a gun. It’s CRAZY that you need a muzzleloader tag during the archery season… and that you can’t use a crossbow in archery-only areas. Take a look at them – they are archery equipment. You use an arrow as a projectile. Plain and simple. One of the benefits of enacting a crossbow season was to help the Conservation Fund. By having it associated with a muzzleloader tag, you are minimizing the impact. Sounds like a small percentage of anti-crossbow users are dictating to everyone else how the game should be played. I’m not happy with that, but I am happy to finally use my crossbow for deer hunting. I also feel bad for seniors and physically challenged – they need to hunt when it is warmer out; the earlier the better for them. Let’s work to make those concessions. Thanks for your time.” BHjr Make your comments to DEC by sending an email to |
Crossbow Season Opens Nov. 1…Finally! [2014] Bill Hilts Jr. After 25 years of trying to get the crossbow into the early archery season, that historic event will finally take place on November 1. While it’s not the path we originally intended to see taken to introduce this hunting tool to Empire State sportsmen, it’s still an important step in the future of hunting in New York. Starting next Saturday, the crossbow will be legal to use in the Southern Zone of the early archery season for big game – deer and bear. For a full two weeks, you can hunt with this hunting method before the regular gun season starts on Nov. 15 this year. It comes at a great time when bucks should be coming into rut – an opportune time to connect on a nice buck. Before you head out into the field, though, there are certain things you need to do to prepare yourself for the field. When selecting a crossbow, know that there are some restrictions and certain specifications that need to be followed. There are crossbows being sold out there that do not meet or they exceed these specifications, so know what those restrictions are, such as: minimum peak draw weight is 100 pounds and maximum is 200 pounds; length from the butt of the stock to the front of the limbs is 24 inches; minimum width is 17 inches; minimum arrow length is 14 inches and the arrowhead must be non-barbed, with two or more cutting edges at least 7/8 inches wide. You must also print out (or clip from the regulations guide) a Certification of Qualification after reading all of the information on the crossbow. Because these are brand new hunting tools, there are other things that are noteworthy. For example, a crossbow may not be discharged within 250 feet of any home, farm structure or public building without the owner’s permission. When carrying a crossbow in or on your vehicle, it cannot be cocked. Make sure you take an arrow with a field point that you can discharge into the ground at the end of the day if you are driving to your hunting destination. You must be at least 14 years of age (because it’s not considered archery equipment). Once you have that crossbow in hand, make sure you shoot it and become familiar with its limitations. Yes, there are limitations. Know its effective range. For me and my crossbow, that effective range is 25 yards and closer. As far as licensing, you will need a muzzleloader tag and a big game license to be able to hunt with a crossbow. If you think that having an archery tag will suffice, think again. An archery tag means nothing if you plan on hunting with a crossbow during the two weeks before the regular season or after the regular season. It was probably one of the concessions that needed to be given up to allow for crossbows during the archery. Another concession was not allowing junior hunters to use a crossbow during the Youth Hunt over Columbus Day weekend. If you ask me, it was a bonehead move that should have been thought out a little bit better. You will allow shotguns and rifles but not crossbows? Come on! Talk about shooting yourself in the foot. Early on, one of the big reasons for crossbow usage during the early archery season was for physically challenged hunters. They couldn’t pull a bow back any more and they still wanted to be out in the woods hunting. In addition, the earlier timeframe was important because the weather has a tendency to be a bit warmer – important from the standpoint of comfort. The attitude of the many of the anti-crossbow people was that maybe those people (physically challenged sportsmen and women) should be hanging up their hunting boots then. Really? We need to wake up and look at the big picture here. |
Crossbow Clarifications Surface Updated 4/12/14 Bill Hilts Jr.Now that we know that crossbows have been legalized in the state with a plan to have the hunting tool in place by this fall, it’s time to try and figure out what the restrictions will be – at least for the time being. A recent contact to the DEC Press Office in Albany gave us most of the DEC is working on all of the details and eventually it will be up for During the other big game hunting options, you may use a crossbow as if Anyone hunting with a crossbow must have completed a standard hunter By requiring a muzzleloader tag for the crossbow, it effectively It’s also important to note that crossbows can now be used for small |
Crossbow Update!…….. IT’S LEGAL IN NEW YORK! [Finally] 3/31/14Late Monday night, [May 31st 2014] the Senate and Assembly both passed the Budget and this morning Governor Cuomo signed it into law. Thus, crossbows are now officially a legal hunting implement in New I would like to thank Governor Cuomo for his support for this as The crossbow will now be turned over to the DEC to work on setting I would also like to thank everyone that took the time to make the Another Thank You goes to all of the Organizations that partnered Today, crossbows have been awarded their proper place in the Thank you and Happy Hunting Outdoors Niagara Note: Rick McDermott of Oswego County Bill Hilts Jr. Comments: The big news this week came after I finished by column for Sunday. “I am pleased to report that the 2014-15 NYS Budget – pending approval According to McDermott, the language would allow for use in all big and It’s about time that this state finally got its act together on Crossbow There will not be a special crossbow license. Depending on when the Deer taken by crossbow during a season when firearms are allowed may Hunters must possess a muzzleloader hunting privilege to legally Crossbows may also be used to take deer during limited portions of Deer taken by crossbow during an open portion of the bowhunting Anyone hunting with a crossbow must have: 1) completed a Standard DEC will begin drafting regulations in the next couple of weeks |
CROSSBOW UPDATE AND HURRAH!
Governor Supports Crossbow Initiative; The Fight It started with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State The crossbow initiative then appeared in the Governor’s Executive That’s not to say it wasn’t before. A couple of years ago, the In the past, the Senate has supported this type of crossbow So here’s what happens next (according to Sen. George Maziarz’s
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Crossbows Back In the News – December – By Bill Hilts Jr. Be sure to read the Crossbow Update at the end of this column It’s official. Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed the legislation that would have reestablished the use of crossbows for another two years, as well as eliminated the youth hunt that was started up this year – at least the allowing of any kinds of firearms in the early archery season. It’s been a bit confusing for some of you that have been trying to follow these issues through second and third hand reports from fellow sportsmen and women. That’s one of the reasons why this column insisted on joining a club and/or subscribing to publications like New York Outdoor News or Lake Ontario Outdoors for up-to-date information. Two years ago, legislation was passed that allowed for crossbow usage during the big game season. The original bill called for the use of crossbows during the early archery season on private land. If you owned your own land and you wanted to hunt with a crossbow, why shouldn’t you? There were more relaxed standards for physically challenged, too. At the last minute, that was all removed underhandedly and the legislation that came out was not what we asked for. Crossbows could only be used during the regular (firearms) seasons and the late muzzleloader season in the Southern Zone. This time around, the anti-crossbow proponents were up to some of their tricks once again. They thought that by pushing the same legislation again it would give them another two years to have the woods to themselves. One fly in the ointment, though, was the fact that a youth deer hunt popped up during Columbus Day weekend. The same people opposing crossbows didn’t like that either, so they managed to slip in an amendment that would have essentially eliminated the youth hunt and make it archery only, which wouldn’t stop any of the regular bow benders from hunting. After a decent amount of opposition, Gov. Cuomo vetoed the bill and sent legislators back to the drawing board. Or did they? After it was announced that the bill was vetoed, Assemblymen Sean Ryan and Pat Gallivan reintroduced their bills from last year (A283) that very simply did was should have been done from the start – make the crossbow a legal hunting tool in the state and allow for the DEC to manage its use accordingly as the wildlife managers of the Empire State. Plain and simple. Let’s get the deer hunting management out of Albany (which is really New York City and Long Island) and into the hands of the state agency charged with handling wildlife issues. We’ll pass along the corresponding Senate bill when we get it. Crossbows have a place in New York. We would be better off reevaluating all of our hunting seasons then to fight so hard to keep the crossbows out of the woods. Many groups have supported the use of crossbows over the years. From the New York State Conservation Council to the Conservation Fund Advisory Board, they have looked to the crossbow as a way of injecting new money into the wildlife programs in the state. It would also help out groups like senior and junior hunters, physically challenged sportsmen and women who are starting to enter the big game ranks. And it’s not just big game either. Crossbows could also be an option for turkey hunting as but one example. Crossbow Update – JANUARY 2013 |
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United Foundation For Disabled Archers |
Horizontal Bowhunter Magazine |
NY
By Will Now that the To sustain Since NYB was For the NYB Well, for NYB Previously, If so, why has Perhaps their In its final In doing so, As for outdoor Curiously, In fact, many As a past As for NRA Ironically, As for rights, The NYB attack The DEC has Curiously, the Clearly, The problem is The answer, of In the next Eventually, We can only
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JULY 4 2010 By Bill Hilts Jr.Watered-downed Crossbow Bill Passes Both Houses Some form of crossbow legislation passed both houses – Senate and He went on to state they these crossbow are deadly – being able So where did we go with this legislation? First, kudos to
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Press Release June 30 2010 Assemblywoman DelMonte’s bill A bill introduced by Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte’s legislation requires acceptable Only two states ban crossbow hunting – New York “Hunting brings nearly $1 billion annually to New The bill is the latest in a long line of |
SENATE NEWS RELEASE ON WEDNESDAY JUNE 30 2010 FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Wednesday, June 30, 2010 SENATE GIVES FINAL PASSAGE TO CROSSBOW HUNTING LEGISLATION Senator George Maziarz (R-C, Newfane) is pleased to announce that “Normally I’m forced to spend a lot of time in Albany fighting Senator Maziarz has been working to get a crossbow bill passed into “Opening the door to crossbows is good for the sportsmen community The legislation approved today specifies that crossbows shall be Incorporating crossbow hunting in New York State has been supported The bill also eases the requirements for physically disabled persons Senator Maziarz has encouraged Governor David Paterson to sign the |
Bill to give the DEC crossbow controlNEWS OUTDOORS REPORTER – [Buffalo NY]
The beat and heat goes on between the pro-and anti-crossbow factions. The New York Bowhunters (NYB) remain chief Since then, NYB has gone on to sponsor many NYB often refers to the crossbow as a “crossgun,” Over the years, NYB has taken exception to For nearly two decades, NYB officers and Former NYB President Kevin Armstrong commented In his latest appeal to NYB members to block Connors pointed out that Georgia state Socola cites Hilts and Region 9 (far Western Assemblywoman Francine Delmonte (D-Niagara DEC officials, once reluctant to comment on Delmonte has scheduled a press conference at |
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N.Y. CROSSBOW BILL RIGHT ON TARGET
By KEN MORAN, New York Post
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ODN NOTE; The following email was received on Outdoors Niagara; from Daniel James Hendricks, Crossbow Advocate:“Mark – Great to see a crossbow page on your site. I have attached the last editorial from the Horizontal Bowhunter Magazine. Perhaps you can use it, perhaps not. You have my blessings if you decide it is printable. I would like to help with more if you are interested. Thank you.” Daniel James Hendricks Crossbow |
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Following is a story of crossbow hunting in general. Daniel James Hendricks is the publisher of Horizontal Bowhunter Magazine PUBLISHER’S PERSPECTIVE THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL The lack of hunter unification is something that we can all do An AP article by David Crary entitled “Numbers of |
Crary points out that the latest statistics from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service document a 10% decline in the last decade of the number of hunters, age 16 and older. Even more surprising were the numbers of fisherman lost during that same period. A staggering 15% drop in total numbers is just one more symptom of an ailing outdoor industry that is stuck in a gut-wrenching, downward spiral.Reasons given by experts for declining hunter numbers include the loss of hunting land to urbanization, prohibitive costs of modern hunting, land access, and lack of hunter unification. As a hunter that just recently lost another chunk of his sacred Bowhunters watch helplessly as the price of basic equipment rises, As more prime hunting land is removed from the local hunter’s The lack of hunter unification is something that we can all do All of us that are supportive of the crossbow hunting opportunity In my travels, I am heartened to discover that more and more people If you do not approve of someone else’s method of hunting, don’t Good hunting and please take care, be well and God bless. AUTHOR’S NOTE: If you have an interest in One of the greatest benefits of belonging to the |
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Turf wars over crossbow issue is just plain silly By Bill Conners Outdoors Columnist, Poughkeepsie Journal I got a late start on this week’s column – not because I didn’t know what I wanted to write about, but because I couldn’t quite figure out how I was going to write it. The “it” is the opening of Yet another archery season will come Actually, the Legislature doesn’t There are persistent rumors that In the meantime, they If the bowhunters were actually Allen, and a bow maker by the name of Unfortunately the 90-percent This is a turf war, pure and simple. They do not want the number of That having someone hunting That bowhunters think there is So why not allow the use of Bill Conners of the Federation of Dutchess County Fish and Game |
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From a recent column from Joe Ognibene’s Outdoor Scene: NOTE: This article is left here indefinitely in honor of this Niagara Gazette columnist and personal friend who passed away recently. Sooner or later New York’s seniors and disabled will be given the opportunity to decide if they do or do not want to use a crossbow for deer hunting. Until then they can only envy those in Illinois who recently were given this choice. Illinois officials amended the Wildlife Code to allow seniors 62 and older the use of the crossbow during the entire bow-hunting season with no if, ands or buts. It is expected the number of bow hunters will increase dramatically with the revision of the code. Illinois officials do not expect any harm will come to the ever-expanding deer herd by allowing seniors the use of crossbows. New York State, on the other hand, still insists for anyone to use a crossbow they must be a paraplegic without the use of any limbs or fingers. This disgusting and shameful requirement was enacted with the blessing of the New York Bowhunters who for years claimed the compound bow was a “traditional” weapon. Neither, the crossbow nor compound bow, are traditional. They are both the result of intensive experimentation and development by engineers over the years. If truth were known the crossbow of today looks more like its predecessor than the compound compares to the six-foot, lemon wood bow of yore. The primary difference between compound and crossbow is one is fired horizontally, the other, vertically. Other than that they both have wheels and pulleys to make life easier for the shooter. As soon as Senator Carl Marcellino, the one holding up the vote to legalize the crossbow and pet of NYB, is out of office the bow hunters of New York might be given the opportunity to decide for themselves what they want to use. The world as we know it will not end if the crossbow is allowed in the state. |
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Joe Ognibene Outdoor Scene Sunday October 7 2007 NOTE: This article is left here indefinitely in honor of this Niagara Gazette columnist and personal friend who passed away recently. On Saturday the Most outdoor writers, and In this ongoing fight In his column Conners |
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OUTDOORS NIAGARA NOTE: There is a favorable crossbow hunting bill before the NYS Assembly sponsored by Assembly Woman Francine DelMonte. GO |
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Published: May 30, 2010, 12:30 am