§707 Violations and Penalties; Forfeitures

Summary

People who break the rules about migratory birds commit a misdemeanor unless another part of the law says otherwise. They can be fined up to $15,000, jailed up to six months, or both. If someone knowingly takes a migratory bird to sell or barter it, or actually sells or offers to sell or barter a migratory bird, that is a felony punishable by up to $2,000 fine, up to two years in prison, or both. A violation of section 704(b)(2) is punished under Title 18 and can include a fine and up to 1 year in jail, or both. Guns, traps, nets, boats, vehicles, and other gear used to illegally hunt or capture birds to sell or barter can be seized and forfeited to the United States. They may be held during a prosecution and, after conviction, kept as an extra penalty. The Secretary of the Interior will handle disposal and record-keeping for those items.