WEST virginia legislature
2019 regular session
Introduced
House Bill 3032
By Delegates Cadle, Cooper, Howell, Harshbarger, Hott, Westfall, Sponaugle, Linville and Porterfield
[Introduced February 12,
2019; Referred
to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources then the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §20-2-5g of the Code of West Virginia,1931, as amended, relating to modifying the types of bolts and arrows that may be used in crossbow hunting.
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 article 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.