[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 25, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52398-52423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20745]



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Part II





Department of the Interior





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Fish and Wildlife Service



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50 CFR Part 20



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

  Federal Register / Vol. 75 , No. 164 / Wednesday, August 25, 2010 / 
Proposed Rules  

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 20

[Docket No. FWS-R9-MB-2010-0040; [91200-1231-9BPP-L2]
RIN 1018-AX06


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

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; supplemental.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter Service or we) is 
proposing to establish the 2010-11 late-season hunting regulations for 
certain migratory game birds. We annually prescribe frameworks, or 
outer limits, for dates and times when hunting may occur and the number 
of birds that may be taken and possessed in late seasons. These 
frameworks are necessary to allow State selections of seasons and 
limits and to allow recreational harvest at levels compatible with 
population and habitat conditions.

DATES: You must submit comments on the proposed migratory bird hunting 
late-season frameworks on or before September 7, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposals by one of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-R9-
MB-2010-0040.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: FWS-R9-MB-2010-0040; Division of Policy and Directives 
Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, 
Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.
    We will not accept e-mail or faxes. We will post all comments on 
http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any 
personal information you provide us (see the Public Comments section 
below for more information).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron W. Kokel, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Department of the Interior, MS MBSP-4107-ARLSQ, 1849 C Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20240; (703) 358-1714.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Regulations Schedule for 2010

    On May 13, 2010, we published in the Federal Register (75 FR 27144) 
a proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20. The proposal provided a background 
and overview of the migratory bird hunting regulations process, and 
addressed the establishment of seasons, limits, and other regulations 
for hunting migratory game birds under Sec. Sec.  20.101 through 
20.107, 20.109, and 20.110 of subpart K. Major steps in the 2010-11 
regulatory cycle relating to open public meetings and Federal Register 
notifications were also identified in the May 13 proposed rule. 
Further, we explained that all sections of subsequent documents 
outlining hunting frameworks and guidelines were organized under 
numbered headings. As an aid to the reader, we reiterate those headings 
here:

1. Ducks
    A. General Harvest Strategy
    B. Regulatory Alternatives
    C. Zones and Split Seasons
    D. Special Seasons/Species Management
    i. September Teal Seasons
    ii. September Teal/Wood Duck Seasons
    iii. Black ducks
    iv. Canvasbacks
    v. Pintails
    vi. Scaup
    vii. Mottled ducks
    viii. Wood ducks
    ix. Youth Hunt
2. Sea Ducks
3. Mergansers
4. Canada Geese
    A. Special Seasons
    B. Regular Seasons
    C. Special Late Seasons
5. White-fronted Geese
6. Brant
7. Snow and Ross's (Light) Geese
8. Swans
9. Sandhill Cranes
10. Coots
11. Moorhens and Gallinules
12. Rails
13. Snipe
14. Woodcock
15. Band-tailed Pigeons
16. Mourning Doves
17. White-winged and White-tipped Doves
18. Alaska
19. Hawaii
20. Puerto Rico
21. Virgin Islands
22. Falconry
23. Other

    Subsequent documents will refer only to numbered items requiring 
attention. Therefore, it is important to note that we will omit those 
items requiring no attention, and remaining numbered items will be 
discontinuous and appear incomplete.
    On June 10, 2010, we published in the Federal Register (75 FR 
32872) a second document providing supplemental proposals for early- 
and late-season migratory bird hunting regulations. The June 10 
supplement also provided detailed information on the 2010-11 regulatory 
schedule and announced the Service Regulations Committee (SRC) and 
Flyway Council meetings.
    On June 23 and 24, 2010, 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 2010-11 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 2010-11 regular 
waterfowl seasons. On July 29, 2010, we published in the Federal 
Register (75 FR 44856) a third document specifically dealing with the 
proposed frameworks for early-season regulations. In late August 2010, 
we will publish a rulemaking establishing final frameworks for early-
season migratory bird hunting regulations for the 2010-11 season.
    On July 28 and 29, 2010, we held open meetings with the Flyway 
Council Consultants, at which the participants reviewed the status of 
waterfowl and developed recommendations for the 2010-11 regulations for 
these species. This document deals specifically with proposed 
frameworks for the late-season migratory bird hunting regulations. It 
will lead to final frameworks from which States may select season 
dates, shooting hours, areas, and limits.
    We have considered all pertinent comments received through July 30, 
2010, on the May 13 and June 10, 2010, rulemaking documents in 
developing this document. In addition, new proposals for certain late-
season regulations are provided for public comment. The comment period 
is specified above under DATES. We will publish final regulatory 
frameworks for late-season migratory game bird hunting in the Federal 
Register on or around September 22, 2010.

Population Status and Harvest

    The following paragraphs provide preliminary information on the 
status of waterfowl and information on the status and harvest of 
migratory shore and upland game birds excerpted from various reports. 
For more detailed information on methodologies and results, you may 
obtain complete copies of the various reports at the address indicated 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or from our Web

[[Page 52399]]

site at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewsPublicationsReports.html.

Waterfowl Breeding and Habitat Survey

    Federal, provincial, and State agencies conduct surveys each spring 
to estimate the size of breeding populations and to evaluate the 
conditions of the habitats. These surveys are conducted using fixed-
wing aircraft, helicopters, and ground crews and encompass principal 
breeding areas of North America, covering an area over 2.0 million 
square miles. The traditional survey area comprises Alaska, Canada, and 
the north-central United States, and includes approximately 1.3 million 
square miles. The eastern survey area includes parts of Ontario, 
Quebec, Labrador, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New 
Brunswick, New York, and Maine, an area of approximately 0.7 million 
square miles.
    Overall, habitat conditions during the 2010 Waterfowl Breeding 
Population and Habitat Survey were characterized by average to below-
average moisture and a mild winter and early spring across the entire 
traditional (including the northern locations) and eastern survey 
areas. The total pond estimate (Prairie Canada and U.S. combined) was 
6.7  0.2 million. This was similar to the 2009 estimate and 
34 percent above the long-term average of 5.0  0.03 million 
ponds.
Traditional Survey Area (U.S. and Canadian Prairies and Parklands)
    Conditions across the Canadian prairies were similar to 2009. 
Portions of southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba improved, but 
a large area along the Alberta and Saskatchewan border remained dry, 
and moisture levels in portions of Manitoba declined from last year. 
The 2010 estimate of ponds in Prairie Canada was 3.7  0.2 
million. This was similar to last year's estimate (3.6  0.1 
million) and to the 1955-2009 average (3.4  0.03 million). 
Residual water remains in the Parklands and these were classified as 
fair to good. Most of the Prairie-Parkland region of Canada received 
abundant to historically high levels of precipitation during and after 
the survey, which, while possibly flooding some nests, will produce 
excellent brood-rearing habitat for successful nesters and lessen the 
impact of the normal summer drawdown, leading to beneficial wetland 
conditions next spring.
    Wetland numbers and conditions remained fair to good in the eastern 
U.S. prairies, but habitat conditions declined through the western 
Dakotas and Montana. The 2010 pond estimate for the north-central 
United States was 2.9  0.1 million, essentially unchanged 
from last year's estimate (2.9  0.1 million) and 87 percent 
above the long-term average (1.6  0.02 million). Fall and 
winter precipitation in the eastern Dakotas generally improved good 
habitat conditions already present. However, wetlands in the western 
Dakotas and Montana were not recharged, resulting in a deterioration of 
conditions from 2009 at the time the survey was conducted.
Bush (Alaska, Northern Manitoba, Northern Saskatchewan, Northwest 
Territories, Yukon Territory, Western Ontario)
    In the bush regions of the traditional survey area, spring breakup 
was early. Unlike in 2009, the majority of habitats were ice-free for 
arriving waterfowl. Habitat of most of the bush region, with the 
exception of Alaska and the Northwest Territories where conditions were 
normal, was classified as fair due to below-average moisture, but the 
early spring should benefit waterfowl across the entire area.
Eastern Survey Area
    The boreal forest and Canadian Maritimes of the eastern survey area 
experienced an early spring as well. Much of southern Quebec and 
Ontario were classified as poor to fair due to dry conditions, with the 
exception of an area of adequate moisture in west-central Ontario. More 
northern boreal forest locations benefited from near-normal 
precipitation and early ice-free conditions. Although winter 
precipitation from southwestern Ontario along the St. Lawrence River 
Valley and into Maine was below average, waterfowl habitat was 
classified as good to excellent, as in 2009. The James and Hudson Bay 
Lowlands of Ontario (strata 57-59) were not surveyed in 2010, but 
reports indicated an early spring in these locations as well.
Breeding Population Status
    In the traditional survey area, which includes strata 1-18, 20-50, 
and 75-77, the total duck population estimate was 40.9  0.7 
[SE] million birds. This estimate was similar to last year's estimate 
of 42.0  0.7 million birds and was 21 percent above the 
long-term average (1955-2009). Estimated mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 
abundance was 8.4  0.3 million birds, which was similar to 
the 2009 estimate of 8.5  0.2 million birds and 12 percent 
above the long-term average. Estimated abundance of gadwall (A. 
strepera; 3.0  0.2 million) was similar to the 2009 
estimate and 67 percent above the long-term average. Estimated 
abundance of American wigeon (A. americana; 2.4  0.1 
million) was similar to 2009 and the long-term average. The estimated 
abundance of green-winged teal (A. crecca) was 3.5  0.2 
million, which was similar to the 2009 estimate and 78 percent above 
their long-term average of 1.9  0.02 million. The estimate 
of blue-winged teal abundance (A. discors) was 6.3  0.4 
million, which was 14 percent below the 2009 estimate and 36 percent 
above their long-term average of 4.7  0.04 million. The 
estimate for northern pintails (A. acuta; 3.5  0.2 million) 
was similar to the 2009 estimate, and 13 percent below the long-term 
average of 4.0  0.04 million. Estimates of northern 
shovelers (A. clypeata; 4.1  0.2 million) and redheads 
(Aythya americana; 1.1  0.1 million) were similar to their 
2009 estimates and were 76 percent and 63 percent above their long-term 
averages of 2.3  0.02 million and 0.7  0.01 
million, respectively. The canvasback estimate (A. valisineria; 0.6 
 0.05 million) was similar to the 2009 estimate and to the 
long-term average. The scaup estimate (A. affinis and A. marila 
combined; 4.2  0.2 million) was similar to that of 2009 and 
16 percent below the long-term average of 5.1  0.05 
million.
    The eastern survey area was restratified in 2005 and is now 
composed of strata 51-72. Estimates of mallards, scaup, scoters (black 
[Melanitta nigra], white-winged [M. fusca], and surf [M. 
perspicillata]), green-winged teal, American wigeon, bufflehead 
(Bucephala albeola), ring-necked duck (Aythya collaris), and goldeneyes 
(common [B. clangula] and Barrow's [B. islandica]) all were similar to 
their 2009 estimates and long-term averages. The mergansers (red-
breasted [Mergus serrator], common [M. merganser], and hooded 
[Lophodytes cucullatus]) estimate was 386.4 thousand, which was 15 
percent below the 2009 estimate, and 14 percent below the long-term 
average of 450.8 thousand. The American black duck (Anas rubripes) 
estimate was similar to the 2009 estimate and 7 percent below the long-
term average of 478.9 thousand.
Fall Flight Estimate
    The mid-continent mallard population is composed of mallards from 
the traditional survey area (revised in 2008 to exclude Alaska 
mallards), Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and was estimated to be 
10.3  0.9 million in 2010. This was similar to the 2009 
estimate of 10.3  0.9 million.
    See section 1.A. Harvest Strategy Considerations for further 
discussion of the implications of this information for

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this year's selection of the appropriate hunting regulations.

Status of Geese and Swans

    We provide information on the population status and productivity of 
North American Canada geese (Branta canadensis), brant (B. bernicla), 
snow geese (Chen caerulescens), Ross' geese (C. rossii), emperor geese 
(C. canagica), white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons), and tundra swans 
(Cygnus columbianus). Temperatures in much of central and northern 
Canada from January through April were in excess of 5[deg] C warmer 
than average. Substantially above-average temperatures continued into 
May and June in important goose habitats within eastern Canada. The 
resulting accelerated snowmelt contributed to favorable nesting 
conditions for many mid-latitude and arctic nesting goose populations 
in 2010. Persistent snow cover significantly delayed goose nesting 
activities only in the Queen Maud Gulf, Victoria Island, and Wrangel 
Island regions. Well-above or near-average wetland abundance in the 
U.S. and Canadian prairie regions and mild spring temperatures in many 
other temperate regions will likely improve production of Canada geese 
that nest at southern latitudes. Primary abundance indices for both 
populations of tundra swans decreased in 2010 from 2009 levels. Primary 
abundance indices decreased for 15 goose populations and increased for 
12 goose populations in 2010 compared to 2009. The following 
populations displayed significant positive trends during the most 
recent 10-year period (P < 0:05): Mississippi Flyway Giant, Short Grass 
Prairie, Aleutian, and Eastern Prairie Canada geese; Western Arctic/
Wrangel Island, and Western Central Flyway light geese; and Pacific 
white-fronted geese. No population showed a significant negative 10-
year trend. The forecast for the production of geese and swans in North 
America for 2010 is regionally variable, but production for many 
populations will be much improved this year compared to the poor 
production widely experienced in 2009.

Waterfowl Harvest and Hunter Activity

    National surveys of migratory bird hunters were conducted during 
the 2008 and 2009 hunting seasons. About 1.2 million waterfowl hunters 
harvested 13,635,700 ( 4 percent) ducks and 3,792,600 
( 5 percent) geese in 2008, and about 1.1 million waterfowl 
hunters harvested 13,139,800 ( 4 percent) ducks and 
3,327,000 ( 5 percent) geese in 2009. Mallard, green-winged 
teal, gadwall, blue-winged/cinnamon teal, and wood duck (Aix sponsa) 
were the 5 most-harvested duck species in the United States, and Canada 
goose was the predominant goose species in the goose harvest. Coot 
hunters (about 31,100 in 2008 and 2009) harvested 275,900 ( 
43 percent) coots in 2008 and 219,000 ( 34 percent) in 
2009.

Review of Public Comments and Flyway Council Recommendations

    The preliminary proposed rulemaking, which appeared in the May 13, 
2010, Federal Register, opened the public comment period for migratory 
game bird hunting regulations. The supplemental proposed rule, which 
appeared in the June 10, 2010, Federal Register, discussed the 
regulatory alternatives for the 2010-11 duck hunting season. Late-
season comments are summarized below and numbered in the order used in 
the May 13 and June 10 Federal Register documents. We have included 
only the numbered items pertaining to late-season issues for which we 
received written comments. Consequently, the issues do not follow in 
successive numerical or alphabetical order.
    We received recommendations from all four Flyway Councils. Some 
recommendations supported continuation of last year's frameworks. Due 
to the comprehensive nature of the annual review of the frameworks 
performed by the Councils, support for continuation of last year's 
frameworks is assumed for items for which no recommendations were 
received. Council recommendations for changes in the frameworks are 
summarized below.
    We seek additional information and comments on the recommendations 
in this supplemental proposed rule. New proposals and modifications to 
previously described proposals are discussed below. Wherever possible, 
they are discussed under headings corresponding to the numbered items 
in the May 13 and June 10, 2010, Federal Register documents.

General

    Council Recommendations: The Central Flyway Council recommended 
increasing the possession limit for all migratory birds from twice the 
daily bag limit to three times the daily bag limit for the 2011-12 
hunting seasons.
    The Pacific Flyway Council recommended increasing the possession 
limit for ducks and geese from twice the daily bag limit to three times 
the daily bag limit, beginning with the 2010-11 season.
    Service Response: We are generally supportive of the Flyways' 
interest in increasing the possession limits for migratory game birds 
and appreciate the recent discussions to frame this important issue. 
However, we believe that there are many unanswered questions regarding 
how this interest can be fully articulated in a proposal that satisfies 
the harvest management community, while fostering the support of the 
law enforcement community and informing the general hunting public. 
Further, because of the current schedule and processes for establishing 
migratory bird hunting seasons (i.e., early and late season processes), 
any changes to current possession limits would not be available for the 
2010-11 seasons. Consequently, we are proposing the creation of a 
cross-agency working group, chaired by the Service, and comprised of 
staff from the Service's Migratory Bird Program, State Wildlife Agency 
representatives, and Federal and State law enforcement staff, to begin 
to frame a recommendation that fully articulates a potential change in 
possession limits. This effort would include a description of the 
current status and use of possession limits, which populations and/or 
species/species groups should not be included in any proposed 
modification of possession limits, potential law enforcement issues, 
and a reasonable timeline for the implementation of any such proposed 
changes. Results of the working group efforts would be reported at the 
January SRC meeting in 2011, and then forwarded to Flyway Technical 
Committee and Council meetings next winter for further review and 
refinement. We would present any resulting proposal next spring, with 
possible implementation during the 2011-12 hunting seasons.

1. Ducks

    Categories used to discuss issues related to duck harvest 
management are: (A) Harvest Strategy Considerations, (B) Regulatory 
Alternatives, (C) Zones and Split Seasons, and (D) Special Seasons/
Species Management. The categories correspond to previously published 
issues/discussion, and only those containing substantial 
recommendations are discussed below.
A. Harvest Strategy Considerations
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Flyway 
Councils and the Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the 
Mississippi Flyway Council recommended the adoption of the ``liberal'' 
regulatory alternative.
    Service Response: We are continuing development of an Adaptive 
Harvest Management (AHM) protocol that

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would allow hunting regulations to vary among Flyways in a manner that 
recognizes each Flyway's unique breeding-ground derivation of mallards. 
In 2008, we described and adopted a protocol for regulatory decision-
making for the newly defined stock of western mallards (73 FR 43290). 
For the 2010 hunting season, we continue to believe that the prescribed 
regulatory choice for the Pacific Flyway should be based on the status 
of this western mallard breeding stock, while the regulatory choice for 
the Mississippi and Central Flyways should depend on the status of the 
recently redefined mid-continent mallard stock. We also recommend that 
the regulatory choice for the Atlantic Flyway continue to depend on the 
status of eastern mallards.
    For the 2010 hunting season, we are continuing to consider the same 
regulatory alternatives as those used last year. The nature of the 
``restrictive,'' ``moderate,'' and ``liberal'' alternatives has 
remained essentially unchanged since 1997, except that extended 
framework dates have been offered in the ``moderate'' and ``liberal'' 
regulatory alternatives since 2002. Also, in 2003, we agreed to place a 
constraint on closed seasons in the western three Flyways whenever the 
midcontinent mallard breeding-population size (as defined prior to 
2008; traditional survey area plus Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin) 
was >= 5.5 million.
    Optimal AHM strategies for the 2010-11 hunting season were 
calculated using: (1) Harvest-management objectives specific to each 
mallard stock; (2) the 2010 regulatory alternatives; and (3) current 
population models and associated weights for midcontinent, western, and 
eastern mallards. Based on this year's survey results of 8.60 million 
midcontinent mallards (traditional survey area minus Alaska plus 
Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan), 3.73 million ponds in Prairie 
Canada, 1,049,000 western mallards (443,000 and 606,000 respectively in 
California-Oregon and Alaska), and 763,000 eastern mallards, the 
prescribed regulatory choice for all four Flyways is the ``liberal'' 
alternative.
    Therefore, we concur with the recommendations of the Atlantic, 
Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils regarding selection 
of the ``liberal'' regulatory alternative and propose to adopt the 
``liberal'' regulatory alternative, as described in the July 29, 2010, 
Federal Register.
C. Zones and Split Seasons
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Flyway 
Councils recommended that the Service allow 3 zones, with 2-way splits 
in each zone, and 4 zones with no splits as additional zone/split-
season options for duck seasons during 2011-15.
    The Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the 
Mississippi Flyway Council recommended that the Service allow 3 zones 
with the season split into 2 segments in each zone, 4 zones with no 
splits, and 2 zones with the season split into 3 segments in each zone 
as additional zone/split-season options for duck seasons during 2011-
15.
    In addition, all four Flyway Councils recommended that States with 
existing grandfathered status be allowed to retain that status.
    Service Response: In 1990, because of concerns about the 
proliferation of zones and split seasons for duck hunting, we conducted 
a cooperative review and evaluation of the historical use of zone/split 
options. This review did not show that the proliferation of these 
options had increased harvest pressure; however, the ability to detect 
the impact of zone/split configurations was poor because of unreliable 
response variables, the lack of statistical tests to differentiate 
between real and perceived changes, and the absence of adequate 
experimental controls. Consequently, we established guidelines to 
provide a framework for controlling the proliferation of changes in 
zone/split options. The guidelines identified a limited number of zone/
split configurations that could be used for duck hunting and restricted 
the frequency of changes in these configurations to 5-year intervals.
    In 1996, we revised the guidelines to provide States greater 
flexibility in using their zone/split arrangements. In 2005, in further 
response to recommendations from the Flyway Councils, we considered 
changes to the zone/split guidelines. After our review, however, we 
concluded that the current guidelines need not be changed. We further 
stated that the guidelines would be used for future open seasons (70 FR 
55667).
    However, while we continue to support the use of guidelines for 
providing a stable framework for controlling the number of changes to 
zone/split options, we note the consensus position among all the Flyway 
Councils on their proposal and are sensitive to the States' desires for 
flexibility in addressing concerns of the hunting public which, in 
part, provided the motivation for this recommendation. Furthermore, we 
remain supportive of the recommendations from the 2008 Future of 
Waterfowl Management Workshop that called for a greater emphasis on the 
effects of management actions on the hunting public. Thus, later this 
fall in a subsequent Federal Register, we plan to propose that two 
specific additional options be added to the existing zone and split 
season criteria governing State selection of waterfowl zones and 
splits. The additional options would include four zones with no splits 
and three zones with the option for 2-way (2-segment) split seasons in 
one or both zones. Otherwise, the criteria and rules governing the 
application of those criteria would remain unchanged.
    While we are announcing our intention to propose adding the Flyway 
Councils' recommended two options to the existing zone and split season 
guidelines, we are not providing all the specifics of our proposal here 
for several reasons. First, because of the sensitive timing of the 
annual regulations process, and the necessary abbreviated public 
comment periods, we want to allow sufficient time for the Flyway 
Councils, the States, and the public to review and comment on our 
proposal. Second, because any new zone and split season criteria would 
not be used until the 2011-12 hunting season, we believe there is no 
pressing reason to finalize them in the next several months. However, 
we are also sensitive to providing the States sufficient time to 
interact with their affected hunting publics on any possible changes to 
existing zone and split season configurations they may wish to explore 
and to conduct any public processes needed to implement such changes. 
Finally, we need additional time to explore all the possible 
implications and impacts of such changes in the zone and split season 
guidelines in order to provide the public with all the necessary 
information for their consideration and comment.
    We also note that existing human dimensions data on the 
relationship of harvest regulations, and specifically zones and splits, 
to hunter recruitment, retention, and/or satisfaction are equivocal or 
lacking. In the face of uncertainty over the effects of management 
actions, the waterfowl management community has broadly endorsed 
adaptive management and the principles of informed decision-making as a 
means of accounting for and reducing that uncertainty. The necessary 
elements of informed decision-making include: Clearly articulated 
objectives, explicit measurable attributes for objectives, 
identification of a suite of potential management actions, some means 
of predicting the consequences of management actions with respect to

[[Page 52402]]

stated objectives, and, finally, a monitoring program to compare 
observations with predictions as a basis for learning, policy 
adaptation, and more informed decision-making. Currently, none of these 
elements are used to support decision-making that involves human 
dimensions considerations. Accordingly, we see this as an opportunity 
to advance an informed decision-making framework that explicitly 
considers human dimensions issues.
    To that end, we will request that the National Flyway Council 
marshal the expertise and resources of the Human Dimensions Working 
Group to develop explicit human dimensions objectives related to 
expanding zone and split options and a study plan to evaluate the 
effect of the proposed action in achieving those objectives. It is our 
hope that the study plan would include hypotheses and specific 
predictions about the effect of changing zone/split criteria on stated 
human dimensions objectives, and monitoring and evaluation methods that 
would be used to test those predictions.
    We believe that insights gained through such an evaluation would be 
invaluable in furthering the ongoing dialogue regarding fundamental 
objectives of waterfowl management and an integrated and coherent 
decision framework for advancing those objectives. We will review the 
objectives and study plan at our January 2011 SRC meeting. We will 
consider this plan, along with public and Flyway comments on the 
proposed change to the zones and splits criteria, along with any 
required National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.) analysis, in making a final decision on a course of action next 
year. We anticipate our final decision sometime this winter.
D. Special Seasons/Species Management
iii. Black Ducks
    In 2008, U.S. and Canadian waterfowl managers developed an interim 
harvest strategy that will be employed by both countries until a formal 
strategy based on the principles of AHM is completed. We detailed this 
interim strategy in the July 24, 2008, Federal Register (73 FR 43290). 
The interim harvest strategy is prescriptive, in that it calls for no 
substantive changes in hunting regulations unless the black duck 
breeding population, averaged over the most recent 3 years, exceeds or 
falls below the long-term average breeding population by 15 percent or 
more. The strategy is designed to share the black duck harvest equally 
between the two countries; however, recognizing incomplete control of 
harvest through regulations, it will allow realized harvest in either 
country to vary between 40 and 60 percent.
    Each year in November, Canada publishes its proposed migratory bird 
hunting regulations for the upcoming hunting season. Thus, last fall 
the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) used the interim strategy to 
establish its proposed black duck regulations for the 2010-11 season, 
based on the most current data available at that time: Breeding 
population estimates for 2007, 2008, and 2009, and an assessment of 
parity based on harvest estimates for the 2004-08 hunting seasons. 
Although updates of both breeding population estimates and harvest 
estimates are now available, the United States will base its 2010-11 
black duck regulations on the same data CWS used, to ensure comparable 
application of the strategy. The long-term (1998-2007) breeding 
population mean estimate is 717,450 and the 2007-09 3-year running mean 
estimate is 719,133. Based on these estimates, no restriction or 
liberalization of black duck harvest is warranted. The average 
proportion of the harvest during the 5-year period, 2004-08, was 0.56 
in the United States and 0.44 in Canada, and this falls within the 
established parity bounds of 40 and 60 percent.
iv. Canvasbacks
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Flyway 
Councils and the Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the 
Mississippi Flyway Council recommended a full season for canvasbacks 
with a 1-bird daily bag limit. Season lengths would be 60 days in the 
Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, 74 days in the Central Flyway, and 
107 days in the Pacific Flyway.
    The Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the 
Mississippi Flyway Council also recommended that we update the harvest 
estimates used to predict the canvasback harvest under the ``liberal'' 
AHM regulatory alternative, as used in the existing canvasback harvest 
strategy, and utilize the most recent 5-year average U.S. canvasback 
harvest plus a constant accounting for the most recent available 
Canadian harvest estimates. They further recommended our updates 
include canvasback harvest estimates for both full (1-bird bag limit) 
and partial seasons.
    Service Response: Since 1994, we have followed a canvasback harvest 
strategy that if canvasback population status and production are 
sufficient to permit a harvest of one canvasback per day nationwide for 
the entire length of the regular duck season, while still attaining a 
projected spring population objective of 500,000 birds, the season on 
canvasbacks should be opened. A partial season would be permitted if 
the estimated allowable harvest was within the projected harvest for a 
shortened season. If neither of these conditions can be met, the 
harvest strategy calls for a closed season on canvasbacks nationwide. 
In 2008 (73 FR 43290), we announced our decision to modify the 
Canvasback Harvest Strategy to incorporate the option for a 2-bird 
daily bag limit for canvasbacks when the predicted breeding population 
the subsequent year exceeds 725,000 birds.
    This year's spring survey resulted in an estimate of 585,000 
canvasbacks. This was 12 percent below the 2009 estimate of 662,000 
canvasbacks and 3 percent above the 1955-2009 average.
    The estimate of ponds in Prairie Canada was 3.7 million, which was 
5 percent above last year and 9 percent above the long-term average. 
The canvasback harvest strategy predicts a 2011 canvasback population 
of 521,000 birds under a ``liberal'' duck season with a 1-bird daily 
bag limit and 485,000 with a 2-bird daily bag limit. Because the 
predicted 2011 population under the 1-bird daily bag limit is greater 
than 500,000, while the prediction under the 2-bird daily bag limit is 
less than 725,000, the canvasback harvest strategy stipulates a full 
canvasback season with a 1-bird daily bag limit for the upcoming 
season.
    With regard to the Mississippi Flyway Council's request to update 
estimates used to predict canvasback harvest in the Service's harvest 
strategy, we agree that this feature of the canvasback strategy should 
be updated. Canvasback harvest estimates from recent hunting seasons 
are now available to be used in an update of the strategy. We hope to 
complete the update of the canvasback strategy in time for use in the 
2011-12 hunting season, and will provide an update on this work at the 
next SRC meeting in January.
v. Pintails
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Flyway 
Councils and the Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the 
Mississippi Flyway Council recommended a full season for pintails, 
consisting of a 2-bird daily bag limit and a 60-day season in the 
Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, a 74-day season in the Central 
Flyway, and a 107-day season in the Pacific Flyway.
    Service Response: The current derived pintail harvest strategy was 
adopted by

[[Page 52403]]

the Service and Flyway Councils in 2010 (75 FR 44856). For this year, 
optimal regulatory strategies were calculated with: (1) An objective of 
maximizing long-term cumulative harvest, including a closed-season 
constraint of 1.75 million birds, (2) the regulatory alternatives and 
associated predicted harvest, and (3) current population models and 
their relative weights. Based on this year's survey results of 3.5 
million pintails and a mean latitude of 54.4 degrees (latitude 
corrected breeding population of 4.30 million pintails), the optimal 
regulatory choice for all four Flyways is the ``liberal'' alternative 
with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
vi. Scaup
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Flyway 
Councils and the Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the 
Mississippi Flyway Council recommended use of the ``moderate'' 
regulation package, consisting of a 60-day season with a 2-bird daily 
bag in the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, a 74-day season with a 2-
bird daily bag limit in the Central Flyway, and an 86-day season with a 
3-bird daily bag limit in the Pacific Flyway.
    Service Response: In 2008, we adopted and implemented a new scaup 
harvest strategy (73 FR 43290 and 73 FR 51124) with initial 
``restrictive,'' ``moderate,'' and ``liberal'' regulatory packages 
adopted for each Flyway. Further opportunity to revise these packages 
was afforded prior to the 2009-10 season and modifications by the 
Mississippi and Central Flyway Councils were endorsed by the Service in 
June 2009 (74 FR 36870). These packages will remain in effect for at 
least 3 years prior to their re-evaluation.
    The 2010 breeding population estimate for scaup is 4.24 million, up 
2 percent from, but similar to, the 2009 estimate of 4.17 million. 
Total estimated scaup harvest for the 2009-10 season was 277,000 birds. 
Based on updated model parameter estimates, the optimal regulatory 
choice for scaup is the ``moderate'' package recommended by the 
Councils in all four Flyways.

4. Canada Geese

B. Regular Seasons
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended a 
107-day regular Canada goose hunting season, between the Saturday 
nearest September 24 and March 10, with a daily bag limit of 8 geese, 
in the Western Long Island Resident Population (RP) area of New York. 
The season could be split into three segments. The Council recommends 
this framework in lieu of the current 30-day September season and 80-
day regular season (between October 1 and February 15) offered for that 
area.
    The Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the 
Mississippi Flyway Council recommended several changes in goose 
frameworks. In Minnesota and Missouri, the Committees recommended an 
85-day Canada goose season with a daily bag limit of 3 geese. In Iowa, 
they recommend a 107-day Canada goose season with a daily bag limit of 
3 geese. In Arkansas, they recommended an 82-day Canada goose season in 
the Northwest Zone, and a 72-day season in the remainder of the State. 
The daily bag limit would be 2 Canada geese. All the recommended 
changes in Canada goose season lengths and bag limits, except in 
Arkansas, were made in response to changes in the Eastern Prairie 
Population (EPP) harvest strategy, which the Council approved this 
summer.
    The Central Flyway Council recommended two changes to Canada goose 
frameworks. In the east-tier States, the Council recommended increasing 
the Canada goose daily bag limit from 3 to 5 geese. In the west-tier 
States of Colorado and Texas, the Council recommended raising the dark 
goose daily bag limit from 4 to 5 geese in the aggregate, with the 
exception of the Western Goose Zone of Texas, where no more than 1 
could be a white-fronted goose (no change).
    The Pacific Flyway Council recommended several changes to dark 
goose season frameworks. In Oregon's Northwest (NW) Permit Goose Zone, 
the Council recommended extending the framework ending date for dark 
geese from the Sunday nearest March 1 to March 10. In the Tillamook 
County Management Area of Oregon's NW Permit Goose Zone, they 
recommended increasing the dark goose daily bag limit from 2 to 3, with 
not more than 2 cackling or Aleutian geese per day. In California's 
Balance of State Zone, they recommended increasing the dark goose 
season framework from 100 to 107 days.
    Service Response: We support the Atlantic Flyway's recommendation 
regarding season framework changes to the Western Long Island RP area 
of New York. We recognize that resident Canada geese are causing 
serious conflicts with human interests and activities in western Long 
Island, including threats to public health and safety (including 
airport safety) and property damage concerns. Currently, the State of 
New York (New York) employs a variety of control methods in this area, 
but resident Canada geese numbers remain abundant in that area. 
Further, the Council notes that negligible harvest of geese has 
occurred during September seasons in western Long Island, primarily due 
to most of the birds remaining in areas where hunting is not allowed or 
not feasible, and hunters wanting to avoid conflicts with other outdoor 
activities at that time of year. However, New York believes, and we 
agree, that opportunities and interest in hunting for resident geese in 
this area are greatest in mid to late winter, when geese are most 
likely to be forced out of inland ponds and lakes to more hunter-
accessible coastal areas, and potential conflicts with other outdoor 
activities would be lowest. Hunting and harvest of RP geese in late 
winter would help provide some relief and control of geese that are 
most likely to nest and contribute to local population problems and 
conflicts. Since this area is already classified as an RP area, we 
believe that the potential harvest of Atlantic Population (AP) or North 
Atlantic Population (NAP) geese would be negligible.
    In the Mississippi Flyway, we support the recommended changes to 
season frameworks in Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, and Arkansas. The 
proposed changes in Canada goose season lengths and bag limits, except 
in Arkansas, were made in response to changes in the EPP harvest 
strategy recently approved by the Council.
    Regarding the Central Flyway Council's recommendation to increase 
the dark goose daily bag limit in the west-tier States of Colorado and 
Texas from 4 to 5 geese, we concur. Currently, all other west-tier 
States have a 5 dark goose daily bag limit and the Council's proposed 
modification is in the relevant goose management plans. Further, the 
2008-10 averages of midwinter counts for Hi-Line Population Canada 
geese (244,107) and Short Grass Prairie Population (SGP) Canada geese 
(241,132), found mainly in the west tier, remain well above population 
objective levels (>80,000 and 150,000-200,000, respectively).
    However, we do not support the Central Flyway's request to increase 
the dark goose daily bag limit in the east-tier States from 3 to 5 
geese. While we agree that the Flyway's proposed bag limit increase 
would likely result in an increased harvest of resident Canada geese 
(Great Plains Population), there are other Canada goose populations 
that would also be subjected to additional harvest pressure, including 
the Tall Grass Prairie (TGP), Western Prairie (WP), the EPP 
populations. One of our

[[Page 52404]]

primary concerns with the proposed increase relates to our current 
collective inability to adequately monitor the population status and 
harvest of all these various populations. We currently have no surveys 
that provide reliable estimates of population abundance for Great 
Plains resident geese in Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, or Texas. 
Population abundance indices for the TGP (Richardson's Canada geese) 
are based on midwinter surveys that include unknown proportions of 
other Canada goose populations and yield highly variable estimates. 
Additionally, there is little information available about the abundance 
or harvest of WP geese. Without having this important information, we 
cannot reliably determine appropriate harvest levels or harvest 
regulations for the resident Canada goose population and meet 
management objectives for all the populations likely affected by the 
proposal. Furthermore, this liberalization would result in markedly 
disparate harvest regulations between the Central and Mississippi 
Flyways, which share the TGP and EPP populations. We believe that more 
coordination with the Mississippi Flyway, which shares the TGP with the 
Central Flyway, should be pursued prior to the proposed regulatory 
change. This coordination should include work toward a revision of the 
management plan for the TGP population, and improved abundance and 
harvest monitoring for all populations of Canada geese that would be 
impacted by this proposal. Lastly, we encourage the States in the 
Central Flyway to fully utilize available tools provided to manage 
resident Canada geese, including special Canada goose hunting seasons, 
take of geese in August using management take, other control and 
depredation orders specifically relevant to resident Canada geese, and 
Statewide special Canada goose permits, to reduce the growth of 
resident Canada goose populations.
    We do agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation to 
extend the framework closing date in Oregon's NW Permit Goose Zone to 
March 10. This proposed change would allow Oregon's NW Permit Goose 
season to close 7-14 days later than currently allowed and is intended 
to help alleviate agricultural depredations caused by wintering geese 
in this area during this slightly later period when the Council 
believes that grazing by geese may be especially detrimental to crops. 
The Council does not expect the proposed change to measurably increase 
harvest since goose harvest per week, as measured at the mandatory 
check stations in this zone, remains relatively constant during the 
season. We agree.
    Similarly, we also agree with the Council's recommendation to 
increase the dark goose daily bag limit in the Tillamook County 
Management Area of Oregon's NW Permit Goose Zone from 2 to 3, with not 
more than 2 cackling or Aleutian Canada geese per day. This proposed 
change is expected to have only a negligible impact on the harvest 
level of migrant Canada geese and an even smaller affect on the harvest 
of cackling and Aleutian Canada geese since it maintains the current NW 
Permit Zone restriction regarding cackling and Aleutian Canada geese. 
Harvest data collected during the first 3 seasons in which goose 
hunting was allowed in Tillamook County since 1982 indicates that the 
overall goose harvest has remained moderate, with 238, 297, and 285 
geese taken during the during the last three seasons, respectively. The 
vast majority of these birds have been classified as either western 
Canada geese (52 percent) or lesser Canada geese (25 percent). It is 
the Council's and our belief that agricultural depredations in this 
area will likely be reduced due to the direct removal of some 
additional geese and the increased hazing effect of additional hunting.
    Lastly, we agree with the minor increase in the dark season 
framework in California's Balance of State Zone, from 100 to 107 days. 
While most of California's Balance of State zone is outside the 
historic nesting range of Canada geese, Canada goose breeding 
populations there have grown significantly in the last 20 years, 
causing increasing conflicts with humans. Since 1984, daily bag limits 
for large Canada geese have increased from 2 to 6, and season lengths 
have increased from 79 days to 100 days. The Council states that 
increasing the framework season length in this zone will allow for 
California to use up to 5 days in an early October Canada goose 
season--an option preferred over a September season because of 
typically hot September weather in the Central Valley.
C. Special Late Seasons
    Council Recommendations: The Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations 
Committees of the Mississippi Flyway Council recommended changing 
Indiana's experimental late Canada goose season (February 1-15) from 
experimental to operational in the following 30 counties: Adams, Allen, 
Boone, Clay, De Kalb, Elkhart, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, 
Huntington, Johnson, Kosciusko, La Porte, Lagrange, Madison, Marion, 
Marshall, Morgan, Noble, Parke, St. Joseph, Shelby, Steuben, Starke, 
Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo, Wells, and Whitley.
    Service Response: In large part, we concur with the Mississippi 
Flyway Council's recommendation to grant operational status for 
Indiana's late Canada goose season. However, results from the 
experiment indicate that the percentage of migrant geese harvested in 
the 6-county region surrounding Terre Haute exceeds the 20 percent 
threshold identified in the criteria for special late Canada goose 
seasons. When we developed the criteria for special late Canada goose 
seasons, we indicated that States must agree to close any areas to 
hunting where evidence from band recoveries or other sources indicates 
unacceptable harvest of non-target populations during the special 
season (60 FR 45020). Because the Terre Haute region does not meet 
established criteria, we cannot grant operational status for these 6 
counties (Clay, Greene, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion, and Vigo 
Counties). For the remaining 24 of the 30 counties involved in the 
experiment, we do agree with the Mississippi Flyway Council's 
recommendation and grant them operational status.
    We recognize that the recently-published Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement (SEIS) on migratory bird hunting contains a proposal 
to remove evaluation criteria for special Canada goose seasons (75 FR 
39577). In light of this proposal, we would be amenable to allowing the 
special late season to continue in the Terre Haute region on an 
experimental basis until the status of evaluation criteria for such 
seasons has been resolved. In the interim, we will require the same 
intensity of data collection in the Terre Haute region with regard to 
morphometric measurements on harvested birds, and analysis of band-
recovery and harvest data.

5. White-fronted Geese

    Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended 
increasing the daily bag limit for white-fronted geese from 2 to 4 for 
hunting days occurring after the last Sunday in January in the Klamath 
County Zone of Oregon. They also made several other dark goose 
recommendations affecting white-fronted geese (see 4. Canada Geese, B. 
Regular Seasons for further discussion).
    Service Response: Specific to white-fronted geese, we concur with 
the Pacific Flyway Council's recommended changes in the Klamath County 
Zone of Oregon. The Pacific Population of

[[Page 52405]]

greater white-fronted geese is currently above population goal and the 
index for the population increased substantially this year. The 3-year 
average is now greater than twice the management goal and we expect 
excellent production this summer. The Council notes that agricultural 
depredations caused by spring staging geese in the Klamath Basin 
continue to be a serious issue and believes that increasing the daily 
bag limits in Oregon's Klamath Zone will help contribute to addressing 
this conflict. We note that potential concerns over Tule geese were 
addressed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and California 
Department of Fish and Game, in cooperation with the Service, 
completing three seasons of harvest monitoring and flock distribution 
monitoring during the late-winter in Oregon's Klamath County Zone. 
Monitoring indicated that very few harvested white-fronted geese (as 
measured by biologists) were determined to be Tule geese from 
morphological measurements (4 of 329 geese). Additionally, monitoring 
of radio-marked Tule geese has shown their preference for habitats in 
the California portion of the Klamath Basin where they are unavailable 
for harvest in Oregon. The harvest of Canada geese after the last 
Sunday in January would continue to be prohibited under the proposal.

6. Brant

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 
continuation of a 50-day season with a 2-bird daily bag limit for 
Atlantic brant.
    Service Response: We concur with the Atlantic Flyway Council's 
recommendation. The 2010 Mid-Winter Index (MWI) for Atlantic brant was 
139,400, about 8 percent lower than the 2009 estimate of 151,300. 
However, conditions appeared to be favorable in most of the breeding 
range this spring; thus, average to above average brant production is 
expected this year. The Atlantic Flyway Management Plan calls for a 50-
day season and a 2-bird daily bag limit at the current mid-winter 
index, and we support the season length and bag limit prescribed by the 
management plan.

7. Snow and Ross's (Light) Geese

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended a 
107-day regular season with a 25-bird daily bag limit and no possession 
limit for light geese in the Atlantic Flyway.
    The Pacific Flyway Council made several recommendations concerning 
light geese. In the Klamath County Zone of Oregon, the Council 
recommended increasing the daily bag limit for light geese from 4 to 6 
for hunting days occurring after the last Sunday in January. The 
Council also recommended in Oregon's newly created Malheur County Zone, 
increasing the daily bag limit for light geese from 6 to 10 and 
specifying that all hunt days occurring after the last Sunday in 
January should be concurrent with Idaho's Zone 2.
    Service Response: We support the Atlantic Flyway Council's 
recommendation to increase the daily bag limit for light geese from 15 
to 25. Greater snow geese are above both the Atlantic Flyway and North 
American Waterfowl Management Plan desired population objectives. 
Additionally, we have declared light geese (including greater snow 
geese) an overabundant species and implemented special Conservation 
Order measures to increase the take of light geese (73 FR 65926 and 73 
FR 65954). Given their current population status and our desire to 
reduce populations, we believe that there is no reason to constrain the 
daily bag limit to 15 birds and believe that this proposed change may 
help contribute to higher light goose harvest during regular hunting 
seasons.
    In Oregon, we agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's light goose 
proposals intended to assist landowners with depredation issues, reduce 
goose numbers, and enhance goose hazing effects. Taken together, these 
proposals would allow Oregon the flexibility to hold differential 
seasons for light geese in the newly proposed Malheur County Zone and 
the modified Harney and Lake County Zone, and institute a late-winter 
light goose season in the Malheur County Zone to help address 
agricultural depredations caused by light geese. By requiring that the 
proposed Oregon hunt coincide with the current late-winter light goose 
season in adjacent areas of Idaho, the Council believes that this 
should help alleviate agricultural depredations caused by staging light 
geese in adjacent areas of Oregon and Idaho by not allowing geese to 
simply move into closed areas. We agree. While past light goose harvest 
has historically been minimal in this area, the Council expects their 
proposals to significantly increase light goose harvest in Malheur 
County. They note that during the late winter and early spring, light 
geese are abundant in portions of Malheur County, especially near 
agricultural lands in proximity to the Snake River, as the geese stage 
during migration en route to breeding areas in the Arctic. We note that 
all 3 populations of light geese in the Pacific Flyway are currently 
above their respective population goals.

Public Comments

    The Department of the Interior's policy is, whenever possible, to 
afford the public an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking 
process. Accordingly, we invite interested persons to submit written 
comments, suggestions, or recommendations regarding the proposed 
regulations. Before promulgating final migratory game bird hunting 
regulations, we will consider all comments we receive. These comments, 
and any additional information we receive, may lead to final 
regulations that differ from these proposals. You may submit your 
comments and materials concerning this proposed rule by one of the 
methods listed in the ADDRESSES section. We will not accept comments 
sent by e-mail or fax or to an address not listed in the ADDRESSES 
section. Finally, we will not consider hand-delivered comments that we 
do not receive, or mailed comments that are not postmarked, by the date 
specified in the DATES section.
    We will post all comments in their entirety--including your 
personal identifying information--on http://www.regulations.gov. Before 
including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal 
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your 
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your 
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Comments and 
materials we receive, as well as supporting documentation we used in 
preparing this proposed rule, will be available for public inspection 
on http://www.regulations.gov, or by appointment, during normal 
business hours, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of 
Migratory Bird Management, Room 4107, 4501 North Fairfax Drive, 
Arlington, VA 22203.
    For each series of proposed rulemakings, we will establish specific 
comment periods. We will consider, but possibly may not respond in 
detail to, each comment. As in the past, we will summarize all comments 
we receive during the comment period and respond to them after the 
closing date in the preambles of any final rules.

NEPA Consideration

    NEPA considerations are covered by the programmatic document 
``Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement: Issuance of Annual 
Regulations Permitting the Sport

[[Page 52406]]

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). In 
addition, an August 1985 environmental assessment entitled ``Guidelines 
for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations on Federal Indian Reservations 
and Ceded Lands'' is available from the address indicated under the 
caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    In a notice published in the September 8, 2005, Federal Register 
(70 FR 53376), we announced our intent to develop a new Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the migratory bird hunting 
program. Public scoping meetings were held in the spring of 2006, as 
detailed in a March 9, 2006, Federal Register (71 FR 12216). We 
released the draft SEIS on July 9, 2010 (75 FR 39577). The draft SEIS 
is available by either writing to the address indicated under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or by viewing on our Web site at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds.

Endangered Species Act Consideration

    Before issuance of the 2010-11 migratory game bird hunting 
regulations, we will comply with 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 is consistent with conservation 
programs for those species. Consultations under section 7 of the Act 
may cause us to change proposals in this and future supplemental 
proposed rulemaking documents.

Executive Order 12866

    The Office of Management and Budget has determined that this rule 
is significant and has reviewed this rule under Executive Order 12866. 
OMB bases its determination of regulatory significance upon the 
following four criteria:
    (a) Whether the rule will have an annual effect of $100 million or 
more on the economy or adversely affect an economic sector, 
productivity, jobs, the environment, or other units of the government.
    (b) Whether the rule will create inconsistencies with other Federal 
agencies' actions.
    (c) Whether the rule will materially affect entitlements, grants, 
user fees, loan programs, or the rights and obligations of their 
recipients.
    (d) Whether the rule raises novel legal or policy issues.
    An economic analysis was prepared for the 2008-09 season. This 
analysis was based on data from the 2006 National Hunting and Fishing 
Survey, the most recent year for which data are available (see 
discussion in Regulatory Flexibility Act section below). This analysis 
estimated consumer surplus for three alternatives for duck hunting 
(estimates for other species are not quantified due to lack of data). 
The alternatives are (1) Issue restrictive regulations allowing fewer 
days than those issued during the 2007-08 season, (2) Issue moderate 
regulations allowing more days than those in alternative 1, and (3) 
Issue liberal regulations identical to the regulations in the 2007-08 
season. For the 2008-09 season, we chose alternative 3, with an 
estimated consumer surplus across all flyways of $205-$270 million. At 
this time, we are proposing no changes to the season frameworks for the 
2010-11 season, and as such, we will again consider these three 
alternatives. However, final frameworks will depend on population 
status information available later this year. For these reasons, we 
have not conducted a new economic analysis, but the 2008-09 analysis is 
part of the record for this rule and is available at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewReportsPublications/SpecialTopics/SpecialTopics.html#HuntingRegs or at http://www.regulations.gov.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The 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 as part of the 
1981 cost-benefit analysis. This analysis was revised annually from 
1990-95. In 1995, the Service issued a Small Entity Flexibility 
Analysis (Analysis), which was subsequently updated in 1996, 1998, 
2004, and 2008. 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 2008 
Analysis was based on the 2006 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 approximately 
$1.2 billion at small businesses in 2008. Copies of the Analysis are 
available upon request from the Division of Migratory Bird Management 
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) or from our Web site at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewReportsPublications/SpecialTopics/SpecialTopics.html#HuntingRegs or at http://www.regulations.gov.

Clarity of the Rule

    We are required by Executive Orders 12866 and 12988 and by the 
Presidential Memorandum of June 1, 1998, to write all rules in plain 
language. This means that each rule we publish must:
    (a) Be logically organized;
    (b) Use the active voice to address readers directly;
    (c) Use clear language rather than jargon;
    (d) Be divided into short sections and sentences; and
    (e) Use lists and tables wherever possible.
    If you feel that we have not met these requirements, send us 
comments by one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section. To 
better help us revise the rule, your comments should be as specific as 
possible. For example, you should tell us the numbers of the sections 
or paragraphs that are unclearly written, which sections or sentences 
are too long, the sections where you feel lists or tables would be 
useful, etc.

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 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). The various recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements imposed under regulations established in 50 CFR part 20, 
subpart K, are used in formulating migratory game bird hunting 
regulations. OMB has approved the information collection requirements 
of our Migratory Bird Surveys and assigned control number 1018-0023 
(expires 2/28/2011). 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

[[Page 52407]]

the information collection requirements of the Alaska Subsistence 
Household Survey, an associated voluntary annual household survey used 
to determine levels of subsistence take in Alaska, and assigned control 
number 1018-0124 (expires 4/30/2013). 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 impose a cost of $100 million or more in any given 
year on local or State government or private entities. Therefore, this 
rule is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act.

Civil Justice Reform--Executive Order 12988

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

Takings Implication Assessment

    In accordance with Executive Order 12630, this proposed rule, 
authorized by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.), 
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, these 
rules allow hunters to exercise otherwise unavailable privileges and, 
therefore, reduce restrictions on the use of private and public 
property.

Energy Effects--Executive Order 13211

    Executive Order 13211 requires agencies to prepare Statements of 
Energy Effects when undertaking certain actions. While this proposed 
rule is a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 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.

Government-to-Government Relationship With Tribes

    In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994, 
``Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal 
Governments'' (59 FR 22951), Executive Order 13175, and 512 DM 2, we 
have evaluated possible effects on Federally-recognized Indian tribes 
and have determined that there are no effects on Indian trust 
resources. We solicited proposals for special migratory bird hunting 
regulations for certain Tribes on Federal Indian reservations, off-
reservation trust lands, and ceded lands for the 2010-11 migratory bird 
hunting season in the May 13 Federal Register. The resulting proposals 
were contained in an August 6 proposed rule (75 FR 47682). By virtue of 
these actions, we have consulted with Tribes affected by this rule.

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 (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.). We annually 
prescribe frameworks from which the States make selections regarding 
the hunting of migratory birds, and we 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 
Indian tribe may be more restrictive than the Federal frameworks at any 
time. The frameworks are developed in a cooperative process with the 
States and the Flyway Councils. This process allows States to 
participate in the development of frameworks from which they will make 
selections, thereby having an influence on their own regulations.
    These rules do not have a substantial direct effect on fiscal 
capacity, change the roles or responsibilities of Federal or State 
governments, or intrude on State policy or administration. Therefore, 
in accordance with Executive Order 13132, these regulations do not have 
significant federalism effects and do not have sufficient federalism 
implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 20

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

    The rules that eventually will be promulgated for the 2010-11 
hunting season are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 703-712 and 16 U.S.C. 742 
a-j.

    Dated: August 12, 2010.
Jane Lyder,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

Proposed Regulations Frameworks for 2010-11 Late Hunting Seasons on 
Certain Migratory Game Birds

    Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and delegated 
authorities, the Department of Interior approved the following 
proposals for season lengths, shooting hours, bag and possession 
limits, and outside dates within which States may select seasons for 
hunting waterfowl and coots between the dates of September 1, 2010, and 
March 10, 2011. These frameworks are summarized below.

General

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

Flyways and Management Units

Waterfowl Flyways

    Atlantic Flyway--includes Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, 
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 
North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, 
Virginia, and West Virginia.
    Mississippi Flyway--includes Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, 
Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, 
Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
    Central Flyway--includes Colorado (east of the Continental Divide), 
Kansas, Montana (Counties of Blaine, Carbon, Fergus, Judith Basin, 
Stillwater, Sweetgrass, Wheatland, and all counties east thereof), 
Nebraska, New Mexico (east of the Continental Divide except the 
Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation), North Dakota, Oklahoma, South 
Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming (east of the Continental Divide).
    Pacific Flyway--includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, 
Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and those portions of Colorado, 
Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming not included in the Central Flyway.

Management Units:

    High Plains Mallard Management Unit--roughly defined as that 
portion of the Central Flyway that lies west of the 100th meridian.

[[Page 52408]]

Definitions:

    For the purpose of hunting regulations listed below, the collective 
terms ``dark'' and ``light'' geese include the following species:
    Dark geese: Canada geese, white-fronted geese, brant (except in 
California, Oregon, Washington, and the Atlantic Flyway), and all other 
goose species except light geese.
    Light geese: Snow (including blue) geese and Ross's geese.
    Area, Zone, and Unit Descriptions: Geographic descriptions related 
to late-season regulations are contained in a later portion of this 
document.
    Area-Specific Provisions: Frameworks for open seasons, season 
lengths, bag and possession limits, and other special provisions are 
listed below by Flyway.

Waterfowl Seasons in the Atlantic Flyway

    In the Atlantic Flyway States of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, 
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 Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days

    Outside Dates: States may select 2 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, holiday, or other non-school day 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 limits may include ducks, geese, 
tundra swans, mergansers, coots, moorhens, and gallinules and would be 
the same as those 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 may not duck hunt 
but may participate in other seasons that are open on the special youth 
day. Tundra swans may only be taken by participants possessing 
applicable tundra swan permits.

Atlantic Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots

    Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 
25) and the last Sunday in January (January 30).
    Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: 60 days. The daily bag limit is 6 
ducks, including no more than 4 mallards (2 hens), 1 black duck, 2 
pintails, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous whistling duck, 3 wood ducks, 2 
redheads, 2 scaup, 1 canvasback, and 4 scoters.
    Closures: The season on harlequin ducks is closed.
    Sea Ducks: Within the special sea duck areas, during the regular 
duck season in the Atlantic Flyway, States may choose to allow the 
above sea duck limits in addition to the limits applying to other ducks 
during the regular duck season. In all other areas, sea ducks may be 
taken only during the regular open season for ducks and are part of the 
regular duck season daily bag (not to exceed 4 scoters) and possession 
limits.
    Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit of mergansers is 5, only 2 of 
which may be hooded mergansers. In States that include mergansers in 
the duck bag limit, the daily limit is the same as the duck bag limit, 
only two of which may be hooded mergansers.
    Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
    Lake Champlain Zone, New York: The waterfowl seasons, limits, and 
shooting hours shall be the same as those selected for the Lake 
Champlain Zone of Vermont.
    Connecticut River Zone, Vermont: The waterfowl seasons, limits, and 
shooting hours shall be the same as those selected for the Inland Zone 
of New Hampshire.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, 
North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia may split 
their seasons into three segments; Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, 
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and West 
Virginia may select hunting seasons by zones and may split their 
seasons into two segments in each zone.

Canada Geese

    Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: Specific regulations for 
Canada geese are shown below by State. These seasons also include 
white-fronted geese. Unless specified otherwise, seasons may be split 
into two segments. In areas within States where the framework closing 
date for Atlantic Population (AP) goose seasons overlaps with special 
late-season frameworks for resident geese, the framework closing date 
for AP goose seasons is January 14.
    Connecticut:
    North Atlantic Population (NAP) Zone: Between October 1 and January 
31, a 60-day season may be held with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    Atlantic Population (AP) Zone: A 45-day season may be held between 
the fourth Saturday in October (October 23) and January 31, with a 3-
bird daily bag limit.
    South Zone: A special season may be held between January 15 and 
February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
    Resident Population (RP) Zone: An 80-day season may be held between 
October 1 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season 
may be split into 3 segments.
    Delaware: A 45-day season may be held between November 15 and 
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    Florida: An 80-day season may be held between November 15 and 
February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split 
into 3 segments.
    Georgia: In specific areas, an 80-day season may be held between 
November 15 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season 
may be split into 3 segments.
    Maine: A 60-day season may be held Statewide between October 1 and 
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    Maryland:
    RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between November 15 and March 
10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 
segments.
    AP Zone: A 45-day season may be held between November 15 and 
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    Massachusetts:
    NAP Zone: A 60-day season may be held between October 1 and January 
31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. Additionally, a special season may 
be held from January 15 to February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
    AP Zone: A 45-day season may be held between October 20 and January 
31, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
    New Hampshire: A 60-day season may be held statewide between 
October 1 and January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    New Jersey:
    Statewide: A 45-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday 
in October (October 23) and January 31, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
    Special Late Goose Season Area: A special season may be held in 
designated areas of North and South New Jersey from January 15 to 
February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
    New York:

[[Page 52409]]

    NAP Zone: Between October 1 and January 31, a 60-day season may be 
held, with a 2-bird daily bag limit in the High Harvest areas; and 
between October 1 and February 15, a 70-day season may be held, with a 
3-bird daily bag limit in the Low Harvest areas.
    Special Late Goose Season Area: A special season may be held 
between January 15 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit in 
designated areas of Chemung, Delaware, Tioga, Broome, Sullivan, 
Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, Orange, Dutchess, Putnam, and Rockland 
Counties.
    AP Zone: A 45-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in 
October (October 23), except in the Lake Champlain Area where the 
opening date is October 20, and January 31, with a 3-bird daily bag 
limit.
    Western Long Island RP Zone: A 107-day season may be held between 
the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 25) and March 10, with an 
8-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments.
    Rest of State RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between the 
fourth Saturday in October (October 23) and March 10, with a 5-bird 
daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments.
    North Carolina:
    SJBP Zone: A 70-day season may be held between October 1 and 
December 31, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
    RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and March 
10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 
segments.
    Northeast Hunt Unit: A 7-day season may be held between the 
Saturday prior to December 25 (December 18) and January 31, with a 1-
bird daily bag limit.
    Pennsylvania:
    SJBP Zone: A 70-day season may be held between the second Saturday 
in October (October 9) and February 15, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
    RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday 
in October (October 23) and March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. 
The season may be split into 3 segments.
    AP Zone: A 45-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in 
October (October 23) and January 31, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
    Rhode Island: A 60-day season may be held between October 1 and 
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. A special late season may be 
held in designated areas from January 15 to February 15, with a 5-bird 
daily bag limit.
    South Carolina: In designated areas, an 80-day season may be held 
during November 15 to February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The 
season may be split into 3 segments.
    Vermont: A 45-day season may be held between October 20 and January 
31 with a 3-bird daily bag limit in the Lake Champlain Zone and 
Interior Zone. A 60-day season may be held in the Connecticut River 
Zone between October 1 and January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    Virginia:
    SJBP Zone: A 40-day season may be held between November 15 and 
January 14, with a 3-bird daily bag limit. Additionally, a special late 
season may be held between January 15 and February 15, with a 5-bird 
daily bag limit.
    AP Zone: A 45-day season may be held between November 15 and 
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between November 15 and March 
10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 
segments.
    West Virginia: An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and 
January 31, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 
2 segments in each zone.

Light Geese

    Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: States may select a 107-
day season between October 1 and March 10, with a 25-bird daily bag 
limit and no possession limit. States may split their seasons into 
three segments.

Brant

    Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: States may select a 50-
day season between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 25) and 
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. States may split their 
seasons into two segments.

Mississippi Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots

    Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 
25) and the last Sunday in January (January 30).
    Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: The season may not exceed 60 days, 
with a daily bag limit of 6 ducks, including no more than 4 mallards 
(no more than 2 of which may be females), 1 mottled duck, 1 black duck, 
2 pintails, 3 wood ducks, 1 canvasback, 2 scaup, and 2 redheads.
    Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit is 5, only 2 of which may be 
hooded mergansers. In States that include mergansers in the duck bag 
limit, the daily limit is the same as the duck bag limit, only 2 of 
which may be hooded mergansers.
    Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 
Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, 
and Wisconsin may select hunting seasons by zones.
    In Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, 
Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, the season may be split into 
two segments in each zone.
    In Arkansas and Mississippi, the season may be split into three 
segments.

Geese

    Split Seasons: Seasons for geese may be split into three segments.
    Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: States may select 
seasons for light geese not to exceed 107 days, with 20 geese daily 
between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 25) and March 10; 
for white-fronted geese not to exceed 72 days with 2 geese daily or 86 
days with 1 goose daily between the Saturday nearest September 24 
(September 25) and the Sunday nearest February 15 (February 13); and 
for brant not to exceed 70 days, with 2 brant daily or 107 days with 1 
brant daily between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 25) 
and January 31. There is no possession limit for light geese. Specific 
regulations for Canada geese and exceptions to the above general 
provisions are shown below by State. Except as noted below, the outside 
dates for Canada geese are the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 
25) and January 31.
    Alabama: In the SJBP Goose Zone, the season for Canada geese may 
not exceed 70 days. Elsewhere, the season for Canada geese may extend 
for 70 days in the respective duck-hunting zones. The daily bag limit 
is 2 Canada geese.
    Arkansas: In the Northwest Zone, the season for Canada geese may 
extend for 82 days. In the remainder of the State, the season may not 
exceed 72 days. The season may extend to February 15. The daily bag 
limit is 2 Canada geese.
    Illinois: The season for Canada geese may extend for 85 days in the 
North and Central Zones and 66 days in the South Zone. The daily bag 
limit is 2 Canada geese.
    Indiana: The season for Canada geese may extend for 74 days. The 
daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    Late Canada Goose Season Areas:
    (a) A special Canada goose season of up to 15 days may be held 
during February 1-15 in Steuben, Lagrange, Elkhart, St. Joseph, La 
Porte, Starke, Marshall, Kosciusko, Noble, De Kalb, Allen, Whitley, 
Huntington, Wells,

[[Page 52410]]

Adams, Boone, Hamilton, Madison, Hendricks, Marion, Hancock, Morgan, 
Johnson, and Shelby Counties. During this special season the daily bag 
limit cannot exceed 5 Canada geese.
    (b) An experimental special Canada goose season of up to 15 days 
may be held during February 1-15 in Clay, Greene, Parke, Sullivan, 
Vermillion, and Vigo Counties. During this special season the daily bag 
limit cannot exceed 5 Canada geese.
    Iowa: The season for Canada geese may extend for 107 days. The 
daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese.
    Kentucky:
    (a) Western Zone--The season for Canada geese may extend for 70 
days (85 days in Fulton County). The season in Fulton County may extend 
to February 15. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (b) Pennyroyal/Coalfield Zone--The season may extend for 70 days. 
The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (c) Remainder of the State--The season may extend for 70 days. The 
daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    Louisiana: The season for Canada geese may extend for 44 days. The 
daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose.
    Michigan:
    (a) North Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is 
September 16 and the season for Canada geese may extend for 45 days. 
The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (b) Middle Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is 
September 16 and the season for Canada geese may extend for 45 days. 
The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (c) South Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is 
September 16 and the season for Canada geese may extend for 45 days. 
The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (1) Allegan County and Muskegon Wastewater GMU--The framework 
opening date for all geese is September 16 and the season for Canada 
geese may extend for 45 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (2) Saginaw County and Tuscola/Huron GMUs--The framework opening 
date for all geese is September 16 and the season for Canada geese may 
extend for 45 days through December 30 and an additional 30 days may be 
held between December 31 and February 7. The daily bag limit is 2 
Canada geese.
    (d) Southern Michigan Late Season Canada Goose Zone--A 30-day 
special Canada goose season may be held between December 31 and 
February 7. The daily bag limit may not exceed 5 Canada geese.
    Minnesota: The season for Canada geese may extend for 85 days. The 
daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese.
    Mississippi: The season for Canada geese may extend for 70 days. 
The daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese.
    Missouri: The season for Canada geese may extend for 85 days. The 
daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese.
    Ohio:
    (a) Lake Erie Zone--The season may extend for 74 days. The daily 
bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (b) North Zone--The season may extend for 74 days. The daily bag 
limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (c) South Zone--The season may extend for 74 days. The daily bag 
limit is 2 Canada geese.
    Tennessee:
    (a) Northwest Zone--The season for Canada geese may not exceed 72 
days, and may extend to February 15. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada 
geese.
    (b) Southwest Zone--The season for Canada geese may extend for 72 
days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (c) Kentucky/Barkley Lakes Zone-- The season for Canada geese may 
extend for 72 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (d) Remainder of the State--The season for Canada geese may extend 
for 72 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    Wisconsin:
    (a) Horicon Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is 
September 16. The season may not exceed 92 days. All Canada geese 
harvested must be tagged. The season limit will be 6 Canada geese per 
permittee.
    (b) Collins Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is 
September 16. The season may not exceed 70 days. All Canada geese 
harvested must be tagged. The season limit will be 6 Canada geese per 
permittee.
    (c) Exterior Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is 
September 16. The season may not exceed 85 days. The daily bag limit is 
2 Canada geese.
    Additional Limits: In addition to the harvest limits stated for the 
respective zones above, an additional 4,500 Canada geese may be taken 
in the Horicon Zone under special agricultural permits.

Central Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots

    Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 
25) and the last Sunday in January (January 30).
    Hunting Seasons:
    (1) High Plains Mallard Management Unit (roughly defined as that 
portion of the Central Flyway which lies west of the 100th meridian): 
97 days. The last 23 days may start no earlier than the Saturday 
nearest December 10 (December 11).
    (2) Remainder of the Central Flyway: 74 days.
    Bag Limits: The daily bag limit is 6 ducks, with species and sex 
restrictions as follows: 5 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be 
females), 2 redheads, 2 scaup, 3 wood ducks, 2 pintails, and 1 
canvasback. In Texas, the daily bag limit on mottled ducks is 1, except 
for the first 5 days of the season when it is closed.
    Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit is 5 mergansers, only 2 of 
which may be hooded mergansers. In States that include mergansers in 
the duck daily bag limit, the daily limit may be the same as the duck 
bag limit, only two of which may be hooded mergansers.
    Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Kansas (Low Plains portion), Montana, 
Nebraska (Low Plains portion), New Mexico, Oklahoma (Low Plains 
portion), South Dakota (Low Plains portion), Texas (Low Plains 
portion), and Wyoming may select hunting seasons by zones.
    In Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, 
South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, the regular season may be split into 
two segments.
    In Colorado, the season may be split into three segments.

Geese

    Split Seasons: Seasons for geese may be split into three segments. 
Three-way split seasons for Canada geese require Central Flyway Council 
and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approval, and a 3-year evaluation by 
each participating State.
    Outside Dates: For dark geese, seasons may be selected between the 
outside dates of the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 25) and 
the Sunday nearest February 15 (February 13). For light geese, outside 
dates for seasons may be selected between the Saturday nearest 
September 24 (September 25) and March 10. In the Rainwater Basin Light 
Goose Area (East and West) of Nebraska, temporal and spatial 
restrictions that are consistent with the late-winter snow goose 
hunting strategy cooperatively developed by the Central Flyway Council 
and the Service are required.
    Season Lengths and Limits:
    Light Geese: States may select a light goose season not to exceed 
107 days. The daily bag limit for light geese is 20 with no possession 
limit.

[[Page 52411]]

    Dark Geese: In Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South 
Dakota, and the Eastern Goose Zone of Texas, States may select a season 
for Canada geese (or any other dark goose species except white-fronted 
geese) not to exceed 107 days with a daily bag limit of 3. 
Additionally, in the Eastern Goose Zone of Texas, an alternative season 
of 107 days with a daily bag limit of 1 Canada goose may be selected. 
For white-fronted geese, these States may select either a season of 72 
days with a bag limit of 2 or an 86-day season with a bag limit of 1.
    In Colorado, Montana, New Mexico and Wyoming, States may select 
seasons not to exceed 107 days. The daily bag limit for dark geese is 5 
in the aggregate.
    In the Western Goose Zone of Texas, the season may not exceed 95 
days. The daily bag limit for Canada geese (or any other dark goose 
species except white-fronted geese) is 5. The daily bag limit for 
white-fronted geese is 1.

Pacific Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, Coots, Common Moorhens, and Purple Gallinules

    Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: Concurrent 107 days. The daily bag 
limit is 7 ducks and mergansers, including no more than 2 female 
mallards, 2 pintails, 3 scaup, 1 canvasback, and 2 redheads. For scaup, 
the season length would be 86 days, which may be split according to 
applicable zones/split duck hunting configurations approved for each 
State.
    The season on coots and common moorhens may be between the outside 
dates for the season on ducks, but not to exceed 107 days.
    Coot, Common Moorhen, and Purple Gallinule Limits: The daily bag 
and possession limits of coots, common moorhens, and purple gallinules 
are 25, singly or in the aggregate.
    Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 
25) and the last Sunday in January (January 30).
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, 
Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming may select hunting seasons by 
zones. Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, 
and Wyoming may split their seasons into two segments.
    Colorado, Montana, and New Mexico may split their seasons into 
three segments.
    Colorado River Zone, California: Seasons and limits shall be the 
same as seasons and limits selected in the adjacent portion of Arizona 
(South Zone).

Geese

    Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits:
    California, Oregon, and Washington:
    Dark geese: Except as subsequently noted, 100-day seasons may be 
selected, with outside dates between the Saturday nearest October 1 
(October 2), and the last Sunday in January (January 30). The basic 
daily bag limit is 4 dark geese, except the dark goose bag limit does 
not include brant.
    Light geese: Except as subsequently noted, 107-day seasons may be 
selected, with outside dates between the Saturday nearest October 1 
(October 2), and March 10. The daily bag limit is 6 light geese.
    Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and 
Wyoming:
    Dark geese: Except as subsequently noted, 107-day seasons may be 
selected, with outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 
(September 25), and the last Sunday in January (January 30). The basic 
daily bag limit is 4 dark geese.
    Light geese: Except as subsequently noted, 107-day seasons may be 
selected, with outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 
(September 25), and March 10. The basic daily bag limit is 10 light 
geese.
    Split Seasons: Unless otherwise specified, seasons for geese may be 
split into up to 3 segments. Three-way split seasons for Canada geese 
and white-fronted geese require Pacific Flyway Council and U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service approval and a 3-year evaluation by each 
participating State.

Brant Season

    Oregon may select a 16-day season, Washington a 16-day season, and 
California a 30-day season. Days must be consecutive. Washington and 
California may select hunting seasons by up to two zones. The daily bag 
limit is 2 brant and is in addition to dark goose limits. In Oregon and 
California, the brant season must end no later than December 15.
    Arizona: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3.
    California:
    Northeastern Zone: The daily bag limit is 6 dark geese and may 
include no more than 1 cackling Canada goose or 1 Aleutian Canada 
goose.
    Balance-of-the-State Zone: A 107-day season may be selected. Limits 
may not include more than 6 dark geese per day. In the Sacramento 
Valley Special Management Area, the season on white-fronted geese must 
end on or before December 14, and the daily bag limit shall contain no 
more than 2 white-fronted geese. In the North Coast Special Management 
Area, 107-day seasons may be selected, with outside dates between the 
Saturday nearest October 1 (October 2) and March 10. Hunting days that 
occur after the last Sunday in January shall be concurrent with 
Oregon's South Coast Zone.
    Colorado: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3.
    Idaho:
    Zone 2: Hunting days that occur after the last Sunday in January 
shall be concurrent with Oregon's Malheur County Zone.
    Nevada: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3.
    New Mexico: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3.
    Oregon:
    Except as subsequently noted, the dark goose daily bag limit is 4, 
including not more than 1 cackling or Aleutian goose.
    Harney and Lake County Zone: For Lake County only, the daily dark 
goose bag limit may not include more than 1 white-fronted goose.
    Klamath County Zone: A 107-day season may be selected, with outside 
dates between the Saturday nearest October 1 (October 2), and March 10. 
A 3-way split season may be selected. For hunting days which occur 
after the last Sunday in January the daily bag limit may not include 
Canada Geese.
    Malheur County Zone: The daily bag limit of light geese is 10. 
Hunting days that occur after the last Sunday in January shall be 
concurrent with Idaho's Zone 2.
    Northwest Special Permit Zone: Outside dates are between the 
Saturday nearest October 1 (October 2) and March 10. The daily bag 
limit of dark geese is 4 including not more than 2 cackling or Aleutian 
geese and daily bag limit of light geese is 4. In those designated 
areas of Tillamook County open to hunting, the daily bag limit of dark 
geese is 3, including not more than 2 cackling or Aleutian geese.
    South Coast Zone: The daily dark goose bag limit is 4 including 
cackling and Aleutian geese. In Oregon's South Coast Zone 107-day 
seasons may be selected, with outside dates between the Saturday 
nearest October 1 (October 2) and March 10. Hunting days that occur 
after the last Sunday in January shall be concurrent with California's 
North Coast Special Management Area. A 3-way split season may be 
selected.
    Southwest Zone: The daily dark goose bag limit is 4 including 
cackling and Aleutian geese.
    Utah: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3.

[[Page 52412]]

    Washington: The daily bag limit is 4 geese.
    Area 1: Outside dates are between the Saturday nearest October 1 
(October 2), and the last Sunday in January (January 30).
    Areas 2A and 2B (Southwest Quota Zone): Except for designated 
areas, there will be no open season on Canada geese. See section on 
quota zones. In this area, the daily bag limit may include 2 cackling 
geese. In Southwest Quota Zone Area 2B (Pacific County), the daily bag 
limit may include 1 Aleutian goose.
    Areas 4 and 5: A 107-day season may be selected for dark geese.
    Wyoming: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3.

Quota Zones

    Seasons on geese must end upon attainment of individual quotas of 
dusky geese allotted to the designated areas of Oregon (90) and 
Washington (45). The September Canada goose season, the regular goose 
season, any special late dark goose season, and any extended falconry 
season, combined, must not exceed 107 days, and the established quota 
of dusky geese must not be exceeded. Hunting of geese in those 
designated areas will be only by hunters possessing a State-issued 
permit authorizing them to do so. In a Service-approved investigation, 
the State must obtain quantitative information on hunter compliance of 
those regulations aimed at reducing the take of dusky geese. If the 
monitoring program cannot be conducted, for any reason, the season must 
immediately close. In the designated areas of the Washington Southwest 
Quota Zone, a special late goose season may be held between the 
Saturday following the close of the general goose season and March 10. 
In the Northwest Special Permit Zone of Oregon, the framework closing 
date is March 10. Regular goose seasons may be split into 3 segments 
within the Oregon and Washington quota zones.

Swans

    In portions of the Pacific Flyway (Montana, Nevada, and Utah), an 
open season for taking a limited number of swans may be selected. 
Permits will be issued by the State and will authorize each permittee 
to take no more than 1 swan per season with each permit. Nevada may 
issue up to 2 permits per hunter. Montana and Utah may only issue 1 
permit per hunter. Each State's season may open no earlier than the 
Saturday nearest October 1 (October 2). These seasons are also subject 
to the following conditions:
    Montana: No more than 500 permits may be issued. The season must 
end no later than December 1. The State must implement a harvest-
monitoring program to measure the species composition of the swan 
harvest and should use appropriate measures to maximize hunter 
compliance in reporting bill measurement and color information.
    Utah: No more than 2,000 permits may be issued. During the swan 
season, no more than 10 trumpeter swans may be taken. The season must 
end no later than the second Sunday in December (December 12) or upon 
attainment of 10 trumpeter swans in the harvest, whichever occurs 
earliest. The Utah season remains subject to the terms of the 
Memorandum of Agreement entered into with the Service in August 2001, 
regarding harvest monitoring, season closure procedures, and education 
requirements to minimize the take of trumpeter swans during the swan 
season.
    Nevada: No more than 650 permits may be issued. During the swan 
season, no more than 5 trumpeter swans may be taken. The season must 
end no later than the Sunday following January 1 (January 2) or upon 
attainment of 5 trumpeter swans in the harvest, whichever occurs 
earliest.
    In addition, the States of Utah and Nevada must implement a 
harvest-monitoring program to measure the species composition of the 
swan harvest. The harvest-monitoring program must require that all 
harvested swans or their species-determinant parts be examined by 
either State or Federal biologists for the purpose of species 
classification. The States should use appropriate measures to maximize 
hunter compliance in providing bagged swans for examination. Further, 
the States of Montana, Nevada, and Utah must achieve at least an 80-
percent compliance rate, or subsequent permits will be reduced by 10 
percent. All three States must provide to the Service by June 30, 2011, 
a report detailing harvest, hunter participation, reporting compliance, 
and monitoring of swan populations in the designated hunt areas.

Tundra Swans

    In portions of the Atlantic Flyway (North Carolina and Virginia) 
and the Central Flyway (North Dakota, South Dakota [east of the 
Missouri River], and that portion of Montana in the Central Flyway), an 
open season for taking a limited number of tundra swans may be 
selected. Permits will be issued by the States that authorize the take 
of no more than 1 tundra swan per permit. A second permit may be issued 
to hunters from unused permits remaining after the first drawing. The 
States must obtain harvest and hunter participation data. These seasons 
are also subject to the following conditions:
    In the Atlantic Flyway:

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

--The season may be 107 days, from the Saturday nearest October 1 
(October 2) to January 31.
--In the Central Flyway portion of Montana, no more than 500 permits 
may be issued.
--In North Dakota, no more than 2,200 permits may be issued.
--In South Dakota, no more than 1,300 permits may be issued.

Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions

Ducks (Including Mergansers) and Coots

Atlantic Flyway

Connecticut

    North Zone: That portion of the State north of I-95.
    South Zone: Remainder of the State.

Maine

    North Zone: That portion north of the line extending east along 
Maine State Highway 110 from the New Hampshire and Maine State line to 
the intersection of Maine State Highway 11 in Newfield; then north and 
east along Route 11 to the intersection of U.S. Route 202 in Auburn; 
then north and east on Route 202 to the intersection of Interstate 
Highway 95 in Augusta; then north and east along I-95 to Route 15 in 
Bangor; then east along Route 15 to Route 9; then east along Route 9 to 
Stony Brook in Baileyville; then east along Stony Brook to the United 
States border.
    South Zone: Remainder of the State.

Massachusetts

    Western Zone: That portion of the State west of a line extending 
south from the Vermont State line 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 
State line.
    Central Zone: That portion of the State east of the Berkshire Zone 
and west of a line extending south from the New Hampshire State line 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 State line; except the waters, and the lands 
150 yards inland from the high-

[[Page 52413]]

water mark, of the Assonet River upstream to the MA 24 bridge, and the 
Taunton River upstream to the Center St.-Elm St. bridge shall be in the 
Coastal Zone.
    Coastal Zone: That portion of Massachusetts east and south of the 
Central Zone.

New Hampshire

    Coastal Zone: That portion of the State east of a line extending 
west from the Maine State line in Rollinsford on NH 4 to the city of 
Dover, south to NH 108, south along NH 108 through Madbury, Durham, and 
Newmarket to NH 85 in Newfields, south to NH 101 in Exeter, east to NH 
51 (Exeter-Hampton Expressway), east to I-95 (New Hampshire Turnpike) 
in Hampton, and south along I-95 to the Massachusetts State line.
    Inland Zone: That portion of the State north and west of the above 
boundary and along the Massachusetts State line crossing the 
Connecticut River to Interstate 91 and northward in Vermont to Route 2, 
east to 102, northward to the Canadian border.

New Jersey

    Coastal Zone: That portion of the State seaward of a line beginning 
at the New York State line in Raritan Bay and extending west along the 
New York State line to NJ 440 at Perth Amboy; west on NJ 440 to the 
Garden State Parkway; south on the Garden State Parkway to the 
shoreline at Cape May and continuing to the Delaware State line in 
Delaware Bay.
    North Zone: That portion of the State west of the Coastal Zone and 
north of a line extending west from the Garden State Parkway on NJ 70 
to the New Jersey Turnpike, north on the turnpike to U.S. 206, north on 
U.S. 206 to U.S. 1 at Trenton, west on U.S. 1 to the Pennsylvania State 
line in the Delaware River.
    South Zone: That portion of the State not within the North Zone or 
the Coastal Zone.

New York

    Lake Champlain Zone: That area east and north of a continuous line 
extending along U.S. 11 from the New York--Canada International 
boundary south to NY9B, south along NY 9B 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 State line.
    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 State line.
    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 31, east along NY 31 to NY 13, north along NY 13 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 State line, exclusive of the Lake 
Champlain Zone.
    Southeastern Zone: The remaining portion of New York.

Pennsylvania

    Lake Erie Zone: The Lake Erie waters of Pennsylvania and a 
shoreline margin along Lake Erie from New York on the east to Ohio on 
the west extending 150 yards inland, but including all of Presque Isle 
Peninsula.
    Northwest Zone: The area bounded on the north by the Lake Erie Zone 
and including all of Erie and Crawford Counties and those portions of 
Mercer and Venango Counties north of I-80.
    North Zone: That portion of the State east of the Northwest Zone 
and north of a line extending east on I-80 to U.S. 220, Route 220 to I-
180, I-180 to I-80, and I-80 to the Delaware River.
    South Zone: The remaining portion of Pennsylvania.

Vermont

    Lake Champlain Zone: The U.S. portion of Lake Champlain and that 
area north and west of the line extending from the New York State line 
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: That portion of Vermont west of the Lake Champlain 
Zone and eastward of a line extending from the Massachusetts State line 
at Interstate 91; north along Interstate 91 to U.S. 2; east along U.S. 
2 to VT 102; north along VT 102 to VT 253; north along VT 253 to the 
Canadian border.
    Connecticut River Zone: The remaining portion of Vermont east of 
the Interior Zone.

West Virginia

    Zone 1: That portion outside the boundaries in Zone 2.
    Zone 2 (Allegheny Mountain Upland): That area bounded by a line 
extending south along U.S. 220 through Keyser to U.S. 50; U.S. 50 to WV 
93; WV 93 south to WV 42; WV 42 south to Petersburg; WV 28 south to 
Minnehaha Springs; WV 39 west to U.S. 219; U.S. 219 south to I-64; I-64 
west to U.S. 60; U.S. 60 west to U.S. 19; U.S. 19 north to I-79, I-79 
north to I-68; I-68 east to the Maryland State line; and along the 
State line to the point of beginning.

Mississippi Flyway

Alabama

    South Zone: Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
    North Zone: The remainder of Alabama.

Illinois

    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending 
west from the Indiana border along Peotone-Beecher Road to Illinois 
Route 50, south along Illinois Route 50 to Wilmington-Peotone Road, 
west along Wilmington-Peotone Road to Illinois Route 53, north along 
Illinois Route 53 to New River Road, northwest along New River Road to 
Interstate Highway 55, south along I-55 to Pine Bluff-Lorenzo Road, 
west along Pine Bluff-Lorenzo Road to Illinois Route 47, north along 
Illinois Route 47 to I-80, west along I-80 to I-39, south along I-39 to 
Illinois Route 18, west along Illinois Route 18 to Illinois Route 29, 
south along Illinois Route 29 to Illinois Route 17, west along Illinois 
Route 17 to the Mississippi River, and due south across the Mississippi 
River to the Iowa border.
    Central Zone: That portion of the State south of the North Zone to 
a line extending west from the Indiana border along Interstate Highway 
70 to Illinois Route 4, south along Illinois Route 4 to Illinois Route 
161, west along Illinois Route 161 to Illinois Route 158, south and 
west along Illinois Route 158 to Illinois Route 159, south along 
Illinois Route 159 to Illinois Route 156, west along Illinois Route 156 
to A Road, north and west on A Road to Levee Road, north on Levee Road 
to the south shore of New Fountain Creek, west along the south shore of 
New Fountain Creek to the Mississippi River, and due west across the 
Mississippi River to the Missouri border.
    South Zone: The remainder of Illinois.

Indiana

    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending 
east from the Illinois State line 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 State line.

[[Page 52414]]

    Ohio River Zone: That portion of the State south of a line 
extending east from the Illinois State line along Interstate Highway 64 
to New Albany, east along State Road 62 to State Road 56, east along 
State Road 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 State line.
    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 Highway 
37, southeast along State Highway 37 to State Highway 183, northeast 
along State Highway 183 to State Highway 141, east along State Highway 
141 to U.S. Highway 30, then east along U.S. Highway 30 to the Illinois 
border.
    South Zone: The remainder of Iowa.

Kentucky

    West Zone: All counties west of and including Butler, Daviess, 
Ohio, Simpson, and Warren Counties.
    East Zone: The remainder of Kentucky.

Louisiana

    West Zone: That portion of the State west and south of a line 
extending south from the Arkansas State line along Louisiana Highway 3 
to Bossier City, east along Interstate Highway 20 to Minden, south 
along Louisiana 7 to Ringgold, east along Louisiana 4 to Jonesboro, 
south along U.S. Highway 167 to Lafayette, southeast along U.S. 90 to 
the Mississippi State line.
    East Zone: The remainder of Louisiana.

Michigan

    North Zone: The Upper Peninsula.
    Middle Zone: That portion of the Lower Peninsula north of a line 
beginning at the Wisconsin State line 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, easterly along U.S. 10 BR to U.S. 10, easterly along U.S. 10 
to Interstate Highway 75/U.S. Highway 23, northerly along I-75/U.S. 23 
to the U.S. 23 exit at Standish, easterly along U.S. 23 to the 
centerline of the Au Gres River, then southerly along the centerline of 
the Au Gres River to Saginaw Bay, then on a line directly east 10 miles 
into Saginaw Bay, and from that point on a line directly northeast to 
the Canadian border.
    South Zone: The remainder of Michigan.

Minnesota

    North Duck Zone: That portion of the State north of a line 
extending east from the North Dakota State line along State Highway 210 
to State Highway 23, east along State Highway 23 to State Highway 39, 
then east along State Highway 39 to the Wisconsin State line at the 
Oliver Bridge.
    South Duck Zone: The remainder of Minnesota.

Missouri

    North Zone: That portion of Missouri north of a line running west 
from the Illinois State line (Lock and Dam 25) on Lincoln County 
Highway N to Missouri Highway 79; south on Missouri Highway 79 to 
Missouri Highway 47; west on Missouri Highway 47 to Interstate 70; west 
on Interstate 70 to the Kansas State line.
    South Zone: That portion of Missouri south of a line running west 
from the Illinois State line on Missouri Highway 34 to Interstate 55; 
south on Interstate 55 to U.S. Highway 62; west on U.S. Highway 62 to 
Missouri Highway 53; north on Missouri Highway 53 to Missouri Highway 
51; north on Missouri Highway 51 to U.S. Highway 60; west on U.S. 
Highway 60 to Missouri Highway 21; north on Missouri Highway 21 to 
Missouri Highway 72; west on Missouri Highway 72 to Missouri Highway 
32; west on Missouri Highway 32 to U.S. Highway 65; north on U.S. 
Highway 65 to U.S. Highway 54; west on U.S. Highway 54 to the Kansas 
State line.
    Middle Zone: The remainder of Missouri.

Ohio

    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending 
east from the Indiana State line along U.S. Highway 33 to State Route 
127, south along SR 127 to SR 703, south along SR 703 to SR 219, east 
along SR 219 to SR 364, north along SR 364 to SR 703, east along SR 703 
to SR 66, north along SR 66 to U.S. 33, east along U.S. 33 to SR 385, 
east along SR 385 to SR 117, south along SR 117 to SR 273, east along 
SR 273 to SR 31, south along SR 31 to SR 739, east along SR 739 to SR 
4, north along SR 4 to SR 95, east along SR 95 to SR 13, southeast 
along SR 13 to SR 3, northeast along SR 3 to SR 60, north along SR 60 
to U.S. 30, east along U.S. 30 to SR 3, south along SR 3 to SR 226, 
south along SR 226 to SR 514, southwest along SR 514 to SR 754, south 
along SR 754 to SR 39/60, east along SR 39/60 to SR 241, north along SR 
241 to U.S. 30, east along U.S.30 to SR 39, east along SR 39 to the 
Pennsylvania State line.
    South Zone: The remainder of Ohio.

Tennessee

    Reelfoot Zone: All or portions of Lake and Obion Counties.
    State Zone: The remainder of Tennessee.

Wisconsin

    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending 
east from the Minnesota State line along U.S. Highway 10 into Portage 
County to County Highway HH, east on County Highway HH to State Highway 
66 and then east on State Highway 66 to U.S. Highway 10, continuing 
east on U.S. Highway 10 to U.S. Highway 41, then north on U.S. Highway 
41 to the Michigan State line.
    South Zone: The remainder of Wisconsin.

Central Flyway

Colorado (Central Flyway Portion)

    Eastern Plains Zone: That portion of the State east of Interstate 
25, and all of El Paso, Pueblo, Heurfano, and Las Animas Counties.
    Mountain/Foothills Zone: That portion of the State west of 
Interstate 25 and east of the Continental Divide, except El Paso, 
Pueblo, Heurfano, and Las Animas Counties.

Kansas

    High Plains Zone: That portion of the State west of U.S. 283.
    Low Plains Early Zone: That area of Kansas east of U.S. 283, and 
generally west of a line beginning at the Junction of the Nebraska 
border and KS 28; south on KS 28 to U.S. 36; east on U.S. 36 to KS 199; 
south on KS 199 to Republic Co. Road 563; south on Republic Co. Road 
563 to KS 148; east on KS 148 to Republic Co. Road 138; south on 
Republic Co. Road 138 to Cloud Co. Road 765; south on Cloud Co. Road 
765 to KS 9; west on KS 9 to U.S. 24; west on U.S. 24 to U.S. 281; 
north on U.S. 281 to U.S. 36; west on U.S. 36 to U.S. 183; south on 
U.S. 183 to U.S. 24; west on U.S. 24 to KS 18; southeast on KS 18 to 
U.S. 183; south on U.S. 183 to KS 4; east on KS 4 to I-135; south on I-
135 to KS 61; southwest on KS 61 to KS 96; northwest on KS 96 to U.S. 
56; southwest on U.S. 56 to KS 19; east on KS 19 to U.S. 281; south on 
U.S. 281 to U.S. 54; west on U.S. 54 to U.S. 183;

[[Page 52415]]

north on U.S. 183 to U.S. 56; southwest on U.S. 56 to Ford Co. Road 
126; south on Ford Co. Road 126 to U.S. 400; northwest on U.S. 400 to 
U.S. 283.
    Low Plains Late Zone: The remainder of Kansas.

Montana (Central Flyway Portion)

    Zone 1: The Counties of Blaine, Carbon, Carter, Daniels, Dawson, 
Fallon, Fergus, Garfield, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, McCone, 
Musselshell, Petroleum, Phillips, Powder River, Richland, Roosevelt, 
Sheridan, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, and 
Yellowstone.
    Zone 2: The remainder of Montana.

Nebraska

    High Plains Zone: That portion of Nebraska lying west of a line 
beginning at the South Dakota-Nebraska border on U.S. 183, south on 
U.S. 183 to U.S. 20, west on U.S. 20 to NE 7, south on NE 7 to NE 91, 
southwest on NE 91 to NE 2, southeast on NE 2 to NE 92, west on NE 92 
to NE 40, south on NE 40 to NE 47, south on NE 47 to NE 23, east on NE 
23 to U.S. 283 and south on U.S. 283 to the Kansas-Nebraska border.
    Low Plains Zone 1: That portion of Dixon County west of NE 26E Spur 
and north of NE 12; those portions of Cedar County north of NE 12; 
those portions of Knox County north of NE 12 to intersection of 
Niobrara River; all of Boyd County; Keya Paha County east of U.S. 183. 
Both banks of the Niobrara River in Keya Paha, Boyd, and Knox Counties 
east of U.S. 183 shall be included in Zone 1.
    Low Plains Zone 2: Area bounded by designated Federal and State 
highways and political boundaries beginning at the Kansas-Nebraska 
border on U.S. 75 to U.S. 136; east to the intersection of U.S. 136 and 
the Steamboat Trace (Trace); north along the Trace to the intersection 
with Federal Levee R-562; north along Federal Levee R-562 to the 
intersection with the Trace; north along the Trace/Burlington Northern 
Railroad right-of-way to NE 2; west to U.S. 75; north to NE 2; west to 
NE 43; north to U.S. 34; east to NE 63; north and west to U.S. 77; 
north to NE 92; west to U.S. 81; south to NE 66; west to NE 14; south 
to County Road 22 (Hamilton County); west to County Road M; south to 
County Road 21; west to County Road K; south to U.S. 34; west to NE 2; 
south to U.S. I-80; west to Gunbarrel Road (Hall/Hamilton county line); 
south to Giltner Road; west to U.S. 281; south to U.S. 34; west to NE 
10; north to County Road ``R'' (Kearney County) and County Road 
742 (Phelps County); west to County Road 438 (Gosper 
County line); south along County Road 438 (Gosper County line) 
to County Road 726 (Furnas County line); east to County Road 
438 (Harlan County line); south to U.S. 34; south and west to 
U.S. 136; east to NE 14; south to the Kansas-Nebraska border; west to 
U.S. 283; north to NE 23; west to NE 47; north to U.S. 30; east to NE 
14; north to NE 52; west and north to NE 91 to U.S. 281; south to NE 
22; west to NE 11; northwest to NE 91; west to Loup County line; north 
to Loup-Brown County line; east along northern boundaries of Loup, 
Garfield, and Wheeler Counties; south on the Wheeler-Antelope county 
line to NE 70; east to NE 14; south to NE 39; southeast to NE 22; east 
to U.S. 81; southeast to U.S. 30; east to U.S. 75; north to the 
Washington County line; east to the Iowa-Nebraska border; south along 
the Iowa-Nebraska border; to the beginning at U.S. 75 and the Kansas-
Nebraska border.
    Low Plains Zone 3: The area east of the High Plains Zone, excluding 
Low Plains Zone 1, north of Low Plains Zone 2.
    Low Plains Zone 4: The area east of the High Plains Zone and south 
of Zone 2.

New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion)

    North Zone: That portion of the State north of I-40 and U.S. 54.
    South Zone: The remainder of New Mexico.

North Dakota

    High Plains Unit: That portion of the State south and west of a 
line from the South Dakota State line along U.S. 83 and I-94 to ND 41, 
north to U.S. 2, west to the Williams/Divide County line, then north 
along the County line to the Canadian border.
    Low Plains Unit: The remainder of North Dakota.

Oklahoma

    High Plains Zone: The Counties of Beaver, Cimarron, and Texas.
    Low Plains Zone 1: That portion of the State east of the High 
Plains Zone and north of a line extending east from the Texas State 
line along OK 33 to OK 47, east along OK 47 to U.S. 183, south along 
U.S.183 to I-40, east along I-40 to U.S. 177, north along U.S. 177 to 
OK 33, east along OK 33 to OK 18, north along OK 18 to OK 51, west 
along OK 51 to I-35, north along I-35 to U.S. 412, west along U.S. 412 
to OK 132, then north along OK 132 to the Kansas State line.
    Low Plains Zone 2: The remainder of Oklahoma.

South Dakota

    High Plains Zone: That portion of the State west of a line 
beginning at the North Dakota State line and extending south along U.S. 
83 to U.S. 14, east on U.S. 14 to Blunt, south on the Blunt-Canning 
road to SD 34, east and south on SD 34 to SD 50 at Lee's Corner, south 
on SD 50 to I-90, east on I-90 to SD 50, south on SD 50 to SD 44, west 
on SD 44 across the Platte-Winner bridge to SD 47, south on SD 47 to 
U.S. 18, east on U.S. 18 to SD 47, south on SD 47 to the Nebraska State 
line.
    North Zone: That portion of northeastern South Dakota east of the 
High Plains Unit and north of a line extending east along U.S. 212 to 
the Minnesota State line.
    South Zone: That portion of Gregory County east of SD 47 and south 
of SD 44; Charles Mix County south of SD 44 to the Douglas County line; 
south on SD 50 to Geddes; east on the Geddes Highway to U.S. 281; south 
on U.S. 281 and U.S. 18 to SD 50; south and east on SD 50 to the Bon 
Homme County line; the Counties of Bon Homme, Yankton, and Clay south 
of SD 50; and Union County south and west of SD 50 and I-29.
    Middle Zone: The remainder of South Dakota.

Texas

    High Plains Zone: That portion of the State west of a line 
extending south from the Oklahoma State line along U.S. 183 to Vernon, 
south along U.S. 283 to Albany, south along TX 6 to TX 351 to Abilene, 
south along U.S. 277 to Del Rio, then south along the Del Rio 
International Toll Bridge access road to the Mexico border.
    Low Plains North Zone: That portion of northeastern Texas east of 
the High Plains Zone and north of a line beginning at the International 
Toll Bridge south of Del Rio, then extending east on U.S. 90 to San 
Antonio, then continuing east on I-10 to the Louisiana State line at 
Orange, Texas.
    Low Plains South Zone: The remainder of Texas.

Wyoming (Central Flyway Portion)

    Zone 1: The Counties of Converse, Goshen, Hot Springs, Natrona, 
Platte, and Washakie; and the portion of Park County east of the 
Shoshone National Forest boundary and south of a line beginning where 
the Shoshone National Forest boundary meets Park County Road 8VC, east 
along Park County Road 8VC to Park County Road 1AB, continuing east 
along Park County Road 1AB to Wyoming Highway 120, north along WY 
Highway 120 to WY Highway 294, south along WY Highway 294 to Lane 9, 
east along Lane 9 to Powel and WY Highway 14A, and finally east along

[[Page 52416]]

WY Highway 14A to the Park County and Big Horn County line.
    Zone 2: The remainder of Wyoming.

Pacific Flyway

Arizona

    Game Management Units (GMU) as follows:
    South Zone: Those portions of GMUs 6 and 8 in Yavapai County, and 
GMUs 10 and 12B-45.
    North Zone: GMUs 1-5, those portions of GMUs 6 and 8 within 
Coconino County, and GMUs 7, 9, 12A.

California

    Northeastern Zone: In that portion of California lying east and 
north of a line beginning at the intersection of Interstate 5 with the 
California-Oregon line; south along Interstate 5 to its junction with 
Walters Lane south of the town of Yreka; west along Walters Lane to its 
junction with Easy Street; south along Easy Street to the junction with 
Old Highway 99; south along Old Highway 99 to the point of intersection 
with Interstate 5 north of the town of Weed; south along Interstate 5 
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 State line to the point of origin.
    Colorado River Zone: Those portions of San Bernardino, Riverside, 
and Imperial Counties east of a line extending from the Nevada State 
line 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 
State line.
    Southern San Joaquin Valley Temporary Zone: All of Kings and Tulare 
Counties and that portion of Kern County north of the Southern Zone.
    Balance-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of California not included 
in the Northeastern, Southern, and Colorado River Zones, and the 
Southern San Joaquin Valley Temporary Zone.

Idaho

    Zone 1: Includes all lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian 
Reservation, including private inholdings; Bannock County; Bingham 
County, except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; 
and Power County east of ID 37 and ID 39.
    Zone 2: Includes the following Counties or portions of Counties: 
Adams; Bear Lake; Benewah; Bingham within the Blackfoot Reservoir 
drainage; Blaine; Bonner; Bonneville; Boundary; Butte; Camas; Caribou 
except the Fort Hall Indian Reservation; Cassia within the Minidoka 
National Wildlife Refuge; Clark; Clearwater; Custer; Elmore within the 
Camas Creek drainage; Franklin; Fremont; Idaho; Jefferson; Kootenai; 
Latah; Lemhi; Lewis; Madison; Nez Perce; Oneida; Power within the 
Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge; Shoshone; Teton; and Valley 
Counties.
    Zone 3: Includes the following Counties or portions of Counties: 
Ada; Boise; Canyon; Cassia except within the Minidoka National Wildlife 
Refuge; Elmore except the Camas Creek drainage; Gem; Gooding; Jerome; 
Lincoln; Minidoka; Owyhee; Payette; Power west of ID 37 and ID 39 
except that portion within the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge; Twin 
Falls; and Washington Counties.

Nevada

    Lincoln and Clark County Zone: All of Clark and Lincoln Counties.
    Remainder-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of Nevada.

Oregon

    Zone 1: Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Lane, Douglas, Coos, Curry, 
Josephine, Jackson, Linn, Benton, Polk, Marion, Yamhill, Washington, 
Columbia, Multnomah, Clackamas, Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, 
Morrow and Umatilla Counties.
    Columbia Basin Mallard Management Unit: Gilliam, Morrow, and 
Umatilla Counties.
    Zone 2: The remainder of the State.

Utah

    Zone 1: All of Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Morgan, 
Rich, Salt Lake, Summit, Unitah, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber Counties, and 
that part of Toole County north of I-80.
    Zone 2: The remainder of Utah.

Washington

    East Zone: All areas east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of 
the Big White Salmon River in Klickitat County.
    Columbia Basin Mallard Management Unit: Same as East Zone.
    West Zone: All areas to the west of the East Zone.

Wyoming

    Snake River Zone: Beginning at the south boundary of Yellowstone 
National Park and the Continental Divide; south along the Continental 
Divide to Union Pass and the Union Pass Road (U.S.F.S. Road 600); west 
and south along the Union Pass Road to U.S. F.S. Road 605; south along 
U.S.F.S. Road 605 to the Bridger-Teton National Forest boundary; along 
the national forest boundary to the Idaho State line; north along the 
Idaho State line to the south boundary of Yellowstone National Park; 
east along the Yellowstone National Park boundary to the Continental 
Divide.
    Balance of Flyway Zone: Balance of the Pacific Flyway in Wyoming 
outside the Snake River Zone.

Geese

Atlantic Flyway

Connecticut

    AP Unit: Litchfield County and the portion of Hartford County west 
of a line beginning at the Massachusetts border in Suffield and 
extending south along Route 159 to its intersection with Route 91 in 
Hartford, and then extending south along Route 91 to its intersection 
with the Hartford/Middlesex County line.
    AFRP Unit: Starting at the intersection of I-95 and the Quinnipiac 
River, north on the Quinnipiac River to

[[Page 52417]]

its intersection with I-91, north on I-91 to I-691, west on I-691 to 
the Hartford County line, and encompassing the rest of New Haven County 
and Fairfield County in its entirety.
    NAP H-Unit: All of the rest of the State not included in the AP or 
AFRP descriptions above.
    South Zone: Same as for ducks.
    North Zone: Same as for ducks.

Maryland

    Resident Population (RP) Zone: Garrett, Allegany, Washington, 
Frederick, and Montgomery Counties; that portion of Prince George's 
County west of Route 3 and Route 301; that portion of Charles County 
west of Route 301 to the Virginia State line; and that portion of 
Carroll County west of Route 31 to the intersection of Route 97, and 
west of Route 97 to the Pennsylvania line.
    AP Zone: Remainder of the State.

Massachusetts

    NAP Zone: Central and Coastal Zones (see duck zones).
    AP Zone: The Western Zone (see duck zones).
    Special Late Season Area: The Central Zone and that portion of the 
Coastal Zone (see duck zones) that lies north of the Cape Cod Canal, 
north to the New Hampshire line.

New Hampshire

    Same zones as for ducks.

New Jersey

    North: That portion of the State within a continuous line that runs 
east along the New York State boundary line to the Hudson River; then 
south along the New York State boundary to its intersection with Route 
440 at Perth Amboy; then west on Route 440 to its intersection with 
Route 287; then west along Route 287 to its intersection with Route 206 
in Bedminster (Exit 18); then north along Route 206 to its intersection 
with Route 94: then west along Route 94 to the tollbridge in Columbia; 
then north along the Pennsylvania State boundary in the Delaware River 
to the beginning point.
    South: That portion of the State within a continuous line that runs 
west from the Atlantic Ocean at Ship Bottom along Route 72 to Route 70; 
then west along Route 70 to Route 206; then south along Route 206 to 
Route 536; then west along Route 536 to Route 322; then west along 
Route 322 to Route 55; then south along Route 55 to Route 553 (Buck 
Road); then south along Route 553 to Route 40; then east along Route 40 
to route 55; then south along Route 55 to Route 552 (Sherman Avenue); 
then west along Route 552 to Carmel Road; then south along Carmel Road 
to Route 49; then east along Route 49 to Route 555; then south along 
Route 555 to Route 553; then east along Route 553 to Route 649; then 
north along Route 649 to Route 670; then east along Route 670 to Route 
47; then north along Route 47 to Route 548; then east along Route 548 
to Route 49; then east along Route 49 to Route 50; then south along 
Route 50 to Route 9; then south along Route 9 to Route 625 (Sea Isle 
City Boulevard); then east along Route 625 to the Atlantic Ocean; then 
north to the beginning point.

New York

    Lake Champlain Goose Area: The same as the Lake Champlain Waterfowl 
Hunting Zone, which is that area of New York State lying east and north 
of a continuous line extending along Route 11 from the New York-Canada 
International boundary south to Route 9B, south along Route 9B to Route 
9, south along Route 9 to Route 22 south of Keeseville, south along 
Route 22 to the west shore of South Bay along and around the shoreline 
of South Bay to Route 22 on the east shore of South Bay, southeast 
along Route 22 to Route 4, northeast along Route 4 to the New York-
Vermont boundary.
    Northeast Goose Area: The same as the Northeastern Waterfowl 
Hunting Zone, which is that area of New York State lying north of a 
continuous line extending from Lake Ontario east along the north shore 
of the Salmon River to Interstate 81, south along Interstate Route 81 
to Route 31, east along Route 31 to Route 13, north along Route 13 to 
Route 49, east along Route 49 to Route 365, east along Route 365 to 
Route 28, east along Route 28 to Route 29, east along Route 29 to 
Interstate Route 87, north along Interstate Route 87 to Route 9 (at 
Exit 20), north along Route 9 to Route 149, east along Route 149 to 
Route 4, north along Route 4 to the New York-Vermont boundary, 
exclusive of the Lake Champlain Zone.
    East Central Goose Area: That area of New York State lying inside 
of a continuous line extending from Interstate Route 81 in Cicero, east 
along Route 31 to Route 13, north along Route 13 to Route 49, east 
along Route 49 to Route 365, east along Route 365 to Route 28, east 
along Route 28 to Route 29, east along Route 29 to Route 147 at Kimball 
Corners, south along Route 147 to Schenectady County Route 40 (West 
Glenville Road), west along Route 40 to Touareuna Road, south along 
Touareuna Road to Schenectady County Route 59, south along Route 59 to 
State Route 5, east along Route 5 to the Lock 9 bridge, southwest along 
the Lock 9 bridge to Route 5S, southeast along Route 5S to Schenectady 
County Route 58, southwest along Route 58 to the NYS Thruway, south 
along the Thruway to Route 7, southwest along Route 7 to Schenectady 
County Route 103, south along Route 103 to Route 406, east along Route 
406 to Schenectady County Route 99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route 
99 to Dunnsville Road, south along Dunnsville Road to Route 397, 
southwest along Route 397 to Route 146 at Altamont, west along Route 
146 to Albany County Route 252, northwest along Route 252 to 
Schenectady County Route 131, north along Route 131 to Route 7, west 
along Route 7 to Route 10 at Richmondville, south on Route 10 to Route 
23 at Stamford, west along Route 23 to Route 7 in Oneonta, southwest 
along Route 7 to Route 79 to Interstate Route 88 near Harpursville, 
west along Route 88 to Interstate Route 81, north along Route 81 to the 
point of beginning.
    West Central Goose Area: That area of New York State lying within a 
continuous line beginning at the point where the northerly extension of 
Route 269 (County Line Road on the Niagara-Orleans County boundary) 
meets the International boundary with Canada, south to the shore of 
Lake Ontario at the eastern boundary of Golden Hill State Park, south 
along the extension of Route 269 and Route 269 to Route 104 at Jeddo, 
west along Route 104 to Niagara County Route 271, south along Route 271 
to Route 31E at Middleport, south along Route 31E to Route 31, west 
along Route 31 to Griswold Street, south along Griswold Street to Ditch 
Road, south along Ditch Road to Foot Road, south along Foot Road to the 
north bank of Tonawanda Creek, west along the north bank of Tonawanda 
Creek to Route 93, south along Route 93 to Route 5, east along Route 5 
to Crittenden-Murrays Corners Road, south on Crittenden-Murrays Corners 
Road to the NYS Thruway, east along the Thruway 90 to Route 98 (at 
Thruway Exit 48) in Batavia, south along Route 98 to Route 20, east 
along Route 20 to Route 19 in Pavilion Center, south along Route 19 to 
Route 63, southeast along Route 63 to Route 246, south along Route 246 
to Route 39 in Perry, northeast along Route 39 to Route 20A, northeast 
along Route 20A to Route 20, east along Route 20 to Route 364 (near 
Canandaigua), south and east along Route 364 to Yates County Route 18 
(Italy Valley Road), southwest along Route 18 to Yates County Route 34, 
east along Route 34 to Yates County Route 32, south along Route 32 to 
Steuben County Route 122,

[[Page 52418]]

south along Route 122 to Route 53, south along Route 53 to Steuben 
County Route 74, east along Route 74 to Route 54A (near Pulteney), 
south along Route 54A to Steuben County Route 87, east along Route 87 
to Steuben County Route 96, east along Route 96 to Steuben County Route 
114, east along Route 114 to Schuyler County Route 23, east and 
southeast along Route 23 to Schuyler County Route 28, southeast along 
Route 28 to Route 409 at Watkins Glen, south along Route 409 to Route 
14, south along Route 14 to Route 224 at Montour Falls, east along 
Route 224 to Route 228 in Odessa, north along Route 228 to Route 79 in 
Mecklenburg, east along Route 79 to Route 366 in Ithaca, northeast 
along Route 366 to Route 13, northeast along Route 13 to Interstate 
Route 81 in Cortland, north along Route 81 to the north shore of the 
Salmon River to shore of Lake Ontario, extending generally northwest in 
a straight line to the nearest point of the International boundary with 
Canada, south and west along the International boundary to the point of 
beginning.
    Hudson Valley Goose Area: That area of New York State lying within 
a continuous line extending from Route 4 at the New York-Vermont 
boundary, west and south along Route 4 to Route 149 at Fort Ann, west 
on Route 149 to Route 9, south along Route 9 to Interstate Route 87 (at 
Exit 20 in Glens Falls), south along Route 87 to Route 29, west along 
Route 29 to Route 147 at Kimball Corners, south along Route 147 to 
Schenectady County Route 40 (West Glenville Road), west along Route 40 
to Touareuna Road, south along Touareuna Road to Schenectady County 
Route 59, south along Route 59 to State Route 5, east along Route 5 to 
the Lock 9 bridge, southwest along the Lock 9 bridge to Route 5S, 
southeast along Route 5S to Schenectady County Route 58, southwest 
along Route 58 to the NYS Thruway, south along the Thruway to Route 7, 
southwest along Route 7 to Schenectady County Route 103, south along 
Route 103 to Route 406, east along Route 406 to Schenectady County 
Route 99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route 99 to Dunnsville Road, 
south along Dunnsville Road to Route 397, southwest along Route 397 to 
Route 146 at Altamont, southeast along Route 146 to Main Street in 
Altamont, west along Main Street to Route 156, southeast along Route 
156 to Albany County Route 307, southeast along Route 307 to Route 85A, 
southwest along Route 85A to Route 85, south along Route 85 to Route 
443, southeast along Route 443 to Albany County Route 301 at 
Clarksville, southeast along Route 301 to Route 32, south along Route 
32 to Route 23 at Cairo, west along Route 23 to Joseph Chadderdon Road, 
southeast along Joseph Chadderdon Road to Hearts Content Road (Greene 
County Route 31), southeast along Route 31 to Route 32, south along 
Route 32 to Greene County Route 23A, east along Route 23A to Interstate 
Route 87 (the NYS Thruway), south along Route 87 to Route 28 (Exit 19) 
near Kingston, northwest on Route 28 to Route 209, southwest on Route 
209 to the New York-Pennsylvania boundary, southeast along the New 
York-Pennsylvania boundary to the New York-New Jersey boundary, 
southeast along the New York-New Jersey boundary to Route 210 near 
Greenwood Lake, northeast along Route 210 to Orange County Route 5, 
northeast along Orange County Route 5 to Route 105 in the Village of 
Monroe, east and north along Route 105 to Route 32, northeast along 
Route 32 to Orange County Route 107 (Quaker Avenue), east along Route 
107 to Route 9W, north along Route 9W to the south bank of Moodna 
Creek, southeast along the south bank of Moodna Creek to the New 
Windsor-Cornwall town boundary, northeast along the New Windsor-
Cornwall town boundary to the Orange-Dutchess County boundary (middle 
of the Hudson River), north along the county boundary to Interstate 
Route 84, east along Route 84 to the Dutchess-Putnam County boundary, 
east along the county boundary to the New York-Connecticut boundary, 
north along the New York-Connecticut boundary to the New York-
Massachusetts boundary, north along the New York-Massachusetts boundary 
to the New York-Vermont boundary, north to the point of beginning.
    Eastern Long Island Goose Area (NAP High Harvest Area): That area 
of Suffolk County lying east of a continuous line extending due south 
from the New York-Connecticut boundary to the northernmost end of 
Roanoke Avenue in the Town of Riverhead; then south on Roanoke Avenue 
(which becomes County Route 73) to State Route 25; then west on Route 
25 to Peconic Avenue; then south on Peconic Avenue to County Route (CR) 
104 (Riverleigh Avenue); then south on CR 104 to CR 31 (Old Riverhead 
Road); then south on CR 31 to Oak Street; then south on Oak Street to 
Potunk Lane; then west on Stevens Lane; then south on Jessup Avenue (in 
Westhampton Beach) to Dune Road (CR 89); then due south to 
international waters.
    Western Long Island Goose Area (RP Area): That area of Westchester 
County and its tidal waters southeast of Interstate Route 95 and that 
area of Nassau and Suffolk Counties lying west of a continuous line 
extending due south from the New York-Connecticut boundary to the 
northernmost end of the Sunken Meadow State Parkway; then south on the 
Sunken Meadow Parkway to the Sagtikos State Parkway; then south on the 
Sagtikos Parkway to the Robert Moses State Parkway; then south on the 
Robert Moses Parkway to its southernmost end; then due south to 
international waters.
    Central Long Island Goose Area (NAP Low Harvest Area): That area of 
Suffolk County lying between the Western and Eastern Long Island Goose 
Areas, as defined above.
    South Goose Area: The remainder of New York State, excluding New 
York City.
    Special Late Canada Goose Area: That area of the Central Long 
Island Goose Area lying north of State Route 25A and west of a 
continuous line extending northward from State Route 25A along Randall 
Road (near Shoreham) to North Country Road, then east to Sound Road and 
then north to Long Island Sound and then due north to the New York-
Connecticut boundary.

North Carolina

    SJBP Hunt Zone: Includes the following Counties or portions of 
Counties: Anson, Cabarrus, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Halifax (that 
portion east of NC 903), Montgomery (that portion west of NC 109), 
Northampton, Richmond (that portion south of NC 73 and west of US 220 
and north of US 74), Rowan, Stanly, Union, and Wake.
    RP Hunt Zone: Includes the following Counties or portions of 
Counties: Alamance, Alleghany, Alexander, Ashe, Avery, Beaufort, Bertie 
(that portion south and west of a line formed by NC 45 at the 
Washington Co. line to U.S. 17 in Midway, U.S. 17 in Midway to U.S.13 
in Windsor, U.S. 13 in Windsor to the Hertford Co. line), Bladen, 
Brunswick, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Carteret, Caswell, Catawba, 
Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Davie, Duplin, 
Edgecombe, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Gates, Graham, Granville, Greene, 
Guilford, Halifax (that portion west of NC 903), Harnett, Haywood, 
Henderson, Hertford, Hoke, Iredell, Jackson, Johnston, Jones, Lee, 
Lenoir, Lincoln, McDowell, Macon, Madison, Martin, Mecklenburg, 
Mitchell, Montgomery (that portion that is east of NC 109), Moore, 
Nash, New Hanover, Onslow, Orange, Pamlico, Pender, Person, Pitt, Polk, 
Randolph, Richmond (all of the county with exception of that portion 
that is south of NC 73 and west of U.S. 220 and north of U.S. 74), 
Robeson, Rockingham,

[[Page 52419]]

Rutherford, Sampson, Scotland, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, 
Vance, Warren, Watauga, Wayne, Wilkes, Wilson, Yadkin, and Yancey.
    Northeast Hunt Unit: Includes the following Counties or portions of 
Counties: Bertie (that portion north and east of a line formed by NC 45 
at the Washington County line to U.S. 17 in Midway, U.S. 17 in Midway 
to U.S. 13 in Windsor, U.S. 13 in Windsor to the Hertford Co. line), 
Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, 
and Washington.

Pennsylvania

    Resident Canada Goose Zone: All of Pennsylvania except for SJBP 
Zone and the area east of route SR 97 from the Maryland State Line to 
the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of U.S. 
Route 30, south of U.S. Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, 
east of SR 743 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of 
I-80, and south of I-80 to the New Jersey State line.
    SJBP Zone: The area north of I-80 and west of I-79 including in the 
city of Erie west of Bay Front Parkway to and including the Lake Erie 
Duck zone (Lake Erie, Presque Isle, and the area within 150 yards of 
the Lake Erie Shoreline).
    AP Zone: The area east of route SR 97 from Maryland State Line to 
the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of U.S. 
Route 30, south of U.S. Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, 
east of SR 743 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of 
I-80, south of I-80 to New Jersey State line.

Rhode Island

    Special Area for Canada Geese: Kent and Providence Counties and 
portions of the towns of Exeter and North Kingston within Washington 
County (see State regulations for detailed descriptions).

South Carolina

    Canada Goose Area: Statewide except for Clarendon County, that 
portion of Orangeburg County north of SC Highway 6, and that portion of 
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 that portion 
west of the Santee Dam.

Vermont

    Same zones as for ducks.

Virginia

    AP Zone: The area east and south of the following line--the 
Stafford County line from the Potomac River west to Interstate 95 at 
Fredericksburg, then south along Interstate 95 to Petersburg, then 
Route 460 (SE) to City of Suffolk, then south along Route 32 to the 
North Carolina line.
    SJBP Zone: The area to the west of the AP Zone boundary and east of 
the following line: the ``Blue Ridge'' (mountain spine) at the West 
Virginia-Virginia Border (Loudoun County-Clarke County line) south to 
Interstate 64 (the Blue Ridge line follows county borders along the 
western edge of Loudoun-Fauquier-Rappahannock-Madison-Greene-Albemarle 
and into Nelson Counties), then east along Interstate Rt. 64 to Route 
15, then south along Rt. 15 to the North Carolina line.
    RP Zone: The remainder of the State west of the SJBP Zone.

West Virginia

    Same zones as for ducks.

Mississippi Flyway

Alabama

    Same zones as for ducks, but in addition:
    SJBP Zone: That portion of Morgan County east of U.S. Highway 31, 
north of State Highway 36, and west of U.S. 231; that portion of 
Limestone County south of U.S. 72; and that portion of Madison County 
south of Swancott Road and west of Triana Road.

Arkansas

    Northwest Zone: Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Conway, Crawford, 
Faulkner, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Madison, Marion, Newton, Perry, 
Pope, Pulaski, Searcy, Sebastian, Scott, Van Buren, Washington, and 
Yell Counties.

Illinois

    Same zones as for ducks.

Indiana

    Same zones as for ducks but in addition:
    Special Canada Goose Seasons Indiana Late Canada Goose Season Zone: 
That part of the State encompassed by the following Counties: Steuben, 
Lagrange, Elkhart, St. Joseph, La Porte, Starke, Marshall, Kosciusko, 
Noble, De Kalb, Allen, Whitley, Huntington, Wells, Adams, Boone, 
Hamilton, Madison, Hendricks, Marion, Hancock, Morgan, Johnson, Shelby, 
Vermillion, Parke, Vigo, Clay, Sullivan, and Greene.

Iowa

    Same zones as for ducks.

Kentucky

    Western Zone: That portion of the State west of a line beginning at 
the Tennessee State line at Fulton and extending north along the 
Purchase Parkway to Interstate Highway 24, east along I-24 to U.S. 
Highway 641, north along U.S. 641 to U.S. 60, northeast along U.S. 60 
to the Henderson County line, then south, east, and northerly along the 
Henderson County line to the Indiana State line.
    Ballard Reporting Area: That area encompassed by a line beginning 
at the northwest city limits of Wickliffe in Ballard County and 
extending westward to the middle of the Mississippi River, north along 
the Mississippi River and along the low-water mark of the Ohio River on 
the Illinois shore to the Ballard-McCracken County line, south along 
the county line to Kentucky Highway 358, south along Kentucky 358 to 
U.S. Highway 60 at LaCenter, then southwest along U.S. 60 to the 
northeast city limits of Wickliffe.
    Henderson-Union Reporting Area: Henderson County and that portion 
of Union County within the Western Zone.
    Pennyroyal/Coalfield Zone: Butler, Daviess, Ohio, Simpson, and 
Warren Counties and all counties lying west to the boundary of the 
Western Goose Zone.

Michigan

    (a) North Zone--Same as North duck zone.
    (b) Middle Zone--Same as Middle duck zone.
    (c) South Zone--Same as South duck zone.
    Tuscola/Huron Goose Management Unit (GMU): Those portions of 
Tuscola and Huron Counties bounded on the south by Michigan Highway 138 
and Bay City Road, on the east by Colwood and Bay Port Roads, on the 
north by Kilmanagh Road and a line extending directly west off the end 
of Kilmanagh Road into Saginaw Bay to the west boundary, and on the 
west by the Tuscola-Bay County line and a line extending directly north 
off the end of the Tuscola-Bay County line into Saginaw Bay to the 
north boundary.
    Allegan County GMU: That area encompassed by a line beginning at 
the junction of 136th Avenue and Interstate Highway 196 in Lake Town 
Township and extending easterly along 136th Avenue to Michigan Highway 
40, southerly along Michigan 40 through the city of Allegan to 108th 
Avenue in Trowbridge Township, westerly along 108th Avenue to 46th 
Street, northerly along 46th Street to 109th Avenue, westerly along 
109th Avenue to I-196 in Casco Township, then northerly along I-196 to 
the point of beginning.
    Saginaw County GMU: That portion of Saginaw County bounded by 
Michigan Highway 46 on the north;

[[Page 52420]]

Michigan 52 on the west; Michigan 57 on the south; and Michigan 13 on 
the east.
    Muskegon Wastewater GMU: That portion of Muskegon County within the 
boundaries of the Muskegon County wastewater system, east of the 
Muskegon State Game Area, in sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 
30, and 32, T10N R14W, and sections 1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 24, and 
25, T10N R15W, as posted.
    Special Canada Goose Seasons: Southern Michigan Late Season Canada 
Goose Zone: Same as the South Duck Zone excluding Tuscola/Huron Goose 
Management Unit (GMU), Allegan County GMU, Saginaw County GMU, and 
Muskegon Wastewater GMU.

Minnesota

    Rochester Goose Zone: That part of the State within the following 
described boundary: Beginning at the intersection of State Trunk 
Highway (STH) 247 and County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 4, Wabasha 
County; thence along CSAH 4 to CSAH 10, Olmsted County; thence along 
CSAH 10 to CSAH 9, Olmsted County; thence along CSAH 9 to CSAH 22, 
Winona County; thence along CSAH 22 to STH 74; thence along STH 74 to 
STH 30; thence along STH 30 to CSAH 13, Dodge County; thence along CSAH 
13 to U.S. Highway 14; thence along U.S. Highway 14 to STH 57; thence 
along STH 57 to CSAH 24, Dodge County; thence along CSAH 24 to CSAH 13, 
Olmsted County; thence along CSAH 13 to U.S. Highway 52; thence along 
U.S. Highway 52 to CSAH 12, Olmsted County; thence along CSAH 12 to STH 
247; thence along STH 247 to the point of beginning.

Missouri

    Same zones as for ducks.

Ohio

    Same zones as for ducks but in addition:
North Zone
    Lake Erie Zone: That portion of the North Duck Zone encompassed by 
and north and east of a line beginning in Lucas County at the Michigan 
State line on I-75, and extending south along I-75 to I-280, south 
along I-280 to I-80, and east along I- 80 to the Pennsylvania State 
line in Trumbull County.

Tennessee

    Southwest Zone: That portion of the State south of State Highways 
20 and 104, and west of U.S. Highways 45 and 45W.
    Northwest Zone: Lake, Obion, and Weakley Counties and those 
portions of Gibson and Dyer Counties not included in the Southwest 
Tennessee Zone.
    Kentucky/Barkley Lakes Zone: That portion of the State bounded on 
the west by the eastern boundaries of the Northwest and Southwest Zones 
and on the east by State Highway 13 from the Alabama State line to 
Clarksville and U.S. Highway 79 from Clarksville to the Kentucky State 
line.

Wisconsin

    Same zones as for ducks but in addition:
    Horicon Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at the 
intersection of State Highway 21 and the Fox River in Winnebago County 
and extending westerly along State 21 to the west boundary of Winnebago 
County, southerly along the west boundary of Winnebago County to the 
north boundary of Green Lake County, westerly along the north 
boundaries of Green Lake and Marquette Counties to State 22, southerly 
along State 22 to State 33, westerly along State 33 to Interstate 
Highway 39, southerly along Interstate Highway 39 to Interstate Highway 
90/94, southerly along I-90/94 to State 60, easterly along State 60 to 
State 83, northerly along State 83 to State 175, northerly along State 
175 to State 33, easterly along State 33 to U.S. Highway 45, northerly 
along U.S. 45 to the east shore of the Fond Du Lac River, northerly 
along the east shore of the Fond Du Lac River to Lake Winnebago, 
northerly along the western shoreline of Lake Winnebago to the Fox 
River, then westerly along the Fox River to State 21.
    Collins Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at the 
intersection of Hilltop Road and Collins Marsh Road in Manitowoc County 
and extending westerly along Hilltop Road to Humpty Dumpty Road, 
southerly along Humpty Dumpty Road to Poplar Grove Road, easterly along 
Poplar Grove Road to Rockea Road, southerly along Rockea Road to County 
Highway JJ, southeasterly along County JJ to Collins Road, southerly 
along Collins Road to the Manitowoc River, southeasterly along the 
Manitowoc River to Quarry Road, northerly along Quarry Road to 
Einberger Road, northerly along Einberger Road to Moschel Road, 
westerly along Moschel Road to Collins Marsh Road, northerly along 
Collins Marsh Road to Hilltop Road.
    Exterior Zone: That portion of the State not included in the 
Horicon or Collins Zones.
    Mississippi River Subzone: That area encompassed by a line 
beginning at the intersection of the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe 
Railway and the Illinois State line in Grant County and extending 
northerly along the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway to the city 
limit of Prescott in Pierce County, then west along the Prescott city 
limit to the Minnesota State line.
    Brown County Subzone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at 
the intersection of the Fox River with Green Bay in Brown County and 
extending southerly along the Fox River to State Highway 29, 
northwesterly along State 29 to the Brown County line, south, east, and 
north along the Brown County line to Green Bay, due west to the 
midpoint of the Green Bay Ship Channel, then southwesterly along the 
Green Bay Ship Channel to the Fox River.

Central Flyway

Colorado (Central Flyway Portion)

    Northern Front Range Area: All areas in Boulder, Larimer and Weld 
Counties from the Continental Divide east along the Wyoming border to 
U.S. 85, south on U.S. 85 to the Adams County line, and all lands in 
Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Gilpin, and 
Jefferson Counties.
    North Park Area: Jackson County.
    South Park and San Luis Valley Area: All of Alamosa, Chaffee, 
Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Fremont, Lake, Park, Rio Grande and Teller 
Counties, and those portions of Saguache, Mineral and Hinsdale Counties 
east of the Continental Divide.
    Remainder: Remainder of the Central Flyway portion of Colorado.
    Eastern Colorado Late Light Goose Area: That portion of the State 
east of Interstate Highway 25.

Nebraska

Dark Geese
    Niobrara Unit: That area contained within and bounded by the 
intersection of the South Dakota State line and the Cherry County line, 
south along the Cherry County line to the Niobrara River, east to the 
Norden Road, south on the Norden Road to U.S. Hwy 20, east along U.S. 
Hwy 20 to NE Hwy 137, north along NE Hwy 137 to the Niobrara River, 
east along the Niobrara River to the Boyd County line, north along the 
Boyd County line to the South Dakota State line. Where the Niobrara 
River forms the boundary, both banks of the river are included in the 
Niobrara Unit.
    East Unit: That area north and east of U.S. 281 at the Kansas-
Nebraska State line, north to Giltner Road (near Doniphan), east to NE 
14, north to NE 66, east to U.S. 81, north to NE 22, west to NE 14 
north to NE 91, east to U.S. 275, south to U.S. 77, south to NE 91,

[[Page 52421]]

east to U.S. 30, east to Nebraska-Iowa State line.
    Platte River Unit: That area south and west of U.S. 281 at the 
Kansas--Nebraska State line, north to Giltner Road (near Doniphan), 
east to NE 14, north to NE 66, east to U.S. 81, north to NE 22, west to 
NE 14, north to NE 91, west along NE 91 to NE 11, north to the Holt 
County line, west along the northern border of Garfield, Loup, Blaine 
and Thomas Counties to the Hooker County line, south along the Thomas-
Hooker County lines to the McPherson County line, east along the south 
border of Thomas County to the western line of Custer County, south 
along the Custer-Logan County line to NE 92, west to U.S. 83, north to 
NE 92, west to NE 61, north along NE 61 to NE 2, west along NE 2 to the 
corner formed by Garden-Grant-Sheridan Counties, west along the north 
border of Garden, Morrill, and Scotts Bluff Counties to the 
intersection of the Interstate Canal, west to Wyoming State line.
    North-Central Unit: The remainder of the State.
Light Geese
    Rainwater Basin Light Goose Area (West): The area bounded by the 
junction of U.S. 283 and U.S. 30 at Lexington, east on U.S. 30 to U.S. 
281, south on U.S. 281 to NE 4, west on NE 4 to U.S. 34, continue west 
on U.S. 34 to U.S. 283, then north on U.S. 283 to the beginning.
    Rainwater Basin Light Goose Area (East): The area bounded by the 
junction of U.S. 281 and U.S. 30 at Grand Island, north and east on 
U.S. 30 to NE 14, south to NE 66, east to U.S. 81, north to NE 92, east 
on NE 92 to NE 15, south on NE 15 to NE 4, west on NE 4 to U.S. 281, 
north on U.S. 281 to the beginning.
    Remainder of State: The remainder portion of Nebraska.

New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion)

Dark Geese
    Middle Rio Grande Valley Unit: Sierra, Socorro, and Valencia 
Counties.
    Remainder: The remainder of the Central Flyway portion of New 
Mexico.

North Dakota

    Missouri River Canada Goose Zone: The area within and bounded by a 
line starting where ND Hwy 6 crosses the South Dakota border; thence 
north on ND Hwy 6 to I-94; thence west on I-94 to ND Hwy 49; thence 
north on ND Hwy 49 to ND Hwy 200; thence north on Mercer County Rd. 21 
to the section line between sections 8 and 9 (T146N-R87W); thence north 
on that section line to the southern shoreline to Lake Sakakawea; 
thence east along the southern shoreline (including Mallard Island) of 
Lake Sakakawea to U.S. Hwy 83; thence south on U.S. Hwy 83 to ND Hwy 
200; thence east on ND Hwy 200 to ND Hwy 41; thence south on ND Hwy 41 
to U.S. Hwy 83; thence south on U.S. Hwy 83 to I-94; thence east on I-
94 to U.S. Hwy 83; thence south on U.S. Hwy 83 to the South Dakota 
border; thence west along the South Dakota border to ND Hwy 6.
    Rest of State: Remainder of North Dakota.

South Dakota

Canada Geese
    Unit 1: Remainder of South Dakota.
    Unit 2: Bon Homme, Brule, Buffalo, Charles Mix, Custer east of SD 
Hwy 79 and south of French Creek, Dewey south of U.S. Hwy 212, Fall 
River east of SD Hwy 71 and U.S. Hwy 385, Gregory, Hughes, Hyde south 
of U.S. Hwy 14, Lyman, Perkins, Potter west of U.S. Hwy 83, Stanley, 
and Sully Counties.
    Unit 3: Bennett County.

Texas

    Northeast Goose Zone: That portion of Texas lying east and north of 
a line beginning at the Texas-Oklahoma border at U.S. 81, then 
continuing south to Bowie and then southeasterly along U.S. 81 and U.S. 
287 to I-35W and I-35 to the juncture with I-10 in San Antonio, then 
east on I-10 to the Texas-Louisiana border.
    Southeast Goose Zone: That portion of Texas lying east and south of 
a line beginning at the International Toll Bridge at Laredo, then 
continuing north following I-35 to the juncture with I-10 in San 
Antonio, then easterly along I-10 to the Texas-Louisiana border.
    West Goose Zone: The remainder of the State.

Wyoming (Central Flyway Portion)

Dark Geese
    Area 1: Converse, Hot Springs, Natrona, and Washakie Counties, and 
the portion of Park County east of the Shoshone National Forest 
boundary and south of a line beginning where the Shoshone National 
Forest boundary crosses Park County Road 8VC, easterly along said road 
to Park County Road 1AB, easterly along said road to Wyoming Highway 
120, northerly along said highway to Wyoming Highway 294, southeasterly 
along said highway to Lane 9, easterly along said lane to the town of 
Powel and Wyoming Highway 14A, easterly along said highway to the Park 
County and Big Horn County Line.
    Area 2: Albany, Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Laramie, Niobrara, 
Sheridan, and Weston Counties, and that portion of Carbon County east 
of the Continental Divide; that portion of Park County west of the 
Shoshone National Forest boundary, and that portion of Park County 
north of a line beginning where the Shoshone National Forest boundary 
crosses Park County Road 8VC, easterly along said road to Park County 
Road 1AB, easterly along said road to Wyoming Highway 120, northerly 
along said highway to Wyoming Highway 294, southeasterly along said 
highway to Lane 9, easterly along said lane to the town of Powel and 
Wyoming Highway 14A, easterly along said highway to the Park County and 
Big Horn County Line.
    Area 3: Goshen and Platte Counties.
    Area 4: Big Horn and Fremont Counties.

Pacific Flyway

Arizona

    North Zone: Game Management Units 1-5, those portions of Game 
Management Units 6 and 8 within Coconino County, and Game Management 
Units 7, 9, and 12A.
    South Zone: Those portions of Game Management Units 6 and 8 in 
Yavapai County, and Game Management Units 10 and 12B-45.

California

    Northeastern Zone: In that portion of California lying east and 
north of a line beginning at the intersection of Interstate 5 with the 
California-Oregon line; south along Interstate 5 to its junction with 
Walters Lane south of the town of Yreka; west along Walters Lane to its 
junction with Easy Street; south along Easy Street to the junction with 
Old Highway 99; south along Old Highway 99 to the point of intersection 
with Interstate 5 north of the town of Weed; south along Interstate 5 
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 State line to the point of origin.
    Colorado River Zone: Those portions of San Bernardino, Riverside, 
and

[[Page 52422]]

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.
    Imperial County Special Management Area: The area bounded by a line 
beginning at Highway 86 and the Navy Test Base Road; south on Highway 
86 to the town of Westmoreland; continue through the town of 
Westmoreland to Route S26; east on Route S26 to Highway 115; north on 
Highway 115 to Weist Rd.; north on Weist Rd. to Flowing Wells Rd.; 
northeast on Flowing Wells Rd. to the Coachella Canal; northwest on the 
Coachella Canal to Drop 18; a straight line from Drop 18 to Frink Rd.; 
south on Frink Rd. to Highway 111; north on Highway 111 to Niland 
Marina Rd.; southwest on Niland Marina Rd. to the old Imperial County 
boat ramp and the water line of the Salton Sea; from the water line of 
the Salton Sea, a straight line across the Salton Sea to the Salinity 
Control Research Facility and the Navy Test Base Road; southwest on the 
Navy Test Base Road to the point of beginning.
    Balance-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of California not included 
in the Northeastern, Southern, and the Colorado River Zones.
    North Coast Special Management Area: The Counties of Del Norte and 
Humboldt.
    Sacramento Valley Special Management Area: That area bounded by a 
line beginning at Willows south on I-5 to Hahn Road; easterly on Hahn 
Road and the Grimes-Arbuckle Road to Grimes; northerly on CA 45 to the 
junction with CA 162; northerly on CA 45/162 to Glenn; and westerly on 
CA 162 to the point of beginning in Willows.

Colorado (Pacific Flyway Portion)

    West Central Area: Archuleta, Delta, Dolores, Gunnison, LaPlata, 
Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, and San Miguel Counties and those 
portions of Hinsdale, Mineral, and Saguache Counties west of the 
Continental Divide.
    State Area: The remainder of the Pacific-Flyway Portion of 
Colorado.

Idaho

    Zone 1: Adams, Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, 
Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, Shoshone, and Valley Counties.
    Zone 2: The Counties of Ada; Boise; Canyon; those portions of 
Elmore north and east of I-84, and south and west of I-84, west of ID 
51, except the Camas Creek drainage; Gem; Owyhee west of ID 51; 
Payette; and Washington.
    Zone 3: The Counties of Cassia except the Minidoka National 
Wildlife Refuge; those portions of Elmore south of I-84 east of ID 51, 
and within the Camas Creek drainage; Gooding; Jerome; Lincoln; 
Minidoka; Owyhee east of ID 51; and Twin Falls.
    Zone 4: The Counties of Bear Lake; Bingham within the Blackfoot 
Reservoir drainage; Blaine; Bonneville, Butte; Camas; Caribou except 
the Fort Hall Indian Reservation; Cassia within the Minidoka National 
Wildlife Refuge; Clark; Custer; Franklin; Fremont; Jefferson; Lemhi; 
Madison; Oneida; and Teton.
    Zone 5: All lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian 
Reservation, including private inholdings; Bannock County; Bingham 
County, except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; 
and Power County.

Montana (Pacific Flyway Portion)

    East of the Divide Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of the State 
located east of the Continental Divide.
    West of the Divide Zone: The remainder of the Pacific Flyway 
portion of Montana.

Nevada

    Lincoln Clark County Zone: All of Lincoln and Clark Counties.
    Remainder-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of Nevada.

New Mexico (Pacific Flyway Portion)

    North Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of New Mexico located north 
of I-40.
    South Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of New Mexico located south 
of I-40.

Oregon

    Southwest Zone: Those portions of Douglas, Coos, and Curry Counties 
east of Highway 101, and Josephine and Jackson Counties.
    South Coast Zone: Those portions of Douglas, Coos, and Curry 
Counties west of Highway 101.
    Northwest Special Permit Zone: That portion of western Oregon west 
and north of a line running south from the Columbia River in Portland 
along I-5 to OR 22 at Salem; then east on OR 22 to the Stayton Cutoff; 
then south on the Stayton Cutoff to Stayton and due south to the 
Santiam River; then west along the north shore of the Santiam River to 
I-5; then south on I-5 to OR 126 at Eugene; then west on OR 126 to 
Greenhill Road; then south on Greenhill Road to Crow Road; then west on 
Crow Road to Territorial Hwy; then west on Territorial Hwy to OR 126; 
then west on OR 126 to Milepost 19; then north to the intersection of 
the Benton and Lincoln County line; then north along the western 
boundary of Benton and Polk Counties to the southern boundary of 
Tillamook County; then west along the Tillamook County boundary to the 
Pacific Coast.
    Lower Columbia/N. Willamette Valley Management Area: Those portions 
of Clatsop, Columbia, Multnomah, and Washington Counties within the 
Northwest Special Permit Zone.
    Tillamook County Management Area: All of Tillamook County is open 
to goose hunting except for the following area--beginning in Cloverdale 
at Hwy 101, west on Old Woods Rd to Sand Lake Rd at Woods, north on 
Sand Lake Rd to the intersection with McPhillips Dr, due west (~200 
yards) from the intersection to the Pacific coastline, south on the 
Pacific coastline to Neskowin Creek, east along the north shores of 
Neskowin Creeks and then Hawk Creek to Salem Ave, east on Salem Ave in 
Neskowin to Hawk Ave, east on Hawk Ave to Hwy 101, north on Hwy 101 at 
Cloverdale, to the point of beginning.
    Northwest Zone: Those portions of Clackamas, Lane, Linn, Marion, 
Multnomah, and Washington Counties outside of the Northwest Special 
Permit Zone and all of Lincoln County.
    Eastern Zone: Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, 
Umatilla,

[[Page 52423]]

Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler, Grant, Baker, Union, and Wallowa 
Counties.
    Harney and Lake County Zone: All of Harney and Lake Counties.
    Klamath County Zone: All of Klamath County.
    Malheur County Zone: All of Malheur County.

Utah

    Northern Utah Zone: All of Cache and Rich Counties, and that 
portion of Box Elder County beginning at I-15 and the Weber-Box Elder 
County line; east and north along this line to the Weber-Cache County 
line; east along this line to the Cache-Rich County line; east and 
south along the Rich County line to the Utah-Wyoming State line; north 
along this line to the Utah-Idaho State line; west on this line to 
Stone, Idaho-Snowville, Utah road; southwest on this road to Locomotive 
Springs Wildlife Management Area; east on the county road, past 
Monument Point and across Salt Wells Flat, to the intersection with 
Promontory Road; south on Promontory Road to a point directly west of 
the northwest corner of the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge boundary; 
east along an imaginary line to the northwest corner of the Refuge 
boundary; south and east along the Refuge boundary to the southeast 
corner of the boundary; northeast along the boundary to the Perry 
access road; east on the Perry access road to I-15; south on I-15 to 
the Weber-Box Elder County line.
    Remainder-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of Utah.

Washington

    Area 1: Skagit, Island, and Snohomish Counties.
    Area 2A (SW Quota Zone): Clark County, except portions south of the 
Washougal River; Cowlitz County; and Wahkiakum County.
    Area 2B (SW Quota Zone): Pacific County.
    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.

Brant

Pacific Flyway

California

    North Coast Zone: Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties.
    South Coast Zone: Balance of the State.

Washington

    Puget Sound Zone: Skagit County.
    Coastal Zone: Pacific County.

Swans

Central Flyway

South Dakota

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

Pacific Flyway

Montana

    (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    Open Area: Cascade, Chouteau, Hill, Liberty, and Toole Counties and 
those portions of Pondera and Teton Counties lying east of U.S. 287-89.

Nevada

    Open Area: Churchill, Lyon, and Pershing Counties.

Utah

    Open Area: Those portions of Box Elder, Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, 
and Toole Counties lying west of I-15, north of I-80, and south of a 
line beginning from the Forest Street exit to the Bear River National 
Wildlife Refuge boundary; then north and west along the Bear River 
National Wildlife Refuge boundary to the farthest west boundary of the 
Refuge; then west along a line to Promontory Road; then north on 
Promontory Road to the intersection of SR 83; then north on SR 83 to I-
84; then north and west on I-84 to State Hwy 30; then west on State Hwy 
30 to the Nevada-Utah State line; then south on the Nevada-Utah State 
line to I-80.

[FR Doc. 2010-20745 Filed 8-24-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P