Broadhead Hunting Regulations by State

Alabama Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Alabama? Yes

All broadheads must have a minimum of 2 sharpened edges and a minimum weight of 100 grains. The minimum cutting diameter for any broadhead shall be 7/8-inch. The minimum thickness for a fixed-blade broadhead shall be .015 inches and the minimum thickness for mechanical broadheads shall be .025 inches.

Alaska Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Alaska? Only when taking of black-tailed deer, wolf, wolverine, black bear, Dall sheep and caribou.

Other Alaska Broadhead Regulations:

Only use broadhead that is -

A fixed, replaceable or mechanical/retractable blade type broadhead when taking of black-tailed deer, wolf, wolverine, black bear, Dall sheep and caribou.

A fixed or replaceable blade type broadhead for the taking of mountain goat, moose, elk, brown/grizzly bear, musk ox and bison.

Not barbed.

"broadhead" means an arrowhead with two or more sharp cutting edges having a minimum cutting diameter of not less than seven-eighths inch (7/8").

"mechanical or retractable broadhead" means a broadhead with cutting edges that are retracted during flight and open upon impact to a minimum cutting diameter of not less than seven-eighths inch (7/8") and does not lock open after impact to create fixed barbs.

"barbed" refers to an arrowhead with any fixed portion of the rear edge of the arrowhead forming an angle less than 90 degrees with the shaft when measured from the nock end of the arrow.

Arizona Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Arizona? Yes

All broadheads used must be no less than 7/8 inch in width with metal cutting edges.

Arkansas Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Arkansas? Yes

Deer, turkey and bear hunters must use arrowheads at least 7/8-inches wide (mechanicals OK). Poison may not be used on arrows.

California Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in California? Yes

For the taking of big game, hunting arrows and crossbow bolts with a broad head type blade which will not pass through a hole seven-eighths inch in diameter shall be used. Mechanical/retractable broad heads shall be measured in the open position.

Colorado Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Colorado? Yes

Handheld bows, including compound bows, using arrows equipped with a broadhead with an outside diameter or width of at least 7/8ths of an inch with no less than two steel cutting edges. Each cutting edge must be in the same plane throughout the length of the cutting surface.

Connecticut Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Connecicut? Yes

An arrowhead must have at least two blades and must be at least 7/8 inch wide at its widest point. Arrowheads that are designed to open on impact are legal provided they meet the above requirement.

Delaware Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Delaware? Yes

Hunters may take deer and turkey using sharpened broadhead arrows (min. width 7/8”).

Florida Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Florida? Yes

Arrows used to take deer, turkeys or hogs must be equipped with broadheads having at least two sharpened edges with minimum widths of 7/8 inch.

Georgia Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Georgia? Yes

Crossbows, longbows, recurve bows, and compound bows are allowed for hunting any game or feral hog. Arrows for hunting deer, bear or feral hog must be broadhead type.

Hawaii Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Hawaii? Yes

No person shall possess any arrows equipped with explosive heads or heads containing drugs or poison. Only arrows having a minimum blade cutting diameter width of threequarters of an inch are permitted.

Idaho Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Idaho? No

In any hunt, including general any-weapon seasons and shortrange hunts, it is unlawful to pursue or kill big game animals:

With arrows or bolts having broadheads measuring less than 7/8 inch in width and having a primary cutting edge less than 0.015 inch thick.

With an arrow or bolt wherein the broadhead does not precede shaft and nock.

With any chemicals or explosives attached to the arrow or bolt.

With any chemicals or explosives attached to the arrow or bolt.

With arrows or bolts having barbed broadheads, which is a broadhead with any portion of which forms an angle less than 90 degrees with the shaft or ferrule.

With any electronic or tritium-powered device attached to an arrow, bolt or bow. Except disabled archery permit holders may use a nonmagnifying sight with battery powered or tritium lighted reticles.

With an arrow or bolt, and broadhead with a combined total weight of less than 300 grains.

Illinois Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Illinois? Yes

Minimum arrow length is 20 inches and broadheads must be used.

Broadheads may have fixed or expandable cutting surfaces, but they must have a minimum 7/8 inch diameter when fully opened.

Broadheads with fixed cutting surfaces must be metal or flint-chert-or obsidian-knapped; broadheads with expandable cutting surfaces must be metal.

Indiana Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Indiana? Yes

Arrows must be tipped with broadheads that are metal, met¬al-edged, or napped flint, chert or obsidian. Poisoned or exploding arrows are illegal.

Iowa Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Iowa? Yes

Longbows, recurve bows, and compound bows shooting broadhead arrows are permitted. No explosive or chemical devices may be attached to the arrow or broadhead. There are no minimum draw weights for bows or minimum diameter for broadheads. Arrows must be at least 18 inches long. Draw locks on compound bows are legal.

Kansas Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Kansas? Yes

Each arrow used for hunting shall be equipped with a broadhead point incapable of passing through a ring with a diameter of three-quarters of an inch when fully expanded. A big game hunter using archery equipment may possess non-broadhead-tipped arrows while hunting if the arrows are not used to take or attempt to take big game animals.

Kentucky Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Kentucky? Yes

Fixed blade or mechanical broadheads at least 7/8” wide (when blades extended), but broadheads may NOT be barbed, or chemically-treated.

Louisiana Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Louisiana? Yes

Longbow, compound bow and crossbow or any bow drawn, held or released by mechanical means will be a legal means of take for all properly licensed hunters. Bow and arrow fishermen must have a sport fishing license and not carry any arrows with broadhead points unless a big game season is in progress.

Maine Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Maine? Yes

Arrow heads (including expandable mechanical broadheads) must be at least ⅞ inch in width. It is unlawful to use a crossbow (except during the open firearms season on deer and bear as described below), or set bow, or to use arrows with poisonous or explosive tips. Until 1/1/2015 hunters 70 years of age or older may hunt a wild bird or wild animal with a crossbow, including the moose hunt.

Maryland Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Maryland? Yes

Arrows used for deer or bear hunting must have a sharpened broadhead with a metal cutting surface having a minimum width of 7⁄8 of an inch.

Massachusetts Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Massachusetts? Yes

Poisoned arrows, or explosive tips, or bows drawn by mechanical means, are prohibited except for crossbows as permitted. Mechanical releases are permitted. Arrows used on deer, bear or turkey must have well-sharpened steel broadhead blades not less than ⅞ inches in width. Expanding broadheads are legal. Recurve or

long bows for deer, bear or turkey hunting must have at least 40 lbs. pull at 28 inches or at peak draw weight for compound bows. No arrows may be released within 150 feet of, or across, any state or hard-surfaced highway, and hunting is prohibited within 500 feet of any dwelling or building in use, unless authorized by owner or occupant thereof.

Michigan Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Michigan? Yes

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 7/8 of an inch wide with a minimum of 14 inches in length.

Minnesota Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Minnesota? Yes

Arrowheads used for taking big game must be sharp, have a minimum of two metal cutting edges, be of barbless broadhead design, and have a diameter of at least ⅞ inch.

“Expandable” broadheads may be used to take big game if they meet the requirements above and: 1) are at least ⅞ inch in width and no more than 2 inches in width at or after impact; and 2) are of a barbless design and function in a barbless manner.

Mississippi Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Mississippi? Yes

Arrows must be equipped with broadhead points that cannot pass through a ring 3/4-inch in diameter when fully expanded.

Missouri Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Michigan? Yes

Methods allowed: Longbows, compound bows or recurve bows of any draw weight; no restrictions on broadheads.

Montana Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Montana? Yes

Arrows must have broadheads with at least two cutting edges. The broadhead must be at least 7/8 inches at the widest point, and weigh no less than 70 grains.

Nebraska Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Nebraska? Yes

Arrows and spears must have sharpened hunting head with a blade of at least 7/16-inch radius from the center of the arrow shaft. Arrows and spears containing poison or stupefying chemical or having an explosive tip are prohibited.

Nevada Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Nevada? Yes

Arrows used in hunting big game mammals must be at least 24 inches long and have:

(a) Fixed broadheads that are at least 7/8-inch wide at the widest point; or

(b) Expandable, mechanical broadheads that are at least 7/8-inch wide at the widest point when the broadhead is in the open position.

New Hampshire Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in New Hampshire? Yes

Archers must have their name and address on arrows. Fixed blade broadheads cannot be less than ⅞ inches wide and not more than 1½ inches wide. Retractable blade broadheads are permitted (must be not less than ⅞ of an inch wide when open). Minimum draw weight for deer is 40 lbs.

New Jersey Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in New Jersey? Yes

Arrows must be fitted with a well-sharpened metal broadhead with a minimum width of ¾"

New Mexico Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in New Mexico? Yes

Arrows must have broadheads (fixed or mechanical) with steel cutting edges. No drugs may be used on arrows. Arrows cannot be driven by explosives.

New York Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in New York? Yes

It is unlawful to hunt big game with arrows with barbed broadheads; arrowheads less than 7/8 inches at the widest point or with less than 2 sharp cutting edges.

North Carolina Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in North Carolina? Yes

Only arrows with a fixed minimum broadhead width of 7/8 inch or a mechanically opening broadhead with a minimum width of 7/8 inch in the open position may be used for taking bear, deer, wild boar or wild turkey. Blunt-type arrowheads may be used in taking small animals and birds, including but not limited to, rabbits,

squirrels, quail, grouse, pheasants. Poisonous, drugged, barbed or explosive arrowheads may not be used for taking any game.

North Dakota Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in North Dakota? Yes

Only arrows with a fixed minimum broadhead width of 7/8 inch or a mech an ically opening broad - head with a minimum width of 7/8 inch in the open position may be used for taking bear, deer, wild boar or wild turkey. Blunt-type arrowheads may be used in taking small animals and birds, including but not limited to, rabbits,squirrels, quail, grouse, pheasants. Poisonous, drugged, barbed or explosive arrowheads may not be used for taking any game.

Ohio Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in North Dakota? Yes

The arrow tip shall have a minimum of two cutting edges which may be exposed or unexposed minimum 3/4 inch width. Expandable and mechanical broadheads are legal. Poisoned or explosive arrows are illegal.

Oklahoma Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Oklahoma? Yes

Arrows / bolts must be fitted with a hunting type point no less than 7/8 inches wide, including mechanical broadheads with this width requirement when fully open.

Oregon Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Oregon? No

Broadhead blades must be fixed, unbarbed and at least 7/8” wide (except for western gray squirrel). It is illegal to hunt with or possess mechanical or moveable blade broadheads when hunting game mammals except western gray squirrel.

Pennsylvania Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Pennsylvania? Yes

Long, recurve, compound bows (minimum draw weight of 35 pounds) or crossbows with broadheads of cutting edge design. Shall have an outside diameter or width of at least 7/8 of an inch with at least two cutting edges located on the same plane throughout the length of the cutting surface. Broadheads shall not exceed three inches in length measured from the tip of the broadhead to the point that fits against the arrow shaft.

Rhode Island Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Rhode Island? Yes

Arrows must be broadhead, with at least two cutting edges seven eighths inches (7/8") or greater at the widest point.

South Carolina Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in South Carolina? Yes

There are no restrictions on draw weight/length, arrow weight/length, or broad head weight, width, or style.

South Dakota Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in South Dakota? Yes, except for elk hunting

Broadheads must be made of metal, must have at least two cutting edges, must have a cutting diameter at least 7/8-inches wide, and except for turkey hunting, must be at least as long as they are wide. An arrow and attached broadhead must weigh a minimum of 275 grains for hunting big game. The use or possession while hunting of explosive, poisonous, hydraulic, pneumatic or barbed points is prohibited. Mechanical broadheads are prohibited from use while elk hunting, and mechanical broadheads with a cutting diameter greater than 2 inches are prohibited for any hunting.

Tennessee Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Tennessee? Yes

Hunting arrows and bolts must be equipped with sharpened broadheads.

Texas Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Texas? Yes

While hunting game animals and game birds, a projectile may not be poisoned, drugged, or explosive. When used to hunt turkey and all game animals other than squirrels, a projectile must be equipped with a broadhead hunting point that is at least 7/8-inch in width (upon impact) and has a minimum of two cutting edges. A mechanical broadhead must begin to open upon impact and, when open, must be a minimum of 7/8-inch in width.

Utah Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Utah? Yes

Your arrowheads must have two or more sharp-cutting edges that cannot pass through a 7/8 inch ring. If you’re using expanding arrowheads, the arrowheads must have two or more sharp-cutting edges that cannot pass through a 7/8 inch ring when expanded. Arrows with chemically treated or explosive arrowheads are prohibited.

Vermont Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Vermont? Yes

It is illegal to use poison or explosive tip arrows.

Virginia Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Virginia? Yes

Broadhead widths must be at least ⅞- inch wide or expand upon impact to ⅞-inch. It is unlawful to use explosive head arrows or arrows to which any drug, chemical, or toxic substance has been added.

Washington Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Washington? No

It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with any arrow or bolt that does not have a sharp broadhead, and the broadhead blade or blades are less than seven-eighths inch wide.

It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with a broadhead blade unless the broadhead is unbarbed and completely closed at the back end of the blade or blades by a smooth, unbroken surface starting at maximum blade width and forming a smooth line toward the feather end of the shaft and such line does not angle toward the point. It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with a retractable broadhead.

West Virginia Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in West Virginia? Yes

It is illegal to hunt deer with arrows having less than two sharp cutting edges, measuring less than ¾ inch in width and use an arrow with an explosive, drug-laced or poisoned head or shaft.

Wisconsin Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Wisconsin? Yes

If used while hunting deer, bows must have a draw weight of 30 pounds or greater, and metal broadheads must be at least 7/8” wide and kept sharp. You may not possess any poison, drug, or explosive-tipped arrow while hunting.

Wyoming Broadhead Hunting Regulations

Are mechanical broadheads legal in Wyoming? Yes