# 16 U.S.C. § 703: Taking, killing, or possessing migratory birds unlawful

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t16_s703

## Section

- **Citation:** 16 U.S.C. § 703
- **Heading:** Taking, killing, or possessing migratory birds unlawful
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** July 16, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 16—CONSERVATION > CHAPTER 7—PROTECTION OF MIGRATORY GAME AND INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS > SUBCHAPTER II—MIGRATORY BIRD TREATY

## Text

Unless and except as permitted by regulations made as hereinafter provided in this subchapter, it shall be unlawful at any time, by any means or in any manner, to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, attempt to take, capture, or kill, possess, offer for sale, sell, offer to barter, barter, offer to purchase, purchase, deliver for shipment, ship, export, import, cause to be shipped, exported, or imported, deliver for transportation, transport or cause to be transported, carry or cause to be carried, or receive for shipment, transportation, carriage, or export, any migratory bird, any part, nest, or egg of any such bird, or any product, whether or not manufactured, which consists, or is composed in whole or part, of any such bird or any part, nest, or egg thereof, included in the terms of the conventions between the United States and Great Britain for the protection of migratory birds concluded August 16, 1916 ( 39 Stat. 1702 ), the United States and the United Mexican States for the protection of migratory birds and game mammals concluded February 7, 1936 , the United States and the Government of Japan for the protection of migratory birds and birds in danger of extinction, and their environment concluded March 4, 1972 , and the convention between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the conservation of migratory birds and their environments concluded November 19, 1976 .

( July 3, 1918, ch. 128, § 2 , 40 Stat. 755 ; June 20, 1936, ch. 634, § 3 , 49 Stat. 1556 ; Pub. L. 93–300, § 1 , June 1, 1974 , 88 Stat. 190 ; Pub. L. 101–233, § 15 , Dec. 13, 1989 , 103 Stat. 1977 ; Pub. L. 108–447, div. E, title I, § 143(b) , Dec. 8, 2004 , 118 Stat. 3071 .)

## Nearby sections

- [16 U.S.C. § 701 Game and wild birds; preservation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t16_s701.md)
- [16 U.S.C. § 702 Importation of eggs of game birds for propagation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t16_s702.md)
- [16 U.S.C. § 703 Taking, killing, or possessing migratory birds unlawful](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t16_s703.md)
- [16 U.S.C. § 704 Determination as to when and how migratory birds may be taken, killed, or possessed](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t16_s704.md)
- [16 U.S.C. § 705 Transportation or importation of migratory birds; when unlawful](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t16_s705.md)
- [16 U.S.C. § 706 Arrests; search warrants](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t16_s706.md)
- [16 U.S.C. § 707 Violations and penalties; forfeitures](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t16_s707.md)
- [16 U.S.C. § 708 State or Territorial laws or regulations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t16_s708.md)
- [16 U.S.C. § 709 Omitted](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t16_s709.md)
- [16 U.S.C. § 709a Authorization of appropriations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t16_s709a.md)
- [16 U.S.C. § 710 Partial invalidity; short title](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t16_s710.md)
- [16 U.S.C. § 711 Breeding and sale for food supply](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t16_s711.md)
- [16 U.S.C. § 712 Treaty and convention implementing regulations; seasonal taking of migratory birds for essential needs of indigenous Alaskans to preserve and maintain stocks of the birds; protection and conservation of the birds](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t16_s712.md)
- [16 U.S.C. § 715 Short title](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t16_s715.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t16_s703. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.