what does your state say? In texas it says nothing but EVEN a felon can use a muzzleloader during season

In NY, a  convicted felon cannot possess a firearm...but he/she can hunt with a muzzle loader(not considered a firearm?) or bow.
That being said, I work for a State Park, and within those boundries, even a bb gun is considered a "firearm".

Are you looking for legal definition in a civil sense or criminal? Asking about hunting limitations?

Alaska considers a bow a weapon from a civil sense. Areas that have "no discharge of weapons" boarders include bows.

Criminal sense an object used to inflict harm is a weapon in every state and at the federal level. From a log to a Minni 14, a fork to a machete you hit someone with it and in a criminal sense your guilty of battery with a weapon.(assault is the threat not action)

Personal perspective of course it's a weapon, one of the most influential in the history of man.

I do not remember the case law; but I do remember an opinion that due to the accuracy and ease of use of in-line muzzleloaders; convicted felons may now not possess or hunt with them anymore. State or Federal I do not remember; but I believe it was a federal parole decision.

Most of the felons I know could care less what the laws are.  Having said that, bows are not firearms and do not fall under the disability act.  Firearms "of modern design" do.

Actually Brian the Federal rule is no inlines that use 209 primers as for they are considered possession of ammunition. Inlines that use #11 primers are legal.

In some states depending on the code and felony conviction possession even of a sidelock is illegal. You need to check with your individual state law.

Bows as weapons vary from state to state also.

Here's another spin on the title of this thread.

If my bow and quiver with broadhead tipped arrows are within my reach when a "Bad Guy" breaks into my home, you better belive that that "Bad Guy" is going to get himself ventilated just as fast from my bow or if I had my .44 Mag in reach.

Well Said! recurve 50  

I shoot my bow more accurate than my pistol. BUT I probably shoot it more..1000 to 1.RC

I love my bows but I honestly do not think of them in terms of home defense. A cheap and easy tool for that job is a "hallway cleaner". A 12guage shotgun. Even if you do not shoot just starring down the tube will convince most unwanted people to leave. I know if I would be that unwanted person and heard the action of an 870 Rem I would be out of there.

Re curve 50, if you can hold as tight a group at 30 yards with a 44mag as I can with a bow your a remarkable marksman!

Coffee
Yes a scatter gun is a much more realistic choice but if he should make it out the door.....?

I thought I was going to use a bow as a weapon in one instance...a true story. It was the 2004 archery season here in Wyoming and it was about 4:30am. I am alone, no one else left in camp, they'd gone home the day before.  I had killed, cleaned, and hung a deer about 60 yards from my tent. I was awakened by a tremendous racket, a sound of glass clanging along with a sort of snorting noise...could it be a bear? As I said, it's 4:30am and I'm only about half awake.
   I sprang off my cot, fumbled around to find my bow and an arrow, then go charging out the front of my cabin tent wearing nothing but a pair of underwear.
I was unsure of what the intruder was but I was as armed as I could be with the bow because I had nothing else to use.
   It turned out to be three moose that walked through my camp, so close to the front of my tent that apparently one of them tripped over one of the tent ropes, shaking the tent and rattling the lantern that was hanging from the ridgepole. Scared the s%#t out of me.
   After thinking about it I realized that while our bows are wonderful hunting tools, they are poor defense tools. For a few seconds there I'd have given anything for a 30/30 or a .44 mag.

That rule about the 209 being illegal but a No 11 percusion is not, is rediculous.  I would like to know who makes these dumb laws up.  
I guess I am still not sure where this is going.
I think everybody should talk to someone who knows the laws about how to handle intruders in your house, because you could end up in big trouble if you don't handle it correctly.
For instance if they make it out of your house you better not shoot them or you will prolly go to jail.

That sounds kind of hostile but I don't meen it like that.  I was just very surprised to find out what you can and can't do myself. Pretty important stuff that you prolly won't know if you don't ask.

Mo Huntin
Look into Alaska's home defence laws, we don't screw around when it comes to intruders in the house or not!

No need for me bud I will never get to live there.  I can see you have checked on it for your area and that is just what everyone should do. Around here you can't kill someone unless you can prove you are in fear for your life which would not mean someone trying to escape running through your back yard.

If I have an intruder in the house, I'm not going to stop and think about the finer points of the law. Survival comes first!! I'll worry about the law when my wife and I are safe.

A shotgun is the ultimate- he won't make it out the door! Nothing will immobilize better or kill quicker at close range. Having had a murder next door, I think about these things.

This one is done...not trad bowhunting related. Thanks for your understanding.