[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 22, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51174-51196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21157]



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Part V





Department of the Interior





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Fish and Wildlife Service



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50 CFR Part 20



Migratory Bird Hunting Proposed Frameworks for Late-Season Bird Hunting 
Regulations; Proposed Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 163 / Tuesday, August 22, 2000 / 
Proposed Rules  

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 20

RIN 1018-AG08


Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed Frameworks for Late-Season 
Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; supplemental.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter Service or we) is 
proposing to establish the 2000-01 late-season hunting regulations for 
certain migratory game birds. We annually prescribe frameworks, or 
outer limits, for dates and times when hunting may occur and the number 
of birds that may be taken and possessed in late seasons. These 
frameworks are necessary to allow State selections of seasons and 
limits and to allow recreational harvest at levels compatible with 
population and habitat conditions.

DATES: You must submit comments on the proposed migratory bird hunting 
late-season frameworks by September 8, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on these proposals to the Chief, Division 
of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Department of the Interior, room 634-Arlington Square, 1849 C Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20240. All comments received, including names and 
addresses, will become part of the public record. You may inspect 
comments during normal business hours in room 634, Arlington Square 
Building, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan Andrew, Chief, or Ron W. 
Kokel, Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, (703) 358-1714.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulations Schedule for 2000

    On April 25, 2000, we published in the Federal Register (65 FR 
24260) a proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20. The proposal dealt with the 
establishment of seasons, limits, and other regulations for migratory 
game birds under Secs. 20.101 through 20.107, 20.109, and 20.110 of 
subpart K. On June 20, 2000, we published in the Federal Register (65 
FR 38400) a second document providing supplemental proposals for early- 
and late-season migratory bird hunting regulations frameworks and the 
proposed regulatory alternatives for the 2000-01 duck hunting season. 
The June 20 supplement also provided detailed information on the 2000-
01 regulatory schedule and announced the Service Migratory Bird 
Regulations Committee and Flyway Council meetings.
    On June 21-22, 2000, we held meetings that reviewed information on 
the current status of migratory shore and upland game birds and 
developed 2000-01 migratory game bird regulations recommendations for 
these species plus regulations for migratory game birds in Alaska, 
Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands; special September waterfowl 
seasons in designated States; special sea duck seasons in the Atlantic 
Flyway; and extended falconry seasons. In addition, we reviewed and 
discussed preliminary information on the status of waterfowl as it 
relates to the development and selection of the regulatory packages for 
the 2000-01 regular waterfowl seasons.
    On July 31, we published in the Federal Register (65 FR 46840) a 
third document specifically dealing with the proposed frameworks for 
early-season regulations. The July 31 supplement also established the 
final regulatory alternatives for the 2000-01 duck hunting season. We 
will publish a rulemaking establishing final frameworks for early-
season migratory bird hunting regulations for the 2000-01 season in 
late August.
    On August 2-3, 2000, we held meetings, as announced in the April 25 
and June 20 Federal Registers, to review the status of waterfowl. This 
document deals specifically with proposed frameworks for the late-
season migratory bird hunting regulations. It will lead to final 
frameworks from which States may select season dates, shooting hours, 
areas, and limits.
    We have considered all pertinent comments received through August 
4, 2000, in developing this document. In addition, new proposals for 
certain late-season regulations are provided for public comment. 
Comment periods are specified above under DATES. We will publish final 
regulatory frameworks for late-season migratory game bird hunting in 
the Federal Register on or about September 25, 2000.

Population Status and Harvest

    The following paragraphs provide a brief summary of information on 
the status and harvest of waterfowl excerpted from various reports. For 
more detailed information on methodologies and results, complete copies 
of the various reports are available at the address indicated under the 
caption ADDRESSES or from our website at http://migratorybirds.fws.gov.

Status of Ducks

    Federal, provincial, and State agencies conduct surveys each spring 
to estimate the size of breeding populations and to evaluate the 
conditions of the habitats. These surveys are conducted using fixed-
wing aircraft and encompass principal breeding areas of North America, 
and cover over 2.0 million square miles. The Traditional survey area is 
comprised of Alaska, Canada, and the northcentral U.S., and includes 
approximately 1.3 million square miles. The Eastern survey area 
includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Labrador, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, 
Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, New York, and Maine, an area of 
approximately 0.7 million square miles.
    In the Western or Traditional survey area, conditions were much 
drier this spring than the previous 6 years. These dry conditions are 
reflected in the Prairie May ponds estimate of 3.9  0.1 
million, down 41 percent from 1999 and 20 percent below the 1974-99 
average. Conditions ranged from poor in much of Alberta and parts of 
Montana and Saskatchewan to fair to good in most other areas. Only 
portions of northern Manitoba and the Dakotas were in excellent 
condition. In June, much of the prairie received heavy rains. While 
this may have increased breeding habitat quantity and quality, heavy 
rains in the Dakotas may have caused flooding and loss of nests. 
Southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba were in generally fair condition, 
and the Dakotas were in generally good condition, while most of 
Northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba were in good to excellent condition. 
In Alaska, a significant cooling down changed an early warm spring into 
a cool, late spring, resulting in a 2-3 week later-than-normal ice 
breakup. In Alaska, a later spring generally results in lower 
production. Overall, May habitat conditions in the traditional survey 
area were poor to good, improving to the north and east.
    Winter and spring were also warm and dry in the Eastern survey 
area. A seemingly early spring cooled down markedly, especially in 
Labrador, Newfoundland, and Eastern Quebec. In these easternmost 
regions, spring was 2-3 weeks behind normal. Water levels in 
southwestern Ontario, Maine, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick are higher 
this year than last year. However, southern Ontario and southern Quebec 
are drier than normal. In southwest Ontario, Maine, and the Maritimes, 
heavy thunderstorms in May caused severe flooding and may have caused 
much renesting. Overall, habitat

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conditions in the east are generally good, with the exception of some 
areas of southern Ontario and southern/central Quebec, where low water 
levels resulted in fair to poor habitat conditions. Overall, the survey 
area was in generally good condition, and production is expected to be 
good this year.
    The 2000 total duck population estimate for the traditional survey 
area was 41.8  0.7 million birds. This was similar to last 
year's record estimate of 43.4  0.7 million birds, and 
still 27 percent above the 1955-99 average. Mallard abundance was 9.5 
 0.3 million, which is 12 percent below last year's record 
estimate but still 27 percent above the 1955-99 average. Blue-winged 
teal abundance was estimated at a record high of 7.4  0.4 
million. This was similar to last year's estimate of 7.1 million, and 
69 percent above the 1955-99 average. Gadwall (3.2  0.2, 
+100 percent), green-winged teal (3.2  0.2 million, +80 
percent), northern shovelers (3.5  0.2 million, +73 
percent), and redheads (0.9  0.1 million, +50 percent) were 
all above their long-term averages, while northern pintails (2.9 
 0.2 million, -33 percent) and scaup (4.0  0.2 
million, -25 percent) were again below their long-term averages. Green-
winged teal was the only species that increased over 1999, an increase 
of 21 percent.
    This year, new areas have again been included in the Eastern survey 
area. In addition, we have redefined the total duck composition of this 
area to include scoters and mergansers, because they are important 
breeding species in this survey area. Therefore, the eastern 1999 total 
duck estimate used this year is not the same as that published last 
year. The 2000 total duck population estimate for the eastern survey 
area was 3.2  0.2 million birds, similar to last year's 
total duck estimate of 3.2  0.2 million birds. Abundances 
of individual species were similar to last year, with the exception of 
scoters (182  59 thousand, +288 percent) and green-winged 
teal (202  29 thousand, -52 percent).
    The preliminary estimate of the total-duck fall-flight index is 90 
million birds, which is 13 percent lower than last year. The fall 
flight is predicted to include 11.3 million mallards, 16.2 percent 
lower than last year (P0.01).

Status of Geese and Swans

    Most goose and swan populations in North America remain numerically 
sound, and the size of most fall flights will be similar to or 
increased from last year. Of the 29 populations of geese and swans on 
which we report, 9 appear to have increased since last year, 7 appear 
to have decreased, 9 appear to have changed little, and no comparisons 
were possible for the remaining 4. Some of the annual variation 
reflects differences in the timing of surveys. Of the 24 populations 
for which data spanning the last 10 years were available, 13 have 
exhibited a significant increasing trend (5 of 7 Anser populations, 2 
of 2 swan populations, and 6 of 15 Branta populations), 1 showed 
evidence of significant decline (1 of 7 Anser populations), while 10 
appeared stable (9 of 15 Branta populations, 1 of 7 Anser populations, 
1 swan population).
    As in previous years, forecasts for production of young in 2000 
varied regionally based largely on spring weather and habitat 
conditions. Generally, spring phenology was later than normal in 
northern Quebec, the Hudson Bay Lowlands, the central and western 
Arctic, the high Arctic, and the north slope and interior of Alaska; 
this should lead to less-than-average production for geese nesting 
there. Along the west coast of Alaska, seasons were slightly later than 
normal, but average to above-average production is expected for geese 
and swans nesting in those areas. For temperate-zone breeding geese, 
nesting conditions are generally good. Although parts of the prairies 
are drier this year than last, higher than normal precipitation over 
the past several years means that permanent and semipermanent ponds are 
still readily available for brood-rearing. Conditions through most of 
the West are average to above-average, though low water levels are 
expected to limit goose production in British Columbia. Habitat 
conditions for nesting geese were excellent east of the Mississippi 
River due to average to above-average precipitation.

Waterfowl Harvest and Hunter Activity

    During the 1999-2000 hunting season, duck stamp sales were slightly 
above sales in 1998, and hunter numbers remain well below the highs 
observed during the early 1970s. U.S. waterfowl hunters hunted about 1 
percent fewer days and bagged about 7 percent fewer ducks, 3 percent 
fewer geese and 24 percent more coots than in 1998.
    The number of ducks harvested during the 1999-2000 hunting season 
was similar to the numbers that were harvested during the early 1970s. 
The increased harvest during the last few years is a reflection of the 
more liberal hunting seasons offered and the increased duck abundance 
resulting from the improved water availability and habitat conditions 
that occurred in the prairie-pothole area. Of the five species of ducks 
that are most important in the bag, in order of importance: The number 
of mallards harvested decreased 2 percent; the number of green-winged 
teal decreased 6 percent; the number of gadwall decreased 2 percent; 
the number of wood ducks increased 5 percent; and the number of blue-
winged teal increased 1 percent.
    The overall harvest of geese last year decreased 3 percent from 
that of 1998-99. Increases in goose harvests over the last decade 
largely reflect the increased numbers of resident or giant Canada 
geese, although increases in other populations of Canada geese and 
other goose species, including snow geese, have occurred. In the United 
States, harvest of Canada geese decreased 7 percent, snow geese 
decreased 1 percent, blue geese decreased 30 percent, Ross' geese 
increased 87 percent, white-fronted geese increased 57 percent, and 
brant decreased 39 percent from 1998-99.

Review of Public Comments and Flyway Council Recommendations

    The preliminary proposed rulemaking, which appeared in the April 25 
Federal Register, opened the public comment period for migratory game 
bird hunting regulations. The supplemental proposed rule, which 
appeared in the June 20 Federal Register, defined the public comment 
period for the proposed regulatory alternatives for the 2000-01 duck 
hunting season. The public comment period for the proposed regulatory 
alternatives ended July 7, 2000. Late-season comments and comments 
pertaining to the proposed alternatives are summarized below and 
numbered in the order used in the April 25 Federal Register document. 
Only the numbered items pertaining to late-season issues and the 
proposed regulatory alternatives for which written comments were 
received are included. Consequently, the issues do not follow in direct 
numerical or alphabetical order.
    We received recommendations from all four Flyway Councils. Some 
recommendations supported continuation of last year's frameworks. Due 
to the comprehensive nature of the annual review of the frameworks 
performed by the Councils, support for continuation of last year's 
frameworks is assumed for items for which no recommendations were 
received. Council recommendations for changes in the frameworks are 
summarized below.
    We seek additional information and comments on the recommendations 
in this supplemental proposed rule. New proposals and modifications to 
previously described proposals are

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discussed below. Wherever possible, they are discussed under headings 
corresponding to the numbered items in the April 25, 2000, Federal 
Register document.
1. Ducks
    Categories used to discuss issues related to duck harvest 
management are: (A) Harvest Strategy Considerations, (B) Regulatory 
Alternatives, (C) Zones and Split Seasons, and (D) Special Seasons/
Species Management. The categories correspond to previously published 
issues/discussion, and only those containing substantial 
recommendations are discussed below.
A. General Harvest Strategy
    Council Recommendations: Beginning with the 2000-01 season, the 
Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils, in a joint 
recommendation, recommended that the appropriate regulatory alternative 
for duck-hunting seasons in the Atlantic Flyway be based on the status 
of eastern mallards and an objective to maximize long-term harvest. The 
Flyway Councils also recommended that the regulatory choice for all 
other Flyways be based on the status of midcontinent mallards and an 
objective to maximize long-term harvest, while maintaining population 
size above the goal of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. 
Finally, the Flyway Councils recommended further evaluation of the 
implications of this recommendation for other mallard stocks and for 
other duck species.
    Service Response: Since implementation of Adaptive Harvest 
Management (AHM) in 1995, the regulatory choice for all Flyways has 
been based exclusively on the status of midcontinent mallards. This 
year, we have proposed two alternatives for modifying the current AHM 
protocol to account for eastern mallards. Both alternatives allow for a 
different regulatory choice in the Atlantic Flyway than in the 
remainder of the country. The first alternative involves a regulatory 
choice in the Atlantic Flyway based on the status of both eastern and 
midcontinent mallards. The second alternative involves a regulatory 
choice in the Atlantic Flyway that is based exclusively on the status 
of eastern mallards. Both alternatives are expected to increase the 
frequency of liberal regulations in the Atlantic Flyway, because 
eastern mallard biology and the associated harvest-management objective 
suggest allowable harvest rates that are higher than those for 
midcontinent mallards.
    We support the second alternative for the 2000-01 hunting season; 
i.e., that the regulatory choice in the Atlantic Flyway should be based 
exclusively on the status of eastern mallards, and that the regulatory 
choice for the remaining Flyways should be based exclusively on the 
status of midcontinent mallards. We make this recommendation, however, 
with the clear understanding that there must be further assessment of 
the consequences of this decision for mallard population segments of 
concern, and for other duck species. The move to Flyway-specific 
regulations is perhaps the most significant change in duck harvest 
management since the advent of the Flyway system. And the decisions we 
make relative to eastern mallards have important implications for how 
we modify AHM to account for western mallards and for other species 
such as pintails and wood ducks. Therefore, we suggest that the AHM 
Working Group continue to place a high priority on its investigations 
into multiple-stock management.
B. Regulatory Alternatives
    Council Recommendations: The Upper-Region Regulations Committee of 
the Mississippi Flyway Council, and the Atlantic, Central, Pacific 
Flyway Councils recommended adopting the ``liberal'' alternative for 
the 1999-2000 duck hunting season.
    The Lower-Region Regulations Committee of the Mississippi Flyway 
Council recommended adoption of the ``liberal'' alternative, except 
that they recommend the framework opening and closing dates in all 
regulations packages be the Saturday nearest September 23 and the 
Sunday nearest January 28, with no penalties in days.
    Written Comments: An individual from South Carolina requested a 
January 31 framework closing date.
    An individual from California supported not increasing season 
lengths or bag limits.
    Service Response: The set of regulatory alternatives for this year, 
including specification of season lengths, bag limits, and framework 
dates, was finalized in the July 31 Federal Register, with the 
finalization of the 2000-01 regulatory alternatives. In establishing 
these alternatives, we reiterated our desire to maintain current 
framework-date specifications through the 2002-03 hunting season, or 
until such time that the Flyway Councils can develop an approach that 
adequately addresses the concerns of the Service and a majority of 
States. Based on discussions to date, we are not optimistic that such 
an approach is forthcoming in the short term. Therefore, we support the 
joint Flyway Council recommendation, in which the AHM Working Group is 
charged with developing a set of guidelines and schedule for modifying 
the current set of regulatory alternatives by July 2002. These 
guidelines should consider all facets of the regulatory alternatives, 
including the desire by some States to extend framework dates beyond 
October 1-January 20.
    For the 2000 hunting season, we recommend the ``liberal'' 
regulatory alternative (as described in the July 31 Federal Register) 
for all Flyways, based on 10.5 million midcontinent mallards, 2.4 
million ponds in Prairie Canada, and 890,000 eastern mallards.
C. Zones and Split Seasons
    Council Recommendations: The Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations 
Committees of the Mississippi Flyway Council, and the Atlantic, 
Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils, in a joint recommendation, 
recommended that the Service allow three zones, with two-way splits in 
each zone, as an additional option for duck season configurations in 
2001-2005. In addition, the Flyway Councils recommend that States with 
existing grand-fathered status be allowed to retain that status and 
that Alaska be granted greater flexibility to modify its zone and split 
configurations, without loss of grand-fathered status, than is 
permissible under the current criteria. Finally, the Committee 
recommends that no changes be made regarding the current status and 
criteria for the High Plains Management Unit.
    Service Response: Zone and split seasons are ``special 
regulations'' designed to distribute hunting opportunities and harvests 
according to temporal, geographic, and demographic variability in 
waterfowl populations. These regulations are not intended to 
substantially change the pattern of harvest distribution among States 
within a Flyway, nor should these options detrimentally change the 
harvest distribution pattern among species or populations at either the 
State or Flyway level. Most States began to experiment with zoning 
after formal evaluation criteria were put into place in 1977. By 1985, 
36 States used zones or 3-way split seasons for duck seasons. To 
address the proliferations in these seasons, in 1985 we placed a 
moratorium on further use of these special regulations until a review 
could be completed. In 1990, we completed a comprehensive review of 
these special regulations. This review of over 40 assessments of splits 
and zones had equivocal results. The vast majority of these experiments 
failed to provide evidence of significant impacts on duck populations. 
However, we found that

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most studies were inconclusive because of poor selection and unreliable 
estimation of response variables, lack of statistical tests to 
differentiate between real and perceived changes, and an inability to 
establish adequate experimental controls.
    Based on this review, we established a long-term strategy for the 
use of zones and split options. The purpose of this strategy was to 
limit both the number of options and the frequency that modifications 
could be made. These controls or guidelines were deemed necessary to 
preserve and enhance our ability to regulate and evaluate harvest 
pressure on ducks. Changes in seasons would be limited to 5-year 
intervals, with the first ``open season'' in 1991, the second in 1996, 
and the third will be next year.
    When the zone/split-season guidelines were established in 1990, 
most States with zone/split arrangements were using one of the three 
options established. Some States, however, had completed experiments 
with different zone/split arrangements and had fulfilled the reporting 
requirements for these experiments. These arrangements included three, 
four, and five zones with two-way splits in each zone. These States 
were offered a one-time chance to grandfather those arrangements, with 
the provision that if they ever wanted to change them, their zoning 
arrangement would have to conform to one of the three options offered 
under the guidelines.
    In 1996, the guidelines were modified to allow greater flexibility 
in season structures within the three options established in 1990. We 
believe that the current guidelines achieve their intended objectives, 
while allowing States sufficient flexibility to address differences in 
physiography, climate, etc., and believe that the guidelines need not 
be changed.
D. Special Seasons/Species Management
i. Black Ducks
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 
all States in the Atlantic Flyway be allowed to offer one black duck in 
the daily bag limit for up to 60 days, providing each State achieve a 
minimum 25 percent harvest reduction for the 1977-81 base period.
    Service Response: We believe that the current level of harvest 
reduction on black ducks, achieved since the 1983 Environmental 
Assessment, should be maintained as a conservation measure. The harvest 
strategy has been supported and maintained for many years by the 
Atlantic Flyway Council and, in the absence of a revised strategy, is 
consistent with our objective to improve the status of black duck 
populations. Black ducks continue to be a species of concern and remain 
below the population objective. We believe that a conservative approach 
to harvesting black ducks is appropriate until an international harvest 
strategy is agreed upon between Canada and the United States. We would 
encourage the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway Councils to work 
cooperatively with the Service and Canada to develop and implement an 
international harvest strategy as soon as possible.
ii. Canvasbacks
    Council Recommendations: All four Flyway Councils recommended a 
daily bag limit of one canvasback in the 2000-01 hunting season as 
prescribed by the Canvasback Harvest Strategy.
    Service Response: We continue to support the harvest strategy 
adopted in 1994. However, harvest data collected since the strategy was 
implemented indicate that observed harvests in the United States and 
Canada tend to be higher than those currently used in the population 
model, some of which were based on data collected several decades ago. 
We believe that more contemporary estimates would better reflect 
current harvest pressure. Therefore, as we stated last year and 
consistent with our proposal in April of this year (65 FR 24264), we 
have replaced the old harvest values with the average of harvests 
observed during the 1994-97 hunting seasons.
    Even when accounting for the higher harvest levels, current 
population and habitat status suggest that a daily bag limit of one 
canvasback per day during the 2000-01 season will result in a harvest 
within levels allowed by the strategy. We will continue to monitor the 
performance of the harvest strategy.
iii. Pintails
    Council Recommendations: All four Flyway Councils recommended a 
daily bag limit of one pintail in the 2000-01 hunting season as 
prescribed by the Interim Pintail Harvest Strategy.
    Service Response: We recommend the continued use of the interim 
harvest strategy for a fourth year. Considering the current status of 
the population (2.9 million breeding birds) and the expected 
recruitment rate (0.76), the strategy prescribes a bag limit of one 
pintail for all Flyways under the liberal alternative.
iv. Scaup
    Council Recommendations: The Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations 
Committees of the Mississippi Flyway Council, and the Atlantic and 
Central Flyway Councils recommended a daily bag limit of three scaup 
for the 2000-01 hunting season.
    The Pacific Flyway Council recommended a daily bag limit of four 
scaup in the Pacific Flyway for the 2000-01 hunting season.
    Service Response: In 1999, we restricted the bag limit of scaup to 
three in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways and to four in 
the Pacific Flyway and asked to work with the Flyways to develop a 
harvest management strategy for scaup. Only limited progress toward a 
strategy has been made, and further technical work is needed; it is too 
early to judge the effects of the harvest restriction with only 1 
year's data. This year, we propose that the restrictions put in place 
last year continue and ask the Flyway Councils to direct their 
technical committees to continue dialog with us, building toward a 
consensus strategy to guide the harvest management of this species.
4. Canada Geese
    Council Recommendations: The Upper-Region Regulations Committee of 
the Mississippi Flyway Council recommended a number of changes in 
season lengths, bag limits, zones, and quotas for Canada geese in 
Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois, primarily to allow a small 
increase in the harvest of Mississippi Valley Population (MVP) Canada 
geese.
    The Lower-Region Regulations Committee of the Mississippi Flyway 
Council also recommended several changes in season lengths, quotas, 
etc., primarily to allow a small increase in the harvest of MVP Canada 
geese. The Committee also recommended a 23-day season statewide in 
Arkansas, a 7-day increase in the west zone. The previous 16-day season 
and the remainder of the State closure were self-imposed by the State. 
All of these changes are based on improved population status and 
current management plans. The Committee further recommended that in 
Tennessee, in lieu of tagging in the Kentucky/Barkley Lakes Zone, all 
geese harvested must be taken to designated check stations and checked 
officially.
    The Pacific Flyway Council made several recommendations for Canada 
geese. The Council recommended that the Flyway-wide prohibition of take 
of Aleutian Canada geese be removed if the Service completes the 
delisting process. Existing special management areas in Oregon and 
California closed to take of Canada geese to protect Aleutians and 
reduce the harvest of cackling geese will

[[Page 51178]]

be maintained until a population objective and harvest strategy are 
established by the Council. The Council also recommended that, in a 
Service-approved investigation, the State must obtain quantitative 
information on hunter compliance (mandatory check stations) of those 
regulations aimed at reducing the take of dusky Canada geese. Lastly, 
the Council recommended some minor modifications to the cackling Canada 
goose frameworks.
    Service Response: We concur with the recommended changes in the 
Mississippi Flyway. Most of these changes are based on the improved 
population status of MVP geese and are consistent with the current 
management plan.
    Regarding the recommendation from the Pacific Flyway Council on 
Aleutian Canada geese, since delisting is not final at this time, we do 
not see how the removal of all restrictions on the take of Aleutian 
Canada geese could be accomplished this year. In addition, 
administrative concerns would also need to be addressed, even if the 
delisting final rule were to be issued between now and the proposed 
opening date for this year's hunting seasons. We note, however, that we 
support the general intent of this recommendation, which is not to 
increase the harvest level of Aleutian Canada geese, but to remove the 
take prohibition in those portions of the affected States where 
Aleutian Canada geese are only infrequently encountered. However, we do 
not believe that the proposed changes can be accommodated during this 
regulations cycle. We also appreciate the timely and efficient manner 
in which the Pacific Flyway has pulled together the management plan for 
this species. This plan will serve as an excellent road-map to the 
future for this species.
    Regarding dusky Canada geese, we understand the importance of 
maintaining hunting opportunities in the Dusky Canada goose quota zones 
in Washington and Oregon. Additionally, we recognize this is a shared 
responsibility and one the States and Federal government have actively 
supported since their inception. However, we want to be clear about the 
need to monitor the harvest for any goose season to be held in this 
area. We believe that both the Flyway Council and the Service are in 
agreement that monitoring is a necessary condition of these seasons, 
based on the recommendation submitted by the Pacific Flyway Council. We 
intend to continue to work with the Pacific Flyway Council and the 
affected States to avoid season closures. However, States must agree to 
promptly close all goose seasons in this zone should monitoring 
programs be eliminated for any reason.
    We concur with the recommended framework modifications for cackling 
Canada geese.
C. Special Late Seasons
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended a 
change to the southern boundary of the late season Coastal zone 
boundary in Massachusetts and a change to the New Jersey southern 
winter special Canada goose season boundaries.
    The Upper-Region Regulations Committee of the Mississippi Flyway 
Council recommended that the experimental late season for Canada geese 
in the Central Michigan Goose Management Unit should be continued for 1 
year to allow completion of data analysis and an additional year of 
data collection.
    Service Response: We concur with the recommended changes in the 
Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways.
5. White-fronted Geese
    Council Recommendations: The Central Flyway Council recommended 
that the season length for Mid-Continent White-fronted geese in the 
East Tier be 95 days, except for the Eastern Goose Zone of Texas where 
it would be unchanged (86 days).
    Service Response: We believe that equitable hunting opportunity 
between the Mississippi Flyway and the East Tier of the Central Flyway 
is appropriate because Mid-Continent white-fronted geese are managed as 
one population. This equitable approach is consistent with the ``base 
regulations'' identified in the cooperative management plan. Finally, 
in the absence of any guidance for liberalizations, we believe that 
this level of liberalization should be viewed as the ``liberal 
alternative'' beyond the ``base regulations'' identified in the 
management plan for these harvest areas. Thus, we do not support the 
proposed increase of 9 days.
7. Snow and Ross' Geese
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 
that following the close of duck season, New Jersey be allowed 
additional splits in the coastal zone snow goose season to accommodate 
a special hunt at Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge impoundments. They 
further recommended that the experimental seasons established last year 
in Maryland and Delaware be allowed to continue for another year.
    The Upper-and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the 
Mississippi Flyway Council, and the Atlantic and Central Flyway 
Councils recommended that baiting regulations for light geese, when all 
other waterfowl, except falconry, seasons are closed and during the 
Light Goose Conservation Order during the 2000-01 season (prior to 
completion of the Environmental Impact Statement), be the same as those 
currently implemented for doves. Further, the Flyway Councils urge 
strong support for these changes by all States, nongovernmental 
organizations, and the Service.
    Service Response: We endorse the request by New Jersey to allow 
additional split seasons in their coastal zone for snow geese following 
the close of their duck season. Last year, we approved an increase in 
the number of split seasons in Delaware and Maryland for the 1999-00 
season to provide temporary relief pending an evaluation. We agreed to 
explore its effectiveness in reducing agricultural damage and wetland 
degradation by requiring an evaluation prior to this year's approval. 
Also, we asked both States to seek landowner support by allowing 
hunters access on their fields to hunt snow geese. We believe that New 
Jersey should be afforded the same opportunity to determine the 
effectiveness of this measure to reduce wetland degradations and 
agricultural damages. This provision is experimental and granted for 1 
year only, pending an evaluation.
    Regarding baiting regulations for snow geese, baiting regulations 
for the ``light goose only'' portions of the regular season and the 
Light Goose Conservation Order were covered under special rules 
published February 1999. Although these original rules were withdrawn 
in May 1999, they were subsequently reinstated without change by 
Congress and signed into law in November 1999. Known as the Arctic 
Tundra Habitat Emergency Conservation Act, this law ensures that 
population control measures for Mid-Continent Light Geese will remain 
in place without change during the preparation of the EIS. However, the 
provisions of the February 1999 Conservation Order specified area 
closures and did not include any changes to the current baiting 
regulations. Additionally, the Act passed in November reinstated the 
February 1999 Conservation Order rather than enabling ``a conservation 
order.'' Because of this, changes to the Conservation-Order provisions 
cannot be made until after the completion of the EIS. Therefore, we 
believe that

[[Page 51179]]

changes in baiting regulations for these seasons should more 
appropriately be addressed in the more comprehensive EIS process that 
is currently under way.
8. Swans
    Council Recommendations: The Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations 
Committees of the Mississippi Flyway Council, and the Atlantic, 
Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils, in a joint recommendation, 
recommended that States with Eastern Population (EP) tundra swan 
hunting seasons be allowed to issue a second swan permit to interested 
resident and nonresident hunters from permits remaining after the 
initial drawing.
    The Pacific Flyway Council recommended no change, with one 
exception, from last year's frameworks for tundra swan seasons in the 
Pacific Flyway. The single change proposed is for a 1-week extension in 
season framework dates in Utah.
    Service Response: We support the Joint Flyway Recommendation that 
would allow States with Eastern Tundra Swan seasons to issue a second 
hunting permit to hunters, if permits from the initial drawing were 
unused. This issuance of a second permit would be allowed only if there 
are no outstanding requests for additional permits and with the 
concurrence of participating States. In accordance with the Flyways' 
approved Hunt Plan, any unused portion of these permits are available 
for temporary redistribution to participating States upon request. 
Issuance of a second permit to a hunter by a State is subject to 
evaluation to determine success rates and must be identified in the 
State's annual report to the Service.
    Regarding the general swan seasons in the Pacific Flyway, we 
recently addressed this issue in an environmental assessment to 
reconcile conflicting strategies for managing two swan species in the 
Pacific Flyway. Namely, the assessment evaluated the following 
strategies: (1) To enhance the winter range distribution of the less 
abundant Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) of trumpeter swans (Cygnus 
buccinator) by severely restricting or eliminating Tundra swan (C. 
columbianus) hunting, or both, in portions of the Pacific Flyway 
currently open to Tundra swan hunting, and (2) to optimize hunting of 
the more numerous and widely distributed Western Population (WP) of 
Tundra swans in the Pacific Flyway by not further restricting hunting 
seasons to benefit the range distribution of trumpeter swans. The 
preferred alternative identified in the EA proposed a balance between 
these two competing strategies by continuing on an operational basis a 
general swan season in portions of Montana and Nevada and proposing a 
new 3-year experiment in Utah. The experimental hunt in Utah would be 
based on further reductions in the swan season that would allow the 
continued taking of any species of swan (Cygnus sp.) subject to: (1) A 
limited, but biologically acceptable, quota on the take of trumpeter 
swans, and (2) modification of the already limited take and restricted 
seasons on Tundra swans to enhance the likelihood that Trumpeter swans 
would be successful in expanding their winter range, and (3) a program 
to monitor the effectiveness of this action. We would continue with our 
participation in the State-Federal effort to enhance the winter-range 
distribution of trumpeter swans.
    More specifically, implementation of the preferred alternative 
would allow us to continue to establish a hunting season on all swan 
species in designated portions of Montana and Nevada, within the 
Pacific Flyway. Current constraints imposed upon these swan hunting 
seasons would be continued, and specific areas open to swan hunting in 
Montana and Nevada would remain. Additionally, we would continue to 
require the monitoring of swan harvests, by mail in Montana, and by 
examination in Nevada, with appropriate provisions for season closure 
to be implemented by States should assigned quotas of trumpeter swans 
be reached.
    In Utah, we would continue the area and time restrictions imposed 
since 1995 while also implementing further restrictions on areas where 
Tundra swan hunting is allowed. More specifically, we would close all 
lands north of the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge to all swan hunting 
in Utah, reduce the quota on allowable take of trumpeter swans in Utah 
from 15 to 10, and reduce the number of Tundra swan permits issued in 
Utah from 2,750 to 2,000. We would also extend the framework closing 
date from the first to the second Sunday in December.
    In the EA, comments identified the potential impact of harvest in 
Utah as the main issue regarding appropriate management action needed 
to address the problem concerning the winter distribution of RMP 
trumpeter swans. These comments indicated that there was a wide 
disparity of opinion on the actual impact of this limited harvest on 
the redistribution of RMP trumpeter swans. Given the uncertainty and 
disparate views on this particular issue, the preferred alternative 
establishes a new 3-year experiment to assess the impacts of these 
further restrictions in Utah. During this time, we would request the 
States, through the Pacific Flyway Council, other Federal agencies, and 
interested nongovernmental organizations, to participate with the 
Service in development of a comprehensive implementation plan for 
addressing specific issues regarding RMP trumpeter swan management in 
this region. We will complete our portion of this implementation plan 
during 2001, and will request the other cooperators to complete their 
portions no later than July 2002. This plan and results from the new 3-
year experiment will serve as the basis for our evaluation of this new 
experiment.
    Additionally, we will assume a leadership role in attempting to 
enhance trumpeter swan status and breeding distribution within the 
Pacific Flyway through increased efforts directed at establishment of 
breeding trumpeter swans in suitable habitats throughout the Pacific 
Flyway. We would continue to support cooperative efforts to address the 
winter distribution issues by working with the States and other 
partners. We would also support limited winter capture and 
translocation on a case-by-case basis when circumstances developed that 
seemed to warrant such activity. We do not plan to employ winter 
translocations as the main method to address the winter distribution 
problem of RMP trumpeter swans, but rather as a method to limit risk to 
swans from direct over-winter mortality, if necessary.
    While we recognize that the Pacific Flyway Council does not believe 
adequate data exists to support the proposed restrictions in Utah, 
others believe the data to support even greater restrictions are well 
established. We urge the Council to view the next 3-year experimental 
period in Utah as an opportunity to improve this situation and hope the 
Council will take the requested implementation plan very seriously. We 
trust the Council will work with us to complete this plan and begin to 
implement actions that will help address this problem so that we are 
not faced with a similar situation in 3 years.
    Copies of the evaluation, the EA, and the Finding of No Significant 
Impact are available at the address indicated under the caption 
ADDRESSES or from our website at http://migratorybirds.fws.gov.

Public Comment Invited

    The Department of the Interior's policy is, whenever practicable, 
to afford the public an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking 
process. We intend that adopted final rules be as responsive as 
possible to all concerned

[[Page 51180]]

interests and, therefore, seek the comments and suggestions of the 
public, other concerned governmental agencies, nongovernmental 
organizations, and other private interests on these proposals. 
Accordingly, we invite interested persons to submit written comments, 
suggestions, or recommendations regarding the proposed regulations to 
the address indicated under the caption ADDRESSES.
    Special circumstances involved in the establishment of these 
regulations limit the amount of time that we can allow for public 
comment. Specifically, two considerations compress the time in which 
the rulemaking process must operate: (1) The need to establish final 
rules at a point early enough in the summer to allow affected State 
agencies to appropriately adjust their licensing and regulatory 
mechanisms; and (2) the unavailability, before mid-June, of specific, 
reliable data on this year's status of some waterfowl and migratory 
shore and upland game bird populations. Therefore, we believe that to 
allow comment periods past the dates specified is contrary to the 
public interest.
    Before promulgation of final migratory game bird hunting 
regulations, we will take into consideration all comments received. 
Such comments, and any additional information received, may lead to 
final regulations that differ from these proposals. You may inspect 
comments received on the proposed annual regulations during normal 
business hours at our office in room 634, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, 
Arlington, Virginia. For each series of proposed rulemakings, we will 
establish specific comment periods. We will consider, but possibly may 
not respond in detail to, each comment. However, we will summarize all 
comments received during the comment period and respond to them after 
the closing date in the final rule.

NEPA Consideration

    NEPA considerations are covered by the programmatic document, 
``Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement: Issuance of Annual 
Regulations Permitting the Sport Hunting of Migratory Birds (FSES 88-
14),'' filed with the Environmental Protection Agency on June 9, 1988. 
We published a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register on June 
16, 1988 (53 FR 22582). We published our Record of Decision on August 
18, 1988 (53 FR 31341). Additionally, issues pertaining to swan hunting 
in the Pacific Flyway were covered under a separate NEPA document, 
``Swan Hunting in the Pacific Flyway,'' issued July 12, 2000, with a 
Finding of No Significant Impact issued July 23, 2000. Copies are 
available from the address indicated under the caption ADDRESSES.

Endangered Species Act Consideration

    Prior to issuance of the 2000-01 migratory game bird hunting 
regulations, we will consider provisions of the Endangered Species Act 
of 1973, as amended, (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543; hereinafter the Act) to 
ensure that hunting is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence 
of any species designated as endangered or threatened or modify or 
destroy its critical habitat and that the proposed action is consistent 
with conservation programs for those species. Consultations under 
Section 7 of this Act may cause us to change proposals in this and 
future supplemental proposed rulemakings.

Executive Order (E.O.) 12866

    While this individual supplemental rule was not reviewed by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the migratory bird hunting 
regulations are economically significant and are annually reviewed by 
OMB under E.O. 12866. E.O. 12866 requires each agency to write 
regulations that are easy to understand.
    We invite comments on how to make this rule easier to understand, 
including answers to questions such as the following: (1) Are the 
requirements in the rule clearly stated? (2) Does the rule contain 
technical language or jargon that interferes with its clarity? (3) Does 
the format of the rule (grouping and order of sections, use of 
headings, paragraphing, etc.) aid or reduce its clarity? (4) Would the 
rule be easier to understand if it were divided into more (but shorter) 
sections? (5) Is the description of the rule in the ``Supplementary 
Information'' section of the preamble helpful in understanding the 
rule? What else could we do to make the rule easier to understand?
    Send a copy of any comments that concern how we could make this 
rule easier to understand to: Office of Regulatory Affairs, Department 
of the Interior, Room 7229, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240. 
You may also e-mail the comments to this address: [email protected]

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    These regulations have a significant economic impact on substantial 
numbers of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.). We analyzed the economic impacts of the annual 
hunting regulations on small business entities in detail and issued a 
Small Entity Flexibility Analysis (Analysis) in 1998. The Analysis 
documented the significant beneficial economic effect on a substantial 
number of small entities. The primary source of information about 
hunter expenditures for migratory game bird hunting is the National 
Hunting and Fishing Survey, which is conducted at 5-year intervals. The 
Analysis was based on the 1996 National Hunting and Fishing Survey and 
the U.S. Department of Commerce's County Business Patterns, from which 
it was estimated that migratory bird hunters would spend between $429 
million and $1,084 million at small businesses in 1998. Copies of the 
Analysis are available upon request from the address indicated under 
the caption ADDRESSES.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    This rule is a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. For the reasons outlined above, 
this rule has an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more. 
However, because this rule establishes hunting seasons, we do not plan 
to defer the effective date under the exemption contained in 5 U.S.C. 
808(1).

Paperwork Reduction Act

    We examined these regulations under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995. We utilize the various recordkeeping and reporting requirements 
imposed under regulations established in 50 CFR part 20, Subpart K, in 
the formulation of migratory game bird hunting regulations.
    Specifically, OMB has approved the information collection 
requirements of the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program and 
assigned clearance number 1018-0015 (expires 9/30/2001). This 
information is used to provide a sampling frame for voluntary national 
surveys to improve our harvest estimates for all migratory game birds 
in order to better manage these populations. OMB has also approved the 
information collection requirements of the Sandhill Crane Harvest 
Questionnaire and assigned clearance number 1018-0023 (expires 9/30/
2003). The information from this survey is used to estimate the 
magnitude and the geographical and temporal distribution of harvest, 
and the portion it constitutes of the total population.
    A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

[[Page 51181]]

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    We have determined and certify, in compliance with the requirements 
of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, 2 U.S.C. 1502 et seq., that this 
rulemaking will not ``significantly or uniquely'' affect small 
governments, and will not produce a Federal mandate of $100 million or 
more in any given year on local or State government or private 
entities. Therefore, this proposed rule is not a ``significant 
regulatory action'' under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

Civil Justice Reform--Executive Order 12988

    The Department, in promulgating this proposed rule, has determined 
that this rule will not unduly burden the judicial system and meets the 
requirements of sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of E.O. 12988.

Takings Implication Assessment

    In accordance with Executive Order 12630, this proposed rule, 
authorized by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, does not have significant 
takings implications and does not affect any constitutionally protected 
property rights. This rule will not result in the physical occupancy of 
property, the physical invasion of property, or the regulatory taking 
of any property. In fact, this rule will allow hunters to exercise 
otherwise unavailable privileges, and, therefore, reduces restrictions 
on the use of private and public property.

Federalism Effects

    Due to the migratory nature of certain species of birds, the 
Federal Government has been given responsibility over these species by 
the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. We annually prescribe frameworks from 
which the States make selections and employ guidelines to establish 
special regulations on Federal Indian reservations and ceded lands. 
This process preserves the ability of the States and Tribes to 
determine which seasons meet their individual needs. Any State or Tribe 
may be more restrictive than the Federal frameworks at any time. The 
frameworks are developed in a cooperative process with the States and 
the Flyway Councils. This process allows States to participate in the 
development of frameworks from which they will make selections, thereby 
having an influence on their own regulations. These rules do not have a 
substantial direct effect on fiscal capacity, change the roles or 
responsibilities of Federal or State governments, or intrude on State 
policy or administration. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 
13132, these regulations do not have significant federalism effects and 
do not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 20

    Exports, Hunting, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Transportation, Wildlife.

    The rules that eventually will be promulgated for the 2000-01 
hunting season are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 703-712 and 16 U.S.C. 742 
a-j.

    Dated: August 15, 2000.
Stephen C. Saunders,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

Proposed Regulations Frameworks for 2000-01 Late Hunting Seasons on 
Certain Migratory Game Birds

    Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and delegated 
authorities, the Department has approved frameworks for season lengths, 
shooting hours, bag and possession limits, and outside dates within 
which States may select seasons for hunting waterfowl and coots between 
the dates of September 1, 2000, and March 10, 2001.

General

    Dates: All outside dates noted below are inclusive.
    Shooting and Hawking (taking by falconry) Hours: Unless otherwise 
specified, from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset daily.
    Possession Limits: Unless otherwise specified, possession limits 
are twice the daily bag limit.

Flyways and Management Units

Waterfowl Flyways:
    Atlantic Flyway--includes Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, 
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 
North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, 
Virginia, and West Virginia.
    Mississippi Flyway--includes Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, 
Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, 
Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
    Central Flyway--includes Colorado (east of the Continental Divide), 
Kansas, Montana (Counties of Blaine, Carbon, Fergus, Judith Basin, 
Stillwater, Sweetgrass, Wheatland, and all counties east thereof), 
Nebraska, New Mexico (east of the Continental Divide except the 
Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation), North Dakota, Oklahoma, South 
Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming (east of the Continental Divide).
    Pacific Flyway--includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, 
Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and those portions of Colorado, 
Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming not included in the Central Flyway.
Management Units:
    High Plains Mallard Management Unit--roughly defined as that 
portion of the Central Flyway which lies west of the 100th meridian.
    Definitions: For the purpose of hunting regulations listed below, 
the collective terms ``dark'' and ``light'' geese include the following 
species:
    Dark geese--Canada geese, white-fronted geese, brant, and all other 
goose species except light geese.
    Light geese--snow (including blue) geese and Ross' geese.
    Area, Zone, and Unit Descriptions: Geographic descriptions related 
to late-season regulations are contained in a later portion of this 
document.
    Area-Specific Provisions: Frameworks for open seasons, season 
lengths, bag and possession limits, and other special provisions are 
listed below by Flyway.
    Compensatory Days in the Atlantic Flyway: In the Atlantic Flyway 
States of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New 
Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, 
where Sunday hunting is prohibited statewide by State law, all Sundays 
are closed to all take of migratory waterfowl (including mergansers and 
coots).

Atlantic Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots
    Outside Dates: Between October 1 and January 20.
    Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: 60 days and daily bag limit of 6 
ducks, including no more than 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 scaup, 1 black 
duck, 1 pintail, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous whistling duck, 2 wood 
ducks, 2 redheads, 1 canvasback, and 4 scoters.
    Closures: The season on harlequin ducks is closed.
    Sea Ducks: Within the special sea duck areas, during the regular 
duck season in the Atlantic Flyway, States may choose to allow the 
above sea duck limits in addition to the limits applying to other ducks 
during the regular duck season. In all other areas, sea ducks may be 
taken only during the regular open season for ducks and are part of the 
regular duck season daily bag (not to exceed 4 scoters) and possession 
limits.
    Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit of mergansers is 5, only 1 of 
which may be a hooded merganser.
    Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.

[[Page 51182]]

    Lake Champlain Zone, New York: The waterfowl seasons, limits, and 
shooting hours shall be the same as those selected for the Lake 
Champlain Zone of Vermont.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, 
North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia may split 
their seasons into three segments; Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, 
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and West 
Virginia may select hunting seasons by zones and may split their 
seasons into two segments in each zone.
Canada Geese
    Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: Specific regulations for 
Canada geese are shown below by State. Unless specified otherwise, 
seasons may be split into two segments. In areas within States where 
the framework closing date for Atlantic Population (AP) goose seasons 
overlaps with special late season frameworks for resident geese, the 
framework closing date for AP goose season is January 14.
    Connecticut: North Atlantic Population (NAP) Zone: A 40-day season 
may be held between October 1 and December 15 with a 2-bird daily bag 
limit.
    Atlantic Population (AP) Zone: A 15-day season may be held 
concurrent with the duck season between November 1 and January 20 with 
a 1-bird daily bag limit.
    South Zone: A special experimental season may be held in the 
between January 15 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
    Delaware: A 6-day season may be held concurrent with the duck 
season between November 15 and January 20 with a 1-bird daily bag limit 
(tagging required to harvest). The harvest of Canada geese is limited 
to 2,100.
    Florida: A 70-day season may be held between November 15 to 
February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
    Georgia: In specific areas, a 70-day season may be held between 
November 15 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
    Maine: A 40-day season may be held Statewide between October 1 and 
December 15 with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    Maryland: Southern James Bay Population (SJBP) Zone: A 40-day 
season may be held between November 15 to January 14, with a 2-bird 
daily bag limit. The season may be split 3-ways. Additionally, an 
experimental season may be held from January 15 to February 15, with a 
5-bird daily bag limit.
    AP Zone: A 6-day season may be held concurrent with the duck season 
between November 15 and January 20 with a 1-bird daily bag limit 
(tagging required to harvest). The harvest of Canada geese is limited 
to 12,200.
    Massachusetts: NAP Zone: A 40-day season may be held between 
October 1 to December 15 with a 2-bird daily bag limit. Additionally, a 
special season may be held from January 15 to February 15, with a 5-
bird daily bag limit.
    AP Zone: A 15-day season may be held concurrent with the duck 
season between November 1 and January 20 with a 1-bird daily bag limit.
    New Hampshire: A 40-day season may be held statewide between 
October 1 and December 15 with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    New Jersey: Statewide: A 15-day season may be held concurrent with 
the duck season between November 1 and January 20 with a 1-bird daily 
bag limit.
    Special Late Goose Season Area: An experimental season may be held 
in designated areas of North and South New Jersey from January 15 to 
February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
    New York: SJBP Zone: A 70-day season may be held between November 1 
and January 30, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    NAP Zone: A 40-day season may be held between October 1 and 
December 31 with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    Special Late Goose Season Area: An experimental season may be held 
between January 15 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit in 
designated areas of Chemung, Delaware, Tioga, Broome, Sullivan, 
Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, Orange, Dutchess, Putnam, and Rockland 
Counties.
    AP Zone: A 15-day season may be held concurrent with the duck 
season between November 1 and January 20 with a 1-bird daily bag limit.
    North Carolina: A 46-day season may be held between October 1 and 
November 15, with a 2-bird daily bag limit Statewide, except for the 
Northeast Hunt Unit and Northampton County.
    Pennsylvania: SJBP Zone: A 40-day season may be held between 
November 15 to January 14, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    AP Zone: A 15-day season may be held concurrent with the duck 
season between November 1 and January 20 with a 1-bird daily bag limit.
    Special Late Goose Season Area: An experimental season may be held 
from January 15 to February 15 with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
    Pymatuning Zone: A 35-day season may be held between October 1 and 
January 20, with a 1-bird daily bag limit.
    Rhode Island: A 40-day season may be held between October 1 and 
December 15 with a 2-bird daily bag limit. An experimental season may 
be held in a designated area from January 15 to February 15, with a 5-
bird daily bag limit.
    South Carolina: In designated areas, a 70-day season may be held 
during November 15 to February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
    Vermont: A 15-day season may be held concurrent with the duck 
season between November 1 and January 20 with a 1-bird daily bag limit.
    Virginia: SJBP Zone: A 40-day season may be held between November 
15 to January 14, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. Additionally, an 
experimental season may be held between January 15 to February 15, with 
a 5-bird daily bag limit.
    AP Zone: A 6-day season may be held concurrent with the duck season 
between November 15 and January 20 with a 1-bird daily bag limit.
    Back Bay Area: Season is closed.
    West Virginia: A 70-day season may be held between October 1 and 
January 31, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
Light Geese
    Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: States may select a 107-
day season between October 1 and March 10, with a 15-bird daily bag 
limit and no possession limit. States may split their seasons into 
three segments, except in Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey, where 
following the completion of their duck season, and until March 10, 
Delaware and Maryland may split the remaining portion of the season to 
hunt on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays only, and New 
Jersey may split the remaining portion of the season to hunt on Fridays 
and Saturdays only.
Brant
    Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: States may select a 50-
day season between October 1 and January 20, with a 2-bird daily bag 
limit. States may split their seasons into two segments.

Mississippi Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots
    Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest October 1 (September 
30) and the Sunday nearest January 20 (January 21). Seasons in Alabama, 
Mississippi, and Tennessee may extend to January 31.
    Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: 60 days (51 days in Alabama, 
Mississippi, and Tennessee), with a daily bag limit of 6 ducks, 
including no more than 4

[[Page 51183]]

mallards (no more than 2 of which may be females), 3 mottled ducks, 3 
scaup, 1 black duck, 1 pintail, 2 wood ducks, 1 canvasback, and 2 
redheads.
    Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit is 5, only 1 of which may be 
a hooded merganser. In States that include mergansers in the duck bag 
limit, the daily limit is the same as the duck bag limit, only one of 
which may be a hooded merganser.
    Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 
Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, 
and Wisconsin may select hunting seasons by zones.
    In Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, 
Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, the season may be split 
into two segments in each zone.
    In Minnesota and Arkansas, the season may be split into three 
segments.
Geese
    Split Seasons: Seasons for geese may be split into three segments. 
Three-way split seasons for Canada geese require Mississippi Flyway 
Council and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approval, and a 3-year 
evaluation, by each participating State.
    Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: States may select 
seasons for light geese not to exceed 107 days with 20 geese daily 
between the Saturday nearest October 1 (September 30) and March 10; for 
white-fronted geese not to exceed 86 days with 2 geese daily or 107 
days with 1 goose daily between the Saturday nearest October 1 
(September 30) and the Sunday nearest February 15 (February 18); and 
for brant not to exceed 70 days with 2 brant daily or 107 days with 1 
brant daily between the Saturday nearest October 1 (September 30) and 
January 31. There is no possession limit for light geese. Specific 
regulations for Canada geese and exceptions to the above general 
provisions are shown below by State. Except as noted below, the outside 
dates for Canada geese are the Saturday nearest October 1 (September 
30) and January 31.
    Alabama: In the Southern James Bay Population (SJBP) Goose Zone, 
the season for Canada geese may not exceed 35 days. Elsewhere, the 
season for Canada geese may extend for 70 days in the respective duck-
hunting zones. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    Arkansas: The season for Canada geese may extend for 23 days. The 
season may extend to February 15. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada 
geese.
    Illinois: The total harvest of Canada geese in the State will be 
limited to 127,000 birds. The possession limit is 10 Canada geese.
    (a) North Zone--The season for Canada geese will close after 91 
days or when 21,500 birds have been harvested in the Northern Illinois 
Quota Zone, whichever occurs first. The daily bag limit is 3 Canada 
geese.
    (b) Central Zone--The season for Canada geese will close after 91 
days or when 24,700 birds have been harvested in the Central Illinois 
Quota Zone, whichever occurs first. The daily bag limit is 3 Canada 
geese.
    (c) South Zone--The harvest of Canada geese in the Southern 
Illinois and Rend Lake Quota Zones will be limited to 32,900 and 4,650 
birds, respectively. The season for Canada geese in each zone will 
close after 91 days or when the harvest limit has been reached, 
whichever occurs first. The daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese. In the 
Southern Illinois Quota Zone, if any of the following conditions exist 
after December 20, the State, after consultation with the Service, will 
close the season by emergency order with 48 hours notice:
    (1) Average body weights of adult female geese less than 3,200 
grams as measured from a weekly sample of a minimum of 50 geese.
    (2) Starvation or a major disease outbreak resulting in observed 
mortality exceeding 5,000 birds in 10 days, or a total mortality 
exceeding 10,000 birds.
    In the remainder of the South Zone, the season may extend for 91 
days or until both the Southern Illinois and Rend Lake Quota Zones have 
been closed, whichever occurs first. The daily bag limit is 3 Canada 
geese.
    Indiana: The total harvest of Canada geese in the state will be 
limited to 28,300 birds. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (a) Posey County--The season for Canada geese will close after 65 
days or when the Canada goose harvest at Hovey Lake Fish and Wildlife 
Area exceeds 1,500 birds, whichever occurs first.
    (b) Remainder of the State--The season for Canada geese will extend 
for 65 days, except in the SJBP Zone, where the season may not exceed 
35 days.
    Iowa: The season may extend for 70 days. The daily bag limit is 2 
Canada geese.
    Kentucky: (a) Western Zone--The season for Canada geese may extend 
for 61 days (76 days in Fulton County), and the harvest will be limited 
to 23,800 birds. Of the 23,800-bird quota, 15,470 birds will be 
allocated to the Ballard Reporting Area and 4,520 birds will be 
allocated to the Henderson/Union Reporting Area. If the quota in either 
reporting area is reached prior to completion of the 61-day season, the 
season in that reporting area will be closed. If the quotas in both the 
Ballard and Henderson/Union reporting areas are reached prior to 
completion of the 61-day season, the season in the counties and 
portions of counties that comprise the Western Goose Zone (listed in 
State regulations) may continue for an additional 7 days, not to exceed 
a total of 61 days (76 days in Fulton County). The season in Fulton 
County may extend to February 15. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada 
geese.
    (b) Pennyroyal/Coalfield Zone--The season may extend for 35 days. 
The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (c) Remainder of the State--The season may extend for 50 days. The 
daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    Louisiana: The season for Canada geese may extend for 9 days. 
During the season, the daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose and 2 white-
fronted geese with an 86-day white-fronted goose season or 1 white-
fronted goose with a 107-day season. Hunters participating in the 
Canada goose season must possess a special permit issued by the State.
    Michigan: The total harvest of Canada geese in the State will be 
limited to 73,200 birds.
    (a) North Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is 
September 16 and the season for Canada geese may extend for 18 days. 
The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (b) Middle Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is 
September 16 and the season for Canada geese may extend for 18 days. 
The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (c) South Zone:
    (1) Allegan County GMU--The Canada goose season will close after 25 
days or when 1,100 birds have been harvested, whichever occurs first. 
The daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose.
    (2) Muskegon Wastewater GMU--The Canada goose season will close 
after 25 days or when 350 birds have been harvested, whichever occurs 
first. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (3) Saginaw County GMU--The Canada goose season will close after 50 
days or when 2,000 birds have been harvested, whichever occurs first. 
The daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose.
    (4) Tuscola/Huron GMU--The Canada goose season will close after 50 
days or when 750 birds have been harvested, whichever occurs first. The 
daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose.
    (5) Remainder of the South Zone--The framework opening date for all 
geese is September 16 and the season for

[[Page 51184]]

Canada geese may extend for 18 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada 
geese.
    (d) Southern Michigan GMU--A special Canada goose season may be 
held between January 6 and February 4. The daily bag limit is 5 Canada 
geese.
    (e) Central Michigan GMU--An experimental special Canada goose 
season may be held between January 6 and February 4. The daily bag 
limit is 5 Canada geese.
    Minnesota: (a) West Zone:
    (1) West Central Zone--The season for Canada geese may extend for 
30 days. In the Lac Qui Parle Zone, the season will close after 30 days 
or when 16,000 birds have been harvested, whichever occurs first. 
Throughout the West Central Zone, the daily bag limit is 1 Canada 
goose.
    (2) Remainder of West Zone--The season for Canada geese may extend 
for 40 days. The daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose.
    (b) Northwest Zone--The season for Canada geese may extend for 40 
days. The daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose.
    (c) Remainder of the State--The season for Canada geese may extend 
for 70 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (d) Special Late Canada Goose Season--An experimental Special 
Canada goose season of up to 10 days may be held in December, except in 
the West Central and Lac qui Parle Goose zones. During the special 
season, the daily bag limit is 5 Canada geese, except in the Southeast 
Goose Zone, where the daily bag limit is 2.
    Mississippi: The season for Canada geese may extend for 70 days. 
The daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese.
    Missouri: (a) Swan Lake Zone--The season for Canada geese may 
extend for 70 days, with no more than 30 days occurring after November 
30. The season may be split into 3 segments. The daily bag limit is 2 
Canada geese.
    (b) Southeast Zone--The season for Canada geese may extend for 70 
days. The season may be split into 3 segments, provided that at least 1 
segment occurs prior to December 1. The daily bag limit is 3 Canada 
geese through October 31, and 2 Canada geese thereafter.
    (c) Remainder of the state:
    (1) North Zone--The season for Canada geese may extend for 70 days, 
with no more than 30 days occurring after November 30. The season may 
be split into 3 segments, provided that 1 segment of at least 9 days 
occurs prior to October 15. The daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese 
through October 31, and 2 Canada geese thereafter.
    (2) Middle Zone--The season for Canada geese may extend for 70 
days, with no more than 30 days occurring after November 30. The season 
may be split into 3 segments, provided that 1 segment of at least 9 
days occurs prior to October 15. The daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese 
through October 31, and 2 Canada geese thereafter.
    (3) South Zone--The season for Canada geese may extend for 70 days. 
The season may be split into 3 segments, provided that at least 1 
segment occurs prior to December 1. The daily bag limit is 3 Canada 
geese through October 31, and 2 Canada geese thereafter.
    Ohio: The season for Canada geese may extend for 70 days in the 
respective duck-hunting zones, with a daily bag limit of 2 Canada 
geese, except in the Lake Erie SJBP Zone, where the season may not 
exceed 30 days and the daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose. A special 
experimental Canada goose season of up to 22 days, beginning the first 
Saturday after January 10, may be held in selected areas of the State. 
During the special season, the daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    Tennessee: (a) Northwest Zone--The season for Canada geese will 
close after 76 days or when 8,900 birds have been harvested, whichever 
occurs first. The season may extend to February 15. A 6,400-bird 
harvest quota will be monitored in the Reelfoot Quota Zone. The 
remaining 2,500 quota will be assigned to the area outside the Reelfoot 
Zone. If the quota in the Reelfoot Quota Zone is reached prior to 
completion of the 76-day season, the season in the entire Northwest 
Zone will close. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (b) Southwest Zone--The season for Canada geese may extend for 61 
days, and the harvest will be limited to 1,000 birds. The daily bag 
limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (c) Kentucky/Barkley Lakes Zone--The season for Canada geese will 
close after 50 days or when 1,800 birds have been harvested, whichever 
occurs first. All geese harvested must be taken to a designated check 
station and checked. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese. In lieu of 
the quota and checking requirement above, the State may select either a 
50-day season with a 1-bird daily bag limit or a 35-day season with a 
2-bird daily bag limit for this Zone.
    (d) Remainder of the State--The season for Canada geese may extend 
for 70 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    Wisconsin: The total harvest of Canada geese in the State will be 
limited to 83,900 birds.
    (a) Horicon Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is 
September 16. The harvest of Canada geese is limited to 39,600 birds. 
The season may not exceed 95 days. All Canada geese harvested must be 
tagged. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese and the season limit will 
be the number of tags issued to each permittee.
    (b) Collins Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is 
September 16. The harvest of Canada geese is limited to 1,300 birds. 
The season may not exceed 68 days. All Canada geese harvested must be 
tagged. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese and the season limit will 
be the number of tags issued to each permittee.
    (c) Exterior Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is 
September 23. The harvest of Canada geese is limited to 38,500 birds, 
with 500 birds allocated to the Mississippi River Subzone. The season 
may not exceed 94 days, except in the Mississippi River Subzone, where 
the season may not exceed 80 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada 
geese. In that portion of the Exterior Zone outside the Mississippi 
River Subzone, the progress of the harvest must be monitored, and the 
season closed, if necessary, to ensure that the harvest does not exceed 
38,500 birds.
    Additional Limits: In addition to the harvest limits stated for the 
respective zones above, an additional 4,500 Canada geese may be taken 
in the Horicon Zone under special agricultural permits.
    Quota Zone Closures: When it has been determined that the quota of 
Canada geese allotted to the Northern Illinois, Central Illinois, 
Southern Illinois, and Rend Lake Quota Zones in Illinois, Posey County 
in Indiana, the Ballard and Henderson-Union Subzones in Kentucky, the 
Allegan County, Muskegon Wastewater, Saginaw County, and Tuscola/Huron 
Goose Management Units in Michigan, the Lac Qui Parle Zone in 
Minnesota, the Northwest and Kentucky/Barkley Lakes (if applicable) 
Zones in Tennessee, and the Exterior Zone in Wisconsin will have been 
filled, the season for taking Canada geese in the respective zone (and 
associated area, if applicable) will be closed by either the Director 
upon giving public notice through local information media at least 48 
hours in advance of the time and date of closing, or by the State 
through State regulations with such notice and time (not less than 48 
hours) as they deem necessary.

Central Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots
    Outside Dates: Between September 30 and January 21.
    Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits:
    (1) High Plains Mallard Management Unit (roughly defined as that 
portion of

[[Page 51185]]

the Central Flyway which lies west of the 100th meridian): 97 days and 
a daily bag limit of 6 ducks, including no more than 5 mallards (no 
more than 2 of which may be hens), 1 mottled duck, 1 canvasback, 1 
pintail, 2 redheads, 3 scaup, and 2 wood ducks. The last 23 days may 
start no earlier than the Saturday nearest December 10 (December 9).
    (2) Remainder of the Central Flyway: 74 days and a daily bag limit 
of 6 ducks, including no more than 5 mallards (no more than 2 of which 
may be hens), 1 mottled duck, 1 canvasback, 1 pintail, 2 redheads, 3 
scaup, and 2 wood ducks.
    Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit is 5 mergansers, only 1 of 
which may be a hooded merganser. In States that include mergansers in 
the duck daily bag limit, the daily limit may be the same as the duck 
bag limit, only one of which may be a hooded merganser.
    Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Kansas (Low Plains portion), Montana, 
Nebraska (Low Plains portion), New Mexico, Oklahoma (Low Plains 
portion), South Dakota (Low Plains portion), Texas (Low Plains 
portion), and Wyoming may select hunting seasons by zones.
    In Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, 
South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, the regular season may be split into 
two segments.
    In Colorado, the season may be split into three segments.
Geese
    Split Seasons: Seasons for geese may be split into three segments. 
Three-way split seasons for Canada geese require Central Flyway Council 
and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approval, and a 3-year evaluation by 
each participating State.
    Outside Dates: For dark geese, seasons may be selected between the 
outside dates of the Saturday nearest October 1 (September 30) and the 
Sunday nearest February 15 (February 18). For light geese, outside 
dates for seasons may be selected between the Saturday nearest October 
1 (September 30) and March 10. In the Rainwater Basin Light Goose Area 
(East and West) of Nebraska, temporal and spatial restrictions 
consistent with the experimental late-winter snow goose hunting 
strategy endorsed by the Central Flyway Council in July 1999, are 
required.
    Season Lengths and Limits:
    Light Geese: States may select a light goose season not to exceed 
107 days. The daily bag limit for light geese is 20 with no possession 
limit.
    Dark Geese: In Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South 
Dakota, and the Eastern Goose Zone of Texas, States may select a season 
for Canada geese (or any other dark goose species except white-fronted 
geese) not to exceed 95 days with a daily bag limit of 3. Additionally, 
in the Eastern Goose Zone of Texas, an alternative season of 107 days 
with a daily bag limit of 1 Canada goose may be selected. For white-
fronted geese, these States may select either a season of 86 days with 
a bag limit of 2 or a 107-day season with a bag limit of 1.
    In South Dakota, for Canada geese in the Big Stone Power Plant Area 
of Dark Goose Unit 1, the daily bag limit is 3 until November 30 and 2 
thereafter.
    In Colorado, Montana, New Mexico and Wyoming, States may select 
seasons not to exceed 107 days. The daily bag limit for dark geese is 5 
in the aggregate.
    In the Western Goose Zone of Texas, the season may not exceed 107 
days. The daily bag limit for Canada geese (or any other dark goose 
species except white-fronted geese) is 5. The daily bag limit for 
white-fronted geese is 1.

Pacific Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, Coots, and Common Moorhens
    Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: Concurrent 107 days and daily bag 
limit of 7 ducks and mergansers, including no more than 2 female 
mallards, 1 pintail, 4 scaup, 2 redheads and 1 canvasback.
    The season on coots and common moorhens may be between the outside 
dates for the season on ducks, but not to exceed 107 days.
    Coot and Common Moorhen Limits: The daily bag and possession limits 
of coots and common moorhens are 25, singly or in the aggregate.
    Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest October 1 (September 
30) and the Sunday nearest January 20 (January 21).
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, 
Oregon, Utah, and Washington may select hunting seasons by zones.
    Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington 
may split their seasons into two segments.
    Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming may split their seasons 
into three segments.
    Colorado River Zone, California: Seasons and limits shall be the 
same as seasons and limits selected in the adjacent portion of Arizona 
(South Zone).
Geese
    Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: Except as subsequently 
noted, 100-day seasons may be selected, with outside dates between the 
Saturday nearest October 1 (September 30), and the Sunday nearest 
January 20 (January 21), and the basic daily bag limits are 3 light 
geese and 4 dark geese, except in California, Oregon, and Washington, 
where the dark goose bag limit does not include brant.
    Split Seasons: Unless otherwise specified, seasons for geese may be 
split into up to 3 segments. Three-way split seasons for Canada geese 
and white-fronted geese require Pacific Flyway Council and U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service approval and a 3-year evaluation by each 
participating State.
    Brant Season--A 16-consecutive-day season may be selected in Oregon 
and Washington, and a 30-consecutive-day season may be selected in 
California. In these States, the daily bag limit is 2 brant and is in 
addition to dark goose limits.
    Closures: There will be no open season on Aleutian Canada geese in 
the Pacific Flyway. The States of California, Oregon, and Washington 
must include a statement on the closure for that subspecies in their 
respective regulations leaflet. Emergency closures may be invoked for 
all Canada geese should Aleutian Canada goose distribution patterns or 
other circumstances justify such actions.
    Arizona: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3.
    California: Northeastern Zone--White-fronted geese and cackling 
Canada geese may be taken only during the first 44 days of the goose 
season. The daily bag limit is 3 geese and may include no more than 2 
dark geese; including not more than 1 cackling Canada goose.
    Colorado River Zone--The seasons and limits must be the same as 
those selected in the adjacent portion of Arizona (South Zone).
    Southern Zone--The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3 geese.
    Balance-of-the-State Zone--A 79-day season may be selected. Limits 
may not include more than 3 geese per day, of which not more than 2 may 
be white-fronted geese and not more than 1 may be a cackling Canada 
goose. Three areas in the Balance-of-the-State Zone are restricted in 
the hunting of certain geese:
    (1) In the Counties of Del Norte and Humboldt, there will be no 
open season for Canada geese, except for the Special September Canada 
goose hunt in Humboldt County.
    (2) In the Sacramento Valley Special Management Area (West), the 
season on white-fronted geese must end on or before December 14, and, 
in the

[[Page 51186]]

Sacramento Valley Special Management Area (East), there will be no open 
season for Canada geese.
    (3) In the San Joaquin Valley Special Management Area, there will 
be no open season for Canada geese.
    Colorado: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3 geese.
    Idaho: Northern Unit--The daily bag limit is 4 geese, including 4 
dark geese, but not more than 3 light geese.
    Southwest Unit and Southeastern Unit--The daily bag limit on dark 
geese is 4.
    Montana: West of Divide Zone and East of Divide Zone--The daily bag 
limit of dark geese is 4.
    Nevada: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3 except in the 
Lincoln and Clark County Zone, where the daily bag limit of dark geese 
is 2.
    New Mexico: The daily bag limit of dark geese is 3.
    Oregon: Except as subsequently noted, the dark goose daily bag 
limit is 4, including not more than 1 cackling Canada goose.
    Lake County Zone--The daily dark goose bag limit may not include 
more than 2 white-fronted geese.
    Western Zone--In the Special Canada Goose Management Area, except 
for designated areas, there shall be no open season on Canada geese. In 
the designated areas, individual quotas shall be established which 
collectively shall not exceed 165 dusky Canada geese. See section on 
quota zones. In those designated areas, the daily bag limit of dark 
geese is 4 and may include 4 cackling Canada geese.
    Utah: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3 geese.
    Washington: The daily bag limit is 4 geese, including 4 dark geese 
but not more than 3 light geese.
    West Zone--In the Lower Columbia River Special Goose Management 
Area, except for designated areas, there shall be no open season on 
Canada geese. In the designated areas, individual quotas shall be 
established which collectively shall not exceed 85 dusky Canada geese. 
See section on quota zones. In this area, the daily bag limit of dark 
geese is 4 and may include 4 cackling Canada geese.
    Wyoming: The daily bag limit is 4 dark geese.
    Quota Zones: Seasons on dark geese must end upon attainment of 
individual quotas of dusky Canada geese allotted to the designated 
areas of Oregon and Washington. The September Canada goose season, the 
regular goose season, any special late dark goose season, and any 
extended falconry season, combined, must not exceed 107 days and the 
established quota of dusky Canada geese must not be exceeded. Hunting 
of dark geese in those designated areas shall only be by hunters 
possessing a State-issued permit authorizing them to do so. In a 
Service-approved investigation, the State must obtain quantitative 
information on hunter compliance of those regulations aimed at reducing 
the take of dusky Canada geese and eliminating the take of Aleutian 
Canada geese. If the monitoring program cannot be conducted, for any 
reason, the season must immediately close. In the designated areas of 
the Washington Quota Zone, a special late dark goose season may be held 
between the Saturday following the close of the general goose season 
and March 10. The daily bag limit may not include Aleutian Canada 
geese. In the Special Canada Goose Management Area of Oregon, the 
framework closing date is extended to the Sunday closest to March 1 
(March 4). In the Special Canada Goose Management Area of Oregon, the 
framework closing date is extended to the Sunday closest to March 1 
(Feb. 28). Regular dark goose seasons may be split into 3 segments 
within the Oregon and Washington quota zones. The 3-way split seasons 
are considered experimental for the next 3 years. An evaluation of the 
3-way split seasons is required and must be submitted by July, 2002.
Swans
    In designated areas of Utah, Nevada, and the Pacific Flyway portion 
of Montana, an open season for taking a limited number of swans may be 
selected. Permits will be issued by States and will authorize each 
permittee to take no more than 1 swan per season. The season may open 
no earlier than the Saturday nearest October 1 (September 30). The 
States must implement a harvest-monitoring program to measure the 
species composition of the swan harvest. In Utah and Nevada, the 
harvest-monitoring program must require that all harvested swans or 
their species-determinant parts be examined by either State or Federal 
biologists for the purpose of species classification. All States should 
use appropriate measures to maximize hunter compliance in providing 
bagged swans for examination or, in the case of Montana, reporting 
bill-measurement and color information. All States must achieve at 
least a 10 percent compliance rate or subsequent permits will be 
reduced by 10 percent. All States must provide to the Service by June 
30, 2001, a report covering harvest, hunter participation, reporting 
compliance, and monitoring of swan populations in the designated hunt 
areas. These seasons will be subject to the following conditions:
    In Utah, no more than 2,000 permits may be issued. The season must 
end no later than the second Sunday in December (December 10) or upon 
attainment of 10 trumpeter swans in the harvest, whichever occurs 
earliest.
    In Nevada, no more than 650 permits may be issued. The season must 
end no later than the Sunday following January 1 (January 7) or upon 
attainment of 5 trumpeter swans in the harvest, whichever occurs 
earliest.
    In Montana, no more than 500 permits may be issued. The season must 
end no later than December 1.
Tundra Swans
    In the Central Flyway portion of Montana, and in North Carolina, 
North Dakota, South Dakota (east of the Missouri River), and Virginia, 
an open season for taking a limited number of tundra swans may be 
selected. Permits will be issued by States that authorize the take of 
no more than 1 tundra swan per permit. A second permit may be issued to 
hunters from unused permits remaining after the first drawing. The 
States must obtain harvest and hunter participation data. These seasons 
will be subject to the following conditions:

In the Atlantic Flyway

--The season will be experimental.
--The season may be 90 days, from October 1 to January 31.
--In North Carolina, no more than 5,000 permits may be issued.
--In Virginia, no more than 600 permits may be issued.

In the Central Flyway

--The season may be 107 days and must occur during the light goose 
season.
--In the Central Flyway portion of Montana, no more than 500 permits 
may be issued.
--In North Dakota, no more than 2,000 permits may be issued.
--In South Dakota, no more than 1,500 permits may be issued.

Area, Unit and Zone Descriptions

Ducks (Including Mergansers) and Coots

Atlantic Flyway

Connecticut
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of I-95.
    South Zone: Remainder of the State.
Maine
    North Zone: That portion north of the line extending east along 
Maine State Highway 110 from the New Hampshire and Maine border to the 
intersection of

[[Page 51187]]

Maine State Highway 11 in Newfield; then north and east along Route 11 
to the intersection of U.S. Route 202 in Auburn; then north and east on 
Route 202 to the intersection of Interstate Highway 95 in Augusta; then 
north and east along I-95 to Route 15 in Bangor; then east along Route 
15 to Route 9; then east along Route 9 to Stony Brook in Baileyville; 
then east along Stony Brook to the United States border.
    South Zone: Remainder of the State.
Massachusetts
    Western Zone: That portion of the State west of a line extending 
south from the Vermont border on I-91 to MA 9, west on MA 9 to MA 10, 
south on MA 10 to U.S. 202, south on U.S. 202 to the Connecticut 
border.
    Central Zone: That portion of the State east of the Berkshire Zone 
and west of a line extending south from the New Hampshire border on I-
95 to U.S. 1, south on U.S. 1 to I-93, south on I-93 to MA 3, south on 
MA 3 to U.S. 6, west on U.S. 6 to MA 28, west on MA 28 to I-195, west 
to the Rhode Island border; except the waters, and the lands 150 yards 
inland from the high-water mark, of the Assonet River upstream to the 
MA 24 bridge, and the Taunton River upstream to the Center St.-Elm St. 
bridge shall be in the Coastal Zone.
    Coastal Zone: That portion of Massachusetts east and south of the 
Central Zone.
New Hampshire
    Coastal Zone: That portion of the State east of a line extending 
west from Maine border in Rollinsford on NH 4 to the city of Dover, 
south to NH 108, south along NH 108 through Madbury, Durham, and 
Newmarket to NH 85 in Newfields, south to NH 101 in Exeter, east to NH 
51 (Exeter-Hampton Expressway), east to I-95 (New Hampshire Turnpike) 
in Hampton, and south along I-95 to the Massachusetts border.
    Inland Zone: That portion of the State north and west of the above 
boundary.
New Jersey
    Coastal Zone: That portion of the State seaward of a line beginning 
at the New York border in Raritan Bay and extending west along the New 
York border to NJ 440 at Perth Amboy; west on NJ 440 to the Garden 
State Parkway; south on the Garden State Parkway to the shoreline at 
Cape May and continuing to the Delaware border in Delaware Bay.
    North Zone: That portion of the State west of the Coastal Zone and 
north of a line extending west from the Garden State Parkway on NJ 70 
to the New Jersey Turnpike, north on the turnpike to U.S. 206, north on 
U.S. 206 to U.S. 1 at Trenton, west on U.S. 1 to the Pennsylvania 
border in the Delaware River.
    South Zone: That portion of the State not within the North Zone or 
the Coastal Zone.
New York
    Lake Champlain Zone: The U.S. portion of Lake Champlain and that 
area east and north of a line extending along NY 9B from the Canadian 
border to U.S. 9, south along U.S. 9 to NY 22 south of Keesville; south 
along NY 22 to the west shore of South Bay, along and around the 
shoreline of South Bay to NY 22 on the east shore of South Bay; 
southeast along NY 22 to U.S. 4, northeast along U.S. 4 to the Vermont 
border.
    Long Island Zone: That area consisting of Nassau County, Suffolk 
County, that area of Westchester County southeast of I-95, and their 
tidal waters.
    Western Zone: That area west of a line extending from Lake Ontario 
east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, and south along 
I-81 to the Pennsylvania border.
    Northeastern Zone: That area north of a line extending from Lake 
Ontario east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, south 
along I-81 to NY 49, east along NY 49 to NY 365, east along NY 365 to 
NY 28, east along NY 28 to NY 29, east along NY 29 to I-87, north along 
I-87 to U.S. 9 (at Exit 20), north along U.S. 9 to NY 149, east along 
NY 149 to U.S. 4, north along U.S. 4 to the Vermont border, exclusive 
of the Lake Champlain Zone.
    Southeastern Zone: The remaining portion of New York.
Pennsylvania
    Lake Erie Zone: The Lake Erie waters of Pennsylvania and a 
shoreline margin along Lake Erie from New York on the east to Ohio on 
the west extending 150 yards inland, but including all of Presque Isle 
Peninsula.
    Northwest Zone: The area bounded on the north by the Lake Erie Zone 
and including all of Erie and Crawford Counties and those portions of 
Mercer and Venango Counties north of I-80.
    North Zone: That portion of the State east of the Northwest Zone 
and north of a line extending east on I-80 to U.S. 220, Route 220 to I-
180, I-180 to I-80, and I-80 to the Delaware River.
    South Zone: The remaining portion of Pennsylvania.
Vermont
    Lake Champlain Zone: The U.S. portion of Lake Champlain and that 
area north and west of the line extending from the New York border 
along U.S. 4 to VT 22A at Fair Haven; VT 22A to U.S. 7 at Vergennes; 
U.S. 7 to the Canadian border.
    Interior Zone: The remaining portion of Vermont.
West Virginia
    Zone 1: That portion outside the boundaries in Zone 2.
    Zone 2 (Allegheny Mountain Upland): That area bounded by a line 
extending south along U.S. 220 through Keyser to U.S. 50; U.S. 50 to WV 
93; WV 93 south to WV 42; WV 42 south to Petersburg; WV 28 south to 
Minnehaha Springs; WV 39 west to U.S. 219; U.S. 219 south to I-64; I-64 
west to U.S. 60; U.S. 60 west to U.S. 19; U.S. 19 north to I-79, I-79 
north to U.S. 48; U.S. 48 east to the Maryland border; and along the 
border to the point of beginning.

Mississippi Flyway

Alabama
    South Zone: Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
    North Zone: The remainder of Alabama.
Illinois
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending 
east from the Iowa border along Illinois Highway 92 to Interstate 
Highway 280, east along I-280 to I-80, then east along I-80 to the 
Indiana border.
    Central Zone: That portion of the State south of the North Zone to 
a line extending east from the Missouri border along the Modoc Ferry 
route to Modoc Ferry Road, east along Modoc Ferry Road to Modoc Road, 
northeasterly along Modoc Road and St. Leo's Road to Illinois Highway 
3, north along Illinois 3 to Illinois 159, north along Illinois 159 to 
Illinois 161, east along Illinois 161 to Illinois 4, north along 
Illinois 4 to Interstate Highway 70, east along I-70 to the Bond County 
line, north and east along the Bond County line to Fayette County, 
north and east along the Fayette County line to Effingham County, east 
and south along the Effingham County line to I-70, then east along I-70 
to the Indiana border.
    South Zone: The remainder of Illinois.
Indiana
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending 
east from the Illinois border along State Road 18 to U.S. Highway 31, 
north along U.S. 31 to U.S. 24, east along U.S. 24 to Huntington, then 
southeast along U.S. 224 to the Ohio border.
    Ohio River Zone: That portion of the State south of a line 
extending east from the Illinois border along Interstate

[[Page 51188]]

Highway 64 to New Albany, east along State Road 62 to State 56, east 
along State 56 to Vevay, east and north on State 156 along the Ohio 
River to North Landing, north along State 56 to U.S. Highway 50, then 
northeast along U.S. 50 to the Ohio border.
    South Zone: That portion of the State between the North and Ohio 
River Zone boundaries.
Iowa
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending 
east from the Nebraska border along State Highway 175 to State 37, 
southeast along State 37 to U.S. Highway 59, south along U.S. 59 to 
Interstate Highway 80, then east along I-80 to the Illinois border.
    South Zone: The remainder of Iowa.
Kentucky
    West Zone: All counties west of and including Butler, Daviess, 
Ohio, Simpson, and Warren Counties.
    East Zone: The remainder of Kentucky.
Louisiana
    West Zone: That portion of the State west of a line extending south 
from the Arkansas border along Louisiana Highway 3 to Bossier City, 
east along Interstate Highway 20 to Minden, south along Louisiana 7 to 
Ringgold, east along Louisiana 4 to Jonesboro, south along U.S. Highway 
167 to Lafayette, southeast along U.S. 90 to Houma, then south along 
the Houma Navigation Channel to the Gulf of Mexico through Cat Island 
Pass.
    East Zone: The remainder of Louisiana.
    Catahoula Lake Area: All of Catahoula Lake, including those 
portions known locally as Round Prairie, Catfish Prairie, and Frazier's 
Arm. See State regulations for additional information.
Michigan
    North Zone: The Upper Peninsula.
    Middle Zone: That portion of the Lower Peninsula north of a line 
beginning at the Wisconsin border in Lake Michigan due west of the 
mouth of Stony Creek in Oceana County; then due east to, and easterly 
and southerly along the south shore of, Stony Creek to Scenic Drive, 
easterly and southerly along Scenic Drive to Stony Lake Road, easterly 
along Stony Lake and Garfield Roads to Michigan Highway 20, east along 
Michigan 20 to U.S. Highway 10 Business Route (BR) in the city of 
Midland, east along U.S. 10 BR to U.S. 10, east along U.S. 10 to 
Interstate Highway 75/U.S. Highway 23, north along I-75/U.S. 23 to the 
U.S. 23 exit at Standish, east along U.S. 23 to Shore Road in Arenac 
County, east along Shore Road to the tip of Point Lookout, then on a 
line directly east 10 miles into Saginaw Bay, and from that point on a 
line directly northeast to the Canada border.
    South Zone: The remainder of Michigan.
Mississippi
    Zone 1: Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties.
    Zone 2: The remainder of Mississippi.
Missouri
    North Zone: That portion of Missouri north of a line running west 
from the Illinois border along Interstate Highway 70 to U.S. Highway 
54, south along U.S. 54 to U.S. 50, then west along U.S. 50 to the 
Kansas border.
    South Zone: That portion of Missouri south of a line running west 
from the Illinois border along Missouri Highway 34 to Interstate 
Highway 55; south along I-55 to U.S. Highway 62, west along U.S. 62 to 
Missouri 53, north along Missouri 53 to Missouri 51, north along 
Missouri 51 to U.S. 60, west along U.S. 60 to Missouri 21, north along 
Missouri 21 to Missouri 72, west along Missouri 72 to Missouri 32, west 
along Missouri 32 to U.S. 65, north along U.S. 65 to U.S. 54, west 
along U.S. 54 to Missouri 32, south along Missouri 32 to Missouri 97, 
south along Missouri 97 to Dade County NN, west along Dade County NN to 
Missouri 37, west along Missouri 37 to Jasper County N, west along 
Jasper County N to Jasper County M, west along Jasper County M to the 
Kansas border.
    Middle Zone: The remainder of Missouri.
Ohio
    North Zone: The Counties of Darke, Miami, Clark, Champaign, Union, 
Delaware, Licking (excluding the Buckeye Lake Area), Muskingum, 
Guernsey, Harrison and Jefferson and all counties north thereof.
    Ohio River Zone: The Counties of Hamilton, Clermont, Brown, Adams, 
Scioto, Lawrence, Gallia and Meigs.
    South Zone: That portion of the State between the North and Ohio 
River Zone boundaries, including the Buckeye Lake Area in Licking 
County bounded on the west by State Highway 37, on the north by U.S. 
Highway 40, and on the east by State 13.
Tennessee
    Reelfoot Zone: All or portions of Lake and Obion Counties.
    State Zone: The remainder of Tennessee.
Wisconsin
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending 
east from the Minnesota border along State Highway 77 to State 27, 
south along State 27 and 77 to U.S. Highway 63, and continuing south 
along State 27 to Sawyer County Road B, south and east along County B 
to State 70, southwest along State 70 to State 27, south along State 27 
to State 64, west along State 64/27 and south along State 27 to U.S. 
12, south and east on State 27/U.S. 12 to U.S. 10, east on U.S. 10 to 
State 310, east along State 310 to State 42, north along State 42 to 
State 147, north along State 147 to State 163, north along State 163 to 
Kewaunee County Trunk A, north along County Trunk A to State 57, north 
along State 57 to the Kewaunee/Door County Line, west along the 
Kewaunee/Door County Line to the Door/Brown County Line, west along the 
Door/Brown County Line to the Door/Oconto/Brown County Line, northeast 
along the Door/Oconto County Line to the Marinette/Door County Line, 
northeast along the Marinette/Door County Line to the Michigan border.
    South Zone: The remainder of Wisconsin.

Central Flyway

Kansas
    High Plains Zone: That portion of the State west of U.S. 283.
    Low Plains Early Zone: That portion of the State east of the High 
Plains Zone and west of a line extending south from the Nebraska border 
along KS 28 to U.S. 36, east along U.S. 36 to KS 199, south along KS 
199 to Republic County Road 563, south along Republic County Road 563 
to KS 148, east along KS 148 to Republic County Road 138, south along 
Republic County Road 138 to Cloud County Road 765, south along Cloud 
County Road 765 to KS 9, west along KS 9 to U.S. 24, west along U.S. 24 
to U.S. 281, north along U.S. 281 to U.S. 36, west along U.S. 36 to 
U.S. 183, south along U.S. 183 to U.S. 24, west along U.S. 24 to KS 18, 
southeast along KS 18 to U.S. 183, south along U.S. 183 to KS 4, east 
along KS 4 to I-135, south along I-135 to KS 61, southwest along KS 61 
to KS 96, northwest on KS 96 to U.S. 56, west along U.S. 56 to U.S. 
281, south along U.S. 281 to U.S. 54, then west along U.S. 54 to U.S. 
283.
    Low Plains Late Zone: The remainder of Kansas.
Montana (Central Flyway Portion)
    Zone 1: The Counties of Blaine, Carbon, Carter, Daniels, Dawson, 
Fallon, Fergus, Garfield, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, McCone, 
Musselshell, Petroleum, Phillips, Powder River, Richland,

[[Page 51189]]

Roosevelt, Sheridan, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Valley, Wheatland, 
Wibaux, and Yellowstone.
    Zone 2: The remainder of Montana.
Nebraska
    High Plains Zone: That portion of the State west of highways U.S. 
183 and U.S. 20 from the South Dakota border to Ainsworth, NE 7 and NE 
91 to Dunning, NE 2 to Merna, NE 92 to Arnold, NE 40 and NE 47 through 
Gothenburg to NE 23, NE 23 to Elwood, and U.S. 283 to the Kansas 
border.
    Low Plains Zone 1: That portion of the State east of the High 
Plains Zone and north and east of a line extending from the South 
Dakota border along NE 26E Spur to U.S. 20, west on U.S. 20 to NE 12, 
west on NE 12 to the Knox/Keya Paha County line, south along the county 
line to the Niobrara River and along the Niobrara River to U.S. 183 
(the High Plains Zone line). Where the Niobrara River forms the 
boundary, both banks will be in Zone 1.
    Low Plains Zone 2: That portion of the State east of the High 
Plains Zone and bounded by designated highways and political boundaries 
starting on U.S. 73 at the Kansas border, north to NE 67, north to U.S. 
75, north to NE 2, west to NE 43, north to U.S. 34, east to NE 63, 
north and west to U.S. 77, north to NE 92, west to U.S. 81, south to NE 
66, west to NE 14, south to U.S. 34, west to NE 2, south to I-80, west 
to Hamilton/Hall County line (Gunbarrel Road), south to Giltner Road; 
west to U.S. 34, west to U.S. 136, east on U.S. 136 to NE 10, south to 
the State line, west to U.S. 283, north to NE 23, west to NE 47, north 
to U.S. 30, east to NE 14, north to NE 52, northwesterly to NE 91, west 
to U.S. 281, north to NE 91 in Wheeler County, west to U.S. 183, north 
to northerly boundary of Loup County, east along the north boundaries 
of Loup, Garfield, and Wheeler County, south along the east Wheeler 
County line to NE 70, east on NE 70 from Wheeler County to NE 14, south 
to NE 39, southeast to NE 22, east to U.S. 81, southeast to U.S. 30, 
east along U.S. 30 to U.S. 75, north along U.S. 75 to the Washington/
Burt County line; then east along the county line to the Iowa border.
    Low Plains Zone 3: The area east of the High Plains Zone, excluding 
Low Plains Zone 1, north of Low Plains Zone 2.
    Low Plains Zone 4: The area east of the High Plains Zone and south 
of Zone 2.
New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion)
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of I-40 and U.S. 54.
    South Zone: The remainder of New Mexico.
North Dakota
    High Plains Unit: That portion of the State south and west of a 
line from the South Dakota border along U.S. 83 and I-94 to ND 41, 
north to U.S. 2, west to the Williams/Divide County line, then north 
along the County line to the Canadian border.
    Low Plains: The remainder of North Dakota.
Oklahoma
    High Plains Zone: The Counties of Beaver, Cimarron, and Texas.
    Low Plains Zone 1: That portion of the State east of the High 
Plains Zone and north of a line extending east from the Texas border 
along OK 33 to OK 47, east along OK 47 to U.S. 183, south along U.S. 
183 to I-40, east along I-40 to U.S. 177, north along U.S. 177 to OK 
33, west along OK 33 to I-35, north along I-35 to U.S. 60, west along 
U.S. 60 to U.S. 64, west along U.S. 64 to OK 132, then north along OK 
132 to the Kansas border.
    Low Plains Zone 2: The remainder of Oklahoma.
South Dakota
    High Plains Unit: That portion of the State west of a line 
beginning at the North Dakota border and extending south along U.S. 83 
to U.S. 14, east along U.S. 14 to Blunt-Canning Road in Blunt, south 
along Blunt-Canning Road to SD 34, east to SD 47, south to I-90, east 
to SD 47, south to SD 49, south to Colome and then continuing south on 
U.S. 183 to the Nebraska border.
    North Zone: That portion of northeastern South Dakota east of the 
High Plains Unit and north of a line extending east along US 212 to SD 
15, then north along SD 15 to Big Stone Lake at the Minnesota border.
    South Zone: That portion of Gregory County east of SD 47, Charles 
Mix County south of SD 44 to the Douglas County line, south on SD 50 to 
Geddes, east on the Geddes Hwy. to U.S. 281, south on U.S. 281 and U.S. 
18 to SD 50, south and east on SD 50 to Bon Homme County line, the 
Counties of Bon Homme, Yankton, and Clay south of SD 50, and Union 
County south and west of SD 50 and I-29.
    Middle Zone: The remainder of South Dakota.
Texas
    High Plains Zone: That portion of the State west of a line 
extending south from the Oklahoma border along U.S. 183 to Vernon, 
south along U.S. 283 to Albany, south along TX 6 to TX 351 to Abilene, 
south along U.S. 277 to Del Rio, then south along the Del Rio 
International Toll Bridge access road to the Mexico border.
    Low Plains North Zone: That portion of northeastern Texas east of 
the High Plains Zone and north of a line beginning at the International 
Toll Bridge south of Del Rio, then extending east on U.S. 90 to San 
Antonio, then continuing east on I-10 to the Louisiana border at 
Orange, Texas.
    Low Plains South Zone: The remainder of Texas.
Wyoming (Central Flyway portion)
    Zone 1: The Counties of Converse, Goshen, Hot Springs, Natrona, 
Platte, Washakie, and that portion of Park County south of T58N and not 
within the boundary of the Shoshone National Forest.
    Zone 2: The remainder of Wyoming.

Pacific Flyway

Arizona
    Game Management Units (GMU) as follows:
    South Zone: Those portions of GMUs 6 and 8 in Yavapai County, and 
GMUs 10 and 12B-45.
    North Zone: GMUs 1-5, those portions of GMUs 6 and 8 within 
Coconino County, and GMUs 7, 9, 12A.
California
    Northeastern Zone: That portion of the State east and north of a 
line beginning at the Oregon border; south and west along the Klamath 
River to the mouth of Shovel Creek; south along Shovel Creek to Forest 
Service Road 46N10; south and east along FS 46N10 to FS 45N22; west and 
south along FS 45N22 to U.S. 97 at Grass Lake Summit; south and west 
along U.S. 97 to I-5 at the town of Weed; south along I-5 to CA 89; 
east and south along CA 89 to the junction with CA 49; east and north 
on CA 49 to CA 70; east on CA 70 to U.S. 395; south and east on U.S. 
395 to the Nevada border.
    Colorado River Zone: Those portions of San Bernardino, Riverside, 
and Imperial Counties east of a line extending from the Nevada border 
south along U.S. 95 to Vidal Junction; south on a road known as 
``Aqueduct Road'' in San Bernardino County through the town of Rice to 
the San Bernardino-Riverside County line; south on a road known in 
Riverside County as the ``Desert Center to Rice Road'' to the town of 
Desert Center; east 31 miles on I-10 to the Wiley Well Road; south on 
this road to Wiley Well; southeast along the Army-Milpitas Road to the 
Blythe, Brawley, Davis Lake intersections; south

[[Page 51190]]

on the Blythe-Brawley paved road to the Ogilby and Tumco Mine Road; 
south on this road to U.S. 80; east seven miles on U.S. 80 to the 
Andrade-Algodones Road; south on this paved road to the Mexican border 
at Algodones, Mexico.
    Southern Zone: That portion of southern California (but excluding 
the Colorado River Zone) south and east of a line extending from the 
Pacific Ocean east along the Santa Maria River to CA 166 near the City 
of Santa Maria; east on CA 166 to CA 99; south on CA 99 to the crest of 
the Tehachapi Mountains at Tejon Pass; east and north along the crest 
of the Tehachapi Mountains to CA 178 at Walker Pass; east on CA 178 to 
U.S. 395 at the town of Inyokern; south on U.S. 395 to CA 58; east on 
CA 58 to I-15; east on I-15 to CA 127; north on CA 127 to the Nevada 
border.
    Southern San Joaquin Valley Temporary Zone: All of Kings and Tulare 
Counties and that portion of Kern County north of the Southern Zone.
    Balance-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of California not included 
in the Northeastern, Southern, and Colorado River Zones, and the 
Southern San Joaquin Valley Temporary Zone.
Idaho
    Zone 1: Includes all lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian 
Reservation, including private inholdings; Bannock County; Bingham 
County, except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; 
and Power County east of ID 37 and ID 39.
    Zone 2: Includes the following Counties or portions of Counties: 
Adams; Bear Lake; Benewah; Bingham within the Blackfoot Reservoir 
drainage; those portions of Blaine west of ID 75, south and east of 
U.S. 93, and between ID 75 and U.S. 93 north of U.S. 20 outside the 
Silver Creek drainage; Bonner; Bonneville; Boundary; Butte; Camas; 
Caribou except the Fort Hall Indian Reservation; Cassia within the 
Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge; Clark; Clearwater; Custer; Elmore 
within the Camas Creek drainage; Franklin; Fremont; Idaho; Jefferson; 
Kootenai; Latah; Lemhi; Lewis; Madison; Nez Perce; Oneida; Power within 
the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge; Shoshone; Teton; and Valley 
Counties.
    Zone 3: Includes the following Counties or portions of Counties: 
Ada; Blaine between ID 75 and U.S. 93 south of U.S. 20 and that 
additional area between ID 75 and U.S. 93 north of U.S. 20 within the 
Silver Creek drainage; Boise; Canyon; Cassia except within the Minidoka 
National Wildlife Refuge; Elmore except the Camas Creek drainage; Gem; 
Gooding; Jerome; Lincoln; Minidoka; Owyhee; Payette; Power west of ID 
37 and ID 39 except that portion within the Minidoka National Wildlife 
Refuge; Twin Falls; and Washington Counties.
Nevada
    Lincoln and Clark County Zone: All of Clark and Lincoln Counties.
    Remainder-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of Nevada.
Oregon
    Zone 1: Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Lane, Douglas, Coos, Curry, 
Josephine, Jackson, Linn, Benton, Polk, Marion, Yamhill, Washington, 
Columbia, Multnomah, Clackamas, Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, 
Morrow and Umatilla Counties.
    Columbia Basin Mallard Management Unit: Gilliam, Morrow, and 
Umatilla Counties.
    Zone 2: The remainder of the State.
Utah
    Zone 1: All of Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Morgan, 
Rich, Salt Lake, Summit, Unitah, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber Counties and 
that part of Toole County north of I-80.
    Zone 2: The remainder of Utah.
Washington
    East Zone: All areas east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of 
the Big White Salmon River in Klickitat County.
    Columbia Basin Mallard Management Unit: Same as East Zone.
    West Zone: All areas to the west of the East Zone.

Geese

Atlantic Flyway

Connecticut
    NAP Zone: Statewide, except for Hartford and Litchfield Counties 
west of the Connecticut River.
    AP Zone: Remainder of the State.
    South Zone: Same as for ducks.
    North Zone: Same as for ducks.
Maryland
    SJBP Zone: Allegheny, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Washington 
counties and the portion of Montgomery County south of Interstate 270 
and west of Interstate 495 to the Potomac River.
    AP Zone: Remainder of the State.
Massachusetts
    NAP Zone: Central Zone (same as for ducks) and that portion of the 
Coastal Zone that lies north of route 139 from Green Harbor.
    AP Zone: Remainder of the State.
    Special Late Season Area: That portion of the Coastal Zone (see 
duck zones) that lies north of Route 14, east of St. George Road, and 
east of the Powder Point Bridge.
New Hampshire
    Same zones as for ducks.
New Jersey
    North--that portion of the State within a continuous line that runs 
east along the New York State boundary line to the Hudson River; then 
south along the New York State boundary to its intersection with Route 
440 at Perth Amboy; then west on Route 440 to its intersection with 
Route 287; then west along Route 287 to its intersection with Route 206 
in Bedminster (Exit 18); then north along Route 206 to its intersection 
with Route 94: then west along Route 94 to the tollbridge in Columbia; 
then north along the Pennsylvania State boundary in the Delaware River 
to the beginning point.
    South--that portion of the State within a continuous line that runs 
west from the Atlantic Ocean at Ship Bottom along Route 72 to Route 70; 
then west along Route 70 to Route 206; then south along Route 206 to 
Route 536; then west along Route 536 to Route 322; then west along 
Route 322 to Route 55; then south along Route 55 to Route 553 (Buck 
Road); then south along Route 553 to Route 40; then east along Route 40 
to route 55; then south along Route 55 to Route 552 (Sherman Avenue); 
then west along Route 552 to Carmel Road; then south along Carmel Road 
to Route 49; then east along Route 49 to Route 555; then south along 
Route 555 to Route 553; then east along Route 553 to Route 649; then 
north along Route 649 to Route 670; then east along Route 670 to Route 
47; then north along Route 47 to Route 548; then east along Route 548 
to Route 49; then east along Route 49 to Route 50; then south along 
Route 50 to Route 9; then south along Route 9 to Route 625 (Sea Isle 
City Boulevard); then east along Route 625 to the Atlantic Ocean; then 
north to the beginning point.
New York
    Special Late Season Area for Canada Geese: That area of Chemung 
County lying east of a continuous line extending south along State 
Route 13 from the Schuyler County line to State Route 17 and then south 
along Route 17 to the New York-Pennsylvania boundary; all of Tioga and 
Broome Counties; that area of Delaware, Sullivan, and Orange Counties 
lying southwest of a continuous line extending east along State Route 
17 from the Broome County line to U.S. Route 209 at Wurtsboro and then 
south along Route 209 to the New

[[Page 51191]]

York-Pennsylvania boundary at Port Jervis, excluding areas on or within 
50 yards of the Delaware River between the confluence of the West 
Branch and East Branch below Hancock and the mouth of the Shingle Kill 
(3 miles upstream from Port Jervis); that area of Orange, Rockland, 
Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester Counties lying southeast of a 
continuous line extending north along Route 17 from the New York-New 
Jersey boundary at Suffern to Interstate Route 87, then north along 
Route 87 to Interstate Route 84, then east along Route 84 to the 
northern boundary of Putnam County, then east along that boundary to 
the New York-Connecticut boundary; that area of Nassau and Suffolk 
Counties lying north of State Route 25A and west of a continuous line 
extending northward from State Route 25A along Randall Road (near 
Shoreham) to North Country Road, then east to Sound Road and then north 
to Long Island Sound and then due north to the New York-Connecticut 
boundary.
    Long Island (NAP) Zone: Same as Long Island Duck Zone.
    Southwest (SJBP) Zone: all of Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautaugua 
Counties; that area of Erie, Wyoming and Niagara Counties lying south 
and west of a continuous line extending from the Rainbow Bridge below 
Niagara Falls, north along the Robert Moses Parkway to US Route 62A, 
then east along Route 62A to US Route 62, then southeast along US Route 
62 to Interstate Route 290, then south along Route 290 to Exit 50 of 
the NYS Thruway, then east along I-90 to State Route 98, then south 
along State Route 98 to the Cattaraugus County line; and that area of 
Steuben and Chemung Counties lying south of State Route 17.
    AP Zone: Remainder of the State.
North Carolina
    Regular Season for Canada Geese: Statewide, except for Northampton 
County and the Northeast Hunt Unit--Counties of Bertie, Camden, Chowan, 
Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington.
Pennsylvania
    SJBP Zone: Area from the New York State line west of U.S. Route 220 
to intersection of I-180, west of I-180 to intersection of SR 147, west 
of SR 147 to intersection of U.S. Route 322, west of U.S. Route 322 to 
intersection of I-81, west of I-81 to intersection of I-83, west of I-
83 to I-283, west of I-283 to SR 441, west of SR 441 to U.S. Route 30, 
west of U.S. Route 30 to I-83, west of I-83 to Maryland State line, 
except for the Pymatuning Zone.
    Pymatuning Zone: Area south of SR 198 from the Ohio State line to 
the intersection of SR 18, to the intersection of US Route 322/SR 18, 
to the intersection of SR 3013, then south to the Crawford/Mercer 
County line.
    Special Late Season Area for Canada Geese: Same as SJBP Zone and 
the area from New York State line east of U.S. Route 220 to 
intersection of I-180, east of I-180 to intersection of SR 147, east of 
SR 147 to intersection of U.S. Route 322, east of Route 322 to 
intersection of I-81, north of I-81 to intersection of I-80, north of 
I-80 to New Jersey State line.
    AP Zone: Remainder of the State.
Rhode Island
    Special Area for Canada Geese: Kent and Providence Counties and 
portions of the towns of Exeter and North Kingston within Washington 
County (see State regulations for detailed descriptions).
South Carolina
    Canada Goose Area: Statewide except for Clarendon County and that 
portion of Lake Marion in Orangeburg County and Berkeley County.
Vermont
    Same zones as for ducks.
Virginia
    SJBP Zone and Special Late Season Area for Canada Geese: All areas 
west of I-95.
    Back Bay Area: The waters of Back Bay and its tributaries and the 
marshes adjacent thereto, and on the land and marshes between Back Bay 
and the Atlantic Ocean from Sandbridge to the North Carolina line, and 
on and along the shore of North Landing River and the marshes adjacent 
thereto, and on and along the shores of Binson Inlet Lake (formerly 
known as Lake Tecumseh) and Red Wing Lake and the marshes adjacent 
thereto.
    AP Zone: Remainder of the State.
West Virginia
    Same zones as for ducks.

Mississippi Flyway

Alabama
    Same zones as for ducks, but in addition:
    SJBP Zone: That portion of Morgan County east of U.S. Highway 31, 
north of State Highway 36, and west of U.S. 231; that portion of 
Limestone County south of U.S. 72; and that portion of Madison County 
south of Swancott Road and west of Triana Road.
Arkansas
    East Zone: Arkansas, Ashley, Chicot, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, 
Cross, Desha, Drew, Greene, Independence, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, 
Lee, Lincoln, Lonoke, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett, Prairie, 
Pulaski, Randolph, St. Francis, White, and Woodruff Counties.
    West Zone: Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Cleburne, Conway, 
Crawford, Faulkner, Franklin, Fulton, Izard, Johnson, Madison, Marion, 
Newton, Pope, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, Van Buren, and Washington Counties, 
and those portions of Logan, Perry, Sebastian, and Yell Counties lying 
north of a line extending east from the Oklahoma border along State 
Highway 10 to Perry, south on State 9 to State 60, then east on State 
60 to the Faulkner County line.
Illinois
    Same zones as for ducks, but in addition:
    North Zone:
    Northern Illinois Quota Zone: The Counties of McHenry, Lake, Kane, 
DuPage, and those portions of LaSalle and Will Counties north of 
Interstate Highway 80.
    Central Zone:
    Central Illinois Quota Zone: The Counties of Grundy, Woodford, 
Peoria, Knox, Fulton, Tazewell, Mason, Cass, Morgan, Pike, Calhoun, and 
Jersey, and those portions of LaSalle and Will Counties south of 
Interstate Highway 80.
    South Zone:
    Southern Illinois Quota Zone: Alexander, Jackson, Union, and 
Williamson Counties.
    Rend Lake Quota Zone: Franklin and Jefferson Counties.
Indiana
    Same zones as for ducks, but in addition:
    SJBP Zone: Jasper, LaGrange, LaPorte, Starke, and Steuben Counties, 
and that portion of the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in 
Pulaski County.
Iowa
    Same zones as for ducks.
Kentucky
    Western Zone: That portion of the State west of a line beginning at 
the Tennessee border at Fulton and extending north along the Purchase 
Parkway to Interstate Highway 24, east along I-24 to U.S. Highway 641, 
north along U.S. 641 to U.S. 60, northeast along U.S. 60 to the 
Henderson County line, then south, east, and northerly along the 
Henderson County line to the Indiana border.

[[Page 51192]]

    Ballard Reporting Area: That area encompassed by a line beginning 
at the northwest city limits of Wickliffe in Ballard County and 
extending westward to the middle of the Mississippi River, north along 
the Mississippi River and along the low-water mark of the Ohio River on 
the Illinois shore to the Ballard-McCracken County line, south along 
the county line to Kentucky Highway 358, south along Kentucky 358 to 
U.S. Highway 60 at LaCenter; then southwest along U.S. 60 to the 
northeast city limits of Wickliffe.
    Henderson-Union Reporting Area: Henderson County and that portion 
of Union County within the Western Zone.
    Pennyroyal/Coalfield Zone: Butler, Daviess, Ohio, Simpson, and 
Warren Counties and all counties lying west to the boundary of the 
Western Goose Zone.
Michigan
    Same zones as for ducks, but in addition:
    South Zone:
    Tuscola/Huron Goose Management Unit (GMU): Those portions of 
Tuscola and Huron Counties bounded on the south by Michigan Highway 138 
and Bay City Road, on the east by Colwood and Bay Port Roads, on the 
north by Kilmanagh Road and a line extending directly west off the end 
of Kilmanagh Road into Saginaw Bay to the west boundary, and on the 
west by the Tuscola-Bay County line and a line extending directly north 
off the end of the Tuscola-Bay County line into Saginaw Bay to the 
north boundary.
    Allegan County GMU: That area encompassed by a line beginning at 
the junction of 136th Avenue and Interstate Highway 196 in Lake Town 
Township and extending easterly along 136th Avenue to Michigan Highway 
40, southerly along Michigan 40 through the city of Allegan to 108th 
Avenue in Trowbridge Township, westerly along 108th Avenue to 46th 
Street, northerly \1/2\ mile along 46th Street to 109th Avenue, 
westerly along 109th Avenue to I-196 in Casco Township, then northerly 
along I-196 to the point of beginning.
    Saginaw County GMU: That portion of Saginaw County bounded by 
Michigan Highway 46 on the north; Michigan 52 on the west; Michigan 57 
on the south; and Michigan 13 on the east.
    Muskegon Wastewater GMU: That portion of Muskegon County within the 
boundaries of the Muskegon County wastewater system, east of the 
Muskegon State Game Area, in sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 
30, and 32, T10N R14W, and sections 1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 24, and 
25, T10N R15W, as posted.
    Special Canada Goose Seasons:
    Southern Michigan GMU: That portion of the State, including the 
Great Lakes and interconnecting waterways and excluding the Allegan 
County GMU, south of a line beginning at the Ontario border at the 
Bluewater Bridge in the city of Port Huron and extending westerly and 
southerly along Interstate Highway 94 to I-69, westerly along I-69 to 
Michigan Highway 21, westerly along Michigan 21 to I-96, northerly 
along I-96 to I-196, westerly along I-196 to Lake Michigan Drive (M-45) 
in Grand Rapids, westerly along Lake Michigan Drive to the Lake 
Michigan shore, then directly west from the end of Lake Michigan Drive 
to the Wisconsin border.
    Central Michigan GMU: That portion of the South Zone north of the 
Southern Michigan GMU, excluding the Tuscola/Huron GMU, Saginaw County 
GMU, and Muskegon Wastewater GMU.
Minnesota
    West Zone: That portion of the state encompassed by a line 
beginning at the junction of State Trunk Highway (STH) 60 and the Iowa 
border, then north and east along STH 60 to U.S. Highway 71, north 
along U.S. 71 to Interstate Highway 94, then north and west along I-94 
to the North Dakota border.
    West Central Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at the 
intersection of State Trunk Highway (STH) 29 and U.S. Highway 212 and 
extending west along U.S. 212 to U.S. 59, south along U.S. 59 to STH 
67, west along STH 67 to U.S. 75, north along U.S. 75 to County State 
Aid Highway (CSAH) 30 in Lac qui Parle County, west along CSAH 30 to 
the western boundary of the State, north along the western boundary of 
the State to a point due south of the intersection of STH 7 and CSAH 7 
in Big Stone County, and continuing due north to said intersection, 
then north along CSAH 7 to CSAH 6 in Big Stone County, east along CSAH 
6 to CSAH 21 in Big Stone County, south along CSAH 21 to CSAH 10 in Big 
Stone County, east along CSAH 10 to CSAH 22 in Swift County, east along 
CSAH 22 to CSAH 5 in Swift County, south along CSAH 5 to U.S. 12, east 
along U.S. 12 to CSAH 17 in Swift County, south along CSAH 17 to CSAH 9 
in Chippewa County, south along CSAH 9 to STH 40, east along STH 40 to 
STH 29, then south along STH 29 to the point of beginning.
    Lac qui Parle Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at 
the intersection of U.S. Highway 212 and County State Aid Highway 
(CSAH) 27 in Lac qui Parle County and extending north along CSAH 27 to 
CSAH 20 in Lac qui Parle County, west along CSAH 20 to State Trunk 
Highway (STH) 40, north along STH 40 to STH 119, north along STH 119 to 
CSAH 34 in Lac qui Parle County, west along CSAH 34 to CSAH 19 in Lac 
qui Parle County, north and west along CSAH 19 to CSAH 38 in Lac qui 
Parle County, west along CSAH 38 to U.S. 75, north along U.S. 75 to STH 
7, east along STH 7 to CSAH 6 in Swift County, east along CSAH 6 to 
County Road 65 in Swift County, south along County 65 to County 34 in 
Chippewa County, south along County 34 to CSAH 12 in Chippewa County, 
east along CSAH 12 to CSAH 9 in Chippewa County, south along CSAH 9 to 
STH 7, southeast along STH 7 to Montevideo and along the municipal 
boundary of Montevideo to U.S. 212; then west along U.S. 212 to the 
point of beginning.
    Northwest Zone: That portion of the state encompassed by a line 
extending east from the North Dakota border along U.S. Highway 2 to 
State Trunk Highway (STH) 32, north along STH 32 to STH 92, east along 
STH 92 to County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 2 in Polk County, north along 
CSAH 2 to CSAH 27 in Pennington County, north along CSAH 27 to STH 1, 
east along STH 1 to CSAH 28 in Pennington County, north along CSAH 28 
to CSAH 54 in Marshall County, north along CSAH 54 to CSAH 9 in Roseau 
County, north along CSAH 9 to STH 11, west along STH 11 to STH 310, and 
north along STH 310 to the Manitoba border.
    Special Canada Goose Seasons:
    Southeast Zone: That part of the state within the following 
described boundaries: beginning at the intersection of U. S. Highway 52 
and the south boundary of the Twin Cities Metro Canada Goose Zone; 
thence along the U. S. Highway 52 to State Trunk Highway (STH) 57; 
thence along STH 57 to the municipal boundary of Kasson; thence along 
the municipal boundary of Kasson County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 13, 
Dodge County; thence along CSAH 13 to STH 30; thence along STH 30 to U. 
S. Highway 63; thence along U. S. Highway 63 to the south boundary of 
the state; thence along the south and east boundaries of the state to 
the south boundary of the Twin Cities Metro Canada Goose Zone; thence 
along said boundary to the point of beginning.
Missouri
    Same zones as for ducks but in addition:
    North Zone:
    Swan Lake Zone: That area bounded by U.S. Highway 36 on the north, 
Missouri Highway 5 on the east,

[[Page 51193]]

Missouri 240 and U.S. 65 on the south, and U.S. 65 on the west.
    Middle Zone:
    Southeast Zone: That portion of the State encompassed by a line 
beginning at the intersection of Missouri Highway (MO) 34 and 
Interstate 55 and extending south along I-55 to U.S. Highway 62, west 
along U.S. 62 to MO 53, north along MO 53 to MO 51, north along MO 51 
to U.S. 60, west along U.S. 60 to MO 21, north along MO 21 to MO 72, 
east along MO 72 to MO 34, then east along MO 34 to I-55.
Ohio
    Same zones as for ducks but in addition:
    North Zone:
    Lake Erie SJBP Zone: That portion of the state encompassed by a 
line beginning in Lucas county at the Michigan state line on I-75, and 
extending south along I-75 to I-280, south along I-280 to I-80, east 
along I-80 to the Pennsylvania state line in Trumbull county, north 
along the Pennsylvania state line to SR 6 in Ashtabula county, west 
along SR 6 to the Lake/Cuyahoga county line, north along the Lake/
Cuyahoga county line to the shore of Lake Erie.
Tennessee
    Southwest Zone: That portion of the State south of State Highways 
20 and 104, and west of U.S. Highways 45 and 45W.
    Northwest Zone: Lake, Obion and Weakley Counties and those portions 
of Gibson and Dyer Counties not included in the Southwest Tennessee 
Zone.
    Kentucky/Barkley Lakes Zone: That portion of the State bounded on 
the west by the eastern boundaries of the Northwest and Southwest Zones 
and on the east by State Highway 13 from the Alabama border to 
Clarksville and U.S. Highway 79 from Clarksville to the Kentucky 
border.
Wisconsin
    Horicon Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at the 
intersection of State Highway 21 and the Fox River in Winnebago County 
and extending westerly along State 21 to the west boundary of Winnebago 
County, southerly along the west boundary of Winnebago County to the 
north boundary of Green Lake County, westerly along the north 
boundaries of Green Lake and Marquette Counties to State 22, southerly 
along State 22 to State 33, westerly along State 33 to U.S. Highway 16, 
westerly along U.S. 16 to Weyh Road, southerly along Weyh Road to 
County Highway O, southerly along County O to the west boundary of 
Section 31, southerly along the west boundary of Section 31 to the 
Sauk/Columbia County boundary, southerly along the Sauk/Columbia County 
boundary to State 33, easterly along State 33 to Interstate Highway 90/
94, southerly along I-90/94 to State 60, easterly along State 60 to 
State 83, northerly along State 83 to State 175, northerly along State 
175 to State 33, easterly along State 33 to U.S. Highway 45, northerly 
along U.S. 45 to the east shore of the Fond Du Lac River, northerly 
along the east shore of the Fond Du Lac River to Lake Winnebago, 
northerly along the western shoreline of Lake Winnebago to the Fox 
River, then westerly along the Fox River to State 21.
    Collins Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at the 
intersection of Hilltop Road and Collins Marsh Road in Manitowoc County 
and extending westerly along Hilltop Road to Humpty Dumpty Road, 
southerly along Humpty Dumpty Road to Poplar Grove Road, easterly and 
southerly along Poplar Grove Road to County Highway JJ, southeasterly 
along County JJ to Collins Road, southerly along Collins Road to the 
Manitowoc River, southeasterly along the Manitowoc River to Quarry 
Road, northerly along Quarry Road to Einberger Road, northerly along 
Einberger Road to Moschel Road, westerly along Moschel Road to Collins 
Marsh Road, northerly along Collins Marsh Road to Hilltop Road.
    Exterior Zone: That portion of the State not included in the 
Horicon or Collins Zones.
    Mississippi River Subzone: That area encompassed by a line 
beginning at the intersection of the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe 
Railway and the Illinois border in Grant County and extending northerly 
along the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway to the city limit of 
Prescott in Pierce County, then west along the Prescott city limit to 
the Minnesota border.
    Rock Prairie Subzone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at 
the intersection of the Illinois border and Interstate Highway 90 and 
extending north along I-90 to County Highway A, east along County A to 
U.S. Highway 12, southeast along U.S. 12 to State Highway 50, west 
along State 50 to State 120, then south along 120 to the Illinois 
border.
    Brown County Subzone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at 
the intersection of the Fox River with Green Bay in Brown County and 
extending southerly along the Fox River to State Highway 29, 
northwesterly along State 29 to the Brown County line, south, east, and 
north along the Brown County line to Green Bay, due west to the 
midpoint of the Green Bay Ship Channel, then southwesterly along the 
Green Bay Ship Channel to the Fox River.

Central Flyway

Colorado (Central Flyway Portion)
    Northern Front Range Area: All lands in Adams, Boulder, Clear 
Creek, Denver, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld Counties west of I-
25 from the Wyoming border south to I-70; west on I-70 to the 
Continental Divide; north along the Continental Divide to the Jackson-
Larimer County Line to the Wyoming border.
    South Park/San Luis Valley Area: Alamosa, Chaffee, Conejos, 
Costilla, Custer, Fremont, Lake, Park, Teller, and Rio Grande Counties 
and those portions of Hinsdale, Mineral, and Saguache Counties east of 
the Continental Divide.
    North Park Area: Jackson County.
    Arkansas Valley Area: Baca, Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero, and 
Prowers Counties.
    Pueblo County Area: Pueblo County.
    Remainder: Remainder of the Central Flyway portion of Colorado.
    Eastern Colorado Late Light Goose Area: that portion of the State 
east of Interstate Highway 25.
Kansas
Light Geese
    Unit 1: That portion of Kansas east of a line beginning at the 
intersection of the Nebraska border and KS 99, extending south along KS 
99 to I-70 to U.S. 75, south on U.S. 75 to U.S. 54, west on U.S. 54 to 
KS 99, and then south on KS 99 to the Oklahoma border.
    Unit 2: The remainder of Kansas, laying west of Unit 1.
    Dark Geese
    Marais des Cygnes Valley Unit: The area is bounded by the Missouri 
border to KS 68, KS 68 to U.S. 169, U.S. 169 to KS 7, KS 7 to KS 31, KS 
31 to U.S. 69, U.S. 69 to KS 239, KS 239 to the Missouri border.
    South Flint Hills Unit: The area is bounded by highways U.S. 50 to 
KS 57, KS 57 to U.S. 75, U.S. 75 to KS 39, KS 39 to KS 96, KS 96 to 
U.S. 77, U.S. 77 to U.S. 50.
    Flint Hills Unit: That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the 
junction of I-35 and K-57, then south and east on K-57 to its junction 
US-75, then south on US-75 to its junction with K-39, then south and 
west on K-39 to its junction with K-96, then west on K-96 to its 
junction with US-77, then north on US-77 to its junction with I-70, 
then east on I-70 to its junction with US-75, then south on US-75 to 
its junction with I-35, then west on I-35 to its

[[Page 51194]]

junction with K-57, except federal and state sanctuaries.
Montana (Central Flyway Portion)
    Sheridan County: Includes all of Sheridan County.
    Remainder: Includes the remainder of the Central Flyway portion of 
Montana.
Nebraska
Dark Geese
    North Unit: Keya Paha County east of U.S. 183 and all of Boyd 
County, including the boundary waters of the Niobrara River, all of 
Knox County and that portion of Cedar County west of U.S. 81.
    Southcentral Unit: That area south and west of U.S. 281 at the 
Kansas/Nebraska border, north to Giltner Road (near Doniphan), east to 
NE 14, north to NE 91, west to U.S. 183, south to NE 92, west to NE 61, 
north to U.S. 2, west to the intersection of Garden, Grant, and 
Sheridan counties, then west along the northern border of Garden, 
Morrill, and Scotts Bluff counties to the Wyoming border.
    Northcentral Unit: That area north of the Southcentral Unit and 
west of U.S. 183.
    East Unit: The remainder of Nebraska.
Light Geese
    Rainwater Basin Light Goose Area (West): The area bounded by the 
junction of U.S. 283 and U.S. 30 at Lexington, east on U.S. 30 to U.S. 
281, south on U.S. 281 to NE 4, west on NE 4 to U.S. 34, continue west 
on U.S. 34 to U.S. 283, then north on U.S. 283 to the beginning.
    Rainwater Basin Light Goose Area (East): The area bounded by the 
junction of U.S. 281 and U.S. 30 at Grand Island, north and east on 
U.S. 30 to NE 92, east on NE 92 to NE 15, south on NE 15 to NE 4, west 
on NE 4 to U.S. 281, north on U.S. 281 to the beginning.
    Remainder of State: The remainder portion of Nebraska.
New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion)
Dark Geese
    Middle Rio Grande Valley Unit: Sierra, Socorro, and Valencia 
counties.
    Remainder: The remainder of the Central Flyway portion of New 
Mexico.
South Dakota
Canada Geese
    Unit 1: Statewide except for Units 2.
    Big Stone Power Plant Area: That portion of Grant and Roberts 
Counties east of SD 15 and north of SD 20.
    Unit 2: Brule, Buffalo, Campbell, Charles Mix, Dewey, Gregory, 
Hughes, Hyde, Lyman, Potter, Stanley, Sully, and Walworth Counties and 
that portion of Corson County east of South Dakota State Highway 65.
Texas
    West Unit: That portion of the State laying west of a line from the 
international toll bridge at Laredo; north along I-35 and I-35W to Fort 
Worth; northwest along U.S. 81 and U.S. 287 to Bowie; and north along 
U.S. 81 to the Oklahoma border.
    East Unit: Remainder of State.
Wyoming (Central Flyway Portion)
    Area 1: Hot Springs, Natrona, and Washakie Counties, and that 
portion of Park County south of T58N.
    Area 2: Converse and Platte County.
    Area 3: Albany, Big Horn, Campbell, Crook, Fremont, Johnson, 
Laramie, Niobrara, Sheridan, and Weston Counties and those portions of 
Carbon County east of the Continental Divide and Park County north of 
T58N.
    Area 4: Goshen County.

Pacific Flyway

Arizona
    GMU 22 and 23: Game Management Units 22 and 23.
    Remainder of State: The remainder of Arizona.
California
    Northeastern Zone: That portion of the State east and north of a 
line beginning at the Oregon border; south and west along the Klamath 
River to the mouth of Shovel Creek; south along Shovel Creek to Forest 
Service Road 46N10; south and east along FS 46N10 to FS 45N22; west and 
south along FS 45N22 to U.S. 97 at Grass Lake Summit; south and west 
along U.S. 97 to I-5 at the town of Weed; south along I-5 to CA 89; 
east and south along CA 89 to the junction with CA 49; east and north 
on CA 49 to CA 70; east on CA 70 to U.S. 395; south and east on U.S. 
395 to the Nevada border.
    Colorado River Zone: Those portions of San Bernardino, Riverside, 
and Imperial Counties east of a line extending from the Nevada border 
south along U.S. 95 to Vidal Junction; south on a road known as 
``Aqueduct Road'' in San Bernardino County through the town of Rice to 
the San Bernardino-Riverside County line; south on a road known in 
Riverside County as the ``Desert Center to Rice Road'' to the town of 
Desert Center; east 31 miles on I-10 to the Wiley Well Road; south on 
this road to Wiley Well; southeast along the Army-Milpitas Road to the 
Blythe, Brawley, Davis Lake intersections; south on the Blythe-Brawley 
paved road to the Ogilby and Tumco Mine Road; south on this road to 
U.S. 80; east seven miles on U.S. 80 to the Andrade-Algodones Road; 
south on this paved road to the Mexican border at Algodones, Mexico.
    Southern Zone: That portion of southern California (but excluding 
the Colorado River Zone) south and east of a line extending from the 
Pacific Ocean east along the Santa Maria River to CA 166 near the City 
of Santa Maria; east on CA 166 to CA 99; south on CA 99 to the crest of 
the Tehachapi Mountains at Tejon Pass; east and north along the crest 
of the Tehachapi Mountains to CA 178 at Walker Pass; east on CA 178 to 
U.S. 395 at the town of Inyokern; south on U.S. 395 to CA 58; east on 
CA 58 to I-15; east on I-15 to CA 127; north on CA 127 to the Nevada 
border.
    Balance-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of California not included 
in the Northeastern, Southern, and the Colorado River Zones.
    Del Norte and Humboldt Area: The Counties of Del Norte and 
Humboldt.
    Sacramento Valley Special Management Area (East): That area bounded 
by a line beginning at the junction of the Gridley-Colusa Highway and 
the Cherokee Canal; west on the Gridley-Colusa Highway to Gould Road; 
west on Gould Road and due west 0.75 miles directly to Highway 45; 
south on Highway 45 to Highway 20; east on Highway 20 to West Butte 
Road; north on West Butte Road to Pass Road; west on Pass Road to West 
Butte Road; north on West Butte Road to North Butte Road; west on North 
Butte Road and due west 0.5 miles directly to the Cherokee Canal; north 
on the Cherokee Canal to the point of beginning.
    Sacramento Valley Special Management Area (West): That area bounded 
by a line beginning at Willows south on I-5 to Hahn Road; easterly on 
Hahn Road and the Grimes-Arbuckle Road to Grimes; northerly on CA 45 to 
the junction with CA 162; northerly on CA 45/162 to Glenn; and westerly 
on CA 162 to the point of beginning in Willows.
    San Joaquin Valley Special Management Area: That area bounded by a 
line beginning at the intersection of Highway 5 and Highway 120; south 
on Highway 5 to Highway 33; southeast on Highway 33 to Crows Landing 
Road; north on Crows Landing Road to Highway 99; north on Highway 99 to 
Highway 120; west on Highway 120 to the point of beginning.
    Western Canada Goose Hunt Area: That portion of the above described 
Sacramento Valley Area lying east of a line formed by Butte Creek from 
the Gridley-Colusa Highway south to the Cherokee Canal; easterly along 
the Cherokee Canal and North Butte Road to

[[Page 51195]]

West Butte Road; southerly on West Butte Road to Pass Road; easterly on 
Pass Road to West Butte Road; southerly on West Butte Road to CA 20; 
and westerly along CA 20 to the Sacramento River.
Colorado (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    West Central Area: Archuleta, Delta, Dolores, Gunnison, LaPlata, 
Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, and San Miguel Counties and those 
portions of Hinsdale, Mineral and Saguache Counties west of the 
Continental Divide.
    State Area: The remainder of the Pacific-Flyway Portion of 
Colorado.
Idaho
    Zone 1: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, 
Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, and Shoshone Counties.
    Zone 2: The Counties of Ada; Adams; Boise; Canyon; those portions 
of Elmore north and east of I-84, and south and west of I-84, west of 
ID 51, except the Camas Creek drainage; Gem; Owyhee west of ID 51; 
Payette; Valley; and Washington.
    Zone 3: The Counties of Blaine; Camas; Cassia; those portions of 
Elmore south of I-84 east of ID 51, and within the Camas Creek 
drainage; Gooding; Jerome; Lincoln; Minidoka; Owyhee east of ID 51; 
Power within the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge; and Twin Falls.
    Zone 4: The Counties of Bear Lake; Bingham within the Blackfoot 
Reservoir drainage; Bonneville, Butte; Caribou except the Fort Hall 
Indian Reservation; Clark; Custer; Franklin; Fremont; Jefferson; Lemhi; 
Madison; Oneida; Power west of ID 37 and ID 39 except the Minidoka 
National Wildlife Refuge; and Teton.
    Zone 5: All lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian 
Reservation, including private inholdings; Bannock County; Bingham 
County, except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; 
and Power County east of ID 37 and ID 39.
    In addition, goose frameworks are set by the following geographical 
areas: Northern Unit: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, 
Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, and Shoshone Counties.
    Southwestern Unit: That area west of the line formed by U.S. 93 
north from the Nevada border to Shoshone, northerly on ID 75 (formerly 
U.S. 93) to Challis, northerly on U.S. 93 to the Montana border (except 
the Northern Unit and except Custer and Lemhi Counties).
    Southeastern Unit: That area east of the line formed by U.S. 93 
north from the Nevada border to Shoshone, northerly on ID 75 (formerly 
U.S. 93) to Challis, northerly on U.S. 93 to the Montana border, 
including all of Custer and Lemhi Counties.
Montana (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    East of the Divide Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of the State 
located east of the Continental Divide.
    West of the Divide Zone: The remainder of the Pacific Flyway 
portion of Montana.
Nevada
    Lincoln Clark County Zone: All of Lincoln and Clark Counties
    Remainder-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of Nevada.
New Mexico (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    North Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of New Mexico located north 
of I-40.
    South Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of New Mexico located south 
of I-40.
Oregon
    Southwest Zone: Douglas, Coos, Curry, Josephine and Jackson 
Counties.
    Northwest Special Permit Zone: That portion of western Oregon west 
and north of a line running south from the Columbia River in Portland 
along I-5 to OR 22 at Salem; then east on OR 22 to the Stayton Cutoff; 
then south on the Stayton Cutoff to Stayton and due south to the 
Santiam River; then west along the north shore of the Santiam River to 
I-5; then south on I-5 to OR 126 at Eugene; then west on OR 126 to 
Greenhill Road; then south on Greenhill Road to Crow Road; then west on 
Crow Road to Territorial Hwy; then west on Territorial Hwy to OR 126; 
then west on OR 126 to OR 36; then north on OR 36 to Forest Road 5070 
at Brickerville; then west and south on Forest Road 5070 to OR 126; 
then west on OR 126 to the Pacific Coast.
    Northwest Zone: Those portions of Clackamas, Lane, Linn, Marion, 
Multnomah, and Washington Counties outside of the Northwest Special 
Permit Zone.
    Closed Zone: Those portions of Coos, Curry, Douglas and Lane 
Counties west of US 101.
    Eastern Zone: Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, 
Umatilla, Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler, Grant, Baker, Union, 
and Wallowa Counties.
    Lake County Zone: All of Lake County.
Utah
    Washington County Zone: All of Washington County.
    Remainder-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of Utah.
Washington
    Eastern Washington: All areas east of the Pacific Crest Trail and 
east of the Big White Salmon River in Klickitat County.
    Area 1: Lincoln, Spokane, and Walla Walla Counties; that part of 
Grant County east of a line beginning at the Douglas-Lincoln County 
line on WA 174, southwest on WA 174 to WA 155, south on WA 155 to US 2, 
southwest on US 2 to Pinto Ridge Road, south on Pinto Ridge Road to WA 
28, east on WA 28 to the Stratford Road, south on the Stratford Road to 
WA 17, south on WA 17 to the Grant-Adams County line; those parts of 
Adams County east of State Highway 17; those parts of Franklin County 
east and south of a line beginning at the Adams-Franklin County line on 
WA 17, south on WA 17 to US 395, south on US 395 to I-182, west o I-182 
to the Franklin-Benton County line; those parts of Benton County south 
of I-182 and I-82; and those parts of Klickitat County east of U.S. 
Highway 97.
    Area 2: All of Okanongan, Douglas, and Kittitas Counties and those 
parts of Grant, Adams, Franklin, and Benton Counties not included in 
Eastern Washington Goose Management Area 1.
    Area 3: All other parts of eastern Washington not included in 
Eastern Washington Goose Management Areas 1 and 2.
    Western Washington: All areas west of the East Zone.
    Area 1: Skagit, Island, and Snohomish Counties.
    Area 2: Clark County, except portions south of the Washougal River, 
Cowlitz, Pacific, and Wahkiakum Counties, and that portion of Grays 
Harbor County south of U.S. highway 12 and east of U.S. highway 101.
    Area 3: All parts of western Washington not included in Western 
Washington Goose Management Areas 1 and 2.
    Lower Columbia River Early-Season Canada Goose Zone: Beginning at 
the Washington-Oregon border on the I-5 Bridge near Vancouver, 
Washington; north on I-5 to Kelso; west on Highway 4 from Kelso to 
Highway 401; south and west on Highway 401 to Highway 101 at the 
Astoria-Megler Bridge; west on Highway 101 to Gray Drive in the City of 
Ilwaco; west on Gray Drive to Canby Road; southwest on Canby Road to 
the North Jetty; southwest on the North Jetty to its end; southeast to 
the Washington-

[[Page 51196]]

Oregon border; upstream along the Washington-Oregon border to the point 
of origin.
Wyoming (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    See State Regulations.
    Bear River Area: That portion of Lincoln County described in State 
regulations.
    Salt River Area: That portion of Lincoln County described in State 
regulations.
    Eden-Farson Area: Those portions of Sweetwater and Sublette 
Counties described in State regulations.

Swans

Central Flyway

South Dakota
    Aurora, Beadle, Brookings, Brown, Brule, Buffalo, Campbell, Clark, 
Codington, Davison, Deuel, Day, Edmunds, Faulk, Grant, Hamlin, Hand, 
Hanson, Hughes, Hyde, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Lake, Marshall, McCook, 
McPherson, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Potter, Roberts, Sanborn, Spink, 
Sully, and Walworth Counties.

Pacific Flyway

Montana (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    Open Area: Cascade, Chouteau, Hill, Liberty, and Toole Counties and 
those portions of Pondera and Teton Counties lying east of U.S. 287-89.
Nevada
    Open Area: Churchill, Lyon, and Pershing Counties.
Utah
    Open Area: Those portions of Box Elder, Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, 
and Toole Counties lying west of I-15, north of I-80 and south of a 
line beginning from the Forest Street exit to the Bear River National 
Wildlife Refuge boundary, then north and west along the Bear River 
National Wildlife Refuge boundary to the farthest west boundary of the 
Refuge, then west along a line to Promontory Road, then north on 
Promontory Road to the intersection of SR 83, then north on SR 83 to I-
84, then north and west on I-84 to State Hwy 30, then west on State Hwy 
30 to the Nevada-Utah state line, then south on the Nevada-Utah state 
line to I-80.

[FR Doc. 00-21157 Filed 8-21-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P