Congressman to reintroduce bill on hunting rolled rice fields

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — Congressional delegations from Mississippi and Arkansas have backed legislation to clarify that hunting over a rolled rice field is not illegal field baiting.

The legislation promoted by U.S. Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker, both R-Miss., died in the past Congress.

U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., whose district is the largest rice producer in the state, tells The Commercial Appeal he will introduce the bill this year.

Duck hunting season ends this month in Mississippi and Arkansas.

Memphis-based Ducks Unlimited CEO H. Dale Hall says there needs to be needs to be very clear regulations and guidance for hunters and law enforcement to follow.

In addition to ducks, the legislation also would make it legal to shoot coots and cranes over rolled fields.