Minimum draw weight by state generally runs 30 to 50 pounds for vertical bows and 75 to 125 pounds or more for crossbows when hunting big game, though a handful of states set no legal floor at all and several use a tiered system that raises the requirement for larger animals. The exact number turns on two things: which state you’re hunting in and which species you’re after. Check the current hunting guide before every season, because these figures change more often than most hunters expect.
What Draw Weight the Law Actually Measures
Draw weight is the peak force, in pounds, needed to pull a bowstring to full draw. On a compound bow that peak hits partway through the draw cycle, before the cams roll over and the holding weight drops off. Every state minimum refers to that peak number, not the lighter holding weight you feel at full draw. Recurves and longbows have no let-off, so the heaviest point is at full extension, measured at a standard 28-inch draw length. If your personal draw length is shorter than 28 inches, the weight you actually pull is less than the bow’s rated poundage, and the legal minimum applies to what you pull.
State wildlife agencies set these floors so arrows carry enough energy for a clean kill on the animal being hunted. Game wardens enforce them in the field, sometimes with a portable bow scale during a routine check.
Common Minimums for Vertical Bows
Across most states, the minimum for big game lands between 35 and 40 pounds. A few examples show the range:
- Alabama recently lowered its deer minimum from 35 to 30 pounds.1Outdoor Alabama. ADCNR Announces Revised Archery Regulation
- Arkansas requires 35 pounds for longbows, recurves, and compounds used on deer.2Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Deer-Specific Hunting Regulations
- Pennsylvania sets a 35-pound floor for bows during deer season.3Pennsylvania Code. 58 Pa. Code 141.43 – Deer Seasons
- Colorado requires 35 pounds for all big game species.4Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Chapter W-2 Big Game – Manner of Take
- Oregon sets 40 pounds for deer, pronghorn, black bear, cougar, elk, bighorn sheep, and Rocky Mountain goat.5Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Legal Hunting Methods and Weapon Restrictions
- Ohio requires 40 pounds for longbows used on deer.6Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Administrative Code 1501:31-15-11 – Deer Regulations
Oklahoma splits its rule by bow type: compound bows must pull at least 30 pounds, while recurves and longbows must hit 40. That distinction matters if you shoot traditional equipment and assume all vertical bows are treated alike.
States That Tier the Minimum by Species
Several states raise the required poundage as the animal gets bigger. Alaska is the clearest case. You need at least 40 pounds of peak draw for black-tailed deer, black bear, caribou, Dall sheep, wolf, and wolverine. The floor climbs to 50 pounds for moose, elk, mountain goat, brown and grizzly bear, musk ox, and bison.7Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Alaska Code 5 AAC 92.085 – Unlawful Methods of Taking Big Game
Wyoming works the same way: 40 pounds for deer, antelope, bighorn sheep, black bear, mountain lion, mountain goat, and gray wolf, rising to 50 pounds for moose and elk. Tiered rules reflect real differences in hide thickness and bone density. A broadhead that reliably reaches a whitetail’s vitals at 40 pounds may not do the same on a bull moose.
States With No Minimum Draw Weight
Not every state sets a floor. Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, South Carolina, and Texas all allow vertical bows of any draw weight for big game. Georgia’s bowhunting equipment table lists the draw weight minimum as “not restricted.”8Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division. Georgia Bowhunting Equipment Regulations Missouri recommends 40 pounds or greater but does not require it by law.9Missouri Department of Conservation. Basic Archery Equipment
No legal minimum does not mean anything goes in practice. A bow pulling 25 pounds is unlikely to drive a broadhead through a deer’s chest cavity at hunting distances, and wounding an animal you can’t recover can still bring charges under wanton waste laws. If your state has no poundage floor, 40 pounds is a sensible practical baseline for deer-sized game, more for anything larger.
Crossbow Minimums (and a Few Maximums)
Crossbows work differently. Because the power stroke is much shorter than a vertical bow’s draw, a crossbow needs far more peak weight to produce comparable arrow energy. Most states that regulate crossbow poundage set the minimum between 75 and 150 pounds.
- Ohio requires 75 pounds for crossbows used on deer, among the lowest crossbow thresholds in the country.6Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Administrative Code 1501:31-15-11 – Deer Regulations
- Alaska requires at least 100 pounds of peak draw for any crossbow used on big game.10Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Alaska Crossbow Education Course
- Pennsylvania sets 125 pounds for crossbow deer hunting.3Pennsylvania Code. 58 Pa. Code 141.43 – Deer Seasons
A few states also cap crossbow draw weight on the high end. Illinois, New York, and Ohio each set a 200-pound ceiling. If you’re shopping for a high-performance crossbow, check whether your state has an upper limit before buying a model that exceeds it.
Checking Your Bow Before the Season
If your state sets a minimum, you need to know exactly where your bow sits. The standard tool is a bow scale, a spring or digital gauge that hooks onto the string and reads peak force as you draw. On a compound, pull through the full cycle and note the highest reading before let-off. On a recurve or longbow, the measurement is taken at 28 inches.
Most archery pro shops will scale a bow for free or a small fee. Getting it checked before opening day is cheap insurance, because limb bolts on compound bows loosen over time and after transport, and peak weight can drop several pounds with no visible sign. If a warden’s scale reads under the minimum, you’re looking at a citation for illegal equipment, possible confiscation of the animal, and in most states a misdemeanor charge.