A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 20.1-01-34 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to deer hunting with a crossbow.

69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Introduced by Dale Patten and 2 co-sponsors

Expands crossbow use in ND deer seasons: licensed gun-deer hunters may use crossbows in gun seasons; 75+ hunters with a bow license may use crossbows in bow seasons.

Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 15 nays 32

Brief purpose

SB 2197 would amend North Dakota Century Code § 20.1‑01‑34 to broaden legal crossbow use in deer seasons. Its intent is to (1) allow any licensed deer gun hunter to use a crossbow during deer gun season, and (2) allow hunters age 75 or older to use a crossbow during deer bow season if they hold the appropriate deer bow license.

Key provisions

Amends NDCC 20.1‑01‑34 (Crossbow legal weapon).

New subsection 1: An individual may use a crossbow during any deer gun season if they possess the appropriate deer gun license.

New subsection 2: An individual older than 75 may use a crossbow during any deer bow season if they possess the appropriate deer bow license.

Reenacts the section with these changes (no other statutory changes in the text provided).

Who would be affected

Deer hunters in North Dakota:

All holders of deer gun licenses would be permitted to use crossbows during gun seasons.
Hunters aged 76+ holding deer bow licenses would be permitted to use crossbows during bow seasons.

North Dakota Game and Fish Department: rulemaking, enforcement guidance, license form information.

Law enforcement and wildlife officers: responsible for on‑the‑ground enforcement and season compliance.

Hunting interests and safety advocates: potential changes to season structure, safety guidance, and harvest monitoring.

Potential impacts and considerations

Accessibility: increases options for hunters who rely on crossbows for physical or mobility reasons (especially older hunters).

Hunting dynamics and harvest: allowing crossbows in gun season could change harvest rates or hunter behavior; biological/management implications would depend on harvest data.

Safety: crossbows differ in ballistic characteristics from vertical bows; agencies may consider communication/training or regulations to address safety.

Fiscal: bill text contains no appropriation. Administrative impacts likely limited to guidance updates and possible enforcement monitoring; no explicit fiscal estimates provided.

Procedural / timeline information (as provided)

Introduced: March 11, 2025.

Read first time: March 24, 2025; referred to State Affairs (per supplied record).

Reported actions in the supplied record are inconsistent (the supplied file also shows “Died in Committee” and a status line “Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 15 nays 32”). According to the top summary you provided, the bill’s status is: Second reading — failed to pass (yeas 15, nays 32).

Sponsors (per the ND bill header): Senators Schaible, Patten, Weber (introduced). A companion bill is listed as HB 4309.

Note: The materials you provided also include text from an unrelated Illinois SB 2197 (criminal registry changes). This summary is limited to the North Dakota SB 2197 concerning crossbow use in deer seasons.

Bill