Can A Felon Get A Hunting License?

Can a felon get a hunting license? We know hunting is one of America’s pastimes, a rite of ritual. A way to relax, detox, bond with family or friends, and connect with nature, it’s a primal aspect of hunting and game, like the ancient men.

It is a tradition in America, loved and practiced by millions of people each year. Even a rite of passage and bonding between father and child, for some it is more than just a shooting game, enjoyed by men, women, and youth from various social, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. For some, its form of community erases many of the lines dividing people from different social and/or political classes and ideologies. Another form of outdoor activity, like people who love camping.

This activity brings in billions in revenue; money spent on ammunition, guns, food, gear, lodging, and clothing by hunters. It is safe to say it’s a popular pastime for Americans. 

Can A Felon Get A Hunting License?

It is understandable that, like other areas of life, having a record or a felony conviction on your record can affect your life in more ways than we might appreciate. 

Once you are convicted of a felony, owning or owning a firearm in most parts of the United States is illegal. 

If you should go to buy one, background checks would flag your record and that would disqualify you. But as for hunting, I’m sure you want to know since you’re reading this; Can a felon hunt or get a license to do so? If you’re aware of the firearm law and want to find a workaround because of the array of arsenals open to a hunter, your question could even be what can a felon hunt With?

Can A Felon Hunt?

Hunting with a felony conviction when you take into consideration that a majority of hunters opt for firearms or hunting rifles as their go-to weapon, clashes with laws against ex-convicted felons’ possession of firearms, but this depends on the state you find yourself in or where you plan to hunt.

For example, in Florida, a convicted felon is not allowed to own any firearms whatsoever, except if they have had their civil rights restored or the said firearm is registered and meets up the requirements of an antique firearm (that is a firearm manufactured in or before 1918; including any matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar early type of ignition system, or replica thereof). Otherwise, you are breaking the law. And even when your civil rights are restored, you still need to apply for your rights to own and possess a firearm as it is not granted back automatically.

There is also an eight-year waiting period for this process which shows you how serious this is. So, the best advice is to speak to your probation officer or research more on it to be better informed about this. The good news is there are exceptions to this rule. 

In some states, after you have completed serving your sentence, your right to own a firearm is returned, but in some cases, a specific wait period has to pass, starting from the end of your sentence. 

Louisiana is an example. It permits convicted felons to carry guns again, ten years after they end serving their sentences, provided they are not convicted of any additional felonies during the waiting period.

What Can A Felon Hunt With?

As stated above, there is an array of arsenals open to a hunter, but because a gun or hunting rifle is the quickest and most popular does not make it the only tool of the trade. There are air guns, bows, and crossbows.

If you cannot wait for the waiting period that goes with your gun rights being restored, you can use any of these other options to go hunting as a workaround. You should follow the right channels, register, and license wherever needed to make sure you do not run afoul of the law. As always, ask your probation officer, to check the laws of the state you reside in or plan to go hunting. Because one law or thing is legal in one state or on the federal level, does not automatically mean it is legal in all states.

For example, while those other hunting tools I listed earlier are legal during the hunting season, some states, like New York, do not allow convicted felons to have or use a crossbow, so doing so in their area would be considered illegal and breaking the law. Again, to be safe, you should ask your probation officer.

The Difference Between A Hunting License And A Firearms License

It is important to know that while the two may seem similar in regards to their proximity or use of firearms and guns, there are differences; a hunting license is not the same as a firearms license. 

In many states, a good example being Arkansas, those applying for a hunting license are not subject to background checks. Many states also do not need specific permits for people to hunt with guns. A few states, like Massachusetts, have laws prohibiting certain felons from hunting or requiring those interested in hunting to obtain separate permits for hunting and possessing firearms.

As stated for the most part through this article, the answer depends majorly on the state laws guiding where you reside or where you plan to go hunting. This determines the probability of you getting your hunting license, so it’s best you do a little research and ask the proper officials or personnel that work in the field.

Constructive Possession

A felony conviction has a heavy impact on one’s life, and so it is advisable that as a convicted felon, you should always be careful about being in locations where firearms are present, as this could make your life more complicated than you bargained for.

Read: juvenile felony

We can define constructive possession as a situation where the person knows about the firearm and is in a position of control over that firearm, or could easily have access to the firearm. In summary, you do not want to be in the company of people carrying firearms, this could give rise to a situation that could tie you to proximity to it, and raise the possibility for the argument being “what are the chances that you did not partake in the use of a said firearm”.

If you think of using or borrowing a firearm from a friend or family, this is also a legal offense, a term called a straw man purchase. It simply means buying it through a proxy, you send an individual without a conviction to purchase the firearm for your use, and if found out, they will prosecute you. So, to avoid further run-ins with the law, make sure you do your due diligence; research, inquire and ask those in relevant positions that are knowledgeable of the laws and rules so you don’t fall or trip on what could have been easily avoidable.