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The Migratory Bird Regulations 2007-2008 are available in the Adobe PDF file format. You must have the Free Adobe Reader to preview this file. This information is provided by Furbearer Project Wildlife Section, Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division.
Regulations
State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp and HIP permit: South Carolina waterfowl hunters 16 and older are required by state law to obtain a state migratory waterfowl stamp at a cost of $5.50 and a free Harvest Information Program (HIP) permit. The stamp must be validated with the hunter's signature on the front. Both the stamp and HIP permit must be in the hunter's possession while hunting or transporting legal waterfowl.
A state waterfowl stamp will not be required of residents holding Gratis Over 65 or Gratis Disability Licenses.
The waterfowl stamps and HIP permits are available from select DNR
offices and from hunting and fishing license agents.
Summary of Federal Regulations:
Notice: The material below is only a summary. Each hunter should also consult the actual Federal Regulations which may be found in Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 20. In addition to State regulations, the following Federal rules apply to the taking, possession, shipping, transporting, and storing of all migratory game birds and waterfowl:
Restriction: No person shall take migratory game birds
- With a trap, snare, net, crossbow, rifle, pistol, swivel gun, shotgun larger than 10-gauge, punt gun, battery gun, machine gun, fish hook, poison, drug, explosive or stupefying substance.
- With a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler which is incapable of removal without disassembling the gun.
- From a sink box (a low floating device, having a depression affording the hunter a means of concealment beneath the surface of the water).
- From or with the aid or use of a car or other motor driven land conveyance, or any aircraft, except that paraplegics and single or double amputees of the legs may take from any stationary motor vehicle or stationary motor-driven land conveyance. "Paraplegic" means an individual afflicted with paralysis of the lower half of the body with involvement of both legs, usually due to disease of or injury to the spinal cord.
- From or by means of any motorboat or sailboat unless the motor has been completely shut off and/or the sail furled, and its progress therefrom has ceased.
- By the use or aid of live decoys. All live, tame or captive ducks and geese shall be removed for a period of 10 consecutive days prior to hunting, and confined within an enclosure which substantially reduces the audibility of their calls and totally conceals such tame birds from the sight of migratory waterfowl.
- Using records or tapes of migratory bird calls or sounds, or electrically amplified imitations of bird calls.
- By driving, rallying or chasing birds with any motorized conveyance or any sailboat to put them in the range of the hunters.
- By the aid of baiting (placing feed such as corn, wheat, salt, or other feed to constitute a lure or enticement), or on or over any baited area, where a person knows or reasonably should know that the area is or has been baited. Hunters should be aware that a baited area is considered to be baited for 10 days after the removal of all bait, and it is the responsibility of the hunter to assure that an area is not baited.
Manipulation of Crops and Croplands:
All migratory game birds, including waterfowl, may be hunted on or over standing crops or flooded standing crops (including aquatics); standing, flooded, or manipulated natural vegetation; flooded harvested croplands; or lands or areas where seeds or grains have been scattered solely as the result of a normal agricultural planting, harvesting, postharvest manipulation or normal soil stabilization practice. It is illegal to hunt migratory birds over "top sown" grain.
All migratory game birds EXCEPT waterfowl, may be hunted on or over lands where grain or other feed has been distributed or scattered solely as the result of manipulation of an agricultural crop or other feed on the land where grown, or solely as the result of a normal agricultural operation.
For further information see the brochure titled "South Carolina Waterfowl Hunting and Baiting". For information on normal agricultural operations, contact your local Clemson University Extension Service County Agent.
Closed Season: No person shall take migratory game birds during the closed season.
Shooting or Hawking Hours: No person shall take migratory game birds except during the hours open to shooting and hawking as prescribed.
Daily Bag Limit: No person shall take in any one day more than one daily bag limit.
Field Possession Limit: No person shall possess more than one daily bag limit while in the field or while returning from the field to one's car, hunting camp, home, etc.
Wanton Waste: All migratory game birds killed or crippled shall be retrieved, if possible, and retained in the custody of the hunter in the field.
Tagging: No person shall give, put or leave any migratory game birds
at any place or in the custody of another person unless the birds are
tagged by the hunter with the following information:
- The hunter's signature
- The hunter's address.
- The total number of birds involved, by species.
- The dates such birds were killed.
No person or business shall receive or have in custody any migratory game birds belonging to another person unless such birds are properly tagged.
Possession of Live Birds: Wounded birds reduced to possession shall be immediately killed and included in the daily bag limit.
Dressing: No person shall completely field dress any migratory game bird (except doves and band-tailed pigeons) and then transport the birds from the field. The head or one fully feathered wing must remain attached to all such birds while being transported from the field to one's home or to a migratory bird preservation facility.
Shipment: No person shall ship migratory game birds unless the package is marked on the outside with: (a) the name and address of the person sending the birds, (b) the name and address of the person to whom the birds are being sent, and (c) the number of birds, by species contained in the package.
Importation: For information regarding the importation of migratory birds killed in another country, hunters should consult 50 CFR 20.61 through 20.66. One fully-feathered wing must remain attached to all migratory game birds being transported between the port of entry and one's home or to a migratory bird preservation facility. No person shall import migratory game birds killed in any foreign country, except Canada, unless such birds are dressed (except as required in 20.63), drawn, and the head and feet are removed. No person shall import migratory game birds belonging to another person.
Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp: Waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and over must have in their possession while hunting, a valid Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (duck stamp) with their signature across the face of stamp.
Dual Violation: Violation of Federal migratory bird regulations is also a violation of State regulations.
Reference: Federal regulations related to migratory game birds are located in TITLE 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 20.
Caution: More restrictive regulations may apply to National Wildlife Refuges open to public hunting. For additional information on Federal regulations, contact Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Strom Thurmond Building, 1835 Assembly St., Columbia, S.C. 29201, 765-5626.
Penalties: A person convicted in State court for a violation of a migratory bird law is subject to a fine of up to five hundred dollars or imprisonment for up to thirty days. A person convicted in Federal court for a violation of a migratory bird law is subject to a fine of up to fifteen thousand dollars or imprisonment for up to one year.
In addition to any other penalty, convictions for violations of migratory bird laws may carry points against a persons' privilege to hunt and fish. These points are assessed based on the particular violations. Upon accumulating eighteen points, a person loses privileges to hunt and fish for one year. For detailed information related to violations and point assessments, please refer to the 2007-2008 SCDNR Rules and Regulations brochure.
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