---
kind: "range"
citation: "16 U.S.C. §§ 703–711"
title: "16"
from: "703"
to: "711"
count: 10
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/703..711"
---

# §703. Taking, killing, or possessing migratory birds unlawful

- (a) **In general—** Unless and except as permitted by regulations made as hereinafter provided in this subchapter, it shall be unlawful at any time, by any means or in any manner, to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, attempt to take, capture, or kill, possess, offer for sale, sell, offer to barter, barter, offer to purchase, purchase, deliver for shipment, ship, export, import, cause to be shipped, exported, or imported, deliver for transportation, transport or cause to be transported, carry or cause to be carried, or receive for shipment, transportation, carriage, or export, any migratory bird, any part, nest, or egg of any such bird, or any product, whether or not manufactured, which consists, or is composed in whole or part, of any such bird or any part, nest, or egg thereof, included in the terms of the conventions between the United States and Great Britain for the protection of migratory birds concluded August 16, 1916 (39 Stat. 1702), the United States and the United Mexican [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) for the protection of migratory birds and game mammals concluded February 7, 1936, the United States and the Government of Japan for the protection of migratory birds and birds in danger of extinction, and their environment concluded March 4, 1972, and the convention between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the [conservation](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) of migratory birds and their environments concluded November 19, 1976.
- (b) **Limitation on application to introduced species—**
  - (1) **In general—** This subchapter applies only to migratory bird species that are [native to the United States or its territories](#b-2-A).
  - (2) **Native to the United States defined—**
    - (A) **In general—** Subject to [subparagraph (B)](#b-2-B), in this subsection the term “native to the United States or its territories” means occurring in the United States or its territories as the result of natural biological or ecological processes.
    - (B) **Treatment of introduced species—** For purposes of [paragraph (1)](#b-1), a migratory bird species that occurs in the United States or its territories solely as a result of intentional or unintentional human-assisted introduction shall not be considered [native to the United States or its territories](#b-2-A) unless—
      - (i) it was [native to the United States or its territories](#b-2-A) and extant in 1918;
      - (ii) it was extirpated after 1918 throughout its range in the United States and its territories; and
      - (iii) after such extirpation, it was reintroduced in the United States or its territories as a part of a [program](/usc/16/460ss–6.md?p=1) carried out by a Federal agency.

# §704. Determination as to when and how migratory birds may be taken, killed, or possessed

- (a) Subject to the provisions and in order to carry out the purposes of the conventions, referred to in [section 703 of this title](/usc/16/703.md), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior is authorized and directed, from time to time, having due regard to the zones of temperature and to the distribution, abundance, economic value, breeding habits, and times and lines of migratory flight of such birds, to determine when, to what extent, if at all, and by what means, it is compatible with the terms of the conventions to allow hunting, taking, capture, killing, possession, sale, purchase, shipment, transportation, carriage, or export of any such bird, or any part, nest, or egg thereof, and to adopt suitable regulations permitting and governing the same, in accordance with such determinations, which regulations shall become effective when approved by the President.
- (b) It shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) to—
  - (1) take any migratory game bird by the aid of baiting, or on or over any baited [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), if the [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) knows or reasonably should know that the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) is a baited [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A); or
  - (2) place or direct the placement of bait on or adjacent to an [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) for the purpose of causing, inducing, or allowing any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) to take or attempt to take any migratory game bird by the aid of baiting on or over the baited [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
- (c) **Federal Framework Closing Date for Hunting of Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots.—**
  - (1) **Regulations relating to framework closing date.—**
    - (A) **In general.—** In promulgating regulations under [subsection (a)](#a) relating to the Federal framework for the closing date up to which the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) may select seasons for migratory bird hunting, except as provided in [paragraph (2)](#c-2), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall, with respect to the hunting season for ducks, mergansers, and coots—
      - (i) subject to [subparagraph (B)](#c-1-B), adopt the recommendation of each respective flyway [council](/usc/16/460mmm–1.md?p=2) (as defined in [section 20.152 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations](/cfr/50/20.152.md)) for the Federal framework if the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) determines that the recommendation is consistent with science-based and sustainable harvest management; and
      - (ii) allow the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) to establish the closing date for the hunting season in accordance with the Federal framework.
    - (B) **Requirement.—** The framework closing date promulgated by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) under [subparagraph (A)](#c-1-A) shall not be later than January 31 of each year.
  - (2) **Special hunting days for youths, veterans, and active military personnel.—**
    - (A) **In general.—** Notwithstanding the Federal framework closing date under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) and subject to subparagraphs [(B)](#c-2-B) and [(C)](#c-2-C), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall allow [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) to select 2 days for youths and 2 days for veterans (as defined in [section 101 of title 38](/usc/38/101.md)) and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than for training), to hunt eligible ducks, geese, swans, mergansers, coots, moorhens, and gallinules, if the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) determines that the [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) of those days is consistent with science-based and sustainable harvest management. Such days shall be treated as separate from, and in [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to, the annual Federal framework hunting season lengths.
    - (B) **Requirements.—** In selecting days under [subparagraph (A)](#c-2-A), a [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) shall ensure that—
      - (i) the days selected—
        - (I) may only include the hunting of duck, geese, swan, merganser, coot, moorhen, and gallinule species that are eligible for hunting under the applicable annual Federal framework;
        - (II) are not more than 14 days before or after the Federal framework hunting season for ducks, mergansers, and coots; and
        - (III) are otherwise consistent with the Federal framework; and
      - (ii) the total number of days in a hunting season for any migratory bird species, including any days selected under [subparagraph (A)](#c-2-A), is not more than 107 days.
    - (C) **Limitation.—** A [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) may combine the 2 days allowed for youths with the 2 days allowed for veterans and members of the Armed Forces on active duty under [subparagraph (A)](#c-2-A), but in no circumstance may a [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) have more than a total of 4 additional days added to its regular hunting season for any purpose.
  - (3) **Regulations.—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall promulgate regulations in accordance with this subsection for the Federal framework for migratory bird hunting for the 2019–2020 hunting season and each hunting season thereafter.

# §705. Transportation or importation of migratory birds; when unlawful


It shall be unlawful to ship, transport, or carry, by any means whatever, from one [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2), Territory, or district to or through another [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2), Territory, or district, or to or through a foreign country, any bird, or any part, nest, or egg thereof, captured, killed, taken, shipped, transported, or carried at any time contrary to the laws of the [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2), Territory, or district in which it was captured, killed, or taken, or from which it was shipped, transported, or carried. It shall be unlawful to import any bird, or any part, nest, or egg thereof, captured, killed, taken, shipped, transported, or carried contrary to the laws of any Province of the Dominion of Canada in which the same was captured, killed, or taken, or from which it was shipped, transported, or carried.


# §706. Arrests; search warrants


Any employee of the Department of the Interior authorized by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior to enforce the provisions of this subchapter shall have power, without warrant, to arrest any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) committing a [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of this subchapter in his presence or view and to take such [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) immediately for examination or trial before an officer or court of competent jurisdiction; shall have power to execute any warrant or other process issued by an officer or court of competent jurisdiction for the enforcement of the provisions of this subchapter; and shall have authority, with a search warrant, to search any place. The several judges of the courts established under the laws of the United States, and United States magistrate judges may, within their respective jurisdictions, upon proper oath or affirmation showing probable cause, issue warrants in all such cases. All birds, or parts, nests, or eggs thereof, captured, killed, taken, sold or offered for sale, bartered or offered for barter, purchased, shipped, transported, carried, imported, exported, or possessed contrary to the provisions of this subchapter or of any regulation prescribed thereunder shall, when found, be seized and, upon conviction of the offender or upon judgment of a court of the United States that the same were captured, killed, taken, sold or offered for sale, bartered or offered for barter, purchased, shipped, transported, carried, imported, exported, or possessed contrary to the provisions of this subchapter or of any regulation prescribed thereunder, shall be forfeited to the United States and disposed of by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior in such manner as he deems appropriate.


# §707. Violations and penalties; forfeitures

- (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b), association, [partnership](/usc/16/8202.md?p=7), or corporation who shall violate any provisions of said conventions or of this subchapter, or who shall violate or fail to comply with any regulation made pursuant to this subchapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than $15,000 or be imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
- (b) Whoever, in [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of this subchapter, shall knowingly—
  - (1) take by any manner whatsoever any migratory bird with intent to sell, offer to sell, barter or offer to barter such bird, or
  - (2) sell, offer for sale, barter or offer to barter, any migratory bird shall be guilty of a felony and shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
- (c) Whoever violates [section 704(b)(2) of this title](/usc/16/704.md?p=b-2) shall be fined under [title 18](/usc/18.md), imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
- (d) All guns, traps, nets and other equipment, vessels, vehicles, and other means of transportation used by any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) when engaged in pursuing, hunting, taking, trapping, ensnaring, capturing, killing, or attempting to take, capture, or kill any migratory bird in [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of this subchapter with the intent to offer for sale, or sell, or offer for barter, or barter such bird in [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of this subchapter shall be forfeited to the United States and may be seized and held pending the prosecution of any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) arrested for violating this subchapter and upon conviction for such [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11), such forfeiture shall be adjudicated as a penalty in [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to any other provided for [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of this subchapter. Such forfeited property shall be disposed of and accounted for by, and under the authority of, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior.

# §708. State or Territorial laws or regulations


Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to prevent the several [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) and Territories from making or enforcing laws or regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of said conventions or of this subchapter, or from making or enforcing laws or regulations which shall give further protection to migratory birds, their nests, and eggs, if such laws or regulations do not extend the open seasons for such birds beyond the dates approved by the President in accordance with [section 704 of this title](/usc/16/704.md).


# [§709. Omitted — omitted]



# §709a. Authorization of appropriations


There is hereby authorized to be appropriated, from time to time, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such amounts as may be necessary to carry out the provisions and to accomplish the purposes of said conventions and of this subchapter and regulations made pursuant thereto, and the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior is authorized out of such moneys to employ in the city of Washington and elsewhere such [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) and means as he may deem necessary for such purpose and may cooperate with local authorities in the protection of migratory birds and make the necessary investigations connected therewith.


# §710. Partial invalidity; short title


If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this subchapter, which shall be known by the short title of the “Migratory Bird Treaty Act”, shall, for any reason, be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.


# §711. Breeding and sale for food supply


Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to prevent the breeding of migratory game birds on farms and [preserves](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=7) and the sale of birds so bred under proper regulation for the purpose of increasing the food supply.