Many felons, upon their release, like to return to their hobbies, which could include hunting. Such activities are a great way of coping with the difficulties they face upon being released. It is also a great way of keeping themselves engaged especially when they haven’t landed a job yet. But various authorities might require that hunters get hunting licenses. This post explores the role of hunting licenses and whether a felon can be issued with a hunting license. We will also look into the consequences of hunting without a license.
Hunting is a very popular outdoor sport in the United States , enjoyed by millions of people annually. Millions on hunting licenses have also been issued, with over 30 million licenses being issued in 2017.
Can A Felon Get A Hunting License?
In many states, a felon can get a hunting license. Such states have no laws that bar felons from acquiring a hunting license. How a felon obtains the hunting license depends on the laws of the state they reside and the state where they want to do the hunting. It is worth noting that felons cannot legally possess a firearm in most states. Restoration of gun rights can be done through a governor’s pardon or the state’s clemency board. Fortunately, one can still engage in hunting by using other weapons that are not considered firearms. Some states, including Massachusetts and Rhode Island, do not issue hunting licenses to certain felons.
Why Do You Need A Hunting License?
Hunting licenses permit individuals to legally engage in hunting either for recreational or commercial purposes. Hunting licenses have been issued in the United States for centuries. In the colonial days, states used license issuance to prevent non-residents of a state from hunting within a particular state. Currently, the primary objective of hunting licenses is to protect wildlife.
A hunting license serves the following purposes
• It lets wildlife officials identify the people that are hunting legally.
• Regulates the level of hunting activities in an area so as to avoid over-hunting. This in effect protects the animal population.
• Puts in place hunting rules to avoid conflict. The license lays out essential information and regulations to be adhered to while hunting.
• Puts a limit on the types of animals and the number of animals a hunter can capture per day.
Wildlife agencies or state authorities typically issue hunting licenses. They are issued in the form of a card or a certificate.
Consequences of Not Having A License
Hunting without a license is a misdemeanor. You would need legal advice if you were caught hunting without a license and violation usually attracts a fine. Different states could have varying fines. In many cases, fines are more than the cost of the license.
A citation for a class A misdemeanor is issued to anyone that is found hunting without a license. Such a person may be required to appear in court at a certain date and time or be indicted for the violation. In many cases, if the violator pays the fine within 30 days, they won’t need to make a court appearance.
Failure to pay the fine within the required time can make the charge to become a class B misdemeanor. It could also lead to a higher fine and possible jail time. For such misdemeanor, jail time could be up to 60 days.
Types of Hunting Licenses
Types of hunting licenses largely depend on the local species. Some of the most common hunting license categories include
• Small game – issued for hunting small animals such as quails, dove, and squirrel.
• Big game – meant for hunting large animals including deer, antelope and bighorn sheep.
• All game
• Fishing licenses
• Migratory or game birds
• Waterfowl – for hunting ducks, geese, and other related species.
It is important to note that different states could have different categories of hunting licenses. Some states have an extensive range of varying hunting licenses. If you are not well acquainted with the specifics of the hunting license you wish to purchase, ask the license vendor to elaborate.
Most states have different hunting license fees depending on one’s residential status – fees for residents are discounted while non-residents pay the full price. Other groups of people including veterans, senior citizens and people with disabilities could have their hunting licenses issued at discounted prices in some states.
In most states, a hunting license is issued after one goes through hunter safety training. With the license, the individual can purchase hunting tags and participate in hunting competitions. Different states have different minimum age requirements for hunting licenses.
Is A Hunting License The Same Thing As A Firearm License?
A hunting license is different from a firearm license. The two licenses serve very different purposes and should therefore not be confused. A hunting license gives you the right to hunt while a firearm license gives you the right to own and possess a firearm. You could legally own a gun, but that does not give you the right to engage in hunting. In some states, a hunting license may allow felons to hunt with crossbows and other weapons that are not firearms.
Most states specify the kind of weapons that can be used for hunting in different seasons. For instance, a state could have a bow-hunting season and a firearm-hunting season. This means that you can’t legally hunt with a firearm during a bow-hunting season.
A felon can have their gun rights restored in various states, which would allow them to legally hunt with a firearm during a firearm hunting season. Unless the gun rights are restored, such a felon cannot legally own or hunt with a gun, regardless of the hunting season.
In many states, one does not have to undergo a background check in order to be considered for a hunting license. Also, in many states, once you have a hunting license, you won’t have to have a special permit to hunt with a firearm.
How Much Does A Hunting License Cost?
Hunting license fees have been on the rise over the past couple of years in many states. License fees may vary for resident and non-resident hunters. Also, hunting license fees for hunters who wish to pursue big game may be higher than others. In most states, the cheapest hunting licenses are between $50 and $200. Most hunting licenses are quite affordable. Generally, you can purchase a hunting license at any retail outlet that sells hunting and fishing equipment. Such outlets include sporting good stores.
Hunting Without a License Anyway?
Hunting without a license could have felons return to prison. It is therefore too risky a situation. Felons who are still on probation could end up violating the terms of their probation and thereby return to jail. Compliance with hunting requirements is, therefore, the wise thing to do.
Some people may be tempted to hunt without a license especially when they live in seclusion in wooded areas. But it is a risky affair for felons. It is possible to be caught regardless of where they hunt. It is simply not worth the risk.
Can A Convicted Felon Purchase An Out-Of-State Hunting License?
In many states, a convicted felon can legally purchase an out-of-state hunting license. In states such as Colorado, the law does not prevent a convicted felon from acquiring a hunting license. However, it is illegal in many states (including Colorado) for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
It, therefore, appears that convicted felons can easily acquire out-of-state hunting licenses, but this does not mean they can legally possess firearms in such states. Such convicted felons can hunt within the states in which they purchase the hunting license, but not with a gun. They can use other hunting weapons such as crossbows if such weapons are permitted by law in those states.
Conclusion
People who enjoyed hunting before they went to jail are likely to try and rejoin the hunting community upon their release. This is perfectly in order and is not a violation of the law. Hunting licenses are not expensive, but hunting without a license can be costlier. It could attract a misdemeanor charge and a fine that could be more than the license fee. You may even get into deeper legal problems because of the violation.
For felons, the stakes are even higher. Hunting without a license could expose them to the risk of going back to jail. It could also lead to a violation of probation terms, and they can be sent back to prison. Instead of putting themselves at risk, felons are advised to seek hunting licenses from the respective states.
Fortunately, many states issue hunting licenses to felons. It is a good thing that felons who love hunting can engage in the fun activity either for recreational or commercial purposes. This also means that there is no reason for felons to violate the law. Many felons return to prison within a relatively short time after their release. Felons can avoid going back to jail by buying a hunting license if they want to hunt and by abiding in all other state and federal laws.