Wildlife LawsWildlife Laws

Alabama Hunter Education Program

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries

Law Enforcement Section

Conservation Enforcement OfficerConservation Enforcement Officer Primary section of the Division of Primary section of the Division of

Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries responsible for enforcement of responsible for enforcement of laws and regulations.laws and regulations.

Conservation Enforcement OfficerMinimum Employment Requirements

High School graduateHigh School graduate Valid Alabama Driver’s Valid Alabama Driver’s

LicenseLicense 70% score on CEO 70% score on CEO

Employment ExaminationEmployment Examination Pass background checkPass background check Graduate from police academyGraduate from police academy One year on the job probation One year on the job probation

periodperiod

Conservation Enforcement OfficerConservation Enforcement Officer

•Officers qualify twice a year with firearms

How to contact a How to contact a Conservation Enforcement Conservation Enforcement

OfficerOfficer Work out of homes and contacted via:Work out of homes and contacted via:

1. Telephone – district office1. Telephone – district office 2. Local law enforcement agencies2. Local law enforcement agencies 3. Gamewatch – 1-800-272-42633. Gamewatch – 1-800-272-4263 Average of 2 CEO’s per county plus Average of 2 CEO’s per county plus

supervisors and Montgomery office supervisors and Montgomery office staff. staff.

Operation GamewatchOperation Gamewatch To report an Alabama To report an Alabama

wildlife law violation in wildlife law violation in progress, call “Operation progress, call “Operation Gamewatch” at 1-800-272-Gamewatch” at 1-800-272-4263.4263.

Call your local District Office Call your local District Office or the State radio operator or the State radio operator at 334-242-3467 to provide at 334-242-3467 to provide information regarding past information regarding past violations or to have your violations or to have your local Conservation local Conservation Enforcement Officer contact Enforcement Officer contact you.you.

Job Job DescriptionDescription

Patrol assigned area to detect and deter Patrol assigned area to detect and deter violationsviolations

Make random checks to assure compliance Make random checks to assure compliance with laws and regulationswith laws and regulations

Answer animal complaintsAnswer animal complaints

Investigate crop Investigate crop damage damage complaintscomplaints

Conduct hunter Conduct hunter education courseseducation courses

Educate the public Educate the public regarding laws regarding laws and regulationsand regulations

Assist with Assist with community fishing community fishing eventsevents

Investigate reported violationsInvestigate reported violations Investigate hunting accidentsInvestigate hunting accidents Inspect license agentsInspect license agents Conduct public meetings regarding fish Conduct public meetings regarding fish

and wildlife issuesand wildlife issues

Tools of the TradeTools of the Trade

Arrest PowersArrest Powers State law enforcement officer with full State law enforcement officer with full

arrest powers and may exercise such arrest powers and may exercise such powers anywhere in the state.powers anywhere in the state.

Primary responsibility toward Primary responsibility toward enforcement of wildlife laws and enforcement of wildlife laws and regulations but may make an arrest for regulations but may make an arrest for any violation of state or federal law.any violation of state or federal law.

Most arrests are misdemeanors and are Most arrests are misdemeanors and are handled through the District Court.handled through the District Court.

All states have hunting laws that All states have hunting laws that govern the activities of hunters. These govern the activities of hunters. These laws are necessary for four basic laws are necessary for four basic reasons:reasons: Protect and conserve wildlife Protect and conserve wildlife

resources and their habitat.resources and their habitat. Insure equal opportunity to Insure equal opportunity to

participate in wildlife recreation.participate in wildlife recreation. Insure safety and welfare of the Insure safety and welfare of the

hunting and non-hunting public.hunting and non-hunting public. Insure fair chase of game.Insure fair chase of game.

Who owns wildlife?Who owns wildlife?

Ownership of land does not include Ownership of land does not include ownership of wildlife.ownership of wildlife.

The state of Alabama owns and The state of Alabama owns and manages all wildlife within its borders manages all wildlife within its borders on behalf of the state’s citizens.on behalf of the state’s citizens.

The Division of Wildlife and Freshwater The Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries is the agency responsible for Fisheries is the agency responsible for managing fish and wildlife resources.managing fish and wildlife resources.

Laws and regulationsLaws and regulations Wildlife laws can only be passed by the Wildlife laws can only be passed by the

state legislature.state legislature. Regulations that control the place, time, Regulations that control the place, time,

and manner in which wildlife is taken and manner in which wildlife is taken are established by the Commissioner of are established by the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.Natural Resources.

Effective laws and regulations are a Effective laws and regulations are a vital part of a progressive wildlife vital part of a progressive wildlife management program.management program.

When you buy a license to hunt, When you buy a license to hunt, you take on the responsibility of you take on the responsibility of knowing and obeying all hunting knowing and obeying all hunting laws and regulations.laws and regulations.

Unlike most recreational activities, Unlike most recreational activities, in hunting there are no referees to in hunting there are no referees to go along and make sure you obey go along and make sure you obey the rules.the rules.

You are your own referee and it is You are your own referee and it is your responsibility to act in a safe, your responsibility to act in a safe, law abiding manner.law abiding manner.

The future of hunting The future of hunting depends on you.depends on you.

Know and obey all laws and regulations.Know and obey all laws and regulations. Do not associate with hunters who do Do not associate with hunters who do

not obey the laws and regulations, or not obey the laws and regulations, or fail to respect the private property, and, fail to respect the private property, and, or rights of other people.or rights of other people.

Wildlife belongs to everyone, and each Wildlife belongs to everyone, and each of us must do our part to ensure that of us must do our part to ensure that future generations will have the same future generations will have the same opportunity to participate in wildlife opportunity to participate in wildlife recreation.recreation.

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries

W ild life S ec tion L aw E nforc ement S ec tion Fisheries S ec tion

D ivis ion D irec tor

C onservation C ommiss ioner

G overnorGovernor

Commissioner

Director

Enforcement Section Fisheries Section Wildlife Section

Commonly Violated Commonly Violated Wildlife Laws and Wildlife Laws and

RegulationsRegulations Hunting without permissionHunting without permission

First OffenseFirst Offense – Minimum $250 Fine – Minimum $250 FinePossible 1 year revocation of hunting privilegesPossible 1 year revocation of hunting privileges

Second OffenseSecond Offense – Minimum $500 Fine – Minimum $500 Fine1 year revocation of hunting privileges1 year revocation of hunting privileges

Commonly Violated Commonly Violated Wildlife Laws and Wildlife Laws and

RegulationsRegulations Hunting at nightHunting at night

First OffenseFirst Offense - - $1000-$2000$1000-$2000

3 year revocation of 3 year revocation of hunting privilegeshunting privileges

Second OffenseSecond Offense – – Min. $2000Min. $2000

3 year revocation of 3 year revocation of hunting privilegeshunting privileges

3-10 days in jail3-10 days in jail

Confiscation of firearms and vehicles involved.

Commonly Violated Commonly Violated Wildlife Laws and Wildlife Laws and

RegulationsRegulations Hunting from a public roadHunting from a public roadFirst OffenseFirst Offense – Minimum $250 – Minimum $250

Second OffenseSecond Offense – Minimum $500 – Minimum $500

1 year revocation of hunting privileges1 year revocation of hunting privileges

Commonly Violated Commonly Violated Wildlife Laws and Wildlife Laws and RegulationsRegulations• Hunting with the aid of baitDeer or Turkey - $250-$2,000 fine

1 year revocation of hunting privilegesPossible 10-30 days in jail

Commonly Violated Commonly Violated Wildlife Laws and Wildlife Laws and

RegulationsRegulations Hunting during closed seasonHunting during closed season

Minimum fine is $ 50.00Minimum fine is $ 50.00 Maximum fine is $ 500.00Maximum fine is $ 500.00 Up to 6 months imprisonmentUp to 6 months imprisonment

Commonly Violated Commonly Violated Wildlife Laws and Wildlife Laws and

RegulationsRegulations Hunting migratory birds with a Hunting migratory birds with a

gun capable of holding more gun capable of holding more than 3 shellsthan 3 shells

Hunting without a licenseHunting without a license Possession of a firearm in a Possession of a firearm in a

WMA without a permitWMA without a permit

Commonly Violated Commonly Violated Wildlife Laws and Wildlife Laws and

RegulationsRegulations Failure to wear hunter orangeFailure to wear hunter orange

Commonly Violated Commonly Violated Wildlife Laws and Wildlife Laws and

RegulationsRegulations Hunting during restricted hoursHunting during restricted hours Exceeding bag or creel limitExceeding bag or creel limit Hunting with improper arms or Hunting with improper arms or

ammunitionammunition

Name the Name the violations!violations!

Hunting from a public roadHunting from a public road Hunting from a railroad right-of-wayHunting from a railroad right-of-way Hunting with the aid of a motor vehicleHunting with the aid of a motor vehicle Hunting without permissionHunting without permission

Name the Name the violations!violations!

Shooting across or hunting from a Shooting across or hunting from a railroad right-of-wayrailroad right-of-way

Failure to wear sufficient hunter orangeFailure to wear sufficient hunter orange

Name the Name the violations!violations!

Hunting from a railroad right-of-wayHunting from a railroad right-of-way Failure to wear sufficient hunter orangeFailure to wear sufficient hunter orange

Name the Name the violations!violations!

Assuming this is a real gobbler, name Assuming this is a real gobbler, name the violations!the violations!

Hunting turkeys from a treestand with a Hunting turkeys from a treestand with a firearmfirearm

Name the Name the violations!violations!

Assuming this is a real gobbler, name Assuming this is a real gobbler, name the violations!the violations!

None, it is legal to hunt any game None, it is legal to hunt any game animal from an elevated platform with animal from an elevated platform with archery equipment.archery equipment.

Name the Name the violations!violations!

Hunting with the aid of a motor vehicleHunting with the aid of a motor vehicle NOTE - Using a stationary vehicle as a blind NOTE - Using a stationary vehicle as a blind

or stand on private property is legalor stand on private property is legal

Alabama Department of Conservation

and Natural Resources

Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries

www.dcnr.state.al.us