Best Bowhunting Gear

Have you ever wondered if your bow setup met all the legal requirements? Are you unsure of how to ensure your bow is ready for Archery Season this year? Not sure what equipment is legal in your state or province? You are not alone. There are many archers who, just like you, want to ensure that they are using the safest, most effective equipment possible. The bowhunting community is filled with all sorts of different archers; some who hunt to put food on their table and others who view hunting as a sport. Regardless of your situation, there are only two types of legal requirements for you to concern yourself with 1) Those required by the state, province, or country you intend to hunt in 2) Those required by organizations that host hunting events (e.g. Pope & Young Club).

Bow Configuration

The most important aspect of legal bow configuration is the draw weight. For example, in certain states or provinces, it may be illegal to hunt with a bow having a draw weight of fewer than 40 lbs. This will cover most crossbows and recurve bows. If you intend to hunt with a compound bow set at 55lb draw, then it cannot be below that when you go hunting or show up for an event such as the Pope & Young Club’s world record book or Safari Club International’s Big Game Awards Program. This means that it is legal to hunt with a bow of 65lb draw, but not 45lb or 70lb.

Types of Bows

 Some states, provinces, and countries have specific requirements for the type of bow you are permitted to use while hunting. For example, California has very strict laws concerning crossbows. It may be illegal to hunt with a crossbow in California. Make sure to check the regulations of your state, province, or country before you decide on a bow configuration. It would be a very good idea to do some research and find out what equipment is legal where you intend to hunt.

Safety Equipment

In addition to bows having a certain draw weight and type, it is necessary for you to have all of the proper safety equipment. For example, if your bow is capable of shooting an arrow at speeds fast enough to be considered unsafe without the use of a scope, then it must be equipped with scope-viewing devices or peep sights. You cannot deny that this is important, but what you might not know is that you are not permitted to use certain safety devices while hunting. The best example is arm guards. Arm guards are meant for archers who participate in target-shooting events, not for bowhunters. However, there are some states and provinces that allow you to hunt with arm guards. Check your regulations before you head out into the field.

Bow Length and Draw Weight

Finally, what is considered a legal bow length and draw weight varies from state to state, province to province, and country to country? For example, in California it is technically illegal to hunt with a bow longer than 28″, but the regulations allow for bows of 32″ if they have a draw weight less than 40lbs. Luckily, there are several online tools available to help you find out what is legal where you intend to bow hunt. Many organizations such as the Pope & Young Club and Safari Club International provide state-by-state information on their respective websites. These sites also contain up-to-date guidelines for bow configuration and safety equipment, etc.

Legal Bow Requirements by State / Province / Country

Here is a list of items that must be true about your legal bow should you decide to hunt in one or more of the following states, provinces, or countries (provided by the Pope & Young Club): Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky (minimum draw weight is determined by state’s forests and wildlife department), Louisiana (minimum draw weight of 40 lbs.).