Section 354 - Archery Equipment and Crossbow Regulations, Cal. Code Regs. tit. 14 § 354 (2024)

Section 354 - Archery Equipment and Crossbow Regulations

(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.

(i) No person may nock or fit the notch in the end of an arrow to a bowstring or crossbow string in a ready-to-fire position while in or on any vehicle.

(j) Upon application to the department, the department may issue a Disabled Archer Permit, free of any charge or fee, to any person with a physical disability, as defined in 354(k), which prevents him/her from being able to draw and hold a bow in a firing position. The Disabled Archer Permit authorizes the disabled archer to use a crossbow or device which holds a string and arrow in the firing position to assist in the taking of birds and mammals under the conditions of an archery tag or during archery season.

(1) Applications for a Disabled Archer Permit as specified in Section 702 shall be submitted to the department at the address specified on the application and shall include:

(A) Applicant's name

(B) Applicant's physical address

(C) Applicant's date of birth

(D) Applicant's Driver's License or DMV Number

(E) Applicant's telephone number

(F) Applicant's signature

(G) Medical Physician's name

(H) Medical Physician's business address

(I) Medical Physician's business telephone number

(J) Medical Physician's State medical license number

(K) A description of the disabled archer's disability. The physician shall designate if the disability is permanent or temporary. If the disability is temporary, shall provide date the disability is expected to end.

(L) Medical Physician's signature

(N) Signature of the authorizing department employee and date issued

(2) Proof of meeting eligibility requirements may be met by providing a previously issued Disabled Archer Permit when the disability is still in effect.

(3) The valid Disabled Archer Permit shall be in the archer's immediate possession while hunting and shall be shown on demand to any person authorized to enforce this regulation.

(4) The Disabled Archer Permit is valid beginning July 1 through June 30 of the following year or if issued after July 1 of the license year, it is valid beginning on the date issued through to the following June 30. For any person with a permanent disability, the permit is valid through the end of the license year. A Disabled Archer Permit for a permit holder with a temporary disability that ends prior to the end of the license year is valid only through the date specified by his/her physician.

(k) For the purposes of this section a physical disability means, a person having a permanent loss, significant limitation, or diagnosed disease or disorder, which substantially impairs one or both upper extremities preventing a hunter to draw and hold a bow in a firing position.

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 14, § 354

1. Amendment of subsections (a) and (f) filed 6-24-85 as an emergency; effective upon filing (Register 85, No. 27). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL within 120 days or emergency language will be repealed on 10-22-85.
2. Notice of Erroneous Filing declaring 6-24-85 Certificate of Compliance null and void filed 7-2-85 (Register 85, No. 27).
3. Amendment filed 9-27-85; effective tenth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 39).
4. Amendment of subsection (d) filed 10-11-85; effective upon filing (Register 85, No. 44).
5. Certificate of Compliance as to 6-24-85 order transmitted to OAL 9-30-85 and filed 11-1-85 (Register 85, No. 44).
6. Amendment of subsections (b) and (c) filed 6-22-87; operative 6-22-87 (Register 87, No. 27).
7. Amendment of subsection (c) filed 10-15-90 as an emergency; operative 10-15-90 (Register 90, No. 46). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 2-12-91 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
8. Reinstatement of section as it existed prior to emergency amendment filed 10-15-90 by operation of Government Code section 11346.1(f) (Register 91, No. 49).
9. Amendment of subsection (f) and NOTE and new subsection (i) filed 7-8-92; operative 7-8-92 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 215 (Register 92, No. 28).
10. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (d) filed 7-24-2001 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2001, No. 30).
11. Amendment of subsection (c) filed 6-24-2003; operative 7-1-2003 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2003, No. 26).
12. Amendment of subsections (b) and (g)-(h) and new subsection (j) filed 7-7-2004; operative 7-7-2004 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2004, No. 28).
13. Amendment of subsection (j) and new subsections (j)(1)-(k) filed 7-19-2005; operative 7-19-2005 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2005, No. 29).
14. Amendment of subsection (j)(1), repealer of subsection (j)(1)(E), subsection relettering, amendment of newly designated subsection (j)(1)(K), new subsection (j)(2), repealer of former subsection (j)(3), renumbering of former subsection (j)(2) to (j)(3) and new subsection (j)(4) filed 7-8-2011; operative 7-8-2011 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2011, No. 27).
15. Amendment of subsections (c) and (h) and amendment of NOTE filed 6-25-2013; operative 7-1-2013 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 202 (Register 2013, No. 26).
16. Repealer and new subsections (f) and (h), new subsections (h)(1)-(2) and amendment of NOTE filed 6-26-2019; operative 7-1-2019 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 265 (Register 2019, No. 26).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 200, 203, 240 and 265, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 200, 203, 203.1, 265, 2005 and 4370, Fish and Game Code.

1. Amendment of subsections (a) and (f) filed 6-24-85 as an emergency; effective upon filing (Register 85, No. 27). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL within 120 days or emergency language will be repealed on 10-22-85.
2. Notice of Erroneous Filing declaring 6-24-85 Certificate of Compliance null and void filed 7-2-85 (Register 85, No. 27).
3. Amendment filed 9-27-85; effective tenth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 39).
4. Amendment of subsection (d) filed 10-11-85; effective upon filing (Register 85, No. 44).
5. Certificate of Compliance as to 6-24-85 order transmitted to OAL 9-30-85 and filed 11-1-85 (Register 85, No. 44).
6. Amendment of subsections (b) and (c) filed 6-22-87; operative 6-22-87 (Register 87, No. 27).
7. Amendment of subsection (c) filed 10-15-90 as an emergency; operative 10-15-90 (Register 90, No. 46). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 2-12-91 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
8. Reinstatement of section as it existed prior to emergency amendment filed 10-15-90 by operation of Government Code section 11346.1(f) (Register 91, No. 49).
9. Amendment of subsection (f) and Note and new subsection (i) filed 7-8-92; operative 7-8-92 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 215 (Register 92, No. 28).
10. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (d) filed 7-24-2001 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2001, No. 30).
11. Amendment of subsection (c) filed 6-24-2003; operative 7-1-2003 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2003, No. 26).
12. Amendment of subsections (b) and (g)-(h) and new subsection (j) filed 7-7-2004; operative 7-7-2004 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2004, No. 28).
13. Amendment of subsection (j) and new subsections (j)(1)-(k) filed 7-19-2005; operative 7-19-2005 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2005, No. 29).
14. Amendment of subsection (j)(1), repealer of subsection (j)(1)(E), subsection relettering, amendment of newly designated subsection (j)(1)(K), new subsection (j)(2), repealer of former subsection (j)(3), renumbering of former subsection (j)(2) to (j)(3) and new subsection (j)(4) filed 7-8-2011; operative 7-8-2011 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2011, No. 27).
15. Amendment of subsections (c) and (h) and amendment of Note filed 6-25-2013; operative 7-1-2013 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 202 (Register 2013, No. 26).
16. Repealer and new subsections (f) and (h), new subsections (h)(1)-(2) and amendment of Note filed 6-26-2019; operative 7/1/2019 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 265 (Register 2019, No. 26).