[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 149 (Friday, August 2, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63139-63152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16984]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 32

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-NWRS-2024-0034; FXRS12610900000-245-FF09R20000]
RIN 1018-BH17


National Wildlife Refuge System; 2024-2025 Station-Specific 
Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to 
open hunting opportunities on six National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) and 
to expand hunting or sport fishing opportunities on seven NWRs. Crab 
Orchard NWR is proposing to close hunting on 111 acres so that the area 
can be used for visitor services facilities and activities. We also 
propose to make changes to existing station-specific regulations in 
order to reduce the regulatory burden on the public, increase access 
for hunters and anglers on Service lands and waters, and comply with a 
Presidential mandate for plain-language standards. Finally, the best 
available science, analyzed as part of this proposed rulemaking, 
indicates that lead ammunition and tackle have negative impacts on both 
wildlife and human health. In this proposed rule, Canaan Valley NWR in 
West Virginia is proposing to require lead-free ammunition for all 
hunting on the new Big Cove Unit. Additionally, Des Lacs, J. Clark 
Salyer, Lostwood, and Upper Souris NWRs in North Dakota are proposing 
to require lead-free ammunition for elk hunting. These proposals would 
be effective immediately in fall 2024, if adopted as part of a final 
rule. While the Service continues to evaluate the future of lead use in 
hunting and fishing on Service lands and waters, this rulemaking does 
not include any opportunities proposing to increase or authorize the 
new use of lead.

DATES: We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before 
September 3, 2024.

ADDRESSES: 
    Written comments: You may submit comments by one of the following 
methods:
     Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: 
https://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, type in FWS-HQ-NWRS-
2024-0034, which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then, click 
on the Search button. On the resulting screen, find the correct 
document and submit a comment by clicking on ``Comment.''
     By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand delivery: Public 
Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-HQ-NWRS-2024-0034, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: PRB (JAO/3W), Falls Church, 
VA 22041-3803.
    We will not accept email or faxes. We will post all comments on 
https://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any 
personal information you provide us (see Request for Comments, below, 
for more information).
    Supporting documents: For information on a specific refuge's or 
hatchery's public use program and the conditions that apply to it, 
contact the respective regional office at the address or phone number 
given in Available Information for Specific Stations under 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christian Myers, (571) 422-3595. 
Please see Docket No. FWS-HQ-NWRS-2024-0034 on https://www.regulations.gov for a document that summarizes this proposed rule.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), as amended (Administration Act), closes NWRs in 
all States except Alaska to all uses until opened. The Secretary of the 
Interior (Secretary) may open refuge areas to any use, including 
hunting and/or sport fishing, upon a determination that the use is 
compatible with the purposes of the refuge and National Wildlife Refuge 
System (Refuge System) mission. The action also must be in accordance 
with provisions of all laws applicable to the areas, developed in 
coordination with the appropriate State fish and wildlife agency(ies), 
consistent with the principles of sound fish and wildlife management 
and administration, and otherwise in the public interest. These 
requirements ensure that we maintain the biological integrity, 
diversity, and environmental health of the Refuge System for the 
benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
    We annually review hunting and sport fishing programs to determine 
whether to include additional stations or whether individual station 
regulations governing existing programs need modifications. Changing 
environmental conditions, State and Federal regulations, and other 
factors affecting fish and wildlife populations and habitat may warrant 
modifications to station-specific regulations to ensure the continued 
compatibility of hunting and sport fishing programs and to ensure that 
these programs will not materially interfere with or detract from the 
fulfillment of station purposes or the Refuge System's mission.
    Provisions governing hunting and sport fishing on refuges are in 
title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations at part 32 (50 CFR part 
32), and on hatcheries at part 71 (50 CFR part 71). We regulate hunting 
and sport fishing to:
     Ensure compatibility with refuge and hatchery purpose(s);
     Properly manage fish and wildlife resource(s);
     Protect other values;
     Ensure visitor safety; and
     Provide opportunities for fish- and wildlife-dependent 
recreation.
    On many stations where we decide to allow hunting and sport 
fishing, our general policy of adopting regulations identical to State 
hunting and sport fishing regulations is adequate to meet these 
objectives. On other stations, we must supplement State regulations 
with more-restrictive Federal regulations to ensure that we meet our 
management responsibilities, as outlined under Statutory Authority, 
below. We issue station-specific hunting and sport fishing regulations 
when we open national wildlife refuges and fish hatcheries to migratory 
game bird hunting, upland game hunting, big game hunting, or sport 
fishing. These regulations may list the wildlife species that you may 
hunt or fish; seasons; bag or creel (container for carrying fish) 
limits; methods of hunting or sport fishing; descriptions of areas open 
to hunting or sport fishing; and other provisions as appropriate.

Statutory Authority

    The Administration Act, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge 
System Improvement Act of 1997 (Improvement Act; Pub. L. 105-57), 
governs the administration and public use of refuges, and the Refuge 
Recreation Act of 1962 (Recreation Act; 16 U.S.C. 460k-460k-4) governs 
the administration and public use of refuges and hatcheries.
    Amendments enacted by the Improvement Act were built upon the 
Administration Act in a manner that

[[Page 63140]]

provides an ``organic act'' for the Refuge System, similar to organic 
acts that exist for other public Federal lands. The Improvement Act 
serves to ensure that we effectively manage the Refuge System as a 
national network of lands, waters, and interests for the protection and 
conservation of our Nation's wildlife resources. The Administration Act 
states first and foremost that we focus our Refuge System mission on 
conservation of fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats. 
The Improvement Act requires the Secretary, before allowing a new use 
of a refuge, or before expanding, renewing, or extending an existing 
use of a refuge, to determine that the use is compatible with the 
purpose for which the refuge was established and the mission of the 
Refuge System. The Improvement Act established as the policy of the 
United States that wildlife-dependent recreation, when compatible, is a 
legitimate and appropriate public use of the Refuge System, through 
which the American public can develop an appreciation for fish and 
wildlife. The Improvement Act established six wildlife-dependent 
recreational uses as the priority general public uses of the Refuge 
System. These uses are hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and 
photography, and environmental education and interpretation.
    The Recreation Act authorizes the Secretary to administer areas 
within the Refuge System and Hatchery System for public recreation as 
an appropriate incidental or secondary use only to the extent that 
doing so is practicable and not inconsistent with the primary 
purpose(s) for which Congress and the Service established the areas. 
The Recreation Act requires that any recreational use of refuge or 
hatchery lands be compatible with the primary purpose(s) for which we 
established the refuge and not inconsistent with other previously 
authorized operations.
    The Administration Act and Recreation Act also authorize the 
Secretary to issue regulations to carry out the purposes of the Acts 
and regulate uses.
    We develop specific management plans for each refuge prior to 
opening it to hunting or sport fishing. In many cases, we develop 
station-specific regulations to ensure the compatibility of the 
programs with the purpose(s) for which we established the refuge or 
hatchery and the Refuge and Hatchery System mission. We ensure initial 
compliance with the Administration Act and the Recreation Act for 
hunting and sport fishing on newly acquired land through an interim 
determination of compatibility made at or near the time of acquisition. 
These regulations ensure that we make the determinations required by 
these acts prior to adding refuges or hatcheries to the lists of areas 
open to hunting and sport fishing in 50 CFR part 32 or 71, 
respectively. We ensure continued compliance by the development of 
comprehensive conservation plans and step-down management plans, and by 
annual review of hunting and sport fishing programs and regulations.

Proposed Amendments to Existing Regulations

Updates to Hunting and Fishing Opportunities on NWRs

    This document proposes to codify in the Code of Federal Regulations 
all the Service's hunting and/or sport fishing regulations that we 
would update since the last time we published a rule amending these 
regulations (88 FR 74050; October 30, 2023) and that are applicable at 
Refuge System units previously opened to hunting and/or sport fishing. 
We propose this to better inform the general public of the regulations 
at each station, to increase understanding and compliance with these 
regulations, and to make enforcement of these regulations more 
efficient. In addition to finding these regulations in 50 CFR part 32, 
visitors to our stations may find them reiterated in literature 
distributed by each station or posted on signs.

                                          Table 1--Proposed Changes for 2024-2025 Hunting/Sport Fishing Season
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              Station                         State          Migratory bird hunting   Upland game hunting      Big game hunting        Sport fishing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bayou Teche NWR....................  Louisiana.............  E.....................  Already Open.........  E....................  Already Open.
Canaan Valley NWR..................  West Virginia.........  E.....................  E....................  E....................  Already Open.
Des Lacs NWR.......................  North Dakota..........  Already Closed........  Already Open.........  O....................  Already Closed.
Green River NWR....................  Kentucky..............  N.....................  Already Closed.......  N....................  Already Closed.
Horicon NWR........................  Wisconsin.............  Already Open..........  Already Open.........  Already Open.........  E.
J. Clark Salyer NWR................  North Dakota..........  Already Open..........  Already Open.........  O....................  Already Open.
Lostwood NWR.......................  North Dakota..........  Already Closed........  Already Open.........  O....................  Already Closed.
Trinity River NWR..................  Texas.................  O.....................  Already Open.........  E....................  Already Open.
Turnbull NWR.......................  Washington............  Already Open..........  Already Closed.......  E....................  Already Closed.
Upper Souris NWR...................  North Dakota..........  Already Closed........  Already Open.........  O....................  Already Open.
Valentine NWR......................  Nebraska..............  Already Open..........  E....................  Already Open.........  Already Open.
Waccamaw NWR.......................  South Carolina........  E.....................  Already Open.........  Already Open.........  Already Open.
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Key:
N = New station opened for the first time.
O = Opening (New species and/or new activity on a station previously open to other activities)
E = Expansion (Station is already open to the activity: the proposed rule would add new lands/waters, modify areas open to hunting or fishing, extend
  season dates, add a targeted hunt, modify season dates, modify hunting hours, etc.).

    The changes for the 2024-2025 hunting/fishing season noted in the 
table above are each based on a complete administrative record which, 
among other detailed documentation, also includes a hunt plan, a 
compatibility determination, and the appropriate National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) analysis, all of which are 
subject to a public review and comment process. These supporting 
documents are available alongside this proposed rule at Docket No. FWS-
HQ-NWRS-2024-0034 on https://www.regulations.gov.
    The Service remains concerned that lead is an important issue, and 
we will continue to appropriately evaluate and regulate the use of lead 
ammunition and tackle on Service lands and waters. The Service has 
initiated stakeholder engagement to implement a deliberate, open, and 
transparent process of evaluating the future of lead use on Service 
lands and waters, working with our State partners, and seeking input 
and recommendations from the Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council, 
other stakeholders, and the public. The best available science, 
analyzed as part

[[Page 63141]]

of this proposed rulemaking, indicates that lead ammunition and tackle 
can have negative impacts on wildlife, and that exposure to lead has 
negative impacts to human health. Based on the best available science 
and sound professional judgment, where appropriate, the Service may 
propose to require the use of lead-free ammunition and tackle on 
Service lands and waters, as we have done in certain cases already. 
While the Service continues to evaluate the future of lead use in 
hunting and fishing on Service lands and waters, we will continue to 
work with stakeholders and the public to evaluate lead use through the 
annual rulemaking process. In the interim, we will not allow for any 
increase in lead use on Service lands and waters. Therefore, this 
proposed rule does not include any opportunities proposing to increase 
or authorize the new use of lead. Crab Orchard NWR is proposing to 
close hunting on 111 acres that are currently open to hunting so that 
the area can be used for visitor services facilities and activities, 
which is not expected to impact hunter use rates or lead use. Turnbull, 
Horicon, and Valentine NWRs are proposing hunting and fishing 
expansions to species where lead-free ammunition or tackle is already 
required on the refuges. Trinity River, Bayou Teche, Green River, and 
Waccamaw NWRs are either proposing to open or expand archery deer 
hunting or to open or expand migratory bird hunting, which do not 
involve lead ammunition. Des Lacs, J. Clark Salyer, Lostwood, and Upper 
Souris NWRs are proposing to open elk hunting that would require the 
use of lead-free ammunition immediately in the fall 2024 season. In 
this proposed rule, Canaan Valley NWR is proposing to expand all 
hunting to the Big Cove Unit and proposing to require the use of lead-
free ammunition immediately in the fall 2024 season on the Big Cove 
Unit.

Fish Advisory

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

Request for Comments

    You may submit comments and materials on this proposed rule by one 
of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. We will not accept comments sent by 
email or fax or to an address not listed in ADDRESSES. 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 will post your entire comment on https://www.regulations.gov. 
Before including personal identifying information in your comment, you 
should be aware that we may make your entire comment--including your 
personal identifying information--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 post all hardcopy comments on https://www.regulations.gov.

Required Determinations

Clarity of This Proposed Rule

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

Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 
14094)

    Executive Order (E.O.) 14094 reaffirms the principles of E.O. 12866 
and E.O. 13563 and states that regulatory analysis should facilitate 
agency efforts to develop regulations that serve the public interest, 
advance statutory objectives, and are consistent with E.O. 12866, E.O. 
13563, and the Presidential Memorandum of January 20, 2021 (Modernizing 
Regulatory Review). Regulatory analysis, as practicable and 
appropriate, shall recognize distributive impacts and equity, to the 
extent permitted by law. E.O. 13563 emphasizes further that regulations 
must be based on the best available science and that the rulemaking 
process must allow for public participation and an open exchange of 
ideas. We have developed this proposed rule in a manner consistent with 
these requirements.
    E.O. 12866, as reaffirmed by E.O. 13563 and E.O. 14094, provides 
that the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will review all significant 
rules. OIRA has determined that this proposed rule is not significant.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA; 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), 
as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 
1996 (SBREFA; 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), whenever a Federal agency is 
required to publish a notice of rulemaking for any proposed or final 
rule, it must prepare and make available for public comment a 
regulatory flexibility analysis that describes the effect of the rule 
on small entities (i.e., small businesses, small organizations, and 
small government jurisdictions). However, no regulatory flexibility 
analysis is required if the head of an agency certifies that the rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities. Thus, for a regulatory flexibility analysis to be 
required, impacts must exceed a threshold for ``significant impact'' 
and a threshold for a ``substantial number of small entities.'' See 5 
U.S.C. 605(b). SBREFA amended the RFA to require Federal agencies to 
provide a statement of the factual basis for certifying that a rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.
    This proposed rule would open or expand hunting on 12 NWRs. As a 
result, visitor use for wildlife-dependent recreation on these stations 
will change. If the stations establishing new programs were a pure 
addition to the current supply of those activities, it would mean an 
estimated maximum increase of 1,481 user days (one person per day 
participating in a recreational opportunity; see table 2). Because the 
participation trend is flat in these activities, this increase in 
supply will most likely be offset by other sites losing participants. 
Therefore, this is likely to be a substitute site for the activity and 
not necessarily an increase in participation rates for the activity.

[[Page 63142]]



                   Table 2--Estimated Maximum Change in Recreation Opportunities in 2024-2025
                                           [2023 Dollars in thousands]
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                                                                    Additional      Additional      Additional
                             Station                               hunting days    fishing days    expenditures
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bayou Teche NWR.................................................              40  ..............            $1.6
Canaan Valley NWR...............................................              20  ..............             0.8
Des Lacs NWR....................................................              70  ..............             2.8
Green River NWR.................................................             144  ..............             5.7
Horicon NWR.....................................................  ..............             365            15.1
J. Clark Salyer NWR.............................................              70  ..............             2.8
Lostwood NWR....................................................              70  ..............             2.8
Trinity River NWR...............................................             300  ..............            11.9
Turnbull NWR....................................................             272  ..............            10.8
Upper Souris NWR................................................              70  ..............             2.8
Valentine NWR...................................................              60  ..............             2.4
Waccamaw NWR....................................................               0  ..............               0
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................           1,116             365            59.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To the extent visitors spend time and money in the area of the 
station that they would not have spent there anyway, they contribute 
new income to the regional economy and benefit local businesses. Due to 
the unavailability of site-specific expenditure data, we use the 
national estimates from the 2016 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, 
and Wildlife Associated Recreation to identify expenditures for food 
and lodging, transportation, and other incidental expenses. Using the 
average expenditures for these categories with the maximum expected 
additional participation of the Refuge System yields approximately 
$59,500 in recreation-related expenditures (see table 2, above). By 
having ripple effects throughout the economy, these direct expenditures 
are only part of the economic impact of these recreational activities. 
Using a national impact multiplier for hunting activities (2.51) 
derived from the report ``Hunting in America: An Economic Force for 
Conservation'' and for fishing activities (2.51) derived from the 
report ``Sportfishing in America'' yields a total maximum economic 
impact of approximately $150,000 (2023 dollars) (Southwick Associates, 
Inc., 2018).
    Since we know that most of the fishing and hunting occurs within 
100 miles of a participant's residence, then it is unlikely that most 
of this spending will be ``new'' money coming into a local economy; 
therefore, this spending will be offset with a decrease in some other 
sector of the local economy. The net gain to the local economies will 
be no more than $149,000 and likely less. Since 80 percent of the 
participants travel less than 100 miles to engage in hunting and 
fishing activities, their spending patterns will not add new money into 
the local economy and, therefore, the real impact will be on the order 
of about $30,000 annually.
    Small businesses within the retail trade industry (such as hotels, 
gas stations, taxidermy shops, bait-and-tackle shops, and similar 
businesses) may be affected by some increased or decreased station 
visitation. A large percentage of these retail trade establishments in 
the local communities around NWRs qualify as small businesses (see 
table 3, below). We expect that the incremental recreational changes 
will be scattered, and so we do not expect that the rule will have a 
significant economic effect on a substantial number of small entities 
in any region or nationally. As noted previously, we expect at most 
$59,500 to be spent in total in the refuges' local economies. The 
maximum increase will be less than one-tenth of 1 percent for local 
retail trade spending (see table 3, below). Table 3 does not include 
entries for those NWRs for which we project no changes in recreation 
opportunities in 2024-2025; see table 2, above.

 Table 3--Comparative Expenditures for Retail Trade Associated With Additional Station Visitation for 2024-2025
                                            [Thousands, 2023 dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Estimated
                                                        maximum    Addition as                    Establishments
         Station/county(ies)           Retail trade     addition      (%) of     Establishments  with fewer than
                                        in 2017 \1\     from new      total       in 2017 \1\    10 employees in
                                                       activities                                      2017
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bayou Teche:
    St. Mary Parish, LA.............        $658,214           $2         <0.1              186              145
Canaan Valley:
    Grant, WV.......................         133,024            0         <0.1               42               28
    Tucker, WV......................          79,611            0         <0.1               28               20
Des Lacs:
    Renville, ND....................          43,869            3         <0.1               13               11
Green River:
    Henderson, KY...................         825,225            6         <0.1              150               98
Horicon:
    Dodge, WI.......................       1,069,734            8         <0.1              232              154
    Fond du Lac, WI.................       2,137,970            8         <0.1              344              207
J. Clark Salyer:
    McHenry, ND.....................          39,926            3         <0.1               19               14

[[Page 63143]]

 
Lostwood:
    Burke, ND.......................          38,614            1         <0.1                8                4
    Mountrail, ND...................        $228,282            1         <0.1               47               27
Trinity River:
    Liberty, TX.....................       1,047,020           12         <0.1              201              143
Turnbull:
    Spokane, WA.....................       9,754,429           11         <0.1            1,627            1,036
Upper Souris:
    Renville, ND....................          43,869            1         <0.1               13               11
    Ward, ND........................       1,844,525            1         <0.1              309              169
Valentine:
    Cherry, NE......................         116,107            2         <0.1               43               30
Waccamaw:
    Georgetown, SC..................       1,035,984            0            0              287              206
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ U.S. Census Bureau.

    With the small change in overall spending anticipated from this 
proposed rule, it is unlikely that a substantial number of small 
entities will have more than a small impact from the spending change 
near the affected stations. Therefore, we certify that this rule, as 
proposed, will not have a significant economic effect on a substantial 
number of small entities as defined under the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). A regulatory flexibility analysis is not 
required. Accordingly, a small entity compliance guide is not required.

Congressional Review Act

    The proposed rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the 
Congressional Review Act. We anticipate no significant employment or 
small business effects. This proposed rule:
    a. Would not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million 
or more. The minimal impact would be scattered across the country and 
would most likely not be significant in any local area.
    b. Would not cause a major increase in costs or prices for 
consumers; individual industries; Federal, State, or local government 
agencies; or geographic regions. This proposed rule would have only a 
slight effect on the costs of hunting opportunities for Americans. If 
the substitute sites are farther from the participants' residences, 
then an increase in travel costs would occur. The Service does not have 
information to quantify this change in travel cost but assumes that, 
since most people travel less than 100 miles to hunt, the increased 
travel cost would be small. We do not expect this proposed rule to 
affect the supply or demand for hunting opportunities in the United 
States, and, therefore, it should not affect prices for hunting 
equipment and supplies, or the retailers that sell equipment.
    c. Would not have significant adverse effects on competition, 
employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of 
U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises. This 
proposed rule represents only a small proportion of recreational 
spending at NWRs. Therefore, if adopted, this proposed rule would have 
no measurable economic effect on the wildlife-dependent industry, which 
has annual sales of equipment and travel expenditures of $72 billion 
nationwide.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

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

Takings (E.O. 12630)

    In accordance with E.O. 12630, this proposed rule would not have 
significant takings implications. This proposed rule would affect only 
visitors at NWRs and would describe what they can do while they are on 
a Service station.

Federalism (E.O. 13132)

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

Civil Justice Reform (E.O. 12988)

    In accordance with E.O. 12988, the Department of the Interior has 
determined that this proposed rule would not unduly burden the judicial 
system and that it meets the requirements of sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) 
of the E.O.

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

    On May 18, 2001, the President issued E.O. 13211 on regulations 
that significantly affect energy supply, distribution, or use. E.O. 
13211 requires agencies to prepare statements of energy effects when 
undertaking certain actions. Because this proposed rule would open or 
expand hunting at twelve NWRs, it is not a significant regulatory 
action under E.O. 12866, and we do not expect it to significantly 
affect energy supplies, distribution, or use. Therefore, this action is 
not a significant energy action, and no statement of energy effects is 
required.

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

    In accordance with E.O. 13175, we have evaluated possible effects 
on federally recognized Indian Tribes and

[[Page 63144]]

have determined that there are no effects. We coordinate recreational 
use on NWRs and National Fish Hatcheries with Tribal governments having 
adjoining or overlapping jurisdiction before we propose the 
regulations.

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    This proposed rule does not contain any new collections of 
information that require approval by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.). OMB previously approved the information collection 
requirements associated with application and reporting requirements 
associated with hunting and sport fishing and assigned OMB Control 
Number 1018-0140 (expires 09/30/2025). An agency may not conduct or 
sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation

    We comply with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), when developing comprehensive 
conservation plans and step-down management plans--which includes 
hunting and/or fishing plans--for public use of refuges and hatcheries, 
and prior to implementing any new or revised public recreation program 
on a station as identified in 50 CFR 26.32. We complied with section 7 
for each of the stations affected by this proposed rulemaking.

National Environmental Policy Act

    We analyzed this proposed rule in accordance with the criteria of 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 
4332(C)), 43 CFR part 46, and 516 Departmental Manual (DM) 8.
    A categorical exclusion from NEPA documentation applies to 
publication of proposed amendments to station-specific hunting and 
fishing regulations because they are technical and procedural in 
nature, and the environmental effects are too broad, speculative, or 
conjectural to lend themselves to meaningful analysis (43 CFR 46.210 
and 516 DM 8). Concerning the actions that are the subject of this 
proposed rulemaking, we have complied with NEPA at the project level 
when developing each proposal. This is consistent with the Department 
of the Interior instructions for compliance with NEPA where actions are 
covered sufficiently by an earlier environmental document (43 CFR 
46.120).
    Prior to the addition of a refuge or hatchery to the list of areas 
open to hunting and fishing in 50 CFR parts 32 and 71, we develop 
hunting and fishing plans for the affected stations. We incorporate 
these proposed station hunting and fishing activities in the station 
comprehensive conservation plan and/or other step-down management 
plans, pursuant to our refuge planning guidance in 602 Fish and 
Wildlife Service Manual (FW) 1, 3, and 4. We prepare these 
comprehensive conservation plans and step-down plans in compliance with 
section 102(2)(C) of NEPA, the Council on Environmental Quality's 
regulations for implementing NEPA in 40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508, 
and the Department of Interior's NEPA regulations at 43 CFR part 46. We 
invite the affected public to participate in the review, development, 
and implementation of these plans. Copies of all plans and NEPA 
compliance are available from the stations at the addresses provided 
below.

Available Information for Specific Stations

    Individual refuge and hatchery headquarters have information about 
public use programs and conditions that apply to their specific 
programs and maps of their respective areas. To find out how to contact 
a specific refuge or hatchery, contact the appropriate Service office 
for the States and Territories listed below:
    Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Regional Chief, National 
Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Eastside 
Federal Complex, Suite 1692, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232-
4181; Telephone (503) 231-6203.
    Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Regional Chief, National 
Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 1306, 
500 Gold Avenue SW, Albuquerque, NM 87103; Telephone (505) 248-6635.
    Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and 
Wisconsin. Regional Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, 5600 American Blvd. West, Suite 990, Bloomington, 
MN 55437-1458; Telephone (612) 713-5476.
    Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, 
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico, 
and the Virgin Islands. Regional Chief, National Wildlife Refuge 
System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1875 Century Boulevard, 
Atlanta, GA 30345; Telephone (404) 679-7356.
    Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, 
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode 
Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. Regional Chief, National 
Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate 
Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035-9589; Telephone (413) 253-8307.
    Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, 
Utah, and Wyoming. Regional Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 134 Union Blvd., Lakewood, CO 80228; 
Telephone (303) 236-4377.
    Alaska. Regional Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, 1011 E Tudor Rd., Anchorage, AK 99503; Telephone 
(907) 786-3545.
    California and Nevada. Regional Chief, National Wildlife Refuge 
System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2606, 
Sacramento, CA 95825; Telephone (916) 767-9241.

Primary Author

    Christian Myers, Division of Natural Resources and Conservation 
Planning, National Wildlife Refuge System, is the primary author of 
this rulemaking document.

Proposed Regulation Summary Table

    The regulatory amendments set forth below are presented alongside 
existing station-specific regulations that have not been amended. For a 
table that provides additional clarity on which specific regulatory 
provisions have been amended, please see Docket No. FWS-HQ-NWRS-2024-
0034 on https://www.regulations.gov for a separate document containing 
a table that provides additional clarity on which specific regulatory 
provisions have been amended and how they have been amended.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 32

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

Proposed Regulation Promulgation

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

PART 32--HUNTING AND FISHING

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

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 16 U.S.C. 460k, 664, 668dd-668ee, and 
715i; Pub. L. 115-20, 131 Stat. 86.


[[Page 63145]]


0
2. Amend Sec.  32.7 by revising and republishing paragraph (q) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  32.7  What refuge units are open to hunting and/or sport fishing?

* * * * *
    (q) Kentucky. (1) Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge.
    (2) Green River National Wildlife Refuge.
    (3) Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
    (4) Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge.
* * * * *
0
3. Amend Sec.  32.24 by revising and republishing paragraphs (j), (m), 
and (x) to read as follows:


Sec.  32.24  California.

* * * * *
    (j) Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge--(1) Migratory game bird 
hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, coot, moorhen, and snipe on 
designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) In the controlled waterfowl hunting area, we require a valid 
Refuge Recreation Pass (available electronically or in person at the 
refuge office) for all hunters age 16 or older. All hunters age 15 and 
younger must remain in the immediate presence of an adult (age 18 or 
older) at all times while in the field.
    (ii) Unless otherwise posted, we require advance reservations for 
the first 2 days of the hunting season. Reservations are obtained 
through the waterfowl lottery each year.
    (iii) Hunters may enter the refuge at 4:30 a.m. unless otherwise 
posted.
    (iv) Shooting hours end at 1 p.m. on all California portions of the 
refuge with the following exceptions:
    (A) The refuge manager may designate up to 6 afternoon special 
youth, ladies, veteran, or disabled hunter waterfowl hunts per season.
    (B) The refuge manager may designate up to 3 days per week of 
afternoon waterfowl hunting for the general public after December 1.
    (v) We prohibit the setting of decoys in retrieving zones.
    (vi) Pit-style hunting blinds located in the Stearns units and unit 
9D are first-come, first-served. We require you to hunt within a 200-
foot (61-meter) radius of the blind.
    (2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of pheasant on designated 
areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) In the controlled pheasant hunting area, we require a valid 
Refuge Recreation Pass (available electronically or in person at the 
refuge office) for all hunters age 16 or older.
    (ii) All hunters age 15 or younger must remain in the immediate 
presence of an adult (age 18 or older) at all times while in the field.
    (3)-(4) [Reserved]
* * * * *
    (m) Modoc National Wildlife Refuge--(1) Migratory game bird 
hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, coot, moorhen, and snipe on 
designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) On the opening weekend of the hunting season, hunters must 
possess and carry a refuge permit (FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application/
Permit--National Wildlife Refuge System) issued through random drawing 
to hunters with advance reservations only.
    (ii) After the opening weekend of the hunting season, we only allow 
hunting on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Hunters must check-in 
and out of the refuge by using self-service permits (FWS Form 3-2405, 
Self-Clearing Check-in/out Permit). Hunters must completely fill out 
the ``Refuge Hunt Permit'' portion of the permit and deposit it in the 
drop box prior to hunting. Hunters must complete and display the 
``Daily Vehicle Permit'' in the windshield of the hunter's vehicle 
prior to hunting. The hunter must possess and carry the ``Record of 
Kill'' and ``Waterfowl Harvest Statistics'' portions of the permit 
while on the refuge and turn them in prior to exiting the hunting area.
    (iii) In the designated spaced blind area, you must remain within 
the blind assigned to you.
    (iv) All hunters age 15 and younger must remain in the immediate 
presence of an adult (age 18 or older) at all times while in the field.
    (v) You may not possess more than 25 shot shells while in the field 
once you have left your assigned parking lot or boat launch.
    (vi) You may only use portable blinds in the free-roam hunting 
areas.
    (vii) You must remove all blinds, decoys, shell casings, other 
personal equipment, and refuse from the refuge at the end of each day 
(see Sec. Sec.  27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
    (viii) Hunters must enter and exit the hunting area from the three 
designated hunt parking lots, which we open 1\1/2\ hours before legal 
shooting time and close 1 hour after legal shooting time each hunt day.
    (ix) We only allow walk-in access to the hunt area by foot and 
nonmotorized cart.
    (2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of pheasant on designated 
areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) We limit hunting to junior hunters possessing a valid State 
Junior Hunting License and refuge Junior Pheasant Hunt Permit (FWS Form 
3-2439, Hunt Application/Permit--National Wildlife Refuge System).
    (ii) All hunters age 15 and younger must remain in the immediate 
presence of an adult (age 18 or older) at all times while in the field.
    (3) [Reserved]
    (4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing only on Dorris Reservoir 
subject to the following conditions:
    (i) We prohibit fishing from October 1 to January 31.
    (ii) We allow fishing only from legal sunrise to legal sunset.
    (iii) We allow only walk-in access to Dorris Reservoir from 
February 1 through March 31.
    (iv) We allow use of boats for fishing on Dorris Reservoir only 
from April 1 through September 30.
* * * * *
    (x) Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge--(1) Migratory game bird 
hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, coot, moorhen, and snipe on 
designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) In the controlled waterfowl hunting area, we require a valid 
Refuge Recreation Pass (available electronically or in person at the 
refuge office) for all hunters age 16 or older.
    (ii) All hunters age 15 or younger must remain in the immediate 
presence of an adult (age 18 or older) at all times while in the field.
    (iii) Unless otherwise posted, we require advance reservations for 
the first 2 days of the hunting season. You may obtain a reservation 
through the waterfowl lottery each year.
    (iv) Hunters may enter the refuge at 4:30 a.m. unless otherwise 
posted.
    (v) Shooting hours end at 1 p.m. on all portions of the refuge with 
the following exceptions:
    (A) The refuge manager may designate up to 6 afternoon special 
youth, ladies, veteran, or disabled hunter waterfowl hunts per season.
    (B) The refuge manager may designate up to 3 days per week of 
afternoon waterfowl hunting for the general public after December 1.
    (vi) You select blind sites by lottery at the beginning of each 
hunt day. You may shoot only from within your assigned blind site.
    (vii) We prohibit the setting of decoys in retrieving zones.
    (viii) We prohibit air-thrust and inboard water-thrust boats while 
hunting. We prohibit the use of all-terrain amphibious or utility-type 
vehicles (UTVs) in wetland units.

[[Page 63146]]

    (2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of pheasant on designated 
areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) In the controlled pheasant hunting area, we require a valid 
Refuge Recreation Pass (available electronically or in person at the 
refuge office) for all hunters age 16 or older.
    (ii) All hunters age 15 or younger must remain in the immediate 
presence of an adult (age 18 or older) at all times while in the field.
    (3)-(4) [Reserved]
0
4. Amend Sec.  32.36 by:
0
a. Redesignating paragraphs (b) and (c) as paragraphs (c) and (d), 
respectively; and
0
b. Adding a new paragraph (b).
    The addition reads as follows:


Sec.  32.36  Kentucky.

* * * * *
    (b) Green River National Wildlife Refuge--(1) Migratory game bird 
hunting. We allow hunting of duck, goose, coot, merganser, teal, and 
dove on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following 
conditions:
    (i) Each hunter age 12 and older must possess and carry a signed 
refuge hunting brochure (FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application/Permit--
National Wildlife Refuge System) while hunting on the refuge.
    (ii) All hunters age 15 or younger must be supervised by an adult 
age 21 or older and must remain in sight of and normal voice contact 
with the adult. The adult may supervise no more than two youths.
    (iii) We prohibit hunting within 100 yards (91 meters) of a 
residence, graveled road, or hiking trail managed by the Service as 
part of Green River NWR.
    (iv) We prohibit the use of trail cameras.
    (v) We allow the use of boats operated only by manual power or an 
electric trolling motor for hunters to access the refuge. We prohibit 
the use of internal combustion motors, personal watercraft (e.g., jet 
skis), airboats, and hovercraft on waters owned and managed by Green 
River NWR.
    (vi) We allow the use of bikes, including e-bikes, for hunters to 
access the refuge along designated routes only (graveled and paved 
roads, and established trails) managed by the Service as part of Green 
River NWR. We prohibit the use of internal combustion motors on lands 
owned and managed by Green River NWR.
    (vii) We allow the use of off-road or all-terrain vehicles (e.g., 
ATVs/UTVs) only for mobility-impaired hunters who, while hunting on the 
refuge, possess and carry a valid General Activities Special Use Permit 
(FWS Form 3-1383-G) approved by the refuge manager.
    (viii) We prohibit marking or flagging any tree or other refuge 
feature with non-biodegradable reflectors, paint, flagging, or other 
substances.
    (ix) Access to open hunting areas of the refuge is from 2 hours 
before legal sunrise to 2 hours after legal sunset.
    (x) We prohibit the killing or wounding of a game animal and then 
intentionally or knowingly failing to make a reasonable effort to 
retrieve and include it in the hunter's bag limit.
    (xi) We allow duck, goose, coot, wood duck, teal, and merganser 
hunting from \1/2\ hour before legal sunrise until 12 p.m. (noon). We 
allow dove hunting according to State shooting hours.
    (xii) We allow the use of dogs for migratory game bird hunting. Dog 
owners and handlers must have a collar on each dog with the owner's 
contact information (FWS Form 3-2439).
    (xiii) For migratory game bird hunting, you must remove all decoys, 
blinds, and hunting equipment at the end of each day's hunt (see Sec.  
27.93 of this chapter).
    (xiv) For youth, seniors, and disabled hunters, as defined by the 
State, the Horseshoe Bend Unit will be open to waterfowl hunting during 
the months of December and January of the Statewide waterfowl season, 
and during the additional Statewide veterans and youth hunt dates in 
February.
    (xv) We prohibit waterfowl hunting during any Statewide seasons 
prior to December.
    (xvi) We prohibit all entry to the Tscharner East section of the 
Bluff Unit from November 1 through March 31.
    (xvii) The big game quota hunt in the month of November of the 
Statewide white-tailed deer season is open only to holders of a big 
game quota permit (FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application/Permit--National 
Wildlife Refuge System). During that hunt, the Tscharner West section 
of the Bluff Unit and the Horseshoe Bend Unit are closed to all non-
selected hunters and the general public.
    (2) [Reserved]
    (3) Big game hunting. We allow only archery and crossbow hunting of 
white-tailed deer and turkey, and incidental take of feral hog, on 
designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (b)(1)(i), (iii) through 
(x), (xvi), and (xvii) of this section apply.
    (ii) Hunters age 15 and younger must be supervised by an adult age 
21 or older and must remain in sight of and normal voice contact with 
the adult. The adult may supervise no more than one youth.
    (iii) We allow white-tailed deer and turkey hunting according to 
State shooting hours.
    (iv) You must use safety belts at all times when occupying tree 
stands.
    (v) You must remove all tree stands (portable and climbing) and 
ground blinds by legal sunset of each day's hunt.
    (vi) You may use no more than one stand or blind per hunter.
    (vii) The big game quota permit (FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application/
Permit--National Wildlife Refuge System) is a limited entry permit, is 
zone-specific, and is nontransferable.
    (viii) During the big game quota hunt, we allow only hunters 
possessing a valid big game quota permit (FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt 
Application/Permit--National Wildlife Refuge System) on the refuge and 
only for the purposes of deer and turkey hunting.
    (ix) For the drawn holders of a big game quota permit (FWS Form 3-
2439, Hunt Application/Permit--National Wildlife Refuge System), the 
Horseshoe Bend Unit and Tscharner West section of the Bluff Unit will 
be open, up to 21 days, during the month of November of the Statewide 
season.
    (x) For youth, seniors, and disabled hunters, as defined by the 
State, the Horseshoe Bend Unit and Tscharner West section of the Bluff 
Unit will be open to archery and crossbow hunting of deer and turkey 
during the months of September and October in accordance with State 
season dates.
    (xi) For youth, as defined by the State, the Horseshoe Bend Unit 
and Tscharner West section of the Bluff Unit will be open to archery 
and crossbow hunting of turkey during the months of April and May in 
accordance with State season dates.
    (4) [Reserved]
* * * * *
0
5. Amend Sec.  32.37 by revising and republishing paragraphs (d), (e), 
and (m) to read as follows:


Sec.  32.37  Louisiana.

* * * * *
    (d) Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge--(1) Migratory game bird 
hunting. We allow hunting of duck, merganser, teal, light and dark 
goose, coot, gallinule, rail, snipe, dove, and woodcock on designated 
areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) Each person age 18 and older must possess and carry a valid, 
signed refuge user brochure while on the refuge.
    (ii) We prohibit hunting or discharge of firearms (see Sec.  27.42 
of this chapter)

[[Page 63147]]

within 500 feet (152 meters (m)) of any residence or oil and gas 
infrastructure, or within 200 feet (61 m) of any road, railroad, levee, 
water control structure, designated public use trail, designated 
parking area, or other designated public use facility.
    (iii) All youth hunters age 15 and younger must be supervised by an 
adult during all hunts. One adult may supervise up to two youths during 
small game and migratory game bird hunts, but may supervise only one 
youth during big game hunts. The supervising adult must maintain visual 
and voice contact with the youth at all times. Adult guardians are 
responsible for ensuring that youth hunters do not violate refuge 
rules.
    (iv) We require waterfowl and gallinule hunters to remove all 
portable blinds and decoys from the refuge by 2 p.m. each day (see 
Sec. Sec.  27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
    (v) Migratory bird hunters are only allowed to enter the refuge 
after 4 a.m.
    (vi) We allow waterfowl hunting daily until 2 p.m. during the State 
regular season, State teal season, and State youth and veteran 
waterfowl seasons. We allow gallinule, snipe, and rail hunting until 2 
p.m.
    (vii) When hunting migratory game birds, you may only use dogs to 
locate, point, and retrieve game.
    (viii) We allow only the use of reflective tacks as marking 
devices.
    (ix) We only allow the incidental take of nutria with approved shot 
and weapons during any open waterfowl season on the refuge. We allow 
the incidental take of raccoon, feral hog, armadillo, opossum, and 
coyote with approved shot and weapons during any open season on the 
refuge.
    (2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of squirrel and rabbit, 
and the incidental take of nutria, coyote, raccoon, armadillo, and 
opossum, on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following 
conditions:
    (i) We only allow hunting from the start of the State squirrel and 
rabbit seasons until the last day of State waterfowl season for the 
State Waterfowl Zone in which you are hunting.
    (ii) We prohibit upland game hunting on days corresponding with 
refuge deer gun hunts.
    (iii) Hunters must leave the refuge no later than 2 hours after 
legal sunset.
    (iv) When hunting, you must possess only shot size 4 or smaller or 
0.22 caliber rimfire rifles or smaller. We allow the use of air rifles.
    (v) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (d)(1)(i) through (iii) 
and (viii) through (x) of this section apply.
    (vi) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (d)(2)(i) through (iv) 
of this section do not apply to upland game hunting on the Mitigation 
Units.
    (3) Big game hunting. We allow the hunting of white-tailed deer, 
and the incidental take of feral hog, on designated areas of the refuge 
subject to the following conditions:
    (i) We allow hunting with firearms (see Sec.  27.42 of this 
chapter) of deer only on 5 specific days in October and November each 
year. A youth gun hunt will occur on 2 days, consisting of both the 
Saturday and the Sunday of the last full weekend within the month of 
October. The general gun hunt will occur on 3 days, consisting of the 
Friday immediately before and the last full weekend within the month of 
November.
    (ii) We allow archery deer hunting according to the State of 
Louisiana archery season. We close refuge archery hunting during refuge 
deer gun hunts.
    (iii) We allow each hunter to possess only one deer per day; the 
deer may be a buck or a doe.
    (iv) Hunters may use only portable deer stands. Hunters may erect 
deer stands no earlier than 48 hours before the deer archery season and 
must remove them from the refuge within 48 hours after the season 
closes (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter). Hunters may place only one 
deer stand on the refuge. Deer stands must have the owner's State 
hunting license/sportsman's identification number clearly printed on 
the stand.
    (v) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (d)(1)(i) through (iii), 
(viii), and (x) and (d)(2)(iii) of this section apply.
    (vi) The condition set forth at paragraph (d)(3)(i) of this section 
does not apply to big game hunting on the Mitigation Units.
    (vii) We prohibit the use of deer decoys.
    (viii) We prohibit organized deer drives. We define a ``deer 
drive'' as an organized or planned effort to pursue, drive, chase, or 
otherwise frighten or cause deer to move in the direction of any 
person(s) who is part of the organized or planned hunt and known to be 
waiting for the deer.
    (ix) Deer hunters must display State Wildlife Management Area (WMA) 
hunter-orange or blaze-pink (as governed by State WMA regulations).
    (4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing in all refuge waters 
subject to the following conditions:
    (i) We prohibit the use of unattended nets, traps, or lines (trot, 
jug, bush, etc.).
    (ii) The condition set forth at paragraph (d)(1)(i) of this section 
applies.
    (iii) The refuge is only open to recreational finfishing and 
shellfishing from legal sunrise to legal sunset.
    (e) Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge--(1) Migratory game 
bird hunting. We allow hunting of duck, merganser, teal, coot, light 
and dark goose, snipe, rail, gallinule, dove, and woodcock on 
designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) Each person age 18 and older must possess and carry a valid, 
signed refuge user brochure while on the refuge.
    (ii) We allow waterfowl, snipe, rail, gallinule, dove, and goose 
hunting on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from \1/2\ 
hour before legal sunrise until 2 p.m., including waterfowl hunting 
during the State teal season and State youth and veterans waterfowl 
seasons. We only allow hunting of woodcock until 2 p.m.
    (iii) We allow light goose hunting for that part of the season that 
extends beyond the regular duck season from \1/2\ hour before legal 
sunrise until 2 p.m.
    (iv) We allow only temporary blinds, and hunters must remove blinds 
and decoys by 2 p.m. each day (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter).
    (v) All youth hunters age 15 and younger must be supervised by an 
adult during all hunts. One adult may supervise up to two youths during 
small game hunts and migratory bird hunts, but may supervise only one 
youth during big game hunts. The supervising adult must maintain visual 
and voice contact with the youth at all times. Adult guardians are 
responsible for ensuring that youth hunters do not violate refuge 
rules.
    (vi) We prohibit hunting or discharge of firearms (see Sec.  27.42 
of this chapter) within 500 feet (152 meters (m)) of any residence 
adjacent to the refuge or oil and gas infrastructure on the refuge, or 
within 200 feet (61 m) from the center of any road, railroad, levee, 
water control structure, designated public use maintained trail, 
designated parking area, or other designated public use facility.
    (vii) We allow migratory bird hunters to enter the refuge no 
earlier than 4 a.m., and all hunters must exit the refuge no later than 
2 hours after legal sunset.
    (viii) We allow only reflective tacks as trail markers on the 
refuge.
    (ix) We allow the incidental take of raccoon, feral hog, armadillo, 
opossum, and coyote with approved shot and weapons allowed during any 
open season on the refuge.

[[Page 63148]]

    (x) We only allow the incidental take of nutria with approved shot 
and weapons during any open waterfowl (duck, teal, merganser, light and 
dark goose, and coot) season on the refuge.
    (xi) We prohibit hunters and anglers from utilizing air boats, air 
thrust boats, mud boats, aircraft, and air-cooled propulsion engines on 
the refuge.
    (2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of squirrel, rabbit, and 
quail, and the incidental take of nutria, coyote, raccoon, armadillo, 
and opossum, on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following 
conditions:
    (i) When hunting, you must possess only shot size 4 or smaller, or 
0.22 caliber rim-fire rifles or smaller. We allow the use of air 
rifles.
    (ii) When hunting squirrel and rabbit, and for the incidental take 
of raccoon, we allow the use of dogs only after the close of the State 
archery deer season. When hunting quail, you may only use dogs to 
locate, point, and retrieve.
    (iii) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (e)(1)(i), (v), (vi), 
and (viii) through (xi) of this section apply.
    (iv) During the dog season for squirrel and rabbit, all hunters, 
including archers (while on the ground), except waterfowl hunters, must 
wear a minimum of a cap or hat that is hunter orange, blaze pink, or 
other such color as governed by State regulations.
    (v) We only allow hunting of quail until 2 p.m.
    (3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer, and 
the incidental take of feral hog, on designated areas of the refuge 
subject to the following conditions:
    (i) We are open only during the State season for archery hunting of 
deer.
    (ii) We prohibit organized deer drives. We define a ``deer drive'' 
as an organized or planned effort to pursue, drive, chase, or otherwise 
frighten or cause deer to move in the direction of any person(s) who is 
part of the organized or planned hunt and known to be waiting for the 
deer.
    (iii) We allow placement of temporary deer stands no earlier than 
48 hours prior to the start of deer archery season. Hunters must remove 
all deer stands within 48 hours after the archery deer season closes 
(see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter). We allow only one deer stand per 
hunter on the refuge. Deer stands must have the owner's State license/
sportsmen's identification number clearly printed on the stand. We 
prohibit hunting stands on trees painted with white bands.
    (iv) Deer hunters must display State Wildlife Management Area (WMA) 
hunter-orange or blaze-pink (as governed by State WMA regulations) 
while on the ground.
    (v) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (e)(1)(i), (v), (vi), 
and (viii) through (xi) of this section apply.
    (vi) We prohibit the use of deer decoys.
    (4) Sport fishing. We allow recreational finfishing and 
shellfishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following 
conditions:
    (i) You may only fish from legal sunrise until legal sunset, except 
we allow night fishing from the bank and pier on Lake Road.
    (ii) You must only use rod and reel or pole and line while 
finfishing.
    (iii) You must attend to any fishing, crabbing, and crawfishing 
equipment at all times.
    (iv) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (e)(1)(i) and (xi) of 
this section apply.
* * * * *
    (m) Delta National Wildlife Refuge--(1) Migratory game bird 
hunting. We allow hunting of duck, merganser, teal, light and dark 
goose, dove, snipe, rail, gallinule, and coot on designated areas of 
the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) Each person age 18 and older must possess and carry a valid, 
signed refuge user brochure while on the refuge.
    (ii) We allow migratory bird hunting on Wednesdays, Thursdays, 
Saturdays, and Sundays from \1/2\ hour before legal sunrise until 2 
p.m. during the State seasons, including the regular waterfowl season, 
the State teal season, State youth waterfowl season, State veterans 
waterfowl season, and State light goose special conservation season.
    (iii) We only allow temporary blinds. You must remove both blinds 
and decoys by 2 p.m. each day (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter).
    (iv) When hunting migratory game birds, you may only use dogs to 
locate, point, and retrieve game.
    (v) We prohibit discharge of firearms (see Sec.  27.42 of this 
chapter) within 500 feet (152 meters (m)) of any residence or oil and 
gas infrastructure, or within 200 feet (61 m) of any road, railroad, 
levee, water control structure, designated public use trail, designated 
parking area, or other designated public use facilities.
    (vi) All youth hunters age 15 and younger must be supervised by an 
adult during all hunts. One adult may supervise up to two youths during 
upland game and migratory game bird hunts, but may supervise only one 
youth during big game hunts. The supervising adult must maintain visual 
and voice contact with the youth at all times.
    (vii) Migratory bird hunters may enter the refuge no earlier than 4 
a.m., and all hunters must exit the refuge no later than 2 hours after 
legal sunset.
    (viii) We allow the incidental take of raccoon, feral hog, 
armadillo, opossum, and coyote with approved shot and weapons allowed 
during any open season on the refuge.
    (ix) We only allow the incidental take of nutria with approved shot 
and weapons during any open waterfowl season on the refuge.
    (x) We allow only the use of reflective tacks as marking devices.
    (xi) We close all refuge lands between Raphael Pass and Main Pass 
to public entry, including hunting and fishing, from November 1 through 
the end of February; year-round access is only allowed in Main, 
Raphael, Octave, Women, and Flatboat passes.
    (xii) We prohibit hunters and anglers from utilizing air boats, air 
thrust boats, mud boats, aircraft, and air-cooled propulsion engines on 
the refuge.
    (2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of rabbit, and the 
incidental take of nutria, coyote, raccoon, armadillo, and opossum, on 
designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) The refuge rabbit season opens the day after the State duck 
season closes and continues through the remainder of the State rabbit 
season.
    (ii) We restrict hunting to shotgun only.
    (iii) We allow the use of dogs when rabbit hunting.
    (iv) We prohibit upland game hunting on days corresponding with 
refuge deer gun hunts.
    (v) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (m)(1)(i), (v) through 
(viii), (xi), and (xii) of this section apply.
    (3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer on 
designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (m)(1)(i) and (v) 
through (xii) of this section apply.
    (ii) We allow archery deer hunting, bucks only, from October 1 
through 15. We allow either-sex archery deer hunting from October 16 
through 31, and from the day after the close of the State duck season 
through the end of the State deer archery season.
    (iii) We allow placement of temporary deer stands up to 48 hours 
prior to the start of deer archery season. Hunters must remove all deer 
stands within 48 hours after the archery deer season closes (see Sec.  
27.93 of this chapter). We allow only one deer stand per hunter on the 
refuge. Deer stands must have the owner's State license/sportsmen's

[[Page 63149]]

identification number clearly printed on the stand.
    (iv) We prohibit organized deer drives. We define a ``deer drive'' 
as an organized or planned effort to pursue, drive, chase, or otherwise 
frighten or cause deer to move in the direction of any person(s) who is 
part of the organized or planned hunt and known to be waiting for the 
deer.
    (v) We prohibit the use of deer decoys.
    (vi) We allow shotgun hunting of deer on the Saturday and Sunday 
during the first split of the regular waterfowl season.
    (vii) Deer hunters must display State Wildlife Management Area 
(WMA) hunter-orange or blaze-pink (as governed by State WMA 
regulations).
    (4) Sport fishing. We allow recreational finfishing and 
shellfishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following 
conditions:
    (i) We only allow sport finfishing and shellfishing from \1/2\ hour 
before legal sunrise until \1/2\ hour after legal sunset. During the 
State waterfowl hunting seasons, we only allow sport finfishing and 
shellfishing from 2 p.m. until \1/2\ hour after legal sunset.
    (ii) We prohibit the use of trotlines, limblines, slat traps, jug 
lines, nets, or alligator lines.
    (iii) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (m)(1)(i), (xi), and 
(xii) of this section apply.
* * * * *
0
6. Amend Sec.  32.41 by revising and republishing paragraph (f) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  32.41  Michigan.

* * * * *
    (f) Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge--(1) Migratory game bird 
hunting. We allow hunting of waterfowl (duck and goose), American 
woodcock, American crow, American coot, common gallinule, sora, 
Virginia rail, and Wilson's snipe on designated areas of the refuge 
subject to the following conditions:
    (i) You must possess and carry a refuge check-in card (FWS Form 3-
2405, Self-Clearing Check-in Permit).
    (ii) We allow waterfowl hunting on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, 
and Thursdays during the regular goose season after September 30.
    (iii) We allow hunter access to the refuge 2 hours before legal 
shooting time to 2 hours after legal shooting time.
    (iv) You may possess no more than 25 shotgun shells while hunting 
in the field.
    (v) We allow the use of dogs while hunting, provided the dog is 
under the immediate control of the hunter at all times.
    (vi) We allow the take of feral hogs incidental to other lawful 
hunting using legal methods of take.
    (2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of turkey, small game 
(eastern fox squirrel, eastern cottontail, and ring-necked pheasant), 
and furbearers (raccoon, coyote, and red fox) on designated areas of 
the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (f)(1)(iii) and (vi) of 
this section apply, except we allow hunter access to the refuge for 
furbearer hunting from \1/2\ hour before legal sunrise to \1/2\ hour 
after legal sunset.
    (ii) You may only hunt turkey during the spring season.
    (iii) We allow dogs for hunting. Raccoon hunting dogs must wear 
global positioning system (GPS) or radio collars.
    (3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer on 
designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (f)(1)(iii) and (vi) of 
this section apply.
    (ii) You must possess and carry a refuge permit (State-issued 
permit).
    (4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of 
the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) We allow fishing by boat in navigable waterways but not within 
any managed refuge units.
    (ii) We allow bank fishing from legal sunrise to legal sunset only 
at designated sites along the Tittabawassee and Cass Rivers.
0
7. Amend Sec.  32.42 by revising and republishing paragraph (a) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  32.42  Minnesota.

* * * * *
    (a) Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge--(1) Migratory game bird 
hunting. We allow youth waterfowl hunting on designated areas of the 
refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) We allow the use of dogs while hunting, provided the dog is 
under the immediate control of the hunter at all times.
    (ii) Hunters must dismantle hunting blinds, platforms, and ladders 
made from natural vegetation at the end of each day.
    (iii) You must remove all boats, decoys, blind materials, stands, 
platforms, cameras, and other personal property brought onto the refuge 
at the end of each day (see Sec. Sec.  27.93 and 27.94 of this 
chapter).
    (iv) We close the refuge from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
    (v) We allow the use of motorless boats for hunting.
    (vi) We only allow waterfowl hunting during the State's youth 
waterfowl season.
    (2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of ruffed grouse and 
sharp-tailed grouse on designated areas of the refuge subject to the 
following conditions:
    (i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (v) of 
this section apply.
    (ii) We only allow hunting from the opening of the State's deer 
firearms season to the close of the State's ruffed grouse and sharp-
tailed grouse seasons, respectively.
    (3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer and 
moose on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following 
conditions:
    (i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (iv), and (v) 
of this section apply.
    (ii) We prohibit shooting on, from, over, across, or within 30 feet 
(9 meters) of a roadway open to motorized public vehicle transportation 
at a big game animal or a decoy of a big game animal.
    (iii) We only allow archery hunting from the start of the State's 
deer firearms season, and close as governed by the State's archery deer 
season.
    (iv) You must remove all boats, decoys, cameras, and other personal 
property brought onto the refuge at the end of each day (see Sec. Sec.  
27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
    (v) We allow only portable tree stands; portable, elevated hunting 
platforms not attached to trees; and portable ground blinds that can be 
hand-carried into the hunting area.
    (vi) You may place your tree stand(s), elevated platform(s), and/or 
ground blind(s) on the refuge only during your designated licensed 
season. You must remove these stands/blinds by the end of your 
designated licensed season (see Sec. Sec.  27.93 of this chapter). 
Unoccupied stands/blinds may be used by anyone.
    (vii) We allow only two stands/blinds per hunter on the refuge. You 
must clearly label the stands/blinds with your State hunting license 
number.
    (viii) We prohibit the use of nails, wire, screws, or bolts to 
attach a stand to a tree.
    (ix) We prohibit hunting from a tree into which a metal object has 
been driven to support a hunter.
    (4) [Reserved]
* * * * *
0
8. Amend Sec.  32.45 by revising and republishing paragraph (o) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  32.45  Montana.

* * * * *

[[Page 63150]]

    (o) Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge. (1) [Reserved]
    (2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of turkey and mountain 
grouse on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following 
conditions:
    (i) We allow use of riding or pack stock on designated access 
routes through the refuge to access off-refuge lands as identified in 
the public use leaflet.
    (ii) We prohibit retrieval of game in areas closed to hunting 
without a refuge retrieval permit.
    (iii) We allow portable or temporary blinds and tree stands.
    (3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of elk, white-tailed deer, 
and mule deer on designated areas of the refuge subject to the 
following conditions:
    (i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (o)(2)(i) through (iii) 
of this section apply.
    (ii) Persons assisting disabled hunters must not be afield with a 
hunting firearm, bow, or other hunting device.
    (4) [Reserved]
* * * * *
0
9. Amend Sec.  32.46 by revising and republishing paragraph (c) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  32.46  Nebraska.

* * * * *
    (c) Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge--(1) Migratory game bird 
hunting. We allow hunting of coot, crow, dark goose, dove, duck, light 
goose, rail, snipe, teal, and woodcock on designated areas of the 
refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) Hunters and anglers may access the refuge from 2 hours before 
legal sunrise until 2 hours after legal sunset.
    (ii) We allow access from designated areas of the refuge.
    (iii) You must remove all blinds and decoys at the conclusion of 
each day's hunt (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter).
    (iv) We allow the use of dogs when hunting August 1 through April 
30.
    (2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of badger, bobcat, 
coyote, fox, long-tailed weasel, mink, opossum, prairie dog, porcupine, 
rabbit, hare, raccoon, skunk, squirrel, woodchuck, State-defined 
furbearers, greater prairie chicken, grouse, partridge, pheasant, 
quail, and turkey on designated areas of the refuge subject to the 
following conditions:
    (i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (c)(1)(i), (ii), and 
(iv) of this section apply.
    (ii) We allow hunting with muzzleloader, archery, shotgun, and 
falconry.
    (iii) You may only possess lead-free shot when hunting turkey (see 
Sec.  32.2(k)).
    (iv) Shooting hours for coyote, prairie dog, porcupine, woodchuck, 
and State-defined furbearers are \1/2\ hour before legal sunrise to \1/
2\ hour after legal sunset.
    (3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of deer, elk, and pronghorn 
antelope on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following 
conditions:
    (i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (c)(1)(i) and (ii) of 
this section apply.
    (ii) We allow hunting only with muzzleloader and archery equipment.
    (iii) We allow portable tree stands and ground blinds to be used 
from August 16 through January 31.
    (4) Sport fishing. We allow fishing on Minnechaduza Creek and on 
the Niobrara River, downstream from the Cornell Dam, subject to the 
following conditions:
    (i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (c)(1)(i) and (ii) of 
this section apply.
    (ii) We prohibit the use of limb or set lines.
    (iii) We prohibit the take of baitfish, reptiles, and amphibians.
    (iv) We prohibit use or possession of alcoholic beverages while 
fishing on refuge lands and waters.
* * * * *
0
10. Amend Sec.  32.53 by revising and republishing paragraphs (q), (w), 
(oo), and (kkk) to read as follows:


Sec.  32.53  North Dakota.

* * * * *
    (q) Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge. (1) [Reserved]
    (2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of fox, sharp-tailed 
grouse, Hungarian partridge, turkey, and ring-necked pheasant on 
designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) We open for upland game bird hunting on the day following the 
close of the regular deer gun season through the end of the State 
season.
    (ii) We allow the use of hunting dogs for retrieval of upland game.
    (iii) We allow fox hunting from the day following the regular 
firearm deer season until March 31.
    (iv) We prohibit accessing refuge lands from refuge waters.
    (3) Big game hunting. We allow deer, elk, and moose hunting on 
designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) We only allow the use of portable tree stands and ground 
blinds. We prohibit leaving stands and blinds overnight on the refuge 
(see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter).
    (ii) We prohibit entry to the refuge before 12 p.m. (noon) on the 
first day of the respective bow, gun, or muzzleloader deer hunting 
seasons.
    (iii) The condition set forth at paragraph (q)(2)(iv) of this 
section applies.
    (iv) You may only possess lead-free ammunition when hunting elk 
(see Sec.  32.2(k)).
    (4) [Reserved]
* * * * *
    (w) J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge--(1) Migratory game 
bird hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, and coot on designated 
areas of the refuge subject to the following condition: We allow the 
use of dogs for hunting and retrieving game birds.
    (2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of ruffed and sharp-
tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge, turkey, ring-necked pheasant, and 
fox on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following 
conditions:
    (i) We open the refuge to hunting for sharp-tailed grouse, 
Hungarian partridge, and ring-necked pheasant north of the Willow-Upham 
road on the day following the close of the regular firearm deer season.
    (ii) We open the refuge to fox hunting on the day following the 
close of the regular firearm deer season. Fox hunting on the refuge 
closes March 31.
    (iii) Hunters may possess only approved lead-free shot (see Sec.  
32.2(k)) for all upland game hunting, including turkey.
    (3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of deer, elk, and moose on 
designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) You must possess and carry a refuge permit to hunt antlered 
deer on the refuge outside the nine public hunting areas during the 
regular firearms season.
    (ii) We prohibit entry to the refuge before 12 p.m. (noon) on the 
first day of the respective bow, gun, or muzzleloader deer hunting 
seasons. You may access refuge roads open to the public before 12 p.m. 
(noon).
    (iii) You may only possess lead-free ammunition when hunting elk 
(see Sec.  32.2(k)).
    (4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of 
the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) We allow boat fishing from May 1 through September 30.
    (ii) We allow ice fishing and dark house spearfishing. We allow 
snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility terrain vehicles 
(UTVs),

[[Page 63151]]

motor vehicles, and fish houses on the ice as conditions allow.
* * * * *
    (oo) Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge. (1) [Reserved]
    (2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of sharp-tailed grouse, 
Hungarian partridge, and ring-necked pheasant on designated areas of 
the refuge subject to the following condition: We allow the use of dogs 
to retrieve upland game.
    (3) Big game hunting. We allow deer, elk, and moose hunting on 
designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) We prohibit entry to the refuge before 12 p.m. (noon) on the 
first day of the respective archery, gun, or muzzleloader deer hunting 
season.
    (ii) You may only possess lead-free ammunition when hunting elk 
(see Sec.  32.2(k)).
    (4) [Reserved]
* * * * *
    (kkk) Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge. (1) [Reserved]
    (2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of wild turkey, sharp-
tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge, and pheasant on designated areas of 
the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) We allow the use of dogs for hunting and retrieving of upland 
game birds.
    (ii) We allow hunters on the refuge from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m.
    (3) Big game hunting. We allow deer, elk, and moose hunting on 
designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) We only allow the use of portable tree stands and ground 
blinds. You must remove stands and blinds from the refuge at the end of 
each day's hunt (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter).
    (ii) The condition set forth at paragraph (kkk)(2)(ii) of this 
section applies.
    (iii) We prohibit entry to the refuge before 12 p.m. (noon) on the 
first day of the respective bow, gun, or muzzleloader deer hunting 
seasons.
    (iv) You may only possess lead-free ammunition when hunting elk 
(see Sec.  32.2(k)).
    (4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of 
the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) We allow the use of fishing boats, canoes, kayaks, and float 
tubes in designated boat fishing areas from Lake Darling Dam north to 
State Highway 28 (Greene) crossing for fishing from May 1 through 
September 30.
    (ii) We allow fishing from nonmotorized vessels only on the Beaver 
Lodge Canoe Trail from May 1 through September 30.
    (iii) We allow boating and fishing from vessels on the Souris River 
from Mouse River Park to the north boundary of the refuge from May 1 
through September 30.
    (iv) We allow snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility 
terrain vehicles (UTVs), motor vehicles, and fish houses on the ice as 
conditions allow from Lake Darling Dam north to Carter Dam (Dam 41) for 
ice fishing.
    (v) We allow you to place fish houses overnight on the ice of Lake 
Darling as governed by State regulations.
    (vi) We allow anglers to place portable fish houses on the Souris 
River north of Carter Dam (Dam 41) and south of Lake Darling Dam for 
ice fishing, but anglers must remove the fish houses from the refuge at 
the end of each day's fishing activity (see Sec.  27.93 of this 
chapter).
    (vii) We allow anglers on the refuge from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m.
* * * * *
0
11. Amend Sec.  32.62 by revising and republishing paragraph (p) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  32.62  Texas.

* * * * *
    (p) Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge--(1) Migratory game bird 
hunting. We allow hunting of duck, merganser, and coot on designated 
areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) We only allow hunting on Champion Lake with a refuge-issued 
permit (signed hunt brochure).
    (ii) We only allow hunting on Champion Lake on Saturdays and 
Sundays during the State duck season. Hunters may not enter the refuge 
until 4:30 a.m. and must be out of the hunt area by 12 p.m. (noon).
    (iii) We allow the use of dogs when retrieving game.
    (iv) Hunters age 16 and younger must be under the direct 
supervision of an adult age 17 or older.
    (v) We require a minimum distance between hunt parties of 150 yards 
(135 meters).
    (vi) We allow motors of 10 horsepower or less on Champion Lake.
    (2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting for squirrel, and 
incidental take of rabbit, on designated areas of the refuge subject to 
the following conditions:
    (i) We require hunters to possess a permit issued by Texas Parks 
and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Permits are issued by a lottery 
drawing. The hunter must carry the nontransferable permit at all times 
while hunting.
    (ii) The condition set forth at paragraph (p)(1)(iii) of this 
section applies.
    (iii) We allow all-terrain vehicle use for hunters with 
disabilities in designated units.
    (iv) We require a minimum distance between hunt parties of 200 
yards (180 meters).
    (v) Hunters may enter the refuge no earlier than 4:30 a.m. We allow 
hunting from 30 minutes before legal sunrise to 30 minutes after legal 
sunset only during the days specified on the permit. Hunters must be 
off the refuge 1\1/2\ hours after legal sunset.
    (vi) Hunters may place no more than one temporary stand on the 
refuge. Hunters may place the stand during the scouting week before the 
hunt begins and must remove it on or before the day the hunt ends (see 
Sec.  27.93 of this chapter). Hunters must label blinds with the name 
of the permit holder.
    (3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer, and 
incidental take of feral hog, on designated areas of the refuge subject 
to the following conditions:
    (i) We require hunters to possess a TPWD-issued permit. Permits are 
issued by a lottery drawing. The hunter must carry the nontransferable 
permit at all times while hunting.
    (ii) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (p)(1)(iii) and 
(p)(2)(iii) through (vi) of this section apply.
    (iii) We allow archery hunting of white-tailed deer during the 
refuge designated 23-day archery season.
    (iv) We allow gun hunting of white-tailed deer during the State-
designated general gun season in two 9-day ``mini-seasons'' and during 
the State-designated muzzleloader season.
    (4) Sport fishing. We allow fishing on designated areas of the 
refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) We only allow fishing with pole and line, rod and reel, or 
hand-held line.
    (ii) We prohibit the use of trotlines, setlines, bows and arrows, 
gigs, spears, fish traps, crab/crawfish traps, and/or nets.
    (iii) We prohibit the harvesting of frog or turtle (see Sec.  27.21 
of this chapter).
    (iv) We allow fishing from legal sunrise to legal sunset.
0
12. Amend Sec.  32.66 by revising and republishing paragraph (c) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  32.66  Washington.

* * * * *
    (c) Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge--(1) Migratory game bird 
hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, coot, and snipe on designated

[[Page 63152]]

areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) We prohibit discharge of any firearm within \1/4\ mile (396 
meters) of any maintained building or Federal facility, such as, but 
not limited to, a structure designed for storage, human occupancy, or 
shelter for animals.
    (ii) Hunters must remove all decoys and other equipment at the end 
of each day's hunt (see Sec.  27.93 of this chapter).
    (2)-(4) [Reserved]
* * * * *
0
13. Amend Sec.  32.67 by revising and republishing paragraph (a) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  32.67  West Virginia.

* * * * *
    (a) Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge--(1) Migratory game bird 
hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, rail, coot, gallinule, 
mourning dove, snipe, and woodcock on designated areas of the refuge 
subject to the following conditions:
    (i) We require each hunter to possess and carry a signed refuge 
hunting brochure (signed brochure).
    (ii) Hunters may enter the refuge 1 hour before legal sunrise and 
must exit the refuge, including parking areas, no later than 1 hour 
after legal sunset.
    (iii) We prohibit overnight parking except by Special Use Permit 
(FWS Form 3-1383-G) on Forest Road 80.
    (iv) We allow the use of dogs consistent with State regulations.
    (v) We prohibit dog training except during legal hunting seasons.
    (vi) You may only use or possess approved lead-free shot shells and 
ammunition while in the Big Cove Unit (see Sec.  32.2(k)).
    (2) Upland game hunting. We allow the hunting of ruffed grouse, 
squirrel, cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, red fox, gray fox, bobcat, 
woodchuck, coyote, opossum, striped skunk, and raccoon on designated 
areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (iv), (v), 
and (vi) of this section apply.
    (ii) You may hunt coyote, raccoon, opossum, skunk, and fox at 
night, but you must obtain a Special Use Permit (FWS Form 3-1383-G) at 
the refuge headquarters before hunting.
    (iii) We only allow hunting in the No Rifle Zones with the 
following equipment: Archery (including crossbow), shotgun, or 
muzzleloader.
    (iv) We prohibit the hunting of upland game species from March 1 
through August 31.
    (3) Big game hunting. We allow the hunting of white-tailed deer, 
black bear, and turkey on designated areas of the refuge subject to the 
following conditions:
    (i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (iv), and 
(vi) and (a)(2)(iii) of this section apply.
    (ii) We allow the use of dogs for hunting black bear during the gun 
season.
    (iii) We prohibit organized deer drives. We define a ``deer drive'' 
as an organized or planned effort to pursue, drive, chase, or otherwise 
frighten or cause deer to move in the direction of any person(s) who is 
part of the organized or planned hunt and known to be waiting for the 
deer.
    (4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of 
the refuge subject to the following condition: We prohibit the use of 
lead fishing tackle on designated areas of the refuge.
* * * * *
0
14. Amend Sec.  32.68 by revising and republishing paragraph (d) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  32.68  Wisconsin.

* * * * *
    (d) Horicon National Wildlife Refuge--(1) Migratory game bird 
hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, coot, common moorhen, and 
American woodcock on designated areas of the refuge subject to the 
following condition: We allow only participants in the Learn to Hunt 
and other special programs to hunt goose, duck, coot, and common 
moorhen.
    (2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of wild turkey, ring-
necked pheasant, gray partridge, ruffed grouse, squirrel, cottontail 
rabbit, snowshoe hare, raccoon, opossum, striped skunk, red fox, gray 
fox, coyote, and bobcat on designated areas of the refuge subject to 
the following conditions:
    (i) For hunting, you may use or possess only approved lead-free 
shot shells while in the field, including shot shells used for hunting 
wild turkey (see Sec.  32.2(k)).
    (ii) We prohibit night hunting of upland game from 30 minutes after 
legal sunset until 30 minutes before legal sunrise the following day.
    (iii) We allow the use of dogs while hunting upland game (except 
raccoon, opossum, striped skunk, red fox, gray fox, coyote, and 
bobcat), provided the dog is under the immediate control of the hunter 
at all times.
    (iv) Coyote, red fox, gray fox, and bobcat hunting begins on the 
first day of the traditional 9-day gun deer season.
    (v) Coyote hunting ends on the last day of the season for fox.
    (vi) You may only hunt striped skunk and opossum during the season 
for raccoon.
    (vii) You may only hunt snowshoe hare during the season for 
cottontail rabbit.
    (viii) Hunters may enter the refuge no earlier than 2 hours before 
legal shooting hours and must exit the refuge no later than 2 hours 
after legal shooting hours.
    (3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer and 
black bear in designated areas of the refuge subject to the following 
conditions:
    (i) You must remove all boats, decoys, game cameras, blinds, blind 
materials, stands, platforms, and other personal equipment brought onto 
the refuge at the end of each day's hunt (see Sec.  27.93 of this 
chapter). We prohibit hunting from any stand left up overnight.
    (ii) We prohibit hunting bear with dogs.
    (iii) Hunters must possess a refuge permit (FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt 
Application/Permit--National Wildlife Refuge System) to hunt in Area E 
(surrounding the office/visitor center).
    (iv) The condition set forth at paragraph (d)(2)(viii) of this 
section applies.
    (v) Any ground blind used during any gun deer season must display 
at least 144 square inches (929 square centimeters) of solid-blaze-
orange or fluorescent pink material visible from all directions.
    (4) Sport fishing. We allow fishing on designated areas of the 
refuge subject to the following conditions:
    (i) We only allow bank fishing or fishing through the ice.
    (ii) We prohibit the use of fishing weights or lures containing 
lead.
    (iii) We prohibit the taking of any mussel (clam), crayfish, frog, 
leech, or turtle species by any method on the refuge (see Sec.  27.21 
of this chapter).
    (iv) We allow fishing in designated areas from legal sunrise to 
legal sunset each day.
* * * * *

Shannon A. Estenoz,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2024-16984 Filed 8-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P