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other grain, salt, or other feed so as to constitute for 

 such birds a lure, attraction or enticement to, on, or over 

 any areas where hunters are attempting to take them; and 

 'baited area' means any area where shelled, shucked, or 

 unshucked corn, wheat or other grain, salt, or other feed 

 whatsoever capable of luring, attracting, or enticing such 

 birds is directly or indirectly placed, exposed, deposited, 

 distributed, or scattered; and such area shall remain a 

 baited area for 10 days following complete removal of all 

 such corn, wheat or other grain, salt, or other feed. 

 However, nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit: 



(1) The taking of all migratory game birds, including 

 waterfowl, on or over standing crops, flooded standing crops 



(including aquatics), flooded harvested croplands, grain 

 crops properly shocked on the field where grown, or grains 

 found scattered solely as the result of normal agricultural 

 planting or harvesting; and 



(2) The taking of all migratory game birds, except 

 waterfowl, on or over any lands where shelled, shucked or 

 unshucked corn, wheat or other grain, salt, or other feed 

 has been distributed or scattered as the result of bona fide* 

 agricultural operations or procedures or as a result of 

 manipulation of a crop or other feed on the land where grown 

 for wildlife management purposes: Provided, that 

 manipulation for wildlife management purposes does not 

 include disturbing or scattering of grain or other feed once 

 it has been removed from or stored on the field where 

 grown. " 



Service baiting regulations have been in place for more than 60 

 years. The baiting issue has been around longer. Baiting became 

 more popular after the turn of the Century when waterfowl numbers 

 declined dramatically. Baiting conditions and concentrates 

 migratory game birds to a specific location, making them easy 

 marks for shooters . 



Hunting regulations are just one important part of the overall 

 strategy to protect migratory bird populations. Many migratory 

 bird populations are being depleted because of the cumulative 

 impacts of contaminants, diseases, loss of habitat and illegal 

 take. Loss of habitat is, arguably, the most important of these 

 factors . 



The Service believes baiting is rare among sportspersons . Most 

 consider the practice to be unethical and unsporting. Most 

 hunters know what baiting is, and they do not violate the law. 



Mr. Chairman, I know that you. are- interested in the Dixie 

 County, Florida, dove hunt, and I would like to provide you with 

 the details of that particular incident. 



