California Code of Regulations › Title 14 - Natural Resources › Division 1 - Fish and Game Commission-Department of Fish and Game › Subdivision 2 - Game, Furbearers, Nongame, and Depredators › Chapter 3 - Big Game › Section 354 - Archery Equipment and Crossbow Regulations

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Bow, as used in these regulations, means
				  any device consisting of a flexible material having a string connecting its two
				  ends and used to propel an arrow held in a firing position by hand only. Bow,
				  includes long bow, recurve or compound bow.
(b) Crossbow, as used in these regulations
				  means any device consisting of a bow or cured latex band or other flexible
				  material (commonly referred to as a linear bow) affixed to a stock, or any bow
				  that utilizes any device attached directly or indirectly to the bow for the
				  purpose of keeping a crossbow bolt, an arrow or the string in a firing
				  position. Except as provided in subsection
				  354(j), a
				  crossbow is not archery equipment and cannot be used during the archery deer
				  season.
(c) 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. For
				  the taking of migratory game birds, resident small game, furbearers and nongame
				  mammals and birds any arrow or crossbow bolt may be used except as prohibited
				  by subsection (d) below. Notwithstanding the general prohibition of the use of
				  lights in Fish and Game Code section
				  2005,
				  arrows or crossbow bolts with lighted nocks that do not emit a directional beam
				  of light may be used.
(d) No arrows
				  or crossbow bolt with an explosive head or with any substance which would
				  tranquilize or poison any animal may be used. No arrows or crossbow bolt
				  without flu-flu fletching may be used for the take of pheasants and migratory
				  game birds, except for provisions of section
				  507(a)(2).
(e) No arrow or crossbow bolt may be released
				  from a bow or crossbow upon or across any highway, road or other way open to
				  vehicular traffic.
(f) It shall be
				  unlawful to use any bow or crossbow without a draw weight of at least 30 pounds
				  for a bow or 125 pounds for a cross bow.
(g) Except as described in subsection
				  354(j), crossbows
				  may not be used to take game birds and game mammals during archery
				  seasons.
(h) Archers may not use or
				  possess a firearm while in the field engaged in archery hunting during an
				  archery season or while hunting during a general season under the provisions of
				  an archery only tag except as provided in subsections (h)(1) or (h)(2).
(1) An archer may carry a firearm capable of
				  being concealed on his or her person while engaged in the taking of big game
				  other than deer with a bow and arrow in accordance with subdivision (h), but
				  shall not take or attempt to take big game with the firearm.
(2) Nothing in this section shall prohibit
				  the lawful possession of a firearm capable of being concealed on his or her
				  person by an active peace officer listed in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with
				  Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the
				  Penal Code or a retired peace officer in lawful possession of an identification
				  certificate issued pursuant to Penal Code Section
				  25455
				  authorizing the retired officer to carry a concealed
				  firearm.