[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 21, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44010-44024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21037]



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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. 66, No. 162 / Tuesday, August 21, 2001 / 
Rules and Regulations  

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 20

RIN 1018-AH79


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 2001-02 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.

DATES: This rule takes effect on August 21, 2001.

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 2001

    On April 30, 2001, we published in the Federal Register (66 FR 
21298) a proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20. The proposal provided a 
background and overview of the migratory bird hunting regulations 
process, and 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 14, 2001, we published in the 
Federal Register (66 FR 32297) a second document providing supplemental 
proposals for early- and late-season migratory bird hunting regulations 
frameworks and the proposed regulatory alternatives for the 2001-02 
duck hunting season. The June 14 supplement also provided detailed 
information on the 2001-02 regulatory schedule and announced the 
Service Migratory Bird Regulations Committee (SRC) and Flyway Council 
meetings.
    On June 20-21, we held open meetings with the Flyway Council 
Consultants at which the participants reviewed information on the 
current status of migratory shore and upland game birds and developed 
recommendations for the 2001-02 regulations 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 2001-02 regular 
waterfowl seasons. On July 24, we published in the Federal Register (66 
FR 38494) a third document specifically dealing with the proposed 
frameworks for early-season regulations and the final regulatory 
alternatives for the 2001-02 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 2001-02 season. 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.

Review of Public Comments

    The preliminary proposed rulemaking, which appeared in the April 30 
Federal Register, opened the public comment period for migratory game 
bird hunting regulations. The public comment period for early-season 
issues ended on August 3, 2001. We have considered all pertinent 
comments received. Comments are summarized below and numbered in the 
order used in the April 30 Federal Register. We have included only the 
numbered items pertaining to early-seasons issues for which we received 
written comments. 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 Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 
that States that have participated in the recent experimental September 
teal seasons and met the required criteria (Delaware, Maryland, 
Virginia, and Georgia) be offered an operational September teal season, 
beginning in 2001. The recommended season would run for 9 consecutive 
days during September 1-30, with a bag limit not to exceed 4 teal, 
whenever the breeding population of blue-winged teal exceeds 3.3 
million. Delaware, Georgia, and Virginia would have shooting hours 
between one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, while Maryland would be 
between sunrise and sunset. In a subsequent recommendation, the Council 
further recommended that the Service allow North Carolina and South 
Carolina to continue in the September teal season for the 2001 season 
due to the small sample size used in the evaluation of hunter 
performance within individual States, the recently released final 
evaluation report indicates that the estimate of attempts at non-target 
species pooled for all states is only 19 percent (below the 25 percent 
guideline), the Memorandum of Agreement with the Service does not 
preclude the option of using pooled evaluation data from all 
participating states in lieu of individual state data, pooling of data 
has been used in other flyways, North Carolina and South Carolina 
participation in the experimental September teal season is well within 
standards applied to these seasons in the Central and Mississippi 
Flyways, and is consistent with Service policy to manage special 
seasons on a regional or flyway basis.
    The Atlantic Flyway Council also recommended that Florida be 
offered an operational September teal season. The Council pointed out 
that Florida has requested and would prefer

[[Page 44011]]

continuation of its current September teal/wood duck season, which the 
Council has previously supported. If the Service carries through with 
its intent to discontinue the current September teal/wood duck season, 
this recommendation would allow Florida's current season to be replaced 
by an operational September teal season. Florida's teal season would 
begin in 2001 and be structured similar to teal seasons offered in 
other Atlantic Flyway States (9 consecutive days during September 1-30, 
with a bag limit of no more than 4 teal), with shooting hours of one-
half hour before sunrise to sunset, whenever the blue-winged teal 
breeding population exceeds 3.3 million.
    The Central Flyway Council recommended continuation of the 16-day 
September teal season contingent upon acceptable May breeding 
population estimates of blue-winged teal (>4.7 million).
    Written Comments: The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 
and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources requested that 
the Service reconsider its proposed decision to discontinue the special 
teal season in North Carolina. Both States pointed out several possible 
data analysis inconsistencies and requested further analysis of the 3-
year experiment's data.
    Service Response: We support the continuation of a 9-day special 
teal season in the Atlantic Flyway for the States of Delaware, Georgia, 
Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia during 2001-02, 
until a final report on the 3-year experimental period is prepared and 
submitted. However, we suggest that States strive to reduce attempt 
rates at non-target species where possible. With regard to the Florida 
proposal, we support approval of an experimental 9-day special teal 
season for 2001-02, as requested in lieu of their teal/wood duck 
season. Assessment of the cumulative impacts of this season with those 
in other Atlantic Flyway States should be included in the final report. 
We recognize that hunter performance evaluations associated with 
species-specific seasons in Florida have already been conducted, so 
these requirements are waived.
    We support continuation of the 16-day special teal season in the 
Central and Mississippi Flyways, since it is consistent with the 
harvest strategy adopted in 1998. We also note that we requested a 
report reviewing the data from the first 3 years and look forward to 
receiving the report next year.
iv. September Teal/Wood Duck Seasons
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 
that the daily bag limit for Florida's special September wood duck/ 
teal season remain at four wood ducks and teal in the aggregate.
    The Upper-Region Regulations Committee of the Mississippi Flyway 
Council recommended that Kentucky's and Tennessee's September duck 
seasons be continued on an experimental basis for 3 years with 
increased monitoring. The Lower-Region Regulations Committee of the 
Mississippi Flyway Council recommended that Kentucky's and Tennessee's 
September duck seasons be given operational status in their current 
format under the early season regulations frameworks. As a condition of 
operational status, Kentucky and Tennessee would maintain wood duck 
population monitoring and banding efforts at levels consistent to that 
done during the period of the Wood Duck Initiative (1991-96).
    Written Comments: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation 
Commission requested that the daily bag limit for Florida's special 
September wood duck/ teal season remain at four wood ducks and teal in 
the aggregate.
    Service Response: The Service grants operational status to 
September teal/wood duck seasons in the States of Florida, Kentucky, 
and Tennessee. Operational status is contingent on the ability of the 
three States to continue with monitoring efforts put forth during the 
Wood Duck Initiative. The September teal/wood duck season in all three 
States will be a 5-day season, with a daily bag limit of four birds, no 
more than two of which can be wood ducks. We do not support Florida's 
request for a four wood duck daily bag limit due to concerns for low 
hen wood duck survival rates noted during the Initiative. With respect 
to expansion of this season to other States in the Southern and 
Southeastern Reference Areas, such States may avail themselves of a 
September teal/wood duck season in lieu of a September teal season, 
provided that population-monitoring programs throughout the respective 
Reference Area are in place and are meeting the requirements outlined 
in the final report of the wood duck Initiative. The monitoring 
requirements were developed in cooperation with the Atlantic and 
Mississippi Flyway Councils and their Technical Sections, and were 
unanimously adopted by the Councils.
v. Youth Hunt
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 
that the Service allow States to hold a youth waterfowl hunt on 2 
consecutive hunting days.
    Service Response: We concur.

4. Canada Geese

A. Special Seasons

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 
that the framework closing date for September Canada goose hunting 
seasons throughout upstate New York and Vermont be September 25, 
beginning in 2001, and that the September resident goose season 
framework dates in Rhode Island be extended from September 25 to 
September 30. The Council further recommended that the daily bag limit 
during September Canada goose seasons be increased to eight with no 
possession limit beginning with the 2001-02 hunting season.
    The Upper-Region Regulations Committee of the Mississippi Flyway 
Council supported the development of comprehensive harvest management 
strategies for Canada geese throughout the Flyway that includes caution 
when expanding seasons impacting populations of concern as well as 
removing constraints when not warranted. The Lower-Region Regulations 
Committee of the Mississippi Flyway Council urged using caution in 
changing or expanding special goose seasons.
    The Pacific Flyway Council recommended that the experimental 
portion (the period after September 15) of Northwest Oregon's September 
goose season related to the Pacific population of western Canada geese, 
be made operational.
    Written Comments: The New York Division of Fish, Wildlife, and 
Marine Resources asked for reconsideration of an 8-bird daily bag limit 
with no possession limits during September Canada goose seasons in the 
Atlantic Flyway.
    Service Response: We support the framework changes in New York, 
Vermont, and Rhode Island, and approve operational status for the 
season in Oregon after September 15. However, we do not support the 
Atlantic Flyway's recommended bag limit increase from 5 to 8 for these 
special seasons. The requested increase is in conflict with the 
previously established criteria for special Canada goose seasons 
(August 29, 1995, Federal Register (60 FR 45020); bag and possession 
limits of 5 and 10,

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respectively). Additionally, this proposal did not gain support from 
the other Flyway Councils. We encourage further discussion within and 
among Councils regarding nationwide changes in bag limits. We also 
suggest that proposals of this nature be provided to the Service at the 
appropriate time during the review of the Environmental Impact 
Statement on management of resident Canada goose populations.
    Regarding the Upper- and Lower-Region Regulation Committees' 
concern for cumulative impacts of special-season harvests on migrant 
Canada goose populations of concern, we are aware of the Committees' 
concern and are monitoring the harvests during these seasons.

B. Regular Seasons

    Council Recommendations: The Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations 
Committees of the Mississippi Flyway Council recommended the 2001 
regular goose season opening date be as early as September 16 
throughout Michigan and Wisconsin and September 15 in Missouri and 
Iowa.
    The Pacific Flyway Council recommended that the flyway-wide 
prohibition of take of Aleutian Canada geese be removed since 
publication of the final rule removing this goose from the List of 
Endangered and Threatened Species. Existing special management areas in 
Alaska, Oregon, and California will remain closed to take of Canada 
geese until a population objective and harvest strategy are established 
by the Council, as indicated in the Flyway Management Plan.
    Service Response: We support the earlier regular Canada goose 
season opening dates in Michigan and Wisconsin. Both States were 
granted exceptions to the general framework opening date several years 
ago to assist with the management of migrant populations of Canada 
geese.
    We do not support the Mississippi Flyway recommendation for moving 
the opening date of the regular Canada goose season to September 15 in 
Missouri and Iowa. These extensions are intended to increase pressure 
on resident geese. Past experience has indicated that seasons during 
September 1-15 generally are effective at targeting resident geese, but 
harvest in later seasons can comprise a higher proportion of non-target 
goose stocks. Additionally, we note that, under existing criteria for 
special Canada goose seasons, Missouri and Iowa have the option of 
holding seasons during September 1-15 without additional evaluation, or 
during September 16-30 with appropriate evaluations. We believe that 
these additional tools, which are already available to all States in 
the Flyway, should be used at the present time to address resident 
Canada goose impacts. We remain cautious regarding cumulative impacts 
of early seasons on some stocks of migrant geese. Furthermore, this 
change would require that regulations be promulgated during the early-
season process, prior to the annual compilation of data on some migrant 
Canada goose populations; therefore, these regulations could be 
inconsistent with goose population status.
    During the period when Aleutians were listed as either threatened 
or endangered, Statewide closures were imposed in all Pacific Flyway 
Coastal States. Since de-listing has occurred, the proposal would 
eliminate the Statewide closure requirements, but retain all existing 
closure zones established to specifically protect Aleutian Canada 
geese. In effect, this would remove blanket restrictions that included 
areas not used or rarely used by Aleutians. We expect impacts to be 
negligible and support the simplification of Canada goose hunting 
regulations in these States.

9. Sandhill Cranes

    Council Recommendations: The Central Flyway Council made a number 
of recommendations pertaining to sandhill cranes. The Council 
recommended that the sandhill crane open hunting area boundary be 
changed in Texas and North Dakota for 3 years beginning in the fall of 
2001 and population status, harvest, and distribution be evaluated 
using existing population and harvest surveys. The new hunt area in 
Texas would include the Gulf Coast, south of Corpus Christi Bay and 
north of Lavaca Bay. In North Dakota, the hunt boundary would be 
extended eastward from US Highway 281 to the Minnesota border. Season 
length in these two new areas would be a maximum of 37 days, and the 
daily bag limit would be two birds.
    The Central Flyway Council also recommended a 95-day hunting season 
on Mid-Continent Population (MCP) sandhill cranes and reinstatement of 
the option to split the season into no more than two segments for Texas 
and Oklahoma.
    The Central and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended a change to the 
current New Mexico SW hunt boundary to include those portions of Grant 
and Hidalgo Counties south of Interstate 25. The Councils further 
recommended allowing New Mexico to conduct an experimental 3-year 
sandhill crane season in the Estancia Valley located in portions of 
Torrance, Santa Fe, and Bernalillo Counties following the guidelines 
outlined in the Pacific and Central Flyways Management Plan for the 
Rocky Mountain Population of Greater Sandhill Cranes.
    Service Response: We support the requested change to the open 
hunting area boundary in Texas and North Dakota for 3 years. The season 
length in these two new areas would be a maximum of 37 days, and the 
daily bag limit would be two birds. This proposal represents several 
years of negotiation among Service and State biologists and also 
contains a compromise that will allow for expansion in hunting 
opportunity while providing for evaluation of the biological impacts.
    We do not support the proposal for a 95-day hunting season on MCP 
sandhill cranes and reinstatement of the option to split the season 
into no more than two segments for Texas and Oklahoma. We understand 
that the additional 2 days in season length (93 to 95 days) would allow 
for a split to be used and maintain a Sunday closing for each segment. 
While we do not believe that the additional days or one split would 
significantly increase harvest, we are concerned that specific 
guidelines regarding the use of this option and biological impacts 
under various types of seasons have not been developed and incorporated 
into the harvest strategy for this population. Differential impacts and 
harvest characteristics with the use of the split season options on 
subspecies, season length, chronology, etc., are unknown.
    We concur with the Councils' recommendations regarding New Mexico.

18. Alaska

    Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended 
modification of Alaska's tundra swan frameworks to: (1) replace current 
harvest caps with maximum permit allowances (Unit 18-300, Unit 22-200, 
Unit 23-200); (2) make the swan season in Game Management Unit (GMU) 23 
operational; and (3) establish a new experimental tundra swan season in 
GMU 17 (North Bristol Bay region). The new hunt would have a 61-day 
season from September 1-October 31; allow issuance of up to 200 
registration permits, each permit to allow up to 3 swans per season and 
require reporting of hunter activity and harvest. The Council also 
recommended modification of Alaska's duck limit frameworks to include 
harlequin and long-tailed ducks in the special sea duck limit, with 
appropriate adjustment to retain current species limits.

[[Page 44013]]

    Written Comments: An individual from Alaska request a number of 
specific actions related to sea-duck hunting and management. 
Specifically, she requested a reduction in bag and season limits on 
long-tailed (old-squaw) ducks, common and king eiders, harlequin ducks, 
and both common and barrows goldeneye. Additionally, she requested 
specific consideration of the differences between sea duck and dabbling 
duck biology be accommodated in the in the development of appropriate 
regulatory strategies for these species.
    Service Response: We concur with the Council recommendations. 
Regarding the recommended duck bag limits, we point out that this 
change will result in an overall reduction in bag limit for these two 
species and a simplification of regulations. We share the concern about 
the population status and trend of many sea duck species. We have 
helped form a new sea duck Joint Venture under the North American 
Waterfowl Management Plan, designed to improve the information base 
needed to better manage these species. Although, the request is not 
specific to Alaska, we note that sea duck harvest is really only an 
issue in a few coastal States on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts 
with Alaska the major harvest area on the west coast. We note, however, 
that sea duck sport harvest in Alaska, as a group, amounts to less than 
10,000 birds in most years. This harvest is taken from a winter 
population estimated to exceed 500,000 birds. We do not believe such 
limited harvest from such a large population is causing or contributing 
to the population declines being observed in these species. However, we 
have made modifications to the Alaska's sea duck limits in recent years 
and are monitoring the results of these changes. We will continue to 
take differences in sea duck biology into account when determining bag 
limits and will make any necessary adjustments to ensure the long-term 
health and well being of these populations.

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

Civil Justice Reform--E.O. 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 Executive Order 12988.

Energy Effects--E.O. 13211

    On May 18, 2001, the President issued Executive Order 13211 on 
regulations that significantly affect energy supply, distribution, and 
use. Executive Order 13211 requires agencies to prepare Statements of 
Energy Effects when undertaking certain actions. While this rule is a 
significant regulatory action under E.O. 12866, it is not expected to 
adversely affect energy supplies, distribution, or use. Therefore, this 
action is not a significant energy action and no Statement of Energy 
Effects is required.

[[Page 44014]]

Takings Implication Assessment

    In accordance with Executive Order 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 accordance with E.O. 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 2001-02 
season.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 20

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

    Authority: The rules that eventually will be promulgated for the 
2001-02 hunting season are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 703-712 and 16 
U.S.C. 742 a-j.

    Dated: August 13, 2001.
Joseph E. Doddridge,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

Final Regulations Frameworks for 2001-02 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, 2001, and March 10, 2002.

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,

[[Page 44015]]

Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and 
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, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, and 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 except in 
the States of Maryland and South Carolina, where the hours are from 
sunrise to sunset.
    Mississippi and Central Flyways--One-half hour before sunrise to 
sunset, except in the States of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, 
and Ohio, where the hours are from sunrise to sunset.

Special September Duck Seasons

    Florida, 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 22). 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 (hunting days 
in Atlantic Flyway States with compensatory 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 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 25 days during September 
1-25 may be selected by the Montezuma Region of New York and the Lake 
Champlain Region of New York and Vermont. 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), Rhode 
Island, 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

[[Page 44016]]

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 8 consecutive days 
during September 16-23 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 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 in Oregon, a 15-day season may be selected during the 
period September 1-20. Daily bag limits may not exceed 5 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 37 consecutive days may be 
selected in designated portions of North Dakota (Area 2) and Texas 
(Area 2). 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, except 2 sandhill cranes in 
designated portions of North Dakota (Area 2) and Texas (Area 2).
    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;
    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; and
    4. In New Mexico, the season in the Estancia Valley is 
experimental, with a requirement to monitor the level and racial 
composition of the harvest; greater sandhill cranes in 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 20) 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.

[[Page 44017]]

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 22) and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Seasons may not exceed 30 
days in the Eastern Region and 45 days in the 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 a daily bag limit of 2 band-tailed pigeons.
    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 3.

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, and Louisiana, 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

[[Page 44018]]

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 
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 and may not include sea ducks.
    In addition to the basic duck limits, Alaska may select sea duck 
limits of 10 daily, 20 in possession, singly or in the aggregate, 
including no more than 6 each of either harlequin or long-tailed ducks. 
Sea ducks include scoters, common and king eiders, harlequin ducks, 
long-tailed ducks, and common and red-breasted mergansers.
    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 limits of 2 and 4, 
respectively, in the Southeast, Gulf Coast, Kodiak, and Aleutian Zones, 
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) 17, an experimental season may be 
selected. No more than 200 permits may be issued for this 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. An 
evaluation of the season must be completed, adhering to the guidelines 
for experimental seasons as described in the Pacific Flyway Management 
Plan for the Western Population of (tundra) Swans.
    4. In Game Management Unit (GMU) 18, no more than 500 permits may 
be issued 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.
    5. In GMU 22, no more than 300 permits may be issued during the 
operational season. Each permittee may be authorized to take up to 3 
tundra swans per permit. No more than 1 permit may be issued per hunter 
per season.
    6. In GMU 23, no more than 300 permits may be issued during the 
operational season. No more than 3 tundra swans may be authorized per 
permit with no more than 1 permit issued per hunter per season.

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.

[[Page 44019]]

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, 
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.
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 Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, 
Wicomico, and Worcester Counties, and those

[[Page 44020]]

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 
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;

[[Page 44021]]

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.
    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.
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 to 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 its 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.

[[Page 44022]]

Washington
    Area 1--Skagit, Island, and Snohomish Counties.
    Area 2A (SW Quota Zone)--Clark County, except portions south of the 
Washougal River; Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum counties.
    Area 2B (SW Quota Zone)--Pacific and Grays Harbor counties.
    Area 3--All areas west of the Pacific Crest Trail and west of the 
Big White Salmon River that are not included in Areas 1, 2A, and 2B.
    Area 4--Adams, Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, 
Lincoln, Okanogan, Spokane, and Walla Walla Counties.
    Area 5--All areas east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of the 
Big White Salmon River that are not included in Area 4.
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-Eden 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 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 L62A; east to U.S. 385; south to U.S. 26; east to NE 92; east 
along NE 92 to NE 61; south along NE 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: In that portion of California lying east and 
north of a line beginning at the intersection of the Klamath River with 
the California-Oregon line; south and west along the Klamath River to 
the mouth of Shovel Creek; along Shovel Creek to its intersection with 
Forest Service Road 46N05 at Burnt Camp; west to its junction with 
Forest Service Road 46N10; south and east to its Junction with County 
Road 7K007; south and west to its junction with Forest Service Road 
45N22; south and west to its junction with Highway 97 and Grass Lake 
Summit; south along to its junction with Interstate 5 at the town of 
Weed; south to its junction with Highway 89; east and south along 
Highway 89 to main street Greenville; north and east to its junction 
with North Valley Road; south to its junction of Diamond Mountain Road; 
north and east to its junction with North Arm Road; south and west to 
the junction of North Valley Road; south to the junction with Arlington 
Road (A22); west to the junction of Highway 89; south and west to the 
junction of Highway 70; east on Highway 70 to Highway 395; south and 
east on Highway 395 to the point of intersection with the California-
Nevada state line; north along the California-Nevada state line to the 
junction of the California-Nevada-Oregon state lines west along the 
California-Oregon line state to the point of origin.

[[Page 44023]]

    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.

Sandhill Cranes

Central Flyway

Colorado
    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
    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.
    Estancia Valley Area--Those portions of Santa Fe, Torrance and 
Bernallilo Counties within an area bounded on the west by New Mexico 
Highway 55 beginning at Mountainair north to NM 337, north to NM 14, 
north to I-25; on the north by I-25 east to U.S. 285; on the east by 
U.S. 285 south to U.S. 60; and on the south by U.S. 60 from U.S. 285 
west to NM 55 in Mountainair.
    Southwest Zone--Sierra, Luna, Dona Ana Counties, and those portions 
of Grant and Hidalgo Counties south of I-10.
Oklahoma
    That portion of the State west of I-35.
Texas
    Area 1--That portion of the State west of a line beginning at the 
International Bridge at Laredo, north along I-35 to the Oklahoma 
border.
    Area 2--That portion of the State east and south of a line from the 
International Bridge at Laredo northerly along I-35 to U.S. 290; 
southeasterly along U.S. 290 to I-45; south and east on I-45 to State 
Highway 87, south and east on TX 87 to the channel in the Gulf of 
Mexico between Galveston and Point Bolivar; EXCEPT: That portion of the 
State lying within the area bounded by the Corpus Christi Bay Causeway 
on U.S. 181 at Portland; north and west on U.S. 181 to U.S. 77 at 
Sinton; north and east along U.S. 77 to U.S. 87 at Victoria; east and 
south along U.S. 87 to Texas Highway 35; north and east on TX 35 to the 
west end of the Lavaca Bay Bridge; then south and east along the west 
shoreline of Lavaca Bay and Matagorda Island to the Gulf of Mexico; 
then south and west along the shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico to the 
Corpus Christi Bay Causeway.
North Dakota
    Area 1--That portion of the State west of U.S. 281.
    Area 2--That portion of the State east of U.S. 281.
South Dakota
    That portion of the State west of U.S. 281.
Montana
    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.

[[Page 44024]]

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 Game 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. 01-21037 Filed 8-20-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P