Nothing is ever clear-cut! Every "crime" has extenuating circumstances and should be treated as such. Now, here is what it might be like when out of the kindness of our hearts we decide to give someone a break.
I am working on my woodlot one day and along comes a middle-aged man carrying a shotgun and a burlap bag. He stops and we chat for a moment or two and I realize there is nothing that I am aware of that is open season.
Soon I hear the noise of an ATV coming down the trail and it is the game warden. The warden stops and there is small talk. After a bit the warden asks what is in the burlap bag and insists the man empty its contents out for him to inspect. When he does, out onto the ground falls a couple of partridge, a rabbit, and a loon. The warden is flabbergasted and asks the man where he got the loon. The man explained how poor he was, how he hadn't been able to work for months and that his family was at home hungry and waiting him to bring home some food. He explained that this was the first time that he had ever done anything like this but felt he had no other recourse.
The warden fell for the story and lectured the man about the laws and even gave him a couple of telephone numbers to call for assistance.
As the man was walking away, having not been arrested or summonsed to court, the warden, out of curiousity asked the man if he had ever eaten loon before. The man answered with a feable, yes. (He explained the it was roadkill). Even more curious the warden asked him what it tasted like. The man explained that it tasted like a cross between a bald eagle and a spotted owl.

I think you get the point. Compassion while upholding the laws of the land can go a long way. "Render unto Ceasar that which is Ceasars" as well as "Feed the hungry and clothe the naked". We have many programs to assist those in need of food and clothing.