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Archery Hunting Licenses by State —
2026

State-by-state archery license requirements, stamp fees, crossbow regulations, equipment specs (draw weight, arrow length, broadhead requirements), and archery deer season dates for all 50 states.

All 50 States Covered Crossbow Rules by State Equipment Specifications
6Require Archery Stamp
41Allow Crossbow
51Avg Season Days
Stamp vs. license explained
Crossbow regulations
Draw weight requirements
Broadhead & arrow specs
Deer season open & close dates
Why Bowhunt?

Why Archery Hunting Has Grown

Longer Seasons
Archery seasons open weeks — sometimes months — before rifle season begins. In most states, bowhunters enjoy seasons from September through January, providing far more time afield than any firearm season. Early archery seasons often overlap with peak summer-to-fall deer transition patterns.
More Solitude
Archery seasons draw far fewer hunters than rifle seasons. Less pressure means more undisturbed wildlife encounters, quieter woods, and a more immersive outdoor experience. Many public land bowhunters report virtually no hunting pressure compared to firearms season weekends.
Skill Challenge
Bowhunting demands close-range accuracy — typically inside 40 yards — requiring hunters to master shot placement, woodsmanship, and animal behavior. The difficulty of archery hunting makes every successful harvest deeply personal and rewarding.
Peak Deer Activity
Many archery seasons intentionally cover the whitetail rut — typically late October through mid-November — when bucks are actively moving during daylight hours, dramatically increasing encounter rates. Hunting the rut during archery season is considered by many the pinnacle of deer hunting.
Equipment Specs Matter

Most states specify minimum draw weight (commonly 35–40 lbs), broadhead requirements (fixed or expandable, minimum cutting width), and sometimes minimum arrow length. Lighted nocks and rangefinders are permitted in most states. Crossbows are now allowed in some or all archery seasons in over 30 states, though rules vary widely — some require a permit, others limit crossbow use to certain seasons or hunters with disabilities only. Always read your state's current archery regulations before purchasing equipment.

Filter by region:
50 states
50 states shown
AL
Alabama
Resident $15.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
AK
Alaska
Resident $45.00
Archery requirements Deer season dates
AZ
Arizona
Resident $26.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
AR
Arkansas
Resident $10.50
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
CA
California
Stamp $21.89
Stamp Required
Archery requirements Deer season dates
CO
Colorado
Resident $35.96
Archery requirements Deer season dates
CT
Connecticut
Resident $19.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
DE
Delaware
Resident $8.50
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
FL
Florida
Resident $17.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
GA
Georgia
Resident $15.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
HI
Hawaii
Resident $10.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements
ID
Idaho
Resident $13.75
Archery requirements Deer season dates
IL
Illinois
Resident $24.50
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
IN
Indiana
Resident $24.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
IA
Iowa
Resident $28.50
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
KS
Kansas
Resident $27.50
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
KY
Kentucky
Resident $30.00
Archery requirements Deer season dates
LA
Louisiana
Resident $15.50
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
ME
Maine
Resident $26.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
MD
Maryland
Resident $24.50
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
MA
Massachusetts
Resident $27.50
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
MI
Michigan
Resident $20.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
MN
Minnesota
Resident $30.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
MS
Mississippi
Resident $10.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
MO
Missouri
Resident $17.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
MT
Montana
Resident $15.00
Archery requirements Deer season dates
NE
Nebraska
Resident $30.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
NV
Nevada
Resident $32.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
NH
New Hampshire
Resident $23.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
NJ
New Jersey
Stamp $27.50
Stamp Required Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
NM
New Mexico
Resident $35.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
NY
New York
Stamp $22.00
Stamp Required Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
NC
North Carolina
Resident $25.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
ND
North Dakota
Resident $18.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
OH
Ohio
Resident $19.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
OK
Oklahoma
Resident $26.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
OR
Oregon
Stamp $15.50
Stamp Required
Archery requirements Deer season dates
PA
Pennsylvania
Stamp $26.97
Stamp Required Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
RI
Rhode Island
Resident $18.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
SC
South Carolina
Resident $12.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
SD
South Dakota
Resident $28.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
TN
Tennessee
Resident $34.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
TX
Texas
Resident $40.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
UT
Utah
Resident $34.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
VT
Vermont
Resident $28.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
VA
Virginia
Resident $23.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
WA
Washington
Stamp $16.20
Stamp Required
Archery requirements Deer season dates
WV
West Virginia
Resident $19.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
WI
Wisconsin
Resident $20.00
Crossbow OK
Archery requirements Deer season dates
WY
Wyoming
Resident $46.00
Archery requirements Deer season dates
FAQ

Common Archery License Questions

In some states, a hunting license covers all legal methods including archery — no separate purchase is needed. In others (like Pennsylvania), an archery license or archery stamp is a separate add-on that specifically authorizes archery hunting and is required in addition to a base hunting license. The stamp fee is usually lower than a full extra license. Check your state's page for the exact structure.
Draw weight requirements vary by state and target species. For deer, most states require a minimum draw weight of 30–40 pounds. Pennsylvania requires 35 lbs minimum; Montana and Wyoming require 40 lbs. Some states have no minimum draw weight but have broadhead requirements instead. Always check current state regulations — requirements can differ for deer vs. elk vs. turkey.
Crossbow regulations vary widely. Over 30 states now allow crossbows during at least part of the archery season. Some states allow crossbows for all hunters during archery season; others restrict crossbow use to hunters with documented physical disabilities; a few have a separate crossbow season outside the traditional archery season. Some states require an additional crossbow permit. Check your state's specific crossbow rules before purchasing.
In most states, electronic rangefinders are legal for archery hunting. However, some states have restrictions on rangefinders that are integrated into bow sights or scopes. A standalone handheld rangefinder is typically legal everywhere. A few states may restrict electronic devices during specific seasons — always verify with your state's current regulations.
Most states require broadheads rather than field points or judo points for hunting big game. Common requirements include a minimum cutting diameter (often 7/8 inch), and some states specify that broadheads must be a minimum width measured across the cutting edges. Both fixed-blade and mechanical (expandable) broadheads are generally legal where broadheads are required, though some states have restrictions on mechanical broadheads for certain species.
Several northeastern states have historical Sunday hunting restrictions that apply to all seasons including archery. Pennsylvania has the most well-known Sunday restrictions — bowhunters may not hunt on Sundays except on private land with landowner permission (limited Sundays recently added). Maryland and Virginia have expanded Sunday hunting in recent years. Check your state's regulations as Sunday hunting rules are frequently changing through legislative action.