Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-102

§403h–4 Forfeiture of Property Used in Commission of Offenses

Title 16 › CHAPTER 1 — NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › SUBCHAPTER XLVI — SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK AND GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK › § 403h–4

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

If someone uses gear to illegally hunt or catch wild birds, fish, or animals in the park, the tools they used — like guns, traps, nets, fishing gear, boats, teams, horses, or other transport — can be taken by park officers and kept while the person is prosecuted. If the person is found guilty, the court will order those items taken away as an extra punishment on top of any other penalties. The Secretary of the Interior will handle and account for the taken property. Any money from selling it must go to the United States Treasury. The court can choose whether to order the forfeiture of teams, horses, or other transport.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §403h–4

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

All guns, traps, nets, seines, fishing tackle, teams, horses, or means of transportation of every nature or description used by any person or persons within the limits of said park when engaged in killing, trapping, ensnaring, taking, or capturing such wild birds, fish, or animals contrary to the provisions of this Act or the rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior, shall be forfeited to the United States and may be seized by the officers in said park and held pending prosecution of any person or persons arrested under the charge of violating the provisions of this Act, and upon conviction under this Act of such person or persons using said guns, traps, nets, seines, fishing tackle, teams, horses, or other means of transportation, such forfeiture shall be adjudicated as a penalty in addition to the other punishment prescribed in this Act. Such forfeited property shall be disposed of and accounted for by and under the authority of the Secretary of the Interior and the proceeds paid into the Treasury of the United States: Provided, That the forfeiture of teams, horses, or other means of transportation shall be in the discretion of the court.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in text, is act Apr. 29, 1942, which is classified to sections 403h–1 to 403h–10 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 403h–4

Title 16, Conservation

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102