State-by-State Bow Hunting Laws For Draw Weights

Important Laws Around Bow Hunting In Your State – Draw Weights

Bowhunters must abide by federal and state regulations when they hunt in the United States. Different states have different laws regarding:

Where you can go hunting for deer (place)
When you can go hunting for (animals)
What you can hunt for (the prey).
How you can hunt (draw weight, equipment, techniques, etc.)
Once you’ve shot something, tag and register it.
If you violate a law, you may be fined for trespassing or infringing on a regulation.

These laws regulate hunting, land ownership, and animal protection by setting limits on what you can do and where you can go. You may face fines, revoking your driver’s license, or even arrest if you violate these laws.

A good example of regulation is the minimum draw weight per state.

State	Animal	Minimum Draw Weight (lbs.)
Alabama	All	30
Alaska	Caribou, black bear, deer, wolf, and wolverine	40
	Elk, bison, brown bear, moose, musk ox, and mountain goat50	50
Arizona	All other	30
	Bison	40
Arkansas	All	35
California	All	40
Colorado	All	35
Connecticut	All	40
Delaware	All	35
Florida	All	35
Georgia	All	None
Hawaii	All	30 compound 35 recurve 40 longbows
Idaho	All	40
Illinois	All	30
Indiana	All deer	35
Iowa	All	None
Kansas	All	None
	Big game	Recommended 45
Kentucky	All	None
Louisiana	All	30
Maine	All other	35
	Moose	45
Maryland	All	30
Massachusetts	All	40
Michigan	All	None
Minnesota	All	30
Mississippi	All	None
Missouri	All	NoneRecommended 40
Montana	All	None
Nebraska	All	40
Nevada	All	40
New Hampshire	All	40
New Jersey	All	35
New Mexico	All	None
New York	All big game	More than 35
North Carolina	All	Compound 35 Recurve and long 40
North Dakota	All	35
Ohio	All	40
Oklahoma	All	Compound 30 Long or recurve 40
Oregon	All other	40
	Bighorn sheep, elk, and mountain goat	50
Pennsylvania	All	35
Rhode Island	All	40 fixed blade broadhead arrows 50 for mechanical broadheads
South Carolina	All	None
South Dakota	All other	30
	Elk	40
Tennessee	All	None
Texas	All	None but 30 is recommended
Utah	All	40 (some sources say 30)
Vermont	All	None
Virginia	All	None
Washington	All	40
West Virginia	All	None
Wisconsin	All	30
Wyoming	Antelope, bighorn sheep, black bear, deer, mountain goat, mountain lion and gray wolf trophies	40
	Elk, grizzly bear, and moose	50

Many state archery seasons end by December 31st.

There are some exceptions to the rule on National Forests.

You should always check with your local forestry department before shooting in a state with an open season.

If you want to know when and where the U.S. Forest Service will hold its annual fall/winter hunting season, call them at 1-877- 444-6777.

Important Laws Around Bow Hunting In Your State – Draw Weights

Tim