Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 47: Use of aircraft or motor vehicles to hunt certain wild horses or burros; pollution of watering holes

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

Using aircraft or motor vehicles to hunt wild horses or burros on public land, or polluting watering holes to trap or kill them, is prohibited and punishable by fine and/or up to six months imprisonment.

Read the full statutory text
Whoever uses an aircraft or a motor vehicle to hunt, for the purpose of capturing or killing, any wild unbranded horse, mare, colt, or burro running at large on any of the public land or ranges shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. Whoever pollutes or causes the pollution of any watering hole on any of the public land or ranges for the purpose of trapping, killing, wounding, or maiming any of the animals referred to in subsection (a) of this section shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. The term “aircraft” means any contrivance used for flight in the air; and The term “motor vehicle” includes an automobile, automobile truck, automobile wagon, motorcycle, or any other self-propelled vehicle designed for running on land.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.