There is a crossbow FAQ on the DEC website at:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/68802.htmlNote that use is limited to the "regular" season statewide and the southern zone late archery/muzzleloading season and you can't use a crossbow in an "archery only" area.
If you look, there are a variety of option for what tag to use. You will be able to use your unfilled regular season tag for either antlered or anterless deer in the late archery/muzzleloading season along with deer management permits ("doe tag"), deer management assistance permits (DMAP) and either a archery or muzzleloading tag.
Some of the goofy restrictions and such were added while the bill was in committee in the state Senate and Assembly although no one will 'fess up to adding them. Certainly the legislation as presented by the DEC didn't have them in it. The current legislation seems to leave us the choice of a less capable instrument than a firearm or a more capable one than a bow (easier to master, anyway). I don't foresee having to watch over my shoulder to keep from being trampled by the herd of folks rushing out to buy a xbow.
The required training looks like it will be a very basic deal. Since there are around 800,000 folks with NY big game privileges there is no way to have that many folks attend formal training or safety certification. It looks like the training requirement in the legislation will be met by the inclusion of a basic module in the safety classes going forward and for those of us who already have licenses there will be a basic online self administered deal and a written one in the regulation guide-take your pick. The final decision on the training requirement should be out in a short time.
Lance
