Yes, crossbows are legal in Arizona. You can buy, own, and use one without a permit, registration, or waiting period. Arizona classifies a crossbow as a “deadly weapon” rather than a firearm,1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 13-3101 – Definitions which keeps general ownership simple but brings real consequences in a few specific situations, especially around who can possess one, where you can carry it, and how you can hunt with it.
Why the “Deadly Weapon” Label Matters
Many of Arizona’s weapon statutes apply only to firearms. The unlawful discharge law that makes it a class 6 felony to fire a gun within city limits, for example, does not cover crossbows.2Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 13 Criminal Code 13-3107 So target practice with a crossbow on private property with the landowner’s permission is generally legal in places where firing a rifle would not be.
The flip side is that the “deadly weapon” classification pulls crossbows into the same prohibited-possessor and prohibited-location rules that apply to guns. Treating a crossbow as though it sits in an unregulated gray zone is a misreading of Arizona law.
Who Cannot Own a Crossbow
Arizona’s prohibited possessor law applies to crossbows. You cannot legally possess one if:
- You have a felony conviction and your right to possess weapons has not been restored
- You are serving any term of probation or parole for a felony or domestic violence offense
- A court has found you to be a danger to yourself or others
- You have been found incompetent or guilty except insane3Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 13 Criminal Code 13-3101 – Definitions
A prohibited possessor caught with a crossbow faces a class 4 felony under Arizona’s misconduct involving weapons statute, carrying a presumptive prison sentence of 2.5 years for a first offense.4Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 13-3102 – Misconduct Involving Weapons Defenses Classification Definitions
Where You Cannot Carry One
Two locations are off-limits under state law regardless of who you are. Bringing a crossbow onto K-12 school property is a class 1 misdemeanor, and can rise to a class 6 felony if it involves certain drug or gang offenses. Carrying one into a polling place while voting is underway is also a class 1 misdemeanor.4Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 13-3102 – Misconduct Involving Weapons Defenses Classification Definitions
Beyond those, if the operator of a public establishment or the sponsor of a public event asks you to remove a deadly weapon and you refuse, that refusal itself is a class 1 misdemeanor.4Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 13-3102 – Misconduct Involving Weapons Defenses Classification Definitions Airports carry their own restrictions under federal law.
Hunting Seasons That Allow Crossbows
Hunting is where the rules get specific. You need a valid Arizona hunting license and the correct tag or permit for the species. Crossbows are a legal method of take for big game during general and muzzleloader seasons. They are not legal during archery-only seasons for the general hunting public.5Arizona Game and Fish Department. Arizona Game and Fish Department Crossbow Permit
Using a crossbow outside an authorized season or in a manner not permitted by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission is a class 2 misdemeanor. Knowingly taking big game during a closed season is a class 1 misdemeanor.6Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 17-309 – Violations Classification Minimum draw weight, bolt length, and broadhead cutting width apply to big game hunts; the exact figures are published each year in the AZGFD hunting regulations booklet and should be checked before every season.
The Crossbow Permit for Archery-Only Seasons
Hunters with certain physical disabilities can use a crossbow during archery-only seasons through a crossbow permit issued under Arizona Administrative Code R12-4-216. A healthcare provider has to certify a physical limitation that prevents use of a conventional bow, such as an amputation, spinal cord injury, neuromuscular condition, or a failed functional draw test at 30 pounds of resistance held for four seconds.5Arizona Game and Fish Department. Arizona Game and Fish Department Crossbow Permit Under the current version of the rule, the permit does not expire for permanent disabilities.7Cornell Law Institute. Arizona Admin Code R12-4-216 – Crossbow Permit
That is changing. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission approved rule amendments in September 2025 that will void every existing crossbow permit on July 1, 2026. After that date, the permit becomes annual rather than lifetime, and the medical certification tightens: only M.D.s or D.O.s specializing in musculoskeletal or neuromuscular conditions will be able to certify applicants, and conditions that are simply age- or gender-related are excluded.8Arizona Governor’s Regulatory Review Council. February Final Files – AZGFD Rulemaking R12-4-216 and R12-4-217 If you hold a current permit, plan on reapplying under the new annual system before the 2026-2027 hunting seasons.
A separate permit, the Challenged Hunter Access/Mobility Permit (CHAMP) under R12-4-217, allows broader accommodations, including crossbow use during archery-only seasons plus pre-charged pneumatic weapons and bow-drawing assistive devices. The CHAMP does not expire unless the holder no longer qualifies or has hunting privileges revoked.8Arizona Governor’s Regulatory Review Council. February Final Files – AZGFD Rulemaking R12-4-216 and R12-4-217
Transporting a Crossbow
Arizona hunting regulations require a crossbow to be uncocked whenever it’s transported in a vehicle. Bolts can remain in an attached quiver, but the string must be fully relaxed, not locked in the firing position. A cocked crossbow in a car is both illegal to transport and a genuine hazard, since a sudden stop can be enough to release the string.