Is a Crossbow Considered Archery?

Is a crossbow considered archery? It depends on who is asking. Some hunting regulators class it as archery equipment and others don't, while target shooting treats the crossbow as a separate sport with its own world bodies. For hunting, only your state's current regulations count.

Why the answer depends on who is asking

A crossbow shoots an arrow (usually called a bolt) from a bow, so in the plain sense it belongs to the archery family. But it's built and handled differently: the limbs sit across a stock, a latch holds the string drawn, and a trigger releases the shot while you aim from the shoulder.

That's why rule-makers draw the line in different places. A hunting regulator asks whether a crossbow can be used in archery season, a sports federation asks whether crossbow shooters compete in its events, and a range asks whether crossbows suit its setup.

Hunting law: archery equipment or not?

Texas counts it. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's means-and-methods page says: "Lawful archery equipment includes compound bows, crossbows, longbows, and recurved bows." It adds that "any person, regardless of physical ability, may use a crossbow to hunt game animals or game birds in any county" during a general open season or East Zone wild turkey season.

Even Texas has exceptions: in Collin, Dallas, Grayson and Rockwall counties, crossbows can't be used for deer in the Archery-Only Open Season without a certified upper-limb disability.

Nevada doesn't. The Nevada Department of Wildlife's rules page says that "weapons legal for archery hunts include longbow, compound bow or recurved bow," and states plainly: "A crossbow cannot be used for archery only hunts."

Other states fall in between, and rules change, so we haven't tried to count them. Our crossbow vs compound bow comparison explains how the two tools differ in the field.

Target sport: separate federations

World Archery's disciplines page lists "target archery, indoor archery, field archery, para archery, 3D archery, flight archery, ski archery and run archery," and the bowstyles it names are recurve, compound and barebow. Crossbows aren't mentioned.

Crossbow shooting has its own international bodies. The International Crossbow Shooting Union (IAU, from its German name Internationale Armbrustschützen Union) describes itself as "the world governing body for two crossbow shooting divisions: Field and Match crossbow." Founded in 1956, it says its goal is to get crossbow shooting into the Olympic and European Games.

Its field division looks a lot like target archery: in the IR 900 round, competitors shoot at 65, 50 and 35 metres, standing, and the crossbow "must be cocked by hand, without the aid of any mechanical device".

A second body, the World Crossbow Shooting Association, represents "target and open (sport) crossbow shooters around the world." Our guide to what crossbow arrows are called covers another difference: bolts versus arrows.

Ranges and clubs

Clubs and ranges set their own rules about crossbows. Call ahead to ask whether they're allowed, and whether the backstop and targets are rated for crossbow bolts.

Line discipline applies to crossbows too. Our guide to range safety rules and whistle commands explains the signals you'll hear.

If you're shopping, check the rules where you hunt first, then browse hunting crossbows on Amazon. Treat listings as examples to consider, and confirm the crossbow meets your state's equipment rules.

Frequently asked questions

Is a crossbow a traditional bow?

Not in the usual sense. "Traditional" normally means hand-held longbows and recurves drawn and released with the fingers, while a crossbow is held drawn by a latch and fired with a trigger. Nevada's list of weapons for archery hunts, for example, names longbows, compound bows and recurved bows, but not crossbows.

Does archery season include crossbows?

In some states yes, in others no. Texas lists crossbows as lawful archery equipment, with exceptions in four counties for Archery-Only deer season, while Nevada says a crossbow cannot be used for archery-only hunts. Rules also change, so check your state's current regulations before every season.

Is crossbow shooting an Olympic sport?

No. The International Crossbow Shooting Union describes crossbow shooting as a non-Olympic sport and says its goal is to make it an official event at the Olympic Games and European Games. World Archery's disciplines page lists recurve, compound and barebow bowstyles but not crossbows.