Why is crossbow hunting forbidden in France?

In France, while it is allowed to hunt with a bow, provided of course that you hold a traditional hunting license and have completed the JFO (Mandatory Training Day), it is however strictly forbidden to hunt with a crossbow.

Why such a difference? We explain everything to you!

Respect for the legal framework and control of regulations

Even if one might think that these are similar weapons and therefore both allowed, while bow hunting is permitted in France, the use of a crossbow in this context is strictly forbidden.

In France, the Environmental Code (article L.424-4) prohibits any form of hunting with unauthorized weapons, as is the case for crossbows.

On the other hand, bow hunting being legally regulated, it is authorized. It should be noted that bow hunting has a traditional and ancestral character, which is not the case for crossbows.

To hunt with a bow, in addition to holding your hunting license, it is imperative to have completed specific training during the Mandatory Training Day (JFO).

During this day, participants discover the different types of bows, blades, equipment used, but above all they learn the ethical rules and safety of this millennia-old practice and thus obtain their validation.

Why the bow, but not the crossbow?

These are therefore reasons primarily of a legislative nature as we mentioned earlier, but not only!

If crossbow hunting is forbidden in France, it's also for historical reasons, safety, but also ethical reasons, respecting animal welfare.

Historical reasons

As we've discussed, bow hunting is an ancestral and traditional practice that enjoys ethical and responsible recognition.

This is not the case for the crossbow, which is perceived as a weapon of war, far from having the historical legitimacy of the bow in terms of hunting.

Safety reasons

Even if crossbows are equipped with an "anti-shot" safety that blocks the trigger when the bolt is in place and ready to fire, handling it requires less physical effort than that of a bow.

It is this mechanical retention of the string that is particularly considered dangerous: the armed position should only be due to the strength of its user

The power of crossbows also allows shots at longer distances than bows, which could be dangerous if the shooter misses their target.

Ethics and respect for animal welfare

Mastering a hunting compound bow is a true discipline.

This is particularly the case for traditional bows which will require hours of practice and training to manage to integrate all the fundamentals.

This aspect contributes to the ethical side of the discipline

It's also a proximity hunt because bow hunting is generally practiced between 10 and 20m.

The hunter, being closer to the animal, can perfectly evaluate the shooting distance as well as the area to shoot to be certain not to wound it, but to kill it.

Even though it is more powerful than a bow and can inflict lethal injuries, the crossbow is seen as less sporting and more "risky" for the animal:

• Its highly mechanized operation makes the crossbow less dependent on the skill of its user than the bow,
• It allows shooting at longer distances, increasing the risk of inaccurate shots and non-lethal injuries.

As you will have understood, the crossbow unfortunately does not have the noble status of the bow and this is one of the reasons why in France, the legal framework has excluded it.

It is considered less sporting and more dangerous for the public, as well as for the game.

While it's forbidden in France, know that in other countries, hunting with a crossbow is a very common practice, as is the case in Canada for example. 

You can also always treat yourself with a beautiful hunting crossbow, precise and powerful from our catalog to practice at home!