Bill > HR1099

This bill, titled the Hunter and Farmer Protection Act, amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to clarify what constitutes "baiting," which is prohibited when hunting migratory game birds. Specifically, for waterfowl, cranes, and coots, an unharvested standing crop that has been manipulated (like mowing or disking) is now considered a baited area unless these activities are considered "normal agricultural practices." Normal agricultural practices are defined as those done to produce a marketable crop, including planting, harvesting, or soil conservation, and are recommended by the Department of Agriculture's Cooperative Extension System. The bill also provides exclusions, meaning an area is not considered baited if it has undergone normal agricultural practices, has unmanipulated standing crops, or has standing crops that are flooded. Additionally, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is required to report annually to the Department of the Interior on any changes to these normal agricultural practices across different regions and crops.