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Panel weighs proposal to let hunters 75 and older use crossbows during archery season
Summary
Senate Bill 2197 would permit crossbow use during the archery season for hunters aged 75 and older. Testimony included patrons seeking access for elderly hunters and state data showing existing crossbow-permit use; bow hunter and conservation groups warned of impacts on archery opportunity and hunter pressure.
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 2197, a proposal to allow hunters aged 75 and older to use crossbows during the archery season.
Senator Don Scheible, District 31, introduced the bill at the request of a constituent who said older hunters should have the option of a crossbow if they can no longer draw a conventional bow. "This is ... to expand opportunities for experienced bow hunters," Scheible said, adding that he had discussed the issue with Game and Fish and with his patron.
Russ Shower of Regent, the patron who asked Scheible to carry the bill, told the committee he sought a modest expansion so elderly hunters who can no longer draw traditional bows could continue to hunt. "If they wanna go out and do some extra activity and they can't really use a regular bow as when they were younger ... that's all I'm asking," Shower said.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department provided data and said it takes no position for or against the bill. Deputy Director Scott Peterson told the committee the department currently has 3,643 active crossbow permits issued under the agency's handicap permit rules; of those, 637 permit holders will be 75 this year. Peterson also reported that of 92,434 applicants for deer gun or muzzleloader seasons this year, 3,673 applicants will be age 75. "We have currently on the books 3643 active crossbow permit holders. And of those ... 637 of those individuals are going to be 75 years old this year," Peterson said.
Opponents included the North Dakota Bow Hunters Association and the North Dakota Wildlife Federation. Daryl Belisle of the Bow Hunters Association said the group supports handicap crossbow permits but opposes expanding crossbow use across the archery season because modern crossbows are more accurate and extend effective range. "The North Dakota Bow Hunters Association has a long standing objection to the introduction of crossbows into our North Dakota archery seasons," Belisle testified. John Bradley of the Wildlife Federation warned that starting an age-based allowance can broaden over time — citing other states where age thresholds were later lowered or removed — and said broader crossbow access could increase hunter pressure in certain units.
Committee members asked whether the existing handicap crossbow permit system could address the need. Peterson said the department already issues handicap crossbow permits based on medical certification and that there are no age-based hurdles in that process. He suggested the committee could consider adjusting the handicap-permit criteria if they wanted a narrowly targeted solution. No committee vote was recorded; Chairman Patton closed the hearing on Senate Bill 2197.
