Laws on crossbows
The crossbow often has a complicated legal status due to its potential use for lethal purposes, and its similarities with both firearms and other archery weapons. The crossbow is, for technical purposes, often categorized as a firearm by various legal jurisdictions, despite the fact that no combustion is required to propel the projectile.
This is a list of laws concerning crossbows by country.
In some nations crossbows are not subject to any specific regulation, in most there are laws, which differ widely. Each jurisdiction has its own definition of a crossbow, and in some cases pistol-sized crossbows are treated differently. There may be minimum ages for possession, and sales of both crossbows and bolts may be restricted. Specific rules around hunting use are also common.
Some jurisdictions require permits and background checks similar to those required for firearms.
Australia
Pistol crossbows are strictly controlled in all Australian states due to their concealable nature. Crossbows can be bought and owned by adults over 18 years of age, while in most states crossbows can only be owned with a special licence, for instance for members of an official sporting club. Control on transport of crossbows between states has increased to prevent unauthorised use of imported crossbows.Recent changes to laws in Western Australia to prohibit crossbow ownership require applications to legally possess a crossbow by July 2, 2011 before they became illegal to possess and sporting usage is only legal for people currently participating in the sport at the date of the laws introduction and does not apply to or allow for new participants thereafter.
Bulgaria
In Bulgaria crossbows are not regulated, but their use for fishing and hunting is explicitly prohibited.Canada
In Canada, crossbows are not classified as a firearm and can be acquired, manufactured or sold to anyone over 18 years of age. According to the Criminal Code, barrelled weapons launching a projectile at a muzzle velocity not exceeding are also not considered firearms. This ensues no licence is required to purchase a crossbow, unless it is barrelled and launches projectiles at a velocity exceeding. Though older PAL cards say that one is allowed to acquire one, the laws designating them as firearms were struck down before they could be implemented. Crossbows designed to be fired with one hand and crossbows measuring less than 500 mm in length are prohibited. Some municipalities also have bylaws prohibiting the discharging and/or possession of firearms within city limits, and those laws usually define bows, crossbows, and slingshots as firearms.Hunting in Canada is regulated at the provincial level, therefore the legality of crossbow hunting vary from province to province.
Czech Republic
Crossbows and other mechanical weapons with drawing force under are not regulated. Mechanical weapons above this limit are class D weapons, which means they can only be used or owned by a person at least 18 years of age and can't be worn visibly in public. They can only be used at places not accessible to public, at licensed shooting ranges and at visibly marked places oversighted by a designated person.Denmark
In Denmark, the creation or import of crossbows without a license is prohibited by Danish law on weapons, and crossbows are not recognized as legal weapons for hunting.Finland
In Finland, crossbows are banned in hunting. Possession of crossbows and other bows requires no licence. In other legal aspects the crossbow is parallel to an air gun.Germany
In German law on weapons, crossbows and firearms are equated in their legal status as weapons, but in contrast to guns, acquisition, possession, trade or production of crossbows requires no license. Because of their definition as weapons, but without further restrictions, any crossbows can be used by minors under custody of competent adults. Fishing and hunting with crossbows is prohibited. As a specialty to be noted is that, crossbows do not shoot as per legal definition in Germany, since they don't use expanding gases or similar mechanisms to propel a projectile.Netherlands
In the Netherlands crossbows are regulated by the "wet weapons en munitie". Crossbows and crossbow bolts are placed in category 4, along with bows, swords, spears, etc. It is legal to possess weapons from this category providing that the individual is over 18. It is not allowed to carry those weapons in public. When transporting, the weapon should be packaged in a way that one has to perform at least 3 actions before the weapon is ready for use. Only on special occasions such as re-enactment events this is not strictly enforced. Crossbows should be used only for collecting, re-enactment or sportive purposes. Hunting with crossbows is strictly prohibited in the Netherlands under animal cruelty laws.Norway
In Norway, crossbows are considered equivalent to firearms, and possession requires a license. Hunting with crossbows is not allowed.Poland
In Poland, crossbows are considered a 'dangerous devices' equivalent to firearms, and possession requires a license. Hunting with crossbows is not allowed.Sweden
In Sweden, crossbows are considered equivalent to firearms, and possession requires a license. Hunting with crossbows is not allowed. Swedish law dictates that any weapon that stores its energy, i.e., weapons with a firing mechanism, that produces more than at the muzzle are illegal without licence. Thus very weak crossbows are sold in toy stores as well as low powered air rifles. Sale or possession of normal bows of any strength are regulated in the same way as the previously mentioned weak crossbows and air rifles.United Kingdom
No licence or registration is required to own a crossbow in the United Kingdom. Under the Crossbows Act 1987, crossbows cannot be bought or sold in England, Wales or Scotland by or to those under 18. Possession is also prohibited by those under 18 years old except under adult supervision. The act states that crossbows may be used by persons under 18 years of age only when supervised by a person aged 21 years old or over. Similar prohibitions for Northern Ireland are made in the Crossbows Order 1988. Section 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 prevents their use for hunting birds. In Scotland, section 50 of the Civic Government Act 1982 makes it illegal to be drunk in a public place in possession of a crossbow.Section 44 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 raised the age limit from 17 to 18 in England and Wales, with effect from 1 October 2007. The Scottish Parliament made similar changes in section 62 of the Custodial Sentences and Weapons Act 2007, also with effect from 1 October 2007.
United States
It is legal to own a crossbow. Rules regarding hunting with crossbow vary by state.Can a convicted felon hunt with a bow or crossbow?
Michigan
Any licensed hunter who has obtained a free crossbow stamp can hunt with a crossbow during any season in which a firearm is allowed, for both big and small game, except hunters in the Upper Peninsula may not use a crossbow or a modified bow during the Dec. 1 - Jan. 1 late archery deer season and Dec. 7-16 muzzleloader deer season, unless the hunter is disabled and has a crossbow permit or special permit to take game with a modified bow.
Any licensed hunter may use a crossbow throughout the archery deer season in the Lower Peninsula and during the early archery deer season in the Upper Peninsula. Crossbow use is not allowed in the Red Oak Unit during the archery-only bear season except for certified hunters with a disability.
The DNR may issue a crossbow permit or a special permit to take game with a modified bow to a person with a valid hunting license to take a deer during an open deer season, if the person is certified as having permanent or temporary disability, as defined in Wildlife Conservation Order 5.95, which renders a person unable to use conventional archery equipment. Hunters may use a modified bow where crossbows are legal. A modified bow is a bow, other than a crossbow, that has been physically altered so that it may be held, aimed and shot with one arm. When hunting deer, bear, elk and turkey, crossbow hunters must use only arrows, bolts and quarrels with a broadhead hunting type of point not less than wide with a minimum of in length. See Hunter Orange Clothing Requirements.
This was taken from https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10366_37141_37706-31578--,00.html
New York
Hunting with crossbow is legal to hunt game as of August 2014.