Rationale

• According to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife’s website, allowing the use of crossbows was intended to increase participation in New Jersey’s bow and arrow hunting seasons. Numerous hunter inquiries about crossbow use prompted the state to sponsor a 2007 random survey of resident bow and gun hunters to ascertain their interest in crossbows.
  
  The survey concluded that 73 percent of New Jersey hunters supported the addition of crossbows to the list of approved devices for deer hunting. Additionally, the state found that none of the 48 states that allow crossbow hunting during archery seasons needed to adjust bag limits or abbreviate the archery seasons as a result of crossbow hunting.
  
  

Legality

• Though the 2009 amendment eliminated the ban on all draw locking and draw holding devices, there are some state regulations on crossbows. Crossbows used for hunting game animals in New Jersey must have a minimum draw weight of 75 pounds, and stock length must exceed 25 inches. For deer, turkey, coyote, fox and woodchuck seasons, all arrowheads must be metal, sharp, well maintained and have a minimum width of ¾ inches. Also, because the amendment considers only bow hunting, crossbows are still not a legal bow-fishing instrument in New Jersey.
  
  

Licenses

• To purchase a license to hunt with a crossbow in New Jersey as either a resident or nonresident hunter, hunters must possess and present at the time of purchase one of the following documents to the certified license purveyor:
  
  1) a hunter education archery certificate
  
  2) a valid, previous-year resident bow and arrow license from any state
  
  3) a valid, previous-year nonresident New Jersey bow and arrow license.
  
  Licenses last from the date of purchase until the end of the calendar year, expiring on Dec. 31.
  
  If you obtained a bow-hunting permit since the implementation of New Jersey’s electronic licensing system, you do not need to present these documents. The electronic system has your information on file.
  
  

Locations

• Crossbows may be used in all zones where bow hunting is permitted and for all game animals that have bow hunting seasons.
  
  

Game

• Some game animals that may be hunted with crossbows are deer, turkey, coyote, woodchuck and fox. For a complete list, contact the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife at 609-292-2965.