[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 19 (Monday, January 30, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6054-6086]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-01644]



[[Page 6053]]

Vol. 88

Monday,

No. 19

January 30, 2023

Part III





Department of the Interior





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Fish and Wildlife Service





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50 CFR Part 20





Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed 2023-24 Frameworks for Migratory Bird 
Hunting Regulations; Proposed Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 19 / Monday, January 30, 2023 / 
Proposed Rules  

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 20

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2022-0090; FF09M31000-234-FXMB1231099BPP0]
RIN 1018-BF64


Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed 2023-24 Frameworks for Migratory 
Bird Hunting Regulations

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; supplemental.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) is 
proposing to establish the 2023-24 hunting regulations for certain 
migratory game birds. We annually prescribe outside limits (which we 
call frameworks) within which States may select hunting seasons. 
Frameworks specify the outside dates, season lengths, shooting hours, 
bag and possession limits, and areas where migratory game bird hunting 
may occur. These frameworks are necessary to allow State selections of 
seasons and limits and to allow harvest at levels compatible with 
migratory game bird population status and habitat conditions. Migratory 
game bird hunting seasons provide opportunities for recreation and 
sustenance, and aid Federal, State, and Tribal governments in the 
management of migratory game birds.

DATES: You must submit comments on the proposed migratory bird hunting 
frameworks by March 1, 2023.

ADDRESSES: 
    Comment submission: You may submit comments on the proposals by one 
of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
In the Search box, enter FWS-HQ-MB-2022-0090, which is the docket 
number for this rulemaking. Then, click on the Search button. On the 
resulting page, in the panel on the left side of the screen, under the 
Document Type heading, check the Proposed Rule box to locate this 
document. You may submit a comment by clicking on ``Comment.''
     U.S. Mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-HQ-MB-
2022-0090; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: JAO/3W, 5275 Leesburg 
Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
    We will not accept emailed or faxed comments. We will post all 
comments on https://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we 
will post any personal information you provide us (see Public Comments, 
below, for more information).
    Document availability: Comments and materials we receive, as well 
as supporting documentation we used in preparing this proposed rule, 
will be available for public inspection on https://www.regulations.gov, 
or by appointment, during normal business hours, at the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory Bird Management, 5275 Leesburg 
Pike, Falls Church, Virginia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerome Ford, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Department of the Interior, (703) 358-2606.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Process for Establishing Annual Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations

    As part of the Department of the Interior's retrospective 
regulatory review, in 2015 we developed a schedule for migratory game 
bird hunting regulations that is more efficient and establishes hunting 
season dates earlier than was possible under the previous process. 
Under the current process, we develop proposed hunting season 
frameworks for a given year in the fall of the prior year. We then 
attempt to finalize those frameworks a few months later, thereby to 
enable the State agencies to select and publish their season dates in 
early summer. We provided a detailed overview of the current process in 
the August 3, 2017, Federal Register (82 FR 36308). This proposed rule 
is the second in a series of proposed and final rules that establish 
regulations for the 2023-24 migratory game bird-hunting season.

Regulations Schedule

    The process for promulgating annual regulations for the hunting of 
migratory game birds involves the publication of a series of proposed 
and final rulemaking documents. On November 3, 2022, we published in 
the Federal Register (87 FR 66247) a proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20. 
The proposal provided a background and overview of the migratory bird 
hunting regulations process, and addressed the establishment of 
seasons, limits, and other regulations for hunting migratory game birds 
under Sec. Sec.  20.101 through 20.107, 20.109, and 20.110 of subpart 
K. This document is the second in a series of proposed and final rules 
for promulgating annual migratory game bird hunting regulations. Major 
steps in the regulations development process for the 2023-24 hunting 
season relating to open public meetings and Federal Register 
notifications were illustrated in the diagram at the end of the 
November 3, 2022, proposed rule. For this regulatory cycle, we have 
combined elements of the document that is described in the diagram as 
Supplemental Proposals with the document that is described as Proposed 
Season Frameworks.
    Further, in the November 3, 2022, proposed rule we explained that 
sections of subsequent documents outlining hunting frameworks and 
guidelines would be organized under numbered headings, which were set 
forth at 87 FR 66248. The issues discussed in the preamble to this and 
subsequent rulemaking documents will refer only to numbered items 
requiring attention. Because we will omit those items not requiring 
attention, the remaining numbered items may be discontinuous, and the 
list will appear incomplete.
    We provided the meeting dates and locations for the Service 
Regulations Committee (SRC) and Flyway Council meetings on Flyway 
calendars posted on our website at https://www.fws.gov/partner/migratory-bird-program-administrative-flyways. We announced the April 
SRC meeting on our website. The November 3, 2022, proposed rule 
provided detailed information on the proposed 2023-24 regulatory 
schedule, and we announced the October SRC meeting on our website. The 
SRC conducted an open meeting with the Flyway Council Consultants on 
April 19, 2022, to discuss preliminary issues for the 2023-24 
regulations, and on October 12-13, 2022, to review information on the 
current status of migratory game birds and develop recommendations for 
the 2023-24 regulations for these species.
    This supplemental proposed rule provides the regulatory 
alternatives for the 2023-24 duck hunting season and provides proposed 
frameworks for the 2023-24 migratory bird hunting season. It will lead 
to final frameworks from which States may select season dates, shooting 
hours, areas, and limits. We have considered all pertinent comments 
received through December 6, 2022, which includes comments submitted in 
response to our November 3, 2022, proposed rulemaking document and 
comments from the October SRC meeting. In addition, new proposals for 
certain regulations are provided for public comment. The comment period 
is specified above under DATES. Our goal is to publish final regulatory 
frameworks for migratory game bird hunting in the Federal Register in 
May 2023.

[[Page 6055]]

Population Status and Harvest

    Each year we publish reports that provide detailed information on 
the status and harvest of certain migratory game bird species. These 
reports are available at the address indicated under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT or from our website at https://www.fws.gov/media/eastern-mallard-adaptive-harvest-management-strategy-2022 and https://www.fws.gov/project/adaptive-harvest-management.
    We used the following annual reports published in August 2022 in 
the development of proposed frameworks for the migratory bird hunting 
regulations: Adaptive Harvest Management, 2023 Hunting Season; American 
Woodcock Population Status, 2022; Band-tailed Pigeon Population Status, 
2022; Migratory Bird Hunting Activity and Harvest During the 2020-21 
and 2021-22 Hunting Seasons; Mourning Dove Population Status, 2022; 
Status and Harvests of Sandhill Cranes, Mid-continent, Rocky Mountain, 
Lower Colorado River Valley and Eastern Populations, 2022; and 
Waterfowl Population Status, 2022.
    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. Migratory 
game bird hunting seasons provide opportunities for recreation and 
sustenance, and aid Federal, State, and Tribal governments in the 
management of migratory game birds. 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 
conclude that the proposed 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 during the 
public comment period.

Review of Public Comments and Flyway Council Recommendations

    The (preliminary) proposed rulemaking, which appeared in the 
November 3, 2022, Federal Register, opened the public comment period 
for migratory game bird hunting regulations and described the proposed 
regulatory alternatives for the 2023-24 duck hunting season. Comments 
and recommendations are summarized below and numbered in the order used 
in the November 3, 2022, proposed rule (see 87 FR 66248).
    We received recommendations from all four Flyway Councils at the 
April and October SRC meetings; all recommendations are from the 
October meeting unless otherwise noted. 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. As explained earlier in 
this document, we have included only the numbered items pertaining to 
issues for which we received recommendations. Consequently, the issues 
do not follow in successive numerical order.
    We seek additional information and comments on the recommendations 
in this supplemental proposed rule. New proposals and modifications to 
previously described proposals are discussed below. Wherever possible, 
proposals are discussed under headings corresponding to the numbered 
items in the November 3, 2022, proposed rule.

General

    Written Comments: Several commenters protested the entire migratory 
bird hunting regulations process, the killing of all migratory birds, 
and questioned the status and habitat data on which the migratory bird 
hunting regulations are based.
    Service Response: As we indicated above under Population Status and 
Harvest, 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. Sustaining 
migratory bird populations and ensuring a variety of sustainable uses, 
including harvest, is consistent with the guiding principles by which 
migratory birds are to be managed under the conventions between the 
United States and several foreign nations for the protection and 
management of these birds. We have taken into account available 
information and considered public comments and continue to conclude 
that the hunting seasons provided for herein are compatible with the 
current status of migratory bird populations and long-term population 
goals. In regard to the regulations process, the Flyway Council system 
of migratory bird management has been a longstanding example of State-
Federal cooperative management since its establishment in 1952 in the 
regulation development process and bird population and habitat 
monitoring. However, as always, we continue to seek new ways to 
streamline and improve the process and ensure adequate conservation of 
the resource.

1. Ducks

A. General Harvest Strategy

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and 
Pacific Flyway Councils recommended adoption of the liberal regulatory 
alternative for their respective flyways.
    Service Response: As we stated in the November 3, 2022, proposed 
rule, we intend to continue use of Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM) to 
help determine appropriate duck-hunting regulations for the 2023-24 
season. AHM is a tool that permits sound resource decisions in the face 
of uncertain regulatory impacts and provides a mechanism for reducing 
that uncertainty over time. We use an AHM protocol (decision framework) 
to evaluate four regulatory alternatives, each with a different 
expected harvest level, and choose the optimal regulation for duck 
hunting based on the status and demographics of mallards for the 
Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyways, and based on the status and 
demographics of a suite of four species (eastern waterfowl) in the 
Atlantic Flyway (see below, and the earlier referenced report 
``Adaptive Harvest Management, 2023 Hunting Season'' for more details). 
We have specific AHM protocols that guide appropriate bag limits and 
season lengths for species of special concern, including black ducks, 
scaup, pintails, and eastern mallards, within the general duck season. 
These protocols use the same outside season dates and lengths as those 
regulatory alternatives for the 2023-24 general duck season.
    For the 2023-24 hunting season, we will continue to use independent 
optimizations to determine the appropriate regulatory alternative for 
mallard stocks in the Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyways and for 
eastern waterfowl in the Atlantic Flyway. This means that we will 
develop regulations for mid-continent mallards, western mallards, and 
eastern waterfowl independently based on the breeding stock(s) that 
contribute primarily to each Flyway. We detailed implementation of AHM 
protocols for mid-continent and western mallards in the July 24, 2008, 
Federal Register (73 FR 43290), and for eastern waterfowl in

[[Page 6056]]

the September 21, 2018, Federal Register (83 FR 47868).

Population Status and Harvest

Atlantic Flyway
    For the Atlantic Flyway, we set duck-hunting regulations based on 
the status and demographics of a suite of four duck species (eastern 
waterfowl) in eastern Canada and the Atlantic Flyway States: green-
winged teal, common goldeneye, ring-necked duck, and wood duck. For 
purposes of the assessment, eastern waterfowl stocks are those breeding 
in eastern Canada and Maine (Federal Waterfowl Breeding Population and 
Habitat Survey (WBPHS) fixed-wing surveys in strata 51-53, 56, and 62-
70, and helicopter plot surveys in strata 51-52, 63-64, 66-68, and 70-
72) and in Atlantic Flyway States from New Hampshire south to Virginia 
(Atlantic Flyway Breeding Waterfowl Survey (AFBWS)). Abundance 
estimates for green-winged teal, ring-necked ducks, and goldeneyes are 
derived annually by integrating fixed-wing and helicopter survey data 
from eastern Canada and Maine (WBPHS strata 51-53, 56, and 62-72). 
Counts of green-winged teal, ring-necked ducks, and goldeneyes in the 
AFBWS are negligible and therefore excluded from population estimates 
for those species. Abundance estimates for wood ducks in the Atlantic 
Flyway (Maine south to Florida) are estimated by integrating data from 
the AFBWS and the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Counts of wood 
ducks from the WBPHS are negligible and therefore excluded from 
population estimates.
    For the 2023-24 hunting season, we evaluated alternative harvest 
regulations for eastern waterfowl using: (1) A management objective of 
98 percent of maximum long-term sustainable harvest for eastern 
waterfowl; (2) the 2023-24 regulatory alternatives; and (3) current 
stock-specific population models and associated weights. Based on the 
liberal regulatory alternative selected for the 2022-23 duck hunting 
season, the 2022 survey estimates of 0.32 million American green-winged 
teal, 1.00 million wood ducks, 0.64 million ring-necked ducks, and 0.71 
million goldeneyes in the eastern survey area and Atlantic Flyway, the 
optimal regulation for the Atlantic Flyway is the liberal alternative. 
Therefore, we concur with the recommendation of the Atlantic Flyway 
Council regarding selection of the liberal regulatory alternative as 
described in the November 3, 2022, proposed rule for the 2023-24 
season.
Mississippi and Central Flyways
    For the Mississippi and Central Flyways, we set duck-hunting 
regulations based on the status and demographics of mid-continent 
mallards and habitat conditions (pond numbers in Prairie Canada and the 
United States). For purposes of the assessment, mid-continent mallards 
are those breeding in central North America (Federal WBPHS strata 13-
18, 20-50, and 75-77) and in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin (State 
surveys).
    For the 2023-24 hunting season, we evaluated alternative harvest 
regulations for mid-continent mallards using: (1) A management 
objective of maximum long-term sustainable harvest; (2) the 2023-24 
regulatory alternatives; and (3) an Integrated Population Model (IPM) 
for mid-continent mallards. Based on a liberal regulatory alternative 
selected for the 2022-23 hunting season, an estimated breeding 
population size of 7.16 million mid-continent mallards and 5.45 million 
total ponds observed in Prairie Canada and the United States, the 
optimal choice for the 2023-24 hunting season in the Mississippi and 
Central Flyways is the liberal regulatory alternative. Therefore, we 
concur with the recommendations of the Mississippi and Central Flyway 
Councils regarding selection of the liberal regulatory alternative as 
described in the November 3, 2022, proposed rule for the 2023-24 
season.
Pacific Flyway
    For the Pacific Flyway, we set duck-hunting regulations based on 
the status and demographics of western mallards. For purposes of the 
assessment, western mallards consist of two substocks and are those 
breeding in Alaska and Yukon Territory (Federal WBPHS strata 1-12) and 
those breeding in the southern Pacific Flyway including California, 
Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia (State and Provincial surveys) 
combined.
    For the 2023-24 hunting season, we evaluated alternative harvest 
regulations for western mallards using: (1) A management objective of 
maximum long-term sustainable harvest; (2) the 2023-24 regulatory 
alternatives; and (3) the current population model. Based on a liberal 
regulatory alternative selected for the 2022-23 hunting season, and 
2022 abundances of 1.04 million western mallards observed in Alaska 
(0.61 million) and predicted for the southern Pacific Flyway (0.43 
million), the optimal regulation for the Pacific Flyway is the liberal 
alternative. Therefore, we concur with the recommendation of the 
Pacific Flyway Council regarding selection of the liberal regulatory 
alternative as described in the November 3, 2002, proposed rule for the 
2023-24 season.

B. Regulatory Alternatives

    Council Recommendations: At the April SRC meeting, the Atlantic, 
Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended that AHM 
regulatory alternatives for duck hunting during the 2023-24 season 
remain the same as those used in the previous season.
    Service Response: Consistent with Flyway Council recommendations, 
the AHM regulatory alternatives proposed for the Atlantic, Mississippi, 
Central, and Pacific Flyways in the November 3, 2022, proposed rule (87 
FR 66247) will be used for the 2023-24 hunting season (see accompanying 
table at the end of that document for specific information). The AHM 
regulatory alternatives consist only of the maximum season lengths, 
framework dates, and bag limits for total ducks and mallards. 
Restrictions for certain species within these frameworks that are not 
covered by existing harvest strategies will be addressed elsewhere in 
these proposed frameworks. For those species with specific harvest 
strategies (pintails, black ducks, scaup, and eastern mallards), those 
strategies will again be used for the 2023-24 hunting season.

D. Special Seasons/Species Management

i. Early Teal Seasons
    The special early teal season guidelines (see 79 FR 51402, August 
28, 2014; p. 51403) indicate that a 16-day special early (September) 
teal season with a 6-teal daily bag limit is appropriate for States in 
the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central flyways if the observed breeding 
abundance is greater than 4.7 million breeding birds. The 2022 observed 
abundance of breeding blue-winged teal was 6.485 million birds, 
indicating a 16-day special early season with a 6-teal daily bag limit 
is warranted.
ii. Early Teal-Wood Duck Seasons
    In Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee, in lieu of a special early 
teal season, a 5-consecutive-day teal-wood duck season may be selected 
in September. The daily bag limit may not exceed six teal and wood 
ducks in the aggregate, of which no more than two may be wood ducks. In 
addition, a 4-consecutive-day special early teal-only season may be 
selected in September either immediately before or immediately after

[[Page 6057]]

the 5-consecutive-day teal-wood duck season. The daily bag limit is six 
teal.
iii. Black Ducks
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway 
Councils recommended continued use of the AHM protocol for black ducks, 
and adoption of the moderate regulatory alternative for their 
respective flyways. The Flyway-specific regulations consist of a daily 
bag limit of two black ducks and a season length of 60 days.
    Service Response: The Service, Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway 
Councils, and Canada adopted an international AHM protocol for black 
ducks in 2012 (77 FR 49868, August 17, 2012) whereby we set black duck 
hunting regulations for the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways (and 
Canada) based on the status and demographics of these birds. The AHM 
protocol clarifies country-specific target harvest levels and reduces 
conflicts over regulatory policies.
    For the 2023-24 hunting season, we evaluated country-specific 
alternative harvest regulations using: (1) A management objective of 98 
percent of maximum long-term sustainable harvest; (2) country-specific 
regulatory alternatives; and (3) current population models and 
associated weights. Based on the moderate regulatory alternative 
selected for the 2022-23 hunting season and the 2022 survey estimates 
of 0.57 million breeding black ducks and 0.52 million breeding mallards 
(Federal WBPHS strata 51, 52, 63, 64, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, and 72; core 
survey area), the optimal regulation for the Atlantic and Mississippi 
Flyways is the moderate alternative (and the liberal alternative in 
Canada). Therefore, we concur with the recommendations of the Atlantic 
and Mississippi Flyway Councils.
iv. Canvasbacks
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and 
Pacific Flyway Councils recommended adoption of the liberal regulatory 
alternative for their respective flyways. The Flyway-specific 
regulations consist of a daily bag limit of two canvasbacks and a 
season length of 60 days in the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, 74 
days in the Central Flyway, and 107 days in the Pacific Flyway.
    Service Response: As we discussed in the March 28, 2016, Federal 
Register (81 FR 17302), the canvasback harvest strategy that we had 
relied on until 2015 was not viable under our new regulatory process 
because it required biological information that was not yet available 
at the time a decision on season structure needed to be made. We do not 
yet have a new harvest strategy to propose for use in guiding 
canvasback harvest management in the future. However, we have worked 
with technical staff of the four Flyway Councils to develop a decision 
framework (hereafter, decision support tool) that relies on the best 
biological information available to develop recommendations for annual 
canvasback harvest regulations. The decision support tool uses 
available information (1994-2014) on canvasback breeding population 
size in Alaska and north-central North America (Federal WBPHS 
traditional survey area, strata 1-18, 20-50, and 75-77), growth rate, 
survival, and harvest, and a population model to evaluate alternative 
harvest regulations based on a management objective of maximum long-
term sustainable harvest. The decision support tool calls for a closed 
season when the population is below 460,000, a 1-bird daily bag limit 
when the population is between 460,000 and 480,000, and a 2-bird daily 
bag limit when the population is greater than 480,000. Based on the 
2022 survey estimate of 585,000 canvasbacks, we concur with the 
recommendations of the four Flyway Councils regarding selection of the 
liberal regulatory alternative for the 2023-24 season.
v. Pintails
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and 
Pacific Flyway Councils recommended adoption of the liberal regulatory 
alternative with a 1-pintail daily bag limit for their respective 
flyways. The Flyway-specific regulations consist of a season length of 
60 days in the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, 74 days in the Central 
Flyway, and 107 days in the Pacific Flyway.
    Service Response: The Service and four Flyway Councils adopted an 
AHM protocol for pintail in 2010 (75 FR 44856, July 29, 2010) whereby 
we set pintail hunting regulations in all four Flyways based on the 
status and demographics of these birds.
    For the 2023-24 hunting season, we evaluated alternative harvest 
regulations for pintails using: (1) A management objective of maximum 
long-term sustainable harvest, including a closed-season constraint of 
1.75 million birds; (2) the regulatory alternatives; and (3) current 
population models and associated weights. Based on a liberal regulatory 
alternative with a 1-bird daily bag limit for the 2022-23 season, and 
the 2022 survey estimates of 1.78 million pintails at a mean latitude 
of 57.31 degrees (Federal WBPHS traditional survey area, strata 1-18, 
20-50, and 75-77), the optimal regulation for all four Flyways is the 
liberal alternative with a 1-pintail daily bag limit. Therefore, we 
concur with the recommendations of the four Flyway Councils.
vi. Scaup
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and 
Pacific Flyway Councils recommended adoption of the restrictive 
regulatory alternative for the 2023-24 season. The Flyway-specific 
regulations consist of a 60-day season with a 1-bird daily bag limit 
during 40 consecutive days and a 2-bird daily bag limit during 20 
consecutive days in the Atlantic Flyway, a 60-day season with a 2-bird 
daily bag limit during 45 consecutive days and a 1-bird daily bag limit 
during 15 consecutive days in the Mississippi Flyway, a 1-bird daily 
bag limit for 74 days in the Central Flyway (which may have separate 
segments of 39 days and 35 days), and an 86-day season with a 2-bird 
daily bag limit in the Pacific Flyway.
    Service Response: The Service and four Flyway Councils adopted an 
AHM protocol for scaup in 2008 (73 FR 43290, July 24, 2008; and 73 FR 
51124, August 29, 2008) whereby we set scaup hunting regulations in all 
four Flyways based on the status and demographics of these birds.
    For the 2023-24 hunting season, we evaluated alternative harvest 
regulations for scaup using: (1) A management objective of 95 percent 
of maximum sustainable harvest; (2) the regulatory alternatives; and 
(3) the current population model. Based on a restrictive regulatory 
alternative for the 2022-23 season, and the 2022 survey estimate of 
3.60 million scaup (Federal WBPHS traditional survey area, strata 1-18, 
20-50, and 75-77), the optimal regulation for all four Flyways is the 
restrictive alternative. Therefore, we concur with the recommendations 
of the four Flyway Councils regarding selection of the restrictive 
alternative for the 2023-24 season.
vii. Mottled Ducks
    Council Recommendations: The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended 
that high-harvest States in the flyway reduce harvest of mottled ducks 
by 50 percent by setting a bag limit of zero (0) for the first 15 days 
of duck season in each zone for a minimum of 3 years (2023-24 through 
2025-26 seasons). High-harvest States were defined as those that 
exceeded 20 percent of the flyway total harvest of mottled ducks.
    Service Response: The Service and other agencies have been 
concerned

[[Page 6058]]

about the status of mottled ducks since the late 1990s. In 2009, the 
Service strongly encouraged the Central and Mississippi Flyway Councils 
to examine the status of mottled ducks and assess the potential need 
for any regulatory actions for the 2009-10 season (74 FR 16339, April 
10, 2009). Subsequently, the States of Texas and Louisiana took steps 
to reduce harvest of mottled ducks within the West Gulf Coast (WGC) 
population. Despite these steps to reduce harvest of mottled ducks, the 
average population decline from multiple surveys in Louisiana since 
2009 was 64 percent. Thus, we concur and appreciate the proactive 
nature of this recommendation to further reduce harvest of mottled 
ducks in the Mississippi Flyway while continuing efforts to monitor 
population numbers and vital rates in concert with ongoing research and 
habitat conservation efforts. Finally, we encourage the Central Flyway 
and Mississippi Flyway to cooperatively engage in long-term management 
of the WGC population of mottled ducks by reviewing all relevant 
research and population information at the conclusion of this 3-year 
period of reduced harvest so that future regulatory recommendations, if 
warranted, will address mottled duck conservation throughout the WGC.
xii. Other
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 
the Service follow the eastern mallard harvest strategy and adopt a 
mallard daily bag limit of four birds, no more than two of which may be 
hens, for the 2023-24 duck hunting season.
    Service Response: We agree with the Atlantic Flyway Council's 
recommendation to establish the liberal regulatory alternative, 
consisting of a four-bird bag limit (no more of which two may be hens) 
for mallards for the 2023-24 season with a 60-day season length as 
prescribed by the Multi-stock Adaptive Harvest Management strategy. The 
Service discontinued the use of the Eastern Mallard Adaptive Harvest 
Management framework in 2018 due to concerns about: (1) the 
appropriateness of eastern mallards as a surrogate for all duck harvest 
in the Atlantic Flyway; (2) concerns about the abundance and trend in 
the eastern mallard population; and (3) concerns about data and models 
to adequately describe the dynamics of the eastern mallard population. 
The Eastern Mallard Adaptive Harvest Management strategy was replaced 
by the Multi-stock Adaptive Harvest Management strategy for setting the 
general duck season in the Atlantic Flyway in 2019. Concurrently, the 
daily bag limit for eastern mallards was set at two birds per day based 
on a Potential Take Level (PTL) assessment. The PTL assessment allowed 
the Service to determine a sustainable daily bag limit assuming a 60-
day season, but does not account for annual variation in abundance, 
productivity, or habitat condition and so can only be used to set a 
static daily bag limit. The Service and Atlantic Flyway Council agreed 
to review available data, monitoring programs, and hypotheses regarding 
the status of eastern mallards. Following the review, the Service and 
Atlantic Flyway Council agreed to develop a State-dependent eastern 
mallard harvest strategy that would be used to set the daily bag limit 
based on the annual estimates of abundance, productivity, and habitat 
conditions. The Service and Atlantic Flyway Council also agreed that 
the eastern mallard season length would be set by the Multi-stock 
Adaptive Harvest Management framework.
    The Atlantic Flyway Council and Service's Division of Migratory 
Bird Management developed a new Eastern Mallard Adaptive Harvest 
strategy in 2022. This strategy was developed through an intensive, 
collaborative, structured decision-making process. The fundamental 
objectives of the strategy are: (1) to sustain the eastern mallard 
population that meets legal mandates, and (2) provide consumptive and 
nonconsumptive uses indefinitely. The strategy is predicated on an IPM 
that uses spring breeding-ground abundance as estimated by the 
Integrated Eastern Waterfowl Survey and Atlantic Flyway Breeding 
Waterfowl Survey. Fall age ratios are estimated using harvest age 
ratios derived from the Service and Canadian Wildlife Service parts 
collection surveys, adjusted for differential vulnerability. Age- and 
sex-specific harvest rates are based on recoveries of mallards banded 
after the breeding season (July-September) in Canada and the Atlantic 
Flyway adjusted by reporting rates. Band recoveries of mallards banded 
in Canada and the Atlantic Flyway, both after the breeding season and 
after the hunting season (January 15-March 31), are used to estimate 
age- and sex-specific seasonal survival rates using a two-season 
banding model. The eastern mallard IPM is structured to include 
multiple features of population dynamics deemed to be important to 
mallard abundance and trends. In particular, the model incorporates 
hypotheses describing the effects of harvest on annual survival on a 
continuum from fully additive to fully compensatory.
    The new strategy incorporates four regulatory alternatives: closed 
season, restrictive season (one mallard per day), moderate season (two 
mallards per day, of which only one may be a female), and liberal 
season (four mallards per day, of which only two may be female). 
Expected harvest rates under each regulatory alternative are updated 
annually using the most recent banding and hunter recovery data. The 
new strategy allows the Service and Atlantic Flyway Council to adjust 
annual regulations based on the health of the mallard population.
    The estimated eastern mallard population in 2022 was 1.2 million 
birds. This amount represented a 15 percent increase compared to 2019 
when the breeding waterfowl survey was last completed. It is the 
highest abundance of eastern mallards since 2012. The increased 
breeding abundance observed in 2022 may be in part due to the 
implementation of reduced bag limits in 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22 
hunting seasons and indicates management of annual hunting regulations 
can provide sustainable harvest indefinitely. Given the development of 
a new adaptive harvest management strategy for eastern mallards and the 
increase in abundance observed in 2022, the Service agrees a liberal 
regulatory alternative with a four-bird daily bag limit (two hens) for 
the 2023-24 is sustainable and provides increased recreational 
opportunity for Atlantic Flyway hunters.

4. Canada and Cackling Geese

B. Regular Seasons

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 
the liberal regulatory option for Atlantic Population (AP) Canada Geese 
for the 2023-24 hunting season and eliminating the Southern James Bay 
Population (SJBP) Zone in Virginia. The Pacific Flyway Council 
recommended eliminating the Tillamook Special Management Area in 
Oregon's Northwest Permit Zone.
    Service Response: We agree with the Atlantic Flyway Council's 
recommendation to implement the liberal regulatory option for AP Canada 
geese for the 2023-24 hunting season. The Atlantic Flyway Council and 
Service set AP Canada goose harvest regulations following the 2022 AP 
Canada goose harvest strategy. This strategy is predicated on an IPM 
that predicts the breeding population 1 year in advance, as well as 
other metrics of the population's health.
    The AP Canada goose population is one of three populations of 
Canada

[[Page 6059]]

geese managed in the Atlantic Flyway and has a long history of 
intensive management due to its importance to subsistence and sport 
hunters in Canada and the United States. The population experienced a 
drastic decline from 118,000 to 34,000 breeding pairs between 1988 and 
1995, resulting in very restrictive harvest opportunities, including 
closed seasons in some regions of the Atlantic Flyway. Sport harvest 
was not fully reopened for AP Canada geese until 2005. The AP Canada 
goose population recovered to an estimated abundance of 182,000 in 2002 
due to a combination of harvest restrictions and favorable nesting 
conditions. The AP Canada goose population ranged from 161,000 to 
216,000 breeding pairs between 2002 and 2017 but experienced another 
decline in abundance between 2018 and 2020 due largely to poor breeding 
conditions and limited reproduction. In response to this most recent 
decline and poor reproduction, the Atlantic Flyway Council and Service 
implemented restrictive regulations (30-day season with a one-bird 
daily bag limit) for the 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 
seasons. Canada also implemented restrictive regulations in Ontario and 
Quebec for the 2020-21 to 2023-24 hunting seasons. Importantly, the 
Atlantic Flyway Council recommended, and the Service agreed to 
implement, restrictive regulations for the 2022-23 season despite an 
estimated breeding population (153,000) exceeding the threshold for the 
moderate harvest package (125,000). The recommendation to continue with 
restrictive regulations in 2022-23 was based on the lack of a breeding 
survey in 2020 and 2021, average breeding conditions in 2022, and the 
fact that Canada was committed to harvest restrictions through the 
2023-24 season.
    The 2022 AP Canada goose breeding index was 164,000. This was the 
highest estimated index since 2016 and was 37 percent higher than the 
2019 estimate and 6 percent higher than the long-term average. The 
results of the 2022 breeding survey suggest AP Canada geese have 
increased in response to harvest restrictions and improved breeding 
conditions similar to the pattern observed in the late 1990s and early 
2000s. An analysis of the pre-season banding data and hunter harvest 
indicated adult and juvenile harvest rates declined in response to 
restrictive regulations whereas survival rates exhibited a slight 
increase. The predicted 2023 breeding population, based on the IPM, is 
180,500 with a predicted 2022 age ratio of 1.36 (similar to the 1997-
2018 average). The recovery of the AP Canada goose population since 
2018 and predictions of the 2023 breeding population are in accordance 
with a liberal regulatory alternative as defined in the 2022 Harvest 
Strategy. The Service concludes the liberal alternative will provide 
maximum hunting opportunity while achieving long-term conservation 
objectives for the AP Canada goose population.
    In regard to the SJBP, we agree with the Atlantic Flyway Council's 
recommendation to eliminate the SJBP Zone in Virginia. The SJBP of 
Canada geese is no longer recognized as a separate population by the 
Service or the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway Councils. The SJBP is 
now considered part of the larger Southern Hudson Bay Population 
(SHBP), which is monitored and managed according to the Mississippi 
Flyway Council's management plan. Elimination of the SJBP Canada geese 
zone in Virginia and incorporation into the Resident Population and 
Atlantic Population zones will simplify regulations, provide greater 
harvest opportunity and management control over the Resident 
Population, and afford sufficient protection to the AP of Canada geese.
    We also agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation to 
eliminate the Tillamook Special Management Area in Oregon's Northwest 
Permit Zone. The special management area is near Tillamook, Oregon, and 
was established in 1982 as a goose hunting closure to minimize harvest 
of Aleutian cackling geese, particularly the Semidi Islands breeding 
population segment.
    Aleutian geese were listed as endangered in 1967, downgraded to 
threatened status in 1990, and removed from protection under the 
Endangered Species Act in 2001. Aleutian geese have increased from 790 
geese in 1975. The most recent 3-year (2020-2022) average population 
estimate for Aleutian cackling geese is 172,000 and is well above the 
Council's population objective of 60,000 geese. The population has 
grown 8.2 percent annually since 1996. The goose hunting closure zone 
in Oregon has been reduced in size five times (in 2002, 2005, 2007, 
2011, and 2018) in accordance with the recovery of Aleutian geese.
    Prior to delisting, two population segments of Aleutian geese were 
recognized based on breeding distribution: A western Aleutian Islands 
segment comprises birds from the central and western Aleutian Islands, 
and a Semidi Islands segment comprises birds from the Semidi Islands of 
the eastern Aleutian Islands. The western Aleutian Islands segment 
winters primarily in the San Joaquin Valley and Sacramento River Delta 
areas of central California, and stages in the Eureka and Crescent City 
areas on the northern California coast and Bandon and Langlois areas in 
southern Oregon in spring. The Semidi Islands segment winters primarily 
on the northern Oregon coast near Pacific City and Tillamook, Oregon. 
Aleutian geese on the Semidi Islands (and Chagulak Island) are 
considered to be remnants of the previously more continuously 
distributed population of Aleutian geese. As part of the delisting, we 
rejected the notion of retaining threatened species status for the 
smaller Semidi Islands subpopulation of Aleutian Canada geese while 
delisting the remainder of the subspecies as the listing entity in 
question is the entire Aleutian cackling goose subspecies.
    Seven subspecies of white-cheeked geese, including Aleutian geese, 
winter in the Pacific Flyway and are managed as separate populations. 
All populations of white-cheeked geese are at or above population 
objectives in the Pacific Flyway. There is substantial mixing of white-
cheeked geese populations during winter in the Pacific Flyway. 
Complaints of goose depredation on private lands in the Tillamook 
special management area have increased in association with increasing 
abundance of multiple populations of geese.
    Elimination of the special management area would allow goose 
hunting on about 2,470 acres; however, only about 200 acres are 
considered to be goose habitat and would be potentially impacted as the 
rest of the area is forested or part of Nestucca Bay National Wildlife 
Refuge that is closed to goose hunting. Removal of the goose hunting 
closure will help address depredation issues on privately owned lands 
caused by wintering geese and remove constraints imposed on some 
private landowners and not others where Aleutian geese may occur. Geese 
wintering in the Tillamook area continue to have access to areas closed 
to hunting on Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge and privately owned 
lands voluntarily closed to hunting. Elimination of the special 
management area will simplify goose hunting regulations in the Pacific 
Flyway, and impacts to the population of Aleutian geese are expected to 
be negligible.

6. Brant

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 
the Service follow the approved Atlantic Brant hunt plan for the 2023-
24 season and adopt the restrictive regulatory

[[Page 6060]]

alternative consisting of a 30-day season with a one-bird daily bag 
limit. The Pacific Flyway Council recommended that the 2023-24 brant 
season frameworks be determined based on the harvest strategy in the 
Council's management plan for the Pacific population of brant pending 
results of the 2023 Winter Brant Survey (WBS). If results of the 2023 
WBS are not available, results of the most recent WBS should be used.
    Service Response: We agree with the Atlantic Flyway Council's 
recommendation for the restrictive regulatory alternative for the 2023-
24 season. The Atlantic Flyway Council and the Service adopted the 
revised Atlantic Brant Harvest Strategy in October 2020. This revised 
strategy has been used to guide annual regulations for Atlantic brant 
since the 2021-22 hunting season. The goal of the 2020 Atlantic Brant 
Harvest Strategy is to provide for sport hunting opportunity and 
subsistence harvest of the Atlantic brant population that are 
consistent with maintenance of a viable population throughout its 
range. This goal is achieved by: (1) attaining the population objective 
of 150,000 birds; (2) maximizing hunting opportunity commensurate with 
population abundance; (3) providing simple regulations; and (4) 
learning about the effects of harvest on the Atlantic brant population.
    The harvest strategy uses an IPM to predict the brant population 1 
year in advance. It is based on data from the Mid-Winter Survey (MWS), 
fall productivity survey, pre-season banding and recovery data, and 
weather data. The predicted breeding population size is used to inform 
harvest regulations for the hunting season 1 year in advance. The 
strategy uses four regulatory alternatives including: closed (predicted 
population <100,000); restrictive (predicted population >=100,000 and 
<=115,000); standard (predicted population >115,000 and <=150,000); and 
liberal (predicted population >150,000). The predicted population 
abundance for spring 2023 is 107,000 brant, which corresponds to the 
restrictive regulatory option.
    The 2022 MWS count of 109,194 was 12 percent lower than the 2020 
count and 15 percent below the long-term average. Further, the 
population has exhibited a slow decline in abundance since 2018. The 
estimated adult Atlantic brant survival has ranged from 75 percent to 
85 percent since 2001 with a near high estimate of 81 percent in 2021. 
Adult brant harvest rates have ranged from 1 percent to 10 percent 
since 2001 and was 5 percent during the 2021-22 season. Previous 
experience suggests that Atlantic brant can exhibit positive growth 
rates when the population is <150,000 and exposed to a 50-day and 2-
bird bag limit regulations. Therefore, the Service expects the 
restrictive regulatory alternative (30-day season with one-bird bag 
limit) will provide sport and subsistence harvest opportunity while 
maintaining a stable to slightly increasing population.
    We also agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation that 
the 2023-24 Pacific brant season framework be determined by the harvest 
strategy in the Council's management plan for the Pacific population of 
brant pending results of the 2023 WBS. As we discussed in the August 
21, 2020, Federal Register (85 FR 51854), the harvest strategy used to 
determine the Pacific brant season frameworks does not fit well within 
the current regulatory process. In developing the annual proposed 
frameworks for Pacific brant, the Pacific Flyway Council and the 
Service use the 3-year average number of brant counted during the WBS 
in the Pacific Flyway to determine annual allowable season length and 
daily bag limits. The WBS is conducted each January, which is after the 
date that proposed frameworks are formulated in the regulatory process. 
However, the data are typically available by the expected publication 
of final frameworks. When we acquire the survey data, we will determine 
the appropriate allowable harvest for the Pacific brant season 
according to the harvest strategy in the Pacific Flyway Council's 
management plan for the Pacific population of brant published in the 
August 21, 2020, Federal Register (85 FR 51854) and publish the results 
in the final frameworks rule.

8. Swans

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 
Delaware be granted operational status for the tundra swan hunting 
season, beginning with the 2023-24 season.
    Service Response: The Service supports making the Delaware tundra 
swan season operational. The four Flyway Councils adopted the Eastern 
Population (EP) Tundra Swan Management Plan in 2007. The primary goal 
of the EP management plan is to maintain the population at levels that 
will provide optimum resource benefits for society consistent with 
habitat availability and international treaties. The specific objective 
is to maintain at least 80,000 EP tundra swans based on the 3-year 
average MWS population index for the Mississippi and Atlantic Flyways. 
The population objective provides desired social uses of the 
population, maintains distribution throughout their range, minimizes 
human-wildlife conflicts, and provides sustainable levels of 
subsistence and sport harvest. The targeted maximum harvest rate for EP 
tundra swans (including subsistence and sport) is 10 percent, with 
recreational harvest less than or equal to 5 percent. Tundra swan 
harvest is managed using a permit system that provides opportunity 
across States corresponding to tundra swan distribution. The harvest 
strategy provides a process for redistributing permits among 
participating States, recognizing total harvest is limited by the 
number of permits available to all participating States. State agencies 
are required to monitor total harvest and provide annual reports to the 
Service.
    The EP tundra swan strategy provides a process for allowing 
additional States to offer a tundra swan season. Each ``new'' State 
wanting to provide an EP tundra swan season must initiate the process 1 
year prior to the season and will be allowed if the permit request 
(expected harvest in the new State) does not result in total swan 
harvest exceeding the 5 percent sport harvest limit. The allocation of 
permits to the new State are drawn from other States in the same 
Flyway. All States requesting a new tundra swan season must conduct a 
3-year experiment to evaluate the effects of the season on the swan 
population and hunter participation. States conducting an experimental 
season must submit annual and final reports detailing how the hunts 
were administered, number of applications and permits issued, hunter 
participation rate, reporting rate, harvest (including retrieved and 
un-retrieved birds) and age ratio of harvest birds. All experimental 
seasons require a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the requesting 
State and the Service.
    The Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife (DDFW) requested a new 
tundra swan hunt in 2018 starting with the 2019-2020 season and entered 
into an MOA with the Service in July 2019. The experimental season was 
approved by the Atlantic Flyway Council and the Service and was 
conducted in accordance with the EP Tundra Swan Management Plan and 
MOA. The DDFW issued 80, 63, and 63 permits via lottery for the 2019-
20, 2020-21, and 2021-22 hunting seasons. Total applicants were 286, 
222, and 234 for the 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22 seasons. An 
additional four permits were issued to hunters via auctions held by 
conservation organizations for each

[[Page 6061]]

season. Tundra swan harvest ranged from 22-40 birds, and hunter success 
rate ranged from 44 percent to 64 percent across the 3 hunting seasons. 
Participation rate, among permittees, ranged from 75 percent to 83 
percent. Hunters spent an average of 4.2 days hunting across all 3 
years. Hunters reported 97 harvested tundra swans. All harvested birds 
were confirmed to be tundra swans by State personnel. Hunter success 
for immature to mature tundra swan ratio ranged from 10 percent to 14 
percent. During the 3-year experimental season, the number of swans 
counted in Delaware was 4,728, 1,602, and 3,830 in 2020, 2021, and 
2022. The number of swans counted in the Atlantic Flyway was 61,354, 
76,701, and 89,142. The DDFW submitted annual reports and a final 
report detailing how the tundra swan hunting season was administered. 
The DDFW provided data on total harvest, age ratios, and hunter 
participation metrics as specified in the MOA.
    The DDFW met all requirements under the MOA and in accordance with 
the EP Tundra Swan Management Plan. The realized harvest experienced 
during the 3-year experiment was within desired thresholds (i.e., <5 
percent), and no trumpeter swans or other nontarget species were 
harvested. During the 3-year experiment, the tundra swan population 
increased from 61,354 to 89,1420 birds in the Atlantic Flyway and from 
70,595 to 90,859 birds in the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways based on 
the MWS. The DDFW is prepared to implement an operational season in 
accordance with the EP Tundra Swan Management Plan, including continued 
monitoring of the population, harvest, and hunter participation. An 
operational hunting season in Delaware will contribute to meeting the 
goals of the Atlantic/Mississippi Flyway EP Tundra Swan Management 
Plan.

9. Sandhill Cranes

    Council Recommendations: The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended 
that Alabama be granted operational status for their sandhill crane 
hunting season, beginning in 2023-2024, after successfully completing a 
4-year, experimental hunting season evaluation based on criteria 
outlined in the Management Plan for the Eastern Population of Sandhill 
Cranes (EP Plan). The Central and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended 
that allowable harvest of the Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) of 
sandhill cranes be determined based on the formula described in the 
Pacific and Central Flyway Councils' Management Plan for RMP cranes.
    Service Response: We concur with the Mississippi Flyway Council's 
recommendation concerning granting operational status to Alabama for 
sandhill crane hunting beginning with the 2023-2024 season. Alabama met 
all criteria set forth in the EP Plan and will join Kentucky and 
Tennessee as the third State in the Mississippi Flyway to successfully 
complete an evaluation of sandhill crane harvest under criteria 
outlined in the EP Plan. This management plan was approved by the 
Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway Councils in 2010. All applicable 
criteria (e.g., population monitoring, permit numbers, hunter training, 
post-season harvest survey) in the EP Plan will continue to apply to 
sandhill crane hunting in Alabama.
    We also agree with the Central and Pacific Flyway Councils' 
recommendations to determine allowable harvest of RMP cranes using the 
formula in the Pacific and Central Flyway Councils' management plan for 
RMP cranes pending results of the fall 2022 abundance and recruitment 
surveys. As we discussed in the March 28, 2016, Federal Register (81 FR 
17302), the harvest strategy used to calculate the allowable harvest of 
RMP cranes does not fit well within the current regulatory process. In 
developing the annual proposed frameworks for RMP cranes, the Flyway 
Councils and the Service use the fall abundance and recruitment surveys 
of RMP cranes to determine annual allowable harvest. Results of the 
fall abundance and recruitment surveys of RMP cranes are released 
between December 1 and January 31 each year, which is after the date 
proposed frameworks are developed. However, the data are typically 
available by the expected publication of final frameworks. When we 
acquire the survey data, we will determine the appropriate allowable 
harvest for the RMP crane season according to the harvest strategy in 
the Central and Pacific Flyway Councils' management plan for RMP cranes 
published in the March 28, 2016, Federal Register (81 FR 17302) and 
publish the results in the final frameworks rule.

Public Comments

    The Department of the Interior's policy is, whenever possible, to 
afford the public an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking 
process. Accordingly, we invite interested persons to submit written 
comments, suggestions, or recommendations regarding the proposed 
regulations. Before promulgating final migratory game bird hunting 
regulations, we will consider all comments we receive. These comments, 
and any additional information we receive, may lead to final 
regulations that differ from these proposals.
    You may submit your comments and materials concerning this proposed 
rule by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. We will not accept 
comments sent by email or fax. We will not consider hand-delivered 
comments that we do not receive, or mailed comments that are not 
postmarked, by the date specified in DATES.
    We may post all comments in their entirety--including your personal 
identifying information--on https://www.regulations.gov. Before 
including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal 
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your 
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your 
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will 
consider, but possibly may not respond in detail to, each comment. As 
in the past, we will summarize all comments we receive during the 
comment period and respond to them after the closing date in the 
preambles of any final rules.

Required Determinations

    Based on our most current data, we are affirming our required 
determinations made in the November 3, 2022, proposed rule; for 
descriptions of our actions to ensure compliance with the following 
statutes and Executive Orders, see our November 3, 2022, proposed rule 
(87 FR 66247):
     National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Consideration;
     Endangered Species Act Consideration;
     Regulatory Flexibility Act;
     Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act;
     Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995;
     Unfunded Mandates Reform Act;
     Executive Orders 12630, 12866, 12988, 13132, 13175, 13211, 
and 13563.

Authority

    The rules that eventually will be promulgated for the 2023-24 
hunting season are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 703-712 and 16 U.S.C. 742 
a-j.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 20

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

[[Page 6062]]

Proposed Regulations Frameworks for 2023-24 Hunting Seasons on Certain 
Migratory Game Birds

    Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and delegated 
authorities, the Department of the Interior is proposing the following 
frameworks for outside dates, season lengths, shooting hours, bag and 
possession limits, and areas within which States may select seasons for 
hunting migratory game birds between the dates of September 1, 2023, 
and March 10, 2024. These frameworks are summarized below.

Table of Contents

I. General
    A. Flyways and Management Units
    1. Waterfowl Flyways
    2. Mallard Management Units
    3. Mourning Dove Management Units
    4. Woodcock Management Regions
    B. Definitions
    C. Migratory Game Bird Seasons in the Atlantic Flyway
II. Season Frameworks
    A. Special Youth and Veterans-Active Military Personnel 
Waterfowl Hunting Days
    B. Special Early Teal Seasons
    C. Special Early Teal-Wood Duck Seasons
    D. Duck, Merganser, Coot and Goose Seasons
    1. Atlantic Flyway
    a. Duck, Merganser and Coot Seasons
    b. Special Early Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons
    c. Dark Goose Seasons
    d. Light Goose Seasons
    e. Brant Seasons
    2. Mississippi Flyway
    a. Duck, Merganser, and Coot Seasons
    b. Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons
    c. White-fronted Goose Seasons
    d. Brant Seasons
    e. Dark Goose Seasons
    f. Light Goose Seasons
    3. Central Flyway
    a. Duck, Merganser, and Coot Seasons
    b. Special Early Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons
    c. Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, and Brant Seasons
    d. White-fronted Goose Seasons
    e. Light Goose Seasons
    4. Pacific Flyway
    a. Duck, Merganser, Coot, and Gallinule Seasons
    b. Goose Seasons
    i. Special Early Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons
    ii. Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, and Brant Seasons
    iii. Brant Seasons
    iv. White-fronted Goose Seasons
    v. Light Goose Seasons
    5. Swan Seasons
    6. Sandhill Crane Seasons
    7. Gallinule Seasons
    8. Rail Seasons
    9. Snipe Seasons
    10. American Woodcock Seasons
    11. Band-Tailed Pigeon Seasons
    12. Dove Seasons
    13. Alaska
    a. Duck, Goose, Sandhill Crane, and Snipe Seasons
    b. Tundra Swan Seasons
    14. Hawaii
    a. Mourning Dove Seasons
    15. Puerto Rico
    a. Dove and Pigeon Seasons
    b. Duck, Coot, Gallinule, and Snipe Seasons
    16. Virgin Islands
    a. Dove and Pigeon Seasons
    b. Duck Seasons
    17. Special Falconry Regulations
III. Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions

I. General

    Outside Dates: Outside dates are the earliest and latest dates 
within which States may establish hunting seasons. All outside dates 
specified below are inclusive.
    Season Lengths: Season lengths are the maximum number of days 
hunting may occur within the outside dates for hunting seasons. Days 
are consecutive and concurrent for all species included in each season 
framework unless otherwise specified.
    Season Segments: Season segments are the maximum number of 
consecutive-day segments into which the season lengths may be divided. 
The sum of the hunting days for all season segments may not exceed the 
season lengths allowed.
    Zones: Unless otherwise specified, States may select hunting 
seasons by zones. Zones for duck seasons (and associated youth and 
veterans-active military waterfowl hunting days, gallinule seasons, and 
snipe seasons) and dove seasons may be selected only in years we 
declare such changes can be made (i.e., open seasons for zones and 
splits) and according to federally established guidelines for duck and 
dove zones and split seasons.
    Area, Zone, and Unit Descriptions: Areas open to hunting must be 
described, delineated, and designated as such in each State's hunting 
regulations, and, except for early teal seasons, these areas must also 
be published in the Federal Register as a Federal migratory bird 
hunting frameworks final rule. Geographic descriptions related to 
regulations are contained in a later portion of this document.
    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 limits.
    Permits: For some species of migratory birds, the Service 
authorizes the use of permits to regulate harvest or monitor their take 
by hunters, or both. In such cases, 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.

A. Flyways and Management Units

    We generally set migratory bird hunting frameworks for the 
conterminous United States by Flyway or Management Unit/Region. 
Frameworks for Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands are 
contained in separate sections near the end of the frameworks portion 
of this document. The States included in the Flyways and Management 
Units/Regions are described below.
1. 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).

[[Page 6063]]

    Pacific Flyway: Includes Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, 
Oregon, Utah, Washington, and those portions of Colorado, Montana, New 
Mexico, and Wyoming not included in the Central Flyway.
2. Mallard Management Units
    High Plains Management Unit: Roughly defined as that portion of the 
Central Flyway that lies west of the 100th meridian. See III. Area, 
Unit, and Zone Descriptions, Ducks (Including Mergansers) and Coots, 
below, for specific boundaries in each State.
    Columbia Basin Management Unit: In Washington, all areas east of 
the Pacific Crest Trail and east of the Big White Salmon River in 
Klickitat County; and in Oregon, the counties of Gilliam, Morrow, and 
Umatilla.
3. 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.
4. 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.

B. Definitions

    For the purpose of the proposed hunting regulations listed below, 
the collective terms ``dark'' and ``light'' geese include the following 
species:
    Dark geese: Canada geese, cackling 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.
C. Migratory Game Bird 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 of migratory birds is prohibited statewide by 
State law or regulation, all Sundays are closed to the take of all 
migratory game birds.

II. Season Frameworks

A. Special Youth and Veterans-Active Military Personnel Waterfowl 
Hunting Days

    Outside Dates and Season Lengths: States may select 2 days per 
duck-hunting zone, designated as ``Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days,'' and 
2 days per duck-hunting zone, designated as ``Veterans and Active 
Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Days,'' in addition to their 
regular duck seasons. The days may be held concurrently or may be 
nonconsecutive. The Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days must be held outside 
any regular duck season on weekends, holidays, or other non-school days 
when youth hunters would have the maximum opportunity to participate. 
Both sets of 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, 
swans, mergansers, coots, and gallinules. Bag limits are the same as 
those allowed in the regular season except in States that implement a 
hybrid season for scaup (i.e., different bag limits during different 
portions of the season), in which case the bag limit will be 2 scaup 
per day. Flyway species and area restrictions would remain in effect.
    Participation Restrictions for Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days: States 
may use their established definition of age for youth hunters. However, 
youth hunters must be under the age of 18. 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. Swans may be taken only by 
participants possessing applicable swan permits.
    Participation Restrictions for Veterans and Active Military 
Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Days: Veterans (as defined in section 101 
of title 38, United States Code) and members of the Armed Forces on 
active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on 
active duty (other than for training), may participate. Swans may be 
taken only by participants possessing applicable swan permits.

B. Special Early Teal Seasons

    Areas:
    Atlantic Flyway: Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
    Mississippi Flyway: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 
Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, 
Tennessee, and Wisconsin. The season in Minnesota is experimental.
    Central Flyway: Colorado (part), Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico 
(part), Oklahoma, and Texas.
    Outside Dates: September 1-30.
    Season Lengths: 16 days.
    Daily Bag Limits: 6 teal.
    Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except in 
the States of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, 
Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, and Wisconsin, where the hours are from 
sunrise to sunset.

C. Special Early Teal-Wood Duck Seasons

    Areas: Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
    Seasons: In lieu of a special early teal season, a 5-consecutive-
day teal-wood duck 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 
teal-only season may be selected in September either immediately before 
or immediately after the 5-day teal-wood duck season. The daily bag 
limit is 6 teal.

D. Duck, Merganser, Coot, and Goose Seasons

1. Atlantic Flyway
a. Duck, Merganser, and Coot Seasons
    Outside Dates: Saturday nearest September 24 (September 23)-January 
31.
    Season Lengths and Daily Bag Limits: 60 days. The daily bag limit 
is 6 ducks, including no more than 2 mallards (no more than 1 of which 
can be female), 2 black ducks, 1 pintail, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous 
whistling duck, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, and 4 sea 
ducks (including no more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 
eiders and no more than 1 female eider). The season for scaup may be 
split into 2 segments, with one segment consisting of 40 consecutive 
days with a 1-scaup daily bag limit, and the second segment consisting 
of 20 consecutive days with a 2-scaup daily bag limit. The daily bag 
limit of mergansers is 5. In States that include mergansers in the duck 
bag limit, the daily limit is the same as the duck bag limit. The daily 
bag limit of coots is 15.

[[Page 6064]]

    Closed Seasons: There is no open season on the harlequin duck.
    Zones and Split Seasons: Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Rhode Island, 
South Carolina, and West Virginia may split their seasons into 3 
segments. Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Vermont 
may select seasons in each of 3 zones; Pennsylvania may select seasons 
in each of 4 zones; New York may select seasons in each of 5 zones; and 
all these States may split their season in each zone into 2 segments. 
Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia may select seasons 
in each of 2 zones; and all these States may split their season in each 
zone into 3 segments. Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina, and 
Virginia must conduct an evaluation of the impacts of zones and splits 
on hunter dynamics (e.g., hunter numbers, satisfaction) and harvest 
during the 2021-25 seasons.
    Special Provisions: The seasons, limits, and shooting hours should 
be the same between New York's Lake Champlain Zone and Vermont's Lake 
Champlain Zone, and between Vermont's Connecticut River Zone and New 
Hampshire's Inland Zone.
    A craft under power may be used to shoot and retrieve dead or 
crippled birds in the Sea Duck Area in the Atlantic Flyway. The Sea 
Duck Area includes 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 New Jersey, 
all coastal waters seaward from the International Regulations for 
Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) Demarcation Lines shown on 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Nautical Charts 
and further described in 33 CFR 80.165, 80.501, 80.502, and 80.503; 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 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.
b. Special Early Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons
    Outside Dates and Season Lengths: 15 days during September 1-15 in 
the Eastern Unit of Maryland; 30 days during September 1-30 in 
Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Long Island Zone of New 
York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and South Carolina; and 25 days 
during September 1-25 in the remainder of the Atlantic Flyway.
    Daily Bag Limits: 15 geese in the aggregate.
    Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except that 
during any special early Canada and cackling goose season, shooting 
hours may extend to one-half hour after sunset if all other waterfowl 
seasons are closed in the specific applicable area.
c. Dark Goose Seasons
    Outside Dates, Season Lengths, and Daily Bag Limits: Regulations 
are State and zone specific as provided below.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Season         Daily bag
                 Area                         Outside dates        Season length     segments          limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Connecticut:
    Atlantic Population (AP) Zone.....  Oct 10-Feb 5............              45               2               3
    AP Zone Late Season Area (Special   Dec 15-Feb 15...........              54               1               5
     season).
    North Atlantic Population (NAP)     Oct 1-Jan 31............              60               2               2
     Zone.
    NAP Late Season Area (Special       Jan 15-Feb 15...........              27               1               5
     season).
    Resident Population (RP) Zone.....  Oct 1-Feb 15............              80               3               5
Delaware..............................  Nov 15-Feb 5............              45               2               3
Florida...............................  Oct 1-Mar 10............              80               3               5
Georgia...............................  Oct 1-Mar 10............              80               3               5
Maine:
    North NAP-H Zone..................  Oct 1-Jan 31............              60               2               2
    South NAP-H Zone..................  Oct 1-Jan 31............              60               2               2
    Coastal NAP-L Zone................  Oct 1-Feb 15............              70               2               3
Maryland:
    AP Zone...........................  Nov 15-Feb 5............              45               2               2
    RP Zone...........................  Nov 15-Mar 10...........              80               3               5
Massachusetts:
    AP Zone...........................  Oct 10-Feb 5............              45               2               3
    AP Zone Late Season Area (Special   Dec 15-Feb 15...........              54               1               5
     season).
    NAP Zone..........................  Oct 1-Jan 31............              60               2               2
    NAP Late Season Area (Special       Jan 15-Feb 15...........              27               1               5
     season).
New Hampshire.........................  Oct 1-Jan 31............              60               2               2
New Jersey:
    AP Zone...........................  Fourth Saturday in Oct                45               2               3
                                         (28)-Feb 5.
    NAP Zone..........................  Oct 1-Jan 31............              60               2               2
    Special Late Season Area (Special   Jan 15-Feb 15...........              27               1               5
     season).
New York:
    AP Zone...........................  Fourth Saturday in Oct                45               2               3
                                         (28)-Feb 5.
    AP (Lake Champlain) Zone..........  Oct 10-Feb 5............              45               2               3
    NAP High Harvest Zone.............  Oct 1-Jan 31............              60               2               2
    NAP Low Harvest Zone..............  Oct 1-Feb 15............              70               2               3
    Western Long Island RP Zone.......  Saturday nearest Sep 24              107               3               8
                                         (23)-last day of Feb
                                         (28).
Remainder of RP Zone..................  Fourth Saturday in Oct                80               3               5
                                         (28)-last day of Feb
                                         (29).
    AP (Lake Champlain) Zone Late       Dec 1-Feb 15............              77               1               5
     Season (Special season).
North Carolina:

[[Page 6065]]

 
    Northeast Zone....................  Saturday prior to Dec 25              30               1               2
                                         (23)-Jan 31.
    RP Zone...........................  Oct 1-Mar 10............              80               3               5
Pennsylvania:
    AP Zone...........................  Fourth Saturday in Oct                45               2               3
                                         (28)-Feb 5.
    RP Zone...........................  Fourth Saturday in Oct                80               3               5
                                         (28)-Mar 10.
Rhode Island:
    Statewide.........................  Oct 1-Jan 31............              60               2               2
    Late Season Area (Special season).  Jan 15-Feb 15...........              32               2               5
South Carolina........................  Oct 1-Mar 10............              80               3               5
Vermont:
    Connecticut River Zone............  Oct 1-Jan 31............              60               2               2
    Interior Zone.....................  Oct 10-Feb 5............              45               2               3
    Lake Champlain Zone...............  Oct 10-Feb 5............              45               2               3
    Interior, and Lake Champlain Zones  Dec 1-Feb 15............              77               1               5
     Late Season (Special Season).
Virginia:
    AP Zone...........................  Nov 15-Feb 5............              45               2               3
    RP Zone...........................  Nov 15-Mar 10...........              80               3               5
West Virginia.........................  Oct 1-Mar 10............              80               3               5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

d. Light Goose Seasons
    Outside Dates: October 1-March 10.
    Season Lengths: 107 days. Seasons may be split into 3 segments.
    Daily Bag limits: 25 light geese. There is no possession limit.
e. Brant Seasons
    Outside Dates: Saturday nearest September 24 (September 23)-January 
31.
    Season Lengths: 30 days. Seasons may be split into 2 segments.
    Daily Bag Limits: 1 brant.
2. Mississippi Flyway
a. Duck, Merganser, and Coot Seasons
    Outside Dates: Saturday nearest September 24 (September 23)-January 
31.
    Season Lengths and Daily Bag Limits: 60 days. The daily bag limit 
is 6 ducks, including no more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 of which 
may be females), 1 mottled duck, 2 black ducks, 1 pintail, 3 wood 
ducks, 2 canvasbacks, and 2 redheads. In Louisiana (the only high-
harvest State in the Mississippi Flyway for mottled ducks), the daily 
bag limit for mottled ducks is zero for the first 15 days in each zone. 
The season for scaup may be split into 2 segments, with one segment 
consisting of 45 days with a 2-scaup daily bag limit, and the second 
segment consisting of 15 days with a 1-scaup daily bag limit. The daily 
bag limit of mergansers is 5, only 2 of which may be hooded mergansers. 
In States that include mergansers in the duck bag limit, the daily 
limit is the same as the duck bag limit, only 2 of which may be hooded 
mergansers. The daily bag limit of coots is 15.
    Zones and Split Seasons: Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi may 
split their seasons into 3 segments. Kentucky and Tennessee may select 
seasons in each of 2 zones; Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, 
Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin may select seasons in each of 3 zones; 
and all these States may split their season in each zone into 2 
segments. Illinois may select seasons in each of 4 zones. Louisiana may 
select seasons in each of 2 zones and may split their season in each 
zone into 3 segments. Louisiana must conduct an evaluation of the 
impacts of zones and splits on hunter dynamics (e.g., hunter numbers, 
satisfaction) and harvest during the 2021-25 seasons.
b. Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons
    Outside Dates: September 1-February 15.
    Season Lengths: 107 days, which may be split into 4 segments.
    Daily Bag Limits: 5 geese in the aggregate.
    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 for Canada and cackling geese if all other waterfowl and crane 
seasons are closed in the specific applicable area.
c. White-fronted Goose Seasons
    Outside Dates: September 1-February 15.
    Season Lengths and Daily Bag Limits: 74 days with a daily bag limit 
of 3 geese, 88 days with a daily bag limit of 2 geese, or 107 days with 
a daily bag limit of 1 goose. Seasons may be split into 4 segments.
d. Brant Seasons
    Outside Dates: September 1-February 15.
    Season Lengths and Daily Bag Limits: 70 days with a daily bag limit 
of 2 brant or 107 days with a daily bag limit of 1 brant. Seasons may 
be split into 4 segments.
    Special Provisions: In lieu of a separate brant season, brant may 
be included in the season for Canada and cackling geese with a daily 
bag limit of 5 geese in the aggregate.
e. Dark Goose Seasons
    Areas: Alabama, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and 
Wisconsin in lieu of separate seasons for Canada and cackling geese, 
white-fronted geese, and brant.
    Outside Dates: September 1-February 15.
    Season Lengths: 107 days, which may be split into 4 segments.
    Daily Bag Limits: 5 geese in the aggregate.
f. Light Goose Seasons
    Outside Dates: September 1-February 15.
    Season Lengths: 107 days, which may be split into 4 segments.
    Daily Bag and Possession Limits: The daily bag limit is 20 geese. 
There is no possession limit for light geese.
3. Central Flyway
a. Ducks, Merganser, and Coot Seasons
    Outside Dates: Saturday nearest September 24 (September 23)-January 
31.
    Season Lengths and Duck Daily Bag Limits: 74 days, except in the 
High Plains Mallard Management Unit where the season length is 97 days 
and the last 23 days must be consecutive and may start no earlier than 
the Saturday nearest December 10 (December 9). The daily bag limit is 6 
ducks and mergansers in the aggregate, including no more than 5 
mallards (no more than 2 of which may be females), 2 redheads, 3 wood 
ducks,

[[Page 6066]]

1 pintail, and 2 canvasbacks. The daily bag limit for scaup is 1, and 
the season for scaup may be split into 2 segments, with one segment 
consisting of 39 consecutive days and another segment consisting of 35 
consecutive days. In Texas, the daily bag limit on mottled ducks is 1, 
except that no mottled ducks may be taken during the first 5 days of 
the season. In addition to the daily limits listed above, the States of 
Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, in lieu of selecting 
an experimental September teal season, may include an additional daily 
bag and possession limit of 2 and 6 blue-winged teal, respectively, 
during the first 16 days of the regular duck season in each respective 
duck hunting zone. These extra limits are in addition to the regular 
duck bag and possession limits.
    Coot Daily Bag Limits: 15 coots.
    Zones and Split Seasons: Colorado, Kansas (Low Plains portion), 
Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma (Low Plains portion), South 
Dakota (Low Plains portion), Texas (Low Plains portion), and Wyoming 
may select hunting seasons by zones.
    North Dakota may split their season into 3 segments. Montana, New 
Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas may select seasons in each of 2 zones; and 
Colorado, Kansas, South Dakota, and Wyoming may select seasons in each 
of 3 zones; and all these States may split their season in each zone 
into 2 segments. Nebraska may select seasons in each of 4 zones.
b. Special Early Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons
    Outside Dates and Seasons Lengths: In Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, 
South Dakota, and Texas, 30 days between September 1-30; in Colorado, 
New Mexico, Montana, and Wyoming, Canada and cackling goose seasons of 
not more than 15 days between September 1-15; and in North Dakota, 22 
days between September 1-22.
    Daily Bag Limits: 5 geese in the aggregate in Colorado, New Mexico, 
Montana, Wyoming, and Texas; 8 geese in the aggregate in Kansas, 
Nebraska, and Oklahoma; and 15 geese in the aggregate in North Dakota 
and South Dakota.
    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.
c. Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, and Brant Seasons
    Outside Dates: Saturday nearest September 24 (September 23)-the 
Sunday nearest February 15 (February 18).
    Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: In Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, 
Oklahoma, South Dakota, and the Eastern Goose Zone of Texas, 107 days 
with a daily bag limit of 8 geese; in Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, 
and Wyoming, 107 days with a daily bag limit of 5 geese; and in Texas 
(Western Goose Zone), 95 days with a daily bag limit of 5 geese.
    Split Seasons: Seasons may be split into 3 segments. Three-segment 
seasons require Central Flyway Council and U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service approval, and a 3-year evaluation by each participating State.
d. White-fronted Goose Seasons
    Outside Dates: Saturday nearest September 24 (September 23)-the 
Sunday nearest February 15 (February 18).
    Season Length and Daily Bag Limits: Except as subsequently 
provided, either 74 days with a daily bag limit of 3 geese, or 88 days 
with a daily bag limit of 2 geese, or 107 days with a daily bag limit 
of 1 goose. In Texas (Western Goose Zone), 95 days with a daily bag 
limit of 2 geese. Seasons may be split into 3 segments.
e. Light Goose Seasons
    Outside Dates: Saturday nearest September 24 (September 23)-March 
10.
    Season Lengths: 107 days. Seasons may be split into 3 segments.
    Daily Bag and Possession Limits: The daily bag limit is 50 with no 
possession limit.
    Special Provisions: In the Rainwater Basin Light Goose Area (East 
and West) of Nebraska, temporal and spatial restrictions that are 
consistent with the late-winter snow goose hunting strategy 
cooperatively developed by the Central Flyway Council and the Service 
are required.
4. Pacific Flyway
a. Duck, Merganser, Coot, and Gallinule Seasons
    Outside Dates: Saturday nearest September 24 (September 23)-January 
31.
    Season Lengths and Daily Bag Limits: 107 days. The daily bag limit 
is 7 ducks and mergansers in the aggregate, including no more than 2 
female mallards, 1 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, 2 scaup, and 2 redheads. For 
scaup, the season length is 86 days, which may be split according to 
applicable zones and split duck hunting configurations approved for 
each State. The daily bag limit of coots and gallinules is 25 in the 
aggregate.
    Zones and Split Seasons: Montana and New Mexico may split their 
seasons into 3 segments. Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Utah, Washington, 
and Wyoming may select seasons in each of 2 zones; Nevada may select 
seasons in each of 3 zones; California may select seasons in each of 5 
zones; and all these States may split their season in each zone into 2 
segments. Idaho may select seasons in each of 4 zones.
    Special Provisions: The seasons, limits, and shooting hours should 
be the same between the Colorado River Zone of California and the South 
Zone of Arizona.
b. Goose Seasons
i. Special Early Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons
    Outside Dates: September 1-20.
    Season Lengths: 15 days.
    Daily Bag Limits: 5 geese in the aggregate, except in Pacific 
County, Washington, where the daily bag limit is 15 geese in the 
aggregate.
ii. Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, and Brant Seasons
    Outside Dates: Except as subsequently provided, Saturday nearest 
September 24 (September 23)-January 31.
    Season Lengths: Except as subsequently provided, 107 days.
    Daily Bag Limits: Except as subsequently provided, in Arizona, 
Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, the 
daily bag limit is 5 Canada and cackling geese and brant in the 
aggregate. In Oregon and Washington, the daily bag limit is 4 Canada 
and cackling geese in the aggregate. In California, the daily bag limit 
is 10 Canada and cackling geese in the aggregate.
    Split Seasons: Seasons may be split into 3 segments. Three-segment 
seasons require Pacific Flyway Council and U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service approval and a 3-year evaluation by each participating State.
iii. Brant Seasons
    Areas: California, Oregon, and Washington.
    Outside Dates: Saturday nearest September 24 (September 23)-January 
31.
    Season Lengths and Daily Bag Limits: 37 days and 2 brant.
    Zones: Washington and California may select seasons in each of 2 
zones.

[[Page 6067]]

    Special Provisions: In Oregon and California, the brant season must 
end no later than December 15.
iv. White-fronted Goose Seasons
    Outside Dates: Saturday nearest September 24 (September 23)-March 
10.
    Season Lengths: 107 days.
    Daily Bag Limits: Except as subsequently provided, 10 geese.
    Split Seasons: Seasons may be split into 3 segments. Three-segment 
seasons require Pacific Flyway Council and U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service approval and a 3-year evaluation by each participating State.
v. Light Goose Seasons
    Outside Dates: Saturday nearest September 24 (September 23)-March 
10.
    Season Lengths: 107 days. Seasons may be split into 3 segments.
    Daily Bag Limits: 20 geese, except in Washington where the daily 
bag limit for light geese is 10 on or before the last Sunday in January 
(January 28).
California
    Balance of State Zone: A Canada and cackling goose season may be 
selected with outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 
(September 23) and March 10 and may be split into 3 segments. In the 
Sacramento Valley Special Management Area, the season on white-fronted 
geese must end on or before December 28, and the daily bag limit is 3 
white-fronted geese. In the North Coast Special Management Area, 
hunting days that occur after January 31 should be concurrent with 
Oregon's South Coast Zone.
    Northeastern Zone: The white-fronted goose season may be split into 
3 segments.
Oregon
    Eastern Zone: For Lake County only, the daily white-fronted goose 
bag limit is 1.
    Northwest Permit Zone: A Canada and cackling goose season may be 
selected with outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 
(September 23) and March 10 with a daily bag limit of 3 geese in the 
aggregate. Canada and cackling goose and white-fronted goose seasons 
may be split into 3 segments.
    South Coast Zone: A Canada and cackling goose season may be 
selected with outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 
(September 23) and March 10 with a daily bag limit of 6 geese in the 
aggregate. Canada and cackling goose and white-fronted goose seasons 
may be split into 3 segments. Hunting days that occur after January 31 
should be concurrent with California's North Coast Special Management 
Area.
Utah
    Wasatch Front Zone: A Canada and cackling goose and brant season 
may be selected with outside dates between the Saturday nearest 
September 24 (September 23) and February 15.
Washington
    Areas 2 Inland and 2 Coastal (Southwest Permit Zone): A Canada and 
cackling goose season may be selected in each zone with outside dates 
between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 23) and March 10 
with a daily bag limit of 3 geese in the aggregate. Canada and cackling 
goose and white-fronted goose seasons may be split into 3 segments.
    Area 4: Canada and cackling goose and white-fronted goose seasons 
may be split into 3 segments.
Permit Zones
    In Oregon and Washington permit zones, the hunting season is closed 
on dusky Canada geese. A dusky Canada goose is any dark-breasted Canada 
goose (Munsell 10 YR color value 5 or less) with a bill length between 
40 and 50 millimeters. Hunting of geese will only be by hunters 
possessing a State-issued permit authorizing them to do so. Shooting 
hours for geese may begin no earlier than sunrise. Regular Canada and 
cackling goose seasons in the permit zones of Oregon and Washington 
remain subject to the Memorandum of Understanding entered into with the 
Service regarding monitoring the impacts of take during the regular 
Canada and cackling goose season on the dusky Canada goose population.
5. Swan Seasons
Pacific Flyway
    Areas: Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Utah.
    Outside Dates: Saturday nearest September 24 (September 23)-January 
31.
    Season Lengths: 107 days. Seasons may be split into 2 segments.
    Permits: Hunting is by permit only. Permits will be issued by the 
State. The total number of permits issued may not exceed 50 in Idaho, 
500 in Montana, 650 in Nevada, and 2,750 in Utah. Permits will 
authorize the take of no more than 1 swan per permit. Only 1 permit may 
be issued per hunter in Montana and Utah; 2 permits may be issued per 
hunter in Nevada.
    Quotas: The swan season in the respective State must end upon 
attainment of the following reported harvest of trumpeter swans: 20 in 
Utah and 10 in Nevada. There is no quota in Idaho and Montana.
    Monitoring: Each State must evaluate hunter participation, species-
specific swan harvest, and hunter compliance in providing either 
species-determinant parts (at least the intact head) or bill 
measurements (bill length from tip to posterior edge of the nares 
opening, and presence or absence of yellow lore spots on the bill in 
front of the eyes) of harvested swans for species identification. Each 
State should use appropriate measures to maximize hunter compliance 
with the State's program for swan harvest reporting. Each State must 
achieve a hunter compliance of at least 80 percent in providing 
species-determinant parts or bill measurements of harvested swans for 
species identification, or subsequent permits will be reduced by 10 
percent in the respective State. Each State must provide to the Service 
by June 30 following the swan season a report detailing hunter 
participation, species-specific swan harvest, and hunter compliance in 
reporting harvest. In Idaho and Montana, all hunters that harvest a 
swan must complete and submit a reporting card (bill card) with the 
bill measurement and color information from the harvested swan within 
72 hours of harvest for species determination. In Utah and Nevada, all 
hunters that harvest a swan must have the swan or species-determinant 
parts examined by a State or Federal biologist within 72 hours of 
harvest for species determination.
    Other Provisions: In Utah, the season is subject to the terms of 
the Memorandum of Agreement entered into with the Service in January 
2019 regarding harvest monitoring, season closure procedures, and 
education requirements to minimize take of trumpeter swans during the 
swan season.
Atlantic and Central Flyways
    Areas: Delaware, North Carolina, and Virginia in the Atlantic 
Flyway and North Dakota, South Dakota east of the Missouri River, and 
part of Montana in the Central Flyway.
    Outside Dates: October 1-January 31 in the Atlantic Flyway and the 
Saturday nearest October 1 (September 30)-January 31 in the Central 
Flyway.
    Season Lengths: 90 days in the Atlantic Flyway and 107 days in the 
Central Flyway.
    Permits: Hunting is by permit only. Permits will be issued by the 
States. No more than 5,600 permits may be issued in the Atlantic Flyway 
including 347 in Delaware, 4,721 in North Carolina, and 532 in 
Virginia. No more than 4,000 permits may be issued in the Central 
Flyway including 500 in Montana, 2,200

[[Page 6068]]

in North Dakota, and 1,300 in South Dakota. Permits will authorize the 
take of no more than 1 swan per permit. A second permit may be issued 
to hunters from unissued permits remaining after the first drawing. 
Unissued permits may be reallocated to States within a Flyway.
    Monitoring: Each State must evaluate hunter participation, species-
specific swan harvest, and hunter compliance in providing measurements 
of harvested swans for species identification. Each State should use 
appropriate measures to maximize hunter compliance with the State's 
program for swan harvest reporting. Each State must achieve a hunter 
compliance of at least 80 percent in providing species-determinant 
measurements of harvested swans for species identification. Each State 
must provide to the Service by June 30 following the swan season a 
report detailing hunter participation, species-specific swan harvest, 
and hunter compliance in reporting harvest.
    Other Provisions: In lieu of a general swan hunting season, States 
may select a season only for tundra swans. States selecting a season 
only for tundra swans must obtain harvest and hunter participation 
data.
6. Sandhill Crane Seasons
Mississippi Flyway
    Areas: Alabama, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Tennessee.
    Outside Dates: September 1-February 28 in Minnesota, and September 
1-January 31 in Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
    Season Lengths: 37 days in the designated portion of Minnesota's 
Northwest Goose Zone, and 60 days in Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
    Daily Bag and Possession Limits: The daily bag limit is 1 crane in 
Minnesota, 2 cranes in Kentucky, and 3 cranes in Alabama and Tennessee. 
In Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee, the seasonal bag limit is 3 
cranes.
    Permits: Hunting is by permit only. Permits will be issued by the 
State.
    Other Provisions: The number of permits, open areas, season dates, 
protection plans for other species, and other provisions of seasons 
must be consistent with Council management plans and approved by the 
Mississippi Flyway Council.
Central Flyway
    Areas: Colorado, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, 
Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.
    Outside Dates: September 1-February 28.
    Season Lengths: 37 days in Texas (Zone C), 58 days in Colorado, 
Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, and 93 days 
in New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
    Daily Bag Limits: 3 cranes, except 2 cranes in North Dakota (Area 
2) and Texas (Zone C).
    Permits: Each person participating in the regular sandhill crane 
season must have a valid Federal or State sandhill crane hunting 
permit.
Central and Pacific Flyways
    Areas: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and 
Wyoming within the range of the Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) of 
sandhill cranes.
    Outside Dates: September 1-January 31.
    Season Lengths: 60 days. The season may be split into 3 segments.
    Daily Bag and Possession limits: The daily bag limit is 3 cranes, 
and the possession limit is 9 cranes per season.
    Permits: Hunting is by permit only. Permits will be issued by the 
State.
    Other Provisions: Numbers of permits, open areas, season dates, 
protection plans for other species, and other provisions of seasons 
must be consistent with Councils' management plan and approved by the 
Central and Pacific Flyway Councils, with the following exceptions:
    1. In Utah, 100 percent of the harvest will be assigned to the RMP 
crane quota;
    2. In Arizona, monitoring the species composition of the harvest 
must be conducted at 3-year intervals unless 100 percent of the harvest 
will be assigned to the RMP crane quota;
    3. In Idaho, 100 percent of the harvest will be assigned to the RMP 
crane quota; and
    4. In the Estancia Valley hunt area of New Mexico, the level and 
species composition of the harvest must be monitored; greater sandhill 
cranes in the harvest will be assigned to the RMP crane quota.
7. Gallinule Seasons
    Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways
    Outside Dates: September 1-January 31.
    Season Lengths: 70 days.
    Daily Bag Limits: 15 gallinules.
    Zones and Split Seasons: Seasons may be selected by zones 
established for duck hunting. The season in each zone may be split into 
2 segments.
Pacific Flyway
    States in the Pacific Flyway may select their hunting seasons 
between the outside dates for the season on ducks, mergansers, and 
coots; therefore, Pacific Flyway frameworks for gallinules are included 
with the duck, merganser, and coot frameworks.
8. Rail Seasons
    Areas: Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways and the Pacific 
Flyway Portions of Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
    Outside Dates: September 1-January 31.
    Season Lengths: 70 days. Seasons may be split into 2 segments.
    Daily Bag Limits
    Clapper and King Rails: In Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New 
Jersey, and Rhode Island, 10 rails in the aggregate. In Alabama, 
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South 
Carolina, Texas, and Virginia, 15 rails in the aggregate.
    Sora and Virginia Rails: 25 rails in the aggregate.
9. Snipe Seasons
    Outside Dates: September 1-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.
    Season Lengths: 107 days.
    Daily Bag limits: 8 snipe.
    Zones and Split Seasons: Seasons may be selected by zones 
established for duck seasons. The season in each zone may be split into 
2 segments.
10. American Woodcock Seasons
    Areas: Eastern and Central Management Regions
    Outside Dates: September 13-January 31.
    Season Lengths: Except as subsequently provided, 45 days.
    Daily Bag Limits: 3 woodcock.
    Zones and Split Seasons: Seasons may be split into 2 segments. New 
Jersey may select seasons in each of 2 zones. The season in each zone 
may not exceed 36 days.
11. Band-Tailed Pigeon Seasons
California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada
    Outside Dates: September 15-January 1.
    Seasons Lengths: 9 days.
    Daily Bag Limits: 2 pigeons.
    Zones: California may select seasons in each of 2 zones. The season 
in each zone may not exceed 9 days. The season in the North Zone must 
close by October 3.
Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
    Outside Dates: September 1-November 30.

[[Page 6069]]

    Season Lengths: 14 days.
    Daily Bag Limits: 2 pigeons.
    Zones: New Mexico may select seasons in each of 2 zones. The season 
in each zone may not exceed 14 days. The season in the South Zone may 
not open until October 1.
12. Dove Seasons
Eastern Management Unit
    Outside Dates: September 1-January 31.
    Season Lengths: 90 days.
    Daily Bag Limits: 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the 
aggregate.
    Zones and Split Seasons: Seasons may be split into 3 segments; 
Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi may select seasons in each of 2 
zones and may split their season in each zone into 3 segments.
Central Management Unit
    Outside Dates: September 1-January 15.
    Season Lengths: 90 days.
All States Except Texas
    Daily Bag Limits: 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the 
aggregate.
    Zones and Split Seasons: Seasons may be split into 3 segments; New 
Mexico may select seasons in each of 2 zones and may split their season 
in each zone into 3 segments.
Texas
    Daily Bag Limits: 15 mourning, white-winged, and white-tipped doves 
in the aggregate, of which no more than 2 may be white-tipped doves.
    Zones and Split Seasons: Texas may select hunting seasons for each 
of 3 zones subject to the following conditions:
    1. The season may be split into 2 segments, 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 in 
Texas, below).
    2. A season may be selected for the North and Central Zones between 
September 1 and January 25; and for the South Zone between September 14 
and January 25.
Special White-Winged Dove Season in Texas
    In addition, Texas may select a hunting season of not more than 6 
days, consisting of two 3-consecutive-day periods, for the Special 
White-winged Dove Area 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. Shooting hours are from 
noon to sunset.
Western Management Unit
    Outside Dates: September 1-January 15.
Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington
    Season Lengths: 60 days.
    Daily Bag Limits: 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the 
aggregate.
    Zones and Split Seasons: Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Washington may 
split their seasons into 2 segments. Oregon may select hunting seasons 
in each of 2 zones and may split their season in each zone into 2 
segments.
Arizona and California
    Season Lengths: 60 days, which may be split between 2 segments, 
September 1-15 and November 1-January 15.
    Daily Bag Limits: 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 may 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 may be white-
winged doves.
13. Alaska
a. Duck, Goose, Sandhill Crane, and Snipe Seasons
    Outside Dates: Except as subsequently provided, September 1-January 
26.
    Season Lengths: Except as subsequently provided, 107 days for 
ducks, geese (except brant), sandhill cranes, and snipe. The season 
length for brant will be determined based on the upcoming brant winter 
survey results and the Pacific brant harvest strategy.
    Zones and Split Seasons: A season may be established in each of 5 
zones. The season in the Southeast Zone may be split into 2 segments.
    Closed Seasons: The hunting season is closed on the spectacled 
eider and Steller's eider.
    Daily Bag and Possession Limits and Special Conditions
    Ducks: The basic daily bag limit is 7 ducks. The basic daily bag 
limit in the North Zone is 10 ducks, and in the Gulf Coast Zone is 8 
ducks. The basic daily bag limits may include 2 canvasbacks and may not 
include sea ducks.
    In addition to the basic daily bag limits, the sea duck daily bag 
limit is 10, including 6 each of either harlequin or long-tailed ducks. 
Sea ducks include scoters, common and king eiders, harlequin ducks, 
long-tailed ducks, and common, hooded, and red-breasted mergansers.
    Light Geese: The daily bag limit is 6 geese.
    Canada and Cackling Geese: The daily bag limit is 4 Canada and 
cackling geese in the aggregate with the following exceptions, and 
subject to the following conditions:
    1. In Game Management Units (Units) 5 and 6, in the Gulf Coast 
Zone, outside dates are September 28-December 16.
    2. On Middleton Island in Unit 6, in the Gulf Coast Zone, all 
hunting is by permit only. Each hunter is required to complete a 
mandatory Canada and cackling goose identification class prior to being 
issued a permit. Hunters must check in and check out when hunting. The 
daily bag and possession limits are 1 goose. 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 5 or less) 
with a bill length between 40 and 50 millimeters.
    3. In Unit 10, in the Pribilof and Aleutian Islands Zone, the daily 
bag limit is 6 geese in the aggregate.
    White-fronted Geese: The daily bag limit is 4 geese with the 
following exceptions:
    1. In Unit 9, in the Gulf Coast Zone, Unit 10, in the Pribilof and 
Aleutian Islands Zone, and Unit 17, in the North Zone, the daily bag 
limit is 6 geese.
    2. In Unit 18, in the North Zone, the daily bag limit is 10 geese.
    Emperor Geese: The emperor geese season is subject to the following 
conditions:
    1. All hunting is by permit only.
    2. One goose may be harvested per hunter per season.
    3. Total harvest may not exceed 500 geese.
    4. In Unit 8, in the Kodiak Zone, the Kodiak Island Road Area is 
closed to hunting. The Kodiak Island Road Area consists of all lands 
and water (including exposed tidelands) east of a line extending from 
Crag Point in the north to the west end of Saltery Cove in the south 
and all lands and water south of a line extending from Termination 
Point along the north side of Cascade Lake extending to Anton Larsen 
Bay. Marine waters adjacent to the closed area are closed to harvest 
within 500 feet from the water's edge. The offshore islands are open to 
harvest, for example: Woody, Long, Gull, and Puffin islands.
    Brant: The daily bag limit is 4 brant.
    Snipe: The daily bag limit is 8 snipe.
    Sandhill Cranes: The daily bag limit is 2 cranes in the Southeast, 
Gulf Coast,

[[Page 6070]]

Kodiak, and Pribilof and Aleutian Islands Zones, and Unit 17 in the 
North Zone. In the remainder of the North Zone (outside Unit 17), the 
daily bag limit is 3 cranes.
b. Tundra Swan Seasons
    Outside Dates: September 1-October 31.
    Season Lengths: 31 days.
    Daily Bag and Possession Limits and Special Conditions: All hunting 
is by permit only according to the following conditions.
    1. In Unit 17, in the North Zone, 200 permits may be issued; 3 
tundra swans may be authorized per permit, and 1 permit may be issued 
per hunter per season.
    2. In Unit 18, in the North Zone, 500 permits may be issued; 3 
tundra swans may be authorized per permit, and 1 permit may be issued 
per hunter per season.
    3. In Unit 22, in the North Zone, 300 permits may be issued; 3 
tundra swans may be authorized per permit, and 1 permit may be issued 
per hunter per season.
    4. In Unit 23, in the North Zone, 300 permits may be issued; 3 
tundra swans may be authorized per permit, and 1 permit may be issued 
per hunter per season.
14. Hawaii
a. Mourning Dove Seasons
    Outside Dates: October 1-January 31.
    Season Lengths and Daily Bag Limits: 65 days with a daily bag limit 
of 15 doves or 75 days with a daily bag of 12 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.
15. Puerto Rico
a. Dove and Pigeon Seasons
    Outside Dates: September 1-January 15.
    Season Lengths: 60 days.
    Daily Bag Limits: 30 Zenaida, mourning, and white-winged doves in 
the aggregate, of which 10 may be Zenaida doves and 3 may be mourning 
doves, and 5 scaly-naped pigeons.
    Closed Seasons: There is no open season 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.
b. Duck, Coot, Gallinule, and Snipe Seasons
    Outside Dates: October 1-January 31.
    Season Lengths: 55 days. The season may be split into 2 segments.
    Daily Bag Limits: 6 ducks, 6 common gallinules, and 8 snipe.
    Closed Seasons: There is no open season 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. There is no open season on the purple gallinule, American coot, 
and Caribbean coot.
    Closed Areas: There is no open season on ducks, gallinules, and 
snipe in the Municipality of Culebra and on Desecheo Island.
16. Virgin Islands
a. Dove and Pigeon Seasons
    Outside Dates: September 1-January 15.
    Season Lengths: 60 days.
    Daily Bag and Possession Limits: 10 Zenaida doves.
    Closed Seasons: There is no open season for ground-doves, quail-
doves, and 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.
b. Duck Seasons
    Outside Dates: December 1-January 31.
    Season Lengths: 55 days.
    Daily Bag Limits: 6 ducks.
    Closed Seasons: There is no open season on the ruddy duck, white-
cheeked pintail, West Indian whistling-duck, fulvous whistling-duck, 
and masked duck.
17. Special Falconry Regulations
    In accordance with 50 CFR 21.82, falconry is a permitted means of 
taking migratory game birds in any State except for Hawaii. States may 
select an extended season for taking migratory game birds in accordance 
with the following:
    Outside Dates: September 1-March 10.
    Season Lengths: 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 split 
into 3 segments.
    Daily Bag Limits: Falconry daily bag limits for all permitted 
migratory game birds must not exceed 3 birds in the aggregate, during 
extended falconry seasons, any special or experimental seasons, and 
regular hunting seasons in each State, including those that do not 
select an extended falconry season.
    Note: General hunting regulations, including seasons and hunting 
hours, apply to falconry. Regular season bag limits do not apply to 
falconry. The falconry bag limit is not in addition to shooting limits.

III. Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions

Ducks (Including Mergansers) and Coots

Atlantic Flyway
Connecticut
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of I-95.
    South Zone: Remainder of the State.
Maine
    North Zone: That portion north of the line extending east along 
Maine State Highway 110 from the New Hampshire-Maine State line to the 
intersection of Maine State Highway 11 in Newfield; then north and east 
along Route 11 to the intersection of U.S. Route 202 in Auburn; then 
north and east on Route 202 to the intersection of I-95 in Augusta; 
then north and east along I-95 to Route 15 in Bangor; then east along 
Route 15 to Route 9; then east along Route 9 to Stony Brook in 
Baileyville; then east along Stony Brook to the U.S. border.
    Coastal Zone: That portion south of a line extending east from the 
Maine-New Brunswick border in Calais at the Route 1 Bridge; then south 
along Route 1 to the Maine-New Hampshire border in Kittery.
    South Zone: Remainder of the State.
Maryland
    Western Zone: Allegany, Carroll, Garrett, Frederick and Washington 
Counties; and those portions of Baltimore, Howard, Prince George's, and 
Montgomery Counties west of a line beginning at I-83 at the 
Pennsylvania State line, following I-83 south to the intersection of I-
83 and I-695 (Outer Loop), south following I-695 (Outer Loop) to its 
intersection with I-95, south following I-95 to its intersection with 
I-495 (Outer Loop), and following I-495 (Outer Loop) to the Virginia 
shore of the Potomac River.
    Eastern Zone: That portion of the State not included in the Western 
Zone.

[[Page 6071]]

    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 
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.
Massachusetts
    Western Zone: That portion of the State west of a line extending 
south from the Vermont State line on I-91 to MA 9, west on MA 9 to MA 
10, south on MA 10 to U.S. 202, south on U.S. 202 to the Connecticut 
State line.
    Central Zone: That portion of the State east of the Berkshire Zone 
and west of a line extending south from the New Hampshire State line on 
I-95 to U.S. 1, south on U.S. 1 to I-93, south on I-93 to MA 3, south 
on MA 3 to U.S. 6, west on U.S. 6 to MA 28, west on MA 28 to I-195, 
west to the Rhode Island State line; except the waters, and the lands 
150 yards inland from the high-water mark, of the Assonet River 
upstream to the MA 24 bridge, and the Taunton River upstream to the 
Center Street-Elm Street bridge shall be in the Coastal Zone.
    Coastal Zone: That portion of Massachusetts east and south of the 
Central Zone.
New Hampshire
    Northern Zone: That portion of the State east and north of the 
Inland Zone beginning at the Jct. of Route 10 and Route 25-A in Orford, 
east on Route 25-A to Route 25 in Wentworth, southeast on Route 25 to 
Exit 26 of Route I-93 in Plymouth, south on Route I-93 to Route 3 at 
Exit 24 of Route I-93 in Ashland, northeast on Route 3 to Route 113 in 
Holderness, north on Route 113 to Route 113-A in Sandwich, north on 
Route 113-A to Route 113 in Tamworth, east on Route 113 to Route 16 in 
Chocorua, north on Route 16 to Route 302 in Conway, east on Route 302 
to the Maine-New Hampshire border.
    Inland Zone: That portion of the State south and west of the 
Northern Zone, west of the Coastal Zone, and includes the area of 
Vermont and New Hampshire as described for hunting reciprocity. A 
person holding a New Hampshire hunting license that allows the taking 
of migratory waterfowl or a person holding a Vermont resident hunting 
license that allows the taking of migratory waterfowl may take 
migratory waterfowl and coots from the following designated area of the 
Inland Zone: the State of Vermont east of Route I-91 at the 
Massachusetts border, north on Route I-91 to Route 2, north on Route 2 
to Route 102, north on Route 102 to Route 253, and north on Route 253 
to the border with Canada and the area of New Hampshire west of Route 
63 at the Massachusetts border, north on Route 63 to Route 12, north on 
Route 12 to Route 12-A, north on Route 12-A to Route 10, north on Route 
10 to Route 135, north on Route 135 to Route 3, north on Route 3 to the 
intersection with the Connecticut River.
    Coastal Zone: That portion of the State east of a line beginning at 
the Maine-New Hampshire border in Rollinsford, then extending to Route 
4 west to the city of Dover, south to the intersection of Route 108, 
south along Route 108 through Madbury, Durham, and Newmarket to the 
junction of Route 85 in Newfields, south to Route 101 in Exeter, east 
to Interstate 95 (New Hampshire Turnpike) in Hampton, and south to the 
Massachusetts border.
New Jersey
    Coastal Zone: That portion of the State seaward of a line beginning 
at the New York State line in Raritan Bay and extending west along the 
New York State line to NJ 440 at Perth Amboy; west on NJ 440 to the 
Garden State Parkway; south on the Garden State Parkway to NJ 109; 
south on NJ 109 to Cape May County Route 633 (Lafayette Street); south 
on Lafayette Street to Jackson Street; south on Jackson Street to the 
shoreline at Cape May; west along the shoreline of Cape May beach to 
COLREGS Demarcation Line 80.503 at Cape May Point; south along COLREGS 
Demarcation Line 80.503 to the Delaware State line in Delaware Bay.
    North Zone: That portion of the State west of the Coastal Zone and 
north of a line extending west from the Garden State Parkway on NJ 70 
to the New Jersey Turnpike, north on the turnpike to U.S. 206, north on 
U.S. 206 to U.S. 1 at Trenton, west on U.S. 1 to the Pennsylvania State 
line in the Delaware River.
    South Zone: That portion of the State not within the North Zone or 
the Coastal Zone.
New York
    Lake Champlain Zone: That area east and north of a continuous line 
extending along U.S. 11 from the New York-Canada International boundary 
south to NY 9B, south along NY 9B to U.S. 9, south along U.S. 9 to NY 
22 south of Keesville; south along NY 22 to the west shore of South 
Bay, along and around the shoreline of South Bay to NY 22 on the east 
shore of South Bay; southeast along NY 22 to U.S. 4, northeast along 
U.S. 4 to the Vermont State line.
    Long Island Zone: That area consisting of Nassau County, Suffolk 
County, that area of Westchester County southeast of I-95, and their 
tidal waters.
    Western Zone: That area west of a line extending from Lake Ontario 
east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, and south along 
I-81 to the Pennsylvania State line.
    Northeastern Zone: That area north of a continuous line extending 
from Lake Ontario east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-
81, south along I-81 to NY 31, east along NY 31 to NY 13, north along 
NY 13 to NY 49, east along NY 49 to NY 365, east along NY 365 to NY 28, 
east along NY 28 to NY 29, east along NY 29 to NY 22, north along NY 22 
to Washington County Route 153, east along CR 153 to the New York-
Vermont boundary, exclusive of the Lake Champlain Zone.
    Southeastern Zone: The remaining portion of New York.
North Carolina
    Coastal Zone: All counties and portions of counties east of I-95.
    Inland Zone: All counties and portions of counties west of I-95.
Pennsylvania
    Lake Erie Zone: The Lake Erie waters of Pennsylvania and a 
shoreline margin along Lake Erie from New York on the east to Ohio on 
the west extending 150 yards inland but including all of Presque Isle 
Peninsula.
    Northwest Zone: The area bounded on the north by the Lake Erie Zone 
and including all of Erie and Crawford Counties and those portions of 
Mercer and Venango Counties north of I-80.
    North Zone: That portion of the State east of the Northwest Zone 
and north of a line extending east on I-80 to U.S. 220, Route 220 to I-
180, I-180 to I-80, and I-80 to the Delaware River.
    South Zone: The remaining portion of Pennsylvania.
Vermont
    Lake Champlain Zone: The U.S. portion of Lake Champlain and that 
area north and west of the line extending from the New York 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 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

[[Page 6072]]

Zone and west of a line extending from the Massachusetts border at 
Interstate 91; north along Interstate 91 to U.S. 2; east along U.S. 2 
to VT 102; north along VT 102 to VT 253; north along VT 253 to the 
Canadian border.
    Connecticut River Zone: The remaining portion of Vermont east of 
the Interior Zone.
Virginia
    Western Zone: All counties and portions of counties west of I-95.
    Eastern Zone: All counties and portions of counties east of I-95.
Mississippi Flyway
Illinois
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending 
west from the Indiana border along Peotone-Beecher Road to Illinois 
Route 50, south along Illinois Route 50 to Wilmington-Peotone Road, 
west along Wilmington-Peotone Road to Illinois Route 53, north along 
Illinois Route 53 to New River Road, northwest along New River Road to 
Interstate Highway 55, south along I-55 to Pine Bluff-Lorenzo Road, 
west along Pine Bluff-Lorenzo Road to Illinois Route 47, north along 
Illinois Route 47 to I-80, west along I-80 to I-39, south along I-39 to 
Illinois Route 18, west along Illinois Route 18 to Illinois Route 29, 
south along Illinois Route 29 to Illinois Route 17, west along Illinois 
Route 17 to the Mississippi River, and due south across the Mississippi 
River to the Iowa border.
    Central Zone: That portion of the State south of the North Duck 
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 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 Zone: The remainder of the State between the south 
border of the Central Zone and the North border of the South Zone.
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 I-70; east along National Ave.; east 
along U.S. 150; 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 20 to the Iowa-Illinois border. The south duck 
hunting zone is that part of Iowa west of Interstate 29 and south of 
State Highway 92 east to the Iowa-Illinois border. The central duck 
hunting zone is the remainder of the State.
    Central Zone: The remainder of Iowa not included in the North and 
South zones.
    South Zone: The south duck hunting zone is that part of Iowa west 
of Interstate 29 and south of State Highway 92 east to the Iowa-
Illinois border.
Kentucky
    West Zone: All counties west of and including Butler, Daviess, 
Ohio, Simpson, and Warren Counties.
    East Zone: The remainder of Kentucky.
Louisiana
    East Zone: That area of the State beginning at the Arkansas border, 
then south on U.S. Hwy 79 to State Hwy 9, then south on State Hwy 9 to 
State Hwy 147, then south on State Hwy 147 to U.S. Hwy 167, then south 
and east on U.S. Hwy 167 to U.S. Hwy 90, then south on U.S. Hwy 90 to 
the Mississippi State line.
    West Zone: Remainder of the State.
Michigan
    North Zone: The Upper Peninsula.
    Middle Zone: That portion of the Lower Peninsula north of a line 
beginning at the Michigan-Wisconsin boundary line in Lake Michigan, 
directly due west of the mouth of Stoney Creek in section 31, T14N 
R18W, Oceana County, then proceed easterly and southerly along the 
centerline of Stoney Creek to its intersection with Scenic Drive, 
southerly on Scenic Drive to Stoney Lake Road in section 5, T13N R18W, 
Oceana County, easterly on Stoney Lake Road then both west and east 
Garfield Roads (name change only; not an intersection) then crossing 
highway U.S.-31 to State Highway M-20 (north of the town of New Era; 
also locally named Hayes Road) in section 33, T14N R17W, Oceana County, 
easterly on M-20 through Oceana, Newaygo, Mecosta, Isabella, and 
Midland Counties to highway U.S.-10 business route in the city of 
Midland, easterly on U.S.-10 Business Route (BR) to highway U.S.-10 at 
the Bay County line, easterly on U.S.-10 then crossing U.S.-75 to State 
Highway M-25 (west of the town of Bay City), easterly along M-25 into 
Tuscola County then northeasterly and easterly on M-25 through Tuscola 
County into Huron County, turning southeasterly on M-25 (near the town 
of Huron City; also locally named North Shore Road) to the centerline 
of Willow Creek in section 4, T18N R14E, Huron County, then northerly 
along the centerline of Willow Creek to the mouth of Willow Creek into 
Lake Huron, then directly due east along a line from the mouth of 
Willow Creek heading east into Lake Huron to a point due east and on 
the Michigan/U.S.-Canadian border.
    South Zone: The remainder of Michigan.
Minnesota
    North Duck Zone: That portion of the State north of a line 
extending east from the North Dakota State line along State Highway 210 
to State Highway 23 and east to State Highway 39 and east to the 
Wisconsin State line at the Oliver Bridge.
    South Duck Zone: The portion of the State south of a line extending 
east from the South Dakota State line along U.S. Highway 212 to 
Interstate 494 and east

[[Page 6073]]

to Interstate 94 and east to the Wisconsin State line.
    Central Duck Zone: The remainder of the State.
Missouri
    North Zone: That portion of Missouri north of a line running west 
from the Illinois border at I-70; west on I-70 to Hwy 65; north on Hwy 
65 to Hwy 41, north on Hwy 41 to Hwy 24; west on Hwy 24 to MO Hwy 10, 
west on Hwy 10 to Hwy 69, north on Hwy 69 to MO Hwy 116, west on MO Hwy 
116 to Hwy 59, south on Hwy 59 to the Kansas border.
    Middle Zone: The remainder of Missouri not included in other zones.
    South Zone: That portion of Missouri south of a line running west 
from the Illinois border on MO Hwy 74 to MO Hwy 25; south on MO Hwy 25. 
to U.S. Hwy 62; west on U.S. Hwy 62 to MO Hwy 53; north on MO Hwy 53 to 
MO Hwy 51; north on MO Hwy 51 to U.S. Hwy 60; west on U.S. Hwy 60 to MO 
Hwy 21; north on MO Hwy 21 to MO Hwy 72; west on MO Hwy 72 to MO Hwy 
32; west on MO Hwy 32 to U.S. Hwy 65; north on U.S. Hwy 65 to U.S. Hwy 
54; west on U.S. Hwy 54 to the Kansas border.
Ohio
    Lake Erie Marsh Zone: Includes all land and water within the 
boundaries of the area bordered by a line beginning at the intersection 
of Interstate 75 at the Ohio-Michigan State line and continuing south 
to Interstate 280, then south on I-280 to the Ohio Turnpike (I-80/I-
90), then east on the Ohio Turnpike to the Erie-Lorain County line, 
then north to Lake Erie, then following the Lake Erie shoreline at a 
distance of 200 yards offshore, then following the shoreline west 
toward and around the northern tip of Cedar Point Amusement Park, then 
continuing from the westernmost point of Cedar Point toward the 
southernmost tip of the sand bar at the mouth of Sandusky Bay and out 
into Lake Erie at a distance of 200 yards offshore continuing parallel 
to the Lake Erie shoreline north and west toward the northernmost tip 
of Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge, then following a direct line 
toward the southernmost tip of Wood Tick Peninsula in Michigan to a 
point that intersects the Ohio-Michigan State line, then following the 
State line back to the point of the beginning.
    North Zone: That portion of the State, excluding the Lake Erie 
Marsh Zone, north of a line extending east from the Indiana State line 
along U.S. Highway (U.S.) 33 to State Route (SR) 127, then south along 
SR 127 to SR 703, then south along SR 703 and including all lands 
within the Mercer Wildlife Area to SR 219, then east along SR 219 to SR 
364, then north along SR 364 and including all lands within the St. 
Mary's Fish Hatchery to SR 703, then east along SR 703 to SR 66, then 
north along SR 66 to U.S. 33, then east along U.S. 33 to SR 385, then 
east along SR 385 to SR 117, then south along SR 117 to SR 273, then 
east along SR 273 to SR 31, then south along SR 31 to SR 739, then east 
along SR 739 to SR 4, then north along SR 4 to SR 95, then east along 
SR 95 to SR 13, then southeast along SR 13 to SR 3, then northeast 
along SR 3 to SR 60, then north along SR 60 to U.S. 30, then east along 
U.S. 30 to SR 3, then south along SR 3 to SR 226, then south along SR 
226 to SR 514, then southwest along SR 514 to SR 754, then south along 
SR 754 to SR 39/60, then east along SR 39/60 to SR 241, then north 
along SR 241 to U.S. 30, then east along U.S. 30 to SR 39, then east 
along SR 39 to the Pennsylvania State line.
    South Zone: The remainder of Ohio not included in the Lake Erie 
Marsh Zone or the North Zone.
Tennessee
    Reelfoot Zone: All or portions of Lake and Obion Counties.
    Remainder of State: That portion of Tennessee outside of the 
Reelfoot Zone.
Wisconsin
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending 
east from the Minnesota State line along U.S. Highway 10 to U.S. 
Highway 41, then north on U.S. Highway 41 to the Michigan State line.
    Open Water Zone: That portion of the State extending 500 feet or 
greater from the Lake Michigan shoreline bounded by the Michigan State 
line and the Illinois State line.
    South Zone: The remainder of the State.
Central Flyway
Colorado (Central Flyway Portion)
    Special Teal Season Area: Lake and Chaffee Counties and that 
portion of the State east of Interstate Highway 25.
    Northeast Zone: All areas east of Interstate 25 and north of 
Interstate 70.
    Southeast Zone: All areas east of Interstate 25 and south of 
Interstate 70, and all of El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano, and Las Animas 
Counties.
    Mountain/Foothills Zone: All areas west of Interstate 25 and east 
of the Continental Divide, except El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano, and Las 
Animas Counties.
Kansas
    High Plains: That portion of the State west of U.S. 283.
    Low Plains Early Zone: That part of Kansas bounded by a line from 
the Federal Hwy U.S.-283 and State Hwy 96 junction, then east on State 
Hwy 96 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-183, then north on Federal 
Hwy U.S.-183 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-24, then east on 
Federal Hwy U.S.-24 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-281, then 
north on Federal Hwy U.S.-281 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-36, 
then east on Federal Hwy U.S.-36 to its junction with State Hwy K-199, 
then south on State Hwy K-199 to its junction with Republic County 30th 
Road, then south on Republic County 30th Road to its junction with 
State Hwy K-148, then east on State Hwy K-148 to its junction with 
Republic County 50th Road, then south on Republic County 50th Road to 
its junction with Cloud County 40th Road, then south on Cloud County 
40th Road to its junction with State Hwy K-9, then west on State Hwy K-
9 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-24, then west on Federal Hwy 
U.S.-24 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-181, then south on 
Federal Hwy U.S.-181 to its junction with State Hwy K-18, then west on 
State Hwy K-18 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-281, then south on 
Federal Hwy U.S.-281 to its junction with State Hwy K-4, then east on 
State Hwy K-4 to its junction with interstate Hwy I-135, then south on 
interstate Hwy I-135 to its junction with State Hwy K-61, then 
southwest on State Hwy K-61 to its junction with McPherson County 14th 
Avenue, then south on McPherson County 14th Avenue to its junction with 
McPherson County Arapaho Road, then west on McPherson County Arapaho 
Road to its junction with State Hwy K-61, then southwest on State Hwy 
K-61 to its junction with State Hwy K-96, then northwest on State Hwy 
K-96 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-56, then southwest on 
Federal Hwy U.S.-56 to its junction with State Hwy K-19, then east on 
State Hwy K-19 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-281, then south on 
Federal Hwy U.S.-281 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-54, then 
west on Federal Hwy U.S.-54 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-183, 
then north on Federal Hwy U.S.-183 to its junction with Federal Hwy 
U.S.-56, then southwest on Federal Hwy U.S.-56 to its junction with 
North Main Street in Spearville, then south on North Main Street to 
Davis Street, then east on Davis Street to Ford County Road 126 (South 
Stafford Street), then south on Ford

[[Page 6074]]

County Road 126 to Garnett Road, then east on Garnett Road to Ford 
County Road 126, then south on Ford County Road 126 to Ford Spearville 
Road, then west on Ford Spearville Road to its junction with Federal 
Hwy U.S.-400, then northwest on Federal Hwy U.S.-400 to its junction 
with Federal Hwy U.S.-283, and then north on Federal Hwy U.S.-283 to 
its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-96.
    Low Plains Late Zone: That part of Kansas bounded by a line from 
the Federal Hwy U.S.-283 and State Hwy 96 junction, then north on 
Federal Hwy U.S.-283 to the Kansas-Nebraska State line, then east along 
the Kansas-Nebraska State line to its junction with the Kansas-Missouri 
State line, then southeast along the Kansas-Missouri State line to its 
junction with State Hwy K-68, then west on State Hwy K-68 to its 
junction with interstate Hwy I-35, then southwest on interstate Hwy I-
35 to its junction with Butler County NE 150th Street, then west on 
Butler County NE 150th Street to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-77, 
then south on Federal Hwy U.S.-77 to its junction with the Kansas-
Oklahoma State line, then west along the Kansas-Oklahoma State line to 
its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-283, then north on Federal Hwy U.S.-
283 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-400, then east on Federal Hwy 
U.S.-400 to its junction with Ford Spearville Road, then east on Ford 
Spearville Road to Ford County Road 126 (South Stafford Street), then 
north on Ford County Road 126 to Garnett Road, then west on Garnett 
Road to Ford County Road 126, then north on Ford County Road 126 to 
Davis Street, then west on Davis Street to North Main Street, then 
north on North Main Street to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-56, 
then east on Federal Hwy U.S.-56 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-
183, then south on Federal Hwy U.S.-183 to its junction with Federal 
Hwy U.S.-54, then east on Federal Hwy U.S.-54 to its junction with 
Federal Hwy U.S.-281, then north on Federal Hwy U.S.-281 to its 
junction with State Hwy K-19, then west on State Hwy K-19 to its 
junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-56, then east on Federal Hwy U.S.-56 to 
its junction with State Hwy K-96, then southeast on State Hwy K-96 to 
its junction with State Hwy K-61, then northeast on State Hwy K-61 to 
its junction with McPherson County Arapaho Road, then east on McPherson 
County Arapaho Road to its junction with McPherson County 14th Avenue, 
then north on McPherson County 14th Avenue to its junction with State 
Hwy K-61, then east on State Hwy K-61 to its junction with interstate 
Hwy I-135, then north on interstate Hwy I-135 to its junction with 
State Hwy K-4, then west on State Hwy K-4 to its junction with Federal 
Hwy U.S.-281, then north on Federal Hwy U.S.-281 to its junction with 
State Hwy K-18, then east on State Hwy K-18 to its junction with 
Federal Hwy U.S.-181, then north on Federal Hwy U.S.-181 to its 
junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-24, then east on Federal Hwy U.S.-24 to 
its junction with State Hwy K-9, then east on State Hwy K-9 to its 
junction with Cloud County 40th Road, then north on Cloud County 40th 
Road to its junction with Republic County 50th Road, then north on 
Republic County 50th Road to its junction with State Hwy K-148, then 
west on State Hwy K-148 to its junction with Republic County 30th Road, 
then north on Republic County 30th Road to its junction with State Hwy 
K-199, then north on State Hwy K-199 to its junction with Federal Hwy 
U.S.-36, then west on Federal Hwy U.S.-36 to its junction with Federal 
Hwy U.S.-281, then south on Federal Hwy U.S.-281 to its junction with 
Federal Hwy U.S.-24, then west on Federal Hwy U.S.-24 to its junction 
with Federal Hwy U.S.-183, then south on Federal Hwy U.S.-183 to its 
junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-96, and then west on Federal Hwy U.S.-96 
to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-283.
    Low Plains Southeast Zone: That part of Kansas bounded by a line 
from the Missouri-Kansas State line west on K-68 to its junction with 
I-35, then southwest on I-35 to its junction with Butler County, NE 
150th Street, then west on NE 150th Street to its junction with Federal 
Hwy U.S.-77, then south on Federal Hwy U.S.-77 to the Oklahoma-Kansas 
State line, then east along the Kansas-Oklahoma State line to its 
junction with the Kansas-Missouri State line, then north along the 
Kansas-Missouri State line to its junction with State Hwy K-68.
Montana (Central Flyway Portion)
    Zone 1: The Counties of Blaine, Carter, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, 
Fergus, Garfield, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, McCone, Musselshell, 
Petroleum, Phillips, Powder River, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan, 
Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Valley, Wheatland, and Wibaux.
    Zone 2: The Counties of Big Horn, Carbon, Custer, Prairie, Rosebud, 
Treasure, and Yellowstone.

Nebraska

    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 at 
U.S. Hwy 183; south along Hwy 183 to NE Hwy 12; east to NE Hwy 137; 
south to U.S. Hwy 20; east to U.S. Hwy 281; north to the Niobrara 
River; east along the Niobrara River to the Boyd County Line; north 
along the Boyd County line to NE Hwy 12; east to NE 26E Spur; north 
along the NE 26E Spur to the Ponca State Park boat ramp; north and west 
along the Missouri River to the Nebraska-South Dakota border; west 
along the Nebraska-South Dakota border to U.S. Hwy 183. 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: Those areas of the State that are not contained in Zones 1, 
3, or 4.
    Zone 3: Area bounded by designated Federal and State highways, 
County Roads, and political boundaries beginning at the Wyoming-
Nebraska border at its northernmost intersection with the Interstate 
Canal; southeast along the Interstate Canal to the northern border of 
Scotts Bluff County; east along northern borders of Scotts Bluff and 
Morrill Counties to Morrill County Road 125; south to Morrill County Rd 
94; east to County Rd 135; south to County Rd 88; east to County Rd 
147; south to County Rd 88; southeast to County Rd 86; east 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 County 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 County Rd 201; south to County Rd 60A; east to County Rd 
203; south to County Rd 52; east to Keith County Line; north along the 
Keith County line to the northern border of Keith County; 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 North Airport 
Road; south to U.S. Hwy 30; east to NE Hwy 47; south to NE Hwy 23; east 
on NE Hwy 23 to U.S. Hwy 283; south on U.S. Hwy 283 to the Kansas-
Nebraska border; west along Kansas-Nebraska

[[Page 6075]]

border to the Nebraska-Colorado border; north and west to the Wyoming-
Nebraska border; north along the Wyoming-Nebraska border to its 
northernmost-intersection with the Interstate Canal.
    Zone 4: Area encompassed by designated Federal and State highways 
and County Roads beginning at the intersection of U.S. Hwy 283 at the 
Kansas-Nebraska border; north to NE Hwy 23; west to NE Hwy 47; north to 
Dawson County Rd 769; east to County Rd 423; south to County Rd 766; 
east to County Rd 428; south to County Rd 763; east to NE Hwy 21; south 
to County Rd 761; east on County Rd 761 to County Road 437; south to 
the Dawson County Canal; southeast along Dawson County Canal; east to 
County Rd 444; south to U.S. Hwy 30; east to U.S. Hwy 183; north to 
Buffalo County Rd 100; east to 46th Ave.; north to NE Hwy 40; east to 
NE Hwy 10; north to County Rd 220 and Hall County Husker Highway; east 
to Hall County S 70th Rd; north to NE Hwy 2; east to U.S. Hwy 281; 
north to Chapman Rd; east to 7th Rd; south to U.S. Hwy 30; north and 
east 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 W. 82nd St; 
west to Holstein Ave.; south to U.S. Hwy 34; west to NE Hwy 10; north 
to Kearney County Rd R and Phelps County Rd 742; west to Gosper County 
Rd 433; south to N. Railway Street; west to Commercial Ave.; south to 
NE Hwy 23; west to Gosper County Rd 427; south to Gosper County Rd 737; 
west to Gosper County Rd 426; south to Gosper County Rd 735; east to 
Gosper County Rd 427; south to Furnas County Rd 276; west to Furnas 
County Rd 425.5/425; south to U.S. Hwy 34; east 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; north to 
U.S. Hwy 6; east to NE Hwy 33; east to SW 142 Street; south to W. 
Hallam Rd; east to SW 100 Rd; south to W. Chestnut Rd; west to NE Hwy 
103; south to NE Hwy 4; west to NE Hwy 15; south to U.S. Hwy 136; east 
to Jefferson County Rd 578 Ave.; south to PWF Rd; east to NE Hwy 103; 
south to NE Hwy 8; east to 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 Nemaha County Rd 
643A; south to 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 50; north to Otoe County Rd D; east to N. 32nd Rd; 
north to Otoe County Rd B; west to NE Hwy 50; north to U.S. Hwy 34; 
west to NE Hwy 63; north to NE Hwy 66; north and west to U.S. Hwy 77; 
north to NE Hwy 109; west along NE Hwy 109 and Saunders County Rd X to 
Saunders County 19; south 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 H; south to NE Hwy 92; west to U.S. Hwy 
81; south to NE Hwy 66; west to Dark Island Trail, north to Merrick 
County Rd M; east to Merrick County Rd 18; north to NE Hwy 92; west 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 58; west to NE Hwy 11; west and south to 
NE Hwy 2; west to NE Hwy 68; north to NE Hwy L82A; west to NE Hwy 10; 
north to NE Hwy 92; west to U.S. Hwy 183; north to Round Valley Rd; 
west to Sargent River Rd; west to Sargent Rd; west to NE Hwy S21A; west 
to NE Hwy 2; north to NE Hwy 91 to North Loup Spur Rd; north to North 
Loup River Rd; north and east along to Pleasant Valley/Worth Rd; east 
to Loup County Line; north along the Loup County Line to Loup-Brown 
County line; east along northern boundaries of Loup and Garfield 
Counties to NE Hwy 11; south to Cedar River Road; east and 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 the Iowa-Nebraska border; south to 
the Missouri-Nebraska border; south to Kansas-Nebraska border; west 
along Kansas-Nebraska border to U.S. Hwy 283.
New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion)
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of I-40 and U.S. 54.
    South Zone: The remainder of New Mexico.
North Dakota
    High Plains: That portion of the State south and west of a line 
beginning at the junction of U.S. Hwy 83 and the South Dakota State 
line, then north along U.S. Hwy 83 and I-94 to ND Hwy 41, then north on 
ND Hwy 41 to ND Hwy 53, then west on ND Hwy 53 to U.S. Hwy 83, then 
north on U.S. Hwy 83 to U.S. Hwy 2, then west on U.S. Hwy 2 to the 
Williams County line, then north and west along the Williams and Divide 
County lines to the Canadian border.
    Low Plains: The remainder of North Dakota.
Oklahoma
    High Plains: The Counties of Beaver, Cimarron, and Texas.
    Low Plains Zone 1: That portion of the State east of the High 
Plains Zone and north of a line extending east from the Texas State 
line along OK 33 to OK 47, east along OK 47 to U.S. 183, south along 
U.S. 183 to I-40, east along I-40 to U.S. 177, north along U.S. 177 to 
OK 33, east along OK 33 to OK 18, north along OK 18 to OK 51, west 
along OK 51 to I-35, north along I-35 to U.S. 412, west along U.S. 412 
to OK 132, then north along OK 132 to the Kansas State line.
    Low Plains Zone 2: The remainder of Oklahoma.
South Dakota
    High Plains: That portion of the State west of a line beginning at 
the North Dakota State line and extending south along U.S. 83 to U.S. 
14, east on U.S. 14 to Blunt, south on the Blunt-Canning Road to SD 34, 
east and south on SD 34 to SD 50 at Lee's Corner, south on SD 50 to I-
90, east on I-90 to SD 50, south on SD 50 to SD 44, west on SD 44 
across the Platte-Winner bridge to SD 47, south on SD 47 to U.S. 18, 
east on U.S. 18 to SD 47, south on SD 47 to the Nebraska State line.
    Low Plains North Zone: That portion of northeastern South Dakota 
east of the High Plains Unit and north of a line extending east along 
U.S. 212 to the Minnesota State line.
    Low Plains South Zone: That portion of Gregory County east of SD 47 
and south of SD 44; Charles Mix County south of SD 44 to the Douglas 
County line; south on SD 50 to Geddes; east on the Geddes Highway to 
U.S. 281; south on U.S. 281 and U.S. 18 to SD 50; south and east on SD 
50 to the Bon Homme County line; the Counties of Bon Homme, Yankton, 
and Clay south of SD 50; and Union County south and west of SD 50 and 
I-29.
    Low Plains Middle Zone: The remainder of South Dakota.
Texas
    High Plains: That portion of the State west of a line extending 
south from the Oklahoma State line along U.S. 183 to Vernon, south 
along U.S. 283 to Albany, south along TX 6 to TX 351 to Abilene, south 
along U.S. 277 to Del Rio, then south along the Del Rio International 
Toll Bridge access road to the Mexico border.

[[Page 6076]]

    Low Plains North Zone: That portion of northeastern Texas east of 
the High Plains Zone and north of a line beginning at the International 
Toll Bridge south of Del Rio, then extending east on U.S. 90 to San 
Antonio, then continuing east on I-10 to the Louisiana State line at 
Orange, Texas.
    Low Plains South Zone: The remainder of Texas.
Wyoming (Central Flyway Portion)
    Zone C1: Big Horn, Converse, Goshen, Hot Springs, Natrona, Park, 
Platte, and Washakie Counties; and Fremont County excluding the 
portions west or south of the Continental Divide.
    Zone C2: Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Niobrara, Sheridan, and Weston 
Counties.
    Zone C3: Albany and Laramie Counties; and that portion of Carbon 
County east of the Continental Divide.
Pacific Flyway
Arizona
    North Zone: Game Management Units 1-5, those portions of Game 
Management Units 6 and 8 within Coconino County, and Game Management 
Units 7, 9, 11M, and 12A.
    South Zone: Those portions of Game Management Units 6 and 8 in 
Yavapai County, and Game Management Units 10 and 12B-46B.
California
    Northeastern Zone: 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 from the intersection of Highway 
95 with the California-Nevada State line; south on Highway 95 through 
the junction with Highway 40; south on Highway 95 to Vidal Junction; 
south through the town of Rice to the San Bernardino-Riverside County 
line on a road known as ``Aqueduct Road'' also known as Highway 62 in 
San Bernardino County; southwest on Highway 62 to Desert Center Rice 
Road; south on Desert Center Rice Road/Highway 177 to the town of 
Desert Center; east 31 miles on Interstate 10 to its intersection with 
Wiley Well Road; south on Wiley Well Road to Wiley Well; southeast on 
Milpitas Wash Road to the Blythe, Brawley, Davis Lake intersections; 
south on Blythe Ogilby Road also known as County Highway 34 to its 
intersection with Ogilby Road; south on Ogilby Road to its intersection 
with Interstate 8; east 7 miles on Interstate 8 to its intersection 
with the Andrade-Algodones Road/Highway 186; south on Highway 186 to 
its intersection with the U.S.-Mexico border at Los Algodones, Mexico.
    Southern Zone: That portion of southern California (but excluding 
the Colorado River zone) south and east of a line beginning at the 
mouth of the Santa Maria River at the Pacific Ocean; east along the 
Santa Maria River to where it crosses Highway 101-166 near the City of 
Santa Maria; north on Highway 101-166; east on Highway 166 to the 
junction with Highway 99; south on Highway 99 to the junction of 
Interstate 5; south on Interstate 5 to the crest of the Tehachapi 
Mountains at Tejon Pass; east and north along the crest of the 
Tehachapi Mountains to where it intersects Highway 178 at Walker Pass; 
east on Highway 178 to the junction of Highway 395 at the town of 
Inyokern; south on Highway 395 to the junction of Highway 58; east on 
Highway 58 to the junction of Interstate 15; east on Interstate 15 to 
the junction with Highway 127; north on Highway 127 to the point of 
intersection with the California-Nevada State line.
    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, Colorado River, Southern, and the Southern San 
Joaquin Valley Zones.
Colorado (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    Eastern Zone: Routt, Grand, Summit, Eagle, and Pitkin Counties, 
those portions of Saguache, San Juan, Hinsdale, and Mineral Counties 
west of the Continental Divide, those portions of Gunnison County 
except the North Fork of the Gunnison River Valley (Game Management 
Units 521, 53, and 63), and that portion of Moffat County east of the 
northern intersection of Moffat County Road 29 with the Moffat-Routt 
County line, south along Moffat County Road 29 to the intersection of 
Moffat County Road 29 with the Moffat-Routt County line (Elkhead 
Reservoir State Park).
    Western Zone: All areas west of the Continental Divide not included 
in the Eastern Zone.
Idaho
    Zone 1: All lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian 
Reservation, including private inholdings; Power County east of State 
Highway 37 and State Highway 39; and Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, 
Bonneville, Butte, Caribou, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, and 
Teton Counties.
    Zone 2: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, and Shoshone Counties.
    Zone 3: Power County west of State Highway 37 and State Highway 39, 
and Ada, Adams, Blaine, Boise, Camas, Canyon, Cassia, Clearwater, 
Custer, Elmore, Franklin, Gem, Gooding, Idaho, Jerome, Latah, Lemhi, 
Lewis, Lincoln, Minidoka, Nez Perce, Oneida, Owyhee, Payette, Twin 
Falls, and Washington Counties.
    Zone 4: Valley County.
Nevada
    Northeast Zone: Elko, Eureka, Lander, and White Pine Counties.
    Northwest Zone: Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Humboldt, Lyon, 
Mineral, Pershing, Storey, and Washoe Counties.
    South Zone: Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln, and Nye Counties.
    Moapa Valley Special Management Area: That portion of Clark County 
including the Moapa Valley to the confluence of the Muddy and Virgin 
Rivers.
Oregon
    Zone 1: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas, 
Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, 
Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Wasco, 
Washington, and Yamhill, Counties.
    Zone 2: The remainder of Oregon not included in Zone 1.

[[Page 6077]]

Utah
    Northern Zone: Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Morgan, 
Rich, Salt Lake, Summit, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber Counties, and 
that part of Toole County north of I-80.
    Southern Zone: The remainder of Utah not included in the Northern 
Zone.
Washington
    East Zone: All areas east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of 
the Big White Salmon River in Klickitat County.
    West Zone: The remainder of Washington not included in the East 
Zone.
Wyoming (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    Snake River Zone: Beginning at the south boundary of Yellowstone 
National Park and the Continental Divide; south along the Continental 
Divide to Union Pass and the Union Pass Road (U.S.F.S. Road 600); west 
and south along the Union Pass Road to U.S.F.S. Road 605; south along 
U.S.F.S. Road 605 to the Bridger-Teton National Forest boundary; along 
the national forest boundary to the Idaho State line; north along the 
Idaho State line to the south boundary of Yellowstone National Park; 
east along the Yellowstone National Park boundary to the Continental 
Divide.
    Balance of State Zone: The remainder of the Pacific Flyway portion 
of Wyoming not included in the Snake River Zone.

Geese

Atlantic Flyway
Connecticut
Early Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons
    South Zone: Same as for ducks.
    North Zone: Same as for ducks.
Regular Seasons
    AP Unit: Litchfield County and the portion of Hartford County west 
of a line beginning at the Massachusetts border in Suffield and 
extending south along Route 159 to its intersection with I-91 in 
Hartford, and then extending south along I-91 to its intersection with 
the Hartford-Middlesex County line.
    NAP-H Unit: That part of the State east of a line beginning at the 
Massachusetts border in Suffield and extending south along Route 159 to 
its intersection with I-91 in Hartford and then extending south along 
I-91 to State Street in New Haven; then south on State Street to Route 
34, west on Route 34 to Route 8, south along Route 8 to Route 110, 
south along Route 110 to Route 15, north along Route 15 to the Milford 
Parkway, south along the Milford Parkway to I-95, north along I-95 to 
the intersection with the east shore of the Quinnipiac River, south to 
the mouth of the Quinnipiac River and then south along the eastern 
shore of New Haven Harbor to the Long Island Sound.
    Atlantic Flyway Resident Population (AFRP) Unit: Remainder of the 
State not included in AP and NAP Units.
    South Zone: Same as for ducks.
Maine
    North NAP-H Zone: Same as North Zone for ducks.
    Coastal NAP-L Zone: Same as Coastal Zone for ducks.
    South NAP-H Zone: Same as South Zone for ducks.
Maryland
Early Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons
    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.
Regular Seasons
    Resident Population (RP) Zone: Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, 
Montgomery, and Washington Counties; that portion of Prince George's 
County west of Route 3 and Route 301; that portion of Charles County 
west of Route 301 to the Virginia State line; and that portion of 
Carroll County west of Route 31 to the intersection of Route 97, and 
west of Route 97 to the Pennsylvania State line.
    AP Zone: Remainder of the State.
Massachusetts
    NAP Zone: Central and Coastal Zones (see duck zones).
    AP Zone: The Western Zone (see duck zones).
    Special Late Season Area: The Central Zone and that portion of the 
Coastal Zone (see duck zones) that lies north of the Cape Cod Canal, 
north to the New Hampshire State line.
New Hampshire
    Same zones as for ducks.
New Jersey
    AP Zone: North and South Zones (see duck zones).
    NAP Zone: The Coastal Zone (see duck zones).
    Special Late Season Area: In northern New Jersey, that portion of 
the State within a continuous line that runs east along the New York 
State boundary line to the Hudson River; then south along the New York 
State boundary to its intersection with Route 440 at Perth Amboy; then 
west on Route 440 to its intersection with Route 287; then west along 
Route 287 to its intersection with Route 206 in Bedminster (Exit 18); 
then north along Route 206 to its intersection with Route 94; then west 
along Route 94 to the toll bridge in Columbia; then north along the 
Pennsylvania State boundary in the Delaware River to the beginning 
point. In southern New Jersey, that portion of the State within a 
continuous line that runs west from the Atlantic Ocean at Ship Bottom 
along Route 72 to Route 70; then west along Route 70 to Route 206; then 
south along Route 206 to Route 536; then west along Route 536 to Route 
322; then west along Route 322 to Route 55; then south along Route 55 
to Route 553 (Buck Road); then south along Route 553 to Route 40; then 
east along Route 40 to route 55; then south along Route 55 to Route 552 
(Sherman Avenue); then west along Route 552 to Carmel Road; then south 
along Carmel Road to Route 49; then east along Route 49 to Route 555; 
then south along Route 555 to Route 553; then east along Route 553 to 
Route 649; then north along Route 649 to Route 670; then east along 
Route 670 to Route 47; then north along Route 47 to Route 548; then 
east along Route 548 to Route 49; then east along Route 49 to Route 50; 
then south along Route 50 to Route 9; then south along Route 9 to Route 
625 (Sea Isle City Boulevard); then east along Route 625 to the 
Atlantic Ocean; then north to the beginning point.
New York
    Lake Champlain Goose Area: The same as the Lake Champlain Waterfowl 
Hunting Zone, which is that area of New York State lying east and north 
of a continuous line extending along Route 11 from the New York-Canada 
international boundary south to Route 9B, south along Route 9B to Route 
9, south along Route 9 to Route 22 south of Keeseville, south along 
Route 22 to the west shore of South Bay along and around the shoreline 
of South Bay to Route 22 on the east shore of South Bay,

[[Page 6078]]

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 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 153, east along 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 Route 31 to Route 13, north along Route 13 to Route 49, east 
along Route 49 to Route 365, east along Route 365 to Route 28, east 
along Route 28 to Route 29, east along Route 29 to Route 147 at Kimball 
Corners, south along Route 147 to Schenectady County Route 40 (West 
Glenville Road), west along Route 40 to Touareuna Road, south along 
Touareuna Road to Schenectady County Route 59, south along Route 59 to 
State Route 5, east along Route 5 to the Lock 9 bridge, southwest along 
the Lock 9 bridge to Route 5S, southeast along Route 5S to Schenectady 
County Route 58, southwest along Route 58 to the NYS Thruway, south 
along the Thruway to Route 7, southwest along Route 7 to Schenectady 
County Route 103, south along Route 103 to Route 406, east along Route 
406 to Schenectady County Route 99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route 
99 to Dunnsville Road, south along Dunnsville Road to Route 397, 
southwest along Route 397 to Route 146 at Altamont, west along Route 
146 to Albany County Route 252, northwest along Route 252 to 
Schenectady County Route 131, north along Route 131 to Route 7, west 
along Route 7 to Route 10 at Richmondville, south on Route 10 to Route 
23 at Stamford, west along Route 23 to Route 7 in Oneonta, southwest 
along Route 7 to Route 79 to Interstate Route 88 near Harpursville, 
west along Route 88 to Interstate Route 81, north along Route 81 to the 
point of beginning.
    West Central Goose Area: That area of New York State lying within a 
continuous line beginning at the point where the northerly extension of 
Route 269 (County Line Road on the Niagara-Orleans County boundary) 
meets the international boundary with Canada, south to the shore of 
Lake Ontario at the eastern boundary of Golden Hill State Park, south 
along the extension of Route 269 and Route 269 to Route 104 at Jeddo, 
west along Route 104 to Niagara County Route 271, south along Route 271 
to Route 31E at Middleport, south along Route 31E to Route 31, west 
along Route 31 to Griswold Street, south along Griswold Street to Ditch 
Road, south along Ditch Road to Foot Road, south along Foot Road to the 
north bank of Tonawanda Creek, west along the north bank of Tonawanda 
Creek to Route 93, south along Route 93 to Route 5, east along Route 5 
to Crittenden-Murrays Corners Road, south on Crittenden-Murrays Corners 
Road to the NYS Thruway, east along the Thruway 90 to Route 98 (at 
Thruway Exit 48) in Batavia, south along Route 98 to Route 20, east 
along Route 20 to Route 19 in Pavilion Center, south along Route 19 to 
Route 63, southeast along Route 63 to Route 246, south along Route 246 
to Route 39 in Perry, northeast along Route 39 to Route 20A, northeast 
along Route 20A to Route 20, east along Route 20 to Route 364 (near 
Canandaigua), south and east along Route 364 to Yates County Route 18 
(Italy Valley Road), southwest along Route 18 to Yates County Route 34, 
east along Route 34 to Yates County Route 32, south along Route 32 to 
Steuben County Route 122, south along Route 122 to Route 53, south 
along Route 53 to Steuben County Route 74, east along Route 74 to Route 
54A (near Pulteney), south along Route 54A to Steuben County Route 87, 
east along Route 87 to Steuben County Route 96, east along Route 96 to 
Steuben County Route 114, east along Route 114 to Schuyler County Route 
23, east and southeast along Route 23 to Schuyler County Route 28, 
southeast along Route 28 to Route 409 at Watkins Glen, south along 
Route 409 to Route 14, south along Route 14 to Route 224 at Montour 
Falls, east along Route 224 to Route 228 in Odessa, north along Route 
228 to Route 79 in Mecklenburg, east along Route 79 to Route 366 in 
Ithaca, northeast along Route 366 to Route 13, northeast along Route 13 
to Interstate Route 81 in Cortland, north along Route 81 to the north 
shore of the Salmon River to shore of Lake Ontario, extending generally 
northwest in a straight line to the nearest point of the international 
boundary with Canada, south and west along the international boundary 
to the point of beginning.
    Hudson Valley Goose Area: That area of New York State lying within 
a continuous line extending from Route 4 at the New York-Vermont 
boundary, west and south along Route 4 to Route 149 at Fort Ann, west 
on Route 149 to Route 9, south along Route 9 to Interstate Route 87 (at 
Exit 20 in Glens Falls), south along Route 87 to Route 29, west along 
Route 29 to Route 147 at Kimball Corners, south along Route 147 to 
Schenectady County Route 40 (West Glenville Road), west along Route 40 
to Touareuna Road, south along Touareuna Road to Schenectady County 
Route 59, south along Route 59 to State Route 5, east along Route 5 to 
the Lock 9 bridge, southwest along the Lock 9 bridge to Route 5S, 
southeast along Route 5S to Schenectady County Route 58, southwest 
along Route 58 to the NYS Thruway, south along the Thruway to Route 7, 
southwest along Route 7 to Schenectady County Route 103, south along 
Route 103 to Route 406, east along Route 406 to Schenectady County 
Route 99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route 99 to Dunnsville Road, 
south along Dunnsville Road to Route 397, southwest along Route 397 to 
Route 146 at Altamont, southeast along Route 146 to Main Street in 
Altamont, west along Main Street to Route 156, southeast along Route 
156 to Albany County Route 307, southeast along Route 307 to Route 85A, 
southwest along Route 85A to Route 85, south along Route 85 to Route 
443, southeast along Route 443 to Albany County Route 301 at 
Clarksville, southeast along Route 301 to Route 32, south along Route 
32 to Route 23 at Cairo, west along Route 23 to Joseph Chadderdon Road, 
southeast along Joseph Chadderdon Road to Hearts Content Road (Greene 
County Route 31), southeast along Route 31 to Route 32, south along 
Route 32 to Greene County Route 23A, east along Route 23A to Interstate 
Route 87 (the NYS Thruway), south along Route 87 to Route 28 (Exit 19) 
near Kingston, northwest on Route 28 to Route 209, southwest on Route 
209 to the New York-Pennsylvania boundary, southeast along the New 
York-Pennsylvania boundary to the New York-New Jersey boundary, 
southeast along the New York-New Jersey boundary to Route 210 near 
Greenwood Lake, northeast along Route 210 to Orange County Route 5, 
northeast along Orange County Route 5 to Route 105 in the Village of 
Monroe, east and north along Route 105 to Route 32, northeast along 
Route 32 to Orange County Route 107 (Quaker Avenue), east along Route 
107 to Route 9W, north along Route 9W to the south bank of Moodna 
Creek, southeast along the south bank of Moodna Creek to the New 
Windsor-Cornwall town boundary, northeast along the New Windsor-
Cornwall town boundary to the Orange-Dutchess County boundary (middle 
of

[[Page 6079]]

the Hudson River), north along the county boundary to Interstate Route 
84, east along Route 84 to the Dutchess-Putnam County boundary, east 
along the county boundary to the New York-Connecticut boundary, north 
along the New York-Connecticut boundary to the New York-Massachusetts 
boundary, north along the New York-Massachusetts boundary to the New 
York-Vermont boundary, north to the point of beginning.
    Eastern Long Island Goose Area (NAP High Harvest Area): That area 
of Suffolk County lying east of a continuous line extending due south 
from the New York-Connecticut boundary to the northernmost end of 
Roanoke Avenue in the Town of Riverhead; then south on Roanoke Avenue 
(which becomes County Route 73) to State Route 25; then west on Route 
25 to Peconic Avenue; then south on Peconic Avenue to County Route (CR) 
104 (Riverleigh Avenue); then south on CR 104 to CR 31 (Old Riverhead 
Road); then south on CR 31 to Oak Street; then south on Oak Street to 
Potunk Lane; then west on Stevens Lane; then south on Jessup Avenue (in 
Westhampton Beach) to Dune Road (CR 89); then due south to 
international waters.
    Western Long Island Goose Area (RP Area): That area of Westchester 
County and its tidal waters southeast of Interstate Route 95 and that 
area of Nassau and Suffolk Counties lying west of a continuous line 
extending due south from the New York-Connecticut boundary to the 
northernmost end of Sound Road (just east of Wading River Marsh); then 
south on Sound Road to North Country Road; then west on North Country 
Road to Randall Road; then south on Randall Road to Route 25A, then 
west on Route 25A to 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.
North Carolina
    Northeast Zone: Includes the following counties or portions of 
counties: Bertie (that portion north and east of a line formed by NC 45 
at the Washington County line to U.S. 17 in Midway, U.S. 17 in Midway 
to U.S. 13 in Windsor, U.S. 13 in Windsor to the Hertford County line), 
Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, 
and Washington.
    RP Zone: Remainder of the State.
Pennsylvania
    Resident Canada and Cackling Goose Zone: All of Pennsylvania area 
east of route SR 97 from the Maryland State Line to the intersection of 
SR 194, east of SR 194 to the intersection of U.S. Route 30, south of 
U.S. Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, east of SR 743 to 
intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of I-80, and south 
of I-80 to the New Jersey State line.
    AP Zone: The area east of route SR 97 from Maryland State Line to 
the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of U.S. 
Route 30, south of U.S. Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, 
east of SR 743 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of 
I-80, south of I-80 to the New Jersey State line.
Rhode Island
    Special Area for Canada and Cackling Geese: Kent and Providence 
Counties and portions of the towns of Exeter and North Kingston within 
Washington County (see State regulations for detailed descriptions).
South Carolina
    Canada and Cackling Goose Area: Statewide except for the following 
area:
    East of U.S. 301: That portion of Clarendon County bounded to the 
North by S-14-25, to the East by Hwy 260, and to the South by the 
markers delineating the channel of the Santee River.
    West of U.S. 301: That portion of Clarendon County bounded on the 
North by S-14-26 extending southward to that portion of Orangeburg 
County bordered by Hwy 6.
Vermont
    Same zones as for ducks.
Virginia
    AP Zone: The area to the east of the following line: the ``Blue 
Ridge'' (Loudoun-Clarke Counties border) at the West Virginia-Virginia 
border, south to Interstate 64 (the Blue Ridge line follows county 
borders along the western edge of Loudoun, Fauquier, Rappahannock, 
Madison, Greene, Albermarle and into Nelson Counties), then east along 
Interstate 64 to Interstate 95 in Richmond, then south along Interstate 
95 to Route 460 in Petersburg, then southeast along Route 460 to Route 
32 in the City of Suffolk, then south to the North Carolina border.
    RP Zone: The remainder of the State west of the AP Zone.
Mississippi Flyway
Arkansas
    Northwest Zone: Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Conway, Crawford, 
Faulkner, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Madison, Marion, Newton, Perry, 
Pope, Pulaski, Searcy, Sebastian, Scott, Van Buren, Washington, and 
Yell Counties.
    Remainder of State: That portion of the State outside of the 
Northwest Zone.
Illinois
    North 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 Zone: That portion of the State south of the North 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 Zone: Same zone as for ducks.
    South Central Zone: Same zone as for ducks.
Indiana
    Same zones as for ducks.
Iowa
    Same zones as for ducks.
Louisiana
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of the line from the 
Texas border at State Hwy 190/12 east to State Hwy 49, then south on 
State Hwy 49 to Interstate 10, then east on Interstate 10 to Interstate 
12, then east on Interstate 12 to Interstate 10, then east on 
Interstate 10 to the Mississippi State line.
    South Zone: Remainder of the State.

[[Page 6080]]

Michigan
    North Zone: Same as North duck zone.
    Middle Zone: Same as Middle duck zone.
    South Zone: Same as South duck zone.
    Allegan County Game Management Unit (GMU): That area encompassed by 
a line beginning at the junction of 136th Avenue and Interstate Highway 
196 in Lake Town Township and extending easterly along 136th Avenue to 
Michigan Highway 40, southerly along Michigan 40 through the city of 
Allegan to 108th Avenue in Trowbridge Township, westerly along 108th 
Avenue to 46th Street, northerly along 46th Street to 109th Avenue, 
westerly along 109th Avenue to I-196 in Casco Township, then northerly 
along I-196 to the point of beginning.
    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.
Minnesota
    Same zones as for ducks.
Missouri
    Same zones as for ducks.
Ohio
    Same zones as for ducks.
Tennessee
    Reelfoot Zone: The lands and waters within the boundaries of 
Reelfoot Lake WMA only.
    Remainder of State: The remainder of the State.
Wisconsin
    North and South Zones: Same zones as for ducks.
    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.
Central Flyway
    Colorado (Central Flyway Portion)
    Northern Front Range Area: All areas in Boulder, Larimer, and Weld 
Counties from the Continental Divide east along the Wyoming border to 
U.S. 85, south on U.S. 85 to the Adams County line, and all lands in 
Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Gilpin, and 
Jefferson Counties.
    North Park Area: Jackson County.
    South Park Area: Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, Lake, Park, and Teller 
Counties.
    San Luis Valley Area: All of Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, and Rio 
Grande Counties, and those portions of Saguache, Mineral, Hinsdale, 
Archuleta, and San Juan Counties east of the Continental Divide.
    Remainder: Remainder of the Central Flyway portion of Colorado.
    Eastern Colorado Late Light Goose Area: That portion of the State 
east of Interstate Highway 25.
Montana (Central Flyway Portion)
    Zone 1: Same as Zone 1 for ducks and coots.
    Zone 2: Same as Zone 2 for ducks and coots.
Nebraska
Dark Geese
    Niobrara Unit: That area contained within and bounded by the 
intersection of the Nebraska-South Dakota border and U.S. Hwy 83, south 
to U.S. Hwy 20, east to NE Hwy 14, north along NE Hwy 14 to NE Hwy 59 
and County Road 872, west along County Road 872 to the Knox County 
Line, north along the Knox County Line to the Nebraska-South Dakota 
border, west along the Nebraska-South Dakota border to U.S. Hwy 83. 
Where the Niobrara River forms the boundary, both banks of the river 
are included in the Niobrara Unit.
    Platte River Unit: The area bounded starting at the northernmost 
intersection of the Interstate Canal at the Nebraska-Wyoming border, 
south along the Nebraska-Wyoming border to the Nebraska-Colorado 
border, east and south along the Nebraska-Colorado border to the 
Nebraska-Kansas border, east along the Nebraska-Kansas border to the 
Nebraska-Missouri border, north along the Nebraska-Missouri and 
Nebraska-Iowa borders to the Burt-Washington Counties line, west along 
the Burt-Washington Counties line to U.S. Hwy 75, south to Dodge County 
Road 4/Washington County Road 4, west to U.S. Hwy 77, south to U.S. Hwy 
275, northwest to U.S. Hwy 91, west to NE Hwy 45, north to NE Hwy 32, 
west to NE Hwy 14, north to NE Hwy 70, west to U.S. Hwy 281, south to 
NE Hwy 70, west along NE Hwy 70/91 to NE Hwy 11, north to the Holt 
County Line, west along the northern border of Garfield, Loup, Blaine, 
and Thomas Counties to the Hooker County Line, south along the Thomas-
Hooker Counties Lines to the McPherson County Line, east along the 
south border of Thomas County to the Custer County Line, south along 
the Custer-Logan Counties line to NE Hwy 92, west to U.S. Hwy 83, north 
to NE Hwy 92, west to NE Hwy 61, north to NE Hwy 2, west along NE Hwy 2 
to the corner formed by Garden, Grant, and Sheridan Counties, west 
along the north borders of Garden, Morrill, and Scotts Bluff Counties 
to the intersection with the Interstate Canal, north and west along the 
Interstate Canal to the intersection with the Nebraska-Wyoming border.
    North-Central Unit: Those portions of the State not in the Niobrara 
and Platte River zones.
Light Geese
    Rainwater Basin Light Goose Area: The area bounded by the junction 
of NE Hwy 92 and NE Hwy 15, south along NE Hwy 15 to NE Hwy 4, west 
along NE Hwy 4 to U.S. Hwy 34, west along U.S. Hwy 34 to U.S. Hwy 283, 
north along U.S. Hwy 283 to U.S. Hwy 30, east along U.S. Hwy 30 to NE 
Hwy 92, east along NE Hwy 92 to the beginning.
    Remainder of State: The remainder of Nebraska.
New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion)
Dark Geese
    Middle Rio Grande Valley Unit: Sierra, Socorro, and Valencia 
Counties.
    Remainder: The remainder of the Central Flyway portion of New 
Mexico.
North Dakota
    Missouri River Canada and Cackling 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 west on ND Hwy 200; then 
north on ND Hwy 8 to the Mercer-McLean Counties line; then east 
following the county line until it turns south toward Garrison Dam; 
then east along a line (including Mallard Island) of Lake Sakakawea to 
U.S. Hwy 83; then south on U.S. Hwy 83 to ND Hwy 200; then east on ND 
Hwy 200 to ND Hwy 41; then south on ND Hwy 41 to U.S. Hwy 83; then 
south on U.S. Hwy 83 to I-94; then east on I-94 to U.S. Hwy 83; then 
south on U.S. Hwy 83 to the South Dakota border; then west along the 
South Dakota border to ND Hwy 6.
    Western North Dakota Canada and Cackling Goose Zone: Same as the 
High Plains Unit for ducks, mergansers, and coots, excluding the 
Missouri River Canada Goose Zone.
    Rest of State: Remainder of North Dakota.

[[Page 6081]]

South Dakota
Early Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons
    Special Early Canada and Cackling Goose Unit: The Counties of 
Campbell, Clark, Codington, Day, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Marshall, 
Roberts, 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 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 Counties boundary; 
that portion of Bon Homme County north of State Highway 50; those 
portions of Yankton and Clay Counties north of a line beginning at the 
junction of State Highway 50 and 306th Street/County Highway 585 in Bon 
Homme County, east to U.S. Highway 81, then north on U.S. Highway 81 to 
303rd Street, then east on 303rd Street to 444th Avenue, then south on 
444th Avenue to 305th Street, then east on 305th Street/Bluff Road to 
State Highway 19, then south to State Highway 50 and east to the Clay/
Union County Line; Aurora, Beadle, Brookings, Brown, Butte, Corson, 
Davison, Douglas, Edmunds, Faulk, Haakon, Hand, Hanson, Harding, 
Hutchinson, Jackson, Jerauld, Jones, Kingsbury, Lake, McCook, 
McPherson, Meade, Mellette, Miner, Moody, Oglala Lakota (formerly 
Shannon), Sanborn, Spink, Todd, Turner, and Ziebach 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).
Regular Seasons
    Unit 1: Same as that for the Special Early Canada and Cackling 
Goose Unit.
    Unit 2: All of South Dakota not included in Unit 1 and Unit 3.
    Unit 3: Bennett County.
Texas
    Northeast Goose Zone: That portion of Texas lying east and north of 
a line beginning at the Texas-Oklahoma border at U.S. 81, then 
continuing south to Bowie and then southeasterly along U.S. 81 and U.S. 
287 to I-35W and I-35 to the juncture with I-10 in San Antonio, then 
east on I-10 to the Texas-Louisiana border.
    Southeast Goose Zone: That portion of Texas lying east and south of 
a line beginning at the International Toll Bridge at Laredo, then 
continuing north following I-35 to the juncture with I-10 in San 
Antonio, then easterly along I-10 to the Texas-Louisiana border.
    West Goose Zone: The remainder of the State.
Wyoming (Central Flyway Portion)
Dark Geese
    Zone G1: Big Horn, Converse, Hot Springs, Natrona, Park, and 
Washakie Counties.
    Zone G1A: Goshen and Platte Counties.
    Zone G2: Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Niobrara, Sheridan, and Weston 
Counties.
    Zone G3: Albany and Laramie Counties; and that portion of Carbon 
County east of the Continental Divide.
    Zone G4: Fremont County excluding those portions south or west of 
the Continental Divide.
Pacific Flyway
Arizona
    Same zones as for ducks.
California
    Northeastern Zone: 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.
    Klamath Basin Special Management Area: Beginning at the 
intersection of Highway 161 and Highway 97; east on Highway 161 to Hill 
Road; south on Hill Road to N Dike Road West Side; east on N Dike Road 
West Side until the junction of the Lost River; north on N Dike Road 
West Side until the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway; east on Volcanic 
Legacy Scenic Byway until N Dike Road East Side; south on the N Dike 
Road East Side; continue east on N Dike Road East Side to Highway 111; 
south on Highway 111/Great Northern Road to Highway 120/Highway 124; 
west on Highway 120/Highway 124 to Hill Road; south on Hill Road until 
Lairds Camp Road; west on Lairds Camp Road until Willow Creek; west and 
south on Willow Creek to Red Rock Road; west on Red Rock Road until 
Meiss Lake Road/Old State Highway; north on Meiss Lake Road/Old State 
Highway to Highway 97; north on Highway 97 to the point of origin.
    Colorado River Zone: Those portions of San Bernardino, Riverside, 
and Imperial Counties east of a line from the intersection of Highway 
95 with the California-Nevada State line; south on Highway 95 through 
the junction with Highway 40; south on Highway 95 to Vidal Junction; 
south through the town of Rice to the San Bernardino-Riverside Counties 
line on a road known as ``Aqueduct Road'' also known as Highway 62 in 
San Bernardino County; southwest on Highway 62 to Desert Center Rice 
Road; south on Desert Center Rice Road/Highway 177 to the town of 
Desert Center; east 31 miles on Interstate 10 to its intersection with 
Wiley Well Road; south on Wiley Well Road to Wiley Well; southeast on 
Milpitas Wash Road to the Blythe, Brawley, Davis Lake intersections; 
south on Blythe Ogilby Road also known as

[[Page 6082]]

County Highway 34 to its intersection with Ogilby Road; south on Ogilby 
Road to its intersection with Interstate 8; east 7 miles on Interstate 
8 to its intersection with the Andrade-Algodones Road/Highway 186; 
south on Highway 186 to its intersection with the U.S.-Mexico border at 
Los Algodones, Mexico.
    Southern Zone: That portion of southern California (but excluding 
the Colorado River zone) south and east of a line beginning at the 
mouth of the Santa Maria River at the Pacific Ocean; east along the 
Santa Maria River to where it crosses Highway 101-166 near the City of 
Santa Maria; north on Highway 101-166; east on Highway 166 to the 
junction with Highway 99; south on Highway 99 to the junction of 
Interstate 5; south on Interstate 5 to the crest of the Tehachapi 
Mountains at Tejon Pass; east and north along the crest of the 
Tehachapi Mountains to where it intersects Highway 178 at Walker Pass; 
east on Highway 178 to the junction of Highway 395 at the town of 
Inyokern; south on Highway 395 to the junction of Highway 58; east on 
Highway 58 to the junction of Interstate 15; east on Interstate 15 to 
the junction with Highway 127; north on Highway 127 to the point of 
intersection with the California-Nevada State line.
    Imperial County Special Management Area: The area bounded by a line 
beginning at Highway 86 and the Navy Test Base Road; south on Highway 
86 to the town of Westmoreland; continue through the town of 
Westmoreland to Route S26; east on Route S26 to Highway 115; north on 
Highway 115 to Weist Road; north on Weist Road to Flowing Wells Road; 
northeast on Flowing Wells Road to the Coachella Canal; northwest on 
the Coachella Canal to Drop 18; a straight line from Drop 18 to Frink 
Road; south on Frink Road to Highway 111; north on Highway 111 to 
Niland Marina Road; southwest on Niland Marina Road to the old Imperial 
County boat ramp and the water line of the Salton Sea; from the water 
line of the Salton Sea, a straight line across the Salton Sea to the 
Salinity Control Research Facility and the Navy Test Base Road; 
southwest on the Navy Test Base Road to the point of beginning.
    Balance of State Zone: The remainder of California not included in 
the Northeastern, Colorado River, and Southern Zones.
    North Coast Special Management Area: Del Norte and Humboldt 
Counties.
    Sacramento Valley Special Management Area: That area bounded by a 
line beginning at Willows south on I-5 to Hahn Road; easterly on Hahn 
Road and the Grimes-Arbuckle Road to Grimes; northerly on CA 45 to the 
junction with CA 162; northerly on CA 45/162 to Glenn; and westerly on 
CA 162 to the point of beginning in Willows.
Colorado (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    Same zones as for ducks.
Idaho
Early Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons
    Zone 1: Bannock, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, and 
Teton Counties; Bingham County, except that portion within the 
Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; Caribou County within the Fort Hall 
Indian Reservation; Power County east of State Highway 37 and State 
Highway 39; and all lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian 
Reservation, including private in-holdings.
    Zone 2: Bonneville County.
    Zone 3: Ada, Adams, Blaine, Boise, Camas, Canyon, Cassia, 
Clearwater, Custer, Elmore, Franklin, Gem, Gooding, Idaho, Jerome, 
Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Lincoln, Minidoka, Nez Perce, Oneida, Owyhee, 
Payette, Twin Falls, and Washington Counties; and Power County west of 
State Highway 37 and State Highway 39.
    Zone 4: Bear Lake County; Bingham County within the Blackfoot 
Reservoir drainage; and Caribou County, except that portion within the 
Fort Hall Indian Reservation.
    Zone 5: Valley County.
    Zone 6: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, and Shoshone Counties.
Regular Seasons
Canada and Cackling Geese and Brant
    Same as for early Canada and cackling goose seasons.
White-Fronted Geese
    Zone 1: Bannock County; Bingham County except that portion within 
the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; Caribou County within the Fort Hall 
Indian Reservation; Power County east of State Highway 37 and State 
Highway 39; and all lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian 
Reservation, including private in-holdings.
    Zone 2: Bear Lake, Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, 
Madison, and Teton Counties; Bingham County within the Blackfoot 
Reservoir drainage; and Caribou County except within the Fort Hall 
Indian Reservation.
    Zone 3: Adams, Blaine, Camas, Clearwater, Custer, Franklin, Idaho, 
Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Nez Perce, and Oneida Counties; and Power County 
west of State Highway 37 and State Highway 39.
    Zone 4: Ada, Boise, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome, 
Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, and Washington 
Counties.
    Zone 5: Valley County.
    Zone 6: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, and Shoshone Counties.
Light Geese
    Zone 1: All lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian 
Reservation, including private in-holdings; Bannock County; Bingham 
County east of the west bank of the Snake River, west of the McTucker 
boat ramp access road, and east of the American Falls Reservoir bluff, 
except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; Caribou 
County within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation; and Power County below 
the American Falls Reservoir bluff, and within the Fort Hall Indian 
Reservation.
    Zone 2: Franklin and Oneida Counties; Bingham County west of the 
west bank of the Snake River, east of the McTucker boat ramp access 
road, and west of the American Falls Reservoir bluff; Power County, 
except below the American Falls Reservoir bluff and those lands and 
waters within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.
    Zone 3: Ada, Boise, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome, 
Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, and Washington 
Counties.
    Zone 4: Adams, Blaine, Camas, Clearwater, Custer, Idaho, Latah, 
Lemhi, Lewis, and Nez Perce Counties.
    Zone 5: Bear Lake, Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, 
Madison, and Teton Counties; Bingham County within the Blackfoot 
Reservoir drainage; and Caribou County except within the Fort Hall 
Indian Reservation.
    Zone 6: Valley County.
    Zone 7: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, and Shoshone Counties.
Nevada
    Same zones as for ducks.
New Mexico (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    North Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of New Mexico located north 
of I-40.
    South Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of New Mexico located south 
of I-40.
Oregon
    Northwest Permit Zone: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Lane, 
Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and 
Yamhill Counties.
    Tillamook County Management Area: That portion of Tillamook County 
beginning at the point where Old Woods Road crosses the south shores of 
Horn

[[Page 6083]]

Creek, north on Old Woods Road to Sand Lake Road at Woods, north on 
Sand Lake Road to the intersection with McPhillips Drive, due west 
(~200 yards) from the intersection to the Pacific coastline, south 
along the Pacific coastline to a point due west of the western end of 
Pacific Avenue in Pacific City, east from this point (~250 yards) to 
Pacific Avenue, east on Pacific Avenue to Brooten Road, south and then 
east on Brooten Road to Highway 101, north on Highway 101 to Resort 
Drive, north on Resort Drive 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.
    Southwest Zone: Those portions of Douglas, Coos, and Curry Counties 
east of Highway 101, and Josephine and Jackson Counties.
    South Coast Zone: Those portions of Douglas, Coos, and Curry 
Counties west of Highway 101.
    Eastern Zone: Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, 
Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Union, Wallowa, and Wheeler Counties.
    Mid-Columbia Zone: Gilliam, Hood River, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, 
and Wasco Counties.
Utah
    East Box Elder County Zone: Boundary begins at the intersection of 
the eastern boundary of Public Shooting Grounds Waterfowl Management 
Area and SR-83 (Promontory Road); east along SR-83 to I-15; south on I-
15 to the Perry access road; southwest along this road to the Bear 
River Bird Refuge boundary; west, north, and then east along the refuge 
boundary until it intersects the Public Shooting Grounds Waterfowl 
Management Area boundary; east and north along the Public Shooting 
Grounds Waterfowl Management Area boundary to SR-83.
    Wasatch Front Zone: Boundary begins at the Weber-Box Elder Counties 
line at I-15; east along Weber County line to U.S.-89; south on U.S.-89 
to I-84; east and south on I-84 to I-80; south on I-80 to U.S.-189; 
south and west on U.S.-189 to the Utah County line; southeast and then 
west along this line to the Tooele County line; north along the Tooele 
County line to I-80; east on I-80 to Exit 99; north from Exit 99 along 
a direct line to the southern tip of Promontory Point and Promontory 
Road; east and north along this road to the causeway separating Bear 
River Bay from Ogden Bay; east on this causeway to the southwest corner 
of Great Salt Lake Mineral Corporation's (GSLMC) west impoundment; 
north and east along GSLMC's west impoundment to the northwest corner 
of the impoundment; north from this point along a direct line to the 
southern boundary of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge; east along this 
southern boundary to the Perry access road; northeast along this road 
to I-15; south along I-15 to the Weber-Box Elder Counties line.
    Southern Zone: Boundary includes Beaver, Carbon, Emery, Garfield, 
Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Piute, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, 
Washington, and Wayne Counties, and that part of Tooele County south of 
I-80.
    Northern Zone: The remainder of Utah not included in the East Box 
Elder County, Wasatch Front, and Southern Zones.
Washington
    Area 1: Skagit and Whatcom Counties, and that portion of Snohomish 
County west of Interstate 5.
    Area 2 Inland (Southwest Permit Zone): Clark, Cowlitz, and 
Wahkiakum Counties, and that portion of Grays Harbor County east of 
Highway 101.
    Area 2 Coastal (Southwest Permit Zone): Pacific County and that 
portion of Grays Harbor County west of Highway 101.
    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, 2 Coastal, and 
2 Inland.
    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
Early Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons
    Teton County Zone: Teton County.
    Balance of State Zone: Remainder of the State.

Brant

Pacific Flyway
California
    Northern Zone: Del Norte, Humboldt, and Mendocino Counties.
    Balance of State Zone: The remainder of the State not included in 
the Northern Zone.
Washington
    Puget Sound Zone: Clallam, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties.
    Coastal Zone: Pacific County.

Swans

Central Flyway
South Dakota
    Open Area: Aurora, Beadle, Brookings, Brown, Brule, Buffalo, 
Campbell, Clark, Codington, Davison, Day, Deuel, Edmunds, Faulk, Grant, 
Hamlin, Hand, Hanson, Hughes, Hyde, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Lake, Marshall, 
McCook, McPherson, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Potter, Roberts, Sanborn, 
Spink, Sully, and Walworth Counties.
Pacific Flyway
Idaho
    Open Area: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, and Kootenai Counties.
Montana (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    Open Area: Cascade, Chouteau, Hill, Liberty, and Toole Counties and 
those portions of Pondera and Teton Counties lying east of U.S. 287-89.
Nevada
    Open Area: Churchill, Lyon, and Pershing Counties.
Utah
    Open Area: Those portions of Box Elder, Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, 
and Toole Counties lying west of I-15, north of I-80, and south of a 
line beginning from the Forest Street exit to the Bear River National 
Wildlife Refuge boundary; then north and west along the Bear River 
National Wildlife Refuge boundary to the farthest west boundary of the 
Refuge; then west along a line to Promontory Road; then north on 
Promontory Road to the intersection of SR 83; then north on SR 83 to I-
84; then north and west on I-84 to State Hwy 30; then west on State Hwy 
30 to the Nevada-Utah State line; then south on the Nevada-Utah State 
line to I-80.

Doves

Alabama
    South Zone: Baldwin, 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).

[[Page 6084]]

    South Zone: The remainder of the 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. Highway 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.
New Mexico
    North Zone: North of I-40 from the New Mexico-Arizona border to 
U.S. Hwy. 54 at Tucumcari; U.S. Hwy. 54 from Tucumcari to the New 
Mexico-Texas border.
    South Zone: South of I-40 from the New Mexico-Arizona border to 
U.S. Hwy. 54 at Tucumcari; U.S. Hwy. 54 from Tucumcari to the New 
Mexico-Texas border.
Oregon
    Zone 1: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas, 
Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, 
Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Wasco, 
Washington, and Yamhill, Counties.
    Zone 2: The remainder of Oregon not included in Zone 1.
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.
    Central Zone: That portion of the State lying between the North and 
South Zones.
    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 I-10 east of San Antonio; then east on I-
10 to Orange, Texas.
    Special White-winged Dove Area: Same as the South Zone.
New Mexico
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line following I-
40 from the Arizona border east to U.S. Hwy 54 at Tucumcari and U.S. 
Hwy 54 at Tucumcari east to the Texas border.
    South Zone: The remainder of the State not included in the North 
Zone.

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 not included in the North 
Zone.
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 not included in the North 
Zone.
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.

American Woodcock

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

Sandhill Cranes

Mississippi Flyway
Alabama
    Open Area: That area north of Interstate 20 from the Georgia State 
line to the interchange with Interstate 65, then east of Interstate 65 
to the interchange with Interstate 22, then north of Interstate 22 to 
the Mississippi State line.
Minnesota
    Northwest 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
    Southeast Crane Zone: That portion of the State south of Interstate 
40 and east of State Highway 56.
    Remainder of State: That portion of Tennessee outside of the 
Southeast Crane Zone.
Central Flyway
Colorado
    Open Area: The Central Flyway portion of the State except the San 
Luis Valley (Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Hinsdale, Mineral, Rio Grande, 
and Saguache Counties east of the Continental Divide) and North Park 
(Jackson County).
Kansas
    Central Zone: That portion of the State within an area bounded by a 
line beginning where I-35 crosses the Kansas-Oklahoma border, then 
north on I-35 to Wichita, then north on I-135 to Salina, then north on 
U.S. 81 to the Nebraska border, then west along the Kansas-Nebraska 
border to its intersection with Hwy 283, then south on Hwy 283 to the 
intersection with Hwy 18/24, then east along Hwy 18 to Hwy 183, then 
south on Hwy 183 to Route 1, then south on Route 1 to the Oklahoma 
border, then east along the Kansas-Oklahoma border to where it crosses 
I-35.
    West Zone: That portion of the State west of the western boundary 
of the Central Zone.
Montana
    Regular Season Open Area: The Central Flyway portion of the State 
except for that area south and west of Interstate 90, which is closed 
to sandhill crane hunting.
    Special Season Open Area: Carbon County.
New Mexico
    Regular-Season Open Area: Chaves, Curry, De Baca, Eddy, Lea, Quay, 
and Roosevelt Counties.
Special Season Open Areas
    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

[[Page 6085]]

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 
NM 26, east to NM 27, north to NM 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
    Open Area: That portion of the State west of I-35.
South Dakota
    Open Area: That portion of the State lying west of a line beginning 
at the South Dakota-North Dakota border and State Highway 25, south on 
State Highway 25 to its junction with State Highway 34, east on State 
Highway 34 to its junction with U.S. Highway 81, then south on U.S. 
Highway 81 to the South Dakota-Nebraska border.
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.
    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 I-35W in Fort Worth, then southwest along I-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 
Counties line.
Wyoming
    Area 4: All lands within the Bureau of Reclamation's Riverton and 
Boysen Unit boundaries; those lands within Boysen State Park south of 
Cottonwood Creek, west of Boysen Reservoir, and south of U.S. Highway 
20-26; and all non[hyphen]Indian owned fee title lands within the 
exterior boundaries of the Wind River Reservation, excluding those 
lands within Hot Springs County.
    Area 6: Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park, and Washakie Counties.
    Area 7: Campbell, Converse, Crook, Goshen, Laramie, Niobrara, 
Platte, and Weston Counties.
    Area 8: Johnson, Natrona, and Sheridan Counties.
Pacific Flyway
Arizona
    Zone 1: Beginning at the junction of the New Mexico State line and 
U.S. Hwy 80; south along the State line to the U.S.-Mexico border; west 
along the border to the San Pedro River; north along the San Pedro 
River to the junction with Arizona Hwy 77; northerly along Arizona Hwy 
77 to the Gila River; northeast along the Gila River to the San Carlos 
Indian Reservation boundary; south then east and north along the 
reservation boundary to U.S. Hwy 70; southeast on U.S. Hwy 70 to U.S. 
Hwy 191; south on U.S. Hwy 191 to the 352 exit on I-10; east on I-10 to 
Bowie-Apache Pass Road; southerly on the Bowie-Apache Pass Road to 
Arizona Hwy 186; southeasterly on Arizona Hwy 186 to Arizona Hwy 181; 
south on Arizona Hwy 181 to the West Turkey Creek-Kuykendall cutoff 
road; southerly on the Kuykendall cutoff road to Rucker Canyon Road; 
easterly on Rucker Canyon Road to the Tex Canyon Road; southerly on Tex 
Canyon Road to U.S. Hwy 80; northeast on U.S. Hwy 80 to the New Mexico 
State line.
    Zone 2: Beginning at I-10 and the New Mexico State line; north 
along the State line to Arizona Hwy 78; southwest on Arizona Hwy 78 to 
U.S. Hwy 191; northwest on U.S. Hwy 191 to Clifton; westerly on the 
Lower Eagle Creek Road (Pump Station Road) to Eagle Creek; northerly 
along Eagle Creek to the San Carlos Indian Reservation boundary; 
southerly and west along the reservation boundary to U.S. Hwy 70; 
southeast on U.S. Hwy 70 to U.S. Hwy 191; south on U.S. Hwy 191 to I-
10; easterly on I-10 to the New Mexico State line.
    Zone 3: Beginning on I-10 at the New Mexico State line; westerly on 
I-10 to the Bowie-Apache Pass Road; southerly on the Bowie-Apache Pass 
Road to AZ Hwy 186; southeast on AZ Hwy 186 to AZ Hwy 181; south on AZ 
Hwy 181 to the West Turkey Creek-Kuykendall cutoff road; southerly on 
the Kuykendall

[[Page 6086]]

cutoff road to Rucker Canyon Road; easterly on the Rucker Canyon Road 
to Tex Canyon Road; southerly on Tex Canyon Road to U.S. Hwy 80; 
northeast on U.S. Hwy 80 to the New Mexico State line; north along the 
State line to I-10.
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.
    Area 6: That portion of Oneida County within the boundary beginning 
at the intersection of the Idaho-Utah border and Old Highway 191, then 
north on Old Highway 191 to 1500 S, then west on 1500 S to Highway 38, 
then west on Highway 38 to 5400 W, then south on 5400 W to Pocatello 
Valley Road, then west and south on Pocatello Valley Road to 10000 W, 
then south on 10000 W to the Idaho-Utah border, then east along the 
Idaho-Utah border to the beginning point.
Montana
    Zone 1: 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 Lane, 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: 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: Beaverhead, Gallatin, Jefferson, and Madison Counties.
    Zone 4: Broadwater County.
    Zone 5: Cascade and Teton Counties.
Utah
    Cache County: 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 Counties line; east on the Box Elder-Weber 
Counties line to the Box Elder-Cache Counties line; north on the Box 
Elder-Cache County line to the Utah-Idaho State line.
    Rich County: Rich County.
    Uintah County: Uintah and Duchesne Counties.
Wyoming
    Area 1: All of the Bear River and Ham's Fork River drainages in 
Lincoln County.
    Area 2: All of the Salt River drainage in Lincoln County south of 
the McCoy Creek Road.
    Area 3: All lands within the Bureau of Reclamation's Eden Project 
in Sweetwater County.
    Area 5: 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.

Shannon A. Estenoz,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2023-01644 Filed 1-27-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P