WICHITA – Eight Kansas hunters were charged in federal court Tuesday with violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said in a news release Wednesday.

A criminal complaint alleged the men violated the federal law protecting migratory birds when they participated in an annual opening weekend dove hunt in Graham County on Sept. 1 to 2, 2013.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act classifies mourning doves as migratory game birds. It classifies owls as migratory non-game birds. Restrictions on hunting mourning doves include a daily bag limit of 15 and a possession limit of twice the daily bag limit.

Charged are:

• Daniel R. Dinkel, 63, Hill City, one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves.
• Kent A. Webber, 52, Derby, one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves, and one count of taking an owl.
• Evan Webber, 25, Derby, one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves, and one count of taking an owl.
• George Morgan, 52, Gordonville, Texas, one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves.
• Kenneth R. Beran, 67, Derby, one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves.
• Clark Law, 57, Hill City, one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves.
• Tracy D. Higgins, 54, El Dorado, one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves, and one count of taking an owl.
• John Kobler, 62, Topeka, one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves.

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of six months in prison on each count and a fine up to $15,000. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.