Hunters must possess a valid hunting license and a crossbow stamp, available free of charge at any authorized hunting and fishing license vendor or online through E-license, when hunting with a crossbow. Those hunting under a DNR-issued crossbow permit for hunters with disabilities do need this stamp as part of their hunting license.

The requirement of a free crossbow stamp is designed to help the Department of Natural Resources build a database to conduct surveys. The surveys will help evaluate the effectiveness of crossbows in helping recruit new hunters, retain older hunters, and whether they increase the harvest rates of deer.

To get your stamp online through the E-license site:

1. Certify that you are obtaining a license for yourself or a minor.
2. Log in using a valid form of customer identification.
3. At the list of available E-License items, use the + to the left of the Crossbow category to pull up the crossbow stamp, Item #800.
4. Complete any other purchases.
5. Check out.
6. Print the stamp.

To get the crossbow stamp from a license vendor, go to any store authorized to sell Michigan hunting and fishing licenses and request the free stamp. It is item #800.