---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 403h–3"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "403h–3"
heading: "Hunting, fishing, etc.; rules and regulations; protection of property; penalties for violating laws and rules"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/403h-3"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter XLVI — Shenandoah National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park"
---

# §403h–3. Hunting, fishing, etc.; rules and regulations; protection of property; penalties for violating laws and rules


All hunting or the killing, wounding, or capturing at any time of any wild bird or animal, except dangerous animals when it is necessary to prevent them from destroying human lives or inflicting personal injury, is prohibited within the limits of said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), nor shall any fish be taken out of any of the waters of the said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), in any other way than by hook and line, and then only at such seasons and at such times and in such manner as may be directed by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior shall make and publish such general rules and regulations as he may deem necessary and proper for the management and care of the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) and for the protection of the property therein, especially for the preservation from injury or spoliation of all timber, mineral deposits, natural curiosities, or wonderful objects within said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), and for the protection of the animals and birds in the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) from capture or destruction, and to prevent their being frightened or driven from the said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3); and he shall make rules and regulations governing the [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) of fish from the streams or lakes in the said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3). Possession within said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) of the dead bodies or any part thereof of any wild bird or animal shall be prima facie evidence that the [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) or [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) having the same are guilty of violating this Act. Any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) or [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b), stage or express company, railway or other transportation company, who knows or has reason to believe that such wild birds, fish, or animals were taken or killed contrary to the provisions of this Act or the rules and regulations promulgated by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior, and who receives for transportation the dead bodies or any part thereof of the wild birds, fish, or animals so taken or killed, or who shall violate any of the other provisions of this Act, or the rules and regulations, with reference to the management and care of the said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), or for the protection of the property therein for the preservation from injury or spoliation of timber, mineral deposits, natural curiosities, or wonderful objects within said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), or for the protection of the animals, birds, and fish in said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), or who shall within said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) commit any damage, injury, or spoliation to or upon any building, fence, sign hedge, gate, guide­post, tree, wood, underwood, timber, garden, crops, vegetables, plants, land, springs, mineral deposits, natural curiosities, or other matter or thing growing or being thereon, or situated therein, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both, and be adjudged to pay all the costs of the proceedings.


## Source credit

(Apr. 29, 1942, ch. 264, § 3, 56 Stat. 259.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This Act, referred to in text, is act Apr. 29, 1942, which is classified to sections 403h–1 to 403h–10 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.