Crossbow Law Changes in 2026: New York, Massachusetts & Minnesota Explained
Three states rewrote their crossbow rules across the 2025–2026 stretch, and if you hunt the Northeast or Upper Midwest, the crossbow laws 2026 picture looks very different than it did two seasons ago. New York folded crossbows into its full archery season, Minnesota locked in crossbow use permanently, and Massachusetts is weighing a bill that would finally open crossbows to general hunters. Here is exactly what changed, what is still only proposed, and where to confirm the details before you head afield.
New York: Crossbows Now Legal for All Big-Game Archery
The biggest headline for New York crossbow law big game hunters: crossbows are now a legal method of take for the entire archery big-game season. Signed into law in 2025 as Senate Bill S6360A, the change lets hunters use a crossbow “in the same seasons, places, and manner as a vertical bow” for deer and bear, according to the New York State DEC. That scraps the old rules that had limited crossbows to narrow late-season windows.
The equipment requirements are simple: a legal crossbow needs a working trigger safety and a minimum peak draw weight of 100 pounds — no maximum draw weight and no minimum limb width. Hunters 14 and up can use one wherever a longbow is legal (12- and 13-year-olds only in counties that passed a local law), and everyone needs bowhunter education certification plus a bowhunting privilege. The discharge setback is 500 feet in Westchester and Suffolk counties and 250 feet everywhere else. New York became the 32nd state to allow crossbows in the regular archery season, as Field & Stream reported. We covered the rollout in depth in our New York crossbow hunting laws 2025 breakdown.
Massachusetts: A 2026 Bill Is on the Table — But Not Yet Law
So, are crossbows legal in Massachusetts? Right now, only for hunters with a certified permanent disability, who can apply for a lifetime crossbow permit through MassWildlife. For everyone else, the crossbow is still off-limits during the regular archery season.
That could change — but it has not yet. On April 14, 2026, Governor Maura Healey filed legislation to lift the state’s Sunday hunting ban, let MassWildlife regulate crossbow hunting during established seasons, and cut the minimum archery setback from 500 feet to 250 feet. The proposal followed public listening sessions that drew nearly 1,000 attendees and more than 11,300 comments, with roughly 71% favoring crossbow access. The important caveat: as MassWildlife states plainly, “no changes have been made to Sunday hunting, crossbows, or setback laws at this time” — the bill still needs legislative approval. Track the official status on the mass.gov Updating Hunting Laws page before you plan a 2026 Massachusetts hunt.
Minnesota: Crossbow Access Is Now Permanent
Minnesota had allowed crossbows for all archery hunters under a temporary authorization that was set to sunset on June 30, 2026. In spring 2026, state lawmakers removed that expiration date entirely: Senate File 1251 passed the Senate 67–0 and the House 133–0 and was signed into law, making crossbow use in the full archery season permanent, per the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. The state’s own DNR lists crossbows as legal for all archery deer hunters (users must be 10 or older), as shown on the Minnesota DNR deer hunting page. A DNR study behind the decision found no measurable harm to deer or turkey populations and a rise in youth and new-hunter participation.
What These Changes Mean for Hunters
The trend is clear: crossbows keep gaining ground as mainstream archery equipment, especially for new hunters, older hunters, and anyone easing into bow season. But the details — seasons, setbacks, draw-weight minimums, age limits — still vary state to state, and a proposed bill is not a law. Always confirm the current rule with your state agency before opening day. For a quick cross-country reference, see our US crossbow regulations state-by-state guide and, for hunters up north, the Canada crossbow regulations guide.
FAQ
Are crossbows legal in Massachusetts in 2026?
Only for hunters with a certified permanent disability, under a lifetime MassWildlife permit. Governor Healey filed a bill in April 2026 to open crossbow hunting to all hunters, but it is still pending and has not become law.
Can you use a crossbow for big game in New York now?
Yes. Since 2025, crossbows are legal for the entire archery big-game season for deer and bear, wherever a longbow is allowed, as long as you have bowhunter certification, a bowhunting privilege, and a crossbow with at least a 100-pound peak draw weight.
Thinking about a crossbow for the 2026 season? Browse the full Ballista crossbow lineup, then double-check your local rules with our US regulations guide. Questions about a build or a bundle? Our FAQ has you covered.
