List of Permits, Rules & Regulations for Game Birds by State! (2024)

FAQs

What are the federal regulations for migratory birds? ›

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) prohibits the take (including killing, capturing, selling, trading, and transport) of protected migratory bird species without prior authorization by the Department of Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In summary, one requirement for transporting migratory game birds in Missouri is to have a valid Migratory Bird Permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This permit outlines the regulations and conditions for transporting these birds and must be carried with you during transport.

Fowl registration is NOT required for the following: Sellers who ONLY sell birds from and on their premises of origin. Sellers, transporters or distributors who handle ONLY exotic fowl, such as parrots or parakeets.

License and Stamp Requirements

Anyone hunting migratory gamebirds (ducks, mergansers, coots, geese, doves, woodco*ck, sora, snipe) must have an Indiana hunting license and a HIP registration number.

Birds Protected by the MBTA

“all species native to the United States or its territories, which are those that occur as a result of natural biological or ecological processes.”

The Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act, commonly referred to as the Duck Stamp Act, requires waterfowl hunters, 16 years of age or older, to purchase and possess a valid Federal waterfowl hunting stamp prior to taking migratory waterfowl.

Migratory birds are essentially all wild birds found in the United States, except the house sparrow, starling, feral pigeon, and resident game birds, such as pheasant, grouse, quail, and wild turkeys. Resident game birds are managed separately by each State. A list of migratory birds is found in 50 CFR Part 10.

This law says: “No person may take (kill), possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer for sale, any migratory bird, or the parts, nests, or eggs of such bird except as may be permitted under the terms of a valid permit…” Under the MBTA it is illegal to destroy a nest that has eggs or chicks in ...

Wild Birds: All wild birds that migrate through or are indigenous to Texas, along with their plumage or other parts, eggs, nests and young are protected from harming, killing and/or possession by state and federal law except that European starlings, English sparrows, and feral pigeons may be killed at any time and ...

How much is a migratory bird license in Texas? ›

Migratory Waterfowl Requirements

All hunters age 16 or older must purchase the Federal Duck Stamp when hunting migratory waterfowl. All hunters age 17 or older must purchase the Texas Migratory Game Bird Endorsem*nt.

Unless exempt (see License Information), an individual must have a signed or digital deer hunting, resident youth hunt/trap, lifetime comprehensive hunting, or lifetime comprehensive hunting/fishing license when hunting deer on public or private land.

Federal law prohibits the killing of non-game migratory birds. Protected birds that you may encounter while dove hunting include songbirds, eagles, hawks, owls, vultures, killdeer, nighthawks, herons, egrets, and woodpeckers.

One final note: dove hunters need to check the regulations for the specific area being hunted. Although most areas allow the use of lead shot, there is a growing trend in some wildlife management areas to require the use of non-toxic shot loads (steel, Bismuth, Tungsten).

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. §§ 703–712) was enacted to implement the convention for the protection of migratory birds between the United States and Great Britain (acting on behalf of Canada). The law makes it unlawful to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill or sell migratory birds.

After an update to administrative law in January 2021, the United States Department of the Interior ceased to enforce penalties under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act for the accidental killings of birds by businesses or individuals. This change was revoked on October 4, 2021.

Over 1,000 bird species are currently protected. For more information, read the Fish and Wildlife Service's page on the act.

(d)(1) Except in the case of hunting and other activity allowed under section 3, whoever in violation of this Act kills or wounds a migratory bird in an aggravated manner shall, in lieu of any penalty for such violation-- (A) for the first violation, be fined under title 18, United States Code, imprisoned for not more ...