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.ecfr.gov under “Title 50 – Wildlife and Fisheries.” The regulations below can be found at 50 CFR 20. unless otherwise noted. BAG & POSSESSION LIMIT — Three (3) sandhill cranes per calendar year. 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. MOTOR-VEHICLE RESTRICTIONS — No person may take migratory game birds from any motor-driven vehicle, including aircraft. Special regulations govern handicapped hunters. 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 crippled 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. 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. 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. BAG LIMIT — No person may, during any one year, take more than one bag limit or possess more than one 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. 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. ARIZONA Sandhill Crane Regulations 2017 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. 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. 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. The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AZGFD’s programs or activities, including its employment practices, the individual may file a complaint alleging discrimination directly with the Director’s Office, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000, or with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: Civil Rights Coordinator for Public Access, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS:WSFR, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Director’s Office as listed above. Arizona Game and Fish Department 5000 W. Carefree Highway Phoenix, Arizona 85086 (602) 942-3000 www.azgfd.gov Sandhill Crane: Commission Order 24 Sandhill Crane Notes continued: GENERAL SANDHILL CRANE 5. The Unit 28 crane hunt may be more difficult than areas because of the close proximity to the New Mexico border and the cranes are mostly located on private lands. Hunters in this unit will need to work closely with landowners to secure access to hunting areas prior to the hunt. Open Areas do not include areas within municipal parks, municipal preserves, county parks, county preserves, airports, golf courses, or posted water treatment facilities (except as specifically opened in this Commission Order) or areas closed to hunting under A.R.S. Sections 17-303 and 17-304 or Commission Rules R12-4-321, R12-4-801, R12-4-802 and R12-4-803. Hunt No. Season Dates Notes Open Areas Legal Wildlife Permits 9001 Nov 17 - Nov 19, 2017 (1,2,3,4) 30A, 30B, 31 and 32 Any sandhill crane 90 9002 Nov 21 - Nov 23, 2017 (1,2,3,4) 30A, 30B, 31 and 32 Any sandhill crane 90 9003 Nov 25 - Nov 27, 2017 (1,2,3,4) 30A, 30B, 31 and 32 Any sandhill crane 90 9004 Nov 29 - Dec 1, 2017 (1,2,3,4) 30A, 30B, 31 and 32 Any sandhill crane 90 9005 Dec 3 - Dec 5, 2017 (1,2,3,4) 30A, 30B, 31 and 32 Any sandhill crane 90 9006 Nov 25 - Nov 27, 2017 (1,4,5) 28 Any sandhill crane 12 9007 Nov 29 - Dec 1, 2017 (1,4,5) 28 Any sandhill crane 12 9008 Dec 3 - Dec 5, 2017 (1,4,5) 28 Any sandhill crane 12 9009 Dec 7 - Dec 9, 2017 (1,4,5) 28 Any sandhill crane 12 9010 Dec 11 - Dec 13, 2017 (1,4,5) 28 Any sandhill crane 12 Total 510 LAWFUL TAKING DEVICES: Shotgun, crossbow or bow and arrow as prescribed in R12-4-304. LICENSE REQUIRED: Any valid hunting license and Sandhill Crane Hunt Permit-tag. SHOOTING HOURS: One-half hour before sunrise until sunset. YOUTH-ONLY SANDHILL CRANE Open Areas do not include areas within municipal parks, municipal preserves, county parks, county preserves, airports, golf courses, or posted water treatment facilities (except as specifically opened in this Commission Order) or areas closed to hunting under A.R.S. Sections 17-303 and 17-304 or Commission Rules R12-4-321, R12-4-801, R12-4-802 and R12-4-803. Hunt No. Season Dates Notes Open Areas Legal Wildlife Permits 9011 Dec 8 - Dec 10, 2017 (1,2,3,4) 30A, 30B, 31 and 32 Any sandhill crane 25 Total 25 LAWFUL TAKING DEVICES: Shotgun, crossbow or bow and arrow as prescribed in R12-4-304. LICENSE REQUIRED: Any valid hunting license and Sandhill Crane Hunt Permit-tag. ELIGIBLE HUNTERS: Persons are eligible to participate up to their 18th birthday. A youth hunter, whose 18th birthday occurs during a “Youth-Only” designated hunt for which the hunter has a valid hunt permit-tag or nonpermit-tag, may continue to participate for the duration of that “Youth-Only” designated hunt. Sandhill Crane Notes: 1. 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. 2. 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; north on AZ Hwy 191 to Interstate 10; northeast on Interstate 10 to Willcox. 3. 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. 4. 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 three (3) Sandhill crane hunt-permit tags. Hunt permit-tag application process and schedule 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 permittags 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 Application Form, you must apply for a license by completing the license form section and include payment with the application. Hunt Permit-tag Applications for sandhill crane will be accepted beginning July 31, 2017, by mail only at the following addresses: P.O. Box 74020, Phoenix, AZ 85087-1052; or at 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000. These applications may not be hand delivered to any Department office. Deadline for the Department to receive applications is Aug. 25, 2017. No application will be accepted after this date regardless of postmark. Hunt permit-tags will be mailed out by Sept. 11, 2017. The hunt permit-tag fee is $43.00 for residents and $45.00 for non-residents (each hunter will receive 3 hunt permit-tags).