Late last month, New York passed a law that made crossbows legally equivalent to other archery equipment for hunters in the state. For years, crossbow hunters were limited to a shorter portion of the season that came after the regular archery opener. With this change, crossbows are finally recognized as a regular part of archery season. This has sparked both excitement in the outdoor community and, as always, debate.
Debate and controversy are nothing new when it comes to crossbows. I’ve heard all the common jabs: “might as well just use a gun,” or “that’s the easy route,” and I hate to admit that I used to agree with those sentiments. As a compound bow hunter, my perspective was that crossbows should only be permitted for those who physically couldn’t draw a bow anymore—like my dad. A few years ago, he had to get a doctor’s note in Massachusetts to qualify for a crossbow permit after an injury. To me, that was the only “acceptable” scenario for their use, but it was also my only experience being around crossbows. Then one hunt completely changed my outlook.
Last year, a friend invited me to mentor at an all-women’s hunt. I was so excited to be invited for the opportunity to mentor women new to hunting, but then she dropped the caveat: it was going to be a crossbow hunt. I might not have told her how I felt, but I am sure my face did. After talking back and forth, I hesitated, but eventually agreed, telling myself that my goal is to bring more women into the hunting community. I had to set my bias aside and give it a fair shot.
When the weekend arrived, I drove four hours to western New York and dove in. As mentors, we were given hands-on training with crossbows. We spoke with the president of the New York State Crossbow Coalition. I tried to keep an open mind, reminding myself that if I expect our community to tackle controversial conversations, I have to be willing to do the same. At the end of the first day, it was not the mechanics or the lobbying points that changed my mind; it was the women themselves. When I asked the new hunters why they chose this hunt, why now, their answers struck me. Many said compound bows felt intimidating or firearms weren’t appealing, but they still wanted to try to hunt. The crossbow, for them, was a gateway: a way to step into the outdoors that felt approachable and doable.
Since then, I’ve continued to bring up crossbows in conversation and it isn’t always well received. I still don’t plan to hunt with one myself, but I now find myself advocating for their place in the field because I’ve seen firsthand how they open the door for new hunters.
One of those hunters is my fellow ADC sister, Abbi Ottman. Abbi is a self-taught, adult-onset hunter who began her journey with a crossbow:
“I started hunting in 2020 to help get me outdoors more and fill our freezer. The only person in my family who hunts is my stepdad, and he hunts firearm season. I knew I wanted to bow hunt, but the complexities of compound bows felt overwhelming—too many accessories, too costly, and no one to teach me. The crossbow was the perfect option. It was affordable, uncomplicated, and got me in the woods right away. That first season I harvested one doe, and I was hooked. I fell in love with hunting because of my crossbow. It gave me the confidence to branch out into other methods—shotgun, firearm, and now recurve. It was the gateway I needed.”
Stories like Abbi’s are why I’ve changed my mind. Crossbows aren’t “cheating.” They’re a bridge, helping more people—especially women—find their way into the outdoors. And isn’t that what we want? More people learning, growing, and protecting the traditions we hold dear?
We don’t all have to hunt the same way, and we won’t all agree on every method. But if there’s one thing this experience has taught me, it’s the value of keeping an open mind. When we make space for controversial conversations without shutting each other down, we don’t just grow as hunters we grow as a community.
