In the state of Maine a felon can possess and hunt with a bow, many a talented woodsmen that went down the wrong path in their younger years have resorted to staying active in the hunting world with a compound bow. I do agree with not allowing a deadbeat dad to hunt, however many a good men have been to the cleaners through divorce and child custody and it would be a travesty to revoke their one true passion left because of inability to emburse a thankless women that drew the long straw. I can see our justice systems putting the screws to undeserving folks because of a mere computer making decisions based on recorded data.... It seems like a sad catch 22 to me, but I've been wrong before.

Here in PA you do. Hunting licenses too. We were told it's to track down deadbeat dads not paying child support. I've never heard of them catching anyone this way though.

How silly is that! If a deadbeat dad is working the govt will know where he is through employer tax filing. If he's not working what's the point in pursuing him anyway. He obviously doesn't have any money. A waste of time!

There is no reason for them to ask for your SSN, everything they need to know about you is recorded on your drivers license. If you do not have one get a photo ID with the same info like the ones your required for acquiring a job (at least in Ohio your required to have a State photo ID). Your drivers license has your SSN in it but not viewable with out scanning it. Ohio only asks for your DL they swipe it and your on your way. I could somewhat understand it in Texas with illegal immigrants making it easier to detect false information, but PA, MA, NJ, is a little extreme.

Gary,
Not everyone can get their records expunged. I know of probably a dozen or more that were convicted of stealing in their younger teenage years and the Judge won't restore their rights even after several attempts. These guys are now in their 50's.

Sarge, I agree with you, it does depend on the crime and the Honorable Judge's ruling on the expungement. Pray-hunt-fun didn't state what the crime was for those woodsmen in question during their younger years. It may be the lesser crimes of the 3rd degree felonies.

I know a guy in New Jersey who didn't file his state income taxes and received a 3rd degree felony. His attorney got his criminal record expunged via the fax machine and with certified letter sent to the Judge. The expungement cost him only four hundred dollars and the attorney never left his office.
The woodsmen have nothing to lose and can call an attorney for a little legal advice if the expungement could be done for that crime.