WEST virginia legislature

2020 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

Senate Bill 470

Senators Cline, Hamilton, Pitsenbarger, Sypolt, Roberts, and Azinger, original sponsors

[Originating in the Committee on Natural Resources; reported on January 22, 2020]

A BILL to amend and reenact §20-2-5g of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to use of a crossbow to hunt; decreasing length of crossbow; and specifying measurement method.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 2. WILDLIFE RESOURCES.

§20-2-5g. Use of a crossbow to hunt.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, any person lawfully entitled to hunt may hunt with a crossbow during big game firearms season. A person who possesses a valid Class Y permit may also hunt with a crossbow in accordance with §20-2-42w of this code. Further, the director shall designate a separate season for crossbow hunting and identify which species of wildlife may be hunted with a crossbow.

(b) Only crossbows meeting all of the following specifications may be used for hunting in West Virginia:

(1) The crossbow has a minimum draw weight of 125 pounds;

(2) The crossbow has a working safety; and

(3) The crossbow is used with bolts and arrows not less than eighteen 16 inches in length as measured from the leading end of the shaft, including the insert, to the trailing end of the shaft, including the nock, with a broad head having at least two sharp cutting edges, measuring at least three fourths of an inch in width.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to permit the use of bolts and arrows not less than 16 inches with a broad head when hunting with a crossbow.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.