[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 23, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51496-51510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21481]
[[Page 51495]]
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Part IV
Department of the Interior
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Fish and Wildlife Service
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50 CFR Part 20
Migratory Bird Hunting; Final Frameworks for Early-Season Migratory
Bird Hunting Regulations; Final Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 164 / Wednesday, August 23, 2000 /
Rules and Regulations
[[Page 51496]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 20
RIN 1018-AG08
Migratory Bird Hunting; Final Frameworks for Early-Season
Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This rule prescribes final early-season frameworks from which
the States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands may select season
dates, limits, and other options for the 2000-01 migratory bird hunting
seasons. Early seasons are those that generally open prior to October
1, and include seasons in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin
Islands. The effect of this final rule is to facilitate the selection
of hunting seasons by the States and Territories to further the annual
establishment of the early-season migratory bird hunting regulations.
These selections will be published in the Federal Register as
amendments to Secs. 20.101 through 20.107, and Sec. 20.109 of title 50
CFR part 20.
DATES: This rule takes effect on August 23, 2000.
ADDRESSES: States and Territories should send their season selections
to: Chief, Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, ms 634-ARLSQ, 1849 C
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240. You may inspect comments during
normal business hours in room 634, 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, 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 for the 2000-01 duck
hunting season. This document is the fourth in a series of proposed,
supplemental, and final rulemaking documents. It establishes final
frameworks from which States may select season dates, shooting hours,
and daily bag and possession limits for the 2000-01 season.
Review of Public Comments
The preliminary proposed rulemaking, which appeared in the April 25
Federal Register, opened the public comment period for migratory game
bird hunting regulations. The public comment period for early-season
issues ended on August 10, 2000. We have considered all pertinent
comments received in developing this document. Early-season comments
are summarized below and numbered in the order used in the April 25
Federal Register document. Only the numbered items pertaining to early-
seasons issues 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 Councils' annual review of the
frameworks, we assume support for continuation of last year's
frameworks for items for which we received no recommendation. Council
recommendations for changes in the frameworks are summarized below.
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.
D. Special Seasons/Species Management
iii. September Teal Seasons
Council Recommendations: The Central Flyway Council recommended
that Nebraska be allowed to have an experimental 9-day teal season in
the nonproduction area of the State.
Service Response: We concur with the Central Flyway Council's
recommendation for an experimental 9-day special September teal season
in the nonproduction area of Nebraska. The State is required to
evaluate the impacts to nontarget waterfowl species by conducting
hunter performance surveys. This season will be experimental for a 3-
year period but must include a pre-sunrise evaluation in order to have
shooting hours begin one-half hour before sunrise.
iv. September Teal/Wood Duck Seasons
Council Recommendations: The Lower-Region Regulations Committee of
the Mississippi Flyway Council requested that the Service and the
Council's Wood Duck Technical Committee move forward during the current
year (2000) to allow for implementation of a wood duck Flyway harvest
management strategy by the year 2001 as scheduled. The Committee
further recommended that September seasons remain an option for
delineated wood duck reference areas (population units), provided that
specified data-collection requirements are met. The Committee also
recommended that beginning in 2001, the September duck seasons in
Kentucky and Tennessee be grandfathered and given operational status in
their current format.
Written Comments: Four individuals questioned the rationale for the
Service's decision to terminate September teal/wood duck seasons when
information indicating that such seasons are detrimental to wood duck
populations seems to be lacking.
Service Response: September teal/wood duck seasons in Florida,
Kentucky, and Tennessee have been in an experimental status since their
inception in 1981. We have consistently requested that States collect
information
[[Page 51497]]
to evaluate these special seasons, including hunter and harvest
surveys, banding, and population surveys. In 1986, due to decreases in
wood duck survival rates in Kentucky and Tennessee, we restricted the
bag limit during experimental September teal/wood duck seasons to
include no more than two wood ducks. At that time, we also noted that
preseason wood duck banding in Florida was not sufficient to allow
assessment of the impacts associated with the experimental September
season (51 FR 24418). On March 13, 1987 (52 FR 7997), we indicated that
although September teal/wood duck seasons are in principle a feasible
harvest management strategy, the situation with regard to their
evaluation, including flyway-wide aspects of the management of target
species, and their suitability for widespread application was under
review. At that time, we also reaffirmed the need for cooperative
studies that are flyway-oriented in scope to better understand and
manage wood ducks. On June 6, 1990 (55 FR 23179), we noted that
preseason banding programs were not meeting the regional requirements
for sample size and distribution necessary to evaluate special seasons
for wood ducks on a State-by-State basis. We stated that unless
arrangements could be made to initiate regional banding programs and
facilitate widespread data collection, experimental seasons may be
modified or suspended (55 FR 23179). During 1991-96, a cooperative Wood
Duck Population Monitoring-Initiative (Initiative) was undertaken by
the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway Councils and the Service to improve
population-monitoring programs. We agreed not to discontinue or expand
experimental September teal/wood duck seasons until the initiative was
completed. Results from the initiative indicated that wood duck
population-monitoring programs at geographic scales below the flyway
level were not meeting requisite sample sizes. Our evaluation of
September teal/wood duck seasons in Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee
indicated that estimates of population parameters for individual States
are usually imprecise, which precludes drawing meaningful conclusions
about State or regional wood duck harvest-management experiments (63 FR
13751).
On August 28, 1998 (63 FR 46126), we stated our intent to
discontinue September teal/wood duck seasons in Florida, Kentucky, and
Tennessee after September 2000, due to our inability to adequately
evaluate such seasons. We also stated that, without adequate regional
population monitoring, wood duck harvest management should be
approached at the flyway level during the regular season. No additional
information is available that would prompt us to reconsider this
decision. Therefore, September teal/wood duck seasons in Kentucky and
Tennessee, as well as Florida, will not be grandfathered and granted
operational status.
In 1998, we requested that a Flyway-wide wood duck harvest strategy
be developed and ready for implementation during the 2001-02 regular
season (63 FR 46126). In September 1999, we met with representatives
from the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway Council Technical Sections to
discuss technical aspects of flyway wood duck harvest strategies.
Development of the technical foundation for the strategy commenced
following this meeting. A progress report on this work was made at the
July 2000 Flyway Council meetings. Several Technical Section
representatives have been asked to attend a follow-up meeting this fall
to address Council concerns and suggestions for a flyway wood duck
harvest strategy. A draft harvest strategy will be distributed to
Technical Sections prior to their February 2001 meetings. A final
harvest strategy will be forwarded to the Flyway Councils for their
consideration prior to their March 2001 meeting.
September wood duck seasons remain an option for delineated
southern wood duck population units, provided that regional data-
collection requirements are met. Such seasons should not be approached
on a State-by-State basis. The final report of the Initiative outlined
many of the sample size requirements for regional monitoring programs.
We point out that the Initiative represented a period when Federal and
State cooperators made special efforts to improve regional wood duck
monitoring programs. The final report of the Initiative indicated that
this goal was not achieved. Before a proposal for regional September
wood duck seasons is considered in the future, we request that the
Flyway Councils review the results of the Initiative and indicate how
failure to achieve requisite regional sample sizes in the past will be
avoided in the future.
v. Youth Hunt
Council Recommendations: The Lower-Region Regulations Committee of
the Mississippi Flyway Council and the Central and Pacific Flyway
Councils recommended expanding the special youth waterfowl hunt to 2
days.
Written Comments: The Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife and
the Maryland Department of Natural Resources opposed the current
requirement that days must be held on a weekend, holidays, or other
non-school days. Both Maryland and Delaware prohibit Sunday hunting by
State law. Delaware proposes that States be allowed to substitute
either a Friday and Saturday or that they be allowed to hold the
special hunt on consecutive Saturdays. Maryland proposes that only one
of the 2 youth hunting days be required to be either a weekend day or
holiday.
The Georgia Wildlife Resources Division supported the proposed
increase in the youth waterfowl hunt from 1 day to 2 days.
Service Response: In light of the continuing interest from the
Flyway Councils, we decided to expand the special youth waterfowl hunt
to 2 consecutive days. Anecdotal data suggest that the special hunt has
proven to be very popular and has provided an excellent opportunity to
introduce youth hunters to the sport of waterfowling and waterfowl and
wetland conservation. Expansion of the special hunt to 2 consecutive
days should reduce travel difficulties and scheduling conflicts
inherent with the current 1 day hunt. Based on the limited number of
youths participating, we do not expect any significant increase in
harvest due to the expansion of the opportunity, and thus no
significant impact on waterfowl populations.
Relaxation of the requirement to hold the special 2 day youth hunt
on either a weekend, holidays, or other non-school days would defeat
one of the most significant aspects of the special opportunity, i.e., a
time when youth have the maximum opportunity to participate. Further,
relaxation of this requirement would not meet Flyway-identified goals
and objectives of expanding the special hunt to 2 days by reducing
travel difficulties and scheduling conflicts inherent with the current
1 day hunt. Therefore, we do not support Maryland and Delaware's
requests.
4. Canada Geese
A. Special Seasons
Council Recommendations: The Upper-Region Regulations Committee of
the Mississippi Flyway Council recommended that Huron, Saginaw, and
Tuscola Counties near Saginaw Bay, Michigan, which are currently closed
in the special early Canada goose season, be allowed an experimental
early season with a 2 bird daily bag limit. The Lower-
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Region Regulations Committee of the Mississippi Flyway Council urged
caution in changing or expanding special goose seasons.
The Central Flyway Council recommended that the framework closing
date for operational September Canada goose seasons in the Central
Flyway be extended to September 30 with no additional evaluation
required.
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended that Wyoming's daily bag and
season limits be increased from 2 and 4, to 3 and 6 birds,
respectively, and that the bag and possession limits for Washington's
September season increase from 3 and 6, to 5 and 10, respectively.
Written Comments: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources
expressed disappointment that their experimental special September
Canada goose season in Huron, Saginaw, and Tuscola Counties was
proposed for only 10 days (September 1-10) instead of the requested 15
days. They presented an estimate of migrant Canada geese in the three
county area which they believe indicates that the proportion of migrant
geese in the harvest during the first half is likely to be within the
special season criteria.
Service Response: The history of special early Canada goose seasons
in the Saginaw Bay area suggests a cautious approach to additional
experimentation. Results of the previous experimental season in the
three Saginaw-Bay Counties in Michigan indicated a substantial
proportion of migrant Canada geese in the special-season harvest. The
current proposal for a repetition of the experiment documents a
significant increase in the number of resident Canada geese in the area
since that time, but information concerning the population composition
during the first half of September is sketchy. We agree that the change
in resident Canada goose numbers warrants another experiment, but
because of the small amount of information about the proportion of
migrants in early September, we feel that the season should not extend
beyond September 10.
We do not support the Central Flyway recommendation to remove
evaluation requirements (August 29, 1995 Federal Register) for Special
September Canada goose seasons for the period between September 16-30.
Past experience with these special seasons has shown seasons during
September 1-15 generally achieve the objective of targeting resident
Canada geese and this period has been designated as operational. In
contrast, harvests during the period of September 16-30 has indicated
an increasing proportional take of migrant stocks of geese. We have no
experience with special seasons in the Central Flyway during September
16-30, and the impacts on nontarget populations of Canada geese have
not been determined. Although impacts to nontarget populations of
Canada geese that are over objective levels may not be of immediate
concern, we believe that evaluation during this period is necessary to
insure that the objective of targeting resident geese is maintained.
According to established special season guidelines, Central Flyway
States have the option to conduct an experimental hunt during the late-
September period with an appropriate evaluation. Although collection of
neck collar data may not be possible due to low numbers of marked
geese, current guidelines allow for the use of morphological
information of harvested geese to access the proportion of migrant
geese during this period. Because migrant Canada geese are limited to
small subspecies of the Tall Grass Prairie Population in the East-Tier
States and the Short Grass Prairie Population in the West-Tier States,
we believe that tail fan measurements of harvested geese will be
sufficient to determine the proportion of harvested migrant geese in
this area. Based on the use of the morphological information available
from the Service's Parts Collection Harvest Survey, we have
subsequently received proposals, including target sample sizes, for
experimental seasons in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Oklahoma, which
we believe will be adequate to guide evaluation during the 3-year
experimental period beginning with the 2000-01 hunting season.
Regarding the Lower-Region Regulation Committee's concern for
cumulative impacts of special-season harvests on migrant Canada goose
populations of concern, we are aware of the Committee's concern and are
monitoring the harvests occurring during these seasons.
We concur with the Pacific Flyway Council recommendation.
B. Regular Seasons
Council Recommendations: The Upper-Region Regulations Committee of
the Mississippi Flyway Council recommended that the 1999 regular-goose-
season opening date be as early as September 16 in Michigan and
Wisconsin. The Committee further recommended that the framework opening
date for regular goose seasons in the Mississippi Flyway be September
16.
The Central Flyway Council recommended that the framework opening
date for regular dark-goose seasons in the East and West Tiers be fixed
at September 1, rather than the current opening date of the Saturday
nearest October 1.
Service Response: We do not support the Central Flyway's
recommendation for changing the dark-goose framework opening dates from
the Saturday nearest October 1 to September 1 or the Mississippi
Flyway's light- and dark-goose seasons from the Saturday nearest
October 1 to September 16. We have minimal experience with regular
goose seasons that begin prior to the Saturday nearest October 1 and
believe that management of several migratory goose populations would
require complex spacial and temporal considerations within this period
to address needs of various populations. The change in the framework
opening date to earlier in September would require the movement of
goose frameworks from the late- to the early-season process and, for
some populations, would result in a serious timing problem in that
decisions would have to be made prior to having breeding-ground
information. We are also developing a management strategy for resident
Canada geese that will allow for States to have more flexibility in
addressing human/goose conflicts caused by growing populations of
resident geese, and we believe that changes such as this may impede
progress.
9. Sandhill Cranes
Council Recommendations: The Central Flyway Council recommended a
95-day season with the option for a two-way split season for the
hunting of Mid-Continent sandhill cranes. This change would result in a
37-day season length increase in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska,
Kansas, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado and a 2-day season length
increase in Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. The Council further
recommended that the open area for the hunting of Mid-Continent
sandhill cranes be extended eastward to the Mississippi/Central Flyway
boundary. The Council recommended a season length of 37 days with
outside framework dates of September 1 and February 28, and a daily bag
limit of three for this expanded area.
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended a boundary modification in
Box Elder County, Utah, to exclude that portion of the County known to
be used by greater sandhill cranes affiliated with the Lower Colorado
River Population.
Written Comments: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPW)
supported the Central Flyway Council's
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recommendation for an eastward expansion of the open area for the
hunting of Mid-Continent sandhill cranes. TPW took exception to
statements (65 FR 46845) that changes in the hunting frameworks should
be delayed until the ongoing satellite transmitter studies are
completed pointing out that the 1997-99 3-year index from surveys on
the Nebraska's Central Platte River Valley should not be used for
regulatory purposes, as large numbers of cranes were recorded outside
the surveyed area. TPW believes that recent genetics studies have cast
doubt on the validity of the existence of the subspecies, and
furthermore, TPW's current population estimates of greater sandhill
cranes in Texas indicate a population of 36,000, a number three times
higher than other estimates. Lastly, TPW corrected the Council's
recommendation to be for a daily bag limit of three and a possession
limit of six, not nine, as indicated by the Service.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) also
supported the Central Flyway Council recommendations for expanding the
frameworks for Mid-Continent sandhill cranes. ODWC believed that the
Mid-Continent Population has increased in recent years to record high
levels rather than stabilizing. They also believed that changes in the
frameworks should not be delayed until research findings from the
ongoing satellite transmitter and genetics studies are completed,
believing such research will never be completed.
Service Response: We do not support the Central Flyway Council's
recommendation to liberalize hunting seasons on the Mid-Continent
Population of sandhill cranes. While we incorrectly stated that the
recommendation included a proposed possession limit of nine, we
reiterate our belief that substantive changes in the frameworks for the
hunting of Mid-Continent sandhill cranes should not occur until the
ongoing satellite-transmitter and genetics studies are completed.
Recent genetic information on subspecies composition has further
complicated management of the two identified subpopulations of Mid-
Continent sandhill cranes, the Western and Gulf Coast subpopulations.
Based on these findings, it may be appropriate to reconsider harvest
approaches, including hunting framework changes, according to
subpopulation delineation including improved knowledge of the status of
recognized subspecies in this population. Although, there are no
current surveys of the status of the Gulf Coast subpopulation, current
genetics studies may provide important insight into the future of
subpopulation management. In the long term, we believe that
consideration should be given to the development of an annual
operational survey of the Gulf Coast subpopulation.
We concur with the Pacific Flyway Council recommendation.
12. Rails
Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended
that those States divided between the Central and Pacific Flyways be
allowed to select rail-season frameworks, on a statewide basis, that
conform with the Central Management Unit frameworks.
Service Response: We concur.
13. Snipe
Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended
that those States divided between the Central and Pacific Flyways be
allowed to select snipe-season frameworks, on a statewide basis, that
conform with the Central Management Unit frameworks.
Service Response: We concur.
14. Woodcock
Written Comments: An individual from Minnesota felt that the daily
bag limit for woodcock should be four birds, and that the framework
opening date for the Mississippi Flyway should be September 1, rather
than the Saturday nearest September 22.
Service Response: In 1997, in response to long-term population
declines, we implemented several framework changes to reduce woodcock
harvest. In the Central Region, we reduced the bag limit from five to
three birds and the season length from 65 to 45 days, and changed the
framework opening date to the Saturday nearest September 22 (rather
than September 1). Based on harvest information for various bag limits,
we determined that a reduction from five to three birds was necessary
to achieve a meaningful reduction in harvest. Furthermore, a framework
opening date of the Saturday nearest September 22 was contained in an
interim woodcock harvest strategy proposed by the Mississippi Flyway
Council in 1997 (62 FR 44232). The framework date we adopted reflected
the opening date proposed in the Flyway Council strategy.
15. Band-tailed Pigeons
Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended
increasing the possession limit for Pacific Coast band-tailed pigeons
from two to four birds.
Service Response: We concur.
16. Mourning Doves
Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended
that those States divided between the Central and Pacific Flyways be
allowed to select dove season frameworks, on a statewide basis, that
conform with the Central Management Unit frameworks.
Written Comments: An individual from Wisconsin objected to dove
hunting.
Service Response: We concur with the Pacific Flyway Council's
recommendation.
Regarding objections to dove hunting in Wisconsin, Federal
frameworks currently, and have in the past, allowed the State of
Wisconsin the option of selecting a mourning dove season. While
Wisconsin has chosen not to select such a season in the past, this does
not preclude them from selecting a season in the future. We further
note that Wisconsin tentatively plans to hold a dove season during the
2001-02 season.
18. Alaska
Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended a
reduction in sandhill crane bag limits from three to two in that
portion of the State associated with the Pacific Flyway Population of
lesser sandhill cranes.
Written Comments: A law firm wrote to request reconsideration of
the proposed lesser sandhill crane bag limit for southern and
southeastern Alaska.
An individual from Alaska requested the Service reconsider
appropriate harvest regulations for sea ducks in Alaska and reviewed
their population characteristics and life history strategies.
Service Response: We concur with the Pacific Flyway Council and
have reduced the daily bag limit from three to two sandhill cranes in
that portion of the State associated with the Pacific Flyway Population
of lesser sandhill cranes. We note that the current best estimates of
the number of lesser sandhill cranes in the Pacific Population is
between 20,000-25,000. Further, the best evidence suggests that the
total harvest of these cranes in Alaska (the only State in which they
are hunted) averages 200 cranes per year. We do not believe this level
of harvest to be excessive. We have reviewed the documentation
regarding the existence of a ``coastal segment'' of lesser sandhill
cranes, however, at present we do not find compelling evidence in this
material that would lead us to believe that such a group exists as a
separate and manageable entity. Therefore, we believe the current
proposal provides
[[Page 51500]]
adequate protection for the Pacific Population of lesser sandhill
cranes. During the next year, we will continue to review the data
available for the Pacific Population of lesser sandhill cranes.
Additionally, the Service and the State of Alaska have instituted a new
study (using satellite telemetry) to investigate the temporal and
geographic distribution of these birds throughout their annual cycle.
We will evaluate harvest management for this population of cranes based
on this new information as it becomes available and in light of the
concerns expressed.
Regarding sea ducks, we recently reviewed Alaska sea duck
regulations and imposed restrictions by reducing daily bag limits and
restricting species eligible for this opportunity. We believe that
these recent restrictions, coupled with the fact that sea duck harvest
by sport hunters in Alaska is very low ( 10,000) in comparison to
population levels, supports our season structure and bag limits on this
group of ducks.
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). Copies are available from the address indicated
under the caption ADDRESSES.
Endangered Species Act Consideration
We have considered 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 action is consistent with conservation
programs for those species.
Executive Order (E.O.) 12866
This rule was reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget. The
migratory bird hunting regulations are economically significant and are
annually reviewed by OMB under E.O. 12866.
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 7/31/2003). 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.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
We have determined and certify, in compliance with the requirements
of the Unfunded Mandates 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 rule is not a ``significant regulatory
action'' under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
Civil Justice Reform-Executive Order 12988
The Department, in promulgating this 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 E.O. 12630, this rule 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 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
[[Page 51501]]
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.
Regulations Promulgation
The rulemaking process for migratory game bird hunting must, by its
nature, operate under severe time constraints. However, we intend that
the public be given the greatest possible opportunity to comment. Thus,
when the preliminary proposed rulemaking was published, we established
what we believed were the longest periods possible for public comment.
In doing this, we recognized that when the comment period closed, time
would be of the essence. That is, if there were a delay in the
effective date of these regulations after this final rulemaking, States
would have insufficient time to select season dates and limits; to
communicate those selections to us; and to establish and publicize the
necessary regulations and procedures to implement their decisions. We
therefore find that ``good cause'' exists, within the terms of 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3) of the Administrative Procedure Act, and these frameworks
will, therefore, take effect immediately upon publication.
Therefore, under authority of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (July
3, 1918), as amended, (16 U.S.C. 703-711), we prescribe final
frameworks setting forth the species to be hunted, the daily bag and
possession limits, the shooting hours, the season lengths, the earliest
opening and latest closing season dates, and hunting areas, from which
State conservation agency officials will select hunting season dates
and other options. Upon receipt of season and option selections from
these officials, we will publish in the Federal Register a final
rulemaking amending 50 CFR part 20 to reflect seasons, limits, and
shooting hours for the conterminous United States for the 2000-01
season.
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.
Final Regulations Frameworks for 2000-01 Early Hunting Seasons on
Certain Migratory Game Birds
Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and delegated
authorities, the Department of the Interior approved the following
frameworks which prescribe season lengths, bag limits, shooting hours,
and outside dates within which States may select for certain migratory
game birds between 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
Mourning Dove Management Units:
Eastern Management Unit--All States east of the Mississippi River,
and Louisiana.
Central Management Unit--Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas,
Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota,
Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.
Western Management Unit--Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada,
Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
Woodcock Management Regions:
Eastern Management Region--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.
Central Management Region--Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi,
Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota,
Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.
Other geographic descriptions are contained in a later portion of
this document.
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).
Special September Teal Season
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and September 30, an open season
on all species of teal may be selected by the following States in areas
delineated by State regulations:
Atlantic Flyway--Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. All seasons
are experimental.
Mississippi Flyway--Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee.
Central Flyway--Colorado (part), Kansas, Nebraska (part), New
Mexico (part), Oklahoma, and Texas. The season in Nebraska is
experimental.
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 9 consecutive
days in the Atlantic Flyway and 16 consecutive days in the Mississippi
and Central Flyways, except in Nebraska where the season is not to
exceed 9 consecutive days. The daily bag limit is 4 teal.
Shooting Hours:
Atlantic Flyway--One-half hour before sunrise to sunset, if
evaluated; otherwise sunrise to sunset.
Mississippi and Central Flyways--One-half hour before sunrise to
sunset,
[[Page 51502]]
except in the States of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and
Ohio, where the hours are from sunrise to sunset.
Special September Duck Seasons
Florida: A 5-consecutive-day season may be selected in September.
The daily bag limit may not exceed 4 teal and wood ducks in the
aggregate.
Kentucky and Tennessee: In lieu of a special September teal season,
a 5-consecutive-day season may be selected in September. The daily bag
limit may not exceed 4 teal and wood ducks in the aggregate, of which
no more than 2 may be wood ducks.
Iowa: Iowa may hold up to 5 days of its regular duck hunting season
in September. All ducks that are legal during the regular duck season
may be taken during the September segment of the season. The September
season segment may commence no earlier than the Saturday nearest
September 20 (September 23). The daily bag and possession limits will
be the same as those in effect last year, but are subject to change
during the late-season regulations process. The remainder of the
regular duck season may not begin before October 10.
Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days
Outside Dates: States may select two consecutive days per duck-
hunting zone, designated as ``Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days,'' in
addition to their regular duck seasons. The days must be held outside
any regular duck season on a weekend, holidays, or other non-school
days when youth hunters would have the maximum opportunity to
participate. The days may be held up to 14 days before or after any
regular duck-season frameworks or within any split of a regular duck
season, or within any other open season on migratory birds.
Daily Bag Limits: The daily bag limit may include ducks, geese,
mergansers, coots, moorhens, and gallinules and would be the same as
that allowed in the regular season. Flyway species and area
restrictions would remain in effect.
Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Participation Restrictions: Youth hunters must be 15 years of age
or younger. In addition, an adult at least 18 years of age must
accompany the youth hunter into the field. This adult could not duck
hunt but may participate in other seasons that are open on the special
youth day.
Scoter, Eider, and Oldsquaw Ducks (Atlantic Flyway)
Outside Dates: Between September 15 and January 20.
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 107 days, with
a daily bag limit of 7, singly or in the aggregate of the listed sea-
duck species, of which no more than 4 may be scoters.
Daily Bag Limits During the Regular Duck Season: 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.
Areas: In all coastal waters and all waters of rivers and streams
seaward from the first upstream bridge in Maine, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York; in any waters
of the Atlantic Ocean and in any tidal waters of any bay which are
separated by at least 1 mile of open water from any shore, island, and
emergent vegetation in New Jersey, South Carolina, and Georgia; and in
any waters of the Atlantic Ocean and in any tidal waters of any bay
which are separated by at least 800 yards of open water from any shore,
island, and emergent vegetation in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina
and Virginia; and provided that any such areas have been described,
delineated, and designated as special sea-duck hunting areas under the
hunting regulations adopted by the respective States.
Special Early Canada Goose Seasons
Atlantic Flyway
General Seasons
Canada goose seasons of up to 15 days during September 1-15 may be
selected for the Montezuma Region of New York, the Lake Champlain
Region of New York and Vermont, the Eastern Unit of Maryland, and
Delaware. Seasons not to exceed 20 days during September 1-20 may be
selected for the Northeast Hunt Unit of North Carolina. Seasons not to
exceed 30 days during September 1-30 may be selected by New Jersey.
Seasons may not exceed 25 days during September 1-25 in the remainder
of the Flyway, except Georgia and Florida, where the season is closed.
Areas open to the hunting of Canada geese must be described,
delineated, and designated as such in each State's hunting regulations.
Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 5 Canada geese.
Experimental Seasons
Experimental Canada goose seasons of up to 20 days during September
1-20 may be selected by New York (Montezuma Region). Experimental
seasons of up to 30 days during September 1-30 may be selected by New
York (Long Island Zone), North Carolina (except in the Northeast Hunt
Unit), and South Carolina. Areas open to the hunting of Canada geese
must be described, delineated, and designated as such in each State's
hunting regulations.
Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 5 Canada geese.
Mississippi Flyway
General Seasons
Canada goose seasons of up to 15 days during September 1-15 may be
selected, except in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, where the season
may not extend beyond September 10. The daily bag limit may not exceed
5 Canada geese. Areas open to the hunting of Canada geese must be
described, delineated, and designated as such in each State's hunting
regulations.
Experimental Seasons
An experimental Canada goose season of up to 7 consecutive days
during September 16-22 may be selected by Minnesota, except in the
Northwest Goose Zone. The daily bag limit may not exceed 5 Canada
geese.
An experimental Canada goose season of up to 10 consecutive days
during September 1-10 may be selected by Michigan for Huron, Saginaw,
and Tuscola Counties, except that the Shiawassee National Wildlife
Refuge, Shiawassee River State Game Area Refuge, and the Fish Point
Wildlife Area Refuge will remain closed. The daily bag limit may not
exceed 2 Canada geese.
Central Flyway
General Seasons
Canada goose seasons of up to 15 days during September 1-15 may be
selected. The daily bag limit may not exceed 5 Canada geese. Areas open
to the hunting of Canada geese must be described, delineated, and
designated as such in each State's hunting regulations.
Experimental Seasons
An experimental Canada goose season of up to 14 consecutive days
during September 16-29 may be selected by South Dakota. The daily bag
limit may not exceed 5 Canada geese.
An experimental Canada goose season of up to 2 consecutive days
during September 16-17 may be selected by Oklahoma. The daily bag limit
may not exceed 5 Canada geese.
An experimental Canada goose season of up to 7 consecutive days
during September 16-22 may be selected by
[[Page 51503]]
North Dakota. The daily bag limit may not exceed 5 Canada geese.
Pacific Flyway
General Seasons
Wyoming may select an 8-day season on Canada geese between
September 1-15. This season is subject to the following conditions:
1. Where applicable, the season must be concurrent with the
September portion of the sandhill crane season.
2. All participants must have a valid State permit for the special
season.
3. A daily bag limit of 3, with season and possession limits of 6
will apply to the special season.
Oregon may select a special Canada goose season of up to 15 days
during the period September 1-15. In addition, in the NW goose
management zone, a 15-day season may be selected during the period
September 1-20. Any portion of the season selected between September 16
and 20 will be considered experimental. Daily bag limits may not exceed
5 Canada geese. In the NW goose zone, at a minimum, Oregon must provide
an annual evaluation of the number of dusky Canada geese present in the
hunt zone during the period September 16-20 and agree to adjust seasons
as necessary to avoid any potential harvest of dusky Canada geese.
Washington may select a special Canada goose season of up to 15
days during the period September 1-15. Daily bag limits may not exceed
5 Canada geese.
Idaho may select a 15-day season in the special East Canada Goose
Zone, as described in State regulations, during the period September 1-
15. All participants must have a valid State permit, and the total
number of permits issued is not to exceed 110 for this zone. The daily
bag limit is 2.
Idaho may select a 7-day Canada Goose Season during the period
September 1-15 in Nez Perce County, with a bag limit of 4.
California may select a 9-day season in Humboldt County during the
period September 1-15. The daily bag limit is 2.
Areas open to hunting of Canada geese in each State must be
described, delineated, and designated as such in each State's hunting
regulations.
Regular Goose Seasons
Regular goose seasons may open as early as September 16 in
Wisconsin and Michigan. Season lengths, bag and possession limits, and
other provisions will be established during the late-season regulations
process.
Sandhill Cranes
Regular Seasons in the Central Flyway:
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and February 28.
Hunting Seasons: Seasons not to exceed 58 consecutive days may be
selected in designated portions of the following States: Colorado,
Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Seasons not
to exceed 93 consecutive days may be selected in designated portions of
the following States: New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Daily Bag Limits: 3 sandhill cranes.
Permits: Each person participating in the regular sandhill crane
seasons must have a valid Federal sandhill crane hunting permit and/or,
in those States where a Federal sandhill crane permit is not issued, a
State-issued Harvest Information Survey Program (HIP) certification for
game bird hunting, in their possession while hunting.
Special Seasons in the Central and Pacific Flyways: Arizona,
Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming may select
seasons for hunting sandhill cranes within the range of the Rocky
Mountain Population (RMP) subject to the following conditions:
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 31.
Hunting Seasons: The season in any State or zone may not exceed 30
days.
Bag limits: Not to exceed 3 daily and 9 per season.
Permits: Participants must have a valid permit, issued by the
appropriate State, in their possession while hunting.
Other provisions: Numbers of permits, open areas, season dates,
protection plans for other species, and other provisions of seasons
must be consistent with the management plan and approved by the Central
and Pacific Flyway Councils with the following exceptions:
(1) In Utah, the requirement for monitoring the racial composition
of the harvest in the experimental season is waived, and 100 percent of
the harvest will be assigned to the RMP quota;
(2) In Arizona, the annual requirement for monitoring the racial
composition of the harvest is changed to once every 3 years; and
(3) In Idaho, seasons are experimental, and the requirement for
monitoring the racial composition of the harvest is waived; 100 percent
of the harvest will be assigned to the RMP quota.
Common Moorhens and Purple Gallinules
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 20 in the Atlantic
Flyway, and between September 1 and the Sunday nearest January 20
(January 21) in the Mississippi and Central Flyways. States in the
Pacific Flyway have been allowed to select their hunting seasons
between the outside dates for the season on ducks; therefore, they are
late-season frameworks, and no frameworks are provided in this
document.
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Seasons may not exceed 70
days in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways. Seasons may be
split into 2 segments. The daily bag limit is 15 common moorhens and
purple gallinules, singly or in the aggregate of the two species.
Rails
Outside Dates: States included herein may select seasons between
September 1 and January 20 on clapper, king, sora, and Virginia rails.
Hunting Seasons: The season may not exceed 70 days, and may be
split into 2 segments.
Daily Bag Limits:
Clapper and King Rails--In Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey,
Delaware, and Maryland, 10, singly or in the aggregate of the two
species. In Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida,
South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, 15, singly or in the
aggregate of the two species.
Sora and Virginia Rails--In the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central
Flyways and the Pacific-Flyway portions of Colorado, Montana, New
Mexico, and Wyoming, 25 daily and 25 in possession, singly or in the
aggregate of the two species. The season is closed in the remainder of
the Pacific Flyway.
Common Snipe
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and February 28, except in
Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia,
where the season must end no later than January 31.
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Seasons may not exceed 107
days and may be split into two segments. The daily bag limit is 8
snipe.
American Woodcock
Outside Dates: States in the Eastern Management Region may select
hunting seasons between October 6 and January 31. States in the Central
Management Region may select hunting seasons between the Saturday
nearest September 22 (September 23) and January 31.
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Seasons may not exceed 30
days in the Eastern Region and 45 days in the
[[Page 51504]]
Central Region. The daily bag limit is 3. Seasons may be split into two
segments.
Zoning: New Jersey may select seasons in each of two zones. The
season in each zone may not exceed 24 days.
Band-tailed Pigeons
Pacific Coast States (California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada)
Outside Dates: Between September 15 and January 1.
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 9 consecutive
days, with bag and possession limits of 2 and 4 band-tailed pigeons,
respectively.
Zoning: California may select hunting seasons not to exceed 9
consecutive days in each of two zones. The season in the North Zone
must close by October 4.
Four-Corners States (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah)
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and November 30.
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 30 consecutive
days, with a daily bag limit of 5 band-tailed pigeons.
Zoning: New Mexico may select hunting seasons not to exceed 20
consecutive days in each of two zones. The season in the South Zone may
not open until October 1.
Mourning Doves
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 15, except as
otherwise provided, States may select hunting seasons and daily bag
limits as follows:
Eastern Management Unit
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 70 days with a
daily bag limit of 12, or not more than 60 days with a daily bag limit
of 15.
Zoning and Split Seasons: States may select hunting seasons in each
of two zones. The season within each zone may be split into not more
than three periods. The hunting seasons in the South Zones of Alabama,
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi may commence no earlier
than September 20. Regulations for bag and possession limits, season
length, and shooting hours must be uniform within specific hunting
zones.
Central Management Unit
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 70 days with a
daily bag limit of 12, or not more than 60 days with a daily bag limit
of 15.
Zoning and Split Seasons: States may select hunting seasons in each
of two zones. The season within each zone may be split into not more
than three periods. Texas may select hunting seasons for each of three
zones subject to the following conditions:
A. The hunting season may be split into not more than two periods,
except in that portion of Texas in which the special white-winged dove
season is allowed, where a limited mourning dove season may be held
concurrently with that special season (see white-winged dove
frameworks).
B. A season may be selected for the North and Central Zones between
September 1 and January 25; and for the South Zone between September 20
and January 25.
C. Each zone may have a daily bag limit of 12 doves (15 under the
alternative) in the aggregate, no more than 2 of which may be white-
tipped doves, except that during the special white-winged dove season,
the daily bag limit may not exceed 10 white-winged, mourning, and
white-tipped doves in the aggregate, of which no more than 5 may be
mourning doves and 2 may be white-tipped doves.
D. Except as noted above, regulations for bag and possession
limits, season length, and shooting hours must be uniform within each
hunting zone.
Western Management Unit
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah,
and Washington--Not more than 30 consecutive days with a daily bag
limit of 10 mourning doves (in Nevada, the daily bag limit may not
exceed 10 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate).
Arizona and California--Not more than 60 days, which may be split
between two periods, September 1-15 and November 1-January 15. In
Arizona, during the first segment of the season, the daily bag limit is
10 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate, of which no more
than 6 may be white-winged doves. During the remainder of the season,
the daily bag limit is restricted to 10 mourning doves. In California,
the daily bag limit may not exceed 10 mourning and white-winged doves
in the aggregate.
White-winged and White-tipped Doves
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits:
Except as shown below, seasons in Arizona, California, Florida,
Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas must be concurrent with mourning dove
seasons.
Arizona may select a hunting season of not more than 30 consecutive
days, running concurrently with the first segment of the mourning dove
season. The daily bag limit may not exceed 10 mourning and white-winged
doves in the aggregate, of which no more than 6 may be white-winged
doves.
In Florida, the daily bag limit may not exceed 12 mourning and
white-winged doves (15 under the alternative) in the aggregate, of
which no more than 4 may be white-winged doves.
In the Nevada Counties of Clark and Nye, and in the California
Counties of Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino, the daily bag
limit may not exceed 10 mourning and white-winged doves in the
aggregate.
In New Mexico, the daily bag limit may not exceed 12 mourning and
white-winged doves (15 under the alternative) in the aggregate.
In Texas, the daily bag limit may not exceed 12 doves (15 under the
alternative) in the aggregate, of which not more than 2 may be white-
tipped doves.
In addition, Texas may also select a hunting season of not more
than 4 days for the special white-winged dove area of the South Zone
between September 1 and September 19. The daily bag limit may not
exceed 10 white-winged, mourning, and white-tipped doves in the
aggregate, of which no more than 5 may be mourning doves and 2 may be
white-tipped doves.
Alaska
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 26.
Hunting Seasons: Alaska may select 107 consecutive days for
waterfowl, sandhill cranes, and common snipe in each of five zones. The
season may be split without penalty in the Kodiak Zone. The seasons in
each zone must be concurrent.
Closures: The season is closed on Canada geese from Unimak Pass
westward in the Aleutian Island chain. The hunting season is closed on
Aleutian Canada geese, emperor geese, spectacled eiders, and Steller's
eiders.
Daily Bag and Possession Limits:
Ducks--Except as noted, a basic daily bag limit of 7 and a
possession limit of 21 ducks. Daily bag and possession limits in the
North Zone are 10 and 30, and in the Gulf Coast Zone, they are 8 and
24, respectively. The basic limits may include no more than 1
canvasback daily and 3 in possession.
In addition to the basic duck limits, there is a sea duck daily bag
limit of 10, with a possession limit of 20, scoter, common and king
eiders, and common and red-breasted mergansers, singly or in the
aggregate. Alaska may choose to allow these sea duck limits in addition
to regular duck bag limits. However, the
[[Page 51505]]
total daily bag limit for any duck species may not exceed 10.
Light Geese--A basic daily bag limit of 3 and a possession limit of
6.
Dark Geese--A basic daily bag limit of 4 and a possession limit of
8.
Dark-goose seasons are subject to the following exceptions:
1. In Units 5 and 6, the taking of Canada geese is permitted from
September 28 through December 16. A special, permit-only Canada goose
season may be offered on Middleton Island. No more than 10 permits can
be issued. A mandatory goose identification class is required. Hunters
must check-in and check-out. Bag limit of 1 daily and 1 in possession.
Season to close if incidental harvest includes 5 dusky Canada geese. A
dusky Canada goose is any dark-breasted Canada goose (Munsell 10 YR
color value five or less) with a bill length between 40 and 50
millimeters.
2. In Unit 10 (except Unimak Island), the taking of Canada geese is
prohibited.
3. In Unit 9(D) and the Unimak Island portion of Unit 10, the
limits for dark geese are 6 daily and 12 in possession.
Brant--A daily bag limit of 2.
Common snipe--A daily bag limit of 8.
Sandhill cranes--Bag and possession limit of 2 and 4, respectively,
in the Southeast, Gulf Coast, Kodiak, Aleutian, and Unit 17 in the
Northern Zone. In the remainder of the Northern Zone (outside Unit 17),
bag and possession limits of 3 and 6, respectively.
Tundra Swans--Open seasons for tundra swans may be selected subject
to the following conditions:
1. All seasons are by registration permit only.
2. All season framework dates are September 1-October 31.
3. In Game Management Unit (GMU) 18, no more than 500 swans may be
harvested during the operational season. Up to 3 tundra swans may be
authorized per permit. No more than 1 permit may be issued per hunter
per season.
4. In GMU 22, no more than 300 swans may be harvested during the
operational season. Each permittee may be authorized to take up to 3
tundra swan per permit. No more than 1 permit may be issued per hunter
per season.
5. In GMU 23, no more than 300 swans may be harvested during the
experimental season. No more than 3 tundra swans may be authorized per
permit with no more than 1 permit issued per hunter per season. The
experimental season evaluation must adhere to the guidelines for
experimental seasons as described in the Pacific Flyway Management Plan
for the Western Population of (Tundra) Swans.
Hawaii
Outside Dates: Between October 1 and January 31.
Hunting Seasons: Not more than 65 days (75 under the alternative)
for mourning doves.
Bag Limits: Not to exceed 15 (12 under the alternative) mourning
doves.
Note: Mourning doves may be taken in Hawaii in accordance with
shooting hours and other regulations set by the State of Hawaii, and
subject to the applicable provisions of 50 CFR part 20.
Puerto Rico
Doves and Pigeons:
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 15.
Hunting Seasons: Not more than 60 days.
Daily Bag and Possession Limits: Not to exceed 10 Zenaida,
mourning, and white-winged doves in the aggregate. Not to exceed 5
scaly-naped pigeons.
Closed Areas: There is no open season on doves or pigeons in the
following areas: Municipality of Culebra, Desecheo Island, Mona Island,
El Verde Closure Area, and Cidra Municipality and adjacent areas.
Ducks, Coots, Moorhens, Gallinules, and Snipe:
Outside Dates: Between October 1 and January 31.
Hunting Seasons: Not more than 55 days may be selected for hunting
ducks, common moorhens, and common snipe. The season may be split into
two segments.
Daily Bag Limits:
Ducks--Not to exceed 6.
Common moorhens--Not to exceed 6.
Common snipe--Not to exceed 8.
Closed Seasons: The season is closed on the ruddy duck, white-
cheeked pintail, West Indian whistling duck, fulvous whistling duck,
and masked duck, which are protected by the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico. The season also is closed on the purple gallinule, American coot,
and Caribbean coot.
Closed Areas: There is no open season on ducks, common moorhens,
and common snipe in the Municipality of Culebra and on Desecheo Island.
Virgin Islands
Doves and Pigeons:
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 15.
Hunting Seasons: Not more than 60 days for Zenaida doves.
Daily Bag and Possession Limits: Not to exceed 10 Zenaida doves.
Closed Seasons: No open season is prescribed for ground or quail
doves, or pigeons in the Virgin Islands.
Closed Areas: There is no open season for migratory game birds on
Ruth Cay (just south of St. Croix).
Local Names for Certain Birds: Zenaida dove, also known as mountain
dove; bridled quail-dove, also known as Barbary dove or partridge;
Common ground-dove, also known as stone dove, tobacco dove, rola, or
tortolita; scaly-naped pigeon, also known as red-necked or scaled
pigeon.
Ducks
Outside Dates: Between December 1 and January 31.
Hunting Seasons: Not more than 55 consecutive days.
Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 6.
Closed Seasons: The season is closed on the ruddy duck, white-
cheeked pintail, West Indian whistling duck, fulvous whistling duck,
and masked duck.
Special Falconry Regulations
Falconry is a permitted means of taking migratory game birds in any
State meeting Federal falconry standards in 50 CFR 21.29(k). These
States may select an extended season for taking migratory game birds in
accordance with the following:
Extended Seasons: For all hunting methods combined, the combined
length of the extended season, regular season, and any special or
experimental seasons shall not exceed 107 days for any species or group
of species in a geographical area. Each extended season may be divided
into a maximum of 3 segments.
Framework Dates: Seasons must fall between September 1 and March
10.
Daily Bag and Possession Limits: Falconry daily bag and possession
limits for all permitted migratory game birds shall not exceed 3 and 6
birds, respectively, singly or in the aggregate, during extended
falconry seasons, any special or experimental seasons, and regular
hunting seasons in all States, including those that do not select an
extended falconry season.
Regular Seasons: General hunting regulations, including seasons and
hunting hours, apply to falconry in each State listed in 50 CFR
21.29(k). Regular-season bag and possession limits do not apply to
falconry. The falconry bag limit is not in addition to gun limits.
Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions
Mourning and White-winged Doves
Alabama
South Zone--Baldwin, Barbour, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Dale,
[[Page 51506]]
Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, and Mobile Counties.
North Zone--Remainder of the State.
California
White-winged Dove Open Areas--Imperial, Riverside, and San
Bernardino Counties.
Florida
Northwest Zone--The Counties of Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin,
Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton,
Washington, Leon (except that portion north of U.S. 27 and east of
State Road 155), Jefferson (south of U.S. 27, west of State Road 59 and
north of U.S. 98), and Wakulla (except that portion south of U.S. 98
and east of the St. Marks River).
South Zone--Remainder of State.
Georgia
Northern Zone--That portion of the State lying north of a line
running west to east along U.S. Highway 280 from Columbus to Wilcox
County, thence southward along the western border of Wilcox County;
thence east along the southern border of Wilcox County to the Ocmulgee
River, thence north along the Ocmulgee River to Highway 280, thence
east along Highway 280 to the Little Ocmulgee River; thence southward
along the Little Ocmulgee River to the Ocmulgee River; thence
southwesterly along the Ocmulgee River to the western border of Jeff
Davis County; thence south along the western border of Jeff Davis
County; thence east along the southern border of Jeff Davis and Appling
Counties; thence north along the eastern border of Appling County, to
the Altamaha River; thence east to the eastern border of Tattnall
County; thence north along the eastern border of Tattnall County;
thence north along the western border of Evans to Candler County;
thence east along the northern border of Evans County to U.S. Highway
301; thence northeast along U.S. Highway 301 to the South Carolina
line.
South Zone--Remainder of the State.
Louisiana
North Zone--That portion of the State north of Interstate Highway
10 from the Texas State line to Baton Rouge, Interstate Highway 12 from
Baton Rouge to Slidell and Interstate Highway 10 from Slidell to the
Mississippi State line.
South Zone--The remainder of the State.
Mississippi
South Zone--The Counties of Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock,
Harrison, Jackson, Lamar, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Stone, and
Walthall.
North Zone--The remainder of the State.
Nevada
White-winged Dove Open Areas--Clark and Nye Counties.
Texas
North Zone--That portion of the State north of a line beginning at
the International Bridge south of Fort Hancock; north along FM 1088 to
TX 20; west along TX 20 to TX 148; north along TX 148 to I-10 at Fort
Hancock; east along I-10 to I-20; northeast along I-20 to I-30 at Fort
Worth; northeast along I-30 to the Texas-Arkansas State line.
South Zone--That portion of the State south and west of a line
beginning at the International Bridge south of Del Rio, proceeding east
on U.S. 90 to San Antonio; then east on I-10 to Orange, Texas.
Special White-winged Dove Area in the South Zone--That portion of
the State south and west of a line beginning at the International
Bridge south of Del Rio, proceeding east on U.S. 90 to Uvalde; south on
U.S. 83 to TX 44; east along TX 44 to TX 16 at Freer; south along TX 16
to TX 285 at Hebbronville; east along TX 285 to FM 1017; southwest
along FM 1017 to TX 186 at Linn; east along TX 186 to the Mansfield
Channel at Port Mansfield; east along the Mansfield Channel to the Gulf
of Mexico.
Area with additional restrictions--Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and
Willacy Counties.
Central Zone--That portion of the State lying between the North and
South Zones.
Band-tailed Pigeons
California
North Zone--Alpine, Butte, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lassen,
Mendocino, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity
Counties.
South Zone--The remainder of the State.
New Mexico
North Zone--North of a line following U.S. 60 from the Arizona
State line east to I-25 at Socorro and then south along I-25 from
Socorro to the Texas State line.
South Zone--Remainder of the State.
Washington
Western Washington--The State of Washington excluding those
portions lying east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of the Big
White Salmon River in Klickitat County.
Woodcock
New Jersey
North Zone--That portion of the State north of NJ 70.
South Zone--The remainder of the State.
Special September Canada Goose Seasons
Atlantic Flyway
Connecticut
North Zone--That portion of the State north of I-95.
Maryland
Eastern Unit--Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles,
Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Annes, St. Marys, Somerset, Talbot,
Wicomico, and Worcester Counties, and those portions of Baltimore,
Howard, and Prince George's Counties east of I-95.
Western Unit--Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Montgomery,
and Washington Counties, and those portions of Baltimore, Howard, and
Prince George's Counties west of I-95.
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 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
[[Page 51507]]
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, except for the Montezuma Zone.
Montezuma Zone--Those portions of Cayuga, Seneca, Ontario, Wayne,
and Oswego Counties north of U.S. Route 20, east of NYS Route 14, south
of NYS Route 104, and west of NYS Route 34.
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.
North Carolina
Northeast Hunt Unit--Counties of Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck,
Dare, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington.
South Carolina
Early-season Hunt Unit--Clarendon County and those portions of
Orangeburg County north of SC Highway 6 and Berkeley County north of SC
Highway 45 from the Orangeburg County line to the junction of SC
Highway 45 and State Road S-8-31 and west of the Santee Dam.
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.
Mississippi Flyway
Illinois
Northeast Canada Goose Zone--Cook, Du Page, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee,
Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties.
North Zone: That portion of the State outside the Northeast Canada
Goose Zone and 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 outside the Northeast
Canada Goose Zone and 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.
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.
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.
Minnesota
Twin Cities Metropolitan Canada Goose Zone--
A. All of Hennepin and Ramsey Counties.
B. In Anoka County, all of Columbus Township lying south of County
State Aid Highway (CSAH) 18, Anoka County; all of the cities of Ramsey,
Andover, Anoka, Coon Rapids, Spring Lake Park, Fridley, Hilltop,
Columbia Heights, Blaine, Lexington, Circle Pines, Lino Lakes, and
Centerville; and all of the city of Ham Lake except that portion lying
north of CSAH 18 and east of U.S. Highway 65.
C. That part of Carver County lying north and east of the following
described line: Beginning at the northeast corner of San Francisco
Township; thence west along the north boundary of San Francisco
Township to the east boundary of Dahlgren Township; thence north along
the east boundary of Dahlgren Township to U.S. Highway 212; thence west
along U.S. Highway 212 to State Trunk Highway (STH) 284; thence north
on STH 284 to County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 10; thence north and west
on CSAH 10 to CSAH 30; thence north and west on CSAH 30 to STH 25;
thence east and north on STH 25 to CSAH 10; thence north on CSAH 10 to
the Carver County line.
D. In Scott County, all of the cities of Shakopee, Savage, Prior
Lake, and Jordan, and all of the Townships of Jackson, Louisville, St.
Lawrence, Sand Creek, Spring Lake, and Credit River.
E. In Dakota County, all of the cities of Burnsville, Eagan,
Mendota Heights, Mendota, Sunfish Lake, Inver Grove Heights, Apple
Valley, Lakeville, Rosemount, Farmington, Hastings, Lilydale, West St.
Paul, and South St. Paul, and all of the Township of Nininger.
F. That portion of Washington County lying south of the following
described line: Beginning at County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 2 on the
west boundary of the county; thence east on CSAH 2 to U.S. Highway 61;
thence south on U.S. Highway 61 to State Trunk Highway (STH) 97; thence
east on STH 97 to the intersection of STH 97 and STH 95; thence due
east to the east boundary of the State.
Northwest Goose 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.
[[Page 51508]]
Southeast Goose 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.
Five Goose Zone--That portion of the State not included in the Twin
Cities Metropolitan Canada Goose Zone, the Northwest Goose Zone, or the
Southeast Goose Zone.
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.
Highway 71, north along U.S. 71 to Interstate Highway 94, then north
and west along I-94 to the North Dakota border.
Tennessee
Middle Tennessee Zone--Those portions of Houston, Humphreys,
Montgomery, Perry, and Wayne Counties east of State Highway 13; and
Bedford, Cannon, Cheatham, Coffee, Davidson, Dickson, Franklin, Giles,
Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marshall, Maury, Moore,
Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, and Wilson
Counties.
East Tennessee Zone--Anderson, Bledsoe, Bradley, Blount, Campbell,
Carter, Claiborne, Clay, Cocke, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Grainger,
Greene, Grundy, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hawkins, Jackson,
Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Loudon, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe,
Morgan, Overton, Pickett, Polk, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sequatchie,
Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union, Van Buren, Warren, Washington , and
White Counties.
Wisconsin
Early-Season Subzone A--That portion of the State encompassed by a
line beginning at the intersection of U.S. Highway 141 and the Michigan
border near Niagara, then south along U.S. 141 to State Highway 22,
west and southwest along State 22 to U.S. 45, south along U.S. 45 to
State 22, west and south along State 22 to State 110, south along State
110 to U.S. 10, south along U.S. 10 to State 49, south along State 49
to State 23, west along State 23 to State 73, south along State 73 to
State 60, west along State 60 to State 23, south along State 23 to
State 11, east along State 11 to State 78, then south along State 78 to
the Illinois border.
Early-Season Subzone B--The remainder of the State.
Central Flyway
Kansas
September Canada Goose Kansas City / Topeka Unit--That part of
Kansas bounded by a line from the Kansas-Missouri state line west on K-
68 to its junction with K-33, then north on K-33 to its junction with
US-56, then west on US-56 to its junction with K-31, then west-
northwest on K-31 to its junction with K-99, then north on K-99 to its
junction with US-24, then east on US-24 its junction with K-63, then
north on K-63 to its junction with K-16, then east on K-16 to its
junction with K-116, then east on K-116 to its junction with US-59,
then northeast on US-59 to its junction with the Kansas-Missouri line,
then south on the Kansas-Missouri line to its junction with K-68.
September Canada Goose Wichita Unit--That part of Kansas bounded by
a line from I-135 west on US 50 to its junction with Burmac Road, then
south on Burmac Road to its junction with 279 Street West (Sedgwick/
Harvey County line), then south on 279 Street West to its junction with
K-96, then east on K-96 to its junction with K-296, then south on K-296
to it junction with 247 Street West, then south on 247 Street West to
its junction with US-54, then west on US-54 to its junction with 263
Street West, then south on 263 Street West to its junction with K-49,
then south on K-49 to its junction with 90 Avenue North, then east on
90 Avenue North to its junction with KS-55, then east on KS-55 to its
junction with KS-15, then east on KS-15 to its junction with US-77,
then north on US-77 to its junction with Ohio Street, then north on
Ohio to its junction with KS-254, then east on KS-254 to its junction
with KS-196, then northwest on KS-196 to its junction with I-135, then
north on I-135 to its junction with US-50.
South Dakota
September Canada Goose North Unit--Clark, Codington, Day, Deuel,
Grant, Hamlin, Marshall, and Roberts County.
September Canada Goose South Unit--Beadle, Brookings, Hanson,
Kingsbury, Lake, Lincoln, McCook, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Sanborn, and
Turner Counties.
Pacific Flyway
Idaho
East Zone--Bonneville, Caribou, Fremont, and Teton Counties.
Oregon
Northwest Zone--Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Lane,
Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk, Multnomah, Tillamook, Washington, and
Yamhill Counties.
Southwest Zone--Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, and
Klamath Counties.
East Zone--Baker, Gilliam, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla,
Union, and Wasco Counties.
Washington
Southwest Zone--Clark, Cowlitz, Pacific, and Wahkiakum Counties.
East Zone--Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Garfield, Klickitat, and
Whitman Counties.
Wyoming
Bear River Area--That portion of Lincoln County described in State
regulations.
Salt River Area--That portion of Lincoln County described in State
regulations.
Farson-Edon Area--Those portions of Sweetwater and Sublette
Counties described in State regulations.
Teton Area--Those portions of Teton County described in State
regulations.
Bridger Valley Area--The area described as the Bridger Valley Hunt
Unit in State regulations.
Ducks
Atlantic Flyway
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
[[Page 51509]]
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.
Mississippi Flyway
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 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.
Central Flyway
Colorado
Special Teal Season Area: Lake and Chaffee Counties and that
portion of the State east of a line extending east from the Wyoming
border, south along U.S. 85 to I-76, south along I-76 to I-25, south
along I-25 to the New Mexico border.
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.
Nebraska
Special Teal Season Area: That portion of the State south of a line
beginning at the Wyoming State line; east along U.S. 26 to Nebraska
Highway 92; east along Nebraska Highway 92 to Nebraska Highway 61;
south along Nebraska Highway 61 to U.S. 30; east along U.S. 30 to the
Iowa border.
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.
Pacific Flyway
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 7 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.
Canada Geese
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.
[[Page 51510]]
Sandhill Cranes
Central Flyway
Colorado
Regular-Season Open Area--The Central Flyway portion of the State
except the San Luis Valley (Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Hinsdale,
Mineral, Rio Grande, and Saguache Counties east of the Continental
Divide) and North Park (Jackson County).
Kansas
Regular Season Open Area--That portion of the State west of a line
beginning at the Oklahoma border, north on I-35 to Wichita, north on I-
135 to Salina, and north on U.S. 81 to the Nebraska border.
New Mexico
Regular-Season Open Area--Chaves, Curry, De Baca, Eddy, Lea, Quay,
and Roosevelt Counties.
Middle Rio Grande Valley Area--The Central Flyway portion of New
Mexico in Socorro and Valencia Counties.
Southwest Zone--Sierra, Luna, and Dona Ana Counties.
Oklahoma
Regular-Season Open Area--That portion of the State west of I-35.
Texas
Regular-Season Open Area--That portion of the State west of a line
from the International Toll Bridge at Brownsville along U.S. 77 to
Victoria; U.S. 87 to Placedo; Farm Road 616 to Blessing; State 35 to
Alvin; State 6 to U.S. 290; U.S. 290 to Austin; I-35 to the Texas-
Oklahoma border.
North Dakota
Regular-Season Open Area--That portion of the State west of U.S.
281.
South Dakota
Regular-Season Open Area--That portion of the State west of U.S.
281.
Montana
Regular-Season Open Area--The Central Flyway portion of the State
except that area south of I-90 and west of the Bighorn River.
Wyoming
Regular-Season Open Area--Campbell, Converse, Crook, Goshen,
Laramie, Niobrara, Platte, and Weston Counties.
Riverton-Boysen Unit--Portions of Fremont County.
Park and Big Horn County Unit--Portions of Park and Big Horn
Counties.
Pacific Flyway
Arizona
Special-Season Area--Game Management Units 30A, 30B, 31, and 32.
Montana
Special-Season Area--See State regulations.
Utah
Special-Season Area--Rich and Cache Counties and that portion of
Box Elder County beginning on the Utah-Idaho State line at the Box
Elder-Cache County line; west on the State line to the Pocatello Valley
County Road; south on the Pocatello Valley County Road to I-15;
southeast on I-15 to SR-83; south on SR-83 to Lamp Junction; west and
south on the Promontory Point County Road to the tip of Promontory
Point; south from Promontory Point to the Box Elder-Weber County line;
east on the Box Elder-Weber County line to the Box Elder-Cache County
line; north on the Box Elder-Cache County line to the Utah-Idaho State
line.
Wyoming
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.
All Migratory Game Birds in Alaska
North Zone--State Game Management Units 11-13 and 17-26.
Gulf Coast Zone--State Game Management Units 5-7, 9, 14-16, and
10--Unimak Island only.
Southeast Zone--State Game Management Units 1-4.
Pribilof and Aleutian Islands Zone--State Game Management Unit 10--
except Unimak Island.
Kodiak Zone--State Game Management Unit 8.
All Migratory Birds in the Virgin Islands
Ruth Cay Closure Area--The island of Ruth Cay, just south of St.
Croix.
All Migratory Birds in Puerto Rico
Municipality of Culebra Closure Area--All of the municipality of
Culebra.
Desecheo Island Closure Area--All of Desecheo Island.
Mona Island Closure Area--All of Mona Island.
El Verde Closure Area--Those areas of the municipalities of Rio
Grande and Loiza delineated as follows: (1) All lands between Routes
956 on the west and 186 on the east, from Route 3 on the north to the
juncture of Routes 956 and 186 (Km 13.2) in the south; (2) all lands
between Routes 186 and 966 from the juncture of 186 and 966 on the
north, to the Caribbean National Forest Boundary on the south; (3) all
lands lying west of Route 186 for 1 kilometer from the juncture of
Routes 186 and 956 south to Km 6 on Route 186; (4) all lands within Km
14 and Km 6 on the west and the Caribbean National Forest Boundary on
the east; and (5) all lands within the Caribbean National Forest
Boundary whether private or public.
Cidra Municipality and adjacent areas--All of Cidra Municipality
and portions of Aguas Buenas, Caguas, Cayey, and Comerio Municipalities
as encompassed within the following boundary: beginning on Highway 172
as it leaves the municipality of Cidra on the west edge, north to
Highway 156, east on Highway 156 to Highway 1, south on Highway 1 to
Highway 765, south on Highway 765 to Highway 763, south on Highway 763
to the Rio Guavate, west along Rio Guavate to Highway 1, southwest on
Highway 1 to Highway 14, west on Highway 14 to Highway 729, north on
Highway 729 to Cidra Municipality boundary to the point of the
beginning.
[FR Doc. 00-21481 Filed 8-22-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P