FILED ON: 6/10/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3866

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act relative to the use of crossbows in hunting.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 64 of chapter 131 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 2 and 3, the words "or any crossbow, except as provided in section 69,".

SECTION 2. Said chapter 131 is hereby amended by striking out section 69, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 69. A person shall not carry or use a bow and arrow, or a crossbow or a bolt or arrow with a crossbow, while hunting unless said bow and arrow, or said crossbow and bolt or arrow, meet the requirements of the rules and regulations which shall be promulgated by the director. Such rules and regulations shall prescribe the general design, weight of pull, and type of bows and arrows, and type of crossbows, and bolts and arrows, and shall conform to standards generally accepted for hunting purposes. No person shall use a crossbow for hunting with any projectile, other than a bolt or arrow that meets the applicable requirements as established under this section.