Legality of Blue Heron feathers for fletching?

[billy]

Was just curious as to the legalities of using great blue heron feathers for fletching.  I googled Herons and the laws concerning them and found that they are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Act and that it is illegal to possess the bird itself or to disturb its eggs or nest.  But I did not find anything on the unlawfulness of possessing their feathers or using them for fletching.  They are not protected under the same restrictions that raptors, eagles, owls and vultures are, at least that I could find.  Any one with any knowledge on this?  Would help greatly!  Thanks!

[Olanigw (Pekane)]

Illegal.  The Fed. Migratory Bird Act covers parts as well as whole.

[kleinpm]

That law applies to geese too, but no one has an issue using them. Is there a hunting season for herons? It might make a difference using feathers gathered from legally hunting.

Patrick

[TRACY]

Illegal.  The Fed. Migratory Bird Act covers parts as well as whole.

Ditto Billy. Not legal at all whether road kill or molted feathers. I use to work for USDA Animal Damage Control and always tussled with US Fish&Wildlife biologists and officers when using propane cannons to deter herons from private fisheries.

Tracy

[Pat B]

The federal law was written to eliminate plume hunting, ie. feather hunters. 

[Dharma]

Yes, Migratory Bird Act protects Blue Herons. Most wild birds except for English Sparrows, pigeons, and starlings are protected. Game birds are, of course, allowed. There is also a big difference between crows and ravens. Crows can be hunted in states that allow it. Ravens cannot be.

[JW_Halverson]

You can add Eurasian Collared Dove to the list of invasive non-native species that you can possess.

As for heron, not just no but heck no!

[Dharma]

I have a pet parrot and have considered using her sheds for fletching, but she never sheds enough to make it possible.

[JW_Halverson]

Yeah, but what few arrows you made would be very nice!

[anasazi]

Thought of using blue and gold macaw tail feathers  blue on one side gold on the other

[RBLusthaus]

Thought of using blue and gold macaw tail feathers  blue on one side gold on the other

That would look great!!!!

[Thesquirrelslinger]

What about duck feathers? you can find them in craft stores, and you can also find molts quite easily.

[robby]

Other than turkey and goose, just about every is illegal. If you can find someone that keeps peacocks, they have kind of a rusty pink feather that looks good with either turkey or grey goose. There are a lot more people around with those birds than you might think. I have a fellow that picks up the sheds for me.
Robby

[anasazi]

Pea cock feathers strip real easy to but they would probably still need a little sanding the ones i stripped the other day seemed a bit thick.

[TRACY]

Other than turkey and goose, just about every is illegal. If you can find someone that keeps peacocks, they have kind of a rusty pink feather that looks good with either turkey or grey goose. There are a lot more people around with those birds than you might think. I have a fellow that picks up the sheds for me.
Robby

In the US, legally harvested waterfowl feathers can be used. I use all of my duck & geese primaries.

Tracy