west Virginia code question

[jwolfe152]

*****.*§20-2-5. Unlawful methods of hunting and fishing and other unlawful acts.

Except as authorized by the director, it is unlawful at any time for any person to:

(16) Kill, take, catch or have in his or her possession, living or dead, any wild bird other than a game bird; or expose for sale or transport within or without the state any bird except as aforesaid. No part of the plumage, skin or body of any protected bird may be sold or had in possession for sale except mounted or stuffed plumage, skin, bodies or heads of the birds legally taken and stuffed or mounted, irrespective o f whether the bird was captured within or without this state, except the English or European sparrow (passer domesticus), starling (sturnus vulgaris) and cowbird (molothrus ater), which may not be protected and the killing thereof at any time is lawful;

To me this says if I find a skull of a game bird at any time regardless of if it is in season or not that i can keep it for any reason besides selling it i.e. i think its cool and want it for my enjoyment its ok. The reason i ask is i recently took a picture of a bird skull and from all research I've done its a crow skull and in west Virginia there is a crow hunting season (why i have not a clue) which does make it a game bird. Another reason is because of Migratory Bird Treaty Act*of 1918. But even that says states can make hunting laws on crows if version conditions are meet and west Virginia has met them. What do you guys think on this?

[guidofatherof5]

It appears you would be correct(if it really is a crow skull) in that keeping it is legal but many times these laws are enforced on a
"this is what I think the code means" basis. Laws/codes can be interpreted many different ways and sometimes it takes a judge's ruling to be the final word.
;'

[jwolfe152]

Yea i know what ya mean which is stupid in a lot of cases but the government is pretty stupid a lot of times. Do you know of a good way to positively id the skull. I have out now its the one in my google pictures i posted on the nature photography thread.

[guidofatherof5]

Find a local ornithologist, maybe at a college to I.D. it.

[jwolfe152]

Good idea i don't know why i don't think of this stuff

[jwolfe152]

I have debt an email to a Robert C Whitmore P.h.D. rwhitmor@wvu.edu with a picture i hope to hear something back from him soon.