Page 46 - 2023_2024_Regulations

MIGRATORY GAME BIRD REGULATIONS

PUBLIC LANDS birds to, on, or over areas where hunters are except Canada, unless such birds are dressed
attempting to take them. Agriculture areas (except as required in 20.63), drawn, and the
Seasons on public lands may vary from state- must be prepared in accordance with official head and feet are removed. No person shall
wide seasons. Consult public hunting lands recommendations to be legally hunted. It is import migratory game birds belonging to
special regulations on page 55.
a separate offense to place or direct place- another person.
SHOOTING HOURS ment of bait on or adjacent to an area that HUNTING IN TWO STATES
causes, induces, or allows another to hunt
One-half hour before official sunrise to official by the aid of bait on or over a baited area.
sunset, unless otherwise provided. Hunters are responsible for ensuring that an A hunter who hunts in two states having sepa-
area has not been baited and should verify rate daily limits, may not exceed the largest
LEGAL MEANS OF TAKING its legality prior to hunting. number of birds that can legally be taken in
one of the states in which they take birds.
Shotgun (conventional or muzzleloading)
archery equipment or legal raptors and as FIELD POSSESSION LIMIT DUAL VIOLATION
otherwise provided under General Hunting No person shall possess more than one daily Violations of state migratory game bird regula-
Regulations. bag limit, tagged or not tagged, while in the tions are also violations of federal regulations.
field or while returning from the field to one’s
HUNTER ORANGE vehicle, hunting camp, home, etc. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For hunter orange requirements, see page 35.
WANTON WASTE For a more complete summary of federal regu-
RESTRICTIONS All downed migratory game birds shall be lations, visit wildlifedepartment.com.
No person shall take migratory game birds: retrieved, if possible, and retained in the cus- REFERENCE
tody of the hunter in the field.
Federal regulations related to migratory
• With a trap, snare, net, rifle, pistol, swivel
gun, shotgun slug, shotgun larger than a FIELD TAGGING game birds are located in Title 50, Code of
10-gauge, punt gun, battery gun, machine No person shall give, put or leave any migra- Federal Regulations, Part 20, Caution: more
restrictive regulations may apply to National
gun, fishhook, poison, drug, explosive, or tory game birds at any place or in the custody Wildlife Refuges open to public hunting. For
stupefying substance. of another person unless the birds are tagged additional information of federal regulations,
• With a shotgun capable of holding more by the hunter with the hunter’s name, signature contact Resident Agent-In-Charge, U.S. Fish
than three shells, in the magazine and cham- and address, total number of birds involved by & Wildlife Service, (405) 715-0617.
ber combined, unless otherwise provided. species and the dates such birds were killed.
• From or by means, aid, or use of a sink box Tagging is required if the birds are being
(a low floating device, having a depression transported by another person for the hunter, NONTOXIC SHOT REGULATIONS
affording the hunter means of concealment or if the birds have been left for cleaning, stor- All waterfowl (ducks, mergansers and geese)
beneath the surface of the water.) age (including temporary storage), shipment, and coot hunting is restricted to use of feder-
• From or with the aid or use of a vehicle or or taxidermy services. ally approved nontoxic shot in all areas of the
other motor-driven land conveyance, or state. Unless otherwise provided, all shotgun
any aircraft, except that paraplegics and POSSESSION OF LIVE BIRDS hunting on state wetland development units
single- or double-amputees of the legs may Wounded birds shall be immediately killed and and state waterfowl refuges is restricted to fed-
take from any stationary motor vehicle or included in the daily limit. erally approved nontoxic shot only. Possession
stationary motor-driven land conveyance. of lead shot while hunting waterfowl or coots
Paraplegic means an individual afflicted and for all shotgun hunting on state wetland
with paralysis of the lower half of the body SHIPMENT development units and state waterfowl refuges
with involvement of both legs usually due No person shall ship migratory game birds is prohibited. For more information on feder-
to disease of or injury to the spinal cord. unless the package is marked on the outside ally approved nontoxic shot types, see https://
• From or by means of any motorboat or sail- with the name and address of the person send- www.fws.gov
boat unless the motor has been completely ing the birds, the name and address of the
shut off and/or the sail furled, and its pro- person to whom the birds are being sent, and
gress therefrom has ceased. the number of birds, by species, contained in
• By the use or aid of live decoys. All live, tame the package. REPORT FEDERAL BANDS
or captive ducks and geese shall be removed If you have found or harvested a banded
for a period of 10 consecutive days prior to FIELD DRESSING bird, please report it at www.reportband.
hunting, and confined within an enclosure No person shall completely field dress any gov. You’ll need the band number, or
which substantially reduces the audibility migratory game bird (except doves and band- numbers, if the bird has more than one
of their calls and totally conceals such tame tailed pigeons) and then transport the birds band. You’ll also be asked where, when
birds from the sight of migratory waterfowl. from the field. The head or one fully feathered and how you recovered the bird. Your
• Using records or tapes of migratory bird calls, wing must remain attached to all such birds contact information will be requested
or sounds or electronically amplified imita- while being transported from the field to one’s in case there are any questions. The
tions of bird calls, unless otherwise provided. home or to a migratory bird preservation facility. U.S. Geological Survey’s Patuxent Bird
• By driving, rallying, or chasing birds with any Banding Lab will email you a certificate
motorized conveyance or any sailboat to put of appreciation that includes informa-
them in range of the hunters. IMPORTATION tion about the sex, age and species
• By the aid of baiting on or over any baited For information regarding the importation of the bird, and where and when it
areas where a person knows or reasonably of migratory birds killed in another country, was banded. You may keep the band.
should know that the area is or has been hunters should consult 50 CFR 20.61 through Please note: Even if the band
baited. A baited area is considered to be 20.66. One fully feathered wing must remain you recover is inscribed with a
baited for 10 days after complete removal attached to all migratory game birds being 1-800 telephone number
of any bait. Baiting includes placing, expos- transported between the port of entry and you can only report it at
ing, depositing, distributing or scattering of one’s home or to a migratory bird preserva- reportband.gov.
salt, grain, or other feed that could serve tion facility. No person shall import migra-
as a lure or attractant for migratory game tory game birds killed in any foreign country

44 2023-2024 OKLAHOMA FISHING & HUNTING REGULATIONS