New York Crossbow Coalition President, Rick McDermott, dies in vehicle accident

Albion, N.Y. — Rick McDermott, founder and president of the New York Crossbow Coalition, passed away unexpectedly on June 10 as the result of an automobile accident. He was 66. His wife, Annemarie, 64, also perished in the accident, which occurred on State Route 104 in the town of Albion, according the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office. 

McDermott was a tireless advocate for crossbow hunting expansion in New York. The NYCC was directly involved in the 2014 changes that established the current crossbow seasons in the state. He was also a founding member of the New York Sportsmen’s Advisory Council, and was the current Vice-Chairman as well as past Chairman. 

“It is tough to lose a friend. Rick and I had a close working relationship for many years and spent a lot of hours in Albany meeting with legislators on a variety of issues,” fellow Advisory Council member Larry Becker said. “Rick leaves several voids related to legislation, particularly when it comes to the Crossbow Coalition and his related efforts, he also leaves a big void on our New York Sportsmen’s Advisory Council.” 

In 2014, McDermott was inducted into the New York Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame.

Friends report that McDermott had recently retired from his full time job as a contractor and that his goal was to spend more time in Albany. Just days before his passing, McDermott continued to monitor the situation regarding two legislative items pertaining to crossbows, updating members of the Crossbow Coalition and encouraging members disappointed with a lack of movement on the legislation to continue to express their opinions and desires to political leaders.  

If passed, S3191/A2940 would allow hunters over the age of 55, junior hunters and those with disabilities to hunt with crossbows during the archery season. The bill remained in committee.

However, another crossbow bill, S5802/A6815 that would allow hunters over the age of 60 to use a crossbow during a special season, passed the Senate on June 8, the final day of the 2023 session, but remained in the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee. 

“If more people had the knowledge, passion and desire for full inclusion of crossbows in archery season displayed by Rick McDermott, the outdoors would be enjoyed by many hunters from age 12 through the ranks of the elderly,” fellow NYCC member Steve Zahurak said. 

New York Outdoor News Contributing writer Bill Hilts Jr., who along with his father, Bill Sr., were early crossbow advocates in New York, fondly remembered McDermott, saying he was “as passionate as they come and his untimely loss will be felt for years down the road. He was the perfect person to lead the charge for the crossbow movement.”

“I enjoyed working with him through the years. I was able to really get to know him at the World Fishing Expo, in Suffern, as he purposely jockeyed for a booth position to be next to our Lake Ontario Sportfishing booth and share a crock-pot and cooker meals of a wide variety of wild game treats,” Hilts said. “We all lost a true outdoor champion. I lost a friend. May you rest in peace.”

Several sportsman acknowledge that McDermott’s loss will be felt beyond the crossbow issue. 

“Rick was a champion for all of the things we collectively hold dear as New York sportsmen and women,” Becker said, “and his absence from the halls in Albany will create another significant void.”