PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY

Pope and Young, along with other archery organizations and hunters, have voiced their opinions on the use of crossbows during archery seasons, and Arizona Game and Fish listened! Now, it’s your turn to make your voices heard to get this important issue across the finish line.

The public comment period for a proposed rule change is currently open. The amended rule aims to establish stricter standards for issuing crossbow permits, ensuring that all applicants have a disability that prevents them from using conventional archery equipment. It also seeks to eliminate specific devices used with crossbows that have contributed to higher success rates compared to hunters using conventional archery equipment.

Key changes include:

• A qualified healthcare provider must certify that an applicant has a disability and identify the physical impairment that substantially limits their ability to use conventional archery equipment.
• Restrictions on the use of magnifying scopes, red dots, and other optics.
• Guidelines on when and who may use external support structures, such as tripods and bipods.

Your input is crucial in shaping this rule. Please take the time to review the proposed changes and submit your comments.

Following the publication of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Arizona Administrative Register on July 11, 2025, the department will accept written comments through Aug. 9, 2025. Comments may be submitted via email to rulemaking@azgfd.gov or through the online form found below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYIhOra-8hsDSgR8mjOmG99pSydNfhvrvufWo8B3zbBRfAtg/viewform

See the full letter submitted from Pope & Young Below:

About Pope and Young:
The Pope and Young Club is North America's leading voice and supporter of bowhunting and related conservation issues and projects. If you are a fair chase, ethical bowhunter, and you care about preserving, protecting, and promoting the culture and future of bowhunting, then you should belong to the Pope and Young Club. Join today at www.pope-young.org