CHENANGO COUNTY – A struggle for decades, the years-long tug of war over the legalization and use of the crossbow as a hunting weapon in New York is finally over, with a few exceptions.
The identification of crossbow technology as a legitimate weapon into what some consider the purest form of hunting has been a long-time bone of contention among bow hunting sportsmen from all points of the New York map, including Chenango County.
In 2010, a two-year trial period was initiated across New York for crossbow use while hunting, and crossbow enthusiasts this past year could not use the device for anything but target shooting. Now, the crossbow has become a legal hunting device with the passage of Governor Andrew Cuomo's 2014-2015 fiscal year budget.
When the final budget was approved on April 1, the agreement included legalization of crossbows for hunting small and big game and portions of the archery seasons.
A key proponent to the success of the expansion was State Sen. Patrick Gallivan, who sponsored crossbow legislation. Over the past three years, Gallivan has held public hearings and forums, and proposed a Senate bill to establish the crossbow as a legal hunting device with seasons regulated by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
According to Rick McDermott of Pulaski, chairman of the New York Crossbow Coalition, pro-hunting groups such as the NRA, SCI, and NYS Conservation Council, gained the support of several other groups not affiliated with archery hunting and favored the crossbow legalization. “Organizations that partnered with our coalition also included the Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy and the New York State Farm Bureau,” said McDermott.
In addition to a strong push from those organizations, McDermott indicated that the success of the legislation was equally the result of "strong grassroots effort" by upstate supporters with compromise among the state's lawmakers. Governor Cuomo's support, which was largely attributed to an increase in sport licensing and tourism revenue, also proved to be a big plus.
“We're all for it, and have been in support of the full legalization of the crossbow for use in hunting for years,” said Mike Mayhood, owner of Mayhood's Sporting Goods in Norwich.
While the voice of the majority may have dissuaded Governor Cuomo and lawmakers, many ordinary bow hunters who consider themselves purists to archery object to the terms that the state DEC has put forth.
The new regulations will be included in the game laws for this coming season, which will be defined by the jurisdiction of the state DEC. Crossbow season is expected to encompass all of small and big game firearm seasons, and also allow for small game and turkey hunting.
The new legislation does come with a few catches. While crossbows will be legal in most of the state, three downstate counties – Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester – were not included in the legislation and will continue to ban usage.
In addition, the legislation will allow crossbow use during the last 10 days of the early archery season in the northern zone and the last 14 days of archery season in the southern zone, which includes all of western and Central New York, including Chenango County.
Following a public comment session – which is a period of 120 days following the adoption of the new legislation in which the public can rally to the state for an appeal – the state's crossbow regulations will be finalized by the DEC and most likely will be legal for use beginning this fall.