II
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1634
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 31, 2013
Mr. Pryor (for himself, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Wicker, and Ms. Landrieu) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
A BILL
To amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to provide certain exemptions relating to the taking of migratory game birds.
Short title
This Act may be cited as
the Hunter and Farmer Protection Act
of 2013
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Exemptions on certain land
Section 3 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 704) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Exemptions on certain land
In general
Nothing in this section prohibits the taking of any migratory game bird, including waterfowl, coots, and cranes, on or over land that—
is not a baited area; and
contains—
a standing crop or flooded standing crop, including an aquatic crop;
standing, flooded, or manipulated natural vegetation;
flooded harvested cropland; or
based on the determination of the applicable State office of the Cooperative Extension System of the Department of Agriculture at the request of the Secretary of the Interior, an area on which seed or grain has been scattered solely as the result of a normal agricultural planting, harvesting, post-harvest manipulation, or normal soil stabilization practice.
Determinations
In general
For purposes of making a determination under paragraph (1)(B)(iv), each State office of the Cooperative Extension System of the Department of Agriculture shall determine the activities in that State that the State office considers to be a normal agricultural practice in the State, such as mowing, shredding, discing, rolling, chopping, trampling, flattening, burning, or carrying out herbicide treatment.
Revisions
A State office may revise a report described in subparagraph (A) as the State office determines to be necessary to reflect changing agricultural practices.
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