Regulations: Hunting & Fishing United States Department of the Interior U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1
Objectives 1. To discuss the administration of wildlife law enforcement agencies. 2. To discuss general hunting and fishing regulations and purposes for them. 3. To discuss private land use and landowner rights. 2
Administration United States Department of the Interior (DOI) Structure decentralized agency over 73,000 employees over 200,000 volunteers 3
Administration managed by: Secretary of the Interior Deputy of the Interior 5 assistant secretaries 8 Bureau Directors Interior s Presidential appointees are confirmed by the Senate 4
Administration 5
Department of the Interior Bureaus National Park Service United States Fish and Wildlife Service Bureau of Indian Affairs Bureau of Land Management 6
Department of the Interior Bureaus Office of Surface Mining Minerals Management Service United States Geology Survey Bureau of Reclamation 7
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Responsibilities Fostering use of land and water Protecting fish and wildlife Preserving national parks and historical places Providing outdoor recreation 8
United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Is an agency of The Department of the Interior Is law enforcement mission statement: The Division of Law Enforcement contributes to service efforts to manage ecosystems, save endangered species, conserve migratory birds, preserve wildlife habitat, restore fisheries, combat invasive species, and promote wildlife conservation Federal Wardens- work with state game wardens to ensure federal laws are preserved 9
USFWS Law Enforcement Includes: headquarters office of law enforcement 7 regional law enforcement offices 261 special agents 122 wildlife inspectors 10
Requirements: Licenses, Stamps and Tags Hunting License required for anyone hunting any bird or animal Fishing License required for anyone resident who takes or attempts to take any aquatic life in public waters Stamps or Tags- an endorsement required in addition to a license example: hunting migratory waterfowl also requires a duck stamp United States Fish and Wildlife Service does not issue licenses for hunting and fishing must be bought from your state natural resource agency 11
Hunting & Fishing State agencies: issue licenses set season times set animal control and management of nonendangered species manage state parks, recreation areas, and forests have jurisdiction over game wardens 12
Rules for Hunting and Fishing License Valid license or permit and stamp must be on the person, and available for inspection by a game warden, at all times when hunting or fishing it is unlawful to use another person s license it is unlawful to let someone use your license 13
Hunting and Fishing Regulations Hunting and Fishing Law state hunting and fishing laws are listed in the Parks and Wildlife Code information on current regulations can be found: by contacting a license vendor by contacting the United States Fish and Wildlife Service at www.fws.gov by contacting your state fish and wildlife agency 14
Reasons Laws Are Set To protect the resource and wildlife To protect people and property To ensure a fair share of all hunters To ensure a fair chase To provide information about wildlife populations 15
Violations Violations of these laws can lead to felony charge misdemeanor charge civil restitution loss of license 16
Federal Laws There are numerous federal laws in the form of treaties and acts that deal with hunting and fishing laws pertaining to migratory birds and waterfowl most often come to mind when thing about federal laws 17
Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 Establishment of a Federal prohibition, unless permitted by regulations, to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, attempt to take, capture or kill, possess, offer to sale, sell, offer to purchase, purchase, deliver for shipment, ship, cause to be shipped, deliver for transportation, transport, cause to be transported, carry, or cause to be carried by any means whatever, receive for shipment, transportation or carriage, or export, at any time, or in any manner, any migratory bird, included in the terms of this Convention for the protection of migratory birds or any part, nest, or egg of any such bird. (16 U.S.C. 703) 18
Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 Applies to all migratory birds within international conventions between the United States and Mexico, the United States and Great Britain, the United States and Russia, and the United States and Japan conviction of violation would result in: fine of not more than $500 imprisonment of not more than 6 months conviction of selling would result in: fine of not more than $2000 imprisonment of not more than 2 years 19
Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act of 1998 Amended the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 made it unlawful to take migratory game birds using bait if the person knows or should know that the area has been baited made it unlawful to bait an area used for the purpose of taking migratory game birds or the area adjacent to it violators can be fined up to $100,000 and up to one year imprisonment 20
Migratory Bird Hunting & Conservation Stamp Act Commonly called the Duck Stamp Act Requires a person 16 years of age or older, who is engaging in hunting, to possess a federal hunting stamp 21
Fish & Wildlife Act of 1956 Establishes a comprehensive national fish, shellfish, and wildlife resources policy with emphasis on the commercial fishing industry but also with a direction to administer the Act with regard to the inherent right of every citizen and resident to fish for pleasure, enjoyment, and betterment and to maintain and increase public opportunities for recreational use of fish and wildlife resources. (16 U.S.C. 742a- 742j) 22
Federal Laws There are also several other laws, acts, and treaties that can be found at www.fws.gov/laws/laws_digest/ resource_laws.htm 23
Landowners and Property Rights Private land private land can be hunted on if you: own your own land receive permission to hunt pay to hunt Property Line 24
Hunting Lease Landowner provides you access to private land after certain arrangements are made lease agreement- written agreement between landowner and lessee content of lease agreement name of all parties- landowner and lessee length of lease- when the lease will end and begin description of lease area- identifies lease area by boundaries lease privileges- lists all permitted pre-season activities lease fee- costs of lease, payment type and due date 25
Hunting Lease indemnification statement- provides protection for the lessee against liability in case of injury or death to any lessee or property damage provisions of damages- procedures for reporting damage to the landowner hunting rights- identifies game permitted to hunt and other rules regarding hunting on property hunter rights- specifies general rules for hunter 26
Types of Hunting Leases Year-round lease Limited lease Day hunting Guided hunt 27
Quiz 1. The head of the Department of the Interior is the A. Chief Officer. C. Solicitor. B. Secretary. D. Inspector General. 2. (T/F) The United States Fish and Wildlife Service in an agency of the Department of the Interior. 28
3. State agencies Quiz A. Issue licenses. B. Set season times. C. Manage state parks and forests. D. All of the above 4. Hunting and Fishing laws are made. A. To annoy hunters B. To ensure a fair chase C. To make the state money 29
Quiz 5. (T/F) Private land can always be hunted on regardless if you own it or not. 30
Sources http://www.doi.gov/facts.html http://www.doi.gov/secretary/officials_org chart.html http://www.doi.gov/secretary/officials.html http://www.doi.gov/subject.html http://www.fws.gov/le/aboutle/about_le.htm http://www.fws.gov/laws/laws_digest/ migtrea.html http://www.fws.gov/laws/laws_digest/ mighunt.html http://www.fws.gov/laws/laws_digest/fwact.html 31
Acknowledgements Research Coordinator Ashley Come Julie Boatright Graphics Coordinator Brandon Riden Production Manager Dusty Moore Executive Producer G.W. Davis MMIII, MMIV, MMVII CEV Multimedia, Ltd. 32