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:

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

hereby amended to read as follows:

     20-14-7. Prohibited methods of taking.

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

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

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

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

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

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

or aid of live birds as decoys.

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

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

to crows.

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

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

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

or destroying wild birds.

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

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

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

     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

weapons spelled out in this section.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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