Clarification of laws.

[Rippinlip]

Reading through the regs. I came upon the rule about crop land having to been harvested for 10 days prior to being able to hunt it for migratory birds with the exception of Doves.

That means that any field that is not harvested by today is off limits for the early season opener?

If so that means that alot of us will be going to water to get some action, which I do not want to be chasing these birds off roosting areas and out of the area faster.

Is this your understanding about the law.

It is on Page 58 of the regs. Under the "NOTE"

[Mark Christianson]

In the waterfowl supplement it says this:

You may not hunt migratory

waterfowl by the aid of baiting or on or over a

baited area where a person knows or

reasonably should know that the area

is or has been baited. A baited area is

considered to be baited for 10 days

after removal of bait.

On page 58 of the hunting regs they are talking about "manipulated" crops. Crops such as a corn field that is standing, and you take a disc over the field just to knock the crop to the ground would be a "manipulated" field.

Normal farming practices are not a "manipulation" of the field.

Subjective?? As much as many other laws/rules are as well.

A farmer could miss a row of corn stalks when picking, and disc them under with no ill intent, and you would be in a "manipulated" field.

[Rost]

Yep, I remember a debate about this last year.

If you are hunting a field in which the farmer has used normal farming practices. You're golden.