[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 162 (Friday, August 21, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51090-51111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20636]



[[Page 51089]]

Vol. 80

Friday,

No. 162

August 21, 2015

Part VI





Department of the Interior





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Fish and Wildlife Service





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50 CFR Part 20





Migratory Bird Hunting; Final Frameworks for Early Season Migratory 
Bird Hunting Regulations; Final Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 80 , No. 162 / Friday, August 21, 2015 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 51090]]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 20

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2014-0064; FF09M21200-156-FXMB1231099BPP0]
RIN 1018-BA67


Migratory Bird Hunting; Final Frameworks for Early-Season 
Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule prescribes final early-season frameworks from which 
the States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands may select season 
dates, limits, and other options for the 2015-16 migratory bird hunting 
seasons. Early seasons are those that generally open prior to October 
1, and include seasons in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin 
Islands. The effect of this final rule is to facilitate the selection 
of hunting seasons by the States and Territories to further the annual 
establishment of the early-season migratory bird hunting regulations.

DATES: This rule takes effect on August 21, 2015

ADDRESSES: States and Territories should send their season selections 
to: Chief, Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, MS: MB, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-
3803 You may inspect comments during normal business hours at the 
Service's office at 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia, or at 
http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2014-0064.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron W. Kokel, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Department of the Interior, MS: MB, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls 
Church, VA 22041-3803; (703) 358-1967.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Regulations Schedule for 2015

    On April 13, 2015, we published in the Federal Register (80 FR 
19852) a proposal to amend part 20 of title 50 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR). The proposal provided a background and overview of 
the migratory bird hunting regulations process, and addressed the 
establishment of seasons, limits, and other regulations for hunting 
migratory game birds under Sec. Sec.  20.101 through 20.107, 20.109, 
and 20.110 of subpart K of part 20. Major steps in the 2015-16 
regulatory cycle relating to open public meetings and Federal Register 
notifications were also identified in the April 13, 2015, proposed 
rule.
    Further, we explained that all sections of subsequent documents 
outlining hunting frameworks and guidelines were organized under 
numbered headings. Subsequent documents will refer only to numbered 
items requiring attention. Therefore, it is important to note that we 
omit those items requiring no attention, and remaining numbered items 
might be discontinuous or appear incomplete.
    On June 11, 2015, we published in the Federal Register (80 FR 
33223) a second document providing supplemental proposals for early- 
and late-season migratory bird hunting regulations. The June 11 
supplement also provided detailed information on the 2015-16 regulatory 
schedule and announced the Service Regulations Committee (SRC) and 
Flyway Council meetings.
    On July 21, 2015, we published in the Federal Register (80 FR 
43266) a third document specifically dealing with the proposed 
frameworks for early-season regulations. We published the proposed 
frameworks for late-season regulations (primarily hunting seasons that 
start after October 1 and most waterfowl seasons not already 
established) in a mid-August 2015 Federal Register.
    This document is the fifth in a series of proposed, supplemental, 
and final rulemaking documents. It establishes final frameworks from 
which States may select season dates, shooting hours, and daily bag and 
possession limits for the 2015-16 season. These selections will be 
published in the Federal Register as amendments to Sec. Sec.  20.101 
through 20.107, and Sec.  20.109.

Population Status and Harvest

    Information on the status of waterfowl and information on the 
status and harvest of migratory shore and upland game birds, including 
detailed information on methodologies and results, is available at the 
address indicated under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or from our Web 
site at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewsPublicationsReports.html.

Review of Public Comments

    The preliminary proposed rulemaking (April 13, 2015, Federal 
Register) opened the public comment period for migratory game bird 
hunting regulations. Comments concerning early-season issues are 
summarized below and numbered in the order used in the April 13, 2015, 
Federal Register document. Only the numbered items pertaining to early-
seasons issues for which we received written comments are included. 
Consequently, the issues do not follow in consecutive numerical or 
alphabetical order.
    We received recommendations from all four Flyway Councils. Some 
recommendations supported continuation of last year's frameworks. Due 
to the comprehensive nature of the annual review of the frameworks 
performed by the Councils, support for continuation of last year's 
frameworks is assumed for items for which no recommendations were 
received. Council recommendations for changes in the frameworks are 
summarized below.

General

    Written Comments: A commenter protested the entire migratory bird 
hunting regulations process, the killing of all migratory birds, and 
status and habitat data on which the migratory bird hunting regulations 
are based.
    Service Response: Our long-term objectives continue to include 
providing opportunities to harvest portions of certain migratory game 
bird populations and to limit harvests to levels compatible with each 
population's ability to maintain healthy, viable numbers. Having taken 
into account the zones of temperature and the distribution, abundance, 
economic value, breeding habits, and times and lines of flight of 
migratory birds, we believe that the hunting seasons provided for 
herein are compatible with the current status of migratory bird 
populations and long-term population goals. Additionally, we are 
obligated to, and do, give serious consideration to all information 
received as public comment. We believe that the Flyway-Council system 
of migratory bird management has been a longstanding, successful 
example of State-Federal cooperative management since its establishment 
in 1952. However, as always, we continue to seek new ways to improve 
the process.

1. Ducks

    Categories used to discuss issues related to duck harvest 
management are: (A) General Harvest Strategy; (B) Regulatory 
Alternatives, including specification of framework dates, season 
lengths, and bag limits; (C) Zones and Split Seasons; and (D) Special 
Seasons/Species Management. The categories correspond to previously 
published issues/discussions, and only those containing substantial 
recommendations are discussed below.

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C. Zones and Split Seasons

    Council Recommendations: The Mississippi and Central Flyway 
Councils recommended no changes to the existing zone and split season 
guidelines. However, they further recommended that States be provided 
the option of changing duck zones and split arrangements in either the 
2016-17 or 2017-18 seasons, with the next open season in 2021 for the 
2021-25 period.
    Service Response: Zones and split seasons are ``special 
regulations'' designed to distribute hunting opportunities and harvests 
according to temporal, geographic, and demographic variability in 
waterfowl and other migratory game bird populations. For ducks, States 
have been allowed the option of dividing their allotted hunting days 
into two (or in some cases three) segments to take advantage of 
species-specific peaks of abundance or to satisfy hunters in different 
areas who want to hunt during the peak of waterfowl abundance in their 
area. However, the split-season option does not fully satisfy many 
States that wish to provide a more equitable distribution of harvest 
opportunities. Therefore, we also have allowed the establishment of 
independent seasons in up to four zones within States for the purpose 
of providing more equitable distribution of harvest opportunity for 
hunters throughout the State.
    In 1978, we prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the use of 
zones to set duck hunting regulations. A primary tenet of the 1978 EA 
was that zoning would be for the primary purpose of providing equitable 
distribution of duck hunting opportunities within a State or region and 
not for the purpose of increasing total annual waterfowl harvest in the 
zoned areas. In fact, target harvest levels were to be adjusted 
downward if they exceeded traditional levels as a result of zoning. 
Subsequent to the 1978 EA, we conducted a review of the use of zones 
and split seasons in 1990. In 2011, we prepared a new EA analyzing some 
specific proposed changes to the zone and split season guidelines. The 
current guidelines were then finalized in 2011 (76 FR 53536; August 26, 
2011).
    Currently, every 5 years, States are afforded the opportunity to 
change the zoning and split season configuration within which they set 
their annual duck hunting regulations. The next regularly scheduled 
open season for changes to zone and split season configurations is in 
2016, for use during the 2016-20 period. However, as we discussed in 
the September 23, 2014, Federal Register (79 FR 56864), and the April 
13, 2015, Federal Register (80 FR 19852), we are implementing 
significant changes to the annual regulatory process as outlined in the 
2013 SEIS. As such, the previously identified May 1, 2016, due date for 
zone and split season configuration changes, which was developed under 
the current regulatory process, is too late for those States wishing to 
change zone and split season configurations for implementation in the 
2016-17 season. Under the new regulatory schedule, we anticipate 
publishing the proposed rule for all 2016-17 migratory bird seasons 
sometime this fall--approximately 30 days after the SRC meeting (which 
is scheduled for October 20-22, 2015). A final rule tentatively would 
be published 75 days after the proposed rule (no later than April 1). 
This schedule would preclude inclusion of new zone descriptions in the 
proposed rule as had been done in past open seasons and would not be 
appropriate because it would preclude the ability for the public to 
comment on these new individual State zone descriptions. Therefore, we 
need to include any new proposed 2016-20 zone descriptions in the 2016-
17 hunting seasons proposed rule document that will be published later 
this year.
    Considering all of the above, we agree with the Mississippi and 
Central Flyway Councils and have decided that a two-phase approach is 
appropriate. For those States wishing to change zone and split season 
configurations in time for the 2016-17 season, we will need to receive 
new configuration and zone descriptions by December 1, 2015. States 
that do not send in new zone and split season configuration changes 
until the previously identified May 1, 2016, deadline will have those 
changes implemented in the 2017-18 hunting season. The next scheduled 
open season would remain in 2021 for the 2021-25 seasons.
    For the current open season, the guidelines for duck zone and split 
season configurations will be as follows:
Guidelines for Duck Zones and Split Seasons
    The following zone and split-season guidelines apply only for the 
regular duck season:
    (1) A zone is a geographic area or portion of a State, with a 
contiguous boundary, for which independent dates may be selected for 
the regular duck season.
    (2) Consideration of changes for management-unit boundaries is not 
subject to the guidelines and provisions governing the use of zones and 
split seasons for ducks.
    (3) Only minor (less than a county in size) boundary changes will 
be allowed for any grandfathered arrangement, and changes are limited 
to the open season.
    (4) Once a zone and split option is selected during an open season, 
it must remain in place for the following 5 years.
    Any State may continue the configuration used in the previous 5-
year period. If changes are made, the zone and split-season 
configuration must conform to one of the following options:
    (1) No more than four zones with no splits,
    (2) Split seasons (no more than three segments) with no zones, or
    (3) No more than three zones with the option for two-way (two-
segment) split seasons in one, two, or all zones.
Grandfathered Zone and Split Arrangements
    When we first implemented the zone and split guidelines in 1991, 
several States had completed experiments with zone and split 
arrangements different from our original options. We offered those 
States a one-time opportunity to continue (``grandfather'') those 
arrangements, with the stipulation that only minor changes could be 
made to zone boundaries. If any of those States now wish to change 
their zone and split arrangement:
    (1) The new arrangement must conform to one of the three options 
identified above; and
    (2) The State cannot go back to the grandfathered arrangement that 
it previously had in place.
Management Units
    We will continue to utilize the specific limitations previously 
established regarding the use of zones and split seasons in special 
management units, including the High Plains Mallard Management Unit. We 
note that the original justification and objectives established for the 
High Plains Mallard Management Unit provided for additional days of 
hunting opportunity at the end of the regular duck season. In order to 
maintain the integrity of the management unit, current guidelines 
prohibit simultaneous zoning and/or three-way split seasons within a 
management unit and the remainder of the State. Removal of this 
limitation would allow additional proliferation of zone and split 
configurations and compromise the original objectives of the management 
unit.

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D. Special Seasons/Species Management

i. September Teal Seasons

    Utilizing the criteria developed for the teal season harvest 
strategy, this year's estimate of 8.3 million blue-winged teal from the 
traditional survey area indicates that a 16-day September teal season 
in the Atlantic, Central, and Mississippi Flyways is appropriate for 
2015.

4. Canada Geese

A. Special Seasons

    Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended 
increasing season length from 7 to 15 days and the daily bag limit from 
2 to 5 for Canada geese in Idaho.
    Service Response: We agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's 
request to increase the Canada goose season length and daily bag limit 
in Idaho. The special early Canada goose hunting season is generally 
designed to reduce or control overabundant resident Canada goose 
populations. Increasing the season length from 7 to 15 days and the 
daily bag limit from 2 to 5 geese in Idaho may help reduce or control 
the abundance of resident Canada geese.

B. Regular Seasons

    Council Recommendations: The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended 
that the framework opening date for all species of geese for the 
regular goose seasons in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and Wisconsin 
be September 16, 2015, and in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan be 
September 11, 2015.
    Service Response: We concur with recommended framework opening 
dates. Michigan, beginning in 1998, and Wisconsin, beginning in 1989, 
have opened their regular Canada goose seasons prior to the Flyway-wide 
framework opening date to address resident goose management concerns in 
these States. As we have previously stated in our 2008 final rule (73 
FR 50678, August 27, 2008), we agree with the objective to increase 
harvest pressure on resident Canada geese in the Mississippi Flyway and 
will continue to consider the opening dates in both States as 
exceptions to the general Flyway opening date, to be reconsidered 
annually. The framework closing date for the early goose season in the 
Upper Peninsula of Michigan is September 10. By changing the framework 
opening date for the regular season to September 11 in the Upper 
Peninsula of Michigan there will be no need to close goose hunting in 
that area for 5 days and thus lose the ability to maintain harvest 
pressure on resident Canada geese. We note that the most recent 
resident Canada goose estimate for the Mississippi Flyway was 1,461,000 
geese during the spring of 2014, above the Flyway's population goal of 
1.18 to 1.40 million birds.

8. Swans

    Council Recommendations: In March the Atlantic, Mississippi, and 
Central Flyway Councils recommended increasing tundra swan permit 
numbers by 25 percent (2,400 permits) for the 2015-16 season, if the 
final 3-year running average mid-winter count exceeds 110,000 Eastern 
Population tundra swans, in accordance with the Eastern Population 
tundra swan management plan.
    Service Response: At the June 24-25, 2015, SRC meeting, the 
Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyway Councils withdrew their 
recommendations to increase tundra swan permit numbers because the 
final 3-year running average mid-winter count did not exceed 110,000 
Eastern Population tundra swans.

9. Sandhill Cranes

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway 
Councils recommended that Kentucky be granted an operational sandhill 
crane hunting season beginning in 2015 following the guidelines 
established in the Eastern Population of Sandhill Cranes Management 
Plan (EP Management Plan). Kentucky's operational season would consist 
of a maximum season length of 60 days (with no splits) to be held 
between September 1 and January 31, with a daily bag limit of 2 birds, 
and a season limit of 3 birds. Hunting would occur between sunrise and 
sunset. Per the guidelines set forth in the EP Management Plan, and 
based on the State's 5-year peak average of 12,072 birds, Kentucky 
would be allowed to issue a maximum of 1,207 tags during the 2015-16 
season. These permits would be divided among 400 permitted hunters. 
Hunters would be required to take mandatory whooping crane 
identification training, utilize Service-approved nontoxic shot shells, 
tag birds, report harvest daily via Kentucky's reporting system, and 
complete a post-season survey.
    The Central and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended using the Rocky 
Mountain Population (RMP) sandhill crane harvest allocation of 938 
birds as proposed in the allocation formula using the 3-year running 
population average for 2012-14. The Councils also recommended that, 
under the new annual regulatory process beginning with the 2016-17 
season, the harvest strategy described in the Pacific and Central 
Flyway Management Plan for RMP sandhill cranes be published in the 
proposed season frameworks and be used to determine allowable harvest. 
They recommended that the final allowable harvest each year be included 
in the final season frameworks published in February.
    The Pacific Flyway Council recommended some minor changes to the 
hunt area boundaries in Idaho to simplify and clarify hunt area 
descriptions. More specifically, Area 5 would now include all of 
Franklin County, and Area 1 would include all of Caribou County except 
that portion lying within the Grays Lake Basin. The Pacific Flyway 
Council also recommended eliminating the Lower Colorado River Valley 
Population (LCRVP) experimental season.
    Service Response: We agree with the recommendation to grant 
operational status to Kentucky's sandhill crane hunting season. 
Kentucky held an experimental sandhill crane season during 2011-13 and 
was granted an additional year in order to finalize analysis of the 
first 3 years of data collected during the experiment. The structure of 
the experimental seasons conformed to the frameworks outlined in the 
Eastern Population of Sandhill Cranes Management Plan. Harvest of 
sandhill cranes in Kentucky during 2011-13 ranged from 59 to 96 birds 
per year. This level of annual harvest was well below the allowable 
annual harvest of 1,174 birds determined by the permit allocation 
system outlined in the management plan. Therefore, we believe that 
Kentucky's crane season should continue on an operational basis, and 
that seasons should conform to the frameworks and permit guidelines 
outlined in the Eastern Population of Sandhill Cranes Management Plan.
    We also agree with the Central and Pacific Flyway Councils' 
recommendations on the RMP sandhill crane harvest allocation of 938 
cranes for the 2015-16 season, as outlined in the RMP sandhill crane 
management plan's hunting area requirements and harvest allocation 
formula. The objective for RMP sandhill cranes is to manage for a 
stable population index of 17,000-21,000 cranes determined by an 
average of the three most recent, reliable September (fall pre-
migration) surveys. Additionally, the RMP management plan allows for 
the regulated harvest of cranes when the 3-year average of the 
population indices exceeds 15,000 cranes. The most recent 3-year 
average

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for the RMP sandhill crane fall index is 18,482 birds, a slight 
increase from the previous 3-year average of 17,757 cranes.
    Regarding the RMP crane harvest and the new regulatory process, 
currently, results of the fall survey of RMP sandhill cranes, upon 
which the annual allowable harvest is based, will continue to be 
released between December 15 and January 31 each year, which is after 
the date for which proposed frameworks will be formulated in the new 
regulatory process. If the usual procedures for determining allowable 
harvest were used, data 2-4 years old would be used to determine the 
annual allocation for RMP sandhill cranes. Due to the variability in 
fall survey counts and recruitment for this population, and their 
impact on the annual harvest allocations, we agree that relying on data 
that is 2-4 years old is not ideal. Thus, we agree that the formula to 
determine the annual allowable harvest for RMP sandhill cranes should 
be used under the new regulatory schedule and propose to utilize it as 
such. That formula uses information on abundance and recruitment 
collected annually through operational monitoring programs, as well as 
constant values based on past research or monitoring for survival of 
fledglings to breeding age and harvest retrieval rate. The formula is:

H = C x P x R x L x f

Where:

H = total annual allowable harvest;
C = the average of the three most recent, reliable fall population 
indices;
P = the average proportion of fledged chicks in the fall population 
in the San Luis Valley during the most recent 3 years for which data 
are available;
R = estimated recruitment of fledged chicks to breeding age (current 
estimate is 0.5);
L = retrieval rate of 0.80 (allowance for an estimated 20 percent 
crippling loss based on hunter interviews); and
f = (C/16,000) (a variable factor used to adjust the total harvest 
to achieve a desired effect on the entire population)

    A final estimate for the allowable harvest would be available to 
publish in the final rule, allowing us to use data that is 1-3 years 
old as is currently practiced. We look forward to continuing 
discussions and work on the RMP crane issue with the Central and 
Pacific Flyway Councils this summer in preparation for the 2016-17 
season.
    We also agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation for 
minor changes to the existing RMP sandhill crane hunting area 
boundaries in Idaho. The boundary adjustments are intended to simplify 
and clarify existing hunting area boundary descriptions, and are 
consistent with the Pacific and Central Flyway Council's RMP sandhill 
crane management plan hunting area requirements.
    Finally, we also agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's 
recommendation to eliminate the LCRVP sandhill crane experimental 
hunting season. As requested by the Pacific Flyway Council in 2006 (71 
FR 51407, August 29, 2006), we authorized in 2007 a carefully 
controlled, very limited experimental season for LCRVP sandhill cranes 
in Arizona based on our final environmental assessment (72 FR 49624, 
August 28, 2007). In 2009, the Pacific Flyway Council recommended 
extending the experimental season for LCRVP sandhill cranes in Arizona 
for an additional 3 years (74 FR 43009, August 25, 2009). The extension 
was necessary due to implementation difficulties that prohibited 
initiating the new hunt. We continued to support the establishment of 
the 3-year experimental framework for this hunt, conditional on 
successful monitoring being conducted as called for in the Flyway 
hunting plan for this population. Subsequently, the only hunting season 
successfully implemented in Arizona for this population was in 2010 
where 5 youth participated and no cranes were harvested. The Pacific 
Flyway Council has indicated in their recent recommendation that there 
are no plans to hunt this population in the near future.

11. Moorhens and Gallinules

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 
allowing the hunting of purple swamphens (Porphyrio porphyria) in 
Florida beginning in 2015. They recommended that hunting be allowed 
during any open waterfowl season and that all regulations in 50 CFR 
part 20 subparts C and D would apply. Further, they recommended a daily 
bag limit of 25 birds, with a possession limit of 75. They also 
recommended that we exclude this species from monitoring programs.
    Service Response: Purple swamphens are a species native to the U.S. 
Territories of American Samoa, Baker and Howland Islands, and Guam, and 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and as such are protected 
under 50 CFR 10.13. In Florida, purple swamphens are an introduced 
species that likely resulted from escapees. Available data indicate 
that the population may be expanding and competing with native species. 
As such, in 2010, we established a Control Order in 50 CFR 21.53 in 
order to control possible expansion of the species (75 FR 9314, March 
1, 2010). However, there has never been a sport hunting season 
established in the United States for purple swamphens. Consequently, we 
believe a new hunting season for purple swamphens would require 
appropriate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) coverage. Since a 
NEPA analysis of this proposal has not yet been conducted, we do not 
support the Council's recommendation at this time. We will reconsider 
it after appropriate NEPA analysis has been completed.

14. Woodcock

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central 
Flyway Councils recommend that we remove the ``interim'' label from the 
American woodcock harvest strategy and consider the strategy 
operational.
    Service Response: In 2011, we implemented an interim harvest 
strategy for woodcock for a period of 5 years (2011-15) (76 FR 19876, 
April 8, 2011). The interim harvest strategy provides a transparent 
framework for making regulatory decisions for woodcock season length 
and bag limit while we work to improve monitoring and assessment 
protocols for this species. Utilizing the criteria developed for the 
interim strategy, the 3-year average for the Singing Ground-Survey 
indices and associated confidence intervals fall within the ``moderate 
package'' for both the Eastern and Central Management Regions. As such, 
a ``moderate season'' for both management regions for the 2015-16 
woodcock hunting season is appropriate. Specifics of the interim 
harvest strategy can be found at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewsPublicationsReports.html.
    Regarding the Flyway Councils' recommendations to remove the 
``interim'' label from the current American woodcock harvest strategy 
and consider the strategy operational, we agree. The current strategy 
has been in place since 2011 and we foresee no further changes to the 
harvest strategy at this time.

15. Band-Tailed Pigeons

    Council Recommendations: The Central and Pacific Flyway Councils 
recommended decreasing the season length from 30 days to 14 days, and 
decreasing the daily bag limit from 5 to 2 for the Interior Population 
of band-tailed pigeons.
    Service Response: We agree with the Central and Pacific Flyway 
Councils' recommendations to decrease season length from 30 to 14 days 
and daily bag limit from 5 to 2 birds for Interior band-tailed pigeons. 
Last year (79 FR 51405,

[[Page 51094]]

August 28, 2014), we recommended that the Councils work together and 
with the Service's Division of Migratory Bird Management to review 
available information and conduct an assessment of the harvest 
potential of this population. We also requested they advise us of the 
results of this assessment and develop a regulatory recommendation 
using this information at our June 2015 regulatory meeting. Technical 
representatives from the Central and Pacific Flyway Councils and the 
Service's Division of Migratory Bird Management met in Denver on 
October 23-24, 2014, to discuss an approach to assessing harvest 
potential and review available demographic data for interior band-
tailed pigeons. At the meeting in Denver, participants agreed on using 
the Potential Take Level framework (PTL) for the harvest potential 
assessment.
    The objective of this PTL assessment was to derive an estimate of 
allowable harvest to compare with the best estimate of observed harvest 
after accounting for uncertainty of demographic parameters (i.e., 
survival, reproduction, and population size). The assessment used all 
available demographic information for this species, albeit limited, but 
the information is dated and may not adequately represent extant 
conditions. Also, current abundance is largely unknown, and estimated 
hunter harvest is highly imprecise and may be biased high relative to 
the true value. Considering all the data, their precision, and 
potential biases, the assessment suggested that a conservative approach 
to harvest management for this population is warranted. Results were 
consistent with those of earlier investigators (1992) that reported low 
harvest potential for the Pacific Coast band-tailed pigeon. Results of 
the assessment provide a transparent approach to help inform the 
regulatory decision-making process for this population until additional 
information becomes available or a formal harvest strategy is 
developed. The PTL assessment could be updated if improved information 
on estimated hunter harvest and population size becomes available.

16. Mourning Doves

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway 
Councils recommended use of the ``standard'' season framework 
comprising a 90-day season and 15-bird daily bag limit for States 
within the Eastern Management Unit. The daily bag limit could be 
composed of mourning doves and white-winged doves, singly or in 
combination.
    The Mississippi and Central Flyway Councils recommended the use of 
the ``standard'' season package of a 15-bird daily bag limit and a 70-
day season for the 2015-16 mourning dove season in the States within 
the Central Management Unit.
    The Pacific Flyway Council recommended use of the ``standard'' 
season framework for States in the Western Management Unit (WMU) 
population of mourning doves. In Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and 
Washington, the season length would be no more than 60 consecutive days 
with a daily bag limit of 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the 
aggregate. In Arizona and California, the season length would be no 
more than 60 consecutive days, which could be split between two 
periods, September 1-15 and November 1-January 15. In Arizona, during 
the first segment of the season, the daily bag limit would be 15 
mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate, of which no more than 
10 could be white-winged doves. During the remainder of the season, the 
daily bag limit would be 15 mourning doves. In California, the daily 
bag limit would be 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate, 
of which no more than 10 could be white-winged doves.
    Service Response: Based on the harvest strategies and current 
population status, we agree with the recommended selection of the 
``standard'' season frameworks for doves in the Eastern, Central, and 
Western Management Units for the 2015-16 seasons.
    Lastly, as we discussed in the April 13, 2015, Federal Register (80 
FR 19852), 2016 is the next open season for changes to dove zone and 
split configurations for the 2016-20 period. The current guidelines 
were approved in 2006 (see July 28, 2006, Federal Register, 71 FR 
43008), for the use of zones and split seasons for doves with 
implementation beginning in the 2007-08 season. While the initial 
period was for 4 years (2007-10), we further stated that, beginning in 
2011, zoning would conform to a 5-year period.
    As discussed above under C. Zones and Split Seasons for ducks, 
because of unintentional and unanticipated issues with changing the 
regulatory schedule for the 2016-17 season, we have decided that a two-
phase approach is appropriate. For those States wishing to change zone 
and split season configurations in time for the 2016-17 season, we will 
need to receive that new configuration and zone descriptions by 
December 1, 2015. For those States that do not send in zone and split 
season configuration changes until the previously identified May 1, 
2016, deadline, we will implement those changes in the 2017-18 hunting 
season. The next normally scheduled open season will be in 2021 for the 
2021-25 seasons.
    For the current open season, the guidelines for dove zone and split 
season configurations will be as follows:
Guidelines for Dove Zones and Split Seasons in the Eastern and Central 
Mourning Dove Management Units
    (1) A zone is a geographic area or portion of a State, with a 
contiguous boundary, for which independent seasons may be selected for 
dove hunting.
    (2) States may select a zone and split option during an open 
season. The option must remain in place for the following 5 years 
except that States may make a one-time change and revert to their 
previous zone and split configuration in any year of the 5-year period. 
Formal approval will not be required, but States must notify the 
Service before making the change.
    (3) Zoning periods for dove hunting will conform to those years 
used for ducks, e.g., 2016-20.
    (4) The zone and split configuration consists of two zones with the 
option for 3-way (3-segment) split seasons in one or both zones. As a 
grandfathered arrangement, Texas will have three zones with the option 
for 2-way (2-segment) split seasons in one, two, or all three zones.
    (5) States that do not wish to zone for dove hunting may split 
their seasons into no more than 3 segments.
    For the 2016-20 period, any State may continue the configuration 
used in 2011-15. If changes are made, the zone and split-season 
configuration must conform to one of the options listed above. If Texas 
uses a new configuration for the entirety of the 5-year period, it 
cannot go back to the grandfathered arrangement that it previously had 
in place.

18. Alaska

    Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended two 
changes in the Alaska early-season frameworks. Specifically, they 
recommended:
    1. For white-fronted geese in Unit 18 (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta), 
increasing the daily bag limit from 8 to 10.
    2. For Canada geese in Units 6-B, 6-C, and on Hinchinbrook and 
Hawkins Islands in Unit 6-D, increasing the

[[Page 51095]]

possession limit from two times to three times the daily bag limit.
    Service Response: We agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's 
recommendation to increase the daily bag limit from 8 to 10 white-
fronted geese in Unit 18. The recent 3-year (2012-14) average fall 
population of Pacific white-fronted geese was 627,108 geese, and is 
well above the population objective of 300,000 geese as identified in 
the Pacific Flyway Council's management plan for this population. The 
Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (Unit 18) supports more than 95 percent of the 
breeding population of Pacific white-fronted geese.
    We also agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation to 
increase the possession limit for Canada geese from two times to three 
times the daily bag limit in Units 6-B, 6-C, and on Hinchinbrook and 
Hawkins Islands in Unit 6-D. The recent 3-year (2011-14, no estimate 
was available in 2013) average breeding population of dusky Canada 
geese was 13,678 geese, and is the highest 3-year average since 1995. 
The dusky Canada goose annual population index has increased steadily 
since 2009, and 2014 (15,574) had the highest value since 2005. The 
status of dusky Canada geese continues to be of concern, and harvest 
restrictions have been and remain in place to protect these geese 
throughout their range since the 1970s. We continue to support the 
harvest strategy described in the Pacific Flyway Council's management 
plan for this population.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

    The programmatic document, ``Second Final Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement: Issuance of Annual Regulations 
Permitting the Sport Hunting of Migratory Birds (EIS 20130139),'' filed 
with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on May 24, 2013, 
addresses NEPA compliance by the Service for issuance of the annual 
framework regulations for hunting of migratory game bird species. We 
published a notice of availability in the Federal Register on May 31, 
2013 (78 FR 32686), and our Record of Decision on July 26, 2013 (78 FR 
45376). We also address NEPA compliance for waterfowl hunting 
frameworks through the annual preparation of separate environmental 
assessments, the most recent being ``Duck Hunting Regulations for 2015-
16,'' with its corresponding August 2015 finding of no significant 
impact. In addition, an August 1985 environmental assessment entitled 
``Guidelines for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations on Federal Indian 
Reservations and Ceded Lands'' is available from the person indicated 
under the caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Endangered Species Act Consideration

    Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), provides that, ``The Secretary shall review other 
programs administered by him and utilize such programs in furtherance 
of the purposes of this Act'' (and) shall ``insure that any action 
authorized, funded, or carried out . . . is not likely to jeopardize 
the continued existence of any endangered species or threatened species 
or result in the destruction or adverse modification of [critical] 
habitat. . . .'' Consequently, we conducted formal consultations to 
ensure that actions resulting from these regulations would not likely 
jeopardize the continued existence of endangered or threatened species 
or result in the destruction or adverse modification of their critical 
habitat. Findings from these consultations are included in a biological 
opinion, which concluded that the regulations are not likely to 
jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered or threatened 
species. Additionally, these findings may have caused modification of 
some regulatory measures previously proposed, and the final frameworks 
reflect any such modifications. Our biological opinions resulting from 
this section 7 consultation are public documents available for public 
inspection at the address indicated under ADDRESSES.

Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Orders 12866 and 13563)

    Executive Order 12866 provides that the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) will review all significant rules. OIRA has 
reviewed this rule and has determined that this rule is significant 
because it would have an annual effect of $100 million or more on the 
economy.
    Executive Order 13563 reaffirms the principles of E.O. 12866 while 
calling for improvements in the nation's regulatory system to promote 
predictability, to reduce uncertainty, and to use the best, most 
innovative, and least burdensome tools for achieving regulatory ends. 
The executive order directs agencies to consider regulatory approaches 
that reduce burdens and maintain flexibility and freedom of choice for 
the public where these approaches are relevant, feasible, and 
consistent with regulatory objectives. E.O. 13563 emphasizes further 
that regulations must be based on the best available science and that 
the rulemaking process must allow for public participation and an open 
exchange of ideas. We have developed this rule in a manner consistent 
with these requirements.
    An updated economic analysis was prepared for the 2013-14 season. 
This analysis was based on data from the newly released 2011 National 
Hunting and Fishing Survey, the most recent year for which data are 
available (see discussion in Regulatory Flexibility Act section below). 
This analysis estimated consumer surplus for three alternatives for 
duck hunting (estimates for other species are not quantified due to 
lack of data). The alternatives were: (1) Issue restrictive regulations 
allowing fewer days than those issued during the 2012-13 season, (2) 
issue moderate regulations allowing more days than those in alternative 
1, and (3) issue liberal regulations identical to the regulations in 
the 2012-13 season. For the 2013-14 season, we chose Alternative 3, 
with an estimated consumer surplus across all flyways of $317.8-$416.8 
million. For the 2015-16 season, we have also chosen alternative 3. We 
also chose alternative 3 for the 2009-10, the 2010-11, the 2011-12, and 
the 2012-13 seasons. The 2013-14 analysis is part of the record for 
this rule and is available at http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. 
FWS-HQ-MB-2014-0064.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The annual migratory bird hunting regulations have a significant 
economic impact on substantial numbers of small entities under the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). We analyzed the 
economic impacts of the annual hunting regulations on small business 
entities in detail as part of the 1981 cost-benefit analysis. This 
analysis was revised annually from 1990-95. In 1995, the Service issued 
a Small Entity Flexibility Analysis (Analysis), which was subsequently 
updated in 1996, 1998, 2004, 2008, and 2013. The primary source of 
information about hunter expenditures for migratory game bird hunting 
is the National Hunting and Fishing Survey, which is conducted at 5-
year intervals. The 2013 Analysis was based on the 2011 National 
Hunting and Fishing Survey and the U.S. Department of Commerce's County 
Business Patterns, from which it was estimated that migratory bird 
hunters would spend approximately $1.5 billion at small businesses in 
2013. Copies of the Analysis are available upon request from the 
Division of Migratory Bird Management (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT) or from our Web site at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/

[[Page 51096]]

NewReportsPublications/SpecialTopics/SpecialTopics.html#HuntingRegs or 
at http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2014-0064.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

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

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This final rule does not contain any new information collection 
that requires approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). We may not conduct or sponsor and you are not 
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. 
OMB has reviewed and approved the information collection requirements 
associated with migratory bird surveys and assigned the following OMB 
control numbers:
     1018-0019--North American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey 
(expires 5/31/2018).
     1018-0023--Migratory Bird Surveys (expires 6/30/2017). 
Includes Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program, Migratory Bird 
Hunter Surveys, Sandhill Crane Survey, and Parts Collection Survey.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

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

Civil Justice Reform--Executive Order 12988

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

Takings Implication Assessment

    In accordance with Executive Order 12630, this rule, authorized by 
the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-711), does not have 
significant takings implications and does not affect any 
constitutionally protected property rights. This rule will not result 
in the physical occupancy of property, the physical invasion of 
property, or the regulatory taking of any property. In fact, this rule 
allows hunters to exercise otherwise unavailable privileges and, 
therefore, reduces restrictions on the use of private and public 
property.

Energy Effects--Executive Order 13211

    Executive Order 13211 requires agencies to prepare Statements of 
Energy Effects when undertaking certain actions. While this rule is a 
significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866, it is not 
expected to adversely affect energy supplies, distribution, or use. 
Therefore, this action is not a significant energy action and no 
Statement of Energy Effects is required.

Government-to-Government Relationship With Tribes

    In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994, 
``Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal 
Governments'' (59 FR 22951), Executive Order 13175, and 512 DM 2, we 
have evaluated possible effects on Federally-recognized Indian tribes 
and have determined that there are no effects on Indian trust 
resources. However, in the April 30, 2015, Federal Register, we 
solicited proposals for special migratory bird hunting regulations for 
certain Tribes on Federal Indian reservations, off-reservation trust 
lands, and ceded lands for the 2015-16 migratory bird hunting season. 
The resulting proposals were contained in a separate August 4, 2015, 
proposed rule (80 FR 46218). By virtue of these actions, we have 
consulted with affected Tribes.

Federalism Effects

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

Regulations Promulgation

    The rulemaking process for migratory game bird hunting must, by its 
nature, operate under severe time constraints. However, we intend that 
the public be given the greatest possible opportunity to comment. Thus, 
when the preliminary proposed rulemaking was published, we established 
what we believed were the longest periods possible for public comment. 
In doing this, we recognized that when the comment period closed, time 
would be of the essence. That is, if there were a delay in the 
effective date of these regulations after this final rulemaking, States 
would have insufficient time to select season dates and limits; to 
communicate those selections to us; and to establish and publicize the 
necessary regulations and procedures to implement their decisions. We 
therefore find that ``good cause'' exists, within the terms of 5 U.S.C. 
553(d)(3) of the Administrative Procedure Act, and these frameworks 
will, therefore, take effect immediately upon publication.
    Therefore, under authority of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (July 
3, 1918), as amended (16 U.S.C. 703-711), we prescribe final frameworks 
setting forth the species to be hunted, the daily bag and possession 
limits, the shooting hours, the season lengths, the earliest opening 
and latest closing season dates, and hunting areas, from which State 
conservation agency officials will select hunting season dates and 
other options. Upon receipt of season selections from these officials, 
we will publish a final rulemaking amending 50 CFR part 20 to reflect 
seasons, limits, and shooting hours for the conterminous United States 
for the 2015-16 season.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 20

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

    The rules that eventually will be promulgated for the 2015-16 
hunting season are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 703-712 and 16 U.S.C. 
742a-j.


[[Page 51097]]


    Dated: August 10, 2015.
Michael J. Bean,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

Final Regulations Frameworks for 2015-16 Early Hunting Seasons on 
Certain Migratory Game Birds

    Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and delegated 
authorities, the Department of the Interior approved the following 
frameworks, which prescribe season lengths, bag limits, shooting hours, 
and outside dates within which States may select hunting seasons for 
certain migratory game birds between September 1, 2015, and March 10, 
2016. These frameworks are summarized below.

General

    Dates: All outside dates noted below are inclusive.
    Shooting and Hawking (taking by falconry) Hours: Unless otherwise 
specified, from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset daily.
    Possession Limits: Unless otherwise specified, possession limits 
are three times the daily bag limit.
    Permits: For some species of migratory birds, the Service 
authorizes the use of permits to regulate harvest or monitor their take 
by sport hunters, or both. In many cases (e.g., tundra swans, some 
sandhill crane populations), the Service determines the amount of 
harvest that may be taken during hunting seasons during its formal 
regulations-setting process, and the States then issue permits to 
hunters at levels predicted to result in the amount of take authorized 
by the Service. Thus, although issued by States, the permits would not 
be valid unless the Service approved such take in its regulations.
    These Federally authorized, State-issued permits are issued to 
individuals, and only the individual whose name and address appears on 
the permit at the time of issuance is authorized to take migratory 
birds at levels specified in the permit, in accordance with provisions 
of both Federal and State regulations governing the hunting season. The 
permit must be carried by the permittee when exercising its provisions 
and must be presented to any law enforcement officer upon request. The 
permit is not transferrable or assignable to another individual, and 
may not be sold, bartered, traded, or otherwise provided to another 
person. If the permit is altered or defaced in any way, the permit 
becomes invalid.

Flyways and Management Units

Waterfowl Flyways

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

Management Units

Mourning Dove Management Units
    Eastern Management Unit--All States east of the Mississippi River, 
and Louisiana.
    Central Management Unit--Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, 
Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, 
Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.
    Western Management Unit--Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, 
Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
Woodcock Management Regions
    Eastern Management Region--Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, 
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 
North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, 
Virginia, and West Virginia.
    Central Management Region--Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, 
Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, 
Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, 
Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.
    Other geographic descriptions are contained in a later portion of 
this document.

Definitions

    Dark geese: Canada geese, white-fronted geese, brant (except in 
Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington, and the Atlantic Flyway), and 
all other goose species, except light geese.
    Light geese: snow (including blue) geese and Ross's geese.

Waterfowl Seasons in the Atlantic Flyway

    In the Atlantic Flyway States of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, 
Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, 
where Sunday hunting is prohibited Statewide by State law, all Sundays 
are closed to all take of migratory waterfowl (including mergansers and 
coots).

Special September Teal Season

    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and September 30, an open season 
on all species of teal may be selected by the following States in areas 
delineated by State regulations:
    Atlantic Flyway--Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
    Mississippi Flyway--Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 
Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, 
and Wisconsin. The seasons in Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin are 
experimental.
    Central Flyway--Colorado (part), Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico 
(part), Oklahoma, and Texas. The season in the northern portion of 
Nebraska is experimental.
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 16 consecutive 
hunting days in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways. The 
daily bag limit is 6 teal.
    Shooting Hours:
    Atlantic Flyway--One-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except in 
South Carolina, where the hours are from sunrise to sunset.
    Mississippi and Central Flyways--One-half hour before sunrise to 
sunset, except in the States of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin, where the hours are 
from sunrise to sunset.

Special September Duck Seasons

    Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee: In lieu of a special September 
teal season, a 5-consecutive-day season may be selected in September. 
The daily bag limit may not exceed 6 teal and wood ducks in the 
aggregate, of which no more than 2 may be wood ducks. In addition, a 4-
consecutive-day experimental season may be selected in September either 
immediately before or immediately after the 5-consecutive-day

[[Page 51098]]

teal/wood duck season. The daily bag limit is 6 teal.
    Iowa: In lieu of an experimental special September teal season, 
Iowa may hold up to 5 days of its regular duck hunting season in 
September. All ducks that are legal during the regular duck season may 
be taken during the September segment of the season. The September 
season segment may commence no earlier than the Saturday nearest 
September 20 (September 19). The daily bag and possession limits will 
be the same as those in effect last year but are subject to change 
during the late-season regulations process. The remainder of the 
regular duck season may not begin before October 10.

Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days

    Outside Dates: States may select 2 days per duck-hunting zone, 
designated as ``Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days,'' in addition to their 
regular duck seasons. The days must be held outside any regular duck 
season on a weekend, holidays, or other non-school days when youth 
hunters would have the maximum opportunity to participate. The days may 
be held up to 14 days before or after any regular duck-season 
frameworks or within any split of a regular duck season, or within any 
other open season on migratory birds.
    Daily Bag Limits: The daily bag limits may include ducks, geese, 
mergansers, coots, and gallinules and will be the same as those allowed 
in the regular season. Flyway species and area restrictions will remain 
in effect.
    Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
    Participation Restrictions: Youth hunters must be 15 years of age 
or younger. In addition, an adult at least 18 years of age must 
accompany the youth hunter into the field. This adult may not duck 
hunt, but may participate in other seasons that are open on the special 
youth day.

Scoters, Eiders, and Long-Tailed Ducks (Atlantic Flyway)

    Outside Dates: Between September 15 and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 107 days, with 
a daily bag limit of 7, singly or in the aggregate, of the listed sea 
duck species, of which no more than 4 may be scoters.
    Daily Bag Limits During the Regular Duck Season: Within the special 
sea duck areas, during the regular duck season in the Atlantic Flyway, 
States may choose to allow the above sea duck limits in addition to the 
limits applying to other ducks during the regular duck season. In all 
other areas, sea ducks may be taken only during the regular open season 
for ducks and are part of the regular duck season daily bag (not to 
exceed 4 scoters) and possession limits.
    Areas: In all coastal waters and all waters of rivers and streams 
seaward from the first upstream bridge in Maine, New Hampshire, 
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York; in any waters 
of the Atlantic Ocean and in any tidal waters of any bay that are 
separated by at least 1 mile of open water from any shore, island, and 
emergent vegetation in New Jersey, South Carolina, and Georgia; and in 
any waters of the Atlantic Ocean and in any tidal waters of any bay 
that are separated by at least 800 yards of open water from any shore, 
island, and emergent vegetation in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, 
and Virginia; and provided that any such areas have been described, 
delineated, and designated as special sea duck hunting areas under the 
hunting regulations adopted by the respective States.

Special Early Canada Goose Seasons

Atlantic Flyway

General Seasons
    A Canada goose season of up to 15 days during September 1-15 may be 
selected for the Eastern Unit of Maryland. Seasons not to exceed 30 
days during September 1-30 may be selected for Connecticut, Florida, 
Georgia, New Jersey, New York (Long Island Zone only), North Carolina, 
Rhode Island, and South Carolina. Seasons may not exceed 25 days during 
September 1-25 in the remainder of the Flyway. Areas open to the 
hunting of Canada geese must be described, delineated, and designated 
as such in each State's hunting regulations.
    Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 15 Canada geese.
    Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except that 
during any general season, shooting hours may extend to one-half hour 
after sunset if all other waterfowl seasons are closed in the specific 
applicable area.

Mississippi Flyway

General Seasons
    Canada goose seasons of up to 15 days during September 1-15 may be 
selected, except in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, where the season 
may not extend beyond September 10, and in Minnesota, where a season of 
up to 22 days during September 1-22 may be selected. The daily bag 
limit may not exceed 5 Canada geese, except in designated areas of 
Minnesota where the daily bag limit may not exceed 10 Canada geese. 
Areas open to the hunting of Canada geese must be described, 
delineated, and designated as such in each State's hunting regulations.
    A Canada goose season of up to 10 consecutive days during September 
1-10 may be selected by Michigan for Huron, Saginaw, and Tuscola 
Counties, except that the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, 
Shiawassee River State Game Area Refuge, and the Fish Point Wildlife 
Area Refuge will remain closed. The daily bag limit may not exceed 5 
Canada geese.
    Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except that 
during September 1-15 shooting hours may extend to one-half hour after 
sunset if all other waterfowl and crane seasons are closed in the 
specific applicable area.

Central Flyway

General Seasons
    In Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas, Canada 
goose seasons of up to 30 days during September 1-30 may be selected. 
In Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming, Canada 
goose seasons of up to 15 days during September 1-15 may be selected. 
The daily bag limit may not exceed 5 Canada geese, except in Kansas, 
Nebraska, and Oklahoma, where the daily bag limit may not exceed 8 
Canada geese and in North Dakota and South Dakota, where the daily bag 
limit may not exceed 15 Canada geese. Areas open to the hunting of 
Canada geese must be described, delineated, and designated as such in 
each State's hunting regulations.
    Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except that 
during September 1-15 shooting hours may extend to one-half hour after 
sunset if all other waterfowl and crane seasons are closed in the 
specific applicable area.

Pacific Flyway

General Seasons
    California may select a 9-day season in Humboldt County during 
September 1-15. The daily bag limit is 2.
    Colorado may select a 9-day season during September 1-15. The daily 
bag limit is 4.
    Oregon may select a 15-day season during September 1-15, except 
that in the Northwest Zone the season may be during September 1-20. The 
daily bag limit is 5.
    Idaho may select a 15-day season during September 1-15. The daily 
bag limit is 5.
    Washington may select a 15-day season during September 1-15. The

[[Page 51099]]

daily bag limit is 5, except in Pacific County where the daily bag 
limit is 15.
    Wyoming may select an 8-day season during September 1-15. The daily 
bag limit is 3.
    Areas open to hunting of Canada geese in each State must be 
described, delineated, and designated as such in each State's hunting 
regulations.

Regular Goose Seasons

Mississippi Flyway

    Regular goose seasons may open as early as September 11 in the 
Upper Peninsula of Michigan and September 16 in Wisconsin and the Lower 
Peninsula of Michigan. Season lengths, bag and possession limits, and 
other provisions will be established during the late-season regulations 
process.

Sandhill Cranes

Regular Seasons in the Mississippi Flyway

    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and February 28 in Minnesota and 
between September 1 and January 31 in Kentucky.
    Hunting Seasons: A season not to exceed 37 consecutive days may be 
selected in the designated portion of northwestern Minnesota (Northwest 
Goose Zone), and a season not to exceed 60 consecutive days, in 
Kentucky.
    Daily Bag Limit: 2 sandhill cranes. In Kentucky the seasonal bag 
limit is 3 sandhill cranes.
    Permits: Each person participating in the regular sandhill crane 
seasons must have a valid Federal or State sandhill crane hunting 
permit.
    Other Provisions: The number of permits (where applicable), open 
areas, season dates, protection plans for other species, and other 
provisions of seasons must be consistent with the management plans and 
approved by the Mississippi Flyway Council.
Experimental Season in the Mississippi Flyway
    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons: A season not to exceed 60 consecutive days may be 
selected in Tennessee.
    Bag Limit: Not to exceed 3 daily and 3 per season in Tennessee.
    Permits: Each person participating in the regular sandhill crane 
season must have a valid Federal or State sandhill crane hunting 
permit.
    Other Provisions: Numbers of permits, open areas, season dates, 
protection plans for other species, and other provisions of seasons 
must be consistent with the management plan and approved by the 
Mississippi Flyway Council.
Regular Seasons in the Central Flyway
    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and February 28.
    Hunting Seasons: Seasons not to exceed 37 consecutive days may be 
selected in designated portions of Texas (Area 2). Seasons not to 
exceed 58 consecutive days may be selected in designated portions of 
the following States: Colorado, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, South 
Dakota, and Wyoming. Seasons not to exceed 93 consecutive days may be 
selected in designated portions of the following States: New Mexico, 
Oklahoma, and Texas.
    Daily Bag Limits: 3 sandhill cranes, except 2 sandhill cranes in 
designated portions of North Dakota (Area 2) and Texas (Area 2).
    Permits: Each person participating in the regular sandhill crane 
season must have a valid Federal or State sandhill crane hunting 
permit.

Special Seasons in the Central and Pacific Flyways

    Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming 
may select seasons for hunting sandhill cranes within the range of the 
Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) subject to the following conditions:
    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons: The season in any State or zone may not exceed 30 
consecutive days.
    Bag limits: Not to exceed 3 daily and 9 per season.
    Permits: Participants must have a valid permit, issued by the 
appropriate State, in their possession while hunting.
    Other Provisions: Numbers of permits, open areas, season dates, 
protection plans for other species, and other provisions of seasons 
must be consistent with the management plan and approved by the Central 
and Pacific Flyway Councils, with the following exceptions:
    A. In Utah, 100 percent of the harvest will be assigned to the RMP 
quota;
    B. In Arizona, monitoring the racial composition of the harvest 
must be conducted at 3-year intervals;
    C. In Idaho, 100 percent of the harvest will be assigned to the RMP 
quota; and
    D. In New Mexico, the season in the Estancia Valley is 
experimental, with a requirement to monitor the level and racial 
composition of the harvest; greater sandhill cranes in the harvest will 
be assigned to the RMP quota.

Common Moorhens and Purple Gallinules

    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and the last Sunday in January 
(January 31) in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways. States 
in the Pacific Flyway have been allowed to select their hunting seasons 
between the outside dates for the season on ducks; therefore, they are 
late-season frameworks, and no frameworks are provided in this 
document.
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Seasons may not exceed 70 
days in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways. Seasons may be 
split into 2 segments. The daily bag limit is 15 common moorhens and 
purple gallinules, singly or in the aggregate of the two species.
    Zoning: Seasons may be selected by zones established for duck 
hunting.

Rails

    Outside Dates: States included herein may select seasons between 
September 1 and the last Sunday in January (January 31) on clapper, 
king, sora, and Virginia rails.
    Hunting Seasons: Seasons may not exceed 70 days, and may be split 
into 2 segments.
    Daily Bag Limits:
    Clapper and King Rails--In Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New 
Jersey, and Rhode Island, 10, singly or in the aggregate of the two 
species. In Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia, 15, singly or in the 
aggregate of the two species.
    Sora and Virginia Rails--In the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central 
Flyways and the Pacific Flyway portions of Colorado, Montana, New 
Mexico, and Wyoming, 25 rails, singly or in the aggregate of the two 
species. The season is closed in the remainder of the Pacific Flyway.

Snipe

    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and February 28, except in 
Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, 
New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia, where the 
season must end no later than January 31.
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Seasons may not exceed 107 
days and may be split into two segments. The daily bag limit is 8 
snipe.
    Zoning: Seasons may be selected by zones established for duck 
hunting.

American Woodcock

    Outside Dates: States in the Eastern Management Region may select 
hunting seasons between October 1 and January 31. States in the Central 
Management Region may select hunting seasons

[[Page 51100]]

between the Saturday nearest September 22 (September 19) and January 
31.
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Seasons may not exceed 45 
days in the Eastern Region and 45 days in the Central Region. The daily 
bag limit is 3. Seasons may be split into two segments.
    Zoning: New Jersey may select seasons in each of two zones. The 
season in each zone may not exceed 36 days.

Band-Tailed Pigeons

Pacific Coast States (California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada)

    Outside Dates: Between September 15 and January 1.
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 9 consecutive 
days, with a daily bag limit of 2.
    Zoning: California may select hunting seasons not to exceed 9 
consecutive days in each of two zones. The season in the North Zone 
must close by October 3.

Four-Corners States (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah)

    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and November 30.
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 14 consecutive 
days, with a daily bag limit of 2.
    Zoning: New Mexico may select hunting seasons not to exceed 14 
consecutive days in each of two zones. The season in the South Zone may 
not open until October 1.

Doves

    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 15, except as 
otherwise provided, States may select hunting seasons and daily bag 
limits as follows:

Eastern Management Unit

    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 90 days, with a 
daily bag limit of 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: States may select hunting seasons in each 
of two zones. The season within each zone may be split into not more 
than three periods. Regulations for bag and possession limits, season 
length, and shooting hours must be uniform within specific hunting 
zones.

Central Management Unit

    For all States except Texas:
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 70 days, with a 
daily bag limit of 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: States may select hunting seasons in each 
of two zones. The season within each zone may be split into not more 
than three periods.
Texas
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 70 days, with a 
daily bag limit of 15 mourning, white-winged, and white-tipped doves in 
the aggregate, of which no more than 2 may be white-tipped doves.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Texas may select hunting seasons for each 
of three zones subject to the following conditions:
    A. The hunting season may be split into not more than two periods, 
except in that portion of Texas in which the special white-winged dove 
season is allowed, where a limited take of mourning and white-tipped 
doves may also occur during that special season (see Special White-
winged Dove Area).
    B. A season may be selected for the North and Central Zones between 
September 1 and January 25; and for the South Zone between the Friday 
nearest September 20 (September 18), but not earlier than September 17, 
and January 25.
    C. Except as noted above, regulations for bag and possession 
limits, season length, and shooting hours must be uniform within each 
hunting zone.
    Special White-winged Dove Area in Texas:
    In addition, Texas may select a hunting season of not more than 4 
days for the Special White-winged Dove Area of the South Zone between 
September 1 and September 19. The daily bag limit may not exceed 15 
white-winged, mourning, and white-tipped doves in the aggregate, of 
which no more than 2 may be mourning doves and no more than 2 may be 
white-tipped doves.

Western Management Unit

    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits:
    Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington--Not more than 60 
consecutive days, with a daily bag limit of 15 mourning and white-
winged doves in the aggregate.
    Arizona and California--Not more than 60 days, which may be split 
between two periods, September 1-15 and November 1-January 15. In 
Arizona, during the first segment of the season, the daily bag limit is 
15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate, of which no more 
than 10 could be white-winged doves. During the remainder of the 
season, the daily bag limit is 15 mourning doves. In California, the 
daily bag limit is 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate, 
of which no more than 10 could be white-winged doves.
Alaska
    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 26.
    Hunting Seasons: Alaska may select 107 consecutive days for 
waterfowl, sandhill cranes, and common snipe in each of 5 zones. The 
season may be split without penalty in the Kodiak Zone. The seasons in 
each zone must be concurrent.
    Closures: The hunting season is closed on emperor geese, spectacled 
eiders, and Steller's eiders.
    Daily Bag and Possession Limits:
    Ducks--Except as noted, a basic daily bag limit of 7 ducks. Daily 
bag limits in the North Zone are 10, and in the Gulf Coast Zone, they 
are 8. The basic limits may include no more than 1 canvasback daily and 
may not include sea ducks.
    In addition to the basic duck limits, Alaska may select sea duck 
limits of 10 daily, singly or in the aggregate, including no more than 
6 each of either harlequin or long-tailed ducks. Sea ducks include 
scoters, common and king eiders, harlequin ducks, long-tailed ducks, 
and common and red-breasted mergansers.
    Light Geese--The daily bag limit is 4.
    Canada Geese--The daily bag limit is 4 with the following 
exceptions:
    A. In Units 5 and 6, the taking of Canada geese is permitted from 
September 28 through December 16.
    B. On Middleton Island in Unit 6, a special, permit-only Canada 
goose season may be offered. A mandatory goose identification class is 
required. Hunters must check in and check out. The bag limit is 1 daily 
and 1 in possession. The season will close if incidental harvest 
includes 5 dusky Canada geese. A dusky Canada goose is any dark-
breasted Canada goose (Munsell 10 YR color value five or less) with a 
bill length between 40 and 50 millimeters.
    C. In Units 9, 10, 17, and 18, the daily bag limit is 6 Canada 
geese.
    White-fronted Geese--The daily bag limit is 4 with the following 
exceptions:
    A. In Units 9, 10, and 17, the daily bag limit is 6 white-fronted 
geese.
    B. In Unit 18, the daily bag limit is 10 white-fronted geese.
    Brant--The daily bag limit is 2.
    Snipe--The daily bag limit is 8.
    Sandhill cranes--The daily bag limit is 2 in the Southeast, Gulf 
Coast, Kodiak, and Aleutian Zones, and Unit 17 in the North Zone. In 
the remainder of the North Zone (outside Unit 17), the daily bag limit 
is 3.
    Tundra Swans--Open seasons for tundra swans may be selected subject 
to the following conditions:
    A. All seasons are by registration permit only.

[[Page 51101]]

    B. All season framework dates are September 1-October 31.
    C. In Unit 17, no more than 200 permits may be issued during this 
operational season. No more than 3 tundra swans may be authorized per 
permit, with no more than 1 permit issued per hunter per season.
    D. In Unit 18, no more than 500 permits may be issued during the 
operational season. No more than 3 tundra swans may be authorized per 
permit. No more than 1 permit may be issued per hunter per season.
    E. In Unit 22, no more than 300 permits may be issued during the 
operational season. No more than 3 tundra swans may be authorized per 
permit. No more than 1 permit may be issued per hunter per season.
    F. In Unit 23, no more than 300 permits may be issued during the 
operational season. No more than 3 tundra swans may be authorized per 
permit. No more than 1 permit may be issued per hunter per season.

Hawaii

    Outside Dates: Between October 1 and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons: Not more than 65 days (75 under the alternative) 
for mourning doves.
    Bag Limits: Not to exceed 15 (12 under the alternative) mourning 
doves.
    Note: Mourning doves may be taken in Hawaii in accordance with 
shooting hours and other regulations set by the State of Hawaii, and 
subject to the applicable provisions of 50 CFR part 20.

Puerto Rico

Doves and Pigeons

    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 15.
    Hunting Seasons: Not more than 60 days.
    Daily Bag and Possession Limits: Not to exceed 20 Zenaida, 
mourning, and white-winged doves in the aggregate, of which not more 
than 10 may be Zenaida doves and 3 may be mourning doves. Not to exceed 
5 scaly-naped pigeons.
    Closed Seasons: The season is closed on the white-crowned pigeon 
and the plain pigeon, which are protected by the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico.
    Closed Areas: There is no open season on doves or pigeons in the 
following areas: Municipality of Culebra, Desecheo Island, Mona Island, 
El Verde Closure Area, and Cidra Municipality and adjacent areas.

Ducks, Coots, Moorhens, Gallinules, and Snipe

    Outside Dates: Between October 1 and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons: Not more than 55 days may be selected for hunting 
ducks, common moorhens, and common snipe. The season may be split into 
two segments.
    Daily Bag Limits:
    Ducks--Not to exceed 6.
    Common moorhens--Not to exceed 6.
    Common snipe--Not to exceed 8.
    Closed Seasons: The season is closed on the ruddy duck, white-
cheeked pintail, West Indian whistling duck, fulvous whistling duck, 
and masked duck, which are protected by the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico. The season also is closed on the purple gallinule, American coot, 
and Caribbean coot.
    Closed Areas: There is no open season on ducks, common moorhens, 
and common snipe in the Municipality of Culebra and on Desecheo Island.

Virgin Islands

Doves and Pigeons

    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 15.
    Hunting Seasons: Not more than 60 days for Zenaida doves.
    Daily Bag and Possession Limits: Not to exceed 10 Zenaida doves.
    Closed Seasons: No open season is prescribed for ground or quail 
doves or pigeons.
    Closed Areas: There is no open season for migratory game birds on 
Ruth Cay (just south of St. Croix).
    Local Names for Certain Birds: Zenaida dove, also known as mountain 
dove; bridled quail-dove, also known as Barbary dove or partridge; 
common ground-dove, also known as stone dove, tobacco dove, rola, or 
tortolita; scaly-naped pigeon, also known as red-necked or scaled 
pigeon.

Ducks

    Outside Dates: Between December 1 and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons: Not more than 55 consecutive days.
    Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 6.
    Closed Seasons: The season is closed on the ruddy duck, white-
cheeked pintail, West Indian whistling duck, fulvous whistling duck, 
and masked duck.

Special Falconry Regulations

    Falconry is a permitted means of taking migratory game birds in any 
State meeting Federal falconry standards in 50 CFR 21.29. These States 
may select an extended season for taking migratory game birds in 
accordance with the following:
    Extended Seasons: For all hunting methods combined, the combined 
length of the extended season, regular season, and any special or 
experimental seasons must not exceed 107 days for any species or group 
of species in a geographical area. Each extended season may be divided 
into a maximum of 3 segments.
    Framework Dates: Seasons must fall between September 1 and March 
10.
    Daily Bag Limits: Falconry daily bag limits for all permitted 
migratory game birds must not exceed 3 birds, singly or in the 
aggregate, during extended falconry seasons, any special or 
experimental seasons, and regular hunting seasons in all States, 
including those that do not select an extended falconry season.
    Regular Seasons: General hunting regulations, including seasons and 
hunting hours, apply to falconry in each State listed in 50 CFR 21.29. 
Regular season bag limits do not apply to falconry. The falconry bag 
limit is not in addition to gun limits.

Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions

Doves

Alabama
    South Zone--Baldwin, Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Escambia, 
Geneva, Henry, Houston, and Mobile Counties.
    North Zone--Remainder of the State.
Florida
    Northwest Zone--The Counties of Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, 
Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, 
Washington, Leon (except that portion north of U.S. 27 and east of 
State Road 155), Jefferson (south of U.S. 27, west of State Road 59 and 
north of U.S. 98), and Wakulla (except that portion south of U.S. 98 
and east of the St. Marks River).
    South Zone--Remainder of State.
Louisiana
    North Zone--That portion of the State north of a line extending 
east from the Texas border along State Highway 12 to U.S. Highway 190, 
east along U.S. 190 to Interstate Highway 12, east along Interstate 
Highway 12 to Interstate Highway 10, then east along Interstate Highway 
10 to the Mississippi border.
    South Zone--The remainder of the State.
Mississippi
    North Zone--That portion of the State north and west of a line 
extending west from the Alabama State line along U.S. Highway 84 to its 
junction with State Highway 35, then south along State Highway 35 to 
the Louisiana State line.
    South Zone--The remainder of Mississippi.

[[Page 51102]]

Texas
    North Zone--That portion of the State north of a line beginning at 
the International Bridge south of Fort Hancock; north along FM 1088 to 
TX 20; west along TX 20 to TX 148; north along TX 148 to I-10 at Fort 
Hancock; east along I-10 to I-20; northeast along I-20 to I-30 at Fort 
Worth; northeast along I-30 to the Texas-Arkansas State line.
    South Zone--That portion of the State south and west of a line 
beginning at the International Bridge south of Del Rio, proceeding east 
on U.S. 90 to State Loop 1604 west of San Antonio; then south, east, 
and north along Loop 1604 to Interstate Highway 10 east of San Antonio; 
then east on I-10 to Orange, Texas.
    Special White-winged Dove Area in the South Zone--That portion of 
the State south and west of a line beginning at the International Toll 
Bridge in Del Rio; then northeast along U.S. Highway 277 Spur to U.S. 
Highway 90 in Del Rio; then east along U.S. Highway 90 to State Loop 
1604; then along Loop 1604 south and east to Interstate Highway 37; 
then south along Interstate Highway 37 to U.S. Highway 181 in Corpus 
Christi; then north and east along U.S. 181 to the Corpus Christi Ship 
Channel, then eastwards along the south shore of the Corpus Christi 
Ship Channel to the Gulf of Mexico.
    Central Zone--That portion of the State lying between the North and 
South Zones.

Band-Tailed Pigeons

California
    North Zone--Alpine, Butte, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lassen, 
Mendocino, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity 
Counties.
    South Zone--The remainder of the State.
New Mexico
    North Zone--North of a line following U.S. 60 from the Arizona 
State line east to I-25 at Socorro and then south along I-25 from 
Socorro to the Texas State line.
    South Zone--The remainder of the State.
Washington
    Western Washington--The State of Washington excluding those 
portions lying east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of the Big 
White Salmon River in Klickitat County.

Woodcock

New Jersey
    North Zone--That portion of the State north of NJ 70.
    South Zone--The remainder of the State.

Special Early Canada Goose Seasons

Atlantic Flyway

Connecticut
    North Zone--That portion of the State north of I-95.
    South Zone--The remainder of the State.
Maryland
    Eastern Unit--Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, 
Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester 
Counties; and that part of Anne Arundel County east of Interstate 895, 
Interstate 97 and Route 3; that part of Prince George's County east of 
Route 3 and Route 301; and that part of Charles County east of Route 
301 to the Virginia State line.
    Western Unit--Allegany, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, 
Howard, Montgomery, and Washington Counties and that part of Anne 
Arundel County west of Interstate 895, Interstate 97 and Route 3; that 
part of Prince George's County west of Route 3 and Route 301; and that 
part of Charles County west of Route 301 to the Virginia State line.
Massachusetts
    Western Zone--That portion of the State west of a line extending 
south from the Vermont border on I-91 to MA 9, west on MA 9 to MA 10, 
south on MA 10 to U.S. 202, south on U.S. 202 to the Connecticut 
border.
    Central Zone--That portion of the State east of the Berkshire Zone 
and west of a line extending south from the New Hampshire border on I-
95 to U.S. 1, south on U.S. 1 to I-93, south on I-93 to MA 3, south on 
MA 3 to U.S. 6, west on U.S. 6 to MA 28, west on MA 28 to I-195, west 
to the Rhode Island border; except the waters, and the lands 150 yards 
inland from the high-water mark, of the Assonet River upstream to the 
MA 24 bridge, and the Taunton River upstream to the Center St.-Elm St. 
bridge will be in the Coastal Zone.
    Coastal Zone--That portion of Massachusetts east and south of the 
Central Zone.
New York
    Lake Champlain Goose Area--The same as the Lake Champlain Waterfowl 
Hunting Zone, which is that area of New York State lying east and north 
of a continuous line extending along Route 11 from the New York-Canada 
International boundary south to Route 9B, south along Route 9B to Route 
9, south along Route 9 to Route 22 south of Keeseville, south along 
Route 22 to the west shore of South Bay along and around the shoreline 
of South Bay to Route 22 on the east shore of South Bay, southeast 
along Route 22 to Route 4, northeast along Route 4 to the New York-
Vermont boundary.
    Northeast Goose Area--The same as the Northeastern Waterfowl 
Hunting Zone, which is that area of New York State lying north of a 
continuous line extending from Lake Ontario east along the north shore 
of the Salmon River to Interstate 81, south along Interstate Route 81 
to Route 31, east along Route 31 to Route 13, north along Route 13 to 
Route 49, east along Route 49 to Route 365, east along Route 365 to 
Route 28, east along Route 28 to Route 29, east along Route 29 to Route 
22 at Greenwich Junction, north along Route 22 to Washington County 
Route (CR) 153, east along Washington CR 153 to the New York-Vermont 
boundary, exclusive of the Lake Champlain Zone.
    East Central Goose Area--That area of New York State lying inside 
of a continuous line extending from Interstate Route 81 in Cicero, east 
along Interstate 31 to Route 13, north along Route 13 to Route 49, east 
along Route 49 to Route 365, east along Route 365 to Route 28, east 
along Route 28 to Route 29, east along Route 29 to Route 147 at Kimball 
Corners, south along Route 147 to Schenectady CR 40 (West Glenville 
Road), west along Route 40 to Touareuna Road, south along Touareuna 
Road to Schenectady CR 59, south along CR 59 to State Route 5, east 
along Route 5 to the Lock 9 bridge, southwest along the Lock 9 bridge 
to Route 5S, southeast along Route 5S to Schenectady CR 58, southwest 
along CR 58 to the NYS Thruway, south along the Thruway to Route 7, 
southwest along Route 7 to Schenectady CR 103, south along CR 103 to 
Route 406, east along Route 406 to Schenectady CR 99 (Windy Hill Road), 
south along CR 99 to Dunnsville Road, south along Dunnsville Road to 
Route 397, southwest along Route 397 to Route 146 at Altamont, west 
along Route 146 to Albany CR 252, northwest along CR 252 to Schenectady 
CR 131, north along Route 131 to Route 7, west along Route 7 to Route 
10 at Richmondville, south on Route 10 to Route 23 at Stamford, west 
along Route 23 to Route 7 in Oneonta, southwest along Route 7 to Route 
79 to Interstate Route 88 near Harpursville, west along Interstate 88 
to Interstate Route 81, north along Interstate 81 to the point of 
beginning.
    West Central Goose Area--That area of New York State lying within a 
continuous line beginning at the point where the northerly extension of 
Route 269 (County Line Road on the Niagara-

[[Page 51103]]

Orleans County boundary) meets the International boundary with Canada, 
south to the shore of Lake Ontario at the eastern boundary of Golden 
Hill State Park, south along the extension of Route 269 and Route 269 
to Route 104 at Jeddo, west along Route 104 to Niagara CR 271, south 
along CR 271 to Route 31E at Middleport, south along Route 31E to Route 
31, west along Route 31 to Griswold Street, south along Griswold Street 
to Ditch Road, south along Ditch Road to Foot Road, south along Foot 
Road to the north bank of Tonawanda Creek, west along the north bank of 
Tonawanda Creek to Route 93, south along Route 93 to Route 5, east 
along Route 5 to Crittenden-Murrays Corners Road, south on Crittenden-
Murrays Corners Road to the NYS Thruway, east along the Thruway 90 to 
Route 98 (at Thruway Exit 48) in Batavia, south along Route 98 to Route 
20, east along Route 20 to Route 19 in Pavilion Center, south along 
Route 19 to Route 63, southeast along Route 63 to Route 246, south 
along Route 246 to Route 39 in Perry, northeast along Route 39 to Route 
20A, northeast along Route 20A to Route 20, east along Route 20 to 
Route 364 (near Canandaigua), south and east along Route 364 to Yates 
CR 18 (Italy Valley Road), southwest along CR 18 to Yates CR 34, east 
along CR 34 to Yates CR 32, south along CR 32 to Steuben CR 122, south 
along CR 122 to Route 53, south along Route 53 to Steuben CR 74, east 
along CR 74 to Route 54A (near Pulteney), south along Route 54A to 
Steuben CR 87, east along CR 87 to Steuben County Route 96, east along 
CR 96 to Steuben CR 114, east along CR 114 to Schuyler CR 23, east and 
southeast along CR 23 to Schuyler CR 28, southeast along CR 28 to Route 
409 at Watkins Glen, south along Route 409 to Route 14, south along 
Route 14 to Route 224 at Montour Falls, east along Route 224 to Route 
228 in Odessa, north along Route 228 to Route 79 in Mecklenburg, east 
along Route 79 to Route 366 in Ithaca, northeast along Route 366 to 
Route 13, northeast along Route 13 to Interstate Route 81 in Cortland, 
north along Route 81 to the north shore of the Salmon River to shore of 
Lake Ontario, extending generally northwest in a straight line to the 
nearest point of the International boundary with Canada, south and west 
along the International boundary to the point of beginning.
    Hudson Valley Goose Area--That area of New York State lying within 
a continuous line extending from Route 4 at the New York-Vermont 
boundary, west and south along Route 4 to Route 149 at Fort Ann, west 
on Route 149 to Route 9, south along Route 9 to Interstate Route 87 (at 
Exit 20 in Glens Falls), south along Route 87 to Route 29, west along 
Route 29 to Route 147 at Kimball Corners, south along Route 147 to 
Schenectady CR 40 (West Glenville Road), west along CR 40 to Touareuna 
Road, south along Touareuna Road to Schenectady CR 59, south along CR 
59 to State Route 5, east along State Route 5 to the Lock 9 bridge, 
southwest along the Lock 9 bridge to Route 5S, southeast along Route 5S 
to Schenectady CR 58, southwest along CR 58 to the NYS Thruway, south 
along the Thruway to Route 7, southwest along Route 7 to Schenectady CR 
103, south along CR 103 to Route 406, east along Route 406 to 
Schenectady CR 99 (Windy Hill Road), south along CR 99 to Dunnsville 
Road, south along Dunnsville Road to Route 397, southwest along Route 
397 to Route 146 at Altamont, southeast along Route 146 to Main Street 
in Altamont, west along Main Street to Route 156, southeast along Route 
156 to Albany CR 307, southeast along CR 307 to Route 85A, southwest 
along Route 85A to Route 85, south along Route 85 to Route 443, 
southeast along Route 443 to Albany CR 301 at Clarksville, southeast 
along CR 301 to Route 32, south along Route 32 to Route 23 at Cairo, 
west along Route 23 to Joseph Chadderdon Road, southeast along Joseph 
Chadderdon Road to Hearts Content Road (Greene CR 31), southeast along 
CR 31 to Route 32, south along Route 32 to Greene CR 23A, east along CR 
23A to Interstate Route 87 (the NYS Thruway), south along Interstate 87 
to Route 28 (Exit 19) near Kingston, northwest on Route 28 to Route 
209, southwest on Route 209 to the New York-Pennsylvania boundary, 
southeast along the New York-Pennsylvania boundary to the New York-New 
Jersey boundary, southeast along the New York-New Jersey boundary to 
Route 210 near Greenwood Lake, northeast along Route 210 to Orange CR 
5, northeast along CR 5 to Route 105 in the Village of Monroe, east and 
north along Route 105 to Route 32, northeast along Route 32 to Orange 
CR 107 (Quaker Avenue), east along CR 107 to Route 9W, north along 
Route 9W to the south bank of Moodna Creek, southeast along the south 
bank of Moodna Creek to the New Windsor-Cornwall town boundary, 
northeast along the New Windsor-Cornwall town boundary to the Orange-
Dutchess County boundary (middle of the Hudson River), north along the 
county boundary to Interstate Route 84, east along Interstate 84 to the 
Dutchess-Putnam County boundary, east along the county boundary to the 
New York-Connecticut boundary, north along the New York-Connecticut 
boundary to the New York-Massachusetts boundary, north along the New 
York-Massachusetts boundary to the New York-Vermont boundary, north to 
the point of beginning.
    Eastern Long Island Goose Area (NAP High Harvest Area)--That area 
of Suffolk County lying east of a continuous line extending due south 
from the New York-Connecticut boundary to the northernmost end of 
Roanoke Avenue in the Town of Riverhead; then south on Roanoke Avenue 
(which becomes CR 73) to State Route 25; then west on Route 25 to 
Peconic Avenue; then south on Peconic Avenue to CR 104 (Riverleigh 
Avenue); then south on CR 104 to CR 31 (Old Riverhead Road); then south 
on CR 31 to Oak Street; then south on Oak Street to Potunk Lane; then 
west on Stevens Lane; then south on Jessup Avenue (in Westhampton 
Beach) to Dune Road (CR 89); then due south to international waters.
    Western Long Island Goose Area (RP Area)--That area of Westchester 
County and its tidal waters southeast of Interstate Route 95 and that 
area of Nassau and Suffolk Counties lying west of a continuous line 
extending due south from the New York-Connecticut boundary to the 
northernmost end of the Sunken Meadow State Parkway; then south on the 
Sunken Meadow Parkway to the Sagtikos State Parkway; then south on the 
Sagtikos Parkway to the Robert Moses State Parkway; then south on the 
Robert Moses Parkway to its southernmost end; then due south to 
international waters.
    Central Long Island Goose Area (NAP Low Harvest Area)--That area of 
Suffolk County lying between the Western and Eastern Long Island Goose 
Areas, as defined above.
    South Goose Area--The remainder of New York State, excluding New 
York City.
Pennsylvania
    Southern James Bay Population (SJBP) Zone--The area north of I-80 
and west of I-79, including in the city of Erie west of Bay Front 
Parkway to and including the Lake Erie Duck Zone (Lake Erie, Presque 
Isle, and the area within 150 yards of the Lake Erie Shoreline).
Vermont
    Lake Champlain Zone--The U.S. portion of Lake Champlain and that 
area north and west of the line extending from the New York border 
along U.S. 4 to VT 22A at Fair Haven; VT 22A to U.S. 7 at Vergennes; 
U.S. 7 to VT 78 at Swanton; VT 78 to VT 36; VT 36 to Maquam Bay on Lake 
Champlain; along

[[Page 51104]]

and around the shoreline of Maquam Bay and Hog Island to VT 78 at the 
West Swanton Bridge; VT 78 to VT 2 in Alburg; VT 2 to the Richelieu 
River in Alburg; along the east shore of the Richelieu River to the 
Canadian border.
    Interior Zone--That portion of Vermont east of the Lake Champlain 
Zone and west of a line extending from the Massachusetts border at 
Interstate 91; north along Interstate 91 to US 2; east along US 2 to VT 
102; north along VT 102 to VT 253; north along VT 253 to the Canadian 
border.
    Connecticut River Zone--The remaining portion of Vermont east of 
the Interior Zone.

Mississippi Flyway

Arkansas
    Early Canada Goose Area--Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clark, 
Conway, Crawford, Faulkner, Franklin, Garland, Hempstead, Hot Springs, 
Howard, Johnson, Lafayette, Little River, Logan, Madison, Marion, 
Miller, Montgomery, Newton, Perry, Pike, Polk, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, 
Searcy, Sebastian, Sevier, Scott, Van Buren, Washington, and Yell 
Counties.
Illinois
    North September Canada Goose Zone--That portion of the State north 
of a line extending west from the Indiana border along Interstate 80 to 
I-39, south along I-39 to Illinois Route 18, west along Illinois Route 
18 to Illinois Route 29, south along Illinois Route 29 to Illinois 
Route 17, west along Illinois Route 17 to the Mississippi River, and 
due south across the Mississippi River to the Iowa border.
    Central September Canada Goose Zone--That portion of the State 
south of the North September Canada Goose Zone line to a line extending 
west from the Indiana border along I-70 to Illinois Route 4, south 
along Illinois Route 4 to Illinois Route 161, west along Illinois Route 
161 to Illinois Route 158, south and west along Illinois Route 158 to 
Illinois Route 159, south along Illinois Route 159 to Illinois Route 3, 
south along Illinois Route 3 to St. Leo's Road, south along St. Leo's 
road to Modoc Road, west along Modoc Road to Modoc Ferry Road, 
southwest along Modoc Ferry Road to Levee Road, southeast along Levee 
Road to County Route 12 (Modoc Ferry entrance Road), south along County 
Route 12 to the Modoc Ferry route and southwest on the Modoc Ferry 
route across the Mississippi River to the Missouri border.
    South September Canada Goose Zone--That portion of the State south 
and east of a line extending west from the Indiana border along 
Interstate 70, south along U.S. Highway 45, to Illinois Route 13, west 
along Illinois Route 13 to Greenbriar Road, north on Greenbriar Road to 
Sycamore Road, west on Sycamore Road to N. Reed Station Road, south on 
N. Reed Station Road to Illinois Route 13, west along Illinois Route 13 
to Illinois Route 127, south along Illinois Route 127 to State Forest 
Road (1025 N), west along State Forest Road to Illinois Route 3, north 
along Illinois Route 3 to the south bank of the Big Muddy River, west 
along the south bank of the Big Muddy River to the Mississippi River, 
west across the Mississippi River to the Missouri border.
    South Central September Canada Goose Zone--The remainder of the 
State between the south border of the Central Zone and the North border 
of the South Zone
Iowa
    North Zone--That portion of the State north of U.S. Highway 20.
    South Zone--The remainder of Iowa.
    Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Goose Zone--Includes portions of Linn and 
Johnson Counties bounded as follows: Beginning at the intersection of 
the west border of Linn County and Linn County Road E2W; then south and 
east along County Road E2W to Highway 920; then north along Highway 920 
to County Road E16; then east along County Road E16 to County Road W58; 
then south along County Road W58 to County Road E34; then east along 
County Road E34 to Highway 13; then south along Highway 13 to Highway 
30; then east along Highway 30 to Highway 1; then south along Highway 1 
to Morse Road in Johnson County; then east along Morse Road to Wapsi 
Avenue; then south along Wapsi Avenue to Lower West Branch Road; then 
west along Lower West Branch Road to Taft Avenue; then south along Taft 
Avenue to County Road F62; then west along County Road F62 to Kansas 
Avenue; then north along Kansas Avenue to Black Diamond Road; then west 
on Black Diamond Road to Jasper Avenue; then north along Jasper Avenue 
to Rohert Road; then west along Rohert Road to Ivy Avenue; then north 
along Ivy Avenue to 340th Street; then west along 340th Street to Half 
Moon Avenue; then north along Half Moon Avenue to Highway 6; then west 
along Highway 6 to Echo Avenue; then north along Echo Avenue to 250th 
Street; then east on 250th Street to Green Castle Avenue; then north 
along Green Castle Avenue to County Road F12; then west along County 
Road F12 to County Road W30; then north along County Road W30 to 
Highway 151; then north along the Linn-Benton County line to the point 
of beginning.
    Des Moines Goose Zone--Includes those portions of Polk, Warren, 
Madison and Dallas Counties bounded as follows: Beginning at the 
intersection of Northwest 158th Avenue and County Road R38 in Polk 
County; then south along R38 to Northwest 142nd Avenue; then east along 
Northwest 142nd Avenue to Northeast 126th Avenue; then east along 
Northeast 126th Avenue to Northeast 46th Street; then south along 
Northeast 46th Street to Highway 931; then east along Highway 931 to 
Northeast 80th Street; then south along Northeast 80th Street to 
Southeast 6th Avenue; then west along Southeast 6th Avenue to Highway 
65; then south and west along Highway 65 to Highway 69 in Warren 
County; then south along Highway 69 to County Road G24; then west along 
County Road G24 to Highway 28; then southwest along Highway 28 to 43rd 
Avenue; then north along 43rd Avenue to Ford Street; then west along 
Ford Street to Filmore Street; then west along Filmore Street to 10th 
Avenue; then south along 10th Avenue to 155th Street in Madison County; 
then west along 155th Street to Cumming Road; then north along Cumming 
Road to Badger Creek Avenue; then north along Badger Creek Avenue to 
County Road F90 in Dallas County; then east along County Road F90 to 
County Road R22; then north along County Road R22 to Highway 44; then 
east along Highway 44 to County Road R30; then north along County Road 
R30 to County Road F31; then east along County Road F31 to Highway 17; 
then north along Highway 17 to Highway 415 in Polk County; then east 
along Highway 415 to Northwest 158th Avenue; then east along Northwest 
158th Avenue to the point of beginning.
    Cedar Falls/Waterloo Goose Zone--Includes those portions of Black 
Hawk County bounded as follows: Beginning at the intersection of County 
Roads C66 and V49 in Black Hawk County, then south along County Road 
V49 to County Road D38, then west along County Road D38 to State 
Highway 21, then south along State Highway 21 to County Road D35, then 
west along County Road D35 to Grundy Road, then north along Grundy Road 
to County Road D19, then west along County Road D19 to Butler Road, 
then north along Butler Road to County Road C57, then north and east 
along County Road C57 to U.S. Highway 63, then south along U.S. Highway 
63 to County Road C66, then east along County Road C66 to the point of 
beginning.

[[Page 51105]]

Michigan
    North Zone--Same as North duck zone.
    Middle Zone--Same as Middle duck zone.
    South Zone--Same as South duck zone.
Minnesota
    Northwest Goose Zone--That portion of the State encompassed by a 
line extending east from the North Dakota border along U.S. Highway 2 
to State Trunk Highway (STH) 32, north along STH 32 to STH 92, east 
along STH 92 to County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 2 in Polk County, north 
along CSAH 2 to CSAH 27 in Pennington County, north along CSAH 27 to 
STH 1, east along STH 1 to CSAH 28 in Pennington County, north along 
CSAH 28 to CSAH 54 in Marshall County, north along CSAH 54 to CSAH 9 in 
Roseau County, north along CSAH 9 to STH 11, west along STH 11 to STH 
310, and north along STH 310 to the Manitoba border.
    Intensive Harvest Zone--That portion of the State encompassed by a 
line extending east from the junction of US 2 and the North Dakota 
border, US 2 east to MN 32 N, MN 32 N to MN 92 S, MN 92 S to MN 200 E, 
MN 200 E to US 71 S, US 71 S to US 10 E, US 10 E to MN 101 S, MN 101 S 
to Interstate 94 E, Interstate 94 E to US 494 S, US 494 S to US 212 W, 
US 212 W to MN 23 S, MN 23 S to US 14 W, US 14 W to the South Dakota 
border, South Dakota Border north to the North Dakota border, North 
Dakota border north to US 2 E.
    Rest of State--Remainder of Minnesota.
Wisconsin
    Early-Season Subzone A--That portion of the State encompassed by a 
line beginning at the intersection of U.S. Highway 141 and the Michigan 
border near Niagara, then south along U.S. 141 to State Highway 22, 
west and southwest along State 22 to U.S. 45, south along U.S. 45 to 
State 22, west and south along State 22 to State 110, south along State 
110 to U.S. 10, south along U.S. 10 to State 49, south along State 49 
to State 23, west along State 23 to State 73, south along State 73 to 
State 60, west along State 60 to State 23, south along State 23 to 
State 11, east along State 11 to State 78, then south along State 78 to 
the Illinois border.
    Early-Season Subzone B--The remainder of the State.

Central Flyway

North Dakota
    Missouri River Canada Goose Zone--The area within and bounded by a 
line starting where ND Hwy 6 crosses the South Dakota border; then 
north on ND Hwy 6 to I-94; then west on I-94 to ND Hwy 49; then north 
on ND Hwy 49 to ND Hwy 200; then north on Mercer County Rd. 21 to the 
section line between sections 8 and 9 (T146N-R87W); then north on that 
section line to the southern shoreline to Lake Sakakawea; then east 
along the southern shoreline (including Mallard Island) of Lake 
Sakakawea to US Hwy 83; then south on US Hwy 83 to ND Hwy 200; then 
east on ND Hwy 200 to ND Hwy 41; then south on ND Hwy 41 to US Hwy 83; 
then south on US Hwy 83 to I-94; then east on I-94 to US Hwy 83; then 
south on US Hwy 83 to the South Dakota border; then west along the 
South Dakota border to ND Hwy 6.
    Rest of State--Remainder of North Dakota.
South Dakota
    Special Early Canada Goose Unit--The Counties of Campbell, 
Marshall, Roberts, Day, Clark, Codington, Grant, Hamlin, Deuel, 
Walworth; that portion of Perkins County west of State Highway 75 and 
south of State Highway 20; that portion of Dewey County north of Bureau 
of Indian Affairs Road 8, Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 9, and the 
section of U.S. Highway 212 east of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 8 
junction; that portion of Potter County east of U.S. Highway 83; that 
portion of Sully County east of U.S. Highway 83; portions of Hyde, 
Buffalo, Brule, and Charles Mix counties north and east of a line 
beginning at the Hughes-Hyde County line on State Highway 34, east to 
Lees Boulevard, southeast to the State Highway 34, east 7 miles to 
350th Avenue, south to Interstate 90 on 350th Avenue, south and east on 
State Highway 50 to Geddes, east on 285th Street to U.S. Highway 281, 
and north on U.S. Highway 281 to the Charles Mix-Douglas County 
boundary; that portion of Bon Homme County north of State Highway 50; 
McPherson, Edmunds, Kingsbury, Brookings, Lake, Moody, Miner, Faulk, 
Hand, Jerauld, Douglas, Hutchinson, Turner, Union, Clay, Yankton, 
Aurora, Beadle, Davison, Hanson, Sanborn, Spink, Brown, Harding, Butte, 
Lawrence, Meade, Shannon, Jackson, Mellette, Todd, Jones, Haakon, 
Corson, Ziebach, and McCook Counties; and those portions of Minnehaha 
and Lincoln counties outside of an area bounded by a line beginning at 
the junction of the South Dakota-Minnesota State line and Minnehaha 
County Highway 122 (254th Street) west to its junction with Minnehaha 
County Highway 149 (464th Avenue), south on Minnehaha County Highway 
149 (464th Avenue) to Hartford, then south on Minnehaha County Highway 
151 (463rd Avenue) to State Highway 42, east on State Highway 42 to 
State Highway 17, south on State Highway 17 to its junction with 
Lincoln County Highway 116 (Klondike Road), and east on Lincoln County 
Highway 116 (Klondike Road) to the South Dakota-Iowa State line, then 
north along the South Dakota-Iowa and South Dakota-Minnesota border to 
the junction of the South Dakota-Minnesota State line and Minnehaha 
County Highway 122 (254th Street).
Texas
    Eastern Goose Zone--East of a line from the International Toll 
Bridge at Laredo, north following IH-35 and 35W to Fort Worth, 
northwest along U.S. Hwy. 81 and 287 to Bowie, north along U.S. Hwy. 81 
to the Texas-Oklahoma State line.

Pacific Flyway

Idaho
    Zone 1--All lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian 
Reservation, including private in-holdings; Bannock County; Bingham 
County, except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; 
Caribou County within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation; and Power 
County east of State Highway 37 and State Highway 39.
    Zone 2--Adams, Benewah, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, Boundary, 
Butte, Camas, Clark, Clearwater, Custer, Franklin, Fremont, Idaho, 
Jefferson, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Madison, Nez Perce, Oneida, 
Shoshone, Teton, and Valley Counties; and Power County west of State 
Highway 37 and State Highway 39.
    Zone 3--Ada, Boise, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome, 
Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, and Washington 
Counties.
    Zone 4--Bear Lake County; Bingham County within the Blackfoot 
Reservoir drainage; and Caribou County, except that portion within the 
Fort Hall Indian Reservation.
Oregon
    Northwest Permit Zone--Benton, Clatsop, Columbia, Clackamas, Lane, 
Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and 
Yamhill Counties.
    Southwest Zone--Those portions of Douglas, Coos, and Curry Counties 
east

[[Page 51106]]

of Highway 101, and Josephine and Jackson Counties.
    South Coast Zone--Those portions of Douglas, Coos, and Curry 
Counties west of Highway 101.
    Tillamook County Management Area--That portion of Tillamook County 
beginning at the point where Old Woods Rd crosses the south shores of 
Horn Creek, north on Old Woods Rd to Sand Lake Rd at Woods, north on 
Sand Lake Rd to the intersection with McPhillips Dr, due west (~200 
yards) from the intersection to the Pacific coastline, south on the 
Pacific coastline to Neskowin Creek, east along the north shores of 
Neskowin Creek and then Hawk Creek to Salem Ave, east on Salem Ave in 
Neskowin to Hawk Ave, east on Hawk Ave to Hwy 101, north on Hwy 101 to 
Resort Dr, north on Resort Dr to a point due west of the south shores 
of Horn Creek at its confluence with the Nestucca River, due east (~80 
yards) across the Nestucca River to the south shores of Horn Creek, 
east along the south shores of Horn Creek to the point of beginning.
    Eastern Zone--Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, 
Umatilla, Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler, Grant, Baker, Union, 
and Wallowa Counties.
    Klamath County Zone--All of Klamath County.
    Harney and Lake County Zone--All of Harney and Lake Counties.
    Malheur County Zone--All of Malheur County.
Washington
    Area 1--Skagit, Island, and Snohomish Counties.
    Area 2A (SW Permit Zone)--Clark County, except portions south of 
the Washougal River; Cowlitz County; and Wahkiakum County.
    Area 2B (SW Permit Zone)--Pacific County.
    Area 3--All areas west of the Pacific Crest Trail and west of the 
Big White Salmon River that are not included in Areas 1, 2A, and 2B.
    Area 4--Adams, Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, 
Lincoln, Okanogan, Spokane, and Walla Walla Counties.
    Area 5--All areas east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of the 
Big White Salmon River that are not included in Area 4.
Wyoming
    Teton County Zone--All of Teton County.
    Balance of State Zone--Remainder of the State.

Ducks

Atlantic Flyway

New York
    Lake Champlain Zone--The U.S. portion of Lake Champlain and that 
area east and north of a line extending along NY 9B from the Canadian 
border to U.S. 9, south along U.S. 9 to NY 22 south of Keesville; south 
along NY 22 to the west shore of South Bay, along and around the 
shoreline of South Bay to NY 22 on the east shore of South Bay; 
southeast along NY 22 to U.S. 4, northeast along U.S. 4 to the Vermont 
border.
    Long Island Zone--That area consisting of Nassau County, Suffolk 
County, that area of Westchester County southeast of I-95, and their 
tidal waters.
    Western Zone--That area west of a line extending from Lake Ontario 
east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, and south along 
I-81 to the Pennsylvania border.
    Northeastern Zone--That area north of a line extending from Lake 
Ontario east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, south 
along I-81 to NY 49, east along NY 49 to NY 365, east along NY 365 to 
NY 28, east along NY 28 to NY 29, east along NY 29 to I-87, north along 
I-87 to U.S. 9 (at Exit 20), north along U.S. 9 to NY 149, east along 
NY 149 to U.S. 4, north along U.S. 4 to the Vermont border, exclusive 
of the Lake Champlain Zone.
    Southeastern Zone--The remaining portion of New York.
Maryland
    Special Teal Season Area--Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, 
Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, 
and Worcester Counties; that part of Anne Arundel County east of 
Interstate 895, Interstate 97, and Route 3; that part of Prince Georges 
County east of Route 3 and Route 301; and that part of Charles County 
east of Route 301 to the Virginia State Line.

Mississippi Flyway

Indiana
    North Zone--That part of Indiana north of a line extending east 
from the Illinois border along State Road 18 to U.S. 31; north along 
U.S. 31 to U.S. 24; east along U.S. 24 to Huntington; southeast along 
U.S. 224; south along State Road 5; and east along State Road 124 to 
the Ohio border.
    Central Zone--That part of Indiana south of the North Zone boundary 
and north of the South Zone boundary.
    South Zone--That part of Indiana south of a line extending east 
from the Illinois border along U.S. 40; south along U.S. 41; east along 
State Road 58; south along State Road 37 to Bedford; and east along 
U.S. 50 to the Ohio border.
Iowa
    North Zone--That portion of Iowa north of a line beginning on the 
South Dakota-Iowa border at Interstate 29, southeast along Interstate 
29 to State Highway 175, east along State Highway 175 to State Highway 
37, southeast along State Highway 37 to State Highway 183, northeast 
along State Highway 183 to State Highway 141, east along State Highway 
141 to U.S. Highway 30, and along U.S. Highway 30 to the Illinois 
border.
    Missouri River Zone--That portion of Iowa west of a line beginning 
on the South Dakota-Iowa border at Interstate 29, southeast along 
Interstate 29 to State Highway 175, and west along State Highway 175 to 
the Iowa-Nebraska border.
    South Zone--The remainder of Iowa.
Michigan
    North Zone--The Upper Peninsula.
    Middle Zone--That portion of the Lower Peninsula north of a line 
beginning at the Wisconsin State line in Lake Michigan due west of the 
mouth of Stony Creek in Oceana County; then due east to, and easterly 
and southerly along the south shore of Stony Creek to Scenic Drive, 
easterly and southerly along Scenic Drive to Stony Lake Road, easterly 
along Stony Lake and Garfield Roads to Michigan Highway 20, east along 
Michigan 20 to U.S. Highway 10 Business Route (BR) in the city of 
Midland, easterly along U.S. 10 BR to U.S. 10, easterly along U.S. 10 
to Interstate Highway 75/U.S. Highway 23, northerly along I-75/U.S. 23 
to the U.S. 23 exit at Standish, easterly along U.S. 23 to the 
centerline of the Au Gres River, then southerly along the centerline of 
the Au Gres River to Saginaw Bay, then on a line directly east 10 miles 
into Saginaw Bay, and from that point on a line directly northeast to 
the Canadian border.
    South Zone--The remainder of Michigan.
Wisconsin
    North Zone--That portion of the State north of a line extending 
east from the Minnesota State line along U.S. Highway 10 into Portage 
County to County Highway HH, east on County Highway HH to State Highway 
66 and then east on State Highway 66 to U.S. Highway 10, continuing 
east on U.S. Highway 10 to U.S. Highway 41, then north on U.S. Highway 
41 to the Michigan State line.

[[Page 51107]]

    Mississippi River Zone--That area encompassed by a line beginning 
at the intersection of the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway and 
the Illinois State line in Grant County and extending northerly along 
the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway to the city limit of 
Prescott in Pierce County, then west along the Prescott city limit to 
the Minnesota State line.
    South Zone--The remainder of Wisconsin.

Central Flyway

Colorado
    Special Teal Season Area--Lake and Chaffee Counties and that 
portion of the State east of Interstate Highway 25.
Kansas
    High Plains Zone--That portion of the State west of U.S. 283.
    Early Zone--That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the 
Nebraska-Kansas State line south on K-128 to its junction with U.S.-36, 
then east on U.S.-36 to its junction with K-199, then south on K-199 to 
its junction with Republic County 30 Rd, then south on Republic County 
30 Rd to its junction with K-148, then east on K-148 to its junction 
with Republic County 50 Rd, then south on Republic County 50 Rd to its 
junction with Cloud County 40th Rd, then south on Cloud County 40th Rd 
to its junction with K-9, then west on K-9 to its junction with U.S.-
24, then west on U.S.-24 to its junction with U.S.-281, then north on 
U.S.-281 to its junction with U.S.-36, then west on U.S.-36 to its 
junction with U.S.-183, then south on U.S.-183 to its junction with 
U.S.-24, then west on U.S.-24 to its junction with K-18, then southeast 
on K-18 to its junction with U.S.-183, then south on U.S.-183 to its 
junction with K-4, then east on K-4 to its junction with I-135, then 
south on I-135 to its junction with K-61, then southwest on K-61 to 
McPherson County 14th Avenue, then south on McPherson County 14th 
Avenue to its junction with Arapaho Rd, then west on Arapaho Rd to its 
junction with K-61, then southwest on K-61 to its junction with K-96, 
then northwest on K-96 to its junction with U.S.-56, then southwest on 
U.S.-56 to its junction with K-19, then east on K-19 to its junction 
with U.S.-281, then south on U.S.-281 to its junction with U.S.-54, 
then west on U.S.-54 to its junction with U.S.-183, then north on U.S.-
183 to its junction with U.S.-56, then southwest on U.S.-56 to its 
junction with Ford County Rd 126, then south on Ford County Rd 126 to 
its junction with U.S.-400, then northwest on U.S.-400 to its junction 
with U.S.-283, then north on U.S.-283 to its junction with the 
Nebraska-Kansas State line, then east along the Nebraska-Kansas State 
line to its junction with K-128.
    Late Zone--That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the Nebraska-
Kansas State line south on K-128 to its junction with U.S.-36, then 
east on U.S.-36 to its junction with K-199, then south on K-199 to its 
junction with Republic County 30 Rd, then south on Republic County 30 
Rd to its junction with K-148, then east on K-148 to its junction with 
Republic County 50 Rd, then south on Republic County 50 Rd to its 
junction with Cloud County 40th Rd, then south on Cloud County 40th Rd 
to its junction with K-9, then west on K-9 to its junction with U.S.-
24, then west on U.S.-24 to its junction with U.S.-281, then north on 
U.S.-281 to its junction with U.S.-36, then west on U.S.-36 to its 
junction with U.S.-183, then south on U.S.-183 to its junction with 
U.S.-24, then west on U.S.-24 to its junction with K-18, then southeast 
on K-18 to its junction with U.S.-183, then south on U.S.-183 to its 
junction with K-4, then east on K-4 to its junction with I-135, then 
south on I-135 to its junction with K-61, then southwest on K-61 to 
14th Avenue, then south on 14th Avenue to its junction with Arapaho Rd, 
then west on Arapaho Rd to its junction with K-61, then southwest on K-
61 to its junction with K-96, then northwest on K-96 to its junction 
with U.S.-56, then southwest on U.S.-56 to its junction with K-19, then 
east on K-19 to its junction with U.S.-281, then south on U.S.-281 to 
its junction with U.S.-54, then west on U.S.-54 to its junction with 
U.S.-183, then north on U.S.-183 to its junction with U.S.-56, then 
southwest on U.S.-56 to its junction with Ford County Rd 126, then 
south on Ford County Rd 126 to its junction with U.S.-400, then 
northwest on U.S.-400 to its junction with U.S.-283, then south on 
U.S.-283 to its junction with the Oklahoma-Kansas State line, then east 
along the Oklahoma-Kansas State line to its junction with U.S.-77, then 
north on U.S.-77 to its junction with Butler County, NE 150th Street, 
then east on Butler County, NE 150th Street to its junction with U.S.-
35, then northeast on U.S.-35 to its junction with K-68, then east on 
K-68 to the Kansas-Missouri State line, then north along the Kansas-
Missouri State line to its junction with the Nebraska State line, then 
west along the Kansas-Nebraska State line to its junction with K-128.
    Southeast Zone--That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the 
Missouri-Kansas State line west on K-68 to its junction with U.S.-35, 
then southwest on U.S.-35 to its junction with Butler County, NE 150th 
Street, then west on NE 150th Street until its junction with K-77, then 
south on K-77 to the Oklahoma-Kansas State line, then east along the 
Kansas-Oklahoma State line to its junction with the Missouri State 
line, then north along the Kansas-Missouri State line to its junction 
with K-68.
Nebraska
    Special Teal Season Area (south)--That portion of the State south 
of a line beginning at the Wyoming State line; east along U.S. 26 to 
Nebraska Highway L62A east to U.S. 385; south to U.S. 26; east to NE 
92; east along NE 92 to NE 61; south along NE 61 to U.S. 30; east along 
U.S. 30 to the Iowa border.
    Special Teal Season Area (north)--The remainder of the State.
    High Plains--That portion of Nebraska lying west of a line 
beginning at the South Dakota-Nebraska border on U.S. Hwy. 183; south 
on U.S. Hwy. 183 to U.S. Hwy. 20; west on U.S. Hwy. 20 to NE Hwy. 7; 
south on NE Hwy. 7 to NE Hwy. 91; southwest on NE Hwy. 91 to NE Hwy. 2; 
southeast on NE Hwy. 2 to NE Hwy. 92; west on NE Hwy. 92 to NE Hwy. 40; 
south on NE Hwy. 40 to NE Hwy. 47; south on NE Hwy. 47 to NE Hwy. 23; 
east on NE Hwy. 23 to U.S. Hwy. 283; and south on U.S. Hwy. 283 to the 
Kansas-Nebraska border.
    Zone 1--Area bounded by designated Federal and State highways and 
political boundaries beginning at the South Dakota-Nebraska border west 
of NE Hwy. 26E Spur and north of NE Hwy. 12; those portions of Dixon, 
Cedar and Knox Counties north of NE Hwy. 12; that portion of Keya Paha 
County east of U.S. Hwy. 183; and all of Boyd County. Both banks of the 
Niobrara River in Keya Paha and Boyd counties east of U.S. Hwy. 183 
shall be included in Zone 1.
    Zone 2--The area south of Zone 1 and north of Zone 3.
    Zone 3--Area bounded by designated Federal and State highways, 
County Roads, and political boundaries beginning at the Wyoming-
Nebraska border at the intersection of the Interstate Canal; east along 
northern borders of Scotts Bluff and Morrill Counties to Broadwater 
Road; south to Morrill County Rd 94; east to County Rd 135; south to 
County Rd 88; southeast to County Rd 151; south to County Rd 80; east 
to County Rd 161; south to County Rd 76; east to County Rd 165; south 
to Country Rd 167; south to U.S. Hwy. 26; east to County Rd 171; north 
to County Rd 68; east to County Rd 183; south to County Rd 64; east to 
County Rd 189; north to County Rd 70; east to

[[Page 51108]]

County Rd 201; south to County Rd 60A; east to County Rd 203; south to 
County Rd 52; east to Keith County Line; east along the northern 
boundaries of Keith and Lincoln Counties to NE Hwy. 97; south to U.S. 
Hwy 83; south to E Hall School Rd; east to N Airport Road; south to 
U.S. Hwy. 30; east to Merrick County Rd 13; north to County Rd O; east 
to NE Hwy. 14; north to NE Hwy. 52; west and north to NE Hwy. 91; west 
to U.S. Hwy. 281; south to NE Hwy. 22; west to NE Hwy. 11; northwest to 
NE Hwy. 91; west to U.S. Hwy. 183; south to Round Valley Rd; west to 
Sargent River Rd; west to Sargent Rd; west to Milburn Rd; north to 
Blaine County Line; east to Loup County Line; north to NE Hwy. 91; west 
to North Loup Spur Rd; north to North Loup River Rd; east to Pleasant 
Valley/Worth Rd; east to Loup County Line; north to Loup-Brown county 
line; east along northern boundaries of Loup and Garfield Counties to 
Cedar River Rd; south to NE Hwy. 70; east to U.S. Hwy. 281; north to NE 
Hwy. 70; east to NE Hwy. 14; south to NE Hwy. 39; southeast to NE Hwy. 
22; east to U.S. Hwy. 81; southeast to U.S. Hwy. 30; east to U.S. Hwy. 
75; north to the Washington County line; east to the Iowa-Nebraska 
border; south to the Missouri-Nebraska border; south to Kansas-Nebraska 
border; west along Kansas-Nebraska border to Colorado-Nebraska border; 
north and west to Wyoming-Nebraska border; north to intersection of 
Interstate Canal; and excluding that area in Zone 4.
    Zone 4--Area encompassed by designated Federal and State highways 
and County Roads beginning at the intersection of NE Hwy. 8 and U.S. 
Hwy. 75; north to U.S. Hwy. 136; east to the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 
136 and the Steamboat Trace (Trace); north along the Trace to the 
intersection with Federal Levee R-562; north along Federal Levee R-562 
to the intersection with the Trace; north along the Trace/Burlington 
Northern Railroad right-of-way to NE Hwy. 2; west to U.S. Hwy. 75; 
north to NE Hwy. 2; west to NE Hwy. 43; north to U.S. Hwy. 34; east to 
NE Hwy. 63; north to NE Hwy. 66; north and west to U.S. Hwy. 77; north 
to NE Hwy. 92; west to NE Hwy. Spur 12F; south to Butler County Rd 30; 
east to County Rd X; south to County Rd 27; west to County Rd W; south 
to County Rd 26; east to County Rd X; south to County Rd 21 (Seward 
County Line); west to NE Hwy. 15; north to County Rd 34; west to County 
Rd J; south to NE Hwy. 92; west to U.S. Hwy. 81; south to NE Hwy. 66; 
west to Polk County Rd C; north to NE Hwy. 92; west to U.S. Hwy. 30; 
west to Merrick County Rd 17; south to Hordlake Road; southeast to 
Prairie Island Road; southeast to Hamilton County Rd T; south to NE 
Hwy. 66; west to NE Hwy. 14; south to County Rd 22; west to County Rd 
M; south to County Rd 21; west to County Rd K; south to U.S. Hwy. 34; 
west to NE Hwy. 2; south to U.S. Hwy. I-80; west to Gunbarrel Rd (Hall/
Hamilton county line); south to Giltner Rd; west to U.S. Hwy. 281; 
south to U.S. Hwy. 34; west to NE Hwy. 10; north to Kearney County Rd R 
and Phelps County Rd 742; west to U.S. Hwy. 283; south to U.S. Hwy 34; 
east to U.S. Hwy. 136; east to U.S. Hwy. 183; north to NE Hwy. 4; east 
to NE Hwy. 10; south to U.S. Hwy. 136; east to NE Hwy. 14; south to NE 
Hwy. 8; east to U.S. Hwy. 81; north to NE Hwy. 4; east to NE Hwy. 15; 
south to U.S. Hwy. 136; east to NE Hwy. 103; south to NE Hwy. 8; east 
to U.S. Hwy. 75.
New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion)
    North Zone--That portion of the State north of I-40 and U.S. 54.
    South Zone--The remainder of New Mexico.

Pacific Flyway

California
    Northeastern Zone--In that portion of California lying east and 
north of a line beginning at the intersection of Interstate 5 with the 
California-Oregon line; south along Interstate 5 to its junction with 
Walters Lane south of the town of Yreka; west along Walters Lane to its 
junction with Easy Street; south along Easy Street to the junction with 
Old Highway 99; south along Old Highway 99 to the point of intersection 
with Interstate 5 north of the town of Weed; south along Interstate 5 
to its junction with Highway 89; east and south along Highway 89 to 
Main Street Greenville; north and east to its junction with North 
Valley Road; south to its junction of Diamond Mountain Road; north and 
east to its junction with North Arm Road; south and west to the 
junction of North Valley Road; south to the junction with Arlington 
Road (A22); west to the junction of Highway 89; south and west to the 
junction of Highway 70; east on Highway 70 to Highway 395; south and 
east on Highway 395 to the point of intersection with the California-
Nevada State line; north along the California-Nevada State line to the 
junction of the California-Nevada-Oregon State lines west along the 
California-Oregon State line to the point of origin.
    Colorado River Zone--Those portions of San Bernardino, Riverside, 
and Imperial Counties east of a line extending from the Nevada border 
south along U.S. 95 to Vidal Junction; south on a road known as 
``Aqueduct Road'' in San Bernardino County through the town of Rice to 
the San Bernardino-Riverside County line; south on a road known in 
Riverside County as the ``Desert Center to Rice Road'' to the town of 
Desert Center; east 31 miles on I-10 to the Wiley Well Road; south on 
this road to Wiley Well; southeast along the Army-Milpitas Road to the 
Blythe, Brawley, Davis Lake intersections; south on the Blythe-Brawley 
paved road to the Ogilby and Tumco Mine Road; south on this road to 
U.S. 80; east 7 miles on U.S. 80 to the Andrade-Algodones Road; south 
on this paved road to the Mexican border at Algodones, Mexico.
    Southern Zone--That portion of southern California (but excluding 
the Colorado River Zone) south and east of a line extending from the 
Pacific Ocean east along the Santa Maria River to CA 166 near the City 
of Santa Maria; east on CA 166 to CA 99; south on CA 99 to the crest of 
the Tehachapi Mountains at Tejon Pass; east and north along the crest 
of the Tehachapi Mountains to CA 178 at Walker Pass; east on CA 178 to 
U.S. 395 at the town of Inyokern; south on U.S. 395 to CA 58; east on 
CA 58 to I-15; east on I-15 to CA 127; north on CA 127 to the Nevada 
border.
    Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone--All of Kings and Tulare Counties 
and that portion of Kern County north of the Southern Zone.
    Balance of State Zone--The remainder of California not included in 
the Northeastern, Southern, and Colorado River Zones, and the Southern 
San Joaquin Valley Temporary Zone.

Canada Geese

Michigan
    North Zone--Same as North duck zone.
    Middle Zone--Same as Middle duck zone.
    South Zone--Same as South duck zone.
    Tuscola/Huron Goose Management Unit (GMU)--Those portions of 
Tuscola and Huron Counties bounded on the south by Michigan Highway 138 
and Bay City Road, on the east by Colwood and Bay Port Roads, on the 
north by Kilmanagh Road and a line extending directly west off the end 
of Kilmanagh Road into Saginaw Bay to the west boundary, and on the 
west by the Tuscola-Bay County line and a line extending directly north 
off the end of the Tuscola-Bay County line into Saginaw Bay to the 
north boundary.
    Allegan County GMU--That area encompassed by a line beginning at 
the

[[Page 51109]]

junction of 136th Avenue and Interstate Highway 196 in Lake Town 
Township and extending easterly along 136th Avenue to Michigan Highway 
40, southerly along Michigan 40 through the city of Allegan to 108th 
Avenue in Trowbridge Township, westerly along 108th Avenue to 46th 
Street, northerly along 46th Street to 109th Avenue, westerly along 
109th Avenue to I-196 in Casco Township, then northerly along I-196 to 
the point of beginning.
    Saginaw County GMU--That portion of Saginaw County bounded by 
Michigan Highway 46 on the north; Michigan 52 on the west; Michigan 57 
on the south; and Michigan 13 on the east.
    Muskegon Wastewater GMU--That portion of Muskegon County within the 
boundaries of the Muskegon County wastewater system, east of the 
Muskegon State Game Area, in sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 
30, and 32, T10N R14W, and sections 1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 24, and 
25, T10N R15W, as posted.
Wisconsin
    Same zones as for ducks but in addition:
    Horicon Zone--That area encompassed by a line beginning at the 
intersection of State 21 and the Fox River in Winnebago County and 
extending westerly along State 21 to the west boundary of Winnebago 
County, southerly along the west boundary of Winnebago County to the 
north boundary of Green Lake County, westerly along the north 
boundaries of Green Lake and Marquette Counties to State 22, southerly 
along State 22 to State 33, westerly along State 33 to I-39, southerly 
along I-39 to I-90/94, southerly along I-90/94 to State 60, easterly 
along State 60 to State 83, northerly along State 83 to State 175, 
northerly along State 175 to State 33, easterly along State 33 to U.S. 
45, northerly along U.S. 45 to the east shore of the Fond Du Lac River, 
northerly along the east shore of the Fond Du Lac River to Lake 
Winnebago, northerly along the western shoreline of Lake Winnebago to 
the Fox River, then westerly along the Fox River to State 21.
    Exterior Zone--That portion of the State not included in the 
Horicon Zone.
    Mississippi River Subzone--That area encompassed by a line 
beginning at the intersection of the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe 
Railway and the Illinois State line in Grant County and extending 
northerly along the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway to the city 
limit of Prescott in Pierce County, then west along the Prescott city 
limit to the Minnesota State line.
    Brown County Subzone--That area encompassed by a line beginning at 
the intersection of the Fox River with Green Bay in Brown County and 
extending southerly along the Fox River to State 29, northwesterly 
along State 29 to the Brown County line, south, east, and north along 
the Brown County line to Green Bay, due west to the midpoint of the 
Green Bay Ship Channel, then southwesterly along the Green Bay Ship 
Channel to the Fox River.

Sandhill Cranes

Mississippi Flyway

Minnesota
    Northwest Goose Zone--That portion of the State encompassed by a 
line extending east from the North Dakota border along U.S. Highway 2 
to State Trunk Highway (STH) 32, north along STH 32 to STH 92, east 
along STH 92 to County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 2 in Polk County, north 
along CSAH 2 to CSAH 27 in Pennington County, north along CSAH 27 to 
STH 1, east along STH 1 to CSAH 28 in Pennington County, north along 
CSAH 28 to CSAH 54 in Marshall County, north along CSAH 54 to CSAH 9 in 
Roseau County, north along CSAH 9 to STH 11, west along STH 11 to STH 
310, and north along STH 310 to the Manitoba border.
Tennessee
    Hunt Zone--That portion of the State south of Interstate 40 and 
east of State Highway 56.
    Closed Zone--Remainder of the State.

Central Flyway

    Colorado--The Central Flyway portion of the State except the San 
Luis Valley (Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Hinsdale, Mineral, Rio Grande, 
and Saguache Counties east of the Continental Divide) and North Park 
(Jackson County).
    Kansas--That portion of the State west of a line beginning at the 
Oklahoma border, north on I-35 to Wichita, north on I-135 to Salina, 
and north on U.S. 81 to the Nebraska border.
    Montana--The Central Flyway portion of the State except for that 
area south and west of Interstate 90, which is closed to sandhill crane 
hunting.
New Mexico
    Regular-Season Open Area--Chaves, Curry, De Baca, Eddy, Lea, Quay, 
and Roosevelt Counties.
    Middle Rio Grande Valley Area--The Central Flyway portion of New 
Mexico in Socorro and Valencia Counties.
    Estancia Valley Area--Those portions of Santa Fe, Torrance, and 
Bernallilo Counties within an area bounded on the west by New Mexico 
Highway 55 beginning at Mountainair north to NM 337, north to NM 14, 
north to I-25; on the north by I-25 east to U.S. 285; on the east by 
U.S. 285 south to U.S. 60; and on the south by U.S. 60 from U.S. 285 
west to NM 55 in Mountainair.
    Southwest Zone--Area bounded on the south by the New Mexico-Mexico 
border; on the west by the New Mexico-Arizona border north to 
Interstate 10; on the north by Interstate 10 east to U.S. 180, north to 
N.M. 26, east to N.M. 27, north to N.M. 152, and east to Interstate 25; 
on the east by Interstate 25 south to Interstate 10, west to the Luna 
county line, and south to the New Mexico/Mexico border.
North Dakota
    Area 1--That portion of the State west of U.S. 281.
    Area 2--That portion of the State east of U.S. 281.
    Oklahoma--That portion of the State west of I-35.
    South Dakota--That portion of the State west of U.S. 281.
Texas
    Zone A--That portion of Texas lying west of a line beginning at the 
international toll bridge at Laredo, then northeast along U.S. Highway 
81 to its junction with Interstate Highway 35 in Laredo, then north 
along Interstate Highway 35 to its junction with Interstate Highway 10 
in San Antonio, then northwest along Interstate Highway 10 to its 
junction with U.S. Highway 83 at Junction, then north along U.S. 
Highway 83 to its junction with U.S. Highway 62, 16 miles north of 
Childress, then east along U.S. Highway 62 to the Texas-Oklahoma State 
line.
    Zone B--That portion of Texas lying within boundaries beginning at 
the junction of U.S. Highway 81 and the Texas-Oklahoma State line, then 
southeast along U.S. Highway 81 to its junction with U.S. Highway 287 
in Montague County, then southeast along U.S. Highway 287 to its 
junction with Interstate Highway 35W in Fort Worth, then southwest 
along Interstate Highway 35 to its junction with Interstate Highway 10 
in San Antonio, then northwest along Interstate Highway 10 to its 
junction with U.S. Highway 83 in the town of Junction, then north along 
U.S. Highway 83 to its junction with U.S. Highway 62, 16 miles north of 
Childress, then east along U.S. Highway 62 to the Texas-Oklahoma State 
line, then south along the Texas-Oklahoma State line to the south bank 
of the Red River, then eastward along the vegetation line on the south 
bank of the Red River to U.S. Highway 81.

[[Page 51110]]

    Zone C--The remainder of the State, except for the closed areas.
    Closed areas--(A) That portion of the State lying east and north of 
a line beginning at the junction of U.S. Highway 81 and the Texas-
Oklahoma State line, then southeast along U.S. Highway 81 to its 
junction with U.S. Highway 287 in Montague County, then southeast along 
U.S. Highway 287 to its junction with Interstate Highway 35W in Fort 
Worth, then southwest along Interstate Highway 35 to its junction with 
U.S. Highway 290 East in Austin, then east along U.S. Highway 290 to 
its junction with Interstate Loop 610 in Harris County, then south and 
east along Interstate Loop 610 to its junction with Interstate Highway 
45 in Houston, then south on Interstate Highway 45 to State Highway 
342, then to the shore of the Gulf of Mexico, and then north and east 
along the shore of the Gulf of Mexico to the Texas-Louisiana State 
line.
    (B) That portion of the State lying within the boundaries of a line 
beginning at the Kleberg-Nueces County line and the shore of the Gulf 
of Mexico, then west along the County line to Park Road 22 in Nueces 
County, then north and west along Park Road 22 to its junction with 
State Highway 358 in Corpus Christi, then west and north along State 
Highway 358 to its junction with State Highway 286, then north along 
State Highway 286 to its junction with Interstate Highway 37, then east 
along Interstate Highway 37 to its junction with U.S. Highway 181, then 
north and west along U.S. Highway 181 to its junction with U.S. Highway 
77 in Sinton, then north and east along U.S. Highway 77 to its junction 
with U.S. Highway 87 in Victoria, then south and east along U.S. 
Highway 87 to its junction with State Highway 35 at Port Lavaca, then 
north and east along State Highway 35 to the south end of the Lavaca 
Bay Causeway, then south and east along the shore of Lavaca Bay to its 
junction with the Port Lavaca Ship Channel, then south and east along 
the Lavaca Bay Ship Channel to the Gulf of Mexico, and then south and 
west along the shore of the Gulf of Mexico to the Kleberg-Nueces County 
line.
Wyoming
    Regular Season Open Area--Campbell, Converse, Crook, Goshen, 
Laramie, Niobrara, Platte, and Weston Counties.
    Riverton-Boysen Unit--Portions of Fremont County.
    Park and Big Horn County Unit-- All of Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park 
and Washakie Counties.

Pacific Flyway

Arizona
    Special Season Area--Game Management Units 28, 30A, 30B, 31, and 
32.
Idaho
    Area 1--All of Bear Lake County and all of Caribou County except 
that portion lying within the Grays Lake Basin.
    Area 2--All of Teton County except that portion lying west of state 
Highway 33 and south of Packsaddle Road (West 400 North) and north of 
the North Cedron Road (West 600 South) and east of the west bank of the 
Teton River.
    Area 3--All of Fremont County except the Chester Wetlands Wildlife 
Management Area.
    Area 4--All of Jefferson County.
    Area 5--All of Bannock County east of Interstate-15 and south of 
U.S. Highway 30; and all of Franklin County.
Montana
    Zone 1 (Warm Springs Portion of Deer Lodge County)--Those portions 
of Deer Lodge County lying within the following described boundary: 
Beginning at the intersection of I-90 and Highway 273, then westerly 
along Highway 273 to the junction of Highway 1, then southeast along 
said highway to Highway 275 at Opportunity, then east along said 
highway to East Side County road, then north along said road to Perkins 
Lake, then west on said lane to I-90, then north on said interstate to 
the junction of Highway 273, the point of beginning. Except for 
sections 13 and 24, T5N, R10W; and Warm Springs Pond number 3.
    Zone 2 (Ovando-Helmville Area)--That portion of the Pacific Flyway, 
located in Powell County lying within the following described boundary: 
Beginning at the junction of State Routes 141 and 200, then west along 
Route 200 to its intersection with the Blackfoot River at Russell Gates 
Fishing Access Site (Powell-Missoula County line), then southeast along 
said river to its intersection with the Ovando-Helmville Road (County 
Road 104) at Cedar Meadows Fishing Access Site, then south and east 
along said road to its junction with State Route 141, then north along 
said route to its junction with State Route 200, the point of 
beginning.
    Zone 3 (Dillon/Twin Bridges/Cardwell Areas)--That portion of 
Beaverhead, Madison, and Jefferson counties lying within the following 
described boundaries: Beginning at Dillon, then northerly along US Hwy 
91 to its intersection with the Big Hole River at Brown's Bridge north 
of Glen, then southeasterly and northeasterly along the Big Hole River 
to High Road, then east along High Road to State Highway 41, then east 
along said highway to the Beaverhead River, then north along said river 
to the Jefferson River and north along the Jefferson River to the 
Ironrod Bridge, then northeasterly along State Highway 41 to the 
junction with State Highway 55, then northeasterly along said highway 
to the junction with I-90, then east along I-90 to Cardwell and Route 
359 then south along Route 359 to the Parrot Hill/Cedar Hill Road then 
southwesterly along said road and the Cemetery Hill Road to the Parrot 
Ditch road to the Point of Rocks Road to Carney Lane to the Bench Road 
to the Waterloo Road and Bayers Lanes, to State Highway 41, then east 
along State Highway 41 to the Beaverhead River, then south along the 
Beaverhead River to the mouth of the Ruby River, then southeasterly 
along the Ruby River to the East Bench Road, then southwesterly along 
the East Bench Road to the East Bench Canal, then southwesterly along 
said canal to the Sweetwater Road, then west along Sweetwater Road to 
Dillon, the point of beginning, plus the remainder of Madison County 
and all of Gallatin County.
    Zone 4 (Broadwater County)--All of Broadwater County.
Utah
    Cache County--All of Cache County.
    East Box Elder County--That portion of Box Elder County beginning 
on the Utah-Idaho State line at the Box Elder-Cache County line; west 
on the State line to the Pocatello Valley County Road; south on the 
Pocatello Valley County Road to I-15; southeast on I-15 to SR-83; south 
on SR-83 to Lamp Junction; west and south on the Promontory Point 
County Road to the tip of Promontory Point; south from Promontory Point 
to the Box Elder-Weber County line; east on the Box Elder-Weber County 
line to the Box Elder-Cache County line; north on the Box Elder-Cache 
County line to the Utah-Idaho State line.
    Rich County--All of Rich County.
    Uintah County--All of Uintah County.
Wyoming
    Area 1 (Bear River)--All of the Bear River and Ham's Fork River 
drainages in Lincoln County.
    Area 2 (Salt River Area)--All of the Salt River drainage in Lincoln 
County south of the McCoy Creek Road.

[[Page 51111]]

    Area 3 (Eden Valley Area)--All lands within the Bureau of 
Reclamation's Eden Project in Sweetwater County.
    Area 5 (Uintah County Area)--All of Uinta County.

All Migratory Game Birds in Alaska

    North Zone--State Game Management Units 11-13 and 17-26.
    Gulf Coast Zone--State Game Management Units 5-7, 9, 14-16, and 10 
(Unimak Island only).
    Southeast Zone--State Game Management Units 1-4.
    Pribilof and Aleutian Islands Zone--State Game Management Unit 10 
(except Unimak Island).
    Kodiak Zone--State Game Management Unit 8.

All Migratory Game Birds in the Virgin Islands

    Ruth Cay Closure Area--The island of Ruth Cay, just south of St. 
Croix.

All Migratory Game Birds in Puerto Rico

    Municipality of Culebra Closure Area--All of the municipality of 
Culebra.
    Desecheo Island Closure Area--All of Desecheo Island.
    Mona Island Closure Area--All of Mona Island.
    El Verde Closure Area--Those areas of the municipalities of Rio 
Grande and Loiza delineated as follows: (1) All lands between Routes 
956 on the west and 186 on the east, from Route 3 on the north to the 
juncture of Routes 956 and 186 (Km 13.2) in the south; (2) all lands 
between Routes 186 and 966 from the juncture of 186 and 966 on the 
north, to the Caribbean National Forest Boundary on the south; (3) all 
lands lying west of Route 186 for 1 kilometer from the juncture of 
Routes 186 and 956 south to Km 6 on Route 186; (4) all lands within Km 
14 and Km 6 on the west and the Caribbean National Forest Boundary on 
the east; and (5) all lands within the Caribbean National Forest 
Boundary whether private or public.
    Cidra Municipality and adjacent areas--All of Cidra Municipality 
and portions of Aguas Buenas, Caguas, Cayey, and Comerio Municipalities 
as encompassed within the following boundary: Beginning on Highway 172 
as it leaves the municipality of Cidra on the west edge, north to 
Highway 156, east on Highway 156 to Highway 1, south on Highway 1 to 
Highway 765, south on Highway 765 to Highway 763, south on Highway 763 
to the Rio Guavate, west along Rio Guavate to Highway 1, southwest on 
Highway 1 to Highway 14, west on Highway 14 to Highway 729, north on 
Highway 729 to Cidra Municipality boundary to the point of the 
beginning.

[FR Doc. 2015-20636 Filed 8-20-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-55-P