Crossbow Hunting?

[usmcveteran]

I know its early / late depending on how you look at it but I bought a crossbow and am interested in hunting next year with it.

What steps do I need to take? Is there anyone in Rochester area that would take me under their wing and show me the ways of hunting?

I literally know nothing including how to field dress or butcher or anything like that.

Thanks!

[camper4lyfe]

I'm not sure if crossbows are currently legal to hunt with now. They keep changing the damn regulations.

[usmcveteran]

Last I checked they were, they can be used with muze loader and part of or before or after bow season

[camper4lyfe]

So they brought it back. They've gone back and forth a few times, and I lost track.

[Chicken Shoot]

It's only been on and off once. LOL It was made legal for 2 years then they didn't allow it because of the way it was offered. They put it in with a totally different bill as usual!! It has permanently been enacted because this time it went through with a budget over a year ago.

usmc ... you only need to cut out the self certification "card" in the regulation book that you will see on the counters at wally world or wherever licenses are sold OR go here to the DEC website and scroll down to the bottom for the card. LOL It goes in your tag holder along with your hunting license.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/98061.html

[camper4lyfe]

It's only been on and off once. LOL It was made legal for 2 years then they didn't allow it because of the way it was offered. They put it in with a totally different bill as usual!! It has permanently been enacted because this time it went through with a budget over a year ago.

Details shmeetails.

In all reality, I don't crossbow hunt, so I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to it. Hell, I've barely hunted at all the past 3 years.

[Chicken Shoot]

Details shmeetails.

In all reality, I don't crossbow hunt, so I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to it. Hell, I've barely hunted at all the past 3 years.

So you belong to the club I'm in?? I had a total of 6 hours this year to hunt.

Oh ... USMC ... you will need to take the Hunter Safety Course if you haven't already. You will only need to purchase the regular season and muzzle loader licenses to legally hunt with the crossbow from start to finish of the hunting season. The last two weeks of archery do NOT require you to purchase the archery tags OR attend the bowhunter education course. So do as I just stated and you'll be able to use that crossbow all the way through. I use a bow all the way through ..... when I get a chance to go. LOL

[Chicken Shoot]

If you have already taken the hunter ed class, you can use that crossbow for the spring Turkey season. I believe it's May 1st - May31st. If you didn't take the class, ask around and check the DEC website for available hunter ed classes.

[thughes]

is there a Spring Chicken season?

[Chicken Shoot]

is there a Spring Chicken season?

If there is, I'm not legal to shoot because I'm no spring chicken!!!

[camper4lyfe]

So you belong to the club I'm in?? I had a total of 6 hours this year to hunt.

Oh ... USMC ... you will need to take the Hunter Safety Course if you haven't already. You will only need to purchase the regular season and muzzle loader licenses to legally hunt with the crossbow from start to finish of the hunting season. The last two weeks of archery do NOT require you to purchase the archery tags OR attend the bowhunter education course. So do as I just stated and you'll be able to use that crossbow all the way through. I use a bow all the way through ..... when I get a chance to go. LOL

I think I got in about that many hours this year. Last year I didn't go out at all (i didn't think it was fair leaving the wife home for a weekend with an 18 month old and a 2 month old newborn by herself). Life's tough with little kids. I'm just biding my time until they grow up a bit more and I can have some freedoms back, and not feel guilty about being away for a couple days.

[usmcveteran]

Haven't taken class, can I take online class? I think there is an online class you can take but have to go to in person practical day part or something like that?

Once I get my license I really do need to go with someone becuase if I shot something I wouldn't know what to do with it after that lol

[camper4lyfe]

I've heard you can take the PA course online and use that certification in NY.

[Chicken Shoot]

Haven't taken class, can I take online class? I think there is an online class you can take but have to go to in person practical day part or something like that?

Once I get my license I really do need to go with someone becuase if I shot something I wouldn't know what to do with it after that lol

There is BUT read your post again. You still have to go to the class so it's money wasted. I've been an instructors aide for a few years and we see this all the time. The people are still at the class all day and we just shake our heads because it cost them $25 to do the online thing when they could have done it for free. Unless something has changed in the last year, it's like pissing into the wind.

[Ham_Chu]

If you are already cert'ed in NY, currently you just need to sign the certification page in the Hunting Regulation book and have it with you while hunting (claiming you've read the relevant sections and understand them). All NY Hunter Ed taught courses since 2014 include (should have) Xbow.

There is currently no course (effective THIS date) for Xbow. If one is to hunt big game with Xbow, the standard (non-bow, or "Gun") course will certify you. I am not clear if the Bow Course does the same; I think it does not. Depending on when you want to use the Xbow, you may need a muzzleloading stamp (iirc, you need the muzzleloader stamp to hunt with an Xbow during bow season....yup)

The regs are REAL muddy between the bow/Xbow...the bow hunting 'purists' (see also: zealot) are putting up quite the stink....violating the sanctity of their religion and such. Last season's antler restrictions only made it worse.

REAL shame you haven't taken it yet, as the course NOW requires about ~4 hours of online homework prior to showing up for the class. So, yes, you can take it online, at least the first couple of hours. The remainder (expected to be at least 7 hours of class room), to include the test must be in-person. Most of the test is from the HW, and the instructors should not cover it.

If you are looking into a Xbow, I would recommend BULLSEYE ARCHERY in Bloomfield. Specialized shop with full blown (free) 3D range out back open 24 hrs. They will let you test fire any/everything in the place (50yd indoor range, too) and get you set up. This is where I was spending some time until Household 06 found out about the scheme...