This web page reviews current Federal regulations on baiting and summarizes other Federal regulations for waterfowl hunting. Federal baiting regulations define key terms for hunters and land managers, and clarify conditions under which you may legally hunt waterfowl and other migratory game birds. As a waterfowl hunter or land manager, it is your responsibility to know and obey all Federal and State laws that govern the sport. Rules that affect waterfowl hunting also apply to hunting coots and cranes, and all references to waterfowl in this material encompass these birds as well.
Federal regulations are more restrictive for waterfowl hunting than for dove hunting.
For information on dove hunting, carefully review the Federal regulations and visit the companion web page on dove hunting and baiting. Definitions from Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 20.11 Normal agricultural planting, harvesting, or post-harvest manipulation means a planting or harvesting undertaken for the purpose of producing and gathering a crop, or manipulation after such harvest and removal of grain, that is conducted in accordance with official recommendations of State Extension Specialists of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Normal agricultural operation means a normal agricultural planting, harvesting, post-harvest manipulation, or agricultural practice, that is conducted in accordance with official recommendations of State Extension Specialists of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Normal soil stabilization practice means a planting for agricultural soil erosion control or post- mining land reclamation conducted in accordance with official recommendations of State Extension Specialists of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for agricultural soil erosion control. Baited area means any area on which salt, grain, or other feed has been placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, or scattered, if that salt, grain, or other feed could serve as a lure or attraction for migratory game birds to, on, or over areas where hunters are attempting to take them.