New York hunters who cannot draw and hold a bow because of a permanent or temporary physical disability can use a bow fitted with a mechanical device to draw, hold and release the string. This one-page DEC form is the authorization: the hunter fills in Section 1, a licensed physician certifies the disability and its duration in Section 2, and the hunter carries the completed form while hunting.
The hunter completes, signs and dates Section 1. A licensed physician completes Section 2 with name, license number, address and phone, checks one duration, and signs that the patient is incapable of drawing and holding a bow due to a physical disability.
Download the current version from the source each time; forms change without notice.
Modified Longbow Authorization
A form is listed only after its name and number were confirmed on the issuing agency’s or insurer’s own website, or in the form itself. Each entry links to that source. The list was last checked in October 2026. Forms and their requirements change without notice, so check the official page for the current version before you complete one.
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No. The form states that it does not need to be returned to or reviewed by DEC. Once Section 1 and the physician's Section 2 are complete, the hunter carries it while hunting along with a current-year hunting license and, for big game, the bowhunting privilege.
Yes. DEC's page covers a permanent or temporary physical disability verified by a licensed physician. For a temporary condition, the physician checks a 1-year, 3-year or 5-year duration, and the authorization expires with it. A permanent disability is marked for a lifetime.