Synopsis of federal regulations
applicable to migratory bird hunting
Federal regulations regarding bird hunting are described in
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). These can be found at
www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/. The regulations below can be
found at 50 CFR 20.21 unless otherwise noted.

DECOYS, CALLS AND BAITING – Migratory birds may not
be taken with the aid of live decoys, recorded bird calls or
electronically amplified bird calls. It is illegal to take birds over
baited areas. An area is considered baited for 10 days after the
bait has been removed, and a hunter need not know an area
has been baited to be in violation.

CLOSED AREAS – Willcox Playa Wildlife Area (In Unit 30A):
Open to hunting and trapping in season, except that the posted
portion (SE 1/4 of Section 3 and SW 1/4 of Section 2 and the
NE 1/4 of Section 10, T15S, R25E) is closed to public entry from
the first day of the waterfowl season through February 28 of
the following year. The Willcox Playa Wildlife Area is closed to
off-road motor-powered vehicular entry and travel at all times.

WATERCRAFT RESTRICTIONS – Waterfowl may be hunted
from a watercraft (except a sinkbox) including those propelled
by motor, sail and wind, or both when the motor has been
completely shut off and/or the sails furled and its progress
therefrom has ceased. The watercraft may be drifting as a result of current or wind action on the hull, beached or moored,
resting at anchor, or may be propelled by paddle, oars or
pole. A watercraft under power may be used to retrieve dead
or criplled waterfowl but no shooting is permitted while the
watercraft is underway. It is illegal to drive or rally game birds
toward hunters by use of any motor-driven conveyance or sail
boat.

SEASON AND HOURS – No person may take migratory game
birds during closed season. Migratory game birds may be taken
only during hours open to hunting.

MOTOR-VEHICLE RESTRICTIONS – No person may take
migratory game birds from any motor-driven vehicle, including
aircraft. Special regulations govern handicapped hunters.

IMPORTATION – For information regarding the importation of
migratory game birds killed in another country, hunters should
consult federal regulations (50CFR 20.61 through 20.66). One
fully feathered wing must remain attached to all migratory
game birds being transported between the port of entry and
the hunter’s home or to a migratory bird preservation facility.
No person shall import any migratory game birds from any
country except Canada unless such birds are dressed (except
as required above), drawn and the head and feet are removed.
No person shall import migratory game birds belonging to
another person.

WEAPON – Migratory game birds may be taken only with a
10 gauge or smaller shotgun capable of holding not more than
three shells. Birds may also be taken by falconry or by bow and
arrow, or crossbow.

ONE FEATHERED WING – Sportsmen should note that one
feathered wing (or head for sandhill crane only) must be left
attached to all migratory game birds until they reach their final
destination.

BAG LIMIT – No person may, during any one day take more
than one daily bag limit or possess more than one daily bag
limit in the field, or while returning to the car, hunting camp or
home. One feathered wing must be left attached to all migratory game birds until they reach their final destination.
RETRIEVAL AND TAGGING – All birds downed shall be retrieved if possible, and retained in the custody of the hunter in
the field. Crippled birds must be killed immediately. Any birds
given to or left with another person must be tagged by the
hunter with a tag showing his name, address and the number
and species of birds, and the dates they were killed. Packages
in which migratory game birds are shipped must show the
names of the sender and receiver, and the number and species
of birds contained in the parcel.

Arizona

Sandhill
Crane
Regulations
2006

BAG and POSSESSION LIMIT – For hunts in Units 30A, 30B,
31, and 32 - Two (2) sandhill cranes per calendar year.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and
disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that
they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD’s
programs or activities, including its employment practices, the
individual may file a complaint alleging discrimination directly
with the AGFD Deputy Director, 2221 W. Greenway Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85023, (602) 942-3000 or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
4040 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 130, Arlington, VA 22203. If you
require this document in an alternative format, please contact
the AGFD Deputy Director as listed above or by calling TTY at
1-800-367-8939.

Arizona Game and Fish Department
2221 W. Greenway Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85023
(602) 942-3000
azgfd.gov

Hunt permit-tag application
process and schedule

Commission Order 24: Sandhill Crane
General Sandhill Crane
Open Areas do not include any area closed to hunting under A.R.S. sections 17‑303 and 17‑304 or Commission Rules R12‑4‑301, R12‑4‑801, R12‑4‑802 and
R12‑4‑803.
Hunt Season Dates
Notes
Open Areas
Legal Wildlife
Permits
9001 Nov 3 ‑ Nov 5, 2006
(1,2,3,4,5)
30A, 30B, 31 and 32
Any sandhill crane
85
9002 Nov 7 ‑ Nov 9, 2006
(1,2,3,4,5)
30A, 30B, 31 and 32
Any sandhill crane
85
9003 Nov 11 ‑ Nov 13, 2006
(1,2,3,4,5)
30A, 30B, 31 and 32
Any sandhill crane
85
9004 Nov 15 ‑ Nov 17, 2006
(1,2,3,4,5)
30A, 30B, 31 and 32
Any sandhill crane
85
Total
340
LAWFUL TAKING DEVICES: Shotgun, crossbow or bow and arrow as prescribed in R12‑4‑304.
LICENSE REQUIRED: Class F, G, or H license and Sandhill Crane Hunt Permit‑tag.
SHOOTING HOURS: One‑half hour before sunrise until sunset.

Archery‑Only Sandhill Crane
Open Areas do not include any area closed to hunting under A.R.S. sections 17‑303 and 17‑304 or Commission Rules R12‑4‑301, R12‑4‑801, R12‑4‑802 and
R12‑4‑803.
Hunt Season Dates
Notes
Open Areas
Legal Wildlife
Permits
9005 Nov 24 ‑ Nov 26, 2006
(2,3,4,5)
30A, 30B, 31 and 32
Any sandhill crane
25
Total
25
LAWFUL TAKING DEVICE: Bow and arrow as prescribed in R12‑4‑304.
LICENSE REQUIRED: Class F, G, or H license and Sandhill Crane Hunt Permit‑Tag.
SHOOTING HOURS: One‑half hour before sunrise until sunset.

Sandhill Crane Notes:
1. A mandatory checking station will be operated at the
Willcox Playa Wildlife Area located approximately 10 miles
south of Willcox on the Kansas Settlement Road for the
2006 season. All successful hunters must present their
birds for inspection at the Willcox Playa checking station
in accordance with R12‑4‑308. All hunters, successful and
unsuccessful, are asked to return the harvest questionnaire
following the hunt to maintain the harvest database.
2. In accordance with R12‑4‑305 each sandhill crane possessed
or being transported shall have a permit‑tag attached to its leg
or neck and either the fully feathered head or one fully feathered wing shall remain attached until it arrives at the hunter’s
permanent abode or the place where it is to be consumed.
3. An area within the following described boundaries shall be
closed to sandhill crane hunting during the sandhill crane
season dates: Beginning at Willcox; southeast on AZ Hwy
186 to the Kansas Settlement Road; south on the Kansas
Settlement Road to Kimzey Road which runs west from K‑S
Store (formerly Brown’s store) and the cotton gin at the

northeast corner of Section 11, Township 16 South, Range
25 East; west along this road alignment to AZ Hwy 191 (formerly 666); north on AZ Hwy 191 to Interstate 10; northeast
on Interstate 10 to Willcox.
4. The area within the following described boundaries shall
be closed to sandhill crane hunting. Beginning at the junction of Coffman and Davis roads; south on Coffman road
to Bagby road; west along the Bagby road alignment to the
intersection of Bagby and posted portions of the Alamo
Ranch; north to the boundary with that portion of Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area in Section 30, Township 12 South,
Range 26 East; west along the posted portion of the Wildlife
Area to Frontier road; north on Frontier road to Davis road;
east on Davis Road to the point of origin.
5. Units 30A, 30B, 31, and 32 Hunt Area – Sandhill crane hunt
permit-tags may be obtained only through application and
drawing procedures prescribed in R12‑4‑104 and the Hunt
Permit-Tag Application Schedule. Successful applicants will
receive two (2) Sandhill crane hunt-permit tags.

Sandhill crane hunt permit-tags may be obtained only through
application and drawing procedures as prescribed in R12-4-104
and R12-4-114. Applications for hunt permit-tags shall be made
on Hunt Permit-Tag Application Forms. In order to participate in
the draw you must have or apply for a license. If you are not licensed at the time you submit your Hunt Permit-Tag Applications
Form, you must apply for a license by completing the license
form section and including payment with the application.
Hunt Permit-Tag Applications for Sandhill Crane will be accepted beginning July 31, 2006 by mail only at the Department’s
Phoenix office (P.O. Box 52002, Phoenix, AZ 85072-2002).
Deadline for the Department to receive applications is Sept. 5,
2006. No application will be accepted after this date regardless
of postmark. Hunt permit-tags will be mailed out by Sept. 22,
2006. Consult the 2006-2007 Arizona Hunting Regulations for
additional information.

Sunrise/Sunset 2006
(Times shown are for Willcox, Arizona)
DATE
RISE
SET
Oct. 31
6:36
5:30
Nov. 1
6:36
5:29
Nov. 2
6:37
5:28
Nov. 3
6:38
5:27
Nov. 4
6:39
5:27
Nov. 5
6:40
5:26
Nov. 6
6:41
5:25
Nov. 7
6:41
5:24
Nov. 8
6:42
5:23
Nov. 9
6:43
5:23

DATE
Nov. 10
Nov. 11
Nov. 12
Nov. 13
Nov. 14
Nov. 15
Nov. 16
Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Nov. 19

RISE
6:44
6:45
6:46
6:47
6:48
6:49
6:49
6:50
6:51
6:52

SET
5:22
5:21
5:21
5:20
5:20
5:19
5:19
5:18
5:18
5:17