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Home > Hunting & Trapping > Hunting > Archery Hunting

Archery Hunting

The archery license allows bow and arrow hunting for all legal game (except deer during the muzzleloading season), and is required to hunt deer during both archery seasons on deer (October season and expanded archery season).

An archery license is also required in addition to a fall Wild Turkey hunting permit to hunt Wild Turkey with bow and arrow during the fall Wild Turkey hunting season.

Archery Hunting Season for Deer (Statewide): October 3, 2013 through November 1, 2013

  • During the archery season on deer, bucks may be taken statewide. (Although an Any-Deer permit is not required during the archery season, antlerless deer may only be taken in WMD's that have Any-Deer permits.

  • On the Youth Deer Hunting Day, bucks may be taken statewide. (Although an Any-Deer permit is not required on the Youth Deer Hunting Day, antlerless deer may only be taken in WMD's that have Any-Deer permits.
  • All other laws pertaining to deer hunting shall apply to bowhunting.

Expanded Archery Hunting Season: September 7, 2013 through December 14, 2013

Fall Turkey Hunting Season:

Zone 1 (Archery Only): (WMD's 12, 15 through 18, 20, and 26) - October 12, 2013 through October 26, 2013

Zone 2 (Archery Only): (WMD's 21 through 25) - October 3, 2013 through November 1, 2013

Zone 3 (Archery & Shotgun): (WMD's 15 through 17, 20 through 26) - October 19, 2013 through October 25, 2013

Bag and Possession Limit: One Wild Turkey either sex, any age.

Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hours after sunset.

Note: A fall Wild Turkey hunting permit and an archery license are required to hunt in Zone 1 and 2. In Zone 3, a fall Wild Turkey hunting permit and a hunting license that allows hunting for big game are required to hunt with a shotgun, and a fall Wild Turkey hunting permit and an archery license are required to hunt with bow and arrow.

Legal Weapons for Fall Season:

  • Only bow and arrow may be used to hunt Wild Turkey during the fall Wild Turkey hunting season in Zone 1 and Zone 2.
  • In Zone 3, permit holders may use (with appropriate license), bow and arrow or shotgun guages 10 through 20 using shot sizes 4 through 6.
During the expanded archery season, hunters who have a valid archery license will be able to purchase multiple expanded archery antlerless permits for $12.00 each, and one expanded archery buck permit for $32.00. (Junior hunters 10 years of age or older and under 16 years of age may hunt during this season with their junior hunting license, but must purchase the expanded archery permits.)

A person who applies for an archery hunting license must show proof of having successfully completed an archery hunter education course or of having held an adult archery license in any year after 1979.

Junior hunters (10 years of age and under 16) who hold a valid junior hunting license are allowed to hunt with bow and arrow when accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older.

Hunter orange clothing is not required when hunting with bow and arrow. Anyone who hunts with a firearm must wear hunter orange.

A handgun may be carried by licensed* hunters while bow hunting but may NOT be used to dispatch deer. (*License to hunt with firearms).

Laws which allow you to hunt without a license on your own land under certain conditions apply to archery hunting.

Deer may be taken under the archery provisions only by means of hand-held bow with a minimum draw weight of 35 pounds, and broad-head arrow. Arrow heads must be at least 7/8 inch in width. It is unlawful to use a crossbow during the archery seasons on deer. Exception: Disabled persons who have a special permit issued by the commissioner may use a crossbow during the archery seasons on deer. It is also unlawful to use a set bow or to use arrows with poisonous or explosive tips.

All deer killed by bow and arrow during the archery seasons must be inspected and registered at the first open deer registration station.

It is legal to hunt until 1/2 hour after sunset during both archery seasons on deer and during the fall turkey hunting season.

All other laws pertaining to deer hunting shall apply to bowhunting.