Laws and regulations

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The laws and regulations regarding crossbows, archery bows and blowguns differ by country. Down below, you will find a brief overview of what is known to us. We are not sure whether this information is correct or not. Please do your own research to be sure that the product you are buying is legal in your country. We deny any responsibility for direct or indirect damage of any nature that may arise from the information on this page.

Austria

Hunting with archery bows is forbidden

Belgium

Hunting with archery bows is forbidden

Bulgaria

Fishing and hunting with crossbows or archery bows is forbidden

Croatia

Hunting with archery bows is allowed at some private and fenced grounds
Hunting with crossbows is forbidden unless a special law states differently

Czech Republic

Posession of crossbows requires no licence
Posession of crossbows is legal for persons aged 18 years or over
It is not allowed to wear crossbows visibly
Crossbows can be used at private places (where is no danger to health or property), at licensed shooting ranges and at visibly marked places over-sighted by a designated person

Denmark

Importing a crossbow without a license is prohibited
Hunting with crossbows is forbidden
Hunting with archery bows is allowed up to and including roe deer, archers must pass a bowhunting exam

Germany

Acquisition, possession, trade or production of crossbows requires no license
Crossbows can be used by minors under custody of competent adults
Fishing and hunting with crossbows or archery bows is forbidden
Posession and use of blowguns is allowed

Estonia

Buying crossbows is legal for persons aged 18 years or over
Since 2019 there is no longer a maximum allowed draw weight for crossbows
Hunting with crossbows or archery bows is forbidden

Finland

Hunting with crossbows is forbidden
Hunting with archery bows is allowed
Posession of crossbows or archery bows requires no licence, in other legal aspects a crossbow is parrallel to an air gun

France

Hunting with archery bows is allowed, but an education program is mandatory for each archer

Greece

Right now, we do not have information about the laws and regulations in Greece

Hungary

Hunting with crossbows is forbidden
Hunting with archery bows is allowed, archers must pass a bowhunting exam

Ireland

Posession of crossbows requires a licence
Possession, trade and production of blowguns is not allowed

Italy

In nearly all regions small-game hunting with archery bows is allowed, wild boar hunting is only allowed in Tuscany and Lombardia

Latvia

Right now, we do not have information about the laws and regulations in Latvia

Lithuania

Crossbows with a draw weight higher than 500N (roughly 110 LBS) are illegal
Hunting with crossbows or archery bows is forbidden

Luxembourg

Right now, we do not have information about the laws and regulations in Luxembourg

The Netherlands

Posession and acquisition of crossbows is legal for persons aged 18 years or over
Carrying crossbows in public is forbidden
When transporting, crossbows must be packaged in such a way that they are not available for immediate use
Posession and use of archery bows is allowed
Posession and use of blowguns is allowed
Fishing and hunting with crossbows, archery bows or blowguns is forbidden

Norway

It is prohibited to acquire or own crossbows without the permission of the chief of police, there is an age limit of 18 years to obtain such a permit
Blowguns are forbidden

Poland

Crossbows are considered equivalent to firearms
Posession of crossbows requires a licence
Hunting with crossbows is technically legal, however crossbow licences are usually issued for collecting purposes only

Portugal

Hunting with archery bows is allowed, but archers must have completed the International Bowhunter Education Program (IBEP)

Romania

Hunting with archery bows is forbidden

Slovakia

Hunting with archery bows is forbidden

Slovenia

Hunting with archery bows is allowed at small fenced grounds, but forbidden in free nature and at large grounds

Spain

Posession of crossbows requires a licence
Hunting with archery bows is allowed upward of 50 LBS draw weight, archers must have completed the International Bowhunter Education Program (IBEP)

Sweden

Crossbows are considered equivalent to firearms
Posession of crossbows requires a licence
Hunting with crossbows is forbidden
Archery bows are regulated in the same way as low powered air rifles (less than 10 joules)

United Kingdom

Posession of crossbows requires no licence or registration
Buying and selling crossbows is legal for persons aged 18 years or over
Posession and use of crossbows by persons aged 17 years or under is legal under supervision of a person aged 21 years or over
Hunting with crossbows or archery bows is forbidden
Possession, trade or production of blowguns is not allowed