2022 -- H 7544

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LC004800

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE - BIRDS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Chippendale, Cardillo, Shanley, Place, and Filippi

     Date Introduced: February 18, 2022

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 20-14-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-14 entitled "Birds" is

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hereby amended to read as follows:

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     20-14-7. Prohibited methods of taking.

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     (a) No person shall hunt, pursue, take, or attempt to take, upland or migratory game birds

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over any area that has been baited. For the purposes of this section a "baited area" is that on which

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salt, corn, wheat, or other grains have been scattered to lure, attract, or entice those birds to, on, or

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over, where hunters are attempting to take them and shall not be construed to include areas where

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corn, wheat, or other grains are scattered as the result of normal agricultural operations.

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     (b) No person shall hunt, pursue, take, or attempt to take migratory game birds by the use

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or aid of live birds as decoys.

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     (c) No person shall hunt, pursue, take, or attempt to take wild birds by the use of an

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electronically amplified recording of bird calls or sounds. However, this provision does not apply

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to crows.

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     (d) No person shall take, kill, or destroy any wild bird by means of any trap, snare, net,

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spring, crossbow, rifle, pistol, fishhook, poison, drug, explosive, or stupefying substance, nor shall

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any person construct, set, maintain, or repair any of these devices for the purpose of taking, killing,

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or destroying wild birds.

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     (e) No person shall shoot, or attempt to shoot, migratory game birds by means other than a

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shotgun of size ten (10) gauge or smaller, capable of holding three (3) or fewer shells, or a long

 

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bow (straight limb, reflex, recurve, crossbow and compound bow) and arrow.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE - BIRDS

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     This act would allow the taking of any wild bird by using a crossbow in addition to the

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weapons spelled out in this section.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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