Here it is right from the NYSDEC......
It is illegal to take or hunt wildlife:
* while in or on a motor vehicle (except by the holder of a Non Ambulatory Hunter Permit).
* with the aid of a vehicle's lights.
* on or from any public road.
* with any firearm equipped with a silencer.
* with any firearm which continues to fire as long as the trigger is held back (an automatic firearm).
* with any semi-automatic firearm with a capacity to hold more than 6 rounds, except:
o firearms using .22 or .17 caliber rimfire ammunition or,
o firearms altered to reduce their capacity to no more than 6 shells at one time in the magazine and chamber combined, or
o autoloading pistols with a barrel length of less than eight inches.
* with a spear.
* with a bow equipped with any mechanical device which is attached to the bow (other than the bowstring) for drawing, holding or releasing the bowstring except for a physically disabled person in possession of a Handicapped Archer Permit (compound bows are legal).
* with a spear gun or crossbow except for a physically disabled person in possession of a Modified Crossbow Permit.
* with an arrow with an explosive head or shaft.
* with any device designed or intended to deliver drugs to an animal
Nothin about useing a non motorized boat/canoe
I floated Black creek behind my house and there was to many blow downs to be productive,at least the section I was floating anyway,with a bow esspecially solo like I was doing.
Not sure where the other guys were but sounds like they had a better float than I.
PS canoe,s are more stable than many think,myself included......I swamped it on purpose over my head during the summer....they don,t tip as easy as you,d think.....less ofcourse the water is only 33 deg.s or so LOL