The bill amends Section 20-14-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-14 entitled "Birds" to modify the methods by which upland or migratory game birds may be hunted. The bill specifies that hunting over a baited area, defined as an area where substances like salt, corn, wheat, or other grains have been scattered to attract birds, is prohibited. It also bans the use of live birds as decoys, the use of electronically amplified bird calls or sounds (except for crows), and the use of traps, snares, nets, spring guns, rifles, pistols, fishhooks, poison, drugs, explosives, or stupefying substances for taking wild birds.

The bill introduces a new legal language that allows the use of a crossbow for hunting migratory game birds, which was previously prohibited. The deletion of "crossbow" from the list of prohibited methods and its insertion into the list of permissible methods (long bow and arrow) signifies this change. The act would take effect immediately upon passage, thereby legalizing the use of crossbows for hunting wild birds alongside other specified weapons.

Statutes affected:
192: 20-14-7