Preservation of Wetlands and Hunting of Migratory Waterfowl.

Ala. Code tit. 9, ch. 11, art. 16

in effect

Ala. Code § 9-11-430 Definitions.

9-11-430. Definitions. Whenever used in this article, the following words and terms shall have the following respective meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (1) MIGRATORY WATERFOWL. Any wild duck, wild goose, brant or coot (poule d’eau). (2) DEPARTMENT. State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. (3) STAMP. The state migratory waterfowl stamp furnished by the department. (Acts 1979, No. 79-545, p. 985, §1.)

Ala. Code § 9-11-431 Construction of Article; Purpose Thereof.

9-11-431. Construction of Article; Purpose Thereof. This article shall be construed in furtherance of the purpose thereof, which is to insure the procurement, development, restoration, maintenance or preservation of wetlands for migratory waterfowl habitat. (Acts 1979, No. 79-545, p. 985, §2.)

Ala. Code § 9-11-432 Stamp Required for Hunting Migratory Waterfowl; Form; Procedure.

9-11-432. Stamp Required for Hunting Migratory Waterfowl; Form; Procedure. A person may not hunt migratory waterfowl within the State of Alabama or its coastal waters without first procuring a state migratory waterfowl stamp. The stamp shall be validated by the signature of the hunter written across the face of the stamp in ink. The stamp shall be in the possession of the hunter while the hunter is hunting or taking migratory waterfowl. The form of the stamp shall be determined by the department and the department shall furnish the stamps to the judge of probate or issuing officer of the counties or to other authorized license agents as provided in Section 9-11-433 for issuance or sale in the same manner as state hunting licenses are issued or sold. (Acts 1979, No. 79-545, p. 985, §3; Act 98-615, p. 1355, §1.)

Ala. Code § 9-11-433 Issuance of Annual Stamp; Lifetime Migratory Waterfowl Stamp; Fees; Issuing Agents; Refund for Unsold Stamps.

9-11-433. Issuance of Annual Stamp; Lifetime Migratory Waterfowl Stamp; Fees; Issuing Agents; Refund for Unsold Stamps. (a) A stamp shall be issued to each hunting license applicant by the judge of probate or issuing officer of any county of the state or other authorized license agent as provided herein upon the payment of a fee of ten dollars ($10). Each stamp shall be valid for the duration of one hunting season as established by the department. Stamps shall be available for sale prior to any waterfowl season, including any special season which may precede the regular season. The stamp fee provided in this subsection shall be subject to periodic adjustments by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources based on increases in the Consumer Price Index in the same manner as other fishing and hunting licenses and fees are adjusted pursuant to Section 9-11-68. (b) In lieu of an annual stamp, a lifetime migratory waterfowl stamp may be purchased by or for individuals meeting the residency requirements set out in Section 9-11-44 for the following license fees: (1) Persons less than two years old, one hundred thirty dollars ($130). (2) Persons age two through 11 years old, one hundred seventy dollars ($170). (3) Persons age 12 through 49 years, two hundred ten dollars ($210). (4) Persons age 50 years and above, one hundred thirty dollars ($130). (5) The stamp fee provided in this subsection may be subject to periodic adjustments by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources upon approval of the commissioner based on increases in the Consumer Price Index in the same manner as other fishing and hunting licenses and fees are adjusted pursuant to Section 9-11-68. (6) In addition to the license fee provided by this subsection, there shall be a twenty dollar ($20) issuance fee collected and deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for the development of waterfowl habitat. (c) The judge of probate, or issuing officer, or other authorized license agent as provided herein shall be allowed a fee of one dollar ($1) for each license issued, which issuing fee shall be in addition to the cost of the stamp and shall be subject to adjustment as provided for in Section 9-11-68. In counties where the judge of probate or issuing officer is on the fee system, the issuing fee shall be retained by the judge of probate or issuing officer, and in counties where the judge of probate or issuing officer is on a salary basis, the fee shall be paid into the county treasury to the credit of the appropriate fund. (d) Other license agents as authorized by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources may issue migratory waterfowl stamps, provided the other authorized license agents prepurchase sheets of stamps for resale at face value plus the issuance fee provided herein. An agent shall place an initial order for one or more sheets of 10 stamps each for the license year. At the end of the license period, the agent may return unsold stamps for a refund. (Acts 1979, No. 79-545, p. 985, §4; Act 98-615, p. 1355, §1; Act 2016-384, p. 1025, §1; Act 2018-551, §1.)

Ala. Code § 9-11-434 Revenue Used in Preservation of Wetlands; Contracts with Non-profit Organizations for Project Outside United States.

9-11-434. Revenue Used in Preservation of Wetlands; Contracts with Non-profit Organizations for Project Outside United States. The revenue derived from the sale of the stamp provided for herein shall be remitted to the department on the first day of each month by the judge of probate or issuing officer and shall be covered into the State Treasury to the credit of the Game and Fish Fund and shall be used for projects approved by the department for the procurement, development, restoration, maintenance or preservation of wetlands, for waterfowl habitat, and the development or improvement of controlled public waterfowl hunting areas, except that part which is specified by the department for use in paying administrative expenses. No part of revenues derived from the sale of this stamp shall be used to pay administrative expenses not directly related to waterfowl management and no part of revenues shall be used to pay enforcement expenses. No part of the revenues derived from the sale of this stamp shall be used to replace revenues and allocations presently being made by the department for management of waterfowl refuges and public waterfowl hunting areas. No part of the revenues derived from the sale of this stamp shall be used to maintain, procure or restore habitat for other wild game except where their occurrence is coexistent with migratory waterfowl. The department may enter into contracts with non-profit organizations for the use of one-half of such funds outside the United States if the department finds that such contracts are necessary for carrying out the purposes of this article. (Acts 1979, No. 79-545, p. 985, §5.)

Ala. Code § 9-11-435 Requirements for Approval of Outside United States Projects.

9-11-435. Requirements for Approval of Outside United States Projects. Before approving and allocating funds for a proposed project to be undertaken outside the United States, the department shall obtain evidence that the project is acceptable to the government agency having jurisdiction over the lands and waters affected by the project. (Acts 1979, No. 79-545, p. 985, §6.)

Source: Alabama Legislature (alison.legislature.state.al.us)URL: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabamaFetched: 10/20/2026