[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 175 (Friday, September 9, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56054-56090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22752]



[[Page 56053]]

Vol. 76

Friday,

No. 175

September 9, 2011

Part III





Department of the Interior





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Fish and Wildlife Service





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50 CFR Part 32





2011-2012 Refuge-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations; Final 
Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 76 , No. 175 / Friday, September 9, 2011 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 56054]]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 32

[Docket No. FWS-R9-NSR-2011-0038; 93270-1265-0000-4A]
RIN 1018-AX54


2011-2012 Refuge-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service adds one refuge to the list of 
areas open for hunting and/or sport fishing and increases the 
activities available at nine other refuges, along with adopting 
pertinent refuge-specific regulations on other refuges that pertain to 
migratory game bird hunting, upland game hunting, big game hunting, and 
sport fishing for the 2011-2012 season.

DATES: This rule is effective September 9, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie A. Marler, (703) 358-2397.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Wildlife Refuge System 
Administration Act of 1966 closes national wildlife refuges in all 
States except Alaska to all uses until opened. The Secretary of the 
Interior (Secretary) may open refuge areas to any use, including 
hunting and/or sport fishing, upon a determination that such uses are 
compatible with the purposes of the refuge and National Wildlife Refuge 
System (Refuge System or our/we) mission. The action also must be in 
accordance with provisions of all laws applicable to the areas, 
developed in coordination with the appropriate State fish and wildlife 
agency(ies), consistent with the principles of sound fish and wildlife 
management and administration, and otherwise in the public interest. 
These requirements ensure that we maintain the biological integrity, 
diversity, and environmental health of the Refuge System for the 
benefit of present and future generations of Americans. We also 
consider the role of facilitating hunting heritage in expanding hunting 
opportunities on national wildlife refuges consistent with the agency's 
mission.
    We annually review refuge hunting and sport fishing programs to 
determine whether to include additional refuges or whether individual 
refuge regulations governing existing programs need modifications. 
Changing environmental conditions, State and Federal regulations, and 
other factors affecting fish and wildlife populations and habitat may 
warrant modifications to refuge-specific regulations to ensure the 
continued compatibility of hunting and sport fishing programs and to 
ensure that these programs will not materially interfere with or 
detract from the fulfillment of refuge purposes or the Refuge System's 
mission.
    Provisions governing hunting and sport fishing on refuges are in 
title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations in part 32 (50 CFR part 
32). We regulate hunting and sport fishing on refuges to:
     Ensure compatibility with refuge purpose(s);
     Properly manage the fish and wildlife resource(s);
     Protect other refuge values;
     Ensure refuge visitor safety; and
     Provide opportunities for quality fish- and wildlife-
dependent recreation.
    On many refuges where we decide to allow hunting and sport fishing, 
our general policy of adopting regulations identical to State hunting 
and sport fishing regulations is adequate in meeting these objectives. 
On other refuges, we must supplement State regulations with more-
restrictive Federal regulations to ensure that we meet our management 
responsibilities, as outlined in the Statutory Authority section. We 
issue refuge-specific hunting and sport fishing regulations when we 
open wildlife refuges to migratory game bird hunting, upland game 
hunting, big game hunting, or sport fishing. These regulations list the 
wildlife species that you may hunt or fish, seasons, bag or creel 
(container for carrying fish) limits, methods of hunting or sport 
fishing, descriptions of areas open to hunting or sport fishing, and 
other provisions as appropriate. You may find previously issued refuge-
specific regulations for hunting and sport fishing in 50 CFR part 32. 
In this rulemaking, we are also proposing to standardize and clarify 
the language of existing regulations.

Statutory Authority

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Improvement Act of 1997 [Improvement Act]) (Administration Act), and 
the Refuge Recreation Act of 1962 (16 U.S.C. 460k-460k-4) (Recreation 
Act) govern the administration and public use of refuges.
    Amendments enacted by the Improvement Act, built upon the 
Administration Act in a manner that provides an ``organic act'' for the 
Refuge System, are similar to those that exist for other public Federal 
lands. The Improvement Act serves to ensure that we effectively manage 
the Refuge System as a national network of lands, waters, and interests 
for the protection and conservation of our Nation's wildlife resources. 
The Administration Act states first and foremost that we focus our 
Refuge System mission on conservation of fish, wildlife, and plant 
resources and their habitats. The Improvement Act requires the 
Secretary, before allowing a new use of a refuge, or before expanding, 
renewing, or extending an existing use of a refuge, to determine that 
the use is compatible with the purpose for which the refuge was 
established and the mission of the Refuge System. The Improvement Act 
established as the policy of the United States that wildlife-dependent 
recreation, when compatible, is a legitimate and appropriate public use 
of the Refuge System, through which the American public can develop an 
appreciation for fish and wildlife. The Improvement Act established six 
wildlife-dependent recreational uses as the priority general public 
uses of the Refuge System. These uses are: hunting, fishing, wildlife 
observation and photography, and environmental education and 
interpretation.
    The Recreation Act authorizes the Secretary to administer areas 
within the Refuge System for public recreation as an appropriate 
incidental or secondary use only to the extent that doing so is 
practicable and not inconsistent with the primary purpose(s) for which 
Congress and the Service established the areas. The Recreation Act 
requires that any recreational use of refuge lands be compatible with 
the primary purpose(s) for which we established the refuge and not 
inconsistent with other previously authorized operations.
    The Administration Act and Recreation Act also authorize the 
Secretary to issue regulations to carry out the purposes of the Acts 
and regulate uses.
    We develop specific management plans for each refuge prior to 
opening it to hunting or sport fishing. In many cases, we develop 
refuge-specific regulations to ensure the compatibility of the programs 
with the purpose(s) for which we established the refuge and the Refuge 
System mission. We ensure initial compliance with the Administration 
Act and the Recreation Act for hunting and sport fishing on newly 
acquired refuges through an interim determination of compatibility made 
at or near the time of acquisition. These regulations ensure that we 
make the determinations required by these acts prior to adding refuges 
to the lists of areas open to hunting and sport

[[Page 56055]]

fishing in 50 CFR part 32. We ensure continued compliance by the 
development of comprehensive conservation plans, specific plans, and by 
annual review of hunting and sport fishing programs and regulations.

Response to Comments Received

    In the July 5, 2011, Federal Register (76 FR 39186), we published a 
proposed rulemaking identifying changes pertaining to migratory game 
bird hunting, upland game bird hunting, big game hunting, and sport 
fishing to existing refuge-specific language on certain refuges for the 
2011-2012 season. We received 251 comments on this proposed rule during 
a 30-day comment period; 226 of those comments were supportive of the 
rulemaking; 18 were opposed to the rulemaking; and the remainder 
expressed neither support nor opposition but had comments.
    Comment 1: A commenter asked when we would notify the public of the 
opening of the various areas, when the applications would become 
available, and what fees we would require.
    Response 1: With the publication of this final rule document, the 
changes become effective. We will be issuing press releases both 
locally in the affected areas and nationally from the Headquarters of 
the National Wildlife Refuge System and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service. Interested hunters should contact the particular refuge that 
they wish to visit for application and fee information. We maintain a 
list of all of the national wildlife refuges on our National Wildlife 
Refuge System homepage (link: http://www.fws.gov/refuges/). Look for 
the ``Find Your Refuge'' section on the first page and you can query 
the system by State, zip code, alphabetically by refuge or other means 
via the pull-down menu. Once you link to the refuge of interest, you 
will find their address, phone number, and a link to their individual 
Web sites.
    Comment 2: We received six comments (from 4 different individuals) 
expressing concern regarding the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife 
Refuge's proposed prohibition on falconry. They state we offered no 
explanation for this prohibition, and they contend that falconry is a 
legal means of hunting/take in the State of Minnesota as it is in 49 of 
the 50 States. They object strongly to what appears to be prejudicial 
and a ``denied equitable public opportunity'' on the refuge and request 
that we remove such a bias from the regulations by allowing falconry. 
One commenter goes on to say that ``clear regulatory or policy guidance 
to permit falconry on all refuge properties would assist refuge 
managers and personnel development refuge management plans.'' This 
requestor also, ``respectfully requests on all refuge properties where 
take is allowed by archery methods only, that falconry also be 
permitted.''
    Response 2: Upon further examination of this condition, the refuge 
has decided to reverse their decision regarding falconry hunting as a 
means of take for migratory birds on Minnesota Valley National Wildlife 
Refuge and allow this opportunity. Due to the small number of hunters 
that practice falconry, the method used with this hunting technique, 
and the average success rate of this hunting method, we believe that 
this change will be insignificant in its direct, indirect, and 
cumulative impact. The factors considered in our analysis include the 
impact of this activity on overall migratory bird harvest, habitat 
conditions, interactions with other user groups, falconry hunter 
numbers, and economic gain or loss associated with this type of 
hunting.
    As far as policy specific to falconry, Service policy 605 FW 2.7M 
Special Hunts stipulates, ``We will address special types of hunts, 
such as falconry, in the hunt section of the visitor service plan 
(VSP).'' In other words, each refuge manager when developing their 
step-down visitor service's plan (which would include a hunt plan, if 
appropriate) from their Comprehensive Conservation Plan, must first 
determine if hunting is compatible. Assuming it is found to be 
compatible, the refuge manager would next determine the conduct of the 
hunt which might include the use of falconry. A refuge manager has 
discretion to prohibit hunting, and specifically falconry, in certain 
cases such as if endangered or threatened species are present; thus it 
is decided individually on a refuge-by-refuge basis.
    Comment 3: A commenter supports the proposed rule to open Crane 
Meadows National Wildlife Refuge to deer and turkey hunting and to 
expand hunting at nine other refuges across the country and agrees that 
the rule meets the intent of the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Improvement Act to provide opportunities for wildlife-dependent 
activities, including hunting, when these activities are compatible 
with refuge purposes and with the mission and purposes of the National 
Wildlife Refuge System. The commenter wonders why in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of the proposed rule that Executive Order 13443 is 
not included along with other mentioned Executive Orders (E.O.) and 
urges us to add this E.O. to the list of others with which we must 
comply and make this E.O. a standard part of any future proposed rule 
that opens or expands wildlife-dependent activities on national 
wildlife refuges.
    Response 3: The very nature of this rule to open and expand hunting 
on national wildlife refuges is consistent with the purpose of 
Executive Order 13443 (Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife 
Conservation). However, we are not including reference to the E.O. in 
the Required Determinations section of the rule because all of the 
E.O.s and Acts that are contained in that section of the rule require 
that a substantive determination be made as part of the regulatory 
process, whereas E.O. 13443 states that agencies should consider 
certain things in developing their policies but does not require that a 
specific determination be made in analyzing the substance of the E.O. 
as it might be impacted by the proposed regulation (emphasis added). We 
do consider the broad precepts of E.O. 13443 in developing the hunting 
regulations, but there is no affirmative obligation to assert that an 
agency has complied with that specific E.O.
    As the commenter correctly observes, this proposed rule does meet 
the intent of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act to 
provide opportunities for wildlife-dependent activities, including 
hunting, when these activities are compatible with refuge purposes and 
with the mission and purposes of the National Wildlife Refuge System. 
They also correctly note that in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section 
of the proposed rule we reference the Improvement Act and the fact that 
it established six wildlife-dependent recreation uses, including 
hunting, as priority general public uses.
    We have added a sentence to the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section 
of this final rulemaking to indicate that we consider the role of 
facilitating hunting heritage in expanding hunting opportunities on 
national wildlife refuges consistent with the agency's mission.
    Comment 4: Seventeen commenters expressed objection to the concept 
of allowing any more hunting on national wildlife refuges. Their 
statements ranged from `` * * * too many people, too few animals'' to 
``I think the fact that it is a National Wildlife `Refuge' should mean 
just that.''
    Response 4: The 1966 National Wildlife Refuge System Administration 
Act, which was amended by the 1997 National Wildlife Refuge System 
Improvement Act, stipulates that hunting (along with fishing, wildlife 
observation and photography, and

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environmental education and interpretation), if found to be compatible, 
is a legitimate and priority general public use of a refuge and should 
be facilitated. The Administration Act authorizes the Secretary to 
allow use of any refuge area for any purpose as long as those uses are 
compatible. In the case of each refuge opening/expansion in this rule, 
the refuge managers went through the compatibility process (which 
allows for public comment), in addition to complying with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) (NEPA) (which also 
allows for public comment) to make the determination before opening the 
refuge to hunting or expanding the hunting opportunities on the refuge. 
We made no change to the regulations as a result of these comments.
    Comment 5: A commenter expressed opposition to opening Arapaho 
National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado to elk hunting.
    Response 5: Elk are found throughout the refuge and are the most 
numerous big game species on the refuge. The wintering elk population 
has continued to grow, from 200 to 300 elk in 1988 to approximately 
1,500 to 1,800 elk on the refuge in recent years.
    The primary objective of the elk hunt is to increase the dispersal 
of elk onto adjacent lands where they will be available to more 
hunters, and to harvest a small percentage of the population on the 
refuge thereby lessening the impacts to all native species, including 
migratory birds. The elk hunt will also provide a new, quality hunting 
opportunity for hunters with a focus on youth hunters and hunters with 
disabilities. Refuge managers determined that it is advisable to take 
management action before the elk population reaches the point where it 
does long-term damage to the environment and adversely affects other 
native flora and fauna species.
    Without a reduction in elk numbers, sections of the Illinois River 
on the refuge will continue to be impacted by wintering elk. Elk can 
have a severe impact on establishment and long-term health of willow 
stands, making achievement of refuge habitat objectives unlikely. If 
the refuge elk population continues to grow, it will eventually exceed 
the carrying capacity of the available habitat. We will continue to 
monitor the population, coordinate with the Colorado Department of 
Wildlife, limit hunter participation, and establish bag limits to 
ensure the population will not be adversely affected by managed 
hunting.
    We made no change to the regulations as a result of this comment.
    Comment 6: A commenter from the State of Texas, although supportive 
of the rulemaking, felt it was important to require ``* * * those 
utilizing these great resources to take appropriate hunter and 
bowhunter education courses. This will make sure that all hunters have 
been exposed to safety and ethical issues that will insure a safer 
hunting environment.''
    Response 6: We concur with the commenter. As discussed in the 
introductory paragraph of each hunting and/or sport fishing category 
for nearly every refuge under each State in 50 CFR part 32, we 
stipulate that we allow hunting and/or sport fishing activities in 
accordance with State regulations subject, in many cases, to conditions 
that follow in the refuge-specific regulations. Regulations allowing 
hunting of wildlife within the Refuge System must be, to the extent 
practicable, consistent with State fish and wildlife laws, regulations, 
and management plans; therefore, we do not reiterate those regulations 
in our regulations (see Fish and Wildlife Service policy 605 FW 2.3B).
    In the case of Texas, State regulations require that big game 
hunters have a bowhunting/hunter education certificate in their 
possession when hunting. Although we do not specifically restate this 
in our Texas refuge-specific regulations, our refuges do comply with 
this State law, which would include requiring this certificate for big 
game hunters. Further, at each refuge, there are brochures available to 
the hunter that go into detail about this State and refuge requirement. 
We made no changes to the rule as a result of this comment.
    Comment 7: A commenter indicated they would like to see deer and 
hog hunting allowed by archery means only on Bayou Sauvage National 
Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in the State of Louisiana.
    Response 7: This urban refuge (within the city limits) is closed to 
big game hunting (the category of hunting under which one would find 
large species such as deer and hog); therefore this comment is not 
germane to this rulemaking. We made no change to the regulation as a 
result of this comment.
    Comment 8: A commenter asked why we do not allow feral pig hunting 
at Merritt Island NWR in Florida as ``they have a terrible feral pig 
problem'' there. Also the same commenter questioned the need for a 
waterfowl hunt as wintering waterfowl numbers have dropped from 120,000 
to under 18,000 in the past 10 years.
    Response 8: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is an overlay 
of the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and the Service manages NASA's lands 
through an agreement. Prior to NASA's purchase of the lands for KSC, 
much of the area was owned by several large hunt clubs and when the 
property was sold, the prominent hunt club members desired retaining 
hunting privileges. When NASA entered into the agreement with the 
Service to establish the refuge, it specified waterfowl hunting would 
continue. Since 1963, the year we established the refuge, we have 
allowed waterfowl hunting in selected locations outside the restricted 
area of KSC.
    The refuge hunt program has evolved over the years in response to 
changing waterfowl populations, waterfowl use patterns, habitat 
conditions, and changes in the public use program. The length of the 
season, days of the week open to hunting, number and size of hunt 
areas, and ways and means for issuing permits have changed frequently 
over the past 48 years. Presently 36,000 acres of the 140,000-acre 
Merritt Island NWR are open to waterfowl hunting and are subdivided 
into four hunt areas (Hunt Areas 1 through 4). The refuge has a 
concurrent season with the State of Florida, except the refuge is open 
to hunting 3 days per week (Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday) from legal 
shooting time until 1 p.m. We require a refuge hunt permit (signed 
brochure), a State-approved hunter safety training certificate, and a 
quota permit (State permit) for Hunt Areas 1 and 4 for the months of 
November and December.
    Waterfowl populations have declined on the refuge for at least 10 
years. The refuge staff is concerned about the decline, but it is 
unclear if the cause is fewer birds migrating to Florida, a shift in 
the Florida wintering population to other parts of the State (the 
decline seems to coincide with new habitat being created for Everglades 
restoration), or excessive hunting pressure on the refuge. In March of 
this year, following the 2010-2011 Waterfowl Season, refuge personnel 
met with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and waterfowl hunter 
stakeholders (representatives from Ducks Unlimited and United 
Waterfowlers), to discuss solutions to improve waterfowl hunting and 
address the decline in the refuge waterfowl populations. As a result of 
this meeting, the consensus was to attempt to improve the quality of 
the habitat conditions on the refuge but not make any immediate changes 
to the hunt program. The refuge will continue to monitor the waterfowl 
population but, at least for now, does not propose any

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additional changes to the waterfowl regulations.
    With respect to the issue of opening the refuge to feral hog 
hunting, the refuge has never been open to big game hunting. However in 
2006, when they completed the Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the 
refuge, they made provisions to evaluate opening the northern quarter 
of the refuge to feral hog and deer hunting. The refuge currently uses 
hog trappers under permit to remove feral hogs, and those trappers 
remove between 2,500 to 3,000 animals annually through this program at 
no cost to the refuge. The feral hog removal program is fairly 
effective, and at this time we do not wish to introduce a public hunt 
into the mix. A public hunt may provide a short-term advantage of 
reducing the population quickly in the area of the hunt, but, in the 
long run, the constant pressure afforded by the hog trappers in all 
areas of the refuge may provide a more effective long-term control. 
However, the refuge plans to evaluate implementing a feral hog hunt 
when the feral hog permits expire. No changes were made to this final 
rule as a result of this comment.
    Comment 9: A commenter asked how we would pay for supervision of 
hunting activity in these proposed areas given the budgetary 
constraints that currently exist and that are likely to become more 
stringent. Also, do we believe we can properly supervise the hunts 
under the circumstances?
    Response 9: When developing the Comprehensive Conservation Plans 
and step-down hunting plans for each refuge, the refuge manager takes 
into account budgetary needs for increased hunting opportunities. 
Basically, the refuge would not be proposing the activity (or increased 
activity) if it did not anticipate that there was enough funding to 
ensure compatibility and to administer and to manage the hunts.
    Typically, you can find this discussion under the ``Staffing and 
Funds'' section of each refuge's hunt plans, which were made publicly 
available when first issued, and remain available at each station's Web 
site. In some cases, an existing hunt program is in place and the 
refuge does not anticipate a drastic change in staffing or funding 
requirements. As refuge law enforcement can be a collateral duty for 
refuge staff, they may occasionally ``borrow'' law enforcement as 
needed from other refuges. For other refuges, non-law enforcement staff 
time does not increase greatly since generally all hunting seasons and 
permitting will be handled according to State regulations. Some refuges 
also see some budgetary relief in user fees which they believe are 
sufficient to cover increased opportunities. Some refuges state that 
there would be some costs associated with a hunting program in the form 
of brochures, instructional sign needs, and law enforcement. These 
refuges expect that the costs should be minimal relative to total 
refuge operations and maintenance costs and would not diminish 
resources dedicated to other refuge management programs.
    However, the refuges do acknowledge there will be some additional 
staff workload in order to administer new hunting opportunities and 
this factors into the decision to allow those opportunities. Finally, 
as discussed earlier in this SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, with 
the passage of the National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act of 1997, 
Congress mandated that hunting was one of the six priority general 
public uses that refuge managers were to facilitate when compatible, so 
to the extent possible and practicable, we adhere to that directive.
    We made no change to the regulations as a result of this comment.
    Comment 10: A commenter, although supportive of the additional 
hunting opportunity in Iowa, wondered why we impose additional 
requirements such as ``steel shot only'' on all our public hunting 
areas. The commenter points out that steel is costly and does not 
believe that it has been proven that the steel shot requirement has had 
a positive effect on migratory birds.
    Response 10: Waterfowl and migratory birds can get lead poisoning 
by ingesting lead shot when they feed (see http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/ec/lead%20shot.htm). In the November 21, 1986, Federal 
Register (51 FR 42103) we began the conversion to nontoxic shot 
nationwide for waterfowl hunting on refuges, which we implemented in 
the 1991-1992 hunting season. At that time, refuges were implementing 
the nontoxic shot requirement on a refuge-by-refuge basis, and multiple 
rules were published (an example would be the June 19, 1991, Federal 
Register (56 FR 28133)). The Service oversees the approval process for 
alternative shot types in the United States. We specifically identify 
the shot allowed in areas of the Refuge System by reference to the shot 
identified in 50 CFR 20.21(j). We sometimes grant new shot types 
conditional approvals until we complete all necessary studies. These 
conditional approvals may change yearly, and we add new shot types to 
our approved list as they meet our criteria. You can link to the 
following Web sites concerning lead shot that contain more background 
information on this issue:

http://www.lab.fws.gov/shotpellets_leadshot.php; http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/ec/lead%20shot.htm;

http://www.fws.gov/contaminants/DisplayNews.cfm?NewsID=4DAA500C-3E21-4564-87AA714E9E301C9E.

    You can find many other Web sites concerning lead shot by 
conducting an Internet search.
    We made no change to the regulations as a result of this comment.
    Comment 11: We received a comment regarding the proposed youth hunt 
at Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana. The commenter 
notes that the proposed hunt would allow hunting within 500 feet of 
Venetian Isle, a dense population of waterfront homes within the New 
Orleans city limits, and believes that not only should we prohibit 
hunting within the city limits but that the hunting boundaries should 
be at least 1 mile from homes. Further, the commenter doesn't want to 
be awakened by gunfire on weekend mornings.
    Response 11: The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 
1997 identifies hunting as a priority public use, and providing 
opportunities for fish and wildlife public uses in an urban setting is 
an established purpose of the refuge. Given this supporting legislation 
and the significant public support for hunting on Bayou Sauvage NWR, it 
is important that these opportunities are available to the public.
    Our goal is to ensure that hunting is balanced with the other 
priority public uses of environmental education, wildlife observation, 
interpretation, fishing, and photography. Thus, we have designated the 
interior units (57 percent of the refuge) as closed to hunting to allow 
ample opportunities for the other five priority uses. Additionally, we 
allow hunting only 4 days per week until 12 (noon), and these units 
will be open to fishing and other activities during nonhunting times.
    The youth hunt we are proposing is for migratory bird hunting, 
unlike comment 7 whichi dealt with big game hunting. The ammunition 
used for these two types of hunting is different. Bird shot has a 
different trajectory and much less mass than a rifled slug or bullet 
and would not travel as far as those ammunitions used in big game 
hunting. Under these circumstances, we feel the prohibition of hunting 
within 500 feet (150 m) of residences adequately provides for public 
safety. On two other Louisiana refuges, Big Branch Marsh and Bogue 
Chitto, we allow hunting

[[Page 56058]]

within 150 feet (45 m) of roads, trails, residences, and public 
facilities. In order to reduce potential noise associated with hunting 
activities near Venetian Isles, the areas located outside the hurricane 
protection levee, immediately west and south of Venetian Isles, between 
the former Bayou Sauvage channel and the railroad tracks will be posted 
closed to hunting. We made no changes to this regulation as a result of 
the comment.
    Comment 12: A commenter questioned the ``rigorous scientific 
research into the status of refuge wildlife populations'' and whether 
we were using this information to guide refuge planning. The commenter 
went on to say that a determination must be made that ``wildlife are 
surplus to a balanced conservation program on any wildlife area,'' and 
that ``unless the species is damaging or destroying federal property 
within a refuge, the species cannot be subject to live removal or 
lethal control, including through official animal control operations.'' 
They believe that ``refuges often fail to have refuge specific 
monitoring of harvest levels,'' and discussed the concept of an 
``inviolate sanctuary.'' Finally, the commenter believes that since 
``21 million people visit refuges for wildlife observation'' and ``only 
1.4 million visit to hunt or trap'' that nonconsumptive users should 
enjoy a higher priority when it comes to use of refuge lands.
    Response 12: As discussed in the response to Comment 4, and as 
Comment 12 acknowledges, ``the Refuge Improvement Act upgrades hunting 
and fishing to a priority use * * *''. Each refuge manager gives the 
decision to allow hunting on a particular refuge rigorous examination. 
A Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP), a 15-year plan for the refuge, 
is generally the first step a refuge manager takes. Our policy for 
managing units of the Refuge System is that we will manage all refuges 
in accordance with an approved CCP which, when implemented, will 
achieve refuge purposes; help fulfill the Refuge System mission; 
maintain and, where appropriate, restore the ecological integrity of 
each refuge and the Refuge System; help achieve the goals of the 
National Wilderness Preservation System; and meet other mandates. The 
CCP will guide management decisions and set forth goals, objectives, 
and strategies to accomplish these ends. The next step for refuge 
managers is step-down plans, of which hunting would be one step-down 
plan. Part of the process for opening a refuge to hunting after 
completing the step-down plan would be appropriate compliance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), typically an environmental 
assessment accompanied by the appropriate decision documentation 
(Record of Decision, Finding of No Significant Impact, or an 
Environmental Action Memorandum or Statement). The CCP, hunt plan, and 
NEPA all receive public comment as does the proposed rule, before the 
final rule is published in the Federal Register. After publication of 
the final rule, we allow hunting on a refuge.
    In sum, this illustrates that the decision to allow hunting on a 
national wildlife refuge is not a quick or simple process. It is full 
of deliberation and discussion, including review of all available data 
to determine the relative health of a population before we allow it to 
be hunted. In the case of migratory game bird hunting, the Service 
annually prescribes frameworks for dates and times when migratory bird 
hunting may occur in the United States, and the number of birds that 
hunters may take and possess. We write these regulations after giving 
due regard to the zones of temperature and to the distribution, 
abundance, economic value, breeding habits, and times and lines of 
migratory flight of such birds, and we update the information annually. 
Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-712), Congress 
authorized the Secretary of the Interior to determine when ``hunting, 
taking, capture, killing, possession, sale, purchase, shipment, 
transportation, carriage, or export of any * * * bird, or any part, 
nest, or egg'' of migratory game birds can take place, and to adopt 
regulations for this purpose. The Secretary of the Interior delegated 
this responsibility to the Service as the lead Federal agency for 
managing and conserving migratory birds in the United States.
    Because the Service is required to take abundance of migratory 
birds and other factors into consideration, we undertake a number of 
surveys throughout the year in conjunction with the Canadian Wildlife 
Service, State and Provincial wildlife management agencies, and others. 
To determine the appropriate frameworks for each species, we consider 
factors such as population size and trend, geographical distribution, 
annual breeding effort, the condition of breeding and wintering 
habitat, the number of hunters, and the anticipated harvest. After we 
establish frameworks for season lengths, bag limits, and areas for 
migratory bird hunting, migratory game bird management becomes a 
cooperative effort of State and Federal Governments. After Service 
establishment of final frameworks for hunting seasons, the States may 
select season dates, bag limits, and other regulatory options for the 
hunting seasons.
    As discussed in the Cumulative Impacts Report that we posted on 
http://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R9-NSR-2011-0038, along 
with the proposed rule on the day of publication (July 5, 2011), we 
took a look at the cumulative impact that the 2011-2012 proposed rule 
would have on migratory birds, resident wildlife, nonhunted migratory 
and resident wildlife, threatened and endangered species, habitats and 
plant resources, other wildlife-dependent recreational uses, physical 
resources (air, water, soils), cultural resources, refuge facilities, 
solitude, and cumulative socioeconomic impacts.
    This rule proposes to expand migratory bird hunting on five 
refuges. Collectively, we estimate that this proposed hunting action 
will result in the take of 2,450 ducks or .019 percent of the estimated 
national harvest and the take of 650 geese or .02 percent of the 
estimated national harvest. In short, we project that harvests of these 
species on the five refuges will constitute an extremely minor 
component of the national harvests.
    We allow hunting of resident wildlife on national wildlife refuges 
only if such activity has been determined compatible with the 
established purpose(s) of the refuge and the mission of the Refuge 
System as required by the Administration Act. Hunting of resident 
wildlife on national wildlife refuges generally occurs consistent with 
State regulations, including seasons and bag limits. Refuge-specific 
hunting regulations can be more restrictive (but not more liberal) than 
State regulations and often are in order to help meet specific refuge 
objectives. These include resident wildlife population and habitat 
objectives, minimizing disturbance impacts to wildlife, maintaining 
high-quality opportunities for hunting and other wildlife-dependent 
recreation, eliminating or minimizing conflicts with other public uses 
and/or refuge management activities, and protecting public safety.
    The proposed actions involving resident wildlife hunting include 
three refuges allowing this type of hunting for the first time and 
expanding this type of hunting on six refuges. Please consult the 
Cumulative Impacts Report at the site referenced above for more in-
depth discussion, but in sum, none of the known, estimated or projected 
harvests of big game, small or upland game species resulting from the 
proposed hunting activities on refuges were determined or expected to 
have

[[Page 56059]]

significant adverse direct, indirect or cumulative impacts to any big 
game, small, or upland wildlife population.
    The Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929 (16 U.S.C. 715 et seq.) 
authorizes acquisition of refuges as ``inviolate sanctuaries'' where 
the birds could rest and reproduce in total security. In 1949, this 
``inviolate sanctuary'' concept was modified by an amendment to the 
Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act which permitted 
hunting on up to 25 percent of each inviolate refuge. Another amendment 
to the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act in 1958 
increased the total area of an inviolate refuge that could be opened 
for hunting to up to 40 percent.
    Whether an area is an inviolate sanctuary is a function of the 
mechanism of its creation. If a refuge was acquired as an inviolate 
sanctuary, only 40 percent of the refuge area may be opened at one time 
for hunting of migratory game birds. However, if the refuge was not 
acquired as an inviolate sanctuary, 100 percent of the refuge area may 
be opened for hunting.
    The Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978 amended section 6 of 
the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd) to provide for the opening of all or any portion of an 
inviolate sanctuary to the taking of migratory birds if taking is 
determined to be beneficial to the species. Such opening of more than 
40 percent of the inviolate sanctuary to hunting is determined by 
species. This amendment refers to inviolate sanctuaries created in the 
past or to be created in the future. It has no application to areas 
acquired for other management purposes.
    Most refuge hunt programs have established refuge-specific 
regulations to improve the quality of the hunting experience as well as 
provide for quality wildlife-dependent experiences for other users. 
Refuge visitor use programs are adjusted, as needed to eliminate or 
minimize conflicts between users. Virtually all of the refuges open to 
hunting and other wildlife-dependent recreational uses use time and 
space zoning as an effective method to reduce conflicts between hunting 
and other uses. Eliminating or restricting overlap between hunt areas 
and popular areas from other wildlife-dependent recreation allows 
opportunity for other users to safely enjoy the refuge in nonhunted 
areas during hunting seasons. Restrictions on the number of hunters and 
the time in which they could hunt are also frequently used to minimize 
conflicts between user groups. Public outreach accompanying the opening 
of hunting seasons is frequently used to make other wildlife-dependent 
recreational users aware of the seasons and minimize conflicts. We made 
no changes to the regulations as a result of this comment.

Effective Date

    This rule is effective upon publication in the Federal Register. We 
have determined that any further delay in implementing these refuge-
specific hunting and sport fishing regulations would not be in the 
public interest, in that a delay would hinder the effective planning 
and administration of the hunting and fishing programs. We provided a 
30-day public comment period for the July 5, 2011, proposed rule. An 
additional delay would jeopardize holding the hunting and/or fishing 
programs this year or shorten their duration and thereby lessen the 
management effectiveness of this regulation. This rule does not impact 
the public generally in terms of requiring lead time for compliance. 
Rather it relieves restrictions in that it allows activities on refuges 
that we would otherwise prohibit. Therefore, we find good cause under 5 
U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to make this rule effective upon publication.

Amendments to Existing Regulations

    This document codifies in the Code of Federal Regulations 
amendments to the Service's hunting and/or sport fishing regulations 
that are applicable at Refuge System units previously opened to hunting 
and/or sport fishing. We are doing this to better inform the general 
public of the regulations at each refuge, to increase understanding and 
compliance with these regulations, and to make enforcement of these 
regulations more efficient. In addition to now finding these 
regulations in 50 CFR part 32, visitors to our refuges will usually 
find them reiterated in literature distributed by each refuge or posted 
on signs.
    We have cross-referenced a number of existing regulations in 50 CFR 
parts 26, 27, 28, and 32 to assist hunting and sport fishing visitors 
with understanding safety and other legal requirements on refuges. This 
redundancy is deliberate, with the intention of improving safety and 
compliance in our hunting and sport fishing programs.

                                                  Table 1--Changes for 2011-2012 Hunting/Fishing Season
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     National Wildlife Refuge           State       Migratory bird hunting    Upland game hunting         Big game hunting               Fishing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arapaho...........................  CO...........  Already open...........  Already open...........  D (elk)...................  Already open.
Bayou Sauvage.....................  LA...........  B......................  Closed.................  Closed....................  Already open.
Coldwater River...................  MS...........  B......................  B......................  B.........................  Already open.
Crane Meadows.....................  MN...........  Closed.................  Closed.................  A (deer/turkey)...........  Closed.
Currituck.........................  NC...........  Already open...........  Closed.................  B.........................  Closed.
Minnesota Valley..................  MN...........  C......................  C......................  C.........................  Already open.
Northern Tallgrass Prairie........  MN/IA........  C/D....................  C/D....................  C.........................  Closed.
Ouray.............................  UT...........  Already open...........  D (turkey).............  D (elk)...................  Already open.
Sherburne.........................  MN...........  C......................  Already open...........  D (turkey)/C..............  Already open.
Trinity River.....................  TX...........  Already open...........  C......................  C.........................  Already open.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A = New refuge opened.
B = New activity on a refuge previously opened to other activities.
C = Refuge already open to activity but added new land/waters which increased activity.
D = Refuge already open to activity but added new species to hunt.

    We are making an administrative change that correctly reflects that 
Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge in the State of Wisconsin is 
closed to Upland Game Hunting. The refuge has never been open to that 
activity, and we are correcting the record with this change.
    We are also adding Tishomingo Wildlife Management Unit in the State 
of Oklahoma to the list of refuges open to hunting and or fishing in 50 
CFR part

[[Page 56060]]

32. We now correctly reflect how Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge's 
(an overlay refuge where the land is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers) hunting opportunities differ from those of the Tishomingo 
Wildlife Management Unit. The Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge, 
managed by refuge staff, is open only to big game hunting and sport 
fishing. The Tishomingo Wildlife Management Unit, managed by the 
Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Department under a 1957 agreement 
entered into between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Secretary 
of the Interior, is open to all three hunting opportunities (migratory 
game bird, upland game, and big game) and sport fishing.
    The changes for the 2011-12 hunting/fishing season noted in the 
chart above are each based on a complete administrative record which, 
among other detailed documentation, also includes a hunt plan, a 
compatibility determination, and the appropriate National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) analysis, all of which were 
the subject of a public review and comment process. These documents are 
available upon request.

Fish Advisory

    For health reasons, anglers should review and follow State-issued 
consumption advisories before enjoying recreational sport fishing 
opportunities on Service-managed waters. You can find information about 
current fish consumption advisories on the Internet at: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/.

Plain Language Mandate

    In this rule we made some of the revisions to the individual refuge 
units to comply with a Presidential mandate to use plain language in 
regulations; as such, these particular revisions do not modify the 
substance of the previous regulations. These types of changes include 
using ``you'' to refer to the reader and ``we'' to refer to the Refuge 
System, using the word ``allow'' instead of ``permit'' when we do not 
require the use of a permit for an activity, and using active voice 
(i.e., ``We restrict entry into the refuge'' vs. ``Entry into the 
refuge is restricted'').

Regulatory Planning and Review

    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has determined that this 
rule is not significant under Executive Order 12866 (E.O. 12866). OMB 
bases its determination on 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, 
use fees, loan programs, or the rights and obligations of their 
recipients.
    (d) Whether the rule raises novel legal or policy issues.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (as amended by the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act [SBREFA] of 1996) (5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.), whenever a Federal agency is required to publish a 
notice of rulemaking for any proposed or final rule, it must prepare 
and make available for public comment a regulatory flexibility analysis 
that describes the effect of the rule on small entities (i.e., small 
businesses, small organizations, and small government jurisdictions). 
However, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required if the head of 
an agency certifies that the rule would not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. Thus, for a 
regulatory flexibility analysis to be required, impacts must exceed a 
threshold for ``significant impact'' and a threshold for a 
``substantial number of small entities.'' See 5 U.S.C. 605(b). SBREFA 
amended the Regulatory Flexibility Act to require Federal agencies to 
provide a statement of the factual basis for certifying that a rule 
would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.
    This rule adds one national wildlife refuge to the list of refuges 
open to hunting and increases hunting activities on nine national 
wildlife refuges. As a result, visitor use for wildlife-dependent 
recreation on these national wildlife refuges will change. If the 
refuges establishing new programs were a pure addition to the current 
supply of such activities, it would mean an estimated increase of 4,750 
user days (one person per day participating in a recreational 
opportunity) (Table 2). Because the participation trend is flat in 
these activities since 1991, this increase in supply will most likely 
be offset by other sites losing participants. Therefore, this is likely 
to be a substitute site for the activity and not necessarily an 
increase in participation rates for the activity.

   Table 2--Estimated Change in Recreation Opportunities in 2011/2012
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Additional      Additional
                 Refuge                      user days     expenditures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arapaho.................................              40          $4,337
Bayou Sauvage...........................             672          72,865
Coldwater River.........................             400          43,372
Crane Meadows...........................              55           5,964
Currituck...............................             400          43,372
Minnesota Valley........................           2,818         305,555
Northern Tallgrass Prairie..............              75           8,132
Ouray...................................             100          10,843
Sherburne...............................              50           5,421
Trinity River...........................             140          15,180
                                         -------------------------------
    Total...............................           4,750         515,041
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To the extent visitors spend time and money in the area of the 
refuge that they would not have spent there anyway, they contribute new 
income to the regional economy and benefit local businesses. Due to the 
unavailability of site-specific expenditure data, we use the national 
estimates from the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and 
Wildlife Associated Recreation to identify expenditures for food and 
lodging, transportation, and other

[[Page 56061]]

incidental expenses. Using the average expenditures for these 
categories with the maximum expected additional participation of the 
Refuge System yields approximately $515,000 in recreation-related 
expenditures (Table 2). By having ripple effects throughout the 
economy, these direct expenditures are only part of the economic impact 
of these recreational activities. Using a national impact multiplier 
for hunting activities (2.67) derived from the report ``Economic 
Importance of Hunting in America'' yields a total economic impact of 
approximately $1.4 million (2010 dollars) (Southwick Associates, Inc., 
2007). Using a local impact multiplier would yield more accurate and 
smaller results. However, we employed the national impact multiplier 
due to the difficulty in developing local multipliers for each specific 
region.
    Since we know that most of the fishing and hunting occurs within 
100 miles of a participant's residence, then it is unlikely that most 
of this spending would be ``new'' money coming into a local economy; 
therefore, this spending would be offset with a decrease in some other 
sector of the local economy. The net gain to the local economies would 
be no more than $1.4 million, and most likely considerably less. Since 
80 percent of the participants travel less than 100 miles to engage in 
hunting and fishing activities, their spending patterns would not add 
new money into the local economy and, therefore, the real impact would 
be on the order of about $275,000 annually.
    Small businesses within the retail trade industry (such as hotels, 
gas stations, taxidermy shops, bait and tackle shops, etc.) may be 
impacted from some increased or decreased refuge visitation. A large 
percentage of these retail trade establishments in the local 
communities around national wildlife refuges qualify as small 
businesses (Table 3). We expect that the incremental recreational 
changes will be scattered, and so we do not expect that the rule will 
have a significant economic effect on a substantial number of small 
entities in any region or nationally. As noted previously, we expect 
approximately $515,000 to be spent in total in the refuges' local 
economies. The maximum increase ($1.4 million if all spending were new 
money) at most would be less than 1 percent for local retail trade 
spending.

  Table 3--Comparative Expenditures for Retail Trade Associated With Additional Refuge Visitation for 2011/2012
                                            [Thousands, 2010 dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Estimated
                                   Retail trade       maximum     Addition as  %  Establishments   Establ. with
       Refuge/county(ies)         in 2007  (2010   addition from     of total         in 2008       <10 emp in
                                        $ )       new activities                                       2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arapaho
    Jackson, CO.................         $23,099            $4.3           0.019              13              10
Bayou Sauvage
    Orleans Parish, LA..........       3,241,340            72.9           0.002           1,201             983
Coldwater River
    Tallahatchie, MS............          67,735            21.7           0.032              40              34
    Quitman, MS.................          29,478            21.7           0.074              21              18
Crane Meadows
    Morrison, MN................         430,771             6.0           0.001             135              94
Currituck
    Currituck, NC...............         314,767            43.4           0.014             142             118
Minnesota Valley
    Hennepin MN.................      26,568,279            76.4               0           4,295           2,670
    Carver MN...................         962,544            76.4           0.008             223             143
  Scott MN......................       1,394,907            76.4           0.005             349             234
    Dakota MN...................       6,158,226            76.4           0.001           1,169             717
Northern Tallgrass Prairie
    Jasper, IA..................         326,707             1.2               0             120              79
    Kossuth, IA.................         233,531             1.2               0              99              78
    Lincoln, MN.................          63,331             1.2           0.002              37              27
    Lyon, MN....................         451,824             1.2               0             134              96
    Otter Tail, MN..............         840,187             1.2               0             277             204
    Rock, MN....................         130,128             1.2           0.001              47              33
  Stevens, MN...................         202,798             1.2           0.001              53              34
Ouray
    Unitah, UT..................         550,293            10.8           0.002             137              85
Sherburne
    Sherburne, MN...............       1,006,876             5.4           0.001             207             134
Trinity River
    Liberty, TX.................         778,776            15.2           0.002             200             143
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    With the small change in overall spending anticipated from this 
rule, it is unlikely that a substantial number of small entities will 
have more than a small impact from the spending change near the 
affected refuges. Therefore, we certify that this rule will not have a 
significant economic effect on a substantial number of small entities 
as defined under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). 
An initial/final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is not required. 
Accordingly, a Small Entity Compliance Guide is not required.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    The rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. We anticipate no 
significant

[[Page 56062]]

employment or small business effects. This rule:
    a. Will not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or 
more. The minimal impact will be scattered across the country and will 
most likely not be significant in any local area.
    b. Will not cause a major increase in costs or prices for 
consumers; individual industries; Federal, State, or local government 
agencies; or geographic regions. This rule will have only a slight 
effect on the costs of hunting opportunities for Americans. If the 
substitute sites are farther from the participants' residences, then an 
increase in travel costs will occur. The Service does not have 
information to quantify this change in travel cost but assumes that, 
since most people travel less than 100 miles to hunt, the increased 
travel cost will be small. We do not expect this rule to affect the 
supply or demand for hunting opportunities in the United States and, 
therefore, it should not affect prices for hunting equipment and 
supplies, or the retailers that sell equipment.
    c. Will not have significant adverse effects on competition, 
employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of 
United States-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based 
enterprises. This rule represents only a small proportion of 
recreational spending at national wildlife refuges. Therefore, this 
rule will have no measurable economic effect on the wildlife-dependent 
industry, which has annual sales of equipment and travel expenditures 
of $72 billion nationwide.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Since this rule applies to public use of federally owned and 
managed refuges, it will not impose an unfunded mandate on State, 
local, or Tribal governments or the private sector of more than $100 
million per year. The rule will not have a significant or unique effect 
on State, local, or Tribal governments or the private sector. A 
statement containing the information required by the Unfunded Mandates 
Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) is not required.

Takings (E.O. 12630)

    In accordance with E.O. 12630, this rule does not have significant 
takings implications. This regulation affects only visitors at national 
wildlife refuges and describes what they can do while they are on a 
refuge.

Federalism (E.O. 13132)

    As discussed in the Regulatory Planning and Review and Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act sections above, this rule does not have sufficient 
Federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a federalism 
summary impact statement under E.O. 13132. In preparing this rule, we 
worked with State governments.

Civil Justice Reform (E.O. 12988)

    In accordance with E.O. 12988, the Office of the Solicitor has 
determined that the rule does not unduly burden the judicial system and 
that it meets the requirements of sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of the 
Order. The regulation clarifies established regulations and will result 
in better understanding of the regulations by refuge visitors.

Energy Supply, Distribution or Use (E.O. 13211)

    On May 18, 2001, the President issued E.O. 13211 on regulations 
that significantly affect energy supply, distribution, and use. E.O. 
13211 requires agencies to prepare Statements of Energy Effects when 
undertaking certain actions. Because this rule increases activities at 
nine refuges and opens one new refuge, it is not a significant 
regulatory action under E.O. 12866 and is not expected to significantly 
affect energy supplies, distribution, and use. Therefore, this action 
is a not a significant energy action and no Statement of Energy Effects 
is required.

Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments (E.O. 
13175)

    In accordance with E.O. 13175, we have evaluated possible effects 
on federally recognized Indian tribes and have determined that there 
are no effects. We coordinate recreational use on national wildlife 
refuges with Tribal governments having adjoining or overlapping 
jurisdiction before we propose the regulations.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This regulation does not contain any information collection 
requirements other than those already approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.) (OMB Control Numbers are 1018-0102 and 1018-0140). See 50 CFR 
25.23 for information concerning that approval. An 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.

Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation

    We comply with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), when developing Comprehensive 
Conservation Plans (CCPs) and step-down management plans (which would 
include hunting and/or fishing plans) for public use of refuges, and 
prior to implementing any new or revised public recreation program on a 
refuge as identified in 50 CFR 26.32. We have completed section 7 
consultation on each of the affected refuges.

National Environmental Policy Act

    We analyzed this rule in accordance with the criteria of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4332(C)), 
43 CFR part 46, and 516 Departmental Manual (DM) 8.
    A categorical exclusion from NEPA documentation applies to 
publication of proposed amendments to refuge-specific hunting and 
fishing regulations since they are technical and procedural in nature, 
and the environmental effects are too broad, speculative, or 
conjectural to lend themselves to meaningful analysis (43 CFR 46.210 
and 516 DM 8). Concerning the actions that are the subject of this 
rulemaking, we have complied with NEPA at the project level when 
developing each proposal. This is consistent with the Department of the 
Interior instructions for compliance with NEPA where actions are 
covered sufficiently by an earlier environmental document (516 DM 
3.2A).
    Prior to the addition of a refuge to the list of areas open to 
hunting and fishing in 50 CFR part 32, we develop hunting and fishing 
plans for the affected refuges. We incorporate these proposed refuge 
hunting and fishing activities in the refuge CCPs and/or other step-
down management plans, pursuant to our refuge planning guidance in 602 
Fish and Wildlife Service Manual (FW) 1, 3, and 4. We prepare these 
CCPs and step-down plans in compliance with section 102(2)(C) of NEPA, 
and the Council on Environmental Quality's regulations for implementing 
NEPA in 40 CFR parts 1500-1508. We invite the affected public to 
participate in the review, development, and implementation of these 
plans. Copies of all plans and NEPA compliance are available from the 
refuges at the addresses provided below.

Available Information for Specific Refuges

    Individual refuge headquarters have information about public use 
programs and conditions that apply to their

[[Page 56063]]

specific programs and maps of their respective areas. To find out how 
to contact a specific refuge, contact the appropriate Regional office 
listed below:

Region 1--Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Regional Chief, 
National Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Eastside Federal Complex, Suite 1692, 911 NE. 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 
97232-4181; Telephone (503) 231-6214.
Region 2--Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Regional Chief, 
National Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Box 
1306, 500 Gold Avenue, Albuquerque, NM 87103; Telephone (505) 248-7419.
Region 3--Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, 
and Wisconsin. Regional Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 5600 American Blvd. West, Suite 990, 
Bloomington, MN 55437; Telephone (612) 713-5401. Crane Meadows National 
Wildlife Refuge, 19502 Iris Road, Little Falls, MN 56345; Telephone 
(320) 632-1575.
Region 4--Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, 
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico, 
and the Virgin Islands. Regional Chief, National Wildlife Refuge 
System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1875 Century Boulevard, 
Atlanta, GA 30345; Telephone (404) 679-7166.
Region 5--Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, 
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode 
Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. Regional Chief, National 
Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate 
Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035-9589; Telephone (413) 253-8306.
Region 6--Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South 
Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Regional Chief, National Wildlife Refuge 
System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 134 Union Blvd., Lakewood, CO 
80228; Telephone (303) 236-8145.
Region 7--Alaska. Regional Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 E. Tudor Rd., Anchorage, AK 99503; 
Telephone (907) 786-3545.
Region 8--California and Nevada. Regional Chief, National Wildlife 
Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, Room 
W-2606, Sacramento, CA 95825; Telephone (916) 414-6464.

Primary Author

    Leslie A. Marler, Management Analyst, Division of Conservation 
Planning and Policy, National Wildlife Refuge System is the primary 
author of this rulemaking document.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 32

    Fishing, Hunting, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Wildlife, Wildlife refuges.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, we amend title 50, 
chapter I, subchapter C of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 32--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 32 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 16 U.S.C. 460k, 664, 668dd-668ee, and 
715i.


0
2. Amend Sec.  32.7 ``What refuge units are open to hunting and/or 
sport fishing?'' by:
0
a. Adding, in alphabetical order, ``Crane Meadows National Wildlife 
Refuge'' in the State of Minnesota;
0
b. Removing the entry for ``Coldwater National Wildlife Refuge'' and 
adding in alphabetical order an entry for ``Coldwater River National 
Wildlife Refuge'' in the State of Mississippi;
0
c. Adding, in alphabetical order, ``Tishomingo Wildlife Management 
Unit'' in the State of Oklahoma; and
0
d. Removing the entry for ``Pettaquamscutt Cove National Wildlife 
Refuge'' and adding in alphabetical order an entry for ``John H. Chafee 
National Wildlife Refuge'' in the State of Rhode Island.

0
3. Amend Sec.  32.20 Alabama by:
0
a. Revising paragraph B.8. under Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge; and
0
b. Revising the entry for Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge.
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  32.20  Alabama.

* * * * *

Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    8. A hunter may only possess approved nontoxic shot (see Sec.  
32.2(k)). We restrict hunting weapons to shotguns with shot size no 
larger than No. 6 or rifles no larger than .22 standard rimfire or 
legal archery equipment.
* * * * *

Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of mourning dove 
and Eurasian-collared dove, duck, and goose on designated areas of the 
refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following 
conditions:
    1. You must possess and carry a signed refuge hunt permit (signed 
brochure) when hunting.
    2. You may possess only approved nontoxic shotshells when hunting 
(see Sec.  32.2(k)).
    3. All youth hunters (age 15 and under) must remain within sight 
and normal voice contact of a properly licensed hunting adult age 21 or 
older. Youth hunters must possess and carry verification of passing a 
State-approved hunter education course. One adult may supervise no more 
than two youth hunters.
    4. We allow duck and goose hunting in the Bradley and Kennedy units 
only by special permit (Waterfowl Lottery Application, FWS Form 3-2355) 
on/during selected days/times, during the State seasons. We close all 
other portions of the refuge to waterfowl hunting.
    5. All waterfowl hunting opportunities are spaced-blind and 
assigned by lottery. Hunters wishing to participate in our waterfowl 
hunt must submit a Waterfowl Lottery Application (FWS Form 3-2355). 
Consult refuge brochure for details.
    6. We limit the number of shotshells a hunter may possess to 25.
    7. We prohibit damaging trees or other vegetation (see Sec. Sec.  
27.51 and 32.2(i) of this chapter).
    8. Hunters must remove all stands/blinds at the end of each day's 
hunt (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter).
    9. We allow access to the refuge for hunting from 1\1/2\; hours 
before legal sunrise to 1\1/2\; hours after legal sunset.
    10. We prohibit hunting by aid of or distribution of any feed, 
salt, other mineral, or electronic device, including game cameras (see 
Sec.  32.2(h) and Sec.  27.93 of this chapter).
    11. We prohibit participation in organized drives.
    12. We prohibit the use of horses, mules, or other livestock.
    13. We require tree stand users to use a safety belt.
    14. We prohibit the use of motorized watercraft in all refuge 
waters not directly connected to Lake Eufaula.
    15. We prohibit the use of all air-thrust boats, including 
aircraft.
    B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of squirrel and rabbit on 
designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations 
subject to the following conditions:
    1. Conditions A1, A2, A3, and A6 through A15 apply.

[[Page 56064]]

    2. We allow squirrel and rabbit hunting on selected areas and days 
during the State seasons.
    3. We prohibit the use of dogs (see Sec.  26.21(b) of this 
chapter).
    4. We allow only shotguns.
    5. We prohibit the mooring or storing of boats from 1\1/2\; hours 
after legal sunset to 1\1/2\; hours before legal sunrise (see Sec.  
27.93 of this chapter).
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer and 
feral hog on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State 
regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. Conditions A1, A6 through A15, and B5 apply.
    2. We allow youth (ages 10 through 15) gun deer hunting in the 
Bradley Unit only by special permit (information obtained from Big/
Upland Game Hunt Application, FWS Form 3-2356) during selected days/
times.
    3. All youth gun hunting opportunities are spaced-blind and 
assigned by lottery. Hunters wishing to participate in our youth gun 
hunt must submit a Big/Upland Game Hunt Application (FWS Form 3-2356). 
Consult the refuge brochure for details.
    4. All youth hunters must remain within sight and normal voice 
contact of a properly hunting-licensed adult age 21 or older. Youth 
hunters must possess and carry verification of passing a State-approved 
hunter education course. One adult may supervise no more than one youth 
hunter.
    5. We allow both archery deer and archery feral hog hunting on 
selected areas and days during the State archery deer season.
    6. We close those portions of the refuge between Bustahatchee and 
Rood Creeks to archery hunting until November 1.
    D. Sport Fishing. We allow fishing, including bowfishing, in 
designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations 
subject to the following conditions:
    1. Conditions A6, A15, and B5 apply.
    2. We allow fishing on selected areas and days.
    3. We allow shoreline access for fishing from \1/2\ hour before 
legal sunrise to \1/2\ hour after legal sunset.
    4. We prohibit taking frog or turtle (see Sec.  27.21 of this 
chapter) on all refuge lands and waters.
    5. We adopt reciprocal license agreements between Alabama and 
Georgia for fishing in Lake Eufaula. Anglers fishing in waters not 
directly connected to Lake Eufaula must be properly licensed for the 
State in which they are fishing.
* * * * *

0
4. Amend Sec.  32.22 Arizona by revising paragraph D.6.i. under Havasu 
National Wildlife Refuge to read as follows:


Sec.  32.22   Arizona.

* * * * *

Havasu National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
* * * * *
    6. * * *
    i. We prohibit entry of all motorized watercraft in all three bays 
as indicated by signs or regulatory buoys.
* * * * *

0
5. Amend Sec.  32.23 Arkansas by:
0
a. Revising paragraph A.22., adding paragraph A.23., revising paragraph 
B.1., adding paragraph B.12., and revising paragraphs C.1. and D.1. 
under Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge;
0
b. Revising paragraph B.15., adding paragraphs B.17. and B.18., and 
revising paragraph C.1., the introductory text of paragraph D., and 
D.1. under Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge;
0
c. Adding paragraphs A.22. and A.23., revising paragraph B.1., adding 
paragraph B.12., and revising paragraphs C.1. and D.1. under Cache 
River National Wildlife Refuge;
0
d. Revising paragraphs B.4., C.5., C.6., and C.13. under Felsenthal 
National Wildlife Refuge;
0
e. Revising paragraph B.4. under Overflow National Wildlife Refuge;
0
f. Revising paragraph B.4. under Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge;
0
g. Removing paragraph A.3., redesignating paragraphs A.4. through A.11. 
as paragraphs A.3. through A.10., revising newly redesignated paragraph 
A.10., adding new paragraph A.11., revising paragraph B.1., adding 
paragraph B.9, and revising paragraphs C.1. and D.1. under Wapanocca 
National Wildlife Refuge; and
0
h. Revising paragraph B.2., C.5., C.12., and C.19. under White River 
National Wildlife Refuge.
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  32.23  Arkansas.

* * * * *

Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    22. We prohibit the possession or use of alcoholic beverages while 
hunting (see Sec.  32.2(j)) and open alcohol containers on refuge 
roads, ATV trails, boat ramps, and parking areas.
    23. We prohibit loaded hunting firearms or muzzleloaders in or on a 
vehicle, ATV, or boat while under power (see Sec.  27.42(b) of this 
chapter). We define ``loaded'' as shells in the firearm or ignition 
device on the muzzleloader.
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
    1. Conditions A1, A5, A10 through A12, and A16 through A23 apply.
* * * * *
    12. We prohibit transportation, possession, or release of live hog 
on the refuge.
    C. Big Game Hunting.* * *
    1. Conditions A1, A5, A10 through A12, A16 through A23, and B8 
through B12 apply.
* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
    1. Conditions A10, A18 through A23, B11, and C16 apply.
* * * * *

Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    15. We prohibit the possession or use of alcoholic beverages while 
hunting (see Sec.  32.2(j)) or open alcohol containers on refuge roads, 
ATV trails, boat ramps, parking areas, and fishing piers/observation 
decks.
* * * * *
    17. We prohibit loaded hunting firearms or muzzleloaders in or on a 
vehicle, ATV, or boat while under power (see Sec.  27.42(b) of this 
chapter). We define ``loaded'' as shells in the firearm or ignition 
device on the muzzleloader.
    18. We prohibit transportation, possession, or release of live hog 
on the refuge.
    C. Big Game Hunting.* * *
    1. Conditions B1, B3 through B5, and B9 through B18 apply.
* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing. We allow fishing and frogging on designated areas 
of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the 
following conditions:
    1. Conditions B9 and B11 through B17 apply.
* * * * *

Cache River National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    22. We prohibit the possession or use of alcoholic beverages while 
hunting (see Sec.  32.2(j)) or open alcohol containers on refuge roads, 
ATV trails, boat ramps, and parking areas.
    23. We prohibit loaded hunting firearms or muzzleloaders in or on a

[[Page 56065]]

vehicle, ATV, or boat while under power (see Sec.  27.42(b) of this 
chapter). We define ``loaded'' as shells in the firearm or ignition 
device on the muzzleloader.
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
    1. Conditions A1, A5, A9 through A11, and A15 through A23 apply.
* * * * *
    12. We prohibit transportation, possession, or release of live hog 
on the refuge.
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
    1. Conditions A1, A5, A9 through A11, A15 through A23, B6 through 
B9, B11, and B12 apply.
* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
    1. Conditions A9, A17, A19, A21 through A23, and B11 apply.
* * * * *

Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    4. We prohibit possession of lead ammunition except that you may 
possess rimfire rifle lead ammunition no larger than .22 caliber for 
upland game hunting. We prohibit possession of shot larger than that 
legal for waterfowl hunting. During the deer and turkey hunts, hunters 
may possess lead ammunition legal for taking deer and turkey. We 
prohibit buckshot for gun deer hunting.
* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    5. We allow muzzleloader deer hunting during the October State 
Muzzleloader season for this deer management zone. The refuge will 
conduct one 4-day quota modern gun hunt for deer, typically in 
November. The refuge also may conduct one mobility-impaired hunt for 
deer typically in early November.
* * * * *
    6. The quota muzzleloader and modern gun deer hunt bag limit is two 
deer, one doe and one buck, or two does on each hunt, one antlered and 
one antlerless as defined by State law. See refuge brochure for 
specific bag limit information.
* * * * *
    13. The refuge will conduct no more than three quota permit spring 
turkey gun hunts and no more than two 3-day quota spring turkey hunts 
(typically in April). Specific hunt dates and application procedures 
will be available at the refuge office in January. We restrict hunt 
participants to those selected for a quota permit, except that one 
nonhunting adult age 21 or older possessing a valid hunting license 
must accompany the youth hunter age 15 and younger.
* * * * *

Overflow National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    4. When upland game hunting, we prohibit possession of lead 
ammunition except that you may possess rimfire rifle lead ammunition no 
larger than .22 caliber. We prohibit possession of shot larger than 
that legal for waterfowl hunting. During the deer and turkey hunts, we 
allow possession of lead ammunition legal for taking deer and turkey. 
We prohibit buckshot for gun deer hunting.
* * * * *

Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    4. We prohibit possession of lead ammunition when hunting except 
that you may possess rimfire rifle lead ammunition no larger than .22 
caliber for upland game hunting. We prohibit possession of shot larger 
than that legal for waterfowl hunting. During the deer and turkey 
hunts, we allow possession of lead ammunition legal for taking deer and 
turkey. We prohibit buckshot for gun deer hunting.
* * * * *

Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    10. We prohibit the possession or use of alcoholic beverages while 
hunting (see Sec.  32.2(j)) and open alcohol containers on refuge 
roads, ATV trails, boat ramps, parking areas, and fishing piers/
observation decks.
    11. We prohibit loaded hunting firearms or muzzleloaders in or on a 
vehicle, ATV, or boat while under power (see Sec.  27.42(b) of this 
chapter). We define ``loaded'' as shells in the firearm or ignition 
device on the muzzleloader.
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
    1. Conditions A1 through A11 apply.
* * * * *
    9. We prohibit transportation, possession, or release of live hog 
on the refuge.
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
    1. Conditions A1 through A11, B4, and B6 through B9 apply.
* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
    1. Conditions A3, A5, A9 through A11, B6, and B7 apply. We allow 
fishing from March 1 through October 31 from [frac12] hour before legal 
sunrise to [frac12] hour after legal sunrise.
* * * * *

White River National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    2. We allow hunting of rabbit and squirrel on the North Unit from 
September 1 until February 28.
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    5. The gun deer hunt will begin in November and will continue for a 
period of 3 days of quota hunting in the North and South Units, and 4 
days of nonquota hunting in the North and/or South Units with annual 
season dates, bag limits, and areas provided in the annual refuge user 
brochure/permit.
* * * * *
    12. We prohibit the placement or hunting with the aid of bait, 
salt, or ingestible attractant (see Sec.  32.2(h)).
* * * * *
    19. We prohibit firearms deer hunting on the Kansas Lake Area after 
October 30 and all other types of hunting after November 30.
* * * * *


0
6. Amend Sec.  32.25 Colorado by revising the entry for Arapaho 
National Wildlife Refuge to read as follows:


Sec.  32.25  Colorado.

* * * * *

Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of migratory game 
birds on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State 
regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. All migratory bird hunting closes annually on December 31.
    2. We prohibit use of, or hunting over, bait (see Sec.  32.2(h)).
    3. We allow use of only portable stands and blinds that the hunter 
must remove following each day's hunt (see Sec.  27.93 of this 
chapter).
    4. Hunters must retrieve spent shotgun shells.
    5. We prohibit hunting 200 feet (60 m) from any public use road, 
designated parking area, or designated public use facility located 
within the hunt area.
    B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of upland game on 
designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations 
subject to the following conditions:

[[Page 56066]]

    1. All upland game hunting closes annually on December 31.
    2. You may possess only approved nontoxic shot while hunting (see 
Sec.  32.2(k)).
    3. Conditions A2, A4, and A5 apply.
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of antelope and elk on 
designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations 
subject to the following conditions:
    1. Conditions A2, A3, and A5 apply.
    2. Hunters must use only firearms and ammunition allowed by State 
law for legal hunting of elk or antelope.
    3. Hunters must follow State law for use of hunter orange.
    4. Elk hunters:
    i. Must possess a refuge-specific license (State license) to hunt 
elk.
    ii. Must attend a scheduled prehunt information meeting prior to 
hunting.
    iii. Youth hunters must be age 12 by the hunt date but not yet age 
18 at the time of the hunt application.
    iv. Disabled hunters must meet Colorado State Department of 
Wildlife (CDOW) criteria for, and be on the State's list of, hunters 
with disabilities.
    v. We will make selections via the CDOW hunt selection process. 
Hunters holding valid tags (controlled by the State) for the unit the 
refuge is located within may write requesting a special tag to hunt 
within the refuge.
    D. Sport Fishing. We allow fishing on designated areas of the 
refuge on the Illinois River in accordance with State regulations 
subject to the following conditions:
    1. We prohibit fishing between June 1 and July 31 each year.
    2. We allow fishing only from legal sunrise to legal sunset.
    3. We prohibit ice fishing on the refuge (there is no specific 
date, but when the river freezes over, fishing closes).
* * * * *

0
7. Amend Sec.  32.28 Florida by:
0
a. Revising paragraphs A.1. and A.4. through A.17., adding paragraph 
A.18., and revising paragraph D.8. under Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee 
National Wildlife Refuge;
0
b. Revising paragraph A. and D.1., and adding paragraph D.17. under 
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge;
0
c. Adding paragraph A.4. and revising paragraphs B.4. and D.10. under 
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge;
0
d. Revising paragraphs C.2. and C.8., removing paragraph C.9., 
redesignating paragraphs C.10. through C.22. as paragraphs C.9. through 
C.21., and revising newly redesignated paragraphs C.9. and C.15. under 
St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge; and
0
e. Revising paragraphs A.2., A.3., A.5., A.6., A.9., A.10., A.11., 
A.13., adding paragraph A.14., revising paragraphs D.1., D.3., D.4., 
and adding paragraphs D.6. and D.7. under Ten Thousand Islands National 
Wildlife Refuge.
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  32.28  Florida.

* * * * *

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
    1. You must possess and carry a signed refuge waterfowl hunt permit 
(signed brochure) while hunting. These brochures are available at the 
refuge visitor center and on the refuge's Web site (http://www.fws.gov/loxahatchee).
* * * * *
    4. We prohibit the taking of any other wildlife (see Sec.  27.21 of 
this chapter).
    5. We do not open to hunting on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Christmas 
Day.
    6. We allow hunting on the refuge from \1/2\ hour before legal 
sunrise to 1 p.m. Hunters may enter the refuge no earlier than 4 a.m. 
and must be off the refuge by 3 p.m.
    7. Hunters may only enter and leave the refuge at the Headquarters 
Area (Boynton Beach) and the Hillsboro Area (Boca Raton).
    8. The possession and use of firearms shall be in accordance with 
all applicable Federal and State laws and regulations (see Sec. Sec.  
27.41 and 27.42 of this chapter).
    9. We allow only temporary blinds of native vegetation. We prohibit 
the taking, removing, or destroying of refuge vegetation (see Sec.  
27.51 of this chapter).
    10. Hunters must remove decoys and other personal property (see 
Sec.  27.93 of this chapter) from the hunting area each day.
    11. We encourage the use of dogs to retrieve dead or wounded 
waterfowl. Dogs must remain under the immediate control of the owner at 
all times (see Sec.  26.21(b) of this chapter). We prohibit pets at all 
other times.
    12. Hunters must complete a Migratory Bird Hunt Report (FWS Form 3-
2361) and place it in an entrance fee canister each day prior to 
exiting the refuge.
    13. All youth hunters age 15 and younger must remain within sight 
and normal voice contact of an adult age 21 or older, who possesses a 
valid hunting license. Youth hunters must have completed a hunter 
education course.
    14. We allow only boats equipped with factory-manufactured-water-
cooled outboard motors, electric motors, and nonmotorized boats. We 
prohibit boats with air-cooled engines, airboats, fan boats, 
hovercraft, and personal watercraft (Jet Skis, Jet Boats, Wave Runners, 
etc.).
    15. There is a 35 mph speed limit in all waters of the refuge. A 
500-foot (150-meter) Idle Speed Zone is at each of the refuge's three 
boat ramps.
    16. We require all boats operating outside of the main perimeter 
canals (the L-40 Canal, L-39 Canal, L-7 Canal, and L-101 Canal) in 
interior areas of the refuge and within the hunt area, to fly a 12-inch 
by 12-inch (30-cm x 30-cm) orange flag 10 feet (3 m) above the vessel's 
waterline.
    17. We prohibit motorized vehicles of any type on the levees and 
undesignated routes (see Sec.  27.31 of this chapter).
    18. For emergencies or to report violations, contact law 
enforcement personnel at 1-800-307-5789. Law enforcement officers may 
be monitoring VHF Channel 16.
* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
* * * * *
    8. Conditions A4, A8, A14 through A17, and A19 apply.
* * * * *

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of duck and coot 
on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations 
subject to the following conditions:
    1. Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on 
national wildlife refuges must comply with all provisions of Federal, 
State, and local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in 
accordance with refuge regulations (see Sec.  27.42 of this chapter and 
part 32).
    2. Hunters must possess and carry a current, signed Merritt Island 
National Wildlife Refuge hunt permit (signed brochure) at all times 
while hunting waterfowl on the refuge.
    3. Hunters must possess and carry (or hunt within 30 yards [27 m] 
of a hunter who possesses) a valid refuge waterfowl hunting quota 
permit (State permit) while hunting in areas 1 or 4 from the beginning 
of the regular waterfowl season through December 31. No more than four 
hunters will hunt using a single valid refuge waterfowl hunting quota 
permit.
    4. We allow hunting on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and all 
Federal holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's 
Day, that fall within the State's waterfowl season.
    5. We allow hunting in four designated areas of the refuge as 
delineated in the refuge hunting

[[Page 56067]]

regulations map. We prohibit hunters to enter the normal or expanded 
restricted areas of the Kennedy Space Center.
    6. We allow hunting of only waterfowl on refuge-established hunt 
days from the legal shooting time (\1/2\ hour before legal sunrise) 
until 1 p.m.
    7. We allow entrance to the refuge no earlier than 4 a.m. for the 
purpose of waterfowl hunting.
    8. We require all hunters to successfully complete a State-approved 
hunter education course.
    9. We require an adult, age 21 or older, to supervise hunters age 
15 and younger.
    10. We prohibit accessing a hunt area from Black Point Wildlife 
Drive. We prohibit leaving vehicles parked on Black Point Wildlife 
Drive, Playalinda Beach Road, or Scrub Ridge Trail (see Sec.  27.31 of 
this chapter).
    11. We prohibit construction of permanent blinds (see Sec.  27.92 
of this chapter) or digging into dikes.
    12. We prohibit hunting or shooting within 15 feet (4.5 m) or 
shooting from any portion of a dike, dirt road, or railroad grade.
    13. We prohibit hunting or shooting within 150 yards (135 m) of SR 
402, SR 406, any paved road right-of-way, or any road open to vehicle 
traffic. We prohibit shooting over any dike or roadway.
    14. All hunters must stop at posted refuge waterfowl check stations 
and report statistical hunt information on the Migratory Bird Hunt 
Report (FWS Form 3-2361) to refuge personnel.
    15. Hunters may not possess more than 25 shells in one hunt day.
* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
    1. Anglers must possess and carry a current, signed refuge fishing 
permit (signed brochure) at all times while fishing on the refuge.
* * * * *
    17. Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on 
national wildlife refuges must comply with all provisions of Federal, 
State, and local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in 
accordance with refuge regulations (see Sec.  27.42 of this chapter and 
part 32).
* * * * *

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    4. Hunters may access the hunt area by boat.
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    4. You must unload all hunting firearms for transport in vehicles 
(uncap muzzleloaders).
* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
* * * * *
    10. The interior ponds and lakes on the Panacea Unit are open year-
round for bank fishing. We open vehicle access to these areas from 
March 15 through May 15 each year. Ponds and lakes that anglers access 
from County Road 372 are open year-round for fishing and boating.
* * * * *

St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    2. We restrict hunting to three periods: Sambar deer, raccoon, and 
feral hog (primitive weapons); white-tailed deer, raccoon, feral hog 
(archery); and white-tailed deer, raccoon, and feral hog (primitive 
weapons). Contact the refuge office for specific dates. Hunters may 
check-in and set up camp sites and stands on the day prior to the 
scheduled hunt as specified in the brochure. Hunters must leave the 
island and remove all equipment by the date and time specified in the 
brochure.
* * * * *
    8. You may retrieve game from the closed areas only if accompanied 
by a refuge staff member or a refuge officer.
    9. We limit hunting weapons to primitive weapons on the sambar deer 
hunt and the primitive weapons white-tailed deer hunt. We limit the 
archery hunt to bow and arrow. Weapons must meet all State regulations. 
We prohibit crossbows during refuge hunts except with State permit.
* * * * *
    15. Hunting weapons must have the caps removed from muzzleloaders 
and arrows quivered before and after legal shooting hours.
* * * * *

Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    2. We allow hunting only on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and 
Federal holidays that fall within the State's waterfowl season, 
including: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
    3. Hunters must possess and carry a valid, signed refuge permit 
(signed brochure) at all times while hunting on the refuge.
* * * * *
    5. Hunters may enter the refuge from the south side of U.S. 41. We 
allow hunting from \1/2\ hour before legal sunrise until 12 p.m. 
Hunters may enter the refuge no earlier than 4 a.m. and must remove all 
decoys, guns, blinds, and other related equipment (see Sec.  27.93 of 
this chapter) by 1 p.m. daily.
    6. We prohibit hunting within 100 yards (90 m) of the south edge of 
U.S. 41 and the area posted around Marsh Trail extending south from 
U.S. 41.
* * * * *
    9. Hunters may only take duck and coot with a shotgun (no larger 
than a 10 gauge). We prohibit target practice on the refuge (see Sec.  
27.42 of this chapter).
    10. We prohibit air-thrust boats, hovercraft, personal watercraft 
(jet skis, jet boats, and wave runners), and off-road vehicles at all 
times. We limit vessels to a maximum of a 25 hp outboard motor.
    11. We require all commercial guides to purchase, possess, and 
carry a refuge Special Use Permit (FWS Form 3-1383).
* * * * *
    13. We allow youth hunt days in accordance with State regulations. 
Hunters age 15 or younger may hunt only with a nonhunting adult age 18 
or older. Youth hunters must remain within sight and sound of the 
nonhunting adult. Youth hunters must have completed a hunter education 
course.
    14. Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on 
national wildlife refuges must comply with all provisions of Federal, 
State, and local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in 
accordance with refuge regulations (see Sec.  27.42 of this chapter and 
part 32).
* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing.* * *
    1. We prohibit air-thrust boats, hovercraft, personal watercraft 
(jet skis, jet boats, and wave runners), and off-road vehicles in the 
freshwater and brackish marsh area south of U.S. 41. We limit vessels 
to a maximum of 25 hp outboard motor.
* * * * *
    3. We only allow crabbing for recreational use in the freshwater 
and brackish marsh area of the refuge. You may use a dip or landing 
net, drop net, or hook and line.
    4. We prohibit commercial fishing and the taking of snake, turtle, 
frog, and other wildlife (see Sec.  27.21 of this chapter) in the 
freshwater and brackish marsh area of the refuge.
* * * * *
    6. Anglers and crabbers must attend their lines at all times.
    7. We require all commercial guides operating in the freshwater and 
brackish marsh area of the refuge to purchase,

[[Page 56068]]

possess, and carry a refuge Special Use Permit (FWS Form 3-1383).
* * * * *

0
8. Amend Sec.  32.29 Georgia by:
0
a. Revising paragraphs C.1., C.9., C.11., and C.13., and adding 
paragraph C.20. under Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge:
0
b. Revising paragraphs C.3., C.9., C.11., and C.12., and adding 
paragraph C.20. under Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge;
0
c. Revising paragraphs C.5., C.7., C.10., C.11., and adding paragraph 
C.12. under Savannah National Wildlife Refuge; and
0
d. Revising paragraphs C.1., C.5., C.6., C.8., and C.9., and adding 
paragraph C.21. under Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge.
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  32.29  Georgia.

* * * * *

Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting.* * *
    1. Hunters must possess and carry a signed refuge hunting 
regulations brochure on their person at all times. They may obtain hunt 
information and refuge hunting brochures at the Savannah Coastal 
Refuges Complex headquarters.
* * * * *
    9. For hunting, we allow only bows in accordance with State 
regulations.
* * * * *
    11. You may take five deer (no more than two antlered), and we will 
issue State bonus tags for two of these. There is no bag limit on feral 
hog.
* * * * *
    13. Hunters must be on their stands from \1/2\ hour before legal 
sunrise until 9 a.m. and from 2 hours before legal sunset until \1/2\ 
hour after legal sunset.
* * * * *
    20. We prohibit the use of trail or game cameras.
* * * * *

Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting.* * *
* * * * *
    3. Hunters must be on their stands from \1/2\ hour before legal 
sunrise until 9 a.m. and from 2 hours before legal sunset until \1/2\ 
hour after legal sunset.
* * * * *
    9. During the archery hunt, we allow only bows in accordance with 
State regulations.
* * * * *
    11. Hunters may take five deer (no more than two antlered), and we 
will issue State bonus tags for two of these. There is no bag limit for 
feral hog.
    12. During the gun hunt, we allow only shotguns (20 gauge or 
larger; slugs only) and bows in accordance with State regulations.
* * * * *
    20. We prohibit the use of trail or game cameras.
* * * * *

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    5. We allow only shotguns (20 gauge or larger; slugs only), center-
fire rifles (.22 caliber or larger), muzzleloaders, and bows for deer 
and hog hunting throughout the designated hunt area during the November 
gun hunt and the March hog hunt.
* * * * *
    7. Hunters may take five deer (no more than two antlered). There is 
no bag limit on feral hog.
* * * * *
    10. We allow turkey hunting during a special 3-week turkey hunt in 
April. Turkey hunters may harvest only three gobblers.
    11. We allow shotguns with only 2 shot or smaller and 
bows, in accordance with State regulations, for turkey hunting. We 
prohibit the use of slugs or buckshot during turkey hunts.
    12. We prohibit the use of trail or game cameras.
* * * * *

Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
    1. Hunters must possess and carry a signed refuge hunting 
regulations brochure on their person at all times. They may obtain hunt 
information and refuge hunting brochures at the Savannah Coastal 
Refuges Complex headquarters.
* * * * *
    5. Hunters may take five deer (no more than two antlered), and we 
will issue State bonus tags for two of these. There is no bag limit on 
feral hog.
    6. Hunters must be on their stands from \1/2\ hour before legal 
sunrise until 9 a.m. and from 2 hours before legal sunset until \1/2\ 
hour after legal sunset.
* * * * *
    8. We allow only bows and muzzleloading rifles, in accordance with 
State regulations, during primitive weapons hunt.
    9. When hunting, we allow only shotguns (20 gauge or larger; slug 
only), center-fire rifles (.22 caliber or larger), bows, and primitive 
weapons, in accordance with State regulations, during the gun hunt.
* * * * *
    21. We prohibit the use of trail or game cameras.
* * * * *
0
9. Amend Sec.  32.32 Illinois by:
0
a. Revising the entry for Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge; and
0
b. Revising paragraphs B.3. and D.3. under Port Louisa National 
Wildlife Refuge.
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  32.32  Illinois.

* * * * *

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of waterfowl on 
designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations 
subject to the following conditions:
    1. We require a refuge hunt brochure permit that is available at 
the refuge office and in brochure dispensers at multiple locations 
throughout the refuge. You must carry this signed permit when hunting 
on the refuge.
    2. We prohibit hunting in the restricted use area of Crab Orchard 
Lake and areas posted closed to hunting as described in the hunting 
brochure.
    3. We prohibit hunting within 50 yards (45 m) of all designated 
public use facilities, including but not limited to: parking areas, 
picnic areas, campgrounds, marinas, boat ramps, public roads, and 
established hiking trails listed in the refuge trails brochure.
    4. Hunters must remove all boats, decoys, blinds, blind materials, 
stands, platforms, and other personal equipment (see Sec. Sec.  27.93 
and 27.94 of this chapter) brought onto the refuge at the end of each 
day's hunt.
    5. We prohibit the construction or use of permanent blinds, stands, 
platforms, or scaffolds (see Sec.  27.92 of this chapter).
    6. Waterfowl hunting blinds must be a minimum of 200 yards (180 m) 
apart. Hunters must anchor boat blinds on the shore or anchor them a 
minimum of 200 yards (180 m) away from any shoreline.
    7. An adult age 21 or older must supervise youth hunters under age 
16, and youth hunters must remain in sight of and normal voice contact 
with the adult.
    8. We prohibit the use of paint, flagging, reflectors, tacks, or 
other manmade materials to mark trails or hunting locations (see Sec.  
27.93 of this chapter).
    9. We allow the use of hunting dogs during the hunting season, 
provided the

[[Page 56069]]

dogs are under the immediate control of the hunter at all times.
    10. We allow waterfowl hunting on the eastern shoreline in Grassy 
Bay.
    11. Waterfowl hunters may hunt in the ``controlled waterfowl 
hunting area'' up to 3 days prior to Canada goose season.
    12. We allow waterfowl hunting in the ``controlled waterfowl 
hunting area'' (as displayed in the refuge hunting brochure) during the 
Canada goose season subject to the following conditions:
    i. Waterfowl hunters must attend a special drawing on the day of 
the hunt.
    ii. We allow hunting \1/2\ hour before legal sunrise to posted 
closing times.
    iii. Hunters must hunt from assigned refuge blinds or markers. We 
allow water blind hunters to hunt from a boat immediately adjacent to 
their blind/marker.
    iv. All hunters must report their harvest at the end of the day's 
hunt using the Waterfowl Harvest Report (FWS Form 3-2361).
    B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of squirrel, rabbit, 
bobwhite quail, raccoon, opossum, red fox, grey fox, and coyote on 
designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations 
subject to the following conditions:
    1. Conditions A1 through A5 and A7 through A9 apply.
    2. We prohibit upland game hunting in the ``controlled waterfowl 
hunting area'' during the Canada goose hunting season, except we allow 
furbearer hunting from legal sunset to legal sunrise.
    3. We prohibit hunters using rifles or handguns with ammunition 
larger than .22 caliber rimfire, except they may use black powder 
firearms up to and including .40 caliber.
    4. We allow the use of .22 and .17 caliber rimfire lead ammunition 
for the taking of small game and furbearers during open season.
    5. We prohibit target practice or any nonhunting discharge of 
firearms (see Sec.  27.42 of this chapter).
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer and 
turkey on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State 
regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. Conditions A1 through A5 and A7, A8, and B4 apply.
    2. We require all deer and turkey hunters using the ``restricted 
use area'' (as described in the hunting brochure) to check-in at the 
refuge visitor center prior to hunting.
    3. We allow the use of legal-sized lead ammunition (see current 
Illinois hunting digest) for the taking of deer and turkey.
    4. We prohibit the use of handguns for the taking of deer in the 
restricted use area.
    5. We prohibit the use of ``deer drives'' for the taking or 
attempting to take deer. We define a ``deer drive'' as a hunter(s) 
moving through an area with the intent of displacing one or more deer 
in the direction of another hunter(s).
    6. We allow deer hunting with archery equipment only in the 
following areas:
    i. In the ``controlled waterfowl hunting area'';
    ii. On all refuge lands north of Illinois State Route 13; and
    iii. In the area north of the Crab Orchard Lake emergency spillway 
and west of Crab Orchard Lake.
    D. Sport Fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the 
refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following 
conditions:
    1. On Crab Orchard Lake west of Wolf Creek Road:
    i. Anglers may fish from boats all year.
    ii. Anglers must remove all trotlines/jugs from legal sunrise until 
legal sunset from the Friday immediately prior to Memorial Day through 
Labor Day.
    2. On Crab Orchard Lake east of Wolf Creek Road:
    i. Anglers may fish from boats March 15 through September 30.
    ii. Anglers may fish all year at the Wolf Creek and Route 148 
causeways.
    3. Anglers must check and remove fish from all jugs and trotlines 
daily.
    4. We prohibit using stakes to anchor any trotlines and anchoring 
trotlines from any object on the shoreline.
    5. Anglers must tag all jugs and trotlines with their name and 
address.
    6. We prohibit anglers using jugs or trotlines with any flotation 
device that has previously contained any petroleum-based material or 
toxic substances.
    7. Anglers must attach a buoyed device that is visible on the 
water's surface to all trotlines.
    8. Anglers may use all legal noncommercial fishing methods, except 
they may not use any underwater breathing apparatus.
    9. On A-41, Bluegill, Managers, Honkers, and Vistors Ponds:
    i. Anglers may fish only from legal sunrise to legal sunset March 
15 through September 30.
    ii. We prohibit anglers from using boats or flotation devices.
    10. Anglers may not submerge any pots or similar object to take or 
locate any fish.
    11. Organizers of all fishing events must possess a Special Use 
Permit (FWS Form 3-1383G or 3-1383C).
    12. We prohibit anglers from fishing within 250 yards (225 m) of an 
occupied waterfowl hunting blind.
    13. We restrict motorboats on all refuge waters to slow speeds 
leaving ``no wake'' within 150 feet (45 m) of any shoreline, swimming 
area, marina entrance, boat ramp, causeway tunnel, and any areas 
indicated on the lake zoning map in the refuge fishing brochure.
    14. We prohibit the use of boat motors of more than ``10 horse 
power'' on Devils Kitchen and Little Grassy Lakes.
    15. We prohibit the use of gas-powered motors in the southeastern 
section of Devils Kitchen Lake (consult lake zoning map in the refuge 
fishing brochure).
    16. We prohibit the use of trotlines/jugs on all refuge waters 
outside of Crab Orchard Lake.
    17. Specific creel and size limits apply on various refuge waters 
as listed in the Crab Orchard Fishing Brochure and the annual Illinois 
fishing digest.
* * * * *

Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    3. We allow hunting in designated areas on the Horseshoe Bend 
Division from September 1 until September 15 and December 1 until 
February 28. We allow spring turkey hunting.
* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
* * * * *
    3. We close the following Divisions to all public access: Louisa 
Division--September 15 until January 1; Horseshoe Bend Division--
September 15 until December 1; Keithsburg Division--September 15 until 
January 1.
* * * * *

0
10. Amend Sec.  32.33 Indiana by revising paragraphs B.2. and B.4., 
adding paragraphs B.6. and B.7., revising paragraphs C.2. and C.8., and 
adding paragraphs C.9. and D.5. under Muscatatuck National Wildlife 
Refuge, to read as follows:


Sec.  32.33  Indiana.

* * * * *

Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    2. We allow the use of hunting dogs only for hunting rabbit, quail, 
and squirrel provided the dogs are under the immediate control of the 
hunter at all times (see Sec.  26.21(b) of this chapter).
* * * * *

[[Page 56070]]

    4. Hunters must use nontoxic shot in shotguns.
* * * * *
    6. We require all hunters except turkey hunters to wear hunter 
orange.
    7. We require all hunters to display a game harvest report (FWS 
Form 3-2359), with name and date filled in, on their vehicle dashboard 
while hunting. Hunters may pick up reports at registration boxes, 
complete the reports, and leave them there before departing the refuge.
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    2. You must possess and carry a State-issued refuge hunting permit 
to hunt deer during the State early archery season in October, the 
muzzleloader season, and the youth hunting weekend.
* * * * *
    8. We allow only spring turkey hunting on the refuge, and hunters 
must possess a State-issued hunting permit during the first 2 weeks of 
the season.
    9. We allow archery deer hunting in November except during youth 
hunting weekend.
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
* * * * *
    5. We prohibit lead sinkers. We allow sinkers made of nontoxic 
materials.
* * * * *

0
11. Amend Sec.  32.34 Iowa by:
0
a. Revising paragraph C.6., adding paragraph C.12, revising the 
introductory text of paragraph D., and revising paragraphs D.1., D.2., 
and D.5. under DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge; and
0
b. Revising the entry for Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife 
Refuge.
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  32.34  Iowa.

* * * * *

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    6. We prohibit the use of a crossbow as archery equipment unless 
the hunter has obtained a State-issued disability crossbow permit.
* * * * *
    12. We prohibit participation in organized deer drives.
    D. Sport Fishing. We allow sport fishing in DeSoto National 
Wildlife Refuge in accordance with the States of Iowa and Nebraska 
regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. We allow ice fishing in DeSoto Lake from January 2 through the 
end of February.
    2. We allow the use of pole and line or rod and reel fishing in 
DeSoto Lake from April 15 through October 14.
* * * * *
    5. We allow the use of portable ice fishing shelters on a daily 
basis from January 2 through the end of February.
* * * * *

Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. Except for those units adjacent to 
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, we allow hunting of duck, goose, 
merganser, coot, rail (Virginia and sora only), woodcock, and snipe on 
designated areas in accordance with State regulations subject to the 
following conditions:
    1. Hunters may possess only approved nontoxic shot while in the 
field (see Sec.  32.2(k)).
    2. Hunters may construct temporary blinds using manmade materials 
only. We prohibit bringing plants or their parts onto the refuge.
    3. We prohibit the construction or use of permanent blinds, stands, 
or scaffolds (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter).
    4. We prohibit leaving boats, decoys, or other personal property 
unattended at any time.
    5. Hunters must remove boats, decoys, portable or temporary blinds, 
materials brought onto the refuge, and other personal property at the 
end of each day's hunt (see Sec. Sec.  27.93 and 27.94 of this 
chapter).
    6. We allow the use of hunting dogs, provided that the dogs remain 
under the immediate control of the hunter at all times during the 
State-approved hunting season (see Sec.  26.21(b) of this chapter).
    7. We prohibit the use of motorized watercraft.
    8. We prohibit camping.
    B. Upland Game Hunting. Except for those units adjacent to Neal 
Smith National Wildlife Refuge, we allow the hunting of ring-necked 
pheasant, bobwhite quail, gray partridge, rabbit (cottontail and jack), 
squirrel (fox and gray), groundhog, raccoon, opossum, fox (red and 
gray), coyote, badger, striped skunk, and crow on designated areas of 
the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the 
following conditions:
    1. Shotgun hunters may possess only approved nontoxic shot while in 
the field (see Sec.  32.2(k)).
    2. We allow the use of dogs for upland game bird hunting only, 
provided the dogs remain under the immediate control of the hunter at 
all times during the State-approved hunting season (see Sec.  26.21(b) 
of this chapter).
    3. We prohibit the use of dogs for hunting furbearers.
    4. Conditions A7 and A8 apply.
    C. Big Game Hunting. Except for those units adjacent to Neal Smith 
National Wildlife Refuge, we allow the hunting of deer and turkey on 
designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations 
subject to the following conditions:
    1. We allow the use of temporary stands, blinds, platforms, or 
ladders. Hunters may construct blinds using manmade materials only. We 
prohibit bringing plants or their parts onto the refuge.
    2. We prohibit the construction or use of permanent blinds, stands, 
scaffolds, or ladders (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter).
    3. Conditions A5, A7, and A8 apply.
    D. Sport Fishing. [Reserved]
* * * * *

0
12. Amend Sec.  32.36 Kentucky by revising paragraphs A.11. and B.6. 
under Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge to read as follows:


Sec.  32.36  Kentucky.

* * * * *

Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    11. We prohibit the use of any electronic call or other electronic 
device used for producing or projecting vocal sounds of any wildlife 
species with the exception of electronic calls used during the refuge 
coyote hunt starting at legal sunrise on the first Monday following the 
end of deer archery season and closing at legal sunset on the Friday 2 
weeks prior to the beginning of youth turkey season.
* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    6. You may hunt coyote under Statewide regulations starting at 
legal sunrise on the first Monday following the end of deer archery 
season and closing at legal sunset on the Friday 2 weeks prior to the 
beginning of youth turkey season. Hunters may also take coyote during 
any daytime refuge hunt for other wildlife species with weapons, 
ammunition, and equipment legal for that species only.
* * * * *

0
13. Amend Sec.  32.37 Louisiana by:
0
a. Revising paragraphs A.1., C.2., and C.12. under Bayou Cocodrie 
National Wildlife Refuge;
0
b. Revising paragraphs A., D.2., and D.6. through D.8., and removing 
paragraph D.10. under Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge;

[[Page 56071]]

0
c. Revising the introductory text of paragraph A., revising paragraphs 
A.2., A.3., A.7., C.2., and C.3. under Bayou Teche National Wildlife 
Refuge;
0
d. Revising the introductory text of paragraph A., revising paragraphs 
A.7., B.1., B.4., and D.6. under Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife 
Refuge;
0
e. Revising paragraphs A.6. through A.8. and A10. through A.15., adding 
paragraphs A.16. and A.17., revising paragraphs B., C.1., C.3., C.8., 
and D.2. under Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge;
0
f. Revising paragraphs A.12., and C.2. through C.4., adding paragraphs 
C.5. and C.6. under Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge;
0
g. Revising paragraph A.11. under Delta National Wildlife Refuge;
0
h. Revising paragraphs A.4. and B.2. under Grand Cote National Wildlife 
Refuge;
0
i. Revising paragraphs A.14. and C.2. through C.8., adding paragraph 
C.9., revising paragraphs D.1. and D.10. through D.14., and adding 
paragraphs D.15. through D.18. under Lacassine National Wildlife 
Refuge;
0
j. Revising paragraphs A.2. under Lake Ophelia National Wildlife 
Refuge;
0
k. Revising the introductory text of paragraph A., revising paragraphs 
A.3., A.4., and A.6., adding paragraphs A.8. through A.12., revising 
paragraphs C.1. and C.4. through C.6., adding paragraphs C.7. and C.8., 
and revising paragraph D.5. under Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge;
0
l. Revising paragraph A.10. under Red River National Wildlife Refuge; 
and
0
m. Revising paragraph A.16. under Sabine National Wildlife Refuge.
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  32.37  Louisiana.

* * * * *

Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
    1. We require a $15 annual Public Use Permit (signature required) 
for all hunters and anglers age 16 and older. We waive the fee for 
individuals age 60 and older. The user must sign and carry the permit.
* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    2. The bag limit is one antlered or one antlerless deer per day. 
Hunters must check out each deer harvested according to the 
instructions posted at a designated check station prior to leaving the 
refuge. The State season limit and tagging regulations apply.
* * * * *
    12. There is a $5 application fee per person for the lottery gun 
hunt application.
* * * * *

Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of migratory game 
birds (duck and goose) on designated areas of the refuge in accordance 
with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. We consider all waterfowl and coot hunting to be youth hunts. 
Youths, age 15 or younger, must accompany an adult age 21 or older. The 
youth must be capable of and must actively participate in such hunt by 
the possession and/or firing of a legal weapon during such hunt for the 
express purpose of harvesting game.
    2. Each adult may supervise no more than two youths, and no more 
than one adult may supervise each youth during the course of any hunt. 
Youth must remain within normal voice contact of the adult who is 
supervising them. Adults accompanying youth on refuge hunts may 
participate by hunting but may not harvest more than their own daily 
bag limit. Youth must harvest their own bag limits.
    3. We allow waterfowl (ducks, geese) and coot hunting until 12 p.m. 
(noon) on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, including early teal 
season, youth waterfowl hunt season, or other such special seasons 
which may be promulgated by law or statute. We shall close the refuge 
to waterfowl and coot hunting during any segment of goose season that 
extends beyond the regular duck season.
    4. Hunters may not enter the refuge prior to 4 a.m. on the day of 
the hunt and must exit the refuge with all equipment and materials (see 
Sec.  27.93 of this chapter) no later than 1 p.m.
    5. We only allow hunting on those portions of the refuge that lie 
outside of the confines of the hurricane protection levee system.
    6. Specific State regulations apply during the State Youth 
Waterfowl Hunting Days (i.e., adults may not hunt), except adults must 
be age 21 or older.
    7. Hunters must possess and carry a valid refuge hunt permit 
(signed brochure).
    8. We allow dogs only to locate, point, and retrieve while hunting.
    9. We allow only nontoxic shot while hunting (see Sec.  32.2(k)).
    10. We prohibit hunting within 500 feet (150 m) of any residence or 
structure adjacent to the refuge; and we prohibit hunting within 200 
feet (60 m) of any road, railroad, levee, water control structure, 
designated public use trail, designated parking area, and other 
designated public use facilities.
    11. We require hunters to comply with State regulations regarding 
the completion of a Hunter Safety Course.
    12. Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on 
national wildlife refuges must comply with all provisions of State and 
local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with 
refuge regulations (see Sec.  27.42 of this chapter and specific refuge 
regulations in part 32).
    13. We prohibit air-thrust boats, aircraft, mud boats, and air-
cooled propulsion engines on the refuge.
    14. We prohibit motorized vehicles on all levees.
    15. We prohibit any person or group to act as a hunting/angling 
guide, outfitter, or in any other capacity that any other individual(s) 
pays or promises to pay directly or indirectly for services rendered to 
any other person or persons hunting/angling on the refuge, regardless 
of whether such payment is for guiding, outfitting, lodging, or club 
membership.
    16. We prohibit the use of open fires.
    17. We prohibit camping.
    18. We prohibit target shooting on the refuge.
    19. We prohibit the use of any type of material used as flagging or 
trail markers, except bright eyes.
* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
* * * * *
    2. We allow sport fishing and shell fishing year-round on 
designated areas of the refuge and only after 12 p.m. in the waterfowl 
hunting areas during the State waterfowl hunting season. We close the 
remainder of the refuge from November 1 through January 31.
* * * * *
    6. We prohibit feeding of any wildlife within the refuge.
    7. We prohibit all commercial finfishing and shell fishing.
    8. Conditions A12 through A19 apply.
* * * * *

Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of migratory game 
birds and waterfowl on designated areas of the refuge in accordance 
with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
* * * * *
    2. We prohibit hunting in and/or shooting into or across any 
agricultural field, roadway, or canal.

[[Page 56072]]

    3. An adult at least age 21 must supervise youth hunters age 15 and 
younger during all hunts. One adult may supervise two youths during 
small game hunts and migratory bird hunts but may supervise only one 
youth during big game hunts. Youth must remain within normal voice 
contact of the adult who is supervising them. Parents or adult 
guardians are responsible for ensuring that hunters under age 16 do not 
engage in conduct that would constitute a violation of refuge 
regulations.
* * * * *
    7. We prohibit parking, walking, or hunting within 150 feet (45 m) 
of any active oil well site, production facility, or equipment. We also 
prohibit hunting within 150 feet (45 m) of any public road, refuge 
road, building, residence, or designated public facility.
* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    2. We allow archery deer hunting from the start of the State 
archery season until January 31. Hunters may take deer of either sex in 
accordance with State-approved archery equipment and regulations. The 
State season limits apply. The following units are open to archery deer 
hunting: Centerville, Bayou Sale, North Bend East, North Bend West, and 
Garden City. We close refuge archery hunting on those days that the 
refuge deer gun hunts occur.
    3. We allow hunting only in the Centerville, Garden City, Bayou 
Sale, North Bend East, and North Bend West Units. We do not open the 
Bayou Sale Unit for all big game firearm hunts.
* * * * *

Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of duck, coot, 
goose, snipe, rail, gallinule, and woodcock on designated areas of the 
refuge during the State season for those species in accordance with 
State regulations subject to the following conditions:
* * * * *
    7. An adult age 21 or older must supervise youth hunters age 15 or 
younger during all hunts. One adult may supervise two youths during 
small game and migratory bird hunts but may supervise only one youth 
during big game hunts. Youth must remain within normal voice contact of 
the adult who is supervising them. Parents or adult guardians are 
responsible for ensuring that hunters under age 16 do not engage in 
conduct that would constitute a violation of refuge regulations.
* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
    1. We allow upland game hunting during the open State season using 
only approved nontoxic shot (see Sec.  32.2(k)) size 4 or smaller or 
.17 or .22 caliber rimfire rifles.
* * * * *
    4. Conditions A5 through A10 and A12 through A17 apply.
* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
* * * * *
    6. Conditions A6, A8, A9, and A13 (angling guides) through A17 
apply.
* * * * *

Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    6. An adult at least age 21 must supervise youth hunters age 15 or 
younger during all hunts. One adult may supervise two youths during 
small game hunts and migratory bird hunts but may supervise only one 
youth during big game hunts. Youth must remain within normal voice 
contact of the adult who is supervising them. Parents or adult 
guardians are responsible for ensuring that hunters under age 16 do not 
engage in conduct that would constitute a violation of refuge 
regulations.
    7. We prohibit hunting within 150 feet (45 m) from the centerline 
of any public road, refuge road, designated or maintained trail, 
building, residence, designated public facility, or from or across 
aboveground oil or gas or electric facilities. We prohibit hunting in 
refuge-designated closed areas, which we post on the refuge and 
identify in the refuge hunt permits (see Sec.  27.31 of this chapter).
    8. For the purpose of hunting, we prohibit possession of slugs, 
buckshot, rifle, or pistol ammunition unless otherwise specified.
* * * * *
    10. We prohibit any person or group to act as a hunting guide, 
outfitter, or in any other capacity that any other individual(s) pays 
or promises to pay directly to indirectly for services rendered to any 
other person or persons hunting on the refuge, regardless of whether 
such payment is for guiding, outfitting, lodging, or club membership.
    11. We prohibit horses, trail cameras, and ATVs.
    12. You may possess only approved nontoxic shot while hunting on 
the refuge (see Sec.  32.2(k)).
    13. We prohibit the use of any type of material used as flagging or 
trail markers, except bright eyes.
    14. We prohibit the use or possession of alcohol while hunting (see 
Sec.  32.2(j)).
    15. We prohibit possession or distribution of bait while in the 
field and hunting with the aid of bait, including any grain, salt, 
minerals, or any nonnaturally occurring food attractant, on the refuge 
(see Sec.  32.2(h)).
    16. We prohibit target shooting on the refuge.
    17. Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on 
national wildlife refuges must comply with all provisions of State and 
local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with 
refuge regulations (see Sec.  27.42 of this chapter and specific refuge 
regulations in part 32).
    B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of squirrel, rabbit, 
raccoon, and opossum on designated areas of the refuge in accordance 
with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. We allow use of dogs for rabbit, squirrel, raccoon, and opossum 
on specific dates listed in the refuge hunt brochure.
    2. We will close the refuge to hunting (except waterfowl) and 
camping when the Pearl River reaches 15.5 feet (4.65 m) on the Pearl 
River Gauge at Pearl River, Louisiana.
    3. We prohibit the take of feral hog during any upland game hunts.
    4. All hunters (including archery hunters and small game hunters) 
except waterfowl hunters must wear and display 400 square inches (2,600 
cm\2\) of unbroken hunter orange as the outermost layer of clothing on 
the chest and back and a hunter-orange cap during deer gun, primitive 
firearm, and special temporary hog gun seasons. We require hunters 
participating in dog season for squirrels and rabbits to wear a hunter-
orange cap. All other hunters, including archers (while on the ground), 
except waterfowl hunters also must wear a hunter-orange cap during the 
dog season for squirrels and rabbits. Deer hunters hunting from 
concealed ground blinds must display a minimum of 400 square inches 
(2,600 cm\2\) of hunter orange above or around their blinds which is 
visible from 360 degrees.
    5. Conditions A5 through A17 apply, except you may use .17- and 
.22-caliber rifles, and the nontoxic shot in your possession while 
hunting must be size 4 or smaller.
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
    1. Conditions A5 through A11, A13 through A17, B2, B4, and B5 
(except A12) apply.
* * * * *
    3. We allow archery deer and hog hunting during the open State deer

[[Page 56073]]

archery season. You may take deer of either sex in accordance with 
State-approved archery equipment and regulations. The State season 
limits apply.
* * * * *
    8. You may take hog as incidental game while participating in the 
refuge archery, primitive weapon, and general gun deer hunts except 
where specified otherwise. We list specific dates for the special hog 
hunts in January, February, and March in the refuge hunt brochure. 
During the special hog hunts in February you must use trained hog-
hunting dogs to aid in the take of hog. During the special hog hunts 
you may take hog from \1/2\ hour before legal sunrise until \1/2\ hour 
after legal sunset, and you must use pistol or rifle ammunition not 
larger than .22 caliber rimfire or shotgun with nontoxic shot to take 
the hog after it has been caught by dogs. During the special temporary 
experimental hog hunt in March, you may use any legal firearm. A8 
applies during special hog hunts in February.
* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
* * * * *
    2. Conditions A9 and A11 apply.
* * * * *

Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    12. An adult at least age 21 must supervise youth hunters age 15 or 
younger during all hunts. One adult may supervise two youths during 
migratory bird hunts but may supervise only one youth during big game 
hunts. Youth must remain within normal voice contact of the adult who 
is supervising them. Parents or adult guardians are responsible for 
ensuring that hunters under age 16 do not engage in conduct that would 
constitute a violation of refuge regulations.
* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    2. We allow only portable deer stands. Hunters may place deer 
stands on the refuge 1 day before the white-tail deer archery season 
and must remove them from the refuge within 1 day after the season 
closes. Hunters may place only one deer stand on the refuge, and deer 
stands must have the owner's name, address, and phone number clearly 
printed on the stand. Hunters must place stands in a nonhunting 
position at ground level when not in use.
    3. Conditions A3, A5 through A7, and A9 through A12 apply.
    4. Each hunter must complete and turn in a Big Game Harvest Report 
(FWS Form 3-2359) available from a self-clearing check station after 
each hunt.
    5. We prohibit entrance to the hunting area earlier than 4 a.m. 
Hunters must leave no later than 1 hour after legal sunset.
    6. We prohibit possession or distribution of bait or hunting with 
the aid of bait, including any grail, salt, minerals, or other feed or 
any nonnaturally occurring attractant on the refuge (see Sec.  
32.2(h)).
* * * * *

Delta National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    11. An adult at least age 21 must supervise youth hunters age 15 or 
younger during all hunts. One adult may supervise two youths during 
small game and migratory game bird hunts but may supervise only one 
youth during big game hunts. Youth must remain within normal voice 
contact of the adult who is supervising them. Parents or adult 
guardians are responsible for ensuring that hunters under age 16 do not 
engage in conduct that would constitute a violation of refuge 
regulations.
* * * * *

Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    4. Hunters may use shotguns and possess only approved nontoxic shot 
for hunting migratory game birds.
* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    2. We allow the use of only shotguns and rifles that are .22 magnum 
caliber rimfire or less for upland game hunting. You may possess only 
approved nontoxic shot in shotguns while hunting (see Sec.  32.2(k)).
* * * * *

Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    14. An adult at least age 21 must supervise youth hunters age 15 or 
younger during all hunts. One adult may supervise two youths during 
migratory game bird hunts but may supervise only one youth during big 
game hunts. Youth must remain within normal voice contact of the adult 
who is supervising them. Parents or adult guardians are responsible for 
ensuring that hunters under age 16 do not engage in conduct that would 
constitute a violation of refuge regulations.
* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    2. We allow only portable deer stands. Hunters may place deer 
stands on the refuge 1 day before the deer archery season and must 
remove them from the refuge within 1 day after the season closes. 
Hunters may place only one deer stand on the refuge, and deer stands 
must have the owner's name, address, and phone number clearly printed 
on the stand. Hunters must place stands in a nonhunting position at 
ground level when not in use.
    3. Conditions A2 and A5 through A14 apply.
    4. We prohibit entrance to the hunting area earlier than 4 a.m. 
Hunters must leave no later than 1 hour after legal sunset.
    5. We prohibit hunting in the headquarters area along Nature Road 
and along the Lacassine Pool Wildlife Drive (see refuge map).
    6. We allow boats of all motor types with 40 hp or less in 
Lacassine Pool.
    7. We prohibit boats in Lacassine Pool and Unit D from October 16 
through March 14. We prohibit boats in Units A and C.
    8. We prohibit possession or distribution of bait or hunting with 
the aid of bait, including any grain, salt minerals, or other feed or 
any nonnaturally occurring attractant on the refuge (see Sec.  
32.2(h)).
    9. Each hunter must complete and turn in a Big Game Harvest Report 
(FWS Form 3-2359) available from a self-clearing check station, after 
each hunt.
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
    1. Conditions A6, A7, A10, A13 (fishing guide), C6, and C7 apply.
* * * * *
    10. We prohibit boat and bank fishing in Lacassine Pool, Unit D, 
Streeter's Area, and refuge waters from October 16 through March 14.
    11. We prohibit all boat motors, excluding trolling motors, in 
refuge marshes outside Lacassine Pool. We prohibit air-thrust boats, 
ATVs, and UTVs (utility vehicle) on the refuge (see Sec.  27.31(f) of 
this chapter) unless otherwise allowed.
    12. We prohibit all mechanized equipment, including motorized 
boats, within the designated wilderness area.
    13. We allow fishing only with rod and reel or pole and line in 
refuge waters. We prohibit possession of any other type of fishing 
gear, including limb lines, gill nets, jug lines, yo-yos, or trotlines.

[[Page 56074]]

    14. We allow only recreational crabbing with cotton hand lines or 
drop nets up to 24 inches (60 cm) outside diameter. We prohibit using 
floats on crab lines.
    15. The daily limit of crabs is 5 dozen (60) per boat or vehicle, 
regardless of the number of people thereon.
    16. Anglers must attend all lines, nets, and bait and remove same 
from the refuge when through fishing (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter).
    17. Anglers can travel the refuge by boat from 1 hour before legal 
sunrise until 1 hour after legal sunset in order to access fishing 
areas. We prohibit fishing activities before legal sunrise and after 
legal sunset.
    18. We prohibit the taking of turtle (see Sec.  27.21 of this 
chapter).
* * * * *

Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    2. Hunters may use shotguns and possess only approved nontoxic shot 
for hunting migratory game birds.
* * * * *

Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of duck, goose, 
moorhen, gallinule, and coot in designated areas of the refuge in 
accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
* * * * *
    3. An adult at least age 21 must supervise youth hunters age 15 or 
under during all hunts. One adult may supervise two youths during small 
game and migratory game bird hunts. An adult may supervise only one 
youth during big game hunts. Youth must remain within normal voice 
contact of the adult who is supervising them. Parents or adult 
guardians are responsible for ensuring that hunters under age 16 do not 
engage in conduct that would constitute a violation of refuge 
regulations.
    4. All hunters must possess and carry a signed hunt brochure (on 
the front cover) while hunting on refuge. The brochure is free and 
available on at the refuge office or online at http://www.fws.gov/boguechitto/. All hunters must check-in and check out at a refuge self-
clearing check station. Each hunter must list their name on the self-
clearing check station form (Migratory Bird Hunt Report, FWS Form 3-
2361) and deposit the form at a refuge self-clearing check station 
prior to hunting. Hunters must report all game taken on the refuge when 
checking out by using the self-clearing check station form.
* * * * *
    6. Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on 
national wildlife refuges must comply with all provisions of State and 
local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with 
refuge regulations (see Sec.  26.42 of this chapter and specific refuge 
regulations in part 32). Hunters may only possess approved nontoxic 
shot while hunting on the refuge (see Sec.  32.2(k)).
* * * * *
    8. We prohibit possession or distribution of bait while in the 
field and hunting with the aid of bait, including any grain, salt 
minerals, or any nonnaturally occurring food attractant on the refuge 
(see Sec.  32.2(h)).
    9. We prohibit target shooting on the refuge.
    10. We prohibit any person or group to act as a hunting guide, 
outfitter, or in any other capacity that any other individual(s) pays 
or promises to pay directly or indirectly for services rendered to any 
other person or persons hunting on the refuge, regardless of whether 
such payment is for guiding, outfitting, lodging, or club membership.
    11. We prohibit horses and ATVs.
    12. We prohibit the use of any type of material used as flagging or 
trail markers except bright eyes (see Sec.  27.94 of this chapter).
* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
    1. We open the refuge to hunting of deer and hog only during the 
State archery season, except prior to 12 p.m. (noon) on Wednesdays and 
Saturdays during State waterfowl seasons when we close areas north of 
the Intracoastal Waterway to hunting of big game.
* * * * *
    4. We prohibit trail cameras.
    5. We prohibit the use of deer decoys.
    6. We only allow portable stands. Hunters may erect temporary deer 
stands 1 day prior to the start of deer archery season. Hunters must 
remove all deer stands within 1 day after the archery deer season 
closes. Hunters may place only one deer stand on a refuge. Deer stands 
must have the owner's name, address, and phone number clearly printed 
on the stand. Hunters must place stands in a nonhunting position when 
not in use (see Sec.  27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
    7. We prohibit dogs and driving deer.
    8. Conditions A3, A4, and A6 through A12 apply.
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
* * * * *
    5. Conditions A6, A7, and A9 apply.
* * * * *

Red River National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    10. Hunters may possess only approved nontoxic shotgun ammunition 
for hunting on the refuge (see Sec.  32.2(k)).
* * * * *

Sabine National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    16. An adult at least age 21 must supervise youth hunters under age 
16 during all hunts. One adult may supervise two youths during 
migratory game bird hunts but may supervise two youths during migratory 
game bird hunts. Youth must remain within normal voice contact of the 
adult who is supervising them. Parents or adult guardians are 
responsible for ensuring that hunters under age 16 do not engage in 
conduct that would constitute a violation of refuge regulations.
* * * * *

0
14. Amend Sec.  32.38 Maine by revising paragraphs A.1., A.2., and C.3. 
under Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge to read as follows:


Sec.  32.38  Maine.

* * * * *

Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
    1. We require every hunter to possess and carry a personally signed 
Migratory Bird Hunt Application (FWS Form 3-2357). Permits and 
regulations are available from the refuge in person during normal 
business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; closed on 
holidays) or by contacting the Project Leader at (207) 454-7161 or by 
mail (Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, 103 Headquarters Road, 
Baring, Maine 04694).
    2. You must annually complete a Migratory Bird Hunt Report (FWS 
Form 3-2361) and submit it by mail or in person at the refuge 
headquarters no later than 2 weeks after the close of the hunting 
season in March. If you do not comply with this requirement, we may 
suspend your future hunting privileges on Moosehorn National Wildlife 
Refuge.
* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    3. We allow bear hunting during the State Prescribed Season.
* * * * *

[[Page 56075]]


0
15. Amend Sec.  32.39 Maryland by revising paragraphs A.1., A.9., 
A.9.iii., A.9.v., A.10.i., and A.11. through A.13., removing paragraph 
A.14., revising paragraphs B.1. and B.3. through B.9., adding paragraph 
B.10., revising paragraphs C.1., C.6., and C.9. through C.15., adding 
paragraph C.16., revising paragraphs D.1. through D.6., D.9., removing 
paragraph D.12., redesignating paragraphs D.13. through D.19. as 
paragraphs D.12. through D.18., and revising newly redesignated 
paragraph D.17.iii. under Patuxent Research Refuge, to read as follows:


Sec.  32.39  Maryland.

* * * * *

Patuxent Research Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
    1. We require a Refuge Hunt Application (PRR Hunt Form 1). 
We issue permits through our Cooperating Association, Meade Natural 
Heritage Association (MNHA), at the refuge Hunting Control Station 
(HCS). MNHA charges a fee for each permit. Contact refuge headquarters 
for more information.
* * * * *
    9. We prohibit hunting on or across any road (paved, gravel, dirt, 
opened and/or closed) within 50 yards (45 m) of a road (paved, gravel, 
dirt, opened and/or closed), within 150 yards (135 m) of any building 
or shed, and within 25 yards (22.5 m) from any designated ``No 
Hunting'' and ``Safety Zone'' areas, except:
* * * * *
    iii. You may hunt waterfowl (goose/duck) from any refuge permanent 
photo/hunt blind.
* * * * *
    v. You may hunt from the roadside for waterfowl in the designated 
posted portion of Wildlife Loop at Bailey Marsh.
* * * * *
    10. * * *
    i. You must wear a solid-colored-fluorescent-hunter orange that 
must be visible 360[deg] while carrying-in and carrying-out equipment 
(e.g., portable blinds).
* * * * *
    11. We allow the taking of only Canada goose during the Canada 
goose early resident season and late Canada goose migratory Atlantic 
population seasons.
    12. We prohibit hunting of goose, duck, and dove during the early 
deer muzzleloader seasons that occur in October and all deer firearms 
seasons including the Youth Firearms Deer Hunts.
    13. We require waterfowl hunters to use retrieving dogs while 
hunting duck and goose within 50 yards (45 m) of the following 
impounded waters: Blue Heron Pond, Lake Allen, New Marsh, and Wood Duck 
Pond.
    i. We require dogs to be under the immediate control of their owner 
at all times (see Sec.  26.21(b) of this chapter).
    ii. Law enforcement officers may seize or dispatch dogs running 
loose or unattended (see Sec.  28.43 of this chapter).
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
    1. Conditions A1 through A10i apply.
* * * * *
    3. We prohibit hunting of upland game during the deer muzzleloader 
and firearms seasons, including the Youth Firearms Deer Hunts.
    4. We prohibit the use of dogs to hunt upland game.
    5. Spring turkey hunters are exempt from wearing the hunter orange.
    6. We allow the use of a bow and arrow for turkey hunting.
    7. We require turkey hunters to use 4, 5, or 
6 nontoxic shot or vertical bows.
    8. We select turkey hunters by a computerized lottery for youth, 
disabled, mobility impaired, and general public hunts. We require 
documentation for disabled and mobility-impaired hunters.
    9. We require turkey hunters to show proof they have attended a 
turkey clinic sponsored by the National Wild Turkey Federation.
    10. We require turkey hunters to pattern their weapons prior to 
hunting. Contact refuge headquarters for more information.
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
    1. Conditions A1 through A10i apply.
* * * * *
    6. We require bow hunters to wear a minimum of 250 square inches 
(1,625 cm\2\) of fluorescent orange when moving to and from the deer 
stand or their hunting spot and while tracking or dragging out their 
deer. We do not require bow hunters to wear solid-colored-fluorescent 
hunter orange when positioned to hunt except during the North Tract 
Youth Firearms Deer Hunts, the muzzleloader seasons, and the firearms 
seasons, when they must wear it at all times.
* * * * *
    9. You must use portable tree stands that are at least 10 feet (3 
m) off the ground and equipped with a full-body safety harness while 
hunting at Schafer Farm, Central Tract, and South Tract. You must wear 
the full-body safety harness while in the tree stand. We will make 
limited accommodations for disabled hunters for Central Tract lottery 
hunts.
    10. We allow the use of ground blinds on North Tract only.
    11. We prohibit the use of dogs to hunt or track wounded bear.
    12. If you wish to track wounded deer beyond 1\1/2\ hours after 
legal sunset, you must gain consent from a refuge law enforcement 
officer. We prohibit tracking 2\1/2\ hours after legal sunset. You must 
make a reasonable effort to retrieve the wounded deer. This may include 
next-day tracking except Sundays and Federal holidays.
    13. We prohibit deer drives or anyone taking part in any deer 
drive. We define a ``deer drive'' as an organized or planned effort to 
pursue, drive chase, or otherwise frighten or cause deer to move in the 
direction of any person or persons who are part of the organized or 
planned hunt and known to be waiting for the deer. We also prohibit 
organized deer drives without a standing hunter.
    14. North Tract: We allow shotgun, muzzleloader, and bow hunting in 
accordance with the following: Conditions C1 through C13 apply.
    15. Central Tract: Headquarters/MR Lottery Hunt: We only allow 
shotgun and bow hunting in accordance with the following: Conditions C1 
through C13 apply (except C3i).
    16. South Tract: We allow shotgun, muzzleloader, and bow hunting in 
accordance with the following:
    i. Conditions C1 through C13 apply.
    ii. You must access South Tract hunting areas A, B, and C off 
Springfield Road through the Old Beltsville Airport; and South Tract 
hunting area D from MD Rt. 197 through Gate 4. You must park 
in designated parking areas.
    iii. We prohibit driving or parking along the entrance and exit 
roads to and from the National Wildlife Visitor Center, and parking in 
the visitor center parking lot when checked in to hunt any area.
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
    1. We require all anglers, age 16 and older, to present their 
current Maryland State fishing license and complete the Fishing/
Shrimping/Crabbing Application (FWS Form 3-2358). Anglers age 18 and 
older will receive a free Patuxent Research Refuge Fishing Vehicle 
Parking Pass. Organized groups must complete the Fishing/Shrimping/
Crabbing Application (FWS Form 3-2358), and the group leader must stay 
with the group at all times while fishing.
    2. We publish the Refuge Fishing Regulations, which includes the 
daily and yearly creel limits and fishing dates, in early January. We 
provide a copy of

[[Page 56076]]

the regulations with your free Fishing Vehicle Parking Pass, and we 
require you to know the specific fishing regulations.
    3. Anglers must carry a copy of their Maryland State fishing 
license in the field.
    4. Anglers must display a copy of the Fishing Vehicle Parking Pass 
in the vehicle windshield.
    5. We require anglers, age 17 or younger, to have a parent or 
guardian cosign the Fishing/Shrimping/Crabbing Application (FWS Form 3-
2358). We will not issue a Fishing Vehicle Parking Pass to anglers age 
17 or younger.
    6. An adult age 21 or older possessing a Fishing Vehicle Parking 
Pass must accompany anglers age 17 or younger, and they must maintain 
visual contact with each other within a 50-yard (45 m) distance.
* * * * *
    9. Anglers may take three youths, age 15 or younger, to fish under 
their Fishing Vehicle Parking Pass and in their presence and control.
* * * * *
    17. * * *
* * * * *
    iii. Anglers age 18 and older must complete an Emergency Contact 
Information/warning/waiver form (North Tract Warning PRR Hunt Form 
2) prior to receiving a free North Tract Vehicle Access Pass. 
Anglers must display the North Tract Vehicle Access Pass in the vehicle 
windshield at all times and return the Pass to the North Tract Visitor 
Contact Station at the end of each visit.
* * * * *

0
16. Amend Sec.  32.40 Massachusetts by:
0
a. Revising paragraphs A.2., A.4., A.8., and A9., adding paragraphs 
A.12. and A.13., revising paragraph B., redesignating paragraphs C.4. 
through C.10. as paragraphs C.5. through C.11., adding a new paragraph 
C.4., revising newly redesignated paragraphs C.5. and C.10., removing 
newly redesignated paragraph C.11., revising paragraphs D.6. and D.7., 
and removing paragraph D.9. under Assabet River National Wildlife 
Refuge;
0
b. Revising paragraphs A.1., A.4., A.5., A.9., and A.10., adding 
paragraph A.13., and revising paragraphs C.3., C.4. and C.9. under 
Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge; and
0
c. Revising paragraphs A.3., A.6., A.10., and A.11., adding paragraph 
A.14., revising paragraphs B.2., B.4., C.4., C.5., and C.10., removing 
paragraph C.11., and revising the introductory text of paragraph D. 
under Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge.
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  32.40  Massachusetts.

* * * * *

Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    2. We require a Migratory Bird Hunt Application (FWS Form 3-2357). 
We limit the number of migratory game bird hunters allowed to hunt on 
the refuge. If the number of applications received is greater than the 
number of permits available, we will issue permits by random selection.
* * * * *
    4. We prohibit use of motorized vehicles on the refuge. The refuge 
will provide designated parking areas for hunters. Hunters must display 
issued hunter parking permits (generated from the Migratory Bird Hunt 
Application, FWS Form 3-2357) on their dashboards when parked in 
designated refuge parking areas.
* * * * *
    8. We prohibit marking any tree or other refuge feature with 
flagging, paint, or any other substance. Hunters may use reflective 
tacks, which we require hunters to remove by the end of their permitted 
season.
    9. You may begin scouting hunting areas on Sundays only beginning 1 
month prior to the opening day of your permitted season. We require 
possession of refuge permits (Migratory Bird Hunt Application, FWS Form 
3-2357) while scouting.
* * * * *
    12. One nonhunting companion may accompany each permitted hunter. 
We prohibit nonhunting companions from hunting, but they may assist in 
other means. All companions must carry identification and stay close 
enough to the hunter to speak to them without raising their voice.
    13. We prohibit construction or use of any permanent structure 
while hunting on the refuge. Hunters must remove all temporary blinds 
each day (see Sec. Sec.  27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
    B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of upland game on 
designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations 
subject to the following conditions:
    1. We allow shotgun hunting for ruffed grouse, cottontail rabbit, 
and gray squirrel within those portions of the refuge located north of 
Hudson Road, except those areas north of Hudson Road designated as 
``archery only'' hunting on the current refuge hunting map. These 
archery only hunting areas north of Hudson Road are those portions of 
the refuge that are external to Patrol Road from its southern 
intersection with White Pond Road, northwest and then east, to its 
intersection with Old Marlborough Road.
    2. We require a Big/Upland Game Hunt Application (FWS Form 3-2356). 
We limit the number of upland game hunters allowed to hunt on the 
refuge. If the number of applications received is greater than the 
number of permits available, we will issue permits by random selection.
    3. Conditions A3, A4, A6 through A13 apply.
    4. You may possess only approved nontoxic shot while in the field 
(see Sec.  32.2(k)).
    5. During seasons when it is legal to hunt deer with a shotgun or 
muzzleloader, we require all hunters, including archers and small game 
hunters, to wear a minimum of 500 square inches (3,250 cm\2\) of solid-
orange clothing or material in a conspicuous manner on their chest, 
back, and head. During all other times, if you are hunting ruffed 
grouse, squirrel, or cottontail rabbit on the refuge, you must wear a 
minimum of a solid-orange hat.
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    4. We require a Big/Upland Game Hunt Application (FWS Form 3-2356). 
We limit the number of big game hunters allowed to hunt on the refuge. 
If the number of applications received is greater than the number of 
permits available, we will issue permits by random selection.
    5. Conditions A3, A4, A6 through A10, and A12 apply.
* * * * *
    10. You may use temporary tree stands and/or ground blinds while 
engaged in hunting deer during the applicable archery, shotgun, or 
muzzleloader deer seasons or while hunting turkey. We allow hunters to 
keep one tree stand or ground blind on each refuge during the permitted 
season. Hunters must mark ground blinds with the hunter's permit 
number. Hunters must mark tree stands with the hunter's permit number 
in such a fashion that all numbers are visible from the ground. Hunters 
must remove all temporary tree stands and ground blinds by the 15th day 
after the end of the hunter's permitted season.
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
* * * * *
    6. We allow fishing on Puffer Pond from legal sunrise to legal 
sunset.

[[Page 56077]]

    7. We prohibit ice fishing on the refuge.
* * * * *

Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
    1. We require refuge permits (information taken from OMB-approved 
form). We limit the number of waterfowl hunters allowed to hunt on the 
refuge. If the number of applications received to hunt waterfowl is 
greater than the number of permits available, we will issue permits by 
random selection.
* * * * *
    4. We prohibit construction or use of any permanent structure while 
hunting on the refuge. You must remove all temporary blinds each day 
(see Sec. Sec.  27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
    5. We prohibit use of motorized vehicles on the refuge. The refuge 
will provide designated parking areas for hunters. Hunters must display 
parking permits (information taken from OMB-approved forms) on the 
dashboard when parked in designated refuge parking areas.
* * * * *
    9. We prohibit marking any tree or other refuge feature with 
flagging, paint, or any other substance. Hunters may use reflective 
tacks which they must remove by the end of the hunter's permitted 
season (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter).
    10. You may begin scouting hunting areas on Sundays only beginning 
1 month prior to the opening day of your permitted season. We require 
possession of refuge permits (information taken from OMB-approved 
forms) while scouting. We prohibit the use of dogs during scouting.
* * * * *
    13. We allow one nonhunting companion to accompany each permitted 
hunter. We prohibit nonhunting companions from hunting, but they can 
assist in other means. All companions must carry identification and 
stay close enough to the hunter to speak to them without raising their 
voice.
* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    3. We require refuge permits (information taken from OMB-approved 
forms). We limit the number of deer hunters allowed to hunt on the 
refuge. If the number of applications received to hunt deer on the 
refuge is greater than the number of permits available, we will issue 
permits by random selection.
    4. Conditions A3, A5, A7 through A11, and A13 apply.
* * * * *
    9. You may use temporary tree stands and/or ground blinds while 
engaged in hunting deer during the applicable archery season. We allow 
hunters to keep one tree stand or ground blind on each refuge during 
the permitted season. Hunters must mark ground blinds with their permit 
number. Hunters must mark tree stands with their permit number in such 
a fashion that all numbers are visible from the ground. Hunters must 
remove all temporary tree stands and ground blinds by the 15th day 
after the end of the permitted deer season (see Sec.  27.93 of this 
chapter).
* * * * *

Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    3. We require refuge permits (information taken from OMB-approved 
forms). We limit the number of waterfowl hunters allowed to hunt on the 
refuge. If the number of applications received to hunt waterfowl is 
greater than the number of permits available, we will issue permits by 
random selection.
* * * * *
    6. We prohibit use of motorized vehicles on the refuge. The refuge 
will provide designated parking areas for hunters. Hunters must display 
issued hunter parking permits (information taken from OMB-approved 
forms) on the dashboard when parked in designated refuge parking areas.
* * * * *
    10. We prohibit marking any tree or other refuge feature with 
flagging, paint, or any other substance. Hunters may use reflective 
tacks and must remove them by the end of the hunter's permitted season 
(see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter).
    11. You may begin scouting hunting areas on Sundays only beginning 
1 month prior to the opening day of your permitted season. We require 
possession of refuge permits while scouting. We prohibit the use of 
dogs during scouting.
* * * * *
    14. One nonhunting companion may accompany each permitted hunter. 
We prohibit nonhunting companions from hunting, but they can assist in 
other means. All companions must carry identification and stay close 
enough to the hunter to speak to them without raising their voice.
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    2. We require a Big/Upland Game Hunt Application (FWS Form 3-2356). 
We limit the number of upland game hunters allowed to hunt on the 
refuge. If the number of applications received to hunt upland game is 
greater than the number of permits available, we will issue permits by 
random selection.
* * * * *
    4. Conditions A4 through A6 and A8 through A14 apply.
* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    4. We require refuge permits (information taken from OMB-approved 
form). We limit the number of deer and turkey hunters allowed to hunt 
on the refuge. If the number of applications received to hunt those 
species is greater than the number of permits available, we will issue 
permits by random selection.
    5. Conditions A4, A6, A8 through A12, and A14 apply.
* * * * *
    10. You may use temporary tree stands and/or ground blinds while 
engaged in hunting deer during the applicable archery, shotgun, or 
muzzleloader deer seasons or while hunting turkey. We allow hunters to 
keep one tree stand or ground blind on each refuge during the permitted 
season. Hunters must mark ground blinds with their permit number. 
Hunters must mark tree stands with their permit number in such a 
fashion that all numbers are visible from the ground. Hunters must 
remove all temporary tree stands and ground blinds by the 15th day 
after the end of the permitted season.
    D. Sport Fishing. We allow sport fishing along the Nashua River in 
accordance with State regulations.
* * * * *

0
17. Amend Sec.  32.42 Minnesota by:
0
a. Adding an entry for Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge;
0
b. Revising introductory paragraphs A., B., and C. under Litchfield 
Wetland Management District;
0
c. Adding paragraphs B.5. and D.4. under Minnesota Valley National 
Wildlife Refuge;
0
d. Revising the introductory text of paragraphs A. and B., revising 
paragraph B.4., and removing paragraphs B.5., B.6., and C.3. under 
Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge; and
0
e. Revising paragraph A.5., revising the introductory text of paragraph 
C., revising paragraphs C.1. through C.6., and adding paragraph C.7. 
under Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge.
    The additions and revisions read as follows:

[[Page 56078]]

Sec.  32.42  Minnesota.

* * * * *

Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. [Reserved]
    B. Upland Game Hunting. [Reserved]
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer and 
turkey on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State 
regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. We allow archery deer hunting for youth hunters and firearms 
deer hunting for persons with disabilities.
    2. We allow turkey hunting for youth hunters and persons with 
disabilities during the State spring turkey season.
    3. We prohibit the construction or use of permanent blinds, 
platforms, or ladders (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter).
    4. Hunters must remove all stands from the refuge at the end of 
each day's hunt.
    5. Hunters must dismantle hunting blinds, platforms, and ladders 
made from natural vegetation at the end of each day.
    6. We prohibit the possession of hunting firearms or archery 
equipment on areas closed to white-tailed deer or turkey hunting.
    7. We prohibit deer pushes or deer drives in the areas closed to 
deer hunting.
    8. We prohibit entry to hunting areas earlier than 2 hours before 
legal shooting hours (\1/2\ hour before legal sunrise).
    9. We prohibit camping.
    10. Turkey hunters may possess only approved nontoxic shot while in 
the field.
    11. Hunters must unload, case, and break down hunting weapons when 
transporting them on refuge roads.
    D. Sport Fishing. [Reserved]
* * * * *

Litchfield Wetland Management District

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of migratory game 
birds throughout the district except we prohibit hunting on that part 
of the Phare Lake Waterfowl Production Area in Renville County that 
lies within the Phare Lake State Game Refuge. All hunting is in 
accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow upland game hunting throughout the 
district except we prohibit hunting on that part of the Phare Lake 
Waterfowl Production Area in Renville County that lies within the Phare 
Lake State Game Refuge. All hunting is in accordance with State 
regulations subject to the following condition: Conditions A4 and A5 
apply.
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow big game hunting throughout the 
district except we prohibit hunting on that part of the Phare Lake 
Waterfowl Production Area in Renville County that lies within the Phare 
Lake State Game Refuge. All hunting is in accordance with State 
regulations subject to the following conditions:
* * * * *

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    5. Condition A7 applies.
* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing * * *
* * * * *
    4. We prohibit taking of any turtle species by any method.
* * * * *

Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of duck, goose, 
merganser, moorhen, coot, rail (Virginia and sora only), woodcock, 
common snipe, and mourning dove in accordance with State regulations 
subject to the following conditions:
* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of ring-necked pheasant, 
Hungarian partridge, rabbit (cottontail and jack), snowshoe hare, 
squirrel (fox and gray), raccoon, opossum, fox (red and gray), badger, 
coyote, striped skunk, and crow on designated areas of the refuge in 
accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
* * * * *
    4. Conditions A7 and A8 apply.
* * * * *

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    5. We prohibit hunting during the State Special Goose Hunt.
* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer and 
turkey on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State 
regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. We allow turkey hunting for youth hunters and persons with 
disabilities during the State spring turkey season.
    2. We prohibit the construction or use of permanent blinds, 
platforms, or ladders.
    3. Hunters must remove all stands from the refuge at the end of 
each day's hunt (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter).
    4. Hunters must dismantle hunting blinds, platforms, and ladders 
made from natural vegetation at the end of each day.
    5. We prohibit the possession of hunting firearms or archery 
equipment on areas closed to white-tailed deer and turkey hunting.
    6. We prohibit deer pushes or deer drives in the areas closed to 
deer hunting.
    7. Conditions A4 and A7 apply.
* * * * *

0
18. Amend Sec.  32.43 Mississippi by:
0
a. Revising the Coldwater National Wildlife Refuge heading and 
paragraphs A., B., and C. under it; and
0
b. Revising paragraph D.9. under Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge.
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  32.43  Mississippi.

* * * * *

Coldwater River National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of migratory 
waterfowl and coot on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with 
State regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. Youth hunters age 15 and younger must possess and carry a hunter 
safety course card or certificate. Each youth hunter must remain within 
sight and normal voice contact of an adult age 21 or older. Hunters 
born after January 1, 1972, also must carry a Hunter Education Safety 
course card or certificate. All hunters age 16 and older must possess 
and carry a valid, signed refuge hunting permit (name and address), 
certifying that he or she understands and will comply with all 
regulations. Hunters may obtain permits at the North Mississippi 
Refuges Complex Headquarters, 2776 Sunset Drive, Grenada, MS 38901 or 
by mail from the above address.
    2. We restrict all public use to 2 hours before legal sunrise to 2 
hours after legal sunset. We prohibit entering or remaining on the 
refuge before or after hours.
    3. We allow hunting of migratory game birds only on Wednesdays, 
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from \1/2\ hour before legal sunrise 
and ending at 12 p.m. (noon). Hunters must remove all decoys, blind 
material (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter), litter (see Sec.  27.94 of 
this chapter), and harvested waterfowl from

[[Page 56079]]

the area no later than 1 p.m. each day. After duck, merganser, and coot 
season closes, we allow hunting of goose in accordance with the Light 
Goose Conservation Order daily beginning \1/2\ hour before legal 
sunrise and ending at legal sunset.
    4. Each hunter must obtain a Migratory Bird Harvest Report Card 
(FWS Form 3-2361) available at each refuge information station and 
follow the printed instructions on the form. You must display the form 
in plain view on the dashboard of your vehicle so that the personal 
information is readable. Prior to leaving the refuge, you must complete 
the reverse side of the form and deposit it at one of the refuge 
information stations. Include all game harvested, and if you harvest no 
game, report ``0.''
    5. We may close certain areas of the refuge for sanctuary or 
administrative purposes. We will mark such areas with ``No Hunting'' or 
``Area Closed'' signs.
    6. Waterfowl hunters may leave boats meeting all State registration 
requirements on refuge water bodies throughout the waterfowl season. 
You must remove boats (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter) within 72 hours 
after the season closes.
    7. We restrict motor vehicle use to roads designated as vehicle 
access roads on the refuge map (see Sec.  27.31 of this chapter). We 
prohibit blocking access to any road or trail entering the refuge (see 
Sec.  27.31(h) of this chapter).
    8. All hunters or persons on the refuge for any reason while in the 
field during any open refuge hunting season must wear a minimum of 500 
square inches (3,250 cm \2\) of visible, unbroken, fluorescent-orange-
colored material above the waistline. The only exception to this is 
waterfowl hunters who may remove the fluorescent-orange material once 
positioned to hunt. Waterfowl hunters must comply while walking/boating 
to and from the actual hunting area.
    9. We allow dogs on the refuge only when specifically authorized 
for hunting. We encourage the use of dogs to retrieve dead or wounded 
waterfowl. Dogs must remain in the immediate control of their handlers 
at all times (see Sec.  26.21(b) of this chapter).
    10. We prohibit cutting or removing trees and other vegetation (see 
Sec.  27.51 of this chapter). We prohibit the use of flagging, paint, 
blazes, tacks, or other types of markers.
    11. We prohibit ATVs (see Sec.  27.31(f) of this chapter), horses, 
and mules on the refuge.
    B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of squirrel, rabbit, 
nutria, and raccoon on designated areas of the refuge in accordance 
with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. Conditions A1, A4 (substitute Upland/Small Game/Furbearer Report 
[FWS Form 3-2362] for Migratory Bird Hunt Report), A5, A7, A10, and A11 
apply.
    2. We restrict all public use to 2 hours before legal sunrise and 
to 2 hours after legal sunset. We prohibit entering or remaining on the 
refuge before or after hours. We may make exceptions for raccoon 
hunters possessing a Special Use Permit (FWS Form 3-1383). Contact the 
refuge office for details.
    3. When hunting, we allow only shotguns with approved nontoxic shot 
(see Sec.  32.2(k)), .17 or .22-caliber rimfire rifles, or archery 
equipment without broadheads.
    4. All hunters or persons on the refuge for any reason during any 
open-refuge hunting season must wear a minimum of 500 square inches 
(3,250 cm \2\) of visible, unbroken, fluorescent-orange-colored 
material above the waistline.
    5. We allow dogs on the refuge only when specifically authorized 
for hunting. Dogs must remain in the immediate control of their 
handlers at all times (see Sec.  26.21(b) of this chapter). Consult the 
refuge hunting brochure for specific seasons.
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer and 
feral hog on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State 
regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. Conditions A1, A2, A4 (substitute Big Game Harvest Report [FWS 
Form 3-2359] for Migratory Bird Hunt Report), A5, A7, A11, and B4 
apply.
    2. We prohibit dogs while hunting deer. Hunters may only use dogs 
to hunt hog during designated hog seasons.
    3. We prohibit use or possession of any drug or device for 
employing such drug for hunting (see Sec.  32.2(g)).
    4. We prohibit drives for deer.
    5. We prohibit hunting or shooting across any open, fallow, or 
planted field from ground level or on or across any public road, public 
highway, railroad, or their rights-of-way during all general gun and 
primitive weapon hunts.
    6. Hunters may erect portable deer stands 2 weeks prior to the 
opening of archery season on the refuge and must remove them (see Sec.  
27.93 of this chapter) by January 31. We prohibit the use of flagging, 
paint, blazes, tacks, or other types of markers.
* * * * *

Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
* * * * *
    9. We require anglers to possess and carry a signed, no-cost, 
refuge hunting, fishing, and public use permit (signed brochure) when 
fishing on the refuge.
* * * * *

0
19. Amend Sec.  32.44 Missouri by:
0
a. Revising paragraphs B. and C. under Big Muddy National Wildlife 
Refuge; and
0
b. Revising paragraphs A., C., and D. under Swan Lake National Wildlife 
Refuge.
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  32.44  Missouri.

* * * * *

Big Muddy National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow upland game hunting on designated 
areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the 
following conditions:
    1. You may possess only approved nontoxic shot (see Sec.  32.2(k)).
    2. We allow upland game hunting on the 131-acre mainland unit of 
Boone's Crossing with archery methods only. On Johnson Island, we allow 
hunting of game animals during Statewide seasons using archery methods 
or shotguns using shot no larger than BB.
    3. We allow upland game hunting on the Cora Island Unit only to 
shotguns with shot no larger than BB.
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of deer and turkey on 
designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations 
subject to the following conditions:
    1. We prohibit the construction or use of permanent blinds, 
platforms, or ladders at any time.
    2. We prohibit hunting over or placing on the refuge any salt or 
other mineral blocks (see Sec.  32.2(h)).
    3. We allow only portable tree stands from September 1 through 
January 31. Hunters must place their full name and address on their 
stands.
    4. We restrict deer hunters on the Boone's Crossing Unit, including 
Johnson Island, to archery methods only.
    5. The Cora Island Unit is open to deer hunting for archery methods 
only.
    6. We prohibit trapping on all areas of the refuge.
    7. You may possess only approved nontoxic shot while hunting on the 
refuge; this includes turkey hunting (see Sec.  32.2(k)).
* * * * *

Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of goose on 
designated

[[Page 56080]]

areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the 
following conditions:
    1. We require Missouri Department of Conservation ``Green Card'' 
permits while hunting on the refuge in addition to all other required 
Federal and State license, stamps, and permits.
    2. Hunters must check-in and out at the Refuge Hunter Check Station 
(use Missouri Department of Conservation form) before and after 
hunting.
    3. Goose hunting is open only on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 
Sundays, and all Federal holidays during the late goose season. We 
close to goose hunting during the refuge-managed deer hunts.
    4. Hunting hours end at 1 p.m. on Units S1, S2, S3, T1, T3, V1, W1, 
and W2. Hunters using these units must have all equipment removed and 
be out of the units by 1 p.m. (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter).
    5. We allow snow goose hunting in all units every day of the week 
during the designated Spring Conservation Order Season. Hunters may not 
check-in before 4 a.m. during the Conservation Order Season and must be 
off of the refuge by closing hours.
    6. Hunters may hunt only in the designated areas they are assigned 
at the check station. We restrict hunters in Units A7, R1, and R4 to 
hunting from the permanent blinds. Hunters may hunt anywhere in all 
other units inside the designated unit by the use of temporary blinds 
or layout boats.
    7. We allow game retrieval outside of designated hunting areas. We 
prohibit possession of hunting firearms while outside of the designated 
area except for going to and from parking areas.
    8. We require that hunters leash or kennel hunting dogs when 
outside the hunting unit.
    9. We restrict hunting units to parties no larger than four.
    10. We prohibit driving vehicles into units. We allow hand-pulled 
carts. Hunters must park vehicles in designated parking areas for the 
unit to which they are assigned for hunting.
    11. We prohibit cutting of woody vegetation (see Sec.  27.51 of 
this chapter) on the refuge for blinds.
* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of deer on designated areas 
of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the 
following conditions:
    1. We require a Missouri Department of Conservation Permit, along 
with Missouri Department of Conservation hunter identification tags and 
parking permits to hunt during the managed deer hunt.
    2. We require hunters to participate in a prehunt orientation for 
managed deer hunts.
    3. You must check-in each morning and out each evening of the hunt 
at the Refuge Hunter Check Station (use Missouri Department of 
Conservation form).
    4. You may not access the refuge across the boundary from 
neighboring private or public lands, and you must hunt in your 
designated area only.
    5. We allow entry onto the refuge 1 hour prior to shooting hours 
(defined by State regulations) during managed deer hunts. You must be 
off the refuge 1 hour after shooting hours.
    6. We prohibit shooting from or across refuge roads open to public 
vehicle use.
    7. We allow use of portable tree stands and blinds during managed 
deer hunts. We require all stands and blinds to have the hunter's name, 
address, and phone number attached. Hunters must mark enclosed hunting 
blinds and stands with hunter orange visible from all sides.
    8. We prohibit hunting over or placing on the refuge any salt or 
other mineral blocks (see Sec.  32.2(h)).
    D. Sport Fishing. We allow sport fishing on all designated areas of 
the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the 
following conditions:
    1. We allow fishing on the refuge only during refuge open hours.
    2. The Taylor Point area of Elk Creek is open to fishing year-round 
during daylight hours. Anglers may access this area by a refuge road 
(FHWA Route 100) off of State Highway E. The area open to fishing year-
round is 300 feet (90 m) upstream and 300 feet downstream of the 
parking lot along the banks of Elk Creek. In addition, Elk Creek is 
open to fishing year-round 300 feet downstream and upstream from the 
bridge on State Highway E. We close all fishing during the refuge-
managed deer hunts.
    3. We allow only nonmotorized boats on refuge waters with the 
exception of the Silver Lake impoundment. Anglers may use motor boats 
on the Silver Lake impoundment. No wake applies to all waters on the 
refuge.
    4. Anglers must remove all boats from the refuge at the end of each 
day (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter).
* * * * *

0
20. Amend Sec.  32.46 Nebraska by revising paragraph A.1., the 
introductory text of paragraph C., and paragraphs D.2. through D.5., 
and adding paragraphs D.6. and D.7. under Boyer Chute to read as 
follows:


Sec.  32.46  Nebraska.

* * * * *

Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
    1. Hunters may access the refuge from 1[frac12] hours before legal 
sunrise until 1 hour after legal sunset along the immediate shoreline 
and including the high bank of the Missouri River. You may access the 
hunting area by water or, if by land, only within the public use area 
of the Island Unit.
* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer in 
accordance with State regulations subject to the following condition: 
You must possess and carry a refuge access permit (signed brochure) at 
all times while in the hunting area. Hunters may enter the hunting 
areas only within the dates listed on the refuge access permit.
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
* * * * *
    2. We allow boating at no-wake speeds, not to exceed 5 mph (8 km), 
on side or back channels. We prohibit all watercraft in the Boyer Chute 
waterway or other areas as posted.
    3. We prohibit the use of trotlines, float lines, bank lines, or 
setlines.
    4. We prohibit ice fishing.
    5. We prohibit digging or seining for bait.
    6. We prohibit the take or possession of turtles or frogs.
    7. Anglers may use no more than two lines and two hooks per line.
* * * * *

0
21. Amend Sec.  32.47 Nevada by revising paragraphs A.2. and D.1. under 
Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge to read as follows:


Sec.  32.47  Nevada.

* * * * *

Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    2. We only allow nonmotorized boats or boats with electric motors.
* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
    1. We only allow nonmotorized boats or boats with electric motors.
* * * * *

0
22. Amend Sec.  32.50 New Mexico by revising paragraphs C.5., C.8., 
C.9., C.10., C.14., and C.15. under Bosque del Apache National Wildlife 
Refuge to read as follows:


Sec.  32.50  New Mexico.

* * * * *

[[Page 56081]]

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    5. We prohibit hunting from a vehicle.
* * * * *
    8. We allow bearded Rio Grande turkey hunting for youth in two 
areas of the refuge: The north hunting area and the south hunting area. 
We provide maps with the refuge permit (Big/Upland Game Hunt 
Application, FWS Form 3-2356), which each hunter must carry, that show 
these areas in detail.
    9. Drawn hunters must possess and carry their selection letter/
permit (Big/Upland Game Hunt Application, FWS Form 3-2356) for hunting 
of bearded Rio Grande turkey. The permit is available only to youth 
hunters and is available through a lottery drawing. You must postmark 
applications by March 1 of each year. A $6 nonrefundable application 
fee must accompany each hunt application.
    10. We allow hunting of bearded Rio Grande turkey for youth hunters 
only on dates determined by refuge staff. Drawn hunters must report to 
refuge headquarters by 4:45 a.m. each hunt day. Legal hunting hours run 
from [frac12] hour before legal sunrise to [frac12] hour after legal 
sunset.
* * * * *
    14. We allow the use of temporary ground blinds only for turkey 
hunts, and hunters must remove them from the refuge daily (see Sec.  
27.93 of this chapter). It is unlawful to mark any tree or other refuge 
structure with paint, flagging tape, ribbon, cat-eyes, or any similar 
marking device.
    15. We allow youth hunters only one legally harvested bearded Rio 
Grande turkey per hunt.
* * * * *

0
23. Amend Sec.  32.52 North Carolina by:
0
a. Adding paragraphs A.6. and A.7. under Cedar Island National Wildlife 
Refuge;
0
b. Removing paragraph A.5. and redesignating paragraph A.6. as A.5., 
and revising paragraph C. under Currituck National Wildlife Refuge;
0
c. Revising paragraphs C.1. and D.1. under Mackay Island National 
Wildlife Refuge;
0
d. Revising paragraph A.1., removing paragraph A.10., redesignating 
paragraphs A.11. and A.12. as paragraphs A.10. and A.11. and revising 
newly redesignated paragraphs A.10. and A.11., revising paragraphs 
C.1., C.4., and C.8., adding paragraphs C.11. through C.13., revising 
the introductory text of paragraph D.1., and revising paragraphs D.3., 
D.6.i., and D.6.iii. under Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge;
0
e. Redesignating paragraphs D.1. through D.4. as paragraphs D.2. 
through D.5. and adding a new paragraph D.1. under Pee Dee National 
Wildlife Refuge;
0
f. Revising paragraphs A.1. through A.6., A.12., B.4., C., and D.1. 
under Pocosin National Wildlife Refuge; and
0
g. Revising paragraph A.6. and adding paragraphs A.7. and A.8. under 
Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge.
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  32.52  North Carolina.

* * * * *

Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    6. Each youth hunter must remain within sight and normal voice 
contact of an adult age 21 or older. An adult may directly supervise up 
to two youth hunters age 15 or younger who must have successfully 
completed a State-approved hunter safety course and possess and carry 
proof of certification.
    7. We open the refuge to daylight use only, except that we allow 
hunters to enter and remain in open hunting areas from 1 hour before 
legal shooting time until 1 hour after legal shooting time.
* * * * *

Currituck National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of deer and feral hog on 
limited dates in designated areas of the refuge in accordance with 
State regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. We require a refuge hunting permit (signed brochure) that 
hunters must sign and carry while hunting on the refuge.
    2. Each hunter must pay an annual $12.50 hunt permit fee.
    3. We allow the use of shotguns, muzzleloading rifles/shotguns, 
pistols, and bows in designated units. We prohibit the use of all other 
rifles and crossbows.
    4. Hunters may take two deer per day; there is no daily limit on 
feral hog.
    5. Hunters must wear a minimum of 500 square inches (3,250 cm\2\) 
of hunter-orange material above the waist that is visible from all 
directions.
    6. We prohibit the marking of trees and vegetation (see Sec.  27.51 
of this chapter) with blazes, flagging, or other marking devices.
    7. We allow hunters on the refuge from 1 hour before legal sunrise 
to 1 hour after legal sunset.
    8. We allow the use of portable tree stands, but hunters must 
remove them daily (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter).
    9. Hunters may access the refuge by foot, boat, and/or vehicle, but 
we prohibit hunting from a boat or vehicle.
    10. An adult at least age 21 may supervise only one youth under age 
16. The youth must be within sight and normal voice contact of the 
adult.
* * * * *

Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
    1. We require a Refuge Deer Hunting Permit (signed brochure) that 
hunters must sign and carry while hunting on the refuge.
* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
    1. We allow fishing only from legal sunrise to legal sunset from 
March 15 through October 15 with the exception that we allow fishing 
along the Marsh Causeway year-round. The 0.3 Mile Loop Trail and the 
terminus of the canal immediately adjacent to the Visitor Center are 
open year-round, but we close them during the Refuge Permit Deer Hunts.
* * * * *

Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
    1. We require refuge-issued permits (name and address) that you 
must validate at the refuge headquarters, sign, possess, and carry 
while hunting.
* * * * *
    10. We allow the taking of only Canada goose during the State 
September Canada goose season subject to the following conditions:
    i. We allow hunting Monday through Saturday during the State 
season.
    ii. The hunter must possess and carry a validated refuge permit 
(name and address) while hunting.
    iii. We close the following areas to hunting of Canada goose: 
Impoundments MI-4, MI-5, and MI-6; in Rose Bay Canal, Outfall Canal, 
Lake Landing Canal, and Waupoppin Canal; 150 feet (45 m) from the mouth 
of the canals where they enter Lake Mattamuskeet; and 150 yards (135 m) 
from State Route 94.
    iv. We allow portable blinds, but hunters must remove them daily 
(see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter).
    11. Each youth hunter age 15 or younger must remain within sight 
and normal voice contact of an adult age 21 or older. Youth hunters 
must have completed a State-certified hunter safety

[[Page 56082]]

course and possess and carry the form or certificate. An adult may 
directly supervise up to two youth hunters age 15 or younger.
* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
    1. The hunter must possess and carry a signed, validated refuge 
permit (name and address) while hunting.
* * * * *
    4. Hunters may take deer with shotgun, bow and arrow, crossbow, or 
muzzleloading rifle/shotgun.
* * * * *
    8. We allow the use of only portable blinds and deer stands. 
Hunters with a valid permit (name and address) may erect one portable 
blind or stand the day before the start of their hunt and must remove 
it at the end of the second day of that 2-day hunt (see Sec.  27.93 of 
this chapter). Any stands or blinds left overnight on the refuge must 
have a tag with the hunter's name, address, and telephone number.
* * * * *
    11. We prohibit the use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) or off-
highway vehicles (OHVs) (see Sec.  27.31(f) of this chapter).
    12. We require consent from refuge personnel to enter and retrieve 
legally taken game animals from closed areas including ``No Hunting 
Zones.''
    13. We allow the use of only biodegradable-type flagging. We 
prohibit affixing plastic flagging, dots, glow tacks, reflectors, or 
other materials to refuge vegetation (see Sec.  27.51 of this chapter).
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
    1. We are open to sport fishing, bow fishing, and crabbing from 
March 1 through October 31 from [frac12] hour before legal sunrise to 
[frac12] hour after legal sunset, except we allow bank fishing and 
crabbing year-round from:
* * * * *
    3. We allow motorized and nonmotorized fishing boats, canoes, and 
kayaks March 1 through October 31. We prohibit airboats, sailboats, Jet 
Skis, and windboards.
* * * * *
    6. * * *
    i. We allow only five handlines and hand-activated traps per 
person. Owners must be in attendance, and anglers must remove all 
handlines and traps daily.
* * * * *
    iii. Anglers may only take or possess 12 crabs per person per day.
* * * * *

Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
    1. We require all anglers to possess and carry a signed refuge 
Sport Fishing Permit (signed brochure) and government-issued picture ID 
while fishing in refuge waters.
* * * * *

Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
    1. We prohibit hunting on the Davenport and Deaver tracts (which 
include the area surrounding the Headquarters/Visitor Center and the 
Scuppernong River Interpretive Boardwalk), the Pungo Shop area, New 
Lake, refuge lands between Lake Phelps and Shore Drive, that portion of 
the Pinner Tract east of SR 1105, the portion of Western Road between 
the intersection with Seagoing Road and the gate to the south, and the 
unnamed road at the southern boundary of the refuge land located west 
of Pettigrew State Park's Cypress Point Access Area. During November, 
December, January, and February, we prohibit all public entry on the 
Pungo and New Lakes, Duck Pen Road (except that portion that forms the 
Duck Pen Wildlife Trail and Pungo Lake Observation point when the trail 
and observation point are open), and the Pungo Lake, Riders Creek, and 
Dunbar Road banding sites.
    2. We require consent from refuge personnel to enter and retrieve 
legally taken game animals from closed areas including ``No Hunting 
Zones.''
    3. We require all hunters to possess and carry a signed, self-
service refuge general hunting permit (signed brochure) while hunting 
on the refuge.
    4. We open the refuge for daylight use only (legal sunrise to legal 
sunset), except that we allow hunters to enter and remain in open 
hunting areas from 1\1/2\ hours before legal shooting time until 1\1/2\ 
hours after legal shooting time except on the Pungo Unit (see condition 
C6).
    5. We allow the use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) only on 
designated ATV roads (see Sec.  27.31 of this chapter) and only to 
transport hunters and their equipment to hunt and scout. We allow ATV 
use only on the ATV roads at the following times:
    i. When we open the ATV road and surrounding area to hunting;
    ii. One week prior to the ATV road and surrounding area opening to 
hunting; and
    iii. On Sundays, when we open the ATV road and surrounding area for 
hunting the following Monday.
    6. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with 
refuge regulations (50 CFR 27.42 and specific regulations in part 32). 
We prohibit hunting, taking, and attempting to take any wildlife from a 
vehicle while the passenger area is occupied or when the engine is 
running except that we allow hunting from ATVs and other similarly 
classed vehicles (where they are authorized) and boats as long as they 
are stationary and the engine is turned off.
* * * * *
    12. While hunting, we require youth hunters under age 16 to possess 
and carry proof that they successfully passed a State-approved hunter 
education course. Youth hunters may only hunt under the direct 
supervision of a licensed hunter over age 21. One licensed hunter over 
age 21 may supervise up to two migratory game bird youth hunters at a 
time.
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    4. We prohibit the hunting of raccoon and opossum during, 5 days 
before, and 5 days after the State bear seasons. Outside of these 
periods, we allow the hunting of raccoon and opossum at night but only 
while possessing a Big/Upland Game Hunt Application (FWS Form 3-2356).
* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of deer, turkey, and feral 
hog on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State 
regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. Conditions A1 through A7 apply.
    2. You may hunt spring turkey only if you possess and carry a valid 
permit (Big/Upland Game Hunt Application (FWS Form 3-2356)). The 
permits are valid only for the dates and areas shown on the permit. We 
require an application and a fee for these permits and hold a drawing, 
when necessary, to select the permittees.
    3. We allow the use of only shotguns, muzzleloaders, and bow and 
arrow for deer and feral hog hunting. We allow hunters to take feral 
hog in any area that is open to hunting deer using only those weapons 
that we authorize for taking deer except that hunters may take feral 
hog with bow and arrow, muzzleloader, and shotgun on the Frying Pan 
Unit whenever the area is open to hunting any game species with 
firearms.
    4. You may possess only approved nontoxic shot (see Sec.  32.2(k)) 
while hunting turkeys on the Pungo Unit.
    5. We allow deer hunting only with shotgun and muzzleloader on the 
Pungo Unit while possessing a valid permit from the North Carolina 
Wildlife Resources Commission for the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife 
Refuge--Pungo Unit--either sex deer special hunts that we hold in late 
September and October. We require a fee that validates the State permit 
to participate in these special hunts.

[[Page 56083]]

    6. During the special hunts described in C5, we allow only 
permitted hunters on the Pungo Unit from 1\1/2\ hours before legal 
sunrise until 1\1/2\ hours after legal sunset.
    7. Prior to December 1, we allow deer hunting with bow and arrow on 
the Pungo Unit during all State deer seasons, except during the 
muzzleloading season and except during the special hunts described in 
C5.
    8. Hunters must wear 500 square inches (3,250 cm\2\) of 
fluorescent-orange material above the waist that is visible from all 
sides while hunting deer and feral hog in any area open to hunting 
these species with firearms.
    9. We allow the use of only portable deer stands (tree climbers, 
ladders, tripods, etc.). Hunters may use ground blinds, chairs, 
buckets, and other such items for hunting, but we require that you 
remove all of these items at the end of each day (see Sec.  27.93 of 
this chapter), except that hunters with a valid permit for the special 
hunts described in condition C5 may install one deer stand on the Pungo 
Unit the day before the start of their hunt and leave it until the end 
of their hunt. Hunters must tag any stands left overnight on the refuge 
with their name, address, and telephone number.
    10. While hunting, we require youth hunters under age 16 to possess 
and carry proof that they successfully passed a State-approved hunter 
education course. Youth hunters may only hunt under the direct 
supervision of a licensed hunter age 21 or older. A licensed hunter age 
21 or older may only supervise one big game youth hunter at a time.
    11. We prohibit the use of dogs to track, chase, or in any way 
assist with the take of big game.
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
    1. We allow fishing in Pungo Lake and New Lake only from March 1 
through October 31, except that we close Pungo Lake and the entire 
Pungo Unit to fishing during the special hunts described in condition 
C5.
* * * * *

Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    6. We allow hunting only during the State waterfowl season 
occurring in November, December, and January.
    7. Each youth hunter must remain within sight and normal voice 
contact of an adult age 21 or older. An adult may directly supervise up 
to two youth hunters age 15 or younger who must have successfully 
completed a State-approved hunter safety course and possess and carry 
proof of certification.
    8. We open the refuge to daylight use only (legal sunrise to legal 
sunset), except that we allow hunters to enter and remain in open 
hunting areas from 1 hour before legal shooting time until 1 hour after 
legal shooting time.
* * * * *

0
24. Amend Sec.  32.53 North Dakota by revising paragraph B.10. under 
Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge to read as follows:


Sec.  32.53  North Dakota.

* * * * *

Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    10. Hunters may possess only approved nontoxic shot for all upland 
game hunting as identified in Sec.  20.21(j) of this chapter.
* * * * *

0
25. Amend Sec.  32.55 Oklahoma by:
0
a. Revising paragraph B.2. under Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge;
0
b. Revising paragraphs A.1., A.5., A.11., and A.12. under Sequoyah 
National Wildlife Refuge;
0
c. Revising the entry for Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge; and
0
d. Adding an entry for Tishomingo Wildlife Management Unit.
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  32.55  Oklahoma.

* * * * *

Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    2. We allow shotguns, .22 and .17 caliber rimfire rifles, and 
pistols for rabbit and squirrel hunting. Hunters must possess nontoxic 
shot when using a shotgun (see Sec.  32.2(k)).
* * * * *

Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
    1. We require an annual refuge permit (Special Use Permit; FWS Form 
3-1383) for all hunting. The hunter must possess and carry the signed 
permit while hunting. We require hunters to abide by all terms and 
conditions listed on the permit.
* * * * *
    5. Hunters must use only legal shotguns and possess only approved 
nontoxic shot for migratory bird hunting. Persons possessing, 
transporting, or carrying firearms on national wildlife refuges must 
comply with all provisions of State and local law. Persons may only use 
(discharge) firearms in accordance with refuge regulations (50 CFR 
27.42 and specific refuge regulations in part 32).
* * * * *
    11. We prohibit hunters entering the Sandtown Bottom Unit prior to 
5 a.m. during the hunting season. Until 7 a.m., the entrance is through 
the headquarters gate only, at which time hunters may enter the 
Sandtown Bottom Unit through any other access point on the refuge. 
Hunters must leave the Sandtown Bottom Unit by 1 hour after legal 
sunset.
    12. We prohibit alcoholic beverages on all refuge lands.
* * * * *

Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. [Reserved]
    B. Upland Game Hunting. [Reserved]
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer on 
designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations 
subject to the following conditions:
    1. Refuge bonus deer gun hunts are by special permit (issued by the 
Oklahoma State Department of Wildlife Conservation) only; we prohibit 
prehunt scouting or use of camera-monitoring devices.
    2. We prohibit baiting (see Sec.  32.2(h)).
    3. We allow camping in compliance with conditions set out by the 
refuge.
    D. Sport Fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the 
refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following 
conditions:
    1. Anglers may bank and wade fish with pole and line or rod and 
reel year-round in areas open for public fishing access.
    2. Anglers may use boats from March 1 through September 30 in 
designated waters (see refuge map).
    3. Anglers may ``no-wake'' boat fish during the boating season with 
line and pole or rod and reel, except in areas designated as Sanctuary 
Zones.
    4. Anglers may use trotlines and other set tackle only in the 
Cumberland Pool (designated areas), Rock Creek, and between the natural 
banks of the Washita River. Anglers may only use set tackle with 
anchored floats.
    5. We prohibit use of limblines, throwlines, juglines, and yo-yos.
    6. We prohibit use of any containers (jugs, bottles) as floats.
    7. Anglers may night fish from a boat (during boating season) in 
the

[[Page 56084]]

Cumberland Pool, except in the Sanctuary Zones. Anglers may night fish 
at the Headquarters area, Sandy Creek Bridge, Murray 23, and Nida 
Point.
    9. Anglers may take bait only for personal use while fishing on the 
refuge in accordance with State law. We prohibit bait removal from the 
refuge for commercial sales. We also prohibit release of bait back into 
the water.
    9. We prohibit bow fishing.
    10. We prohibit take of fish by use of hands (noodling).
    11. We prohibit take of frog, turtle, or mussel.
    12. We prohibit swimming, water sports, personal watercraft, and 
airboats.
    13. Condition C3 applies.

Tishomingo Wildlife Management Unit

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of mourning dove 
and waterfowl on the Tishomingo Wildlife Management Unit of Tishomingo 
National Wildlife Refuge in accordance with State regulations.
    B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of quail, squirrel, 
turkey, and rabbit on the Tishomingo Wildlife Management Unit of 
Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge in accordance with State 
regulations.
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer on the 
Tishomingo Wildlife Management Unit of Tishomingo National Wildlife 
Refuge in accordance with State regulations.
    D. Sport Fishing. We allow sport fishing on the Tishomingo Wildlife 
Management Unit of Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge in accordance 
with State regulations.
* * * * *

0
26. Amend Sec.  32.56 Oregon by:
0
a. Adding paragraph A.4. under Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge;
0
b. Revising the entry for Cold Springs National Wildlife Refuge;
0
c. Revising paragraph A. under Lewis and Clark National Wildlife 
Refuge;
0
d. Revising the entry for McKay Creek National Wildlife Refuge;
0
e. Revising the entry for Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge; and
0
f. Revising paragraphs C. and D. under William L. Finley National 
Wildlife Refuge.
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  32.56  Oregon.

* * * * *

Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    4. Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on 
national wildlife refuges must comply with all provisions of State and 
local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with 
refuge regulations (see Sec.  27.42 of this chapter and specific 
regulations in part 32).
* * * * *

Cold Springs National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, 
coot, dove, and snipe on designated areas of the refuge in accordance 
with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. We prohibit overnight camping and/or parking.
    2. You may possess only approved nontoxic shot for hunting (see 
Sec.  32.2(k)).
    3. We prohibit discharge of any firearm within \1/4\ mile (396 m) 
of any maintained building or Federal facility, such as, but not 
limited to, a structure designed for storage, human occupancy, or 
shelter for animals.
    4. We allow only portable blinds and temporary blinds constructed 
of nonliving natural materials. Hunters must remove all decoys and 
other equipment (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter) at the end of each 
day.
    5. We allow hunting only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, 
Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
    6. We reserve parking lot F solely for Memorial Marsh Unit 
waterfowl hunters.
    7. We require waterfowl hunting parties to space themselves a 
minimum of 200 yards (180 m) apart in the free roam area along the 
reservoir shoreline.
    8. We allow only nonmotorized boats or boats with electric motors 
within that portion of the reservoir open to hunting.
    9. On the Memorial Marsh Unit, we allow hunting only from numbered 
field blind sites, and hunters must park their vehicles only at the 
numbered post corresponding to the numbered field blind site they are 
using (see Sec.  27.31 of this chapter). Selection of parking sites/
numbered posts is on a first-come, first-served basis at parking lot F. 
We prohibit free-roam hunting or jump shooting, and you must remain 
within 100 feet (30 m) of the numbered field blind post unless 
retrieving birds or setting decoys. We allow a maximum of four persons 
per blind site.
    B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of upland game birds on 
designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations 
subject to the following conditions:
    1. Conditions A1, A2, and A3 apply.
    2. We allow hunting from 12 p.m. (noon) to legal sunset on 
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, and 
Christmas Day.
    C. Big Game Hunting. [Reserved]
    D. Sport Fishing. We allow fishing on designated areas of the 
refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following 
conditions:
    1. Condition A1 applies.
    2. In the Cold Springs Reservoir, we allow fishing only from March 
1 through September 30.
    3. We allow use of only nonmotorized boats and boats with electric 
motors.
* * * * *

Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, 
coot, and snipe on the designated areas of the refuge in accordance 
with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. You may possess only approved nontoxic shot for hunting (see 
Sec.  32.2(k)).
    2. We prohibit hunting on all exposed lands on Miller Sands Island 
and its partially enclosed lagoon, as posted. We prohibit hunting 
inside the diked portion of Karlson Island, as posted.
    3. We prohibit permanent blinds. You must remove all personal 
property, including decoys and boats, by 1 hour after legal sunset (see 
Sec. Sec.  27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
* * * * *

McKay Creek National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, 
coot, and snipe on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with 
State regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. We prohibit overnight camping and/or parking.
    2. We prohibit possession of toxic shot for hunting (see Sec.  
32.2(k)).
    3. We prohibit discharge of any firearm within \1/4\ mile (396 m) 
of any maintained building or Federal facility, such as, but not 
limited to, a structure designed for storage, human occupancy, or 
shelter for animals.
    4. We only allow portable blinds and temporary blinds constructed 
of nonliving natural materials. Hunters must remove all decoys and 
other equipment (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter) at the end of each 
day.
    5. We require waterfowl hunting parties to space themselves a 
minimum of 200 yards (180 m) apart.
    6. We prohibit the use of boats.
    B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of upland game birds on 
designated areas of the refuge in

[[Page 56085]]

accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. Conditions A1, A2, and A3 apply.
    2. On the opening weekend of the hunting season, we require all 
hunters to possess and carry a special refuge permit (name/address/
phone number).
    C. Big Game Hunting. [Reserved]
    D. Sport Fishing. We allow fishing on designated areas of the 
refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following 
conditions:
    1. Condition A1 applies.
    2. We allow fishing from March 1 through September 30.
* * * * *

Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, 
coot, and snipe on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with 
State regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. We prohibit overnight camping and/or parking.
    2. We prohibit possession of toxic shot for hunting (see Sec.  
32.2(k)).
    3. We prohibit discharge of any firearm within \1/4\ mile (396 m) 
of any maintained building or Federal facility, such as, but not 
limited to, a structure designed for storage, human occupancy, or 
shelter for animals.
    4. We allow only portable blinds and temporary blinds constructed 
of nonliving natural materials. Hunters must remove all decoys and 
other equipment (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter) at the end of each 
day.
    5. On the McCormack Unit, we allow hunting subject to the following 
conditions:
    i. The McCormack Unit is a fee-hunt area only open to hunting on 
Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, and New Year's Day 
during State waterfowl seasons.
    ii. We require hunters to stop at the check station to obtain a 
special refuge permit (name/address/phone number) that you must possess 
and carry, to pay a recreation user fee, and to obtain a blind 
assignment before hunting.
    iii. We allow hunting only from assigned blind sites and require 
hunters to remain within 100 feet (30 m) of marked blind sites unless 
retrieving birds.
    iv. Hunters may only possess up to 25 shot shells per hunt day.
    6. On the Boardman Unit, we require waterfowl hunting parties to 
space themselves a minimum of 200 yards (180 m) apart.
    7. We close all islands within the Columbia River to all access.
    B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of upland game birds on 
designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations 
subject to the following conditions:
    1. Conditions A1, A2, A3, and A7 apply.
    2. We allow hunting of upland game from 12 p.m. (noon) to legal 
sunset of each hunt day.
    3. On the McCormack Fee Hunt Unit, we allow hunting only on 
Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, and New Year's Day.
    4. On the McCormack Unit, we require all hunters to possess and 
carry a special refuge permit (name/address/phone number).
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of deer on designated areas 
of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the 
following conditions:
    1. Conditions A1, A2, A3, and A7 apply.
    2. We allow hunting by special permit only (issued by the State).
    D. Sport Fishing. We allow fishing on designated areas of the 
refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following 
conditions:
    1. Conditions A1 and A7 apply.
    2. We allow fishing on refuge impoundments and ponds from February 
1 through September 30.
* * * * *

William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of deer on designated areas 
of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the 
following conditions:
    1. We allow shotgun and archery hunting on designated dates from 
\1/2\ hour before legal sunrise until \1/2\ hour after legal sunset.
    2. We allow shotguns using only buckshot or slugs.
    3. We prohibit overnight camping and after-hours parking on the 
refuge.
    4. We prohibit hunting from refuge structures, observation blinds, 
or boardwalks.
    5. All vehicles must remain parked in designated areas.
    6. Hunters may use portable or climbing deer stands and must remove 
stands daily (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter). We prohibit driving or 
screwing nails, spikes, or other objects into trees or hunting from any 
tree into which such an object has been driven (see Sec.  32.2(i)). We 
prohibit limbing of trees.
    7. All hunters must complete a Big Game Harvest Report (FWS Form 3-
2359) available at the designated self-service hunt kiosks located on 
the refuge.
    8. Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on 
national wildlife refuges must comply with all provisions of State and 
local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with 
refuge regulations (see Sec.  27.42 of this chapter and specific refuge 
regulations in part 32).
    D. Sport Fishing. We allow fishing on designated areas of the 
refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following 
conditions:
    1. We allow fishing on Muddy Creek from the beginning of the State 
trout season in April through October 31.
    2. We prohibit the use of boats.

0
27. Amend Sec.  32.57 Pennsylvania by revising paragraphs A.2. through 
A.4., B.2., and C. under Erie National Wildlife Refuge to read as 
follows:


Sec.  32.57  Pennsylvania.

* * * * *

Erie National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    2. We require all hunters to possess and carry on their person a 
signed refuge hunt permit (signed brochure).
    3. We only allow nonmotorized boats for waterfowl hunting in 
permitted areas.
    4. We require that hunters remove all boats, blinds, cameras, and 
decoys from the refuge within 1 hour after legal sunset (see Sec. Sec.  
27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    2. Conditions A1, A2, A4, and A5 apply.
* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of deer, bear, and turkey on 
designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations 
subject to the following conditions:
    1. Condition A1 applies. We also allow spring turkey hunting in 
accordance with State regulations.
    2. Conditions A2 through A5 apply.
    3. We prohibit organized deer drives in hunt area B of the Sugar 
Lake Division. We define a ``drive'' as three or more persons involved 
in the act of chasing, pursuing, disturbing, or otherwise directing 
deer so as to make the animal more susceptible to harvest.
    4. We require any person hunting bear off-refuge to obtain a refuge 
Special Use Permit (FWS Form 3-1383) to track a wounded bear that may 
have entered the refuge.
* * * * *

0
28. Amend Sec.  32.60 South Carolina by:
0
a. Revising paragraphs C.9. and C.13. and adding paragraph C.17. under

[[Page 56086]]

Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge; and
0
b. Revising paragraphs A.2., A.3., A.4., and B.2., adding paragraph 
B.4., revising paragraphs C.1., C.7., and C.13., and removing 
paragraphs C.19. through C.24. under Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge.
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  32.60  South Carolina.

* * * * *

Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    9. Hunters must be on their stands from [frac12] hour before legal 
sunrise until 9 a.m. and from 2 hours before legal sunset until 
[frac12] hour after legal sunset.
* * * * *
    13. You may take five deer (no more than two antlered).
* * * * *
    17. We prohibit the use of trail or game cameras.
* * * * *

Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    2. Each youth hunter age 15 and younger must remain within sight, 
within normal voice contact, and under supervision of an adult age 21 
or older. The adult must comply with all State and Federal hunting 
license requirements and possess a signed refuge hunting permit (signed 
brochure).
    3. We allow waterfowl hunting only until 12 p.m. (noon) each 
Saturday and Wednesday during the State waterfowl season. Hunters may 
enter the refuge no earlier than 5 a.m. on hunt days and must be off 
the refuge by 2 p.m.
    4. We allow scouting Monday through Friday during the waterfowl 
season. Hunters must be off the refuge by 2 p.m.
* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    2. We allow hunting only in designated areas and only on days 
designated annually by the refuge within the State season.
* * * * *
    4. We prohibit shooting any game from a boat except waterfowl.
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
    1. Conditions A1, A2, A9, A10, B2, and B4 apply.
* * * * *
    7. We allow scouting all year during daylight hours except during 
the State waterfowl season. During the waterfowl season, the same 
regulations that apply to scouting for waterfowl (A4) apply to scouting 
for big game species. We prohibit the use of trail cameras and other 
scouting devices.
* * * * *
    13. You must hunt deer and feral hog from an elevated hunting 
stand.
* * * * *

0
29. Amend Sec.  32.62 Tennessee by:
0
a. Revising paragraph C.4. under Lower Hatchie National Wildlife 
Refuge; and
0
b. Revising paragraphs B.1. and C.4. under Reelfoot National Wildlife 
Refuge.
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  32.62  Tennessee.

* * * * *

Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    4. Hunters may possess lead shot while deer hunting on the refuge 
(see Sec.  32.2(k)).
* * * * *

Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
    1. The refuge is a day-use area only (legal sunrise to legal 
sunset), with the exception of legal hunting activities.
* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    4. Hunters may possess lead shot while deer hunting on the refuge 
(see Sec.  32.2 (k)).
* * * * *

0
30. Amend Sec.  32.63 Texas by:
0
a. Adding paragraph C.10. under Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife 
Refuge;
0
b. Adding paragraph A.5. under Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge;
0
c. Adding paragraph A.7., revising paragraphs D.1. and D.2., and adding 
D.7. under Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge;
0
d. Revising paragraphs C.1., C.2., C.3., C.6., C.7., C.8., C.15., 
C.16., and C.17. under Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge;
0
e. Revising paragraph A.3., adding paragraph A.6., revising paragraph 
D.2., and adding paragraph D.3. under San Bernard National Wildlife 
Refuge; and
0
f. Revising paragraphs B.1., B.2., and B.4. through B.8., adding 
paragraph B.9., and revising paragraph C.1., redesignating paragraphs 
C.2. and C.3. as paragraphs C.3. and C.4., adding a new paragraph C.2., 
and removing paragraphs C.5. and C.6. under Trinity River National 
Wildlife Refuge.
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  32.63  Texas.

* * * * *

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    10. Hunters must exit the refuge no later than 1\1/2\ hours after 
legal sunset.
* * * * *

Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    5. Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on 
national wildlife refuges must comply with all provisions of State and 
local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with 
refuge regulations (see Sec.  27.42 of this chapter and specific refuge 
regulations in part 32).
* * * * *

Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    7. Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on 
national wildlife refuges must comply with all provisions of State and 
local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with 
refuge regulations (see Sec.  27.42 of this chapter and specific refuge 
regulations in part 32).
* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
    1. We allow fishing only on Nick's Lake, Salt Lake, and Lost Lake.
    2. We allow access for shore fishing at Bastrop Bayou, Clay Banks, 
and Salt Lake Public Fishing Areas; we prohibit the use or possession 
of alcoholic beverages in all Public Fishing Areas.
* * * * *
    7. Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on 
national wildlife refuges must comply with all provisions of State and 
local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with 
refuge regulations (see Sec.  27.42 of this chapter and specific refuge 
regulations in part 32).
* * * * *

Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *

[[Page 56087]]

    1. We require hunters to pay a fee and obtain a refuge hunt permit 
(name and address only). We issue replacement permits for an additional 
nominal fee. All hunt fees are nonrefundable. We require the hunter to 
possess and carry a signed and dated refuge hunt permit.
    2. We allow archery and firearm hunting on designated units of the 
refuge. Units 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8 are open to archery hunting during 
designated dates. Units 2, 3, 5, and 8 are open to firearm hunting 
during designated dates. We close the following areas to hunting: 
Adolph Thomae, Jr. County Park in Unit 3, posted ``No Hunting Zones'' 
within all hunt units, La Selva Verde Tract (Armstrong), Waller Tract, 
Tocayo (COHYCO, Inc.) Tract, Frieze Tract, Escondido Tract, Sendero del 
Gato, Resaca de la Gringa, Bahia Grande Unit, South Padre Island Unit, 
and the Boswell Tract.
    3. We offer hunting during specific portions of the State hunting 
season. We determine specific deer hunt dates annually, and they 
usually fall within October, November, December, and January. We may 
provide special feral hog and nilgai antelope hunts to reduce 
populations at any time during the year.
* * * * *
    6. An adult age 17 or older must accompany and remain within sight 
and normal voice contact of each youth hunter, ages 9 through 16. 
Hunters must be at least age 9.
    7. We allow the use of only longbows, compound bows, and recurved 
bows during the archery hunt. We allow the use of only shoulder-fired 
muzzleloaders, rifles, and crossbows during the firearm hunt. Persons 
possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on national wildlife 
refuges must comply with all provisions of State and local law. Persons 
may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with refuge regulations 
(see Sec.  27.42 of this chapter and specific refuge regulations in 
part 32). Muzzleloader firearms must be .40 caliber or larger, and 
modern rifles must be centerfired and .22 caliber or larger. We 
prohibit loaded authorized hunting firearms (see Sec.  27.42 of this 
chapter) in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. We define 
``loaded'' as having rounds in the chamber or magazine or a firing cap 
on a muzzleloading firearm. We prohibit target practice or ``sighting-
in'' on the refuge.
    8. We allow a scouting period prior to the commencement of the 
refuge deer hunting season. A permitted hunter and a limit of two 
nonpermitted individuals may enter the hunt units during the scouting 
period. We allow access to the units during the scouting period from 
legal sunrise to legal sunset. You must clearly display the refuge-
issued Hunter Vehicle Validation Tags/Scouting Permits (name, address, 
and phone number; available from the refuge office) face up on the 
vehicle dashboard when hunting and scouting.
* * * * *
    15. We prohibit killing or wounding an animal covered in this 
section and intentionally or knowingly failing to make a reasonable 
effort to retrieve and include it in the hunter's bag limit.
    16. We prohibit use of or hunting from any type of watercraft or 
floating device.
    17. Hunters must receive authorization from a refuge employee to 
enter closed refuge areas to retrieve harvested game.
* * * * *

San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    3. We require hunters to use the Waterfowl Lottery Application (FWS 
Form 3-2355) and payment of fees for the Sergent Permit Waterfowl Hunt 
Area. Hunters must abide by all terms and conditions set by the 
permits.
* * * * *
    6. Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on 
national wildlife refuges must comply with all provisions of State and 
local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with 
refuge regulations (see Sec.  27.42 of this chapter and specific refuge 
regulations in part 32).
* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing. * * *
* * * * *
    2. We allow access for shore fishing at Cedar Lake Creek Public 
Fishing Area; we prohibit the use or possession of alcoholic beverages 
in all Public Fishing Areas.
    3. Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on 
national wildlife refuges must comply with all provisions of State and 
local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with 
refuge regulations (see Sec.  27.42 of this chapter and specific refuge 
regulations in part 32).
* * * * *

Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
    1. We require hunters to possess a refuge permit (signed brochure) 
and pay a fee for the hunt application. For information concerning the 
hunts, contact the refuge office. The hunter must carry the 
nontransferable permit at all times while hunting.
    2. We will offer a limited season upland game squirrel and rabbit 
hunt. We require refuge permits and hunters must turn in the Upland/
Small Game/Furbearer Report (FWS Form 3-2362) by the date specified on 
the permit. Failure to submit the report will render the hunter 
ineligible for the next year's limited upland game hunt. Drawings will 
be either by lottery or on a first-come-first-served basis. We will 
describe hunt units in maps and written directions.
* * * * *
    4. All units are walk-in only. We prohibit hunters using dogs, 
feeders, baiting, campsites, fires, horses, bicycles, and all-terrain 
vehicles (except on designated units which allow ATV use for hunters 
with disabilities). We provide access for hunters with disabilities. 
Please contact the refuge office for additional information.
    5. Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on 
national wildlife refuges must comply with all provisions of State and 
local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with 
refuge regulations (see Sec.  27.42 of this chapter and specific refuge 
regulations in part 32). Units will have a hunting type of weapon 
restriction (long gun, shotgun, or archery) due to safety concerns.
    6. Youth hunters age 12 through 17 must hunt with a permitted adult 
age 18 or older and be within sight and normal voice contact of the 
adult.
    7. For safety we require a minimum distance between hunt parties of 
200 yards (180 m). Hunters must visibly wear 400 square inches (2,600 
cm\2\) of hunter orange above the waist and a hunter-orange hat or cap.
    8. We require hunters to park only in the assigned parking area at 
each hunt unit. They may enter the refuge no earlier than 4:30 a.m. We 
will allow hunting from \1/2\ hour before legal sunrise to legal sunset 
only during the days specified on the permit.
    9. Hunters may place no more than one temporary stand on the 
refuge. Hunters may place the stand during the scouting week before the 
hunt begins and must remove it the day the hunt ends. Hunters must 
remove all flagging or markers the day the hunt ends. We prohibit the 
use of paint for marking. Hunters must label blinds with the name of 
the permit holder. We prohibit hunting or erection of blinds along 
refuge roads or main trails.
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
    1. We will offer limited (shortened) seasons for big game hunting 
of deer

[[Page 56088]]

and feral hog. The limited hunts are during the archery, general, and 
muzzleloader State seasons. We require refuge permits (signed refuge 
brochure) and Big Game Harvest Report (FWS Form 3-2359). Hunters must 
turn in both forms by the date specified on the permit. Failure to 
submit the Harvest Report will render the hunter ineligible for the 
next year's limited big game hunt. Drawings are by lottery. We will 
describe hunt units in maps and provide written directions.
    2. Conditions B3 through B9 apply.
* * * * *

0
31. Amend Sec.  32.64 Utah by revising paragraphs A.10., B., and C. 
under Ouray National Wildlife Refuge to read as follows:


Sec.  32.64  Utah.

* * * * *

Ouray National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    10. Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on 
national wildlife refuges must comply with all provisions of State and 
local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with 
refuge regulations (see Sec.  27.42 of this chapter and part 32).
    B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of pheasant and turkey in 
accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. We allow pheasant and turkey hunting within designated areas.
    2. We prohibit hunting on the islands and sandbars within the Green 
River.
    3. We allow turkey hunting for youth hunters under age 14 during 
the general-season, youth-only turkey hunt season.
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of deer and elk in accordance 
with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. We allow deer and elk hunting within designated areas.
    2. We prohibit hunting on the islands and sandbars within the Green 
River.
    3. We allow use of portable tree stands and hunting blinds. Hunters 
must remove all tree stands and blinds no later than the last day of 
the hunting season for which they have a permit (see Sec.  27.93 of 
this chapter).
    4. We allow elk hunting for youth hunters under age 14 only prior 
to October 1.
    5. We allow elk hunting during the Uintah Basin Extended Archery 
Elk Hunt starting on October 1.
    6. We prohibit elk hunting during the general season any-legal-
weapon (rifle) and muzzleloader- bull-elk hunts.
    7. We allow elk hunting during limited late season antlerless elk 
(after December 1), hunter depredation pool, and other disabled/youth 
elk hunts in accordance with State and refuge regulations.
* * * * *

0
32. Amend Sec.  32.67 Washington by:
0
a. Revising the entry for Columbia National Wildlife Refuge;
0
b. Revising the entry for Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge;
0
c. Revising the entry for McNary National Wildlife Refuge;
0
d. Revising the entry for Toppenish National Wildlife Refuge; and
0
e. Revising the entry for Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge.
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  32.67  Washington.

* * * * *

Columbia National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, 
coot, and snipe on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with 
State regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. Except for Soda Lake Campground, we prohibit overnight parking 
and/or camping.
    2. You may possess only approved nontoxic shot for hunting (see 
Sec.  32.2(k)).
    3. We prohibit discharge of any firearm within \1/4\ mile (396 m) 
of any maintained building or Federal facility, such as, but not 
limited to, a structure designed for storage, human occupancy, or 
shelter for animals.
    4. We only allow portable blinds and temporary blinds constructed 
of nonliving natural materials. Hunters must remove all decoys and 
other equipment (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter) at the end of each 
day.
    5. We allow hunting only on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and 
Federal holidays on Marsh Unit 1 and Farm Units 226-227.
    6. Prior to entering the Farm Unit 226-227 hunt area, we require 
you to possess and carry a special refuge permit (name/address/phone 
number), pay a recreation user fee, and obtain a blind assignment.
    B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of upland game birds on 
designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations 
subject to the following conditions:
    1. Conditions A1, A2, and A3 apply.
    2. We allow hunting of only upland game birds during State upland 
game seasons that run concurrently with the State waterfowl season.
    3. We allow hunting from 12 p.m. (noon) to legal sunset on 
Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays in Marsh Unit 1.
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of deer on designated areas 
of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the 
following conditions:
    1. Conditions A1, A2, and A3 apply.
    2. We allow hunting only during State deer seasons that run 
concurrently with the State waterfowl season.
    3. We allow hunting with shotgun and archery only.
    D. Sport Fishing. We allow fishing on designated areas of the 
refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following 
conditions:
    1. Condition A1 applies.
    2. On waters open to fishing, we allow fishing only from April 1 to 
September 30, with the exception of Falcon, Heron, Goldeneye, Corral, 
Blythe, Chukar, and Scaup Lakes that are open year-round.
    3. We allow frogging during periods when we allow fishing on 
designated waters.

Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, 
coot, and snipe on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with 
State regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. We prohibit overnight camping and/or parking.
    2. You may possess only approved nontoxic shot for hunting (see 
Sec.  32.2(k)).
    3. We prohibit discharge of any firearm within \1/4\ mile (396 m) 
of any maintained building or Federal facility, such as, but not 
limited to, a structure designed for storage, human occupancy, or 
shelter for animals.
    4. We allow only portable blinds and temporary blinds constructed 
of nonliving natural materials. Hunters must remove all decoys and 
other equipment at the end of each day (see Sec.  27.93 of this 
chapter).
    B. Upland Game Hunting. [Reserved]
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of deer on designated areas 
of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the 
following conditions: Conditions A1, A2, and A3 apply.
    D. Sport Fishing. [Reserved]
* * * * *

McNary National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, 
coot, dove, and snipe on designated areas of the refuge in accordance 
with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. We prohibit overnight camping and/or parking.
    2. You may possess only approved nontoxic shot for hunting (see 
Sec.  32.2(k)).
    3. We prohibit discharge of any firearm within \1/4\ mile (396 m) 
of any

[[Page 56089]]

maintained building or Federal facility, such as, but not limited to, a 
structure designed for storage, human occupancy, or shelter for 
animals.
    4. We allow only portable blinds and temporary blinds constructed 
of nonliving natural materials. Hunters must remove all decoys and 
other equipment (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter) at the end of each 
day.
    5. On the McNary Fee Hunt Area (McNary Headquarters Unit), we allow 
hunting subject to the following conditions:
    i. The McNary Fee Hunt Area (McNary Headquarters Unit) is only open 
on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, and New Year's 
Day.
    ii. We require hunters to possess and carry a special refuge permit 
(name/address/phone number), pay a recreation user fee, and obtain a 
blind assignment before hunting.
    iii. We allow hunting only from assigned blind sites and require 
hunters to remain within 100 feet (30 m) of marked posts unless 
retrieving birds or setting decoys.
    iv. We prohibit the hunting of dove.
    v. Hunters may only possess up to 25 shot shells per hunt day.
    6. On the Peninsula Unit, we allow hunting subject to the following 
conditions:
    i. On the east shoreline of the Peninsula Unit, we allow hunting 
only from established numbered blind sites, assigned on a first-come, 
first-served basis. We require hunters to remain within 100 feet (30 m) 
of marked posts unless retrieving birds or setting decoys.
    ii. On the west shoreline of the Peninsula Unit, we require hunters 
to space themselves a minimum of 200 yards (180 m) apart.
    7. We close Strawberry Island in the Snake River to all access.
    8. We close Badger and Foundation Islands in the Columbia River to 
all access.
    B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of upland game birds on 
designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations 
subject to the following conditions:
    1. Conditions A1, A2, A3, A7, and A8 apply.
    2. On the McNary Fee Hunt Area (McNary Headquarters Unit), we allow 
hunting on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, and New 
Year's Day. We prohibit hunting before 12 p.m. (noon) on each hunt day.
    3. On the Peninsula Unit, we prohibit hunting before 12 p.m. (noon) 
on goose hunt days.
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of deer only on the 
Stateline, Juniper Canyon, and Wallula Units in accordance with State 
regulations subject to the following conditions.
    1. Conditions A1, A2, A3, A7, and A8 apply.
    2. On the Wallula Unit, we allow hunting with shotgun and archery 
only.
    D. Sport Fishing. We allow fishing on designated areas of the 
refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following 
conditions: Conditions A1, A7, and A8 apply.
* * * * *

Toppenish National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, 
coot, dove, and snipe on designated areas of the refuge in accordance 
with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. We prohibit overnight camping and/or parking.
    2. You may possess only approved nontoxic shot for hunting (see 
Sec.  32.2(k)).
    3. We prohibit discharge of any firearm within \1/4\ mile (396 m) 
of any maintained building or Federal facility, such as, but not 
limited to, a structure designed for storage, human occupancy, or 
shelter for animals.
    4. We allow only portable blinds and temporary blinds constructed 
of nonliving natural materials. Hunters must remove all decoys and 
other equipment (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter) at the end of each 
day.
    5. We allow dove hunting only on the Chloe, Webb, Petty, Halvorson, 
Chambers, and Isiri Units.
    6. On the Pumphouse and Robbins Road Units, hunters may only 
possess up to 25 shot shells per hunt day.
    7. On the Pumphouse, Petty, Isiri, Chamber, and Chloe Units, we 
allow hunting 7 days a week subject to the following condition: We 
require hunting parties to space themselves a minimum of 200 yards (180 
m) apart.
    8. On the Halvorson and Webb Units, we allow hunting only on 
Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and 
New Year's Day.
    9. On the Robbins Road Unit, we allow hunting only on Tuesdays, 
Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New 
Year's Day.
    10. On the Robbins Road and Pumphouse Units, we allow hunting only 
from numbered field blind sites, and hunters must park their vehicles 
only at the numbered post corresponding to the numbered field blind 
site they are using (see Sec.  27.31 of this chapter). Selection of 
parking sites/numbered posts is on a first-come, first-served basis at 
the designated parking lot. We prohibit free-roam hunting or jump 
shooting, and you must remain within 100 feet (30 m) of the numbered 
field blind post unless retrieving birds or setting decoys. We allow a 
maximum of four persons per blind site.
    B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of upland game birds on 
designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations 
subject to the following conditions:
    1. Conditions A1 through A3 apply.
    2. We allow hunting of upland game from 12 p.m. (noon) to legal 
sunset of each hunt day.
    3. On the Halvorson and Webb Units, we allow hunting only on 
Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and 
New Year's Day.
    4. On the Robbins Road Unit, we allow hunting only on Tuesdays, 
Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New 
Year's Day.
    C. Big Game Hunting. [Reserved]
    D. Sport Fishing. [Reserved]
* * * * *

Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, 
coot, dove, and snipe on designated areas of the refuge in accordance 
with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
    1. We prohibit overnight camping and/or parking.
    2. You may possess only approved nontoxic shot for hunting (see 
Sec.  32.2(k)).
    3. We prohibit discharge of any firearms within \1/4\ mile (396 m) 
of any maintained building or Federal facility, such as, but not 
limited to, a structure designed for storage, human occupancy, or 
shelter for animals.
    4. We only allow portable blinds and temporary blinds constructed 
of nonliving natural materials. You must remove all decoys and other 
equipment (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter) at the end of each day.
    5. On the Paterson and Whitcomb Units, we allow hunting only on 
Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and 
New Year's Day.
    6. In the refuge ponds within the Paterson Unit, we allow only 
nonmotorized boats and boats with electric motors.
    7. On the Ridge Unit, we allow only shoreline hunting and prohibit 
hunting from boats.
    8. We require waterfowl hunting parties to space themselves a 
minimum of 200 yards (180 m) apart.
    9. We close all islands within the Columbia River to all access.
    B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of upland game birds on

[[Page 56090]]

designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations 
subject to the following conditions:
    1. Conditions A1, A2, A3, A5, and A9 apply.
    2. We allow hunting of upland game from 12 p.m. (noon) to legal 
sunset of each hunt day.
    C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of deer on designated areas 
of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the 
following conditions:
    1. Conditions A1, A2, A3, and A9 apply.
    2. We allow hunting by special permit only (issued by the State).
    D. Sport Fishing. We allow fishing on designated areas of the 
refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following 
conditions:
    1. Conditions A1 and A9 apply.
    2. We allow fishing on refuge impoundments and ponds from February 
1 through September 30.
* * * * *

0
33. Amend Sec.  32.68 West Virginia by revising paragraphs A.2. and 
A.4., adding paragraph A.8., and revising paragraphs B.1., C.1., and 
C.2. under Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge to read as follows:


Sec.  32.68  West Virginia.

* * * * *

Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge

    A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    2. We allow hunting on most refuge lands with the following 
exceptions: the area surrounding the refuge headquarters, areas marked 
as safety zones, areas marked as no hunting zones, areas marked as 
closed to all public entry, or within 500 feet (150 m) of any dwelling 
in accordance with State regulations.
* * * * *
    4. The refuge opens 1 hour before legal sunrise and closes 1 hour 
after legal sunset, including parking areas. We prohibit camping. We 
prohibit overnight parking except by Special Use Permit (FWS Form 3-
1383) on Forest Road 80.
* * * * *
    8. We prohibit hunters from leaving decoys and other personal 
property on the refuge (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter).
    B. Upland Game Hunting. * * *
    1. Conditions A1 (Upland/Small Game/Furbearer Report; FWS Form 3-
2362), A2, A4, A6, and A7 apply.
* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting.* * *
    1. Conditions A1 (Big Game Harvest Report; FWS Form 3-2359), A2, 
A4, A6, A7, and B4 apply.
    2. You may only enter the refuge on foot. You may use hand-powered, 
wheeled carts for transporting big game.
* * * * *

0
34. Amend Sec.  32.69 Wisconsin by:
0
a. Adding paragraph C.6. and revising paragraph D. under Horicon 
National Wildlife Refuge;
0
b. Removing paragraph C.2., redesignating paragraphs C.3. through C.11. 
as paragraphs C.2. through C.10., revising newly redesignated paragraph 
C.6., adding new paragraph C.11., and revising paragraph D. under 
Necedah National Wildlife Refuge; and
0
c. Revising paragraphs B. and D. under Trempealeau National Wildlife 
Refuge.
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  32.69  Wisconsin.

* * * * *

Horicon National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    6. Any ground blind used during any gun deer season must display at 
least 144 square inches (936 cm\2\) of solid-blaze-orange material 
visible from all directions.
    D. Sport Fishing. We allow fishing on designated areas of the 
refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following 
conditions:
    1. We allow only bank fishing.
    2. We prohibit the use of fishing weights or lures containing lead.
* * * * *

Necedah National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. * * *
* * * * *
    6. Refuge Area 2 is open to deer hunting during State archery, gun, 
and muzzleloader seasons, except for any early antlerless-only hunts.
* * * * *
    11. Any ground blind used during any gun deer season must display 
at least 144 square inches (936 cm\2\) of solid-blaze-orange material 
visible from all directions.
    D. Sport Fishing. We allow fishing in designated waters of the 
refuge at designated times subject to the following conditions:
    1. We allow use of nonmotorized boats in Sprague-Goose pools only 
when these pools are open to fishing.
    2. We allow motorized boats in Suk Cerney Pool.
    3. We allow fishing by hook and line only.
* * * * *

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge

* * * * *
    B. Upland Game Hunting. [Reserved]
* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing. We allow fishing on designated areas of the 
refuge from legal sunrise to legal sunset in accordance with State laws 
for inland waters subject to the following conditions:
    1. We allow boats propelled by hand or electric motors only on 
refuge pools. We do not prohibit the possession of other watercraft 
motors, only their use. We do not restrict gasoline-powered motors on 
the navigable channel of the Trempealeau River.
    2. We prohibit harvest of turtle, snake, frog, or any other reptile 
or amphibian (see Sec.  27.21 of this chapter).
    3. We prohibit the release of live bait.
    4. We prohibit night-lighting, archery, spearing, or netting of 
fish.
    5. We prohibit fishing within 200 feet (60 m) of a water control 
structure as per State regulation.
    6. Anglers must remove ice fishing shelters from the refuge at the 
end of each day.
* * * * *

    Dated: August 29, 2011.
Eileen Sobeck,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2011-22752 Filed 9-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P