SECTION 800:25-5-2.2. General provisions for migratory game birds

  The following provisions apply to the taking of migratory game birds:

(1)   Hunting hours. Unless otherwise provided, the hunting hours shall be one-half hour before official sunrise to official sunset.

(2)   Legal means of taking. The legal means of taking shall be shotgun (conventional or muzzleloading), bow and arrow or legal raptors and as otherwise provided. Shotguns must not be larger than 10 gauge. No rifles, pistols or shotgun slugs. Shotguns must be incapable of holding more than three (3) shells in the magazine and chamber combined. Specific limitations otherwise provided by law shall control over the general requirements of this section.

(3)   Nontoxic shot requirements. All waterfowl and coot hunting is restricted to use of federally approved nontoxic shot in all areas of the state.

(4)   Hunting from boats. No person may take migratory game birds from any motor-boat or sailboat unless the motor has been shut off and/or the sails furled and the boat has stopped.

(5)   Baiting. Migratory game birds may not be baited or taken on or over any baited areas.

(6)   Retrieving responsibility. All hunters area required to make a reasonable effort to retrieve any migratory game bird killed and include such birds in their daily bag limit.

(7)   Hunting in two states. A hunter who hunts in two states having separate daily bag limits, may not exceed the largest number of birds that can legally be taken in one of the states in which they take birds.

(8)   Wildlife management areas. All management areas are open to migratory game bird hunting during designated seasons unless otherwise closed to hunting during those seasons.

(9)   National Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program requirements. Licensed migratory bird hunters, including lifetime license holders who hunt migratory birds, will be required annually to obtain and complete a Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP)permit and have the permit in their possession while hunting migratory birds. Hunters under sixteen (16) years of age, senior citizens (age sixty-four (64) or older or those who turn sixty-four (64) during the calendar year in which they intend to hunt migratory birds) and landowners hunting on their own property are exempt from the requirements of the National Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program. HIP permits can be obtained at any hunting license dealer as part of the Universal License form. The effective dates that the HIP permits will be valid for any given migratory bird season will be from July 1 through June 30.

[Source: Added at 15 Ok Reg 277, eff 9-5-97 (emergency); Added at 15 Ok Reg 1803, eff 5-15-98; Amended at 16 Ok Reg 15, eff 8-20-98 (emergency); Amended at 16 Ok Reg 1643, eff 5-31-99; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 1798, eff 6-1-01; Amended at 21 Ok Reg 1446, eff 6-1-04]