They also promote sound waterfowl habitat management by clarifying rules for hunting over areas where natural vegetation has been disturbed. The new rule specifies that U.S. Department of Agriculture extension specialists will determine normal agricultural and soil stabilization activities for their particular geographic areas. Hunters will have fewer questions about what is and is not legal as they head to the field this fall.
Hunters are still responsible for making sure no bait is present before they begin hunting.
Penalties for baiting and hunting over bait are severe. Manning chairs the Ad Hoc Committee on Baiting of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, which recommended a number of the changes included in the new federal rule.