New York budget legalizes Crossbows
Albany, N.Y. -- The 2014-2015 state budget approved by lawmakers Tuesday contains some items of interest to outdoors enthusiasts - including the legalization of crossbows for hunting small and big game (deer and bear).
The crossbow issue has been controversial. The legislation approving the coming year's spending plan enables the state Department of Environmental Conservation to regulate their use, with the idea of allowing hunters to use them as early as this fall.
The legislation authorizes crossbow hunting, except on Long Island and Westchester County, for hunters 14 years of age or older.
Crossbows aren't legal yet. The DEC will have to work up a draft of the new regulations and a public comment period will be held. After considering the comments, the DEC will then finalize the regulations.
At this point, it appears the idea is to allow crossbows during "portions of the archery season" and during the firearms seasons, according to a press release from the governor's office late Tuesday.
"As per the recently signed law, crossbows may only be used during the last 10 days of the Northern Zone early archery season and the last 14 days of the Southern Zone early archery season," said Emily DeSantis, a DEC spokeswoman.
