16 U.S.C. § 742j–1 — Airborne hunting

submitted 70 years ago by Pub. L. 92-159 to r/title-16-CONSERVATION · 746 words · no verdicts yet

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A person who shoots, tries to shoot, harasses, or knowingly helps use an aircraft to capture or kill an animal can be fined up to $5,000, jailed up to one year, or both. The section exempts authorized government or State activities, requires reports, and gives the Interior Secretary enforcement and forfeiture powers.

(a) Prohibition and penalty. A person is subject to a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment of up to one year, or both, if the person: (1) while airborne in an aircraft, shoots or tries to shoot a bird, fish, or other animal to capture or kill it; (2) uses an aircraft to harass one; or (3) knowingly takes part in using an aircraft for either purpose. (b) Exception and reports. (1) This section does not apply to a person who is employed by, is an authorized agent of, or is operating under a license or permit of, a State or the United States to administer or protect land, water, wildlife, livestock, domestic animals, human life, or crops. A person operating under a license or permit must report each calendar quarter to the issuing authority the number and types of animals taken. (2) When a State or State agency issues such a permit, it must give the Interior Secretary an annual report in the required form, including: (A) each permit holder’s name and address; (B) the authorized animals, number, and area; (C) the number and types actually taken; and (D) the reason for the permit. (c) “Aircraft” defined. “Aircraft” means any device used to fly in the air. This section does not define “device” further. (d) Enforcement. The Interior Secretary must enforce this section and issue needed regulations. An authorized Interior employee may, without a warrant, arrest someone violating this section or a regulation in the employee’s presence or view and take the person immediately for examination or trial before a proper officer or court. The employee may execute proper warrants or process and may search a place with or without a warrant when law permits. The Secretary may make cooperative agreements with State fish-and-wildlife agencies or other proper State authorities and delegate enforcement authority to State officers as appropriate. A federal judge or United States magistrate judge may issue warrants within that judge’s jurisdiction on a proper oath or affirmation showing probable cause. (e) Forfeiture. Animals shot or captured unlawfully, and guns, aircraft, and other equipment used to help unlawfully shoot, try to shoot, capture, or harass an animal, are subject to forfeiture to the United States. (f) Customs rules. Laws on seizure, forfeiture, condemnation, disposal, sale proceeds, and remission or mitigation of vessel forfeitures under customs laws apply to seizures and forfeitures under this section when applicable and consistent. Powers, rights, and duties given by customs laws to Treasury officers or employees are exercised for this section by the Interior Secretary or the Secretary’s designees.

the actual law source: uscode.house.gov ↗public domain

(a) Prohibition; penalty

Any person who—

(1)

while airborne in an aircraft shoots or attempts to shoot for the purpose of capturing or killing any bird, fish, or other animal; or

(2)

uses an aircraft to harass any bird, fish, or other animal; or

(3)

knowingly participates in using an aircraft for any purpose referred to in paragraph (1) or (2);

shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

(b) Exception; report of State to Secretary

(1)

This section shall not apply to any person if such person is employed by, or is an authorized agent of or is operating under a license or permit of, any State or the United States to administer or protect or aid in the administration or protection of land, water, wildlife, livestock, domesticated animals, human life, or crops, and each such person so operating under a license or permit shall report to the applicable issuing authority each calendar quarter the number and type of animals so taken.

(2)

In any case in which a State, or any agency thereof, issues a permit referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection, it shall file with the Secretary of the Interior an annual report containing such information as the Secretary shall prescribe, including but not limited to—

(A)

the name and address of each person to whom a permit was issued;

(B)

a description of the animals authorized to be taken thereunder, the number of animals authorized to be taken, and a description of the area from which the animals are authorized to be taken;

(C)

the number and type of animals taken by such person to whom a permit was issued; and

(D)

the reason for issuing the permit.

As used in this section, the term “aircraft” means any contrivance used for flight in the air.

(d) Enforcement; regulations; arrest; search; issuance and execution of warrants and process; cooperative agreements

The Secretary of the Interior shall enforce the provisions of this section and shall promulgate such regulations as he deems necessary and appropriate to carry out such enforcement. Any employee of the Department of the Interior authorized by the Secretary of the Interior to enforce the provisions of this section may, without warrant, arrest any person committing in his presence or view a violation of this section or of any regulation issued hereunder and take such person immediately for examination or trial before an officer or court of competent jurisdiction; may execute any warrant or other process issued by an officer or court of competent jurisdiction for the enforcement of the provisions of this section; and may, with or without a warrant, as authorized by law, search any place. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with State fish and wildlife agencies or other appropriate State authorities to facilitate enforcement of this section, and by such agreements to delegate such enforcement authority to State law enforcement personnel as he deems appropriate for effective enforcement of this section. Any judge of any court established under the laws of the United States, and any United States magistrate judge may, within his respective jurisdiction, upon proper oath or affirmation showing probable cause, issue warrants in all such cases.

(e) Forfeiture

All birds, fish, or other animals shot or captured contrary to the provisions of this section, or of any regulation issued hereunder, and all guns, aircraft, and other equipment used to aid in the shooting, attempting to shoot, capturing, or harassing of any bird, fish, or other animal in violation of this section or of any regulation issued hereunder shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States.

(f) Certain customs laws applied

All provisions of law relating to the seizure, forfeiture, and condemnation of a vessel for violation of the customs laws, the disposition of such vessel or the proceeds from the sale thereof, and the remission or mitigation of such forfeitures, shall apply to the seizures and forfeitures incurred, or alleged to have been incurred, under the provisions of this section, insofar as such provisions of law are applicable and not inconsistent with the provisions of this section; except that all powers, rights, and duties conferred or imposed by the customs laws upon any officer or employee of the Treasury Department shall, for the purposes of this section, be exercised or performed by the Secretary of the Interior or by such persons as he may designate.

Source credit: (Aug. 8, 1956, ch. 1036, § 13, as added Pub. L. 92–159, § 1, Nov. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 480; amended Pub. L. 92–502, Oct. 18, 1972, 86 Stat. 905; Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 321, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5117.)

history & why it existsrecord from the source credit

1956Enacted · Pub. L. 92-159 · 85 Stat. 480
1972Amended · Pub. L. 92-502 · 86 Stat. 905
1990Amended · Pub. L. 101-650 · 104 Stat. 5117

A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 92-159 on 1956-08-08.

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