Crossbow Hunting License Fact Sheet
1). To be eligible to purchase a crossbow hunting license the customer must
hold a valid license to hunt big game (either a big game hunting license
or an archery license).
2). Customer must submit proof of having successfully completed an
archery hunting education course and a crossbow hunting course or
satisfactory evidence of having previously held adult archery and
crossbow hunting licenses in this State or any other state, province or
country in any year after 1979. When proof or evidence cannot be
provided, the applicant may substitute a signed affidavit.
3). A resident or nonresident 10 years of age or older and under 16 years of
age may hunt with a crossbow if that person holds a valid junior hunting
license (no crossbow license required).
4). With a valid crossbow hunting license, a person may hunt bear with
a crossbow during the open season on bear and may hunt deer with
a crossbow during the open firearm season on deer.
5). Crossbow hunting courses are available from the Department of Inland
Fisheries & Wildlife. Please check our web site at mefishwildlife.com
for details on class schedules.
6). A crossbow hunting license is included as part of a Native American
Hunting License, a Disabled Veteran Hunting License, and a Lifetime
Hunting License of a person over 70 years of age provided that they
meet the archery and crossbow safety course requirements.
7). A person 70 years of age or older may hunt a wild bird or a wild animal
with a crossbow during any open season on that wild bird or animal
subject to all other laws pertaining to those seasons, birds, or animals.
This includes hunting with a crossbow during an expanded archery
season or in an expanded archery zone or during the muzzle-loading only
deer hunting season subject to all other laws pertaining to those seasons
and zones. It also includes hunting moose with a crossbow subject to all
other laws pertaining to moose hunting. All persons hunting with a
crossbow under this provision must meet the archery and crossbow
safety course requirements.
8). A convicted felon is allowed to hunt with a crossbow but must meet the
archery and crossbow safety course requirements and must hold a valid
archery and crossbow license.
