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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Can felons hunt with archery gear?


American Vic Wunderle takes aim at the Men's Individual Archery competition at Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
American Vic Wunderle takes aim at the Men's Individual Archery competition at Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

HUNTING --  Idaho Fish and Game answers a question that's probably important to an share of my readers, the proportion of which we will keep to ourselves:

Ask Fish and Game: Archery for Felons?

Q.      Can a felon hunt with a bow in Idaho?

A.      It depends on the felony. Under Idaho law, anyone convicted of any of  36 felonies may not own, use or carry a firearm, which the law defines as “any weapon from which a shot, projectile or other object may be discharged by force of combustion, explosive, gas and/or mechanical means, whether operable or inoperable.” That would include a bow (and muzzleloader equipment).

The right can under some circumstances be restored, unless the crime was murder in the first or second degree, or if conviction included the use of a firearm in the commission of any the listed felonies.

(For a list of felonies see Idaho Code Title 18, Chapter 3, section 18-310.)



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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