Lawyers for a member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe of Wyoming asked a federal judge to dismiss charges against him for shooting a bald eagle on the Wind River Reservation.

Eagles are protected under federal law. But attorneys for Winslow Friday and for the tribe said the federal government's system infringes on tribal religious practices.

U.S. District Judge William Downes held a two-hearing earlier this week on the motion to dismiss. He heard from tribal elders who said it takes years to receive eagles and eagle parts from the federal repository. Sometimes they receive rotted eagle carcasses, they testified.

Final arguments on the motion were held yesterday. The federal government said Friday failed to apply for a permit to shoot an eagle so he must face the charges.

Get the Story:
Judge mulls eagle arguments (The Casper Star-Tribune 5/26)

Relevant Links:
National Eagle Repository - http://www.r6.fws.gov/law/le65.html
Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Protection Act - http://laws.fws.gov/lawsdigest/baldegl.html

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