Why It Matters: Expanding opportunities for sportsmen and women to hunt with horizontal bows ensures that they may continue to pursue their favorite game species, despite age or injury preventing their use of traditional vertical bows. Crossbows are also an excellent introduction to prospective hunters, whether they are youth or adults who are simply newly interested in participating afield.
Highlights:
- Crossbows had been narrowly allowed for certain hunters in Minnesota, but in 2023, they were fully included in the archery season.
- Originally scheduled to sunset in 2025, the initial authorization was extended for another year.
- With Minnesota Senate File 1251 passing last week, the sunset was removed entirely, allowing Minnesota hunters to continue using crossbows well into the future.
- The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has supported full crossbow inclusion in various bills and omnibus packages over the past few legislative sessions.
Capping off a multi-year effort in the North Star State, Minnesota legislators have now unanimously passed legislation to entirely remove the sunset date on crossbow inclusion for regular archery seasons. Following a 67-0 vote in the Senate and a 133-0 vote in the House, Senate File 1251 now heads to the Governor’s desk for ratification. The bipartisan initiative was championed by many members of the Minnesota Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) and was spearheaded by Caucus Co-Chair Representative Josh Heintzeman.
The initial authorization in 2023 included a sunset date to allow the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) the opportunity to evaluate the impact that crossbow inclusion would have on hunting participation and wildlife populations. Some key findings from this report include:
- “Archery license sales increased after the expanded use of crossbows, particularly among youth deer hunters.”
- “Sixty-two percent (62%) of crossbow users who responded to the survey indicated that they are more likely to continue deer hunting because crossbows have been made legal.”
- “Twenty-six percent (26%) of crossbow users reported that crossbow availability was their reason for [turkey] hunting.”
The DNR’s report emphasizes the value that crossbow hunting offers, especially in recruiting new sportsmen and women to the sport. CSF has pointed out that crossbows serve both newly interested or seasoned hunters alike in various letters and testimony submissions throughout this multi-year fight, and will continue to advocate in Minnesota and around the country for policy that strengthens and broadens the base of hunters pursuing America’s storied wildlife species.
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