BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

DeadAim · Joined: 24 Oct 2003 Posts: 7 Location: Traveler

I'm a convicted felon so I can't own a gun or get a hunting license so i hunt when ever where ever, usually on a friends land i'm pretty good at avoiding the game wardens but I've never hunted javelina, I was wondering what kind of trouble I'd be in if i got caught in az hunting out of season, I don't enjoy hunting this way, but I should not have had that right taken away from me having an ounce of marajuana ten years ago, but it's nice not having to pay for licences and tags all the time, any help on this matter would be greatly apreciated,
thank you

moderator · Joined: 27 Jan 2002 Posts: 6687

Hello DeadAim,

I'm not going to preach at you, but you should get on the right side of the law or eventually you'll suffer the consequences. Your poaching by the definition of any state which is a crime.

I don't know what the rules are precisely in AZ, but chances are you'll be facing a stiff fine and jail time when you are caught. Ironically we just ran this story in WY, similar in nature to yours.

About felon hunts and firearms, it is my understanding (disclaimer: I'm not an attorney and this is not legal advice) that some states (not all) like TX allow convicted felons to use antique firearms (true antiques not replicas) for the purpose of hunting. Furthermore some (all?) states allow a convicted felon to use bows.

So check out the laws in AZ, buy a license, get a bow, and do it in season.

DeadAim · Joined: 24 Oct 2003 Posts: 7 Location: Traveler

thanks for they advice i will think about getting a bow

about the poaching thing i hate that word you make me sound like someone who hunts down elephants for their tusks

i'm just a poor guy who hunts for food because a) i hate to eat prossesed meat and poultry and b) i really can't afford hunting permits and tags or buying that much food over the winter where my kind of work is scarce

when i hunt i don't go for the big trophys i just get what i need to survive

muskrat · Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 46 Location: Arizona

You're kidding, right?

cowgal · Joined: 10 Mar 2002 Posts: 995 Location: Colorado

I'm sorry but I can't condone breaking the law under any circumstances. If you truly are in dire need of food and prefer game, most states have programs to salvage road kill and many hunters donate their own game to food banks or other groups that distribute the meat so it won't go to waste.

If you really want to hunt, why don't you go for wild boar, instead of poaching javelina. Even though I haven't hunted boar, its my understanding that you do not need a license in all or most states that have boar populations. Many folks like to hunt them with a bow.

There ARE resources available to you that do not involve breaking the law.

OZSTRIKER22 · Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 165 Location: Sunny San Diego

I'm sorry you lost you hunting PRIVELEGE. Hunting is no longer your RIGHT as 10 years ago you made a deliberate decision to commit a felony. We all make mistakes. If you feel you, and other felons, should be able to hunt, then start a petition in your home state.

But don't claim you NEED food so bad you want to go out of your home state to hunt a game animal. That seems like you WANT to hunt, not NEED to hunt. If you can afford to go on an out of state foray, then you can afford to buy organic produce at your local grocery store. If you really are that desparate, there are plenty of oppossums, squirels, and rabbits in almost all parts of the U.S. I don't think you'd get in any trouble for trapping/hunting them. Maybe it's not as FUN as Javalina, or deer, or whatever.

Hey, let's all be honest here.

Jesse.