# 16 U.S.C. § 704: Determination as to when and how migratory birds may be taken, killed, or possessed

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t16_s704

## Section

- **Citation:** 16 U.S.C. § 704
- **Heading:** Determination as to when and how migratory birds may be taken, killed, or possessed
- **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

Subject to the provisions and in order to carry out the purposes of the conventions, referred to in section 703 of this title , the Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed, from time to time, having due regard to the zones of temperature and to the distribution, abundance, economic value, breeding habits, and times and lines of migratory flight of such birds, to determine when, to what extent, if at all, and by what means, it is compatible with the terms of the conventions to allow hunting, taking, capture, killing, possession, sale, purchase, shipment, transportation, carriage, or export of any such bird, or any part, nest, or egg thereof, and to adopt suitable regulations permitting and governing the same, in accordance with such determinations, which regulations shall become effective when approved by the President.

( July 3, 1918, ch. 128, § 3 , 40 Stat. 755 ; June 20, 1936, ch. 634, § 2 , 49 Stat. 1556 ; 1939 Reorg. Plan No. II, § 4(f), eff. July 1, 1939 , 4 F.R. 2731, 53 Stat. 1433 ; Pub. L. 105–312, title I, § 102 , Oct. 30, 1998 , 112 Stat. 2956 ; Pub. L. 116–9, title IV, § 4301 , Mar. 12, 2019 , 133 Stat. 764 .)

## 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_s704. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.