§718a. Prohibition on taking
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Notable points in this section's history
Latest Jul 12, 2026 NOW As last amended Dec 19, 2023 — Pub. L. 118–2516 U.S.C. § 718a
Prohibition—
In general— Except as provided in paragraph (2), no individual who has attained the age of 16 years shall take any migratory waterfowl unless, at the time of the taking, the individual carries on the person of the individual a valid Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, as an electronic stamp (as defined in section 718o of this title) or validated by the signature of the individual written in ink across the face of the actual stamp (as defined in that section) prior to the time of the taking by the individual of the waterfowl.
Exception— No stamp described in paragraph (1) shall be required for the taking of migratory waterfowl—
by Federal or State agencies;
for propagation;
by the resident owner, tenant, or sharecropper of the property, or officially designated agencies of the Department of the Interior, for the killing, under such restrictions as the Secretary may by regulation prescribe, of such waterfowl when found damaging crops or other property; or
by a rural Alaska resident for subsistence uses (as that term is defined in section 3113 of this title).
Display of stamp— Any individual to whom a stamp has been sold under this subchapter shall, upon request, display the stamp for inspection to—
any officer or employee of the Department of the Interior who is authorized to enforce this subchapter; or
Other licenses— Nothing in this section requires any individual to affix the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp to any other license prior to taking 1 or more migratory waterfowl.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
(Mar. 16, 1934, ch. 71, § 1, 48 Stat. 451; June 15, 1935, ch. 261, title I, § 1, 49 Stat. 378; 1939 Reorg. Plan No. II, § 4(f), eff. July 1, 1939, 4 F.R. 2731, 53 Stat. 1433; July 30, 1956, ch. 782, § 1, 70 Stat. 722; Pub. L. 94–215, § 3(a), Feb. 17, 1976, 90 Stat. 189; Pub. L. 109–266, § 10(a), Aug. 3, 2006, 120 Stat. 674; Pub. L. 113–264, § 4, Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2940; Pub. L. 118–25, § 2(d), Dec. 19, 2023, 137 Stat. 130.)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2023—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 118–25 inserted “as an electronic stamp (as defined in section 718o of this title) or” after “Conservation Stamp,” and substituted “face of the actual stamp (as defined in that section)” for “face of the stamp”.
2014—Subsec. (a)(2)(D). Pub. L. 113–264 added subpar. (D).
2006—Pub. L. 109–266 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to hunting and conservation stamp for taking migratory waterfowl.
1976—Pub. L. 94–215 substituted “hunting and conservation stamp” for “hunting stamp” in first sentence.
1956—Act July 30, 1956, substituted “no person who has attained the age of sixteen years”, for “no person over sixteen years of age”.
1935—Act June 15, 1935, substituted “validated by his signature written by himself in ink across the face of the stamp prior to his taking such birds” for “issued to him in the manner hereinafter provided,” and struck out provisions which authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to adopt and promulgate regulations for the protection of private property in the injury of crops.
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
Reorg. Plan No. II of 1939, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, transferred functions of Secretary of Agriculture relating to conservation of wildlife, game, and migratory birds to Secretary of the Interior.