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News and Events
Know baiting rules before hunting migratory birds
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Waterfowl hunters need to make sure they understand baiting laws prior to hunting migratory birds this season.
The heavy rains this fall have made it difficult for many farmers to harvest crops. Waterfowl hunters utilizing agriculture fields for hunting need to understand the baiting regulations prior to hunting these areas. It is unlawful to take migratory game birds by the aid of bait or over a baited area where a person knows or reasonably should know the area is baited.
Nothing prohibits taking waterfowl over unharvested standing crops, flooded standing crops or croplands where seeds or grain have been scattered solely as the result of normal agriculture planting, harvesting, post-harvest manipulation or normal soil stabilization practices. The shredding and plowing of damaged croplands is not considered harvesting and those croplands where seeds or grain are present fall under the definition of a baited area until all the seed or grain are gone for 10 days.
“The bottom line is you cannot manipulate unharvested crops,” said MDWFP Chief of Law Enforcement Steve Adcock. “Hunting waterfowl over crops that have been bushhogged or plowed under is considered baiting and will be treated as such.”
For more information about waterfowl hunting in Mississippi, visit http://www.mdwfp.com or contact Bob Oliveri with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 601-965-4469.