---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 707"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "707"
heading: "Violations and penalties; forfeitures"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/707"
units:
  - "Chapter 7 — Protection of Migratory Game and Insectivorous Birds"
  - "Subchapter II — Migratory Bird Treaty"
---

# §707. Violations and penalties; forfeitures

- (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b), association, partnership, 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](/usc/16/718j.md?p=b-5) 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](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18), trapping, ensnaring, capturing, killing, or attempting to [take](/usc/16/718j.md?p=b-5), 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/16/718j.md?p=b-3) of the Interior.

## Source credit

(July 3, 1918, ch. 128, § 6, 40 Stat. 756; June 20, 1936, ch. 634, § 2, 49 Stat. 1556; Pub. L. 86–732, Sept. 8, 1960, 74 Stat. 866; Pub. L. 99–645, title V, § 501, Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3590; Pub. L. 105–312, title I, § 103, Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2956.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1998—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–312, § 103(1), substituted “$15,000” for “$500”.

Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 105–312, § 103(2), (3), added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d).

1986—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–645 substituted “shall knowingly” for “shall” in introductory provisions.

1960—Pub. L. 86–732 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted “Except as otherwise provided in this section”, and added subsecs. (b) and (c).

1936—Act June 20, 1936, substituted “conventions” for “convention”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1936 Amendment

Act June 20, 1936, ch. 634, § 2, 49 Stat. 1556, provided in part that the amendment by section 2 is effective as of the day aforesaid (June 30, 1937). See note under section 703 of this title.

### Executive Documents

### Transfer of Functions

For transfer of certain enforcement functions of Secretary or other official in Department of the Interior under this subchapter to Federal Inspector, Office of Federal Inspector for the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System, and subsequent transfer to Secretary of Energy, then to Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects, see Transfer of Functions note set out under section 706 of this title.