Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed Frameworks for Late-Season Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations, 49867-49891 [2012-20078]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 160 (Friday, August 17, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 49867-49891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20078]



[[Page 49867]]

Vol. 77

Friday,

No. 160

August 17, 2012

Part II





Department of the Interior





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Fish and Wildlife Service





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50 CFR Part 20





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

Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 160 / Friday, August 17, 2012 / 
Proposed Rules

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 20

[Docket No. FWS-R9-MB-2012-0005; FF09M21200-123-FXMB1231099BPP0L2]
RIN 1018-AX97


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

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; supplemental.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter Service or we) is 
proposing to establish the 2012-13 late-season hunting regulations for 
certain migratory game birds. We annually prescribe frameworks, or 
outer limits, for dates and times when hunting may occur and the number 
of birds that may be taken and possessed in late seasons. These 
frameworks are necessary to allow State selections of seasons and 
limits and to allow recreational harvest at levels compatible with 
population and habitat conditions.

DATES: You must submit comments on the proposed migratory bird hunting 
late-season frameworks by August 31, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposals by one of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-R9-
MB-2012-0005.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: FWS-R9-MB-2012-0005, Division of Policy and Directives 
Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 
2042-PDM, Arlington, VA 22203.
    We will not accept emailed or faxed comments. We will post all 
comments on https://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we 
will post any personal information you provide us (see the Public 
Comments section below for more information).

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulations Schedule for 2012

    On April 17, 2012, we published in the Federal Register (77 FR 
23094) a proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20. The proposal provided a 
background and overview of the migratory bird hunting regulations 
process, and addressed the establishment of seasons, limits, and other 
regulations for hunting migratory game birds under Sec. Sec.  20.101 
through 20.107, 20.109, and 20.110 of subpart K. Major steps in the 
2012-13 regulatory cycle relating to open public meetings and Federal 
Register notifications were also identified in the April 17 proposed 
rule.
    Further, we explained that all sections of subsequent documents 
outlining hunting frameworks and guidelines were organized under 
numbered headings. Those headings are:
1. Ducks
    A. General Harvest Strategy
    B. Regulatory Alternatives
    C. Zones and Split Seasons
    D. Special Seasons/Species Management
    i. September Teal Seasons
    ii. September Teal/Wood Duck Seasons
    iii. Black Ducks
    iv. Canvasbacks
    v. Pintails
    vi. Scaup
    vii. Mottled Ducks
    viii. Wood Ducks
    ix. Youth Hunt
    x. Mallard Management Units
    xi. Other
2. Sea Ducks
3. Mergansers
4. Canada Geese
    A. Special Seasons
    B. Regular Seasons
    C. Special Late Seasons
5. White-fronted Geese
6. Brant
7. Snow and Ross's (Light) Geese
8. Swans
9. Sandhill Cranes
10. Coots
11. Moorhens and Gallinules
12. Rails
13. Snipe
14. Woodcock
15. Band-tailed Pigeons
16. Mourning Doves
17. White-Winged and White-Tipped Doves
18. Alaska
19. Hawaii
20. Puerto Rico
21. Virgin Islands
22. Falconry
23. Other

    Subsequent documents will refer only to numbered items requiring 
attention. Therefore, it is important to note that we will omit those 
items requiring no attention, and remaining numbered items will be 
discontinuous and appear incomplete.
    On May 17, 2012, we published in the Federal Register (77 FR 29516) 
a second document providing supplemental proposals for early- and late-
season migratory bird hunting regulations. The May 17 supplement also 
provided detailed information on the 2012-13 regulatory schedule and 
announced the Service Regulations Committee (SRC) and Flyway Council 
meetings.
    On June 12, 2012, we published in the Federal Register (77 FR 
34931) a third document revising our previously announced dates of the 
June 2012 SRC meetings.
    On June 19 and 20, 2012, we held open meetings with the Flyway 
Council Consultants where the participants reviewed information on the 
current status of migratory shore and upland game birds and developed 
recommendations for the 2012-13 regulations for these species plus 
regulations for migratory game birds in Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the 
Virgin Islands, special September waterfowl seasons in designated 
States, special sea duck seasons in the Atlantic Flyway, and extended 
falconry seasons. In addition, we reviewed and discussed preliminary 
information on the status of waterfowl as it relates to the development 
and selection of the regulatory packages for the 2012-13 regular 
waterfowl seasons.
    On July 20, 2012, we published in the Federal Register (77 FR 
42920) a fourth document specifically dealing with the proposed 
frameworks for early-season regulations. In late August 2012, we will 
publish a rulemaking establishing final frameworks for early-season 
migratory bird hunting regulations for the 2012-13 season.
    On July 25-26, 2012, we held open meetings with the Flyway Council 
Consultants, at which the participants reviewed the status of waterfowl 
and developed recommendations for the 2012-13 regulations for these 
species. This document deals specifically with proposed frameworks for 
the late-season migratory bird hunting regulations. It will lead to 
final frameworks from which States may select season dates, shooting 
hours, areas, and limits.
    We have considered all pertinent comments received through July 27, 
2012, on the April 17 and May 17, 2012, rulemaking documents in 
developing this document. In addition, new proposals for certain late-
season regulations are provided for public comment. The comment period 
is specified above under DATES. We will publish final regulatory 
frameworks for late-season migratory game bird hunting in the Federal 
Register on or around September 21, 2012.

Population Status and Harvest

    The following paragraphs provide preliminary information on the 
status of waterfowl and information on the status and harvest of 
migratory shore and

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upland game birds excerpted from various reports. For more detailed 
information on methodologies and results, you may obtain complete 
copies of the various reports at the address indicated under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or from our Web site at https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewsPublicationsReports.html.

Waterfowl Breeding and Habitat Survey

    Federal, provincial, and State agencies conduct surveys each spring 
to estimate the size of breeding populations and to evaluate the 
conditions of the habitats. These surveys are conducted using fixed-
wing aircraft, helicopters, and ground crews and encompass principal 
breeding areas of North America, covering an area over 2.0 million 
square miles. The traditional survey area comprises Alaska, Canada, and 
the northcentral United States, and includes approximately 1.3 million 
square miles. The eastern survey area includes parts of Ontario, 
Quebec, Labrador, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New 
Brunswick, New York, and Maine, an area of approximately 0.7 million 
square miles.
    Overall, habitat conditions during the 2012 Waterfowl Breeding 
Population and Habitat Survey were characterized by average to below-
average moisture, a mild winter, and an early spring across the 
southern portion of the traditional and eastern survey areas. Northern 
habitats of the traditional and eastern survey areas generally received 
average moisture and temperatures. The total pond estimate (Prairie 
Canada and U.S. combined) was 5.5  0.2 million. This was 32 
percent below the 2011 estimate of 8.1  0.2 million ponds, 
and 9 percent above the long-term average of 5.1  0.03 
million ponds. Additional details of the 2012 Survey were provided in 
the July 20 Federal Register and are available from our Web site at 
https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewsPublicationsReports.html.
Breeding Population Status
    In the traditional survey area, which includes strata 1-18, 20-50, 
and 75-77, the total duck population estimate was 48.6  0.8 
[SE] million birds. This estimate represents an 7 percent increase over 
last year's estimate of 45.6  0.8 million birds and was 43 
percent above the long-term average (1955-2011). Estimated mallard 
(Anas platyrhynchos) abundance was 10.6  0.3 million birds, 
which was 15 percent above the 2011 estimate of 9.2  0.3 
million birds and 40 percent above the long-term average. Estimated 
abundance of gadwall (A. strepera; 3.6  0.2 million) was 
similar to the 2011 estimate and 96 percent above the long-term 
average. Estimated abundance of American wigeon (A. americana; 2.1 
 0.1 million) was similar to the 2011 estimate and 17 
percent below the long-term average. The estimated abundance of green-
winged teal (A. crecca) was 3.5  0.2 million, which was 20 
percent above the 2011 estimate and 74 percent above their long-term 
average. The estimate of blue-winged teal abundance (A. discors) was 
9.2  0.4 million, which was similar to the 2011 estimate 
and 94 percent above their long-term average. The estimate for northern 
pintails (A. acuta; 3.5  0.2 million) was 22 percent below 
the 2011 estimate, and 14 percent below the long-term average. The 
northern shoveler estimate (A. clypeata) was 5.0  0.3 
million, which was similar to the 2011 estimate and 111 percent above 
the long-term average. Redhead abundance (Aythya americana; 1.3  0.1 million) was similar to the 2011 estimate and 89 percent 
above the long-term average. The canvasback estimate (A. valisineria; 
0.7  0.05 million) was similar to the 2011 estimate and 33 
percent above the long-term average. Estimated abundance of scaup (A. 
affinis and A. marila combined; 5.2  0.3 million) was 21 
percent above the 2011 estimate and similar to the long-term average.
    The eastern survey area was restratified in 2005, and is now 
composed of strata 51-72. Estimated abundance of mallards in the 
eastern survey area was 0.4  0.1 million, which was similar 
to the 2011 estimate and the long-term average (1990-2011). Abundance 
estimates of green-winged teal, ring-necked duck (A. collaris), 
goldeneyes (common [Bucephala clangula] and Barrow's [B. islandica]), 
and mergansers (red-breasted [Mergus serrator], common [M. merganser], 
and hooded [Lophodytes cucullatus]) were all similar to their 2011 
estimates and long-term averages. The American black duck (Anas 
rubripes) estimate was 0.6  0.04 million, which was 11 
percent higher than the 2011 estimate and similar to the long-term 
average.
Fall Flight Estimate
    The mid-continent mallard population is composed of mallards from 
the traditional survey area (revised in 2008 to exclude Alaska 
mallards), Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and was estimated to be 
12.7  1.2 million birds. This was similar to the 2011 
estimate of 11.9  1.1 million in 2010.
    See section 1.A. Harvest Strategy Considerations for further 
discussion of the implications of this information for this year's 
selection of the appropriate hunting regulations.

Status of Geese and Swans

    We provide information on the population status and productivity of 
North American Canada geese (Branta canadensis), brant (B. bernicla), 
snow geese (Chen caerulescens), Ross's geese (C. rossii), emperor geese 
(C. canagica), white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons), and tundra swans 
(Cygnus columbianus). Production of arctic-nesting geese depends 
heavily upon the timing of snow and ice melt, and on spring and early 
summer temperatures. In 2012, snowmelt timing was average or earlier 
than average throughout most of the important goose breeding areas. 
Conditions throughout Alaska and northwestern Canada were good. The 
exception was the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, where spring phenology was 
later than average, and flooding ensued when ice blockages trapped 
snowmelt. In addition, flooding on Southampton Island caused near-total 
nesting failure of the geese breeding there. Gosling production of 
Canada goose populations that migrate to the Atlantic and Mississippi 
Flyways should generally be average in 2012. In the central Arctic, 
phenology was earlier than average and earlier than last year, so 
above-average production of snow and Ross's geese and Mid-continent 
white-fronted geese nesting in the Queen Maud Gulf Sanctuary was 
expected. Pacific Flyway white-fronted geese, brant, and Canada geese 
nesting in the central Arctic should benefit as well. Indices of 
wetland abundance in the Canadian and U.S. prairies in 2012 fell 
dramatically from last year's record highs. However, early spring 
temperatures were warm throughout most of the United States, so the 
resulting early nest initiations should have increased brood survival 
despite poorer wetland conditions. Breeding populations of most 
temperate-nesting geese were at or near record highs in 2012, despite 
efforts to reduce or stabilize them. Production of temperate-nesting 
Canada geese from most of their North American range is expected to be 
above-average in 2012.

Waterfowl Harvest and Hunter Activity

    National surveys of migratory bird hunters were conducted during 
the 2010 and 2011 hunting seasons. About 1.1 million waterfowl hunters 
harvested 14,796,700 (4 percent) ducks and 3,169,900 
(5 percent) geese in 2010, and almost 1.2 million waterfowl 
hunters harvested 15,880,900 (6 percent) ducks and 
2,868,500 (5 percent) geese in 2011. Mallard, green-winged 
teal, gadwall, wood duck, and

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blue-winged/cinnamon teal were the five most-harvested duck species in 
the United States, and Canada goose was the predominant species in the 
goose harvest. Coot hunters (about 50,500 in 2010 and 46,200 in 2011) 
harvested 302,600 (50 percent) coots in 2010 and 416,400 
(36 percent) in 2011.

Review of Public Comments and Flyway Council Recommendations

    The preliminary proposed rulemaking, which appeared in the April 
17, 2012, Federal Register, opened the public comment period for 
migratory game bird hunting regulations. The supplemental proposed 
rule, which appeared in the May 17, 2012, Federal Register, discussed 
the regulatory alternatives for the 2012-13 duck hunting season. Late-
season comments are summarized below and numbered in the order used in 
the April 17 and May 17 Federal Register documents. We have included 
only the numbered items pertaining to late-season issues for which we 
received written comments. Consequently, the issues do not follow in 
successive numerical or alphabetical order.
    We received recommendations from all four Flyway Councils. Some 
recommendations supported continuation of last year's frameworks. Due 
to the comprehensive nature of the annual review of the frameworks 
performed by the Councils, support for continuation of last year's 
frameworks is assumed for items for which no recommendations were 
received. Council recommendations for changes in the frameworks are 
summarized below.
    We seek additional information and comments on the recommendations 
in this supplemental proposed rule. New proposals and modifications to 
previously described proposals are discussed below. Wherever possible, 
they are discussed under headings corresponding to the numbered items 
in the April 17 and May 17, 2012, Federal Register documents.

1. Ducks

    Categories used to discuss issues related to duck harvest 
management are: (A) Harvest Strategy Considerations, (B) Regulatory 
Alternatives, (C) Zones and Split Seasons, and (D) Special Seasons/
Species Management. The categories correspond to previously published 
issues/discussion, and only those containing substantial 
recommendations are discussed below.

A. Harvest Strategy Considerations

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Flyway 
Councils and the Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the 
Mississippi Flyway Council recommended the adoption of the ``liberal'' 
regulatory alternative.
    Service Response: We continue to use adaptive harvest management 
(AHM) protocols that allow hunting regulations to vary among Flyways in 
a manner that recognizes each Flyway's unique breeding-ground 
derivation of mallards. In 2008, we described and adopted a protocol 
for regulatory decision-making for the newly defined stock of western 
mallards (73 FR 43290; July 24, 2008). For the 2012 hunting season, we 
continue to believe that the prescribed regulatory choice for the 
Pacific Flyway should be based on the status of this western mallard 
breeding stock, while the regulatory choice for the Mississippi and 
Central Flyways should depend on the status of the recently redefined 
mid-continent mallard stock. We also recommend that the regulatory 
choice for the Atlantic Flyway continue to depend on the status of 
eastern mallards.
    For the 2012 hunting season, we are continuing to consider the same 
regulatory alternatives as those used last year. The nature of the 
``restrictive,'' ``moderate,'' and ``liberal'' alternatives has 
remained essentially unchanged since 1997, except that extended 
framework dates have been offered in the ``moderate'' and ``liberal'' 
regulatory alternatives since 2002. Also, in 2003, we agreed to place a 
constraint on closed seasons in the Mississippi and Central Flyways 
whenever the midcontinent mallard breeding-population size (as defined 
prior to 2008; traditional survey area plus Minnesota, Michigan, and 
Wisconsin) was >=5.5 million.
    Optimal AHM strategies for the 2012-13 hunting season were 
calculated using: (1) Harvest-management objectives specific to each 
mallard stock; (2) the 2012 regulatory alternatives; and (3) current 
population models and associated weights for midcontinent, western, and 
eastern mallards. Based on this year's survey results of 10.96 million 
midcontinent mallards (traditional survey area minus Alaska plus 
Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan), 3.89 million ponds in Prairie 
Canada, 983,842 western mallards (478,259 and 505,583 respectively in 
California-Oregon and Alaska) and 837,642 eastern mallards (strata 51-
54, 56 and the northeastern United States), the prescribed regulatory 
choice for all four Flyways is the ``liberal'' alternative.
    Therefore, we concur with the recommendations of the Atlantic, 
Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils regarding selection 
of the ``liberal'' regulatory alternative and propose to adopt the 
``liberal'' regulatory alternative, as described in the May 17, 2012, 
Federal Register.

D. Special Seasons/Species Management

i. Special Teal Seasons
    Council Recommendations: The Mississippi Flyway Council recommends 
that if the teal harvest assessment concludes that teal populations can 
sustain harvests beyond the harvest incurred during regular duck 
seasons and the Service offers States special teal harvest 
opportunities outside the regular duck seasons, then Iowa, Michigan, 
Minnesota, and Wisconsin should be offered the same special teal 
harvest opportunities that are offered to other States in the 
Mississippi Flyway.
    Service Response: We recognize the long-standing interest by 
production States for additional teal harvest opportunities. In 2009, 
the Service and Flyway Councils formed a working group to assess the 
harvest potential of each of the three teal species. A report from that 
working group is scheduled for completion in January 2013. We have 
previously decided not to entertain any changes to special September 
teal seasons and special September duck seasons until this assessment 
is completed (74 FR 43009). If additional harvest opportunity is 
warranted, we are willing to work with the Flyways to explore how that 
opportunity may be provided. We note that any potential changes to 
special September teal seasons would likely require further technical 
evaluation. We are willing to work with the Flyway Councils to 
collaboratively develop the evaluation framework.
iii. Black Ducks
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway 
Councils recommended that the Service adopt the International Black 
Duck AHM Strategy for implementation in 2013.
    Service Response: In 2008, U.S. and Canadian waterfowl managers 
developed an interim harvest strategy to be employed by both countries 
until a formal strategy based on the principles of AHM is completed. We 
detailed this interim strategy in the July 24, 2008, Federal Register 
(73 FR 43290). The interim harvest strategy is prescriptive, in that it 
calls for no substantive changes in hunting regulations unless the 
black duck breeding population, averaged over the most recent 3 years,

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exceeds or falls below the long-term average breeding population by 15 
percent or more. The strategy is designed to share the black duck 
harvest equally between the two countries; however, recognizing 
incomplete control of harvest through regulations, it will allow 
realized harvest in either country to vary between 40 and 60 percent.
    Each year in November, Canada publishes its proposed migratory bird 
hunting regulations for the upcoming hunting season. Thus, last fall 
the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) used the interim strategy to 
establish its proposed black duck regulations for the 2012-13 season, 
based on the most current data available at that time: breeding 
population estimates for 2009, 2010, and 2011, and an assessment of 
parity based on harvest estimates for the 2006-10 hunting seasons. 
Although updates of both breeding population estimates and harvest 
estimates are now available, the United States will base its 2012-13 
black duck regulations on the same data CWS used, to ensure comparable 
application of the strategy. The long-term (1998-2007) breeding 
population mean estimate is 932,146, and the 2009-11, 3-year running 
mean estimate is 851,667, only 9 percent less than the 1998-2007 
average. From 2006-10, 44 percent of the black duck harvest occurred in 
Canada and 56 percent in the United States; this falls within the 
accepted parity bounds of 40 and 60 percent. Based on these estimates, 
no restriction or liberalization of black duck harvest is warranted 
this year.
    As for the Councils' recommendations that we adopt the 
International Black Duck AHM Strategy for implementation in 2013, we 
concur. The formal strategy is the result of 14 years of technical and 
policy decisions developed and agreed upon by both Canadian and U. S. 
agencies and waterfowl managers. The strategy will clarify what harvest 
levels each country will manage for and will reduce conflicts over 
country-specific regulatory policies. Further, the strategy will allow 
for attainment of fundamental objectives of black duck management: 
resource conservation, perpetuation of hunting tradition, and equitable 
access to the black duck resource between Canada and the United States 
while accommodating the fundamental sources of uncertainty, partial 
controllability and observability, structural uncertainty, and 
environmental variation. The underlying model performance will be 
assessed annually, with a comprehensive evaluation of the entire 
strategy (objectives and model set) in 6 years. A copy of the strategy 
is available at the address indicated under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT, or on https://www.regulations.gov, or from our Web site at 
https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewReportsPublications/SpecialTopics/SpecialTopics.html#BlackDucks.
iv. Canvasbacks
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and 
Pacific Flyway Councils recommended a full season for canvasbacks with 
a 1-bird daily bag limit. Season lengths would be 60 days in the 
Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, 74 days in the Central Flyway, and 
107 days in the Pacific Flyway.
    Service Response: Since 1994, we have followed a canvasback harvest 
strategy that if canvasback population status and production are 
sufficient to permit a harvest of one canvasback per day nationwide for 
the entire length of the regular duck season, while still attaining a 
projected spring population objective of 500,000 birds, the season on 
canvasbacks should be opened. A partial season would be permitted if 
the estimated allowable harvest was within the projected harvest for a 
shortened season. If neither of these conditions can be met, the 
harvest strategy calls for a closed season on canvasbacks nationwide. 
In 2008 (73 FR 43290; July 24, 2008), we announced our decision to 
modify the canvasback harvest strategy to incorporate the option for a 
2-bird daily bag limit for canvasbacks when the predicted breeding 
population the subsequent year exceeds 725,000 birds.
    This year's spring survey resulted in an estimate of 760,000 
canvasbacks. This was 10 percent above the 2011 estimate of 692,000 
canvasbacks and 33 percent above the 1955-2011 average. The estimate of 
ponds in Prairie Canada was 3.89 million, which was 21 percent below 
last year and 13 percent above the long-term average. Based on updated 
harvest predictions using data from recent hunting seasons, the 
canvasback harvest strategy predicts a 2013 canvasback population of 
771,033 birds under a liberal duck season with a 1-bird daily bag limit 
and 711,428 with a 2-bird daily bag limit. Because the predicted 2013 
population under the 1-bird daily bag limit is greater than 500,000, 
while the prediction under the 2-bird daily bag limit is less than 
725,000, the canvasback harvest strategy stipulates a full canvasback 
season with a 1-bird daily bag limit for the upcoming season.
v. Pintails
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and 
Pacific Flyway Councils recommended a full season for pintails, 
consisting of a 2-bird daily bag limit and a 60-day season in the 
Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, a 74-day season in the Central 
Flyway, and a 107-day season in the Pacific Flyway.
    Service Response: The current derived pintail harvest strategy was 
adopted by the Service and Flyway Councils in 2010 (75 FR 44856; July 
29, 2010). For this year, optimal regulatory strategies were calculated 
with: (1) An objective of maximizing long-term cumulative harvest, 
including a closed-season constraint of 1.75 million birds; (2) the 
regulatory alternatives and associated predicted harvest; and (3) 
current population models and their relative weights. Based on this 
year's survey results of 3.47 million pintails observed, a mean 
latitude of 54.0, and a latitude adjusted breeding population (BPOP) of 
4.14 million birds, the optimal regulatory choice for all four Flyways 
is the ``liberal'' alternative with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
vi. Scaup
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and 
Pacific Flyway Councils recommended use of the ``liberal'' regulation 
package, consisting of a 60-day season with a 4-bird daily bag in the 
Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, a 74-day season with a 6-bird daily 
bag limit in the Central Flyway, and an 107-day season with a 7-bird 
daily bag limit in the Pacific Flyway.
    Service Response: In 2008, we adopted and implemented a new scaup 
harvest strategy (73 FR 43290 on July 24, 2008, and 73 FR 51124 on 
August 29, 2008) with initial ``restrictive,'' ``moderate,'' and 
``liberal'' regulatory packages adopted for each Flyway. Further 
opportunity to revise these packages was afforded prior to the 2009-10 
season and modifications by the Mississippi and Central Flyway Councils 
were endorsed by the Service in July 2009 (74 FR 36870; July 24, 2009).
    The 2012 breeding population estimate for scaup is 5.24 million, up 
21 percent from the 2011 estimate of 4.32 million. Total estimated 
scaup harvest for the 2011-12 season was 287,000 birds. Based on 
updated model parameter estimates, the optimal regulatory choice for 
scaup is the ``liberal'' package in all four Flyways.

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xii. Other
    Council Recommendations: The Central and Mississippi Flyway 
Councils recommended that the daily and possession bag limits for 
redheads during the 2012-13 duck hunting season be 3 and 6, 
respectively.
    Service Response: While we recognize the desire to provide 
additional hunting opportunity for redheads, at this time we do not 
support the Councils' recommendations to increase the daily bag limit 
of redheads from 2 to 3 birds. As we indicated last year (76 FR 58682; 
September 21, 2011), we believe that as we have done with other species 
(such as canvasbacks, pintails, etc.), changes to redhead daily bag 
limits should only be considered with guidance from an agreed-upon 
harvest strategy that is supported by all four Flyway Councils and the 
Service. Thus, the Flyways should work collaboratively to develop a 
redhead harvest strategy, which would include: (1) Clearly defined and 
agreed-upon management objectives; (2) clearly defined regulatory 
alternatives; and (3) a model that can be used to predict population 
responses to harvest mortality. We note that if the Flyway Councils 
wish to implement a redhead harvest strategy for the 2013-14 season, a 
draft strategy must be available for review and discussion by the 
February 2013 SRC meeting, finalized by the Flyways Councils at their 
March 2013 meetings, and forwarded as a recommendation for SRC 
consideration at the early season SRC meeting (June 2013).

4. Canada Geese

B. Regular Seasons

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 
several changes to Canada goose season frameworks. More specifically, 
they recommended:
    1. A 78-day season in Pennsylvania's Southern James Bay Population 
(SJBP) Canada goose zone between the first Saturday in October and 
February 15, with a daily bag limit of 3 geese, and two season 
segments;
    2. Increasing the season length in all Atlantic Population (AP) 
Canada goose harvest zones from 45 days to 50 days;
    3. An earlier framework opening date of October 10 (from October 
20) in the Lake Champlain Zone and other AP harvest zones in New 
England (Massachusetts and Connecticut);
    4. A later framework closing date of February 5 (from January 31) 
in all AP harvest areas;
    5. Framework opening and closing dates for the regular Canada goose 
hunting seasons in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and West Virginia 
of October 1 and March 10, respectively, with up to three season 
segments; and
    6. Modifications to the criteria for delineation and subsequent 
monitoring of Atlantic Flyway Resident Population (AFRP) Canada goose 
hunting zones for the 2012-15 hunting seasons.
The Mississippi Flyway Council developed new framework regulations to 
replace most of the State-specific regulations used in the past. These 
new framework regulations were developed as part of the Flyway's 
efforts to move toward a more holistic and uniform approach to Canada 
goose harvest management across the Flyway and are consistent with the 
Flyway's harvest strategies for Mississippi Valley Population (MVP), 
SJBP, Eastern Prairie Population (EPP), and Giant Canada geese. The 
resulting recommendations are the result of a Flyway-conducted 
comprehensive review of Canada goose population status during February 
2012. In general, the recommended new frameworks allow States to select 
Canada goose seasons of up to 92 days, with a 2-bird daily bag limit, 
or a 78-day season with a 3-bird daily bag limit between the Saturday 
nearest September 24 and January 31 with some exceptions. More 
specifically, Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and 
Ohio propose to adopt the new Flyway-wide frameworks for Canada geese 
this year. Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have proposed exceptions 
to the generalized Flyway-wide framework, and these exceptions 
represent minor changes from last year. Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, and 
Tennessee are considered exceptions to the proposed generalized Flyway-
wide framework, but do not represent a change from last year.
    The Central Flyway Council recommended increasing the Canada goose 
daily bag limit from 3 to 5 geese in the east-tier States.
    The Pacific Flyway Council recommended several changes to dark 
goose season frameworks. More specifically, they recommended:
    1. Allowing the season to be split into 3 segments in Washington's 
Area 4 and Oregon's Northwest Zone;
    2. Extending the framework closing date to March 10 for dark geese 
in Oregon's Northwest General Zone for Oregon; and
    3. Increasing the daily bag limit for dark geese to 6 per day in 
Oregon's South Coast Zone after the last Sunday in January.
    Service Response: We agree with the Atlantic Flyway Council's 
recommendation concerning changes to the frameworks for Pennsylvania's 
SJBP zone. The Council's proposed change is consistent with the SJBP 
Canada Goose Management Plan and consistent with the current 
Mississippi Flyway Council's proposal to modify Canada goose frameworks 
(including former SJBP harvest zones). We also agree with the Council's 
recommendations concerning changes to AP goose frameworks. The Council 
notes that the 3-year mean (2010-12) AP breeding pair index of 190,500 
is well above the threshold for ``moderate'' regulations (i.e., 150,000 
pairs), which are intended not to exceed a mean harvest rate of 10 
percent on adult AP geese. Since 2005, the estimated adult harvest rate 
for AP geese in the Atlantic Flyway (including Canada) with 45-day 
seasons in the United States. has ranged from 5 to 9 percent and 
averaged 6.7 percent. Although 5 additional days of hunting provides a 
modest increase in harvest opportunity under ``moderate'' regulations, 
the Council predicts that the 5-day increase should result in a mean 
adult harvest rate of less than 8 percent, still below the AP harvest 
strategy allowance of a mean 10 percent adult harvest rate. Further, 
the proposed change is consistent with the Council's newly revised AP 
goose harvest strategy. Regarding the earlier framework opening dates 
for AP geese in New England, AP goose harvest in these areas only 
account for a very small percentage of the total AP goose harvest rate. 
The Council notes that the recommended later closing date of February 5 
may allow some major AP harvest States to time hunting season closing 
dates, later when migrant harvest is likely to be buffered by 
overabundant AFRP Canada geese that have been pushed out of Canada and 
northern States by extensive ice and snow cover.
    We also support the Atlantic Flyway Council's proposed framework 
date changes in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and West Virginia. 
Current Canada goose frameworks for these States do not provide 
opportunity for goose harvest or goose control activities during the 
month of October (the opening framework date in West Virginia is 
currently October 1). In most southern States, agricultural operations 
(including planting) still occurs in October, and providing October 
hunting opportunities could help reduce resident Canada goose impacts. 
The proposed framework closing date of March 10 is the same for other 
regular resident Canada goose seasons in Atlantic Flyway States and 
would aid in simplifying Flyway harvest regulations. Lastly, we support 
modification of the AFRP delineation criteria. The Council's

[[Page 49873]]

proposed modification is based on evaluations of AFRP seasons since 
2002 and as band return data continue to accumulate, adjustments to 
existing AFRP zones and establishment of new zones will utilize these 
data to better address any migrant harvest concerns.
    We support the Mississippi Flyway Council recommendations to move 
from State-specific frameworks to Flyway-wide Canada goose frameworks 
in the Flyway. In the past, the Mississippi Flyway has utilized State-
specific frameworks to promulgate Canada goose hunting regulations. The 
proposed Flyway-wide general framework is intended to allow the maximum 
allowable number of Canada goose hunting days for any Mississippi 
Flyway State utilizing standard 15-day or longer early Canada goose 
seasons. In addition, several exceptions to the basic 92-day framework 
are recognized and serve to accommodate special State- and population-
specific management needs. For example, States and Provinces that share 
harvest of the EPP Canada goose population recently revised regular 
season frameworks consistent with their management plan, and the 
Council's recommendation is intended to accommodate these regulations 
without imposing changes.
    Management of Canada geese in the Mississippi Flyway is complicated 
by the need to balance potentially conflicting objectives for arctic, 
subarctic, and temperate (resident) breeding populations. Increased 
abundance of temperate-breeding Canada geese has caused conflicts with 
people and human activities, and regulations have been gradually 
liberalized to increase harvest of such birds to reduce those 
conflicts. Long-established management plans have been adopted for 
arctic and subarctic populations of Canada geese in the Mississippi 
Flyway to ensure that such populations remain within management goals. 
We believe that any increased harvest resulting from the proposed 
Flyway-wide frameworks (as well as exceptions to those frameworks) are 
compatible with those population management plans and the need to 
address increasing populations of temperate nesting Canada geese.
    We do not support the Central Flyway Council's recommendation to 
increase the dark goose daily bag limit in the east-tier States from 3 
to 5 geese. As we stated last year (76 FR 58682; September 21, 2011) 
and in 2010 (75 FR 58250; September 23, 2010), while we agree that the 
Flyway's proposed bag limit increase would likely result in an 
increased harvest of resident Canada geese, there are other Canada 
goose populations that would also be subjected to additional harvest 
pressure, in particular the Tall Grass Prairie (TGP) population. We 
recognize the continuing problems posed by increasing numbers of 
resident Canada geese and that migrant populations of Canada geese in 
the Central Flyway are above objective levels. We also understand the 
Flyway's desire to provide as much hunting opportunity on these geese 
as possible, and we share the philosophy that hunting, not control 
permits, should be the primary tool used to manage populations of game 
birds. Thus, last year, we provided guidance on the progress that the 
Central and Mississippi Flyways needed to accomplish for us to consider 
allowing the proposed increase from 3 to 5 Canada geese during the 
regular goose seasons in Central Flyway East-Tier States. Specifically, 
we stated that progress needed to be made regarding revising the TGP 
management plan for this shared goose resource; at a minimum agreement 
between the two Flyways on management objectives must be reached. Based 
on the discussions at the recent July 25-26, 2012, SRC meetings, it is 
apparent that this dialogue just began, and progress on developing 
agreed-upon objectives and the plan revision is limited. Therefore, at 
this time, we do not support the Central Flyway's request to increase 
the bag limit. For our support of this effort in the future, the two 
Flyways must agree on objectives of the plan, including the desired 
size of the TGP population. We further note that the TGP management 
plan must be updated in the near future to deal with contemporary 
Canada goose issues. As the management plan is revised, we expect that 
other issues identified in the last two years will be addressed, 
including how plan actions might interact with measures to reduce 
conflicts with resident Canada geese and progress on monitoring migrant 
Canada goose populations in east-tier States.
    We support all of the Pacific Flyway goose recommendations. The 
recommendations for 3-way split seasons in Washington and Oregon, and 
the recommendation to extend the framework date to March 10 in Oregon's 
Northwest Zone, are to simplify regulations and allow consistent 
regulations throughout the areas. Additionally, the Council notes that 
extending the framework dates may alleviate some depredation concerns 
between areas and in agricultural areas close to the zones' boundaries. 
Decreased movement of geese between the zones may occur, which could 
decrease the concentration of depredation concerns in some areas in 
northwest Oregon. Increased bag limits in Oregon's South Coast Zone are 
targeted at Aleutian Canada geese, which are currently estimated at 
134,708, more than twice their population objective.

C. Special Late Seasons

    Council Recommendations: The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended 
changing Indiana's experimental late Canada goose season status to 
operational.
    Service Response: At this time, we do not agree with the Council's 
recommendation to change the status of Indiana's late Canada goose 
season from experimental to operational. In 2007, Indiana initiated an 
experimental late Canada goose season in 30 counties to address 
increasing resident Canada goose populations. An evaluation report was 
submitted to the Flyway and Service in 2010. Although Statewide harvest 
of migrant Canada geese was within the allowed 20 percent criteria, 
take of migrant geese in the six-county Terre Haute region exceeded the 
criteria for September Canada goose seasons. Consequently, 24 counties 
were granted operational status while the six-county Terre Haute region 
was allowed to continue in an experimental status to allow for 
additional data collection. In 2010, we requested that Indiana collect 
additional information on the proportion of migrant Canada geese taken 
in the six-county Terre Haute region during the experimental late 
Canada goose season. Indiana has recently provided a report on that 
assessment, and we are reviewing those results in concert with our 
review of the appropriateness of the existing criteria that govern late 
Canada goose seasons. Therefore, we propose that the experimental late 
season remain experimental for an additional year without any further 
data collection requirements.

7. Snow and Ross's (Light) Geese

    Council Recommendations: The Central Flyway Council recommended 
allowing an unlimited daily bag limit for light geese.
    The Pacific Flyway Council recommended that the Idaho Department of 
Fish and Game (IDFG) continue trumpeter swan monitoring efforts once 
every 3 years during the late winter light goose season around American 
Falls Reservoir.
    Service Response: We are investigating the legality of promulgating 
a hunting season without

[[Page 49874]]

a daily bag limit. However, even if it is legal, we are not prepared to 
support such a regulation at this time. We do not believe that 
recreational hunting will solve the problems associated with 
overabundant light geese, and do not want to provide the impression 
that further liberalizations of hunting regulations will solve these 
problems. Therefore, we do not support the Central Flyway Council's 
request to have a light goose season with no daily bag limit. Rather, 
we believe that technical and policy discussions should be held within 
appropriate forums to develop potential management options, and then 
make the decisions on the next steps to address issues identified in 
the recent Arctic Goose Joint Venture report. We believe there are 
existing bodies available to have these discussions.
    Regarding the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation to monitor 
trumpeter swans during the late winter light goose season around 
American Falls reservoir in Idaho, we support the continuation of 
monitoring efforts on a reduced basis. Since the inception of the late 
winter light goose hunt in 2010, Idaho has conducted annual ground 
surveys to evaluate the effects of light goose hunting on trumpeter 
swans. To date, no obvious negative trends in trumpeter swan use, 
distribution, or abundance have been documented. Further, Idaho has 
committed to continue monitoring and assessment efforts in the context 
of swan use of the American Falls Reservoir/Fort Hall Bottoms and the 
surrounding area. We note that this program was designed to identify 
annual changes in swan distribution and swan field-feeding during the 
late winter light goose hunt in order to help assess if changes in that 
hunt were warranted. Thus, given no compelling concerns or issues 
associated with trumpeter swans wintering in eastern Idaho, and no 
negative impacts associated with the current late winter light goose 
hunt, we see no reason to repeat monitoring efforts annually, but 
rather propose conducting the program every 3 years (i.e., 2015, 2018, 
etc.).

23. Other

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Flyway 
Councils recommended that the Service increase the possession limit 
from 2 times to 3 times the daily bag limit for all migratory game bird 
species and seasons except those that currently have possession limits 
of less than 2 times the daily bag limit, permit hunts for cranes and 
swans, or for overabundant species for which no current possession 
limits are assigned, beginning in the 2013-14 season.
    Service Response: In the September 23, 2010, Federal Register (75 
FR 58250), we stated that we were generally supportive of the Flyways' 
interest in increasing the possession limits for migratory game birds 
and appreciated the discussions to frame this important issue. At that 
time, we also stated that we believed there were many unanswered 
questions regarding how this interest can be fully articulated in a 
proposal that satisfies the harvest management community, while 
fostering the support of the law enforcement community and informing 
the general hunting public. Thus, we proposed the creation of a cross-
agency Working Group, chaired by the Service, and comprised of staff 
from the Service's Migratory Bird Program, State Wildlife Agency 
representatives, and Federal and State law enforcement staff, to begin 
to frame a recommendation that fully articulates a potential change in 
possession limits. This effort would include a description of the 
current status and use of possession limits, which populations and/or 
species/species groups should not be included in any proposed 
modification of possession limits, potential law enforcement issues, 
and a reasonable timeline for the implementation of any such proposed 
changes. The recommendations from the three Councils are one such out-
growth of the efforts started in 2010 and we look forward to additional 
input from the Mississippi Flyway Council. We plan to fully discuss 
these recommendations with the Working Group and present preliminary 
recommendations at the February 2013 SRC meeting for further 
discussion. We would present any resulting proposal next spring, with 
proposed implementation during the 2013-14 hunting seasons.

Public Comments

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

Required Determinations

    Based on our most current data, we are affirming our required 
determinations made in the April 17 proposed rule; for descriptions of 
our actions to ensure compliance with the following statutes and 
Executive Orders, see our April 17, 2012, proposed rule (77 FR 23094):
     National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Consideration;
     Endangered Species Act Consideration;
     Regulatory Flexibility Act;
     Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act;
     Paperwork Reduction Act;
     Unfunded Mandates Reform Act;
     Executive Orders 12630, 12866, 12988, 13132, 13175, and 
13211.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 20

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

    The rules that eventually will be promulgated for the 2012-13 
hunting

[[Page 49875]]

season are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 703-712 and 16 U.S.C. 742 a-j.

    Dated: August 9, 2012.
Michael J. Bean,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

Proposed Regulations Frameworks for 2012-13 Late Hunting Seasons on 
Certain Migratory Game Birds

    Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and delegated 
authorities, the Department of the Interior approved the following 
proposals for season lengths, shooting hours, bag and possession 
limits, and outside dates within which States may select seasons for 
hunting waterfowl and coots between the dates of September 1, 2012, and 
March 10, 2013. These frameworks are summarized below.

General

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

Flyways and Management Units

Waterfowl Flyways

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

Management Units

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

Definitions

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

Waterfowl Seasons in the Atlantic Flyway

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

Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days

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

Atlantic Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots

    Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 
22) and the last Sunday in January (January 27).
    Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: 60 days. The daily bag limit is 6 
ducks, including no more than 4 mallards (2 hens), 1 black duck, 2 
pintails, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous whistling duck, 3 wood ducks, 2 
redheads, 4 scaup, 1 canvasback, and 4 scoters.
    Closures: The season on harlequin ducks is closed.
    Sea Ducks: Within the special sea duck areas, during the regular 
duck season in the Atlantic Flyway, States may choose to allow the 
above sea duck limits in addition to the limits applying to other ducks 
during the regular duck season. In all other areas, sea ducks may be 
taken only during the regular open season for ducks and are part of the 
regular duck season daily bag (not to exceed 4 scoters) and possession 
limits.
    Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit of mergansers is 5, only 2 of 
which may be hooded mergansers. In States that include mergansers in 
the duck bag

[[Page 49876]]

limit, the daily limit is the same as the duck bag limit, only two of 
which may be hooded mergansers.
    Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
    Lake Champlain Zone, New York: The waterfowl seasons, limits, and 
shooting hours should be the same as those selected for the Lake 
Champlain Zone of Vermont.
    Connecticut River Zone, Vermont: The waterfowl seasons, limits, and 
shooting hours should be the same as those selected for the Inland Zone 
of New Hampshire.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, 
North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, and West 
Virginia may split their seasons into three segments; Connecticut, 
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 
Pennsylvania, and Vermont may select hunting seasons by zones and may 
split their seasons into two segments in each zone.

Canada Geese

    Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: Specific regulations for 
Canada geese are shown below by State. These seasons also include 
white-fronted geese. Unless specified otherwise, seasons may be split 
into two segments. In areas within States where the framework closing 
date for Atlantic Population (AP) goose seasons overlaps with special 
late-season frameworks for resident geese, the framework closing date 
for AP goose seasons is January 14.
    Connecticut:
    North Atlantic Population (NAP) Zone: Between October 1 and January 
31, a 60-day season may be held with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    Atlantic Population (AP) Zone: A 50-day season may be held between 
October 10 and February 5, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
    South Zone: A special season may be held between January 15 and 
February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
    Resident Population (RP) Zone: An 80-day season may be held between 
October 1 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season 
may be split into 3 segments.
    Delaware: A 50-day season may be held between November 15 and 
February 5, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    Florida: An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and March 
10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 
segments.
    Georgia: In specific areas, an 80-day season may be held between 
October 1 and March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may 
be split into 3 segments.
    Maine: A 60-day season may be held Statewide between October 1 and 
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    Maryland:
    RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between November 15 and March 
10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 
segments.
    AP Zone: A 50-day season may be held between November 15 and 
February 5, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    Massachusetts:
    NAP Zone: A 60-day season may be held between October 1 and January 
31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. Additionally, a special season may 
be held from January 15 to February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
    AP Zone: A 50-day season may be held between October 10 and 
February 5, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
    New Hampshire: A 60-day season may be held Statewide between 
October 1 and January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
New Jersey
    Statewide: A 50-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday 
in October (October 27) and February 5, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
    Special Late Goose Season Area: A special season may be held in 
designated areas of North and South New Jersey from January 15 to 
February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
New York
    NAP Zone: Between October 1 and January 31, a 60-day season may be 
held, with a 2-bird daily bag limit in the High Harvest areas; and 
between October 1 and February 15, a 70-day season may be held, with a 
3-bird daily bag limit in the Low Harvest areas.
    Special Late Goose Season Area: A special season may be held 
between January 15 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit in 
designated areas of Suffolk County.
    AP Zone: A 50-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in 
October (October 27), except in the Lake Champlain Area where the 
opening date is October 10, and February 5, with a 3-bird daily bag 
limit.
    Western Long Island RP Zone: A 107-day season may be held between 
the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 22) and March 10, with an 
8-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments.
    Rest of State RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between the 
fourth Saturday in October (October 22) and March 10, with a 5-bird 
daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments.
North Carolina
    SJBP Zone: A 70-day season may be held between October 1 and 
December 31, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
    RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and March 
10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 
segments.
    Northeast Hunt Unit: A 7-day season may be held between the 
Saturday prior to December 25 (December 22) and January 31, with a 1-
bird daily bag limit.
Pennsylvania
    SJBP Zone: A 78-day season may be held between the first Saturday 
in October (October 6) and February 15, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
    RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday 
in October (October 27) and March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. 
The season may be split into 3 segments.
    AP Zone: A 50-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in 
October (October 27) and February 5, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
    Rhode Island: A 60-day season may be held between October 1 and 
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. A special late season may be 
held in designated areas from January 15 to February 15, with a 5-bird 
daily bag limit.
    South Carolina: In designated areas, an 80-day season may be held 
between October 1 and March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The 
season may be split into 3 segments.
Vermont
    Lake Champlain Zone and Interior Zone: A 50-day season may be held 
between October 10 and February 5 with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
    Connecticut River Zone: A 60-day season may be held between October 
1 and January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
Virginia
    SJBP Zone: A 40-day season may be held between November 15 and 
January 14, with a 3-bird daily bag limit. Additionally, a special late 
season may be held between January 15 and February 15, with a 5-bird 
daily bag limit.
    AP Zone: A 50-day season may be held between November 15 and 
February 5, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between November 15 and March 
10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 
segments.
    West Virginia: An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and 
March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The

[[Page 49877]]

season may be split into 3 segments in each zone.

Light Geese

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

Brant

    Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: States may select a 50-
day season between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 22) and 
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. States may split their 
seasons into two segments.

Mississippi Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots

    Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 
22) and the last Sunday in January (January 27).
    Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: The season may not exceed 60 days, 
with a daily bag limit of 6 ducks, including no more than 4 mallards 
(no more than 2 of which may be females), 1 mottled duck, 1 black duck, 
2 pintails, 3 wood ducks, 1 canvasback, 4 scaup, and 2 redheads.
    Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit is 5, only 2 of which may be 
hooded mergansers. In States that include mergansers in the duck bag 
limit, the daily limit is the same as the duck bag limit, only 2 of 
which may be hooded mergansers.
    Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 
Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, 
and Wisconsin may select hunting seasons by zones.
    In Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, 
Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, the season may be 
split into two segments in each zone.
    In Arkansas and Mississippi, the season may be split into three 
segments.

Geese

    Split Seasons: Seasons for geese may be split into three segments.
    Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: States may select 
seasons for light geese not to exceed 107 days, with 20 geese daily 
between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 22) and March 10; 
for white-fronted geese not to exceed 74 days with 2 geese daily or 88 
days with 1 goose daily between the Saturday nearest September 24 
(September 22) and the Sunday nearest February 15 (February 17); and 
for brant not to exceed 70 days, with 2 brant daily or 107 days with 1 
brant daily between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 22) 
and January 31. There is no possession limit for light geese. States 
may select seasons for Canada geese not to exceed 92 days with 2 geese 
daily or 78 days with 3 geese daily between the Saturday nearest 
September 24 (September 22) and January 31 with the following 
exceptions listed by State:
    Arkansas: The season may extend to February 15.
Indiana
    Late Canada Goose Season Areas:
    (a) A special Canada goose season of up to 15 days may be held 
during February 1-15 in the Late Canada Goose Season Zone. During this 
special season, the daily bag limit cannot exceed 5 Canada geese.
    (b) An experimental special Canada goose season of up to 15 days 
may be held during February 1-15 in the Experimental Late Canada Goose 
Zone. During this special season, the daily bag limit cannot exceed 5 
Canada geese.
    Iowa: The season for Canada geese may extend for 107 days. The 
daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese.
Michigan
    The framework opening date for all geese is September 16.
    Southern Michigan Late Canada Goose Season Zone: A 30-day special 
Canada goose season may be held between December 31 and February 15. 
The daily bag limit is 5 Canada geese.
    Minnesota: The season for Canada geese may extend for 107 days. The 
daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese.
    Missouri: The season for Canada geese may extend for 85 days. The 
daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese.
    Tennessee: Northwest Zone--The season for Canada geese may extend 
to February 15.
Wisconsin
    (a) Horicon Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is 
September 16. The season may not exceed 92 days. All Canada geese 
harvested must be tagged. The season limit will be 6 Canada geese per 
permittee.
    (b) Exterior Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is 
September 16. The season may not exceed 92 days. The daily bag limit is 
2 Canada geese.
    Additional Limits: In addition to the harvest limits stated for the 
respective zones above, an additional 4,500 Canada geese may be taken 
in the Horicon Zone under special agricultural permits.

Central Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots

    Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 
22) and the last Sunday in January (January 27).
    Hunting Seasons:
    (1) High Plains Mallard Management Unit (roughly defined as that 
portion of the Central Flyway which lies west of the 100th meridian): 
97 days. The last 23 days must run consecutively and may start no 
earlier than the Saturday nearest December 10 (December 8).
    (2) Remainder of the Central Flyway: 74 days.
    Bag Limits: The daily bag limit is 6 ducks, with species and sex 
restrictions as follows: 5 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be 
females), 2 redheads, 3 wood ducks, 2 pintails, and 1 canvasback. In 
Texas, the daily bag limit on mottled ducks is 1, except that no 
mottled ducks may be taken during the first 5 days of the season.
    Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit is 5 mergansers, only 2 of 
which may be hooded mergansers. In States that include mergansers in 
the duck daily bag limit, the daily limit may be the same as the duck 
bag limit, only two of which may be hooded mergansers.
    Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Colorado, Kansas (Low Plains portion), 
Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma (Low Plains portion), South 
Dakota (Low Plains portion), Texas (Low Plains portion), and Wyoming 
may select hunting seasons by zones.
    In Colorado, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, 
South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, the regular season may be split into 
two segments.

Geese

    Split Seasons: Seasons for geese may be split into three segments. 
Three-way split seasons for Canada geese require Central Flyway Council 
and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approval, and a 3-year evaluation by 
each participating State.
    Outside Dates: For dark geese, seasons may be selected between the 
outside dates of the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 22) and 
the Sunday nearest February 15 (February 17). For light geese, outside 
dates for seasons may be selected between the Saturday nearest 
September 24 (September 22) and March 10. In the Rainwater Basin Light 
Goose Area (East and West) of Nebraska, temporal and spatial 
restrictions that are consistent with the late-winter snow goose 
hunting strategy

[[Page 49878]]

cooperatively developed by the Central Flyway Council and the Service 
are required.
    Season Lengths and Limits:
    Light Geese: States may select a light goose season not to exceed 
107 days. The daily bag limit for light geese is 20 with no possession 
limit.
    Dark Geese: In Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South 
Dakota, and the Eastern Goose Zone of Texas, States may select a season 
for Canada geese (or any other dark goose species except white-fronted 
geese) not to exceed 107 days with a daily bag limit of 3. 
Additionally, in the Eastern Goose Zone of Texas, an alternative season 
of 107 days with a daily bag limit of 1 Canada goose may be selected. 
For white-fronted geese, these States may select either a season of 74 
days with a bag limit of 2 or an 88-day season with a bag limit of 1.
    In Colorado, Montana, New Mexico and Wyoming, States may select 
seasons not to exceed 107 days. The daily bag limit for dark geese is 5 
in the aggregate.
    In the Western Goose Zone of Texas, the season may not exceed 95 
days. The daily bag limit for Canada geese (or any other dark goose 
species except white-fronted geese) is 5. The daily bag limit for 
white-fronted geese is 1.

Pacific Flyway

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

    Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: Concurrent 107 days. The daily bag 
limit is 7 ducks and mergansers, including no more than 2 female 
mallards, 2 pintails, 1 canvasback, and 2 redheads.
    The season on coots and common moorhens may be between the outside 
dates for the season on ducks, but not to exceed 107 days.
    Coot, Common Moorhen, and Purple Gallinule Limits: The daily bag 
and possession limits of coots, common moorhens, and purple gallinules 
are 25, singly or in the aggregate.
    Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 
22) and the last Sunday in January (January 27).
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, 
Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming may select hunting seasons by 
zones. Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, 
and Wyoming may split their seasons into two segments.
    Colorado, Montana, and New Mexico may split their seasons into 
three segments.
    Colorado River Zone, California: Seasons and limits should be the 
same as seasons and limits selected in the adjacent portion of Arizona 
(South Zone).

Geese

    Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits:
    California, Oregon, and Washington:
    Dark geese: Except as subsequently noted, 100-day seasons may be 
selected, with outside dates between the Saturday nearest October 1 
(September 29), and the last Sunday in January (January 27). The basic 
daily bag limit is 4 dark geese, except the dark goose bag limit does 
not include brant.
    Light geese: Except as subsequently noted, 107-day seasons may be 
selected, with outside dates between the Saturday nearest October 1 
(September 29) and March 10. The daily bag limit is 6 light geese.
    Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and 
Wyoming:
    Dark geese: Except as subsequently noted, 107-day seasons may be 
selected, with outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 
(September 22) and the last Sunday in January (January 27). The basic 
daily bag limit is 4 dark geese.
    Light geese: Except as subsequently noted, 107-day seasons may be 
selected, with outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 
(September 22), and March 10. The basic daily bag limit is 10 light 
geese.
    Split Seasons: Unless otherwise specified, seasons for geese may be 
split into up to 3 segments. Three-way split seasons for Canada geese 
and white-fronted geese require Pacific Flyway Council and U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service approval and a 3-year evaluation by each 
participating State.

Brant Season

    Oregon may select a 16-day season, Washington a 16-day season, and 
California a 30-day season. Days must be consecutive. Washington and 
California may select hunting seasons by up to two zones. The daily bag 
limit is 2 brant and is in addition to dark goose limits. In Oregon and 
California, the brant season must end no later than December 15.
    Arizona: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3.
California
    Northeastern Zone: The daily bag limit is 6 dark geese.
    Balance-of-State Zone: A 107-day season may be selected with 
outside dates between the Saturday nearest October 1 (September 29) and 
March 10. Limits may not include more than 6 dark geese per day. In the 
Sacramento Valley Special Management Area, the season on white-fronted 
geese must end on or before December 28, and the daily bag limit should 
contain no more than 2 white-fronted geese. In the North Coast Special 
Management Area, a 107-day season may be selected, with outside dates 
between the Saturday nearest October 1 (September 29) and March 10. 
Hunting days that occur after the last Sunday in January should be 
concurrent with Oregon's South Coast Zone.
Idaho
    Zone 3: Hunting days that occur after the last Sunday in January 
should be concurrent with Oregon's Malheur County Zone. Idaho will 
continue to monitor the snow goose hunt that occurs after the last 
Sunday in January in the American Falls Reservoir/Fort Hall Bottoms and 
surrounding areas at 3-year intervals.
    Nevada: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3.
    New Mexico: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3.
Oregon
    Harney and Lake County Zone: For Lake County only, the daily dark 
goose bag limit may not include more than 1 white-fronted goose.
    Klamath County Zone: A 107-day season may be selected, with outside 
dates between the Saturday nearest October 1 (September 29), and March 
10. A 3-way split season may be selected. For hunting days after the 
last Sunday in January, the daily bag limit may not include Canada 
geese.
    Malheur County Zone: The daily bag limit of light geese is 10. 
Hunting days that occur after the last Sunday in January should be 
concurrent with Idaho's Zone 2.
    Northwest Zone: Outside dates are between the Saturday nearest 
October 1 (September 29) and March 10. A 3-way split season may be 
selected. The daily bag limit may not include more than 3 cackling or 
Aleutian geese.
    Northwest Special Permit Zone: Outside dates are between the 
Saturday nearest October 1 (September 29) and March 10. The daily bag 
limit may not include more than 3 cackling or Aleutian geese and daily 
bag limit of light geese is 4.
    South Coast Zone: A 107-day season may be selected, with outside 
dates between the Saturday nearest October 1 (September 29) and March 
10. Hunting days that occur after the last Sunday in January should be 
concurrent with California's North Coast Special Management Area. A 3-
way split season

[[Page 49879]]

may be selected. The daily bag limit of dark geese can increase to 6 
geese after the last Sunday in January (January 27).
    Utah: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3.
    Washington: The daily bag limit is 4 geese.
    Area 1: Outside dates are between the Saturday nearest October 1 
(September 29), and the last Sunday in January (January 27).
    Areas 2A and 2B (Southwest Quota Zone): Except for designated 
areas, there will be no open season on Canada geese. See section on 
quota zones. In this area, the daily bag limit may include 3 cackling 
geese. In Southwest Quota Zone Area 2B (Pacific County), the daily bag 
limit may include 1 Aleutian goose.
    Areas 4 and 5: A 107-day season may be selected for dark geese. A 
3-way split season may be selected in Area 4.
    Wyoming: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3.

Quota Zones

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

Swans

    In portions of the Pacific Flyway (Montana, Nevada, and Utah), an 
open season for taking a limited number of swans may be selected. 
Permits will be issued by the State and will authorize each permittee 
to take no more than 1 swan per season with each permit. Nevada may 
issue up to 2 permits per hunter. Montana and Utah may only issue 1 
permit per hunter. Each State's season may open no earlier than the 
Saturday nearest October 1 (September 29). These seasons are also 
subject to the following conditions:
    Montana: No more than 500 permits may be issued. The season must 
end no later than December 1. The State must implement a harvest-
monitoring program to measure the species composition of the swan 
harvest and should use appropriate measures to maximize hunter 
compliance in reporting bill measurement and color information.
    Utah: No more than 2,000 permits may be issued. During the swan 
season, no more than 10 trumpeter swans may be taken. The season must 
end no later than the second Sunday in December (December 9) or upon 
attainment of 10 trumpeter swans in the harvest, whichever occurs 
earliest. The Utah season remains subject to the terms of the 
Memorandum of Agreement entered into with the Service in August 2001, 
regarding harvest monitoring, season closure procedures, and education 
requirements to minimize the take of trumpeter swans during the swan 
season.
    Nevada: No more than 650 permits may be issued. During the swan 
season, no more than 5 trumpeter swans may be taken. The season must 
end no later than the Sunday following January 1 (January 6) or upon 
attainment of 5 trumpeter swans in the harvest, whichever occurs 
earliest.
    In addition, the States of Utah and Nevada must implement a 
harvest-monitoring program to measure the species composition of the 
swan harvest. The harvest-monitoring program must require that all 
harvested swans or their species-determinant parts be examined by 
either State or Federal biologists for the purpose of species 
classification. The States should use appropriate measures to maximize 
hunter compliance in providing bagged swans for examination. Further, 
the States of Montana, Nevada, and Utah must achieve at least an 80-
percent compliance rate, or subsequent permits will be reduced by 10 
percent. All three States must provide to the Service by June 30, 2013, 
a report detailing harvest, hunter participation, reporting compliance, 
and monitoring of swan populations in the designated hunt areas.

Tundra Swans

    In portions of the Atlantic Flyway (North Carolina and Virginia) 
and the Central Flyway (North Dakota, South Dakota [east of the 
Missouri River], and that portion of Montana in the Central Flyway), an 
open season for taking a limited number of tundra swans may be 
selected. Permits will be issued by the States that authorize the take 
of no more than 1 tundra swan per permit. A second permit may be issued 
to hunters from unused permits remaining after the first drawing. The 
States must obtain harvest and hunter participation data. These seasons 
are also subject to the following conditions:
    In the Atlantic Flyway:
--The season may be 90 days, between October 1 and January 31.
--In North Carolina, no more than 5,000 permits may be issued.
--In Virginia, no more than 600 permits may be issued.
    In the Central Flyway:
--The season may be 107 days, between the Saturday nearest October 1 
(September 29) and January 31.
--In the Central Flyway portion of Montana, no more than 500 permits 
may be issued.
--In North Dakota, no more than 2,200 permits may be issued.
--In South Dakota, no more than 1,300 permits may be issued.

Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions

Ducks (Including Mergansers) and Coots

Atlantic Flyway
Connecticut
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of I-95.
    South Zone: Remainder of the State.
Maine
    North Zone: That portion north of the line extending east along 
Maine State Highway 110 from the New Hampshire-Maine State line to the 
intersection of Maine State Highway 11 in Newfield; then north and east 
along Route 11 to the intersection of U.S. Route 202 in Auburn; then 
north and east on Route 202 to the intersection of Interstate Highway 
95 in Augusta; then north and east along I-95 to Route 15 in Bangor; 
then east along Route 15 to Route 9; then east along Route 9 to Stony 
Brook in Baileyville; then east along Stony Brook to the United States 
border.
    Coastal Zone: That portion south of a line extending east from the 
Maine-New Brunswick border in Calais at the Route 1 Bridge; then south 
along Route 1 to the Maine-New Hampshire border in Kittery.
    South Zone: Remainder of the State.
Massachusetts
    Western Zone: That portion of the State west of a line extending 
south from the Vermont State line on I-91 to MA 9, west on MA 9 to MA 
10, south

[[Page 49880]]

on MA 10 to U.S. 202, south on U.S. 202 to the Connecticut State line.
    Central Zone: That portion of the State east of the Berkshire Zone 
and west of a line extending south from the New Hampshire State line on 
I-95 to U.S. 1, south on U.S. 1 to I-93, south on I-93 to MA 3, south 
on MA 3 to U.S. 6, west on U.S. 6 to MA 28, west on MA 28 to I-195, 
west to the Rhode Island State line; except the waters, and the lands 
150 yards inland from the high-water mark, of the Assonet River 
upstream to the MA 24 bridge, and the Taunton River upstream to the 
Center St.-Elm St. bridge shall be in the Coastal Zone.
    Coastal Zone: That portion of Massachusetts east and south of the 
Central Zone.
New Hampshire
    Northern Zone: That portion of the State east and north of the 
Inland Zone beginning at the Jct. of Rte. 10 and Rte. 25A in Orford, 
east on Rte. 25A to Rte. 25 in Wentworth, southeast on Rte. 25 to Exit 
26 of Rte. I-93 in Plymouth, south on Rte. I-93 to Rte. 3 at Exit 24 of 
Rte. I-93 in Ashland, northeast on Rte. 3 to Rte. 113 in Holderness, 
north on Rte. 113 to Rte. 113-A in Sandwich, north on Rte. 113-A to 
Rte. 113 in Tamworth, east on Rte. 113 to Rte. 16 in Chocorua, north on 
Rte. 16 to Rte. 302 in Conway, east on Rte. 302 to the Maine-New 
Hampshire border.
    Inland Zone: That portion of the State south and west of the 
Northern Zone, west of the Coastal Zone, and includes the area of 
Vermont and New Hampshire as described for hunting reciprocity. A 
person holding a New Hampshire hunting license which allows the taking 
of migratory waterfowl or a person holding a Vermont resident hunting 
license which allows the taking of migratory waterfowl may take 
migratory waterfowl and coots from the following designated area of the 
Inland Zone: the State of Vermont east of Rte. I-91 at the 
Massachusetts border, north on Rte. I-91 to Rte. 2, north on Rte. 2 to 
Rte. 102, north on Rte. 102 to Rte. 253, and north on Rte. 253 to the 
border with Canada and the area of NH west of Rte. 63 at the MA border, 
north on Rte. 63 to Rte. 12, north on Rte. 12 to Rte. 12-A, north on 
Rte. 12A to Rte 10, north on Rte. 10 to Rte. 135, north on Rte. 135 to 
Rte. 3, north on Rte. 3 to the intersection with the Connecticut River.
    Coastal Zone: That portion of the State east of a line beginning at 
the Maine-New Hampshire border in Rollinsford, then extending to Rte. 4 
west to the city of Dover, south to the intersection of Rte. 108, south 
along Rte. 108 through Madbury, Durham, and Newmarket to the junction 
of Rte. 85 in Newfields, south to Rte. 101 in Exeter, east to 
Interstate 95 (New Hampshire Turnpike) in Hampton, and south to the 
Massachusetts border.
New Jersey
    Coastal Zone: That portion of the State seaward of a line beginning 
at the New York State line in Raritan Bay and extending west along the 
New York State line to NJ 440 at Perth Amboy; west on NJ 440 to the 
Garden State Parkway; south on the Garden State Parkway to the 
shoreline at Cape May and continuing to the Delaware State line in 
Delaware Bay.
    North Zone: That portion of the State west of the Coastal Zone and 
north of a line extending west from the Garden State Parkway on NJ 70 
to the New Jersey Turnpike, north on the turnpike to U.S. 206, north on 
U.S. 206 to U.S. 1 at Trenton, west on U.S. 1 to the Pennsylvania State 
line in the Delaware River.
    South Zone: That portion of the State not within the North Zone or 
the Coastal Zone.
New York
    Lake Champlain Zone: That area east and north of a continuous line 
extending along U.S. 11 from the New York-Canada International boundary 
south to NY 9B, south along NY 9B to U.S. 9, south along U.S. 9 to NY 
22 south of Keesville; south along NY 22 to the west shore of South 
Bay, along and around the shoreline of South Bay to NY 22 on the east 
shore of South Bay; southeast along NY 22 to U.S. 4, northeast along 
U.S. 4 to the Vermont State line.
    Long Island Zone: That area consisting of Nassau County, Suffolk 
County, that area of Westchester County southeast of I-95, and their 
tidal waters.
    Western Zone: That area west of a line extending from Lake Ontario 
east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, and south along 
I-81 to the Pennsylvania State line.
    Northeastern Zone: That area north of a continuous line extending 
from Lake Ontario east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-
81, south along I-81 to NY 31, east along NY 31 to NY 13, north along 
NY 13 to NY 49, east along NY 49 to NY 365, east along NY 365 to NY 28, 
east along NY 28 to NY 29, east along NY 29 to NY 22, north along NY 22 
to Washington County Route 153, east along CR 153 to the New York-
Vermont boundary, exclusive of the Lake Champlain Zone.
    Southeastern Zone: The remaining portion of New York.
Pennsylvania
    Lake Erie Zone: The Lake Erie waters of Pennsylvania and a 
shoreline margin along Lake Erie from New York on the east to Ohio on 
the west extending 150 yards inland, but including all of Presque Isle 
Peninsula.
    Northwest Zone: The area bounded on the north by the Lake Erie Zone 
and including all of Erie and Crawford Counties and those portions of 
Mercer and Venango Counties north of I-80.
    North Zone: That portion of the State east of the Northwest Zone 
and north of a line extending east on I-80 to U.S. 220, Route 220 to I-
180, I-180 to I-80, and I-80 to the Delaware River.
    South Zone: The remaining portion of Pennsylvania.
Vermont
    Lake Champlain Zone: The U.S. portion of Lake Champlain and that 
area north and west of the line extending from the New York border 
along U.S. 4 to VT 22A at Fair Haven; VT 22A to U.S. 7 at Vergennes; 
U.S. 7 to VT 78 at Swanton; VT 78 to VT 36; VT 36 to Maquam Bay on Lake 
Champlain; along and around the shoreline of Maquam Bay and Hog Island 
to VT 78 at the West Swanton Bridge; VT 78 to VT 2 in Alburg; VT 2 to 
the Richelieu River in Alburg; along the east shore of the Richelieu 
River to the Canadian border.
    Interior Zone: That portion of Vermont east of the Lake Champlain 
Zone and west of a line extending from the Massachusetts border at 
Interstate 91; north along Interstate 91 to US 2; east along US 2 to VT 
102; north along VT 102 to VT 253; north along VT 253 to the Canadian 
border.
    Connecticut River Zone: The remaining portion of Vermont east of 
the Interior Zone.
Mississippi Flyway
Alabama
    South Zone: Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
    North Zone: The remainder of Alabama.
Illinois
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending 
west from the Indiana border along Peotone-Beecher Road to Illinois 
Route 50, south along Illinois Route 50 to Wilmington-Peotone Road, 
west along Wilmington-Peotone Road to Illinois Route 53, north along 
Illinois Route 53 to New River Road, northwest along New River Road to 
Interstate Highway 55, south along I-55 to Pine Bluff-Lorenzo Road, 
west along Pine Bluff-Lorenzo Road to Illinois Route 47, north along 
Illinois Route 47

[[Page 49881]]

to I-80, west along I-80 to I-39, south along I-39 to Illinois Route 
18, west along Illinois Route 18 to Illinois Route 29, south along 
Illinois Route 29 to Illinois Route 17, west along Illinois Route 17 to 
the Mississippi River, and due south across the Mississippi River to 
the Iowa border.
    Central Zone: That portion of the State south of the North Duck 
Zone line to a line extending west from the Indiana border along I-70 
to Illinois Route 4, south along Illinois Route 4 to Illinois Route 
161, west along Illinois Route 161 to Illinois Route 158, south and 
west along Illinois Route 158 to Illinois Route 159, south along 
Illinois Route 159 to Illinois Route 3, south along Illinois Route 3 to 
St. Leo's Road, south along St. Leo's Road to Modoc Road, west along 
Modoc Road to Modoc Ferry Road, southwest along Modoc Ferry Road to 
Levee Road, southeast along Levee Road to County Route 12 (Modoc Ferry 
entrance Road), south along County Route 12 to the Modoc Ferry route 
and southwest on the Modoc Ferry route across the Mississippi River to 
the Missouri border.
    South Zone: That portion of the State south and east of a line 
extending west from the Indiana border along Interstate 70, south along 
U.S. Highway 45, to Illinois Route 13, west along Illinois Route 13 to 
Greenbriar Road, north on Greenbriar Road to Sycamore Road, west on 
Sycamore Road to N. Reed Station Road, south on N. Reed Station Road to 
Illinois Route 13, west along Illinois Route 13 to Illinois Route 127, 
south along Illinois Route 127 to State Forest Road (1025 N), west 
along State Forest Road to Illinois Route 3, north along Illinois Route 
3 to the south bank of the Big Muddy River, west along the south bank 
of the Big Muddy River to the Mississippi River, west across the 
Mississippi River to the Missouri border.
    South Central Zone: The remainder of the State between the south 
border of the Central Zone and the North border of the South Zone.
Indiana
    North Zone--That part of Indiana north of a line extending east 
from the Illinois border along State Road 18 to U.S. 31; north along 
U.S. 31 to U.S. 24; east along U.S. 24 to Huntington; southeast along 
U.S. 224; south along State Road 5; and east along State Road 124 to 
the Ohio border.
    Central Zone--That part of Indiana south of the North Zone boundary 
and north of the South Zone boundary.
    South Zone--That part of Indiana south of a line extending east 
from the Illinois border along U.S. 40; south along U.S. 41; east along 
State Road 58; south along State Road 37 to Bedford; and east along 
U.S. 50 to the Ohio border.
Iowa
    North Zone--That portion of Iowa north of a line beginning on the 
South Dakota-Iowa border at Interstate 29, southeast along Interstate 
29 to State Highway 175, east along State Highway 175 to State Highway 
37, southeast along State Highway 37 to State Highway 183, northeast 
along State Highway 183 to State Highway 141, east along State Highway 
141 to U.S. Highway 30, and along U.S. Highway 30 to the Illinois 
border.
    Missouri River Zone--That portion of Iowa west of a line beginning 
on the South Dakota-Iowa border at Interstate 29, southeast along 
Interstate 29 to State Highway 175, and west along State Highway 175 to 
the Iowa-Nebraska border.
    South Zone--The remainder of Iowa.
Kentucky
    West Zone: All counties west of and including Butler, Daviess, 
Ohio, Simpson, and Warren Counties.
    East Zone: The remainder of Kentucky.
Louisiana
    West: That portion of the State west and north of a line beginning 
at the Arkansas-Louisiana border on LA 3; south on LA 3 to Bossier 
City; then east along I-20 to Minden; then south along LA 7 to 
Ringgold; then east along LA 4 to Jonesboro; then south along US Hwy 
167 to its junction with LA 106; west on LA 106 to Oakdale; then south 
on US Hwy 165 to junction with US Hwy 190 at Kinder; then west on US 
Hwy 190/LA 12 to the Texas state border.
    East: That portion of the State east and north of a line beginning 
at the Arkansas-Louisiana border on LA 3; south on LA 3 to Bossier 
City; then east along I-20 to Minden; then south along LA 7 to 
Ringgold; then east along LA 4 to Jonesboro; then south along US Hwy 
167 to Lafayette; then southeast along US Hwy 90 to the Mississippi 
State line.
    Coastal: Remainder of the State.
Michigan
    North Zone: The Upper Peninsula.
    Middle Zone: That portion of the Lower Peninsula north of a line 
beginning at the Wisconsin State line in Lake Michigan due west of the 
mouth of Stony Creek in Oceana County; then due east to, and easterly 
and southerly along the south shore of Stony Creek to Scenic Drive, 
easterly and southerly along Scenic Drive to Stony Lake Road, easterly 
along Stony Lake and Garfield Roads to Michigan Highway 20, east along 
Michigan 20 to U.S. Highway 10 Business Route (BR) in the city of 
Midland, easterly along U.S. 10 BR to U.S. 10, easterly along U.S. 10 
to Interstate Highway 75/U.S. Highway 23, northerly along I-75/U.S. 23 
to the U.S. 23 exit at Standish, easterly along U.S. 23 to the 
centerline of the Au Gres River, then southerly along the centerline of 
the Au Gres River to Saginaw Bay, then on a line directly east 10 miles 
into Saginaw Bay, and from that point on a line directly northeast to 
the Canadian border.
    South Zone: The remainder of Michigan.
Minnesota
    North Duck Zone: That portion of the State north of a line 
extending east from the North Dakota State line along State Highway 210 
to State Highway 23 and east to State Highway 39 and east to the 
Wisconsin State line at the Oliver Bridge.
    South Duck Zone: The portion of the State south of a line extending 
east from the South Dakota State line along U.S. Highway 212 to 
Interstate 494 and east to Interstate 94 and east to the Wisconsin 
State line.
    Central Duck Zone: The remainder of the State.
Missouri
    North Zone: That portion of Missouri north of a line running west 
from the Illinois border at Lock and Dam 25; west on Lincoln County 
Hwy. N to Mo. Hwy. 79; south on Mo. Hwy. 79 to Mo. Hwy. 47; west on Mo. 
Hwy. 47 to I-70; west on I-70 to the Kansas border.
    Middle Zone: The remainder of Missouri not included in other zones.
    South Zone: That portion of Missouri south of a line running west 
from the Illinois border on Mo. Hwy. 74 to Mo. Hwy. 25; south on Mo. 
Hwy 25. to U.S. Hwy. 62; west on U.S. Hwy. 62 to Mo. Hwy. 53; north on 
Mo. Hwy. 53 to Mo. Hwy. 51; north on Mo. Hwy. 51 to U.S. Hwy. 60; west 
on U.S. Hwy. 60 to Mo. Hwy. 21; north on Mo. Hwy. 21 to Mo. Hwy. 72; 
west on Mo. Hwy. 72 to Mo. Hwy. 32; west on Mo. Hwy. 32 to U.S. Hwy. 
65; north on U.S. Hwy. 65 to U.S. Hwy. 54; west on U.S. Hwy. 54 to U.S. 
Hwy. 71; south on U.S. Hwy. 71 to Jasper County Hwy. M; west on Jasper 
County Hwy. M to the Kansas border.
Ohio
    Lake Erie Marsh Zone: Includes all land and water within the 
boundaries of the area bordered by Interstate 75 from the Ohio-Michigan 
line to Interstate 280 to Interstate 80 to the Erie-Lorain

[[Page 49882]]

County line extending to a line measuring two hundred (200) yards from 
the shoreline into the waters of Lake Erie and including the waters of 
Sandusky Bay and Maumee Bay.
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line beginning at 
the Ohio-Indiana border and extending east along Interstate 70 to the 
Ohio-West Virginia border.
    South Zone: The remainder of Ohio.
Tennessee
    Reelfoot Zone: All or portions of Lake and Obion Counties.
    State Zone: The remainder of Tennessee.
Wisconsin
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending 
east from the Minnesota State line along U.S. Highway 10 into Portage 
County to County Highway HH, east on County Highway HH to State Highway 
66 and then east on State Highway 66 to U.S. Highway 10, continuing 
east on U.S. Highway 10 to U.S. Highway 41, then north on U.S. Highway 
41 to the Michigan State line.
    Mississippi River Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning 
at the intersection of the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway and 
the Illinois State line in Grant County and extending northerly along 
the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway to the city limit of 
Prescott in Pierce County, then west along the Prescott city limit to 
the Minnesota State line.
    South Zone: The remainder of Wisconsin.
Central Flyway
Colorado (Central Flyway Portion)
    Northeast Zone: All areas east of Interstate 25 and north of 
Interstate 70.
    Southeast Zone: All areas east of Interstate 25 and south of 
Interstate 70, and all of El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano, and Las Animas 
counties.
    Mountain/Foothills Zone: All areas west of Interstate 25 and east 
of the Continental Divide, except El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano, and Las 
Animas counties.
Kansas
    High Plains Zone: That portion of the State west of U.S. 283.
    Early Zone: That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the 
Nebraska-Kansas State line south on K-128 to its junction with US-36, 
then east on US-36 to its junction with K-199, then south on K-199 to 
its junction with Republic County 30 Rd, then south on Republic County 
30 Rd to its junction with K-148, then east on K-148 to its junction 
with Republic County 50 Rd, then south on Republic County 50 Rd to its 
junction with Cloud County 40th Rd, then south on Cloud County 40th Rd 
to its junction with K-9, then west on K-9 to its junction with US-24, 
then west on US-24 to its junction with US-281, then north on US-281 to 
its junction with US-36, then west on US-36 to its junction with US-
183, then south on US-183 to its junction with US-24, then west on US-
24 to its junction with K-18, then southeast on K-18 to its junction 
with US-183, then south on US-183 to its junction with K-4, then east 
on K-4 to its junction with I-135, then south on I-135 to its junction 
with K-61, then southwest on K-61 to McPherson County 14th Avenue, then 
south on McPherson County 14th Avenue to its junction with Arapaho Rd, 
then west on Arapaho Rd to its junction with K-61, then southwest on K-
61 to its junction with K-96, then northwest on K-96 to its junction 
with US-56, then southwest on US-56 to its junction with K-19, then 
east on K-19 to its junction with US-281, then south on US-281 to its 
junction with US-54, then west on US-54 to its junction with US-183, 
then north on US-183 to its junction with US-56, then southwest on US-
56 to its junction with Ford County Rd 126, then south on Ford County 
Rd 126 to its junction with US-400, then northwest on US-400 to its 
junction with US-283, then north on US-283 to its junction with the 
Nebraska-Kansas State line, then east along the Nebraska-Kansas State 
line to its junction with K-128.
    Late Zone: That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the Nebraska-
Kansas State line south on K-128 to its junction with US-36, then east 
on US-36 to its junction with K-199, then south on K-199 to its 
junction with Republic County 30 Rd, then south on Republic County 30 
Rd to its junction with K-148, then east on K-148 to its junction with 
Republic County 50 Rd, then south on Republic County 50 Rd to its 
junction with Cloud County 40th Rd, then south on Cloud County 40th Rd 
to its junction with K-9, then west on K-9 to its junction with US-24, 
then west on US-24 to its junction with US-281, then north on US-281 to 
its junction with US-36, then west on US-36 to its junction with US-
183, then south on US-183 to its junction with US-24, then west on US-
24 to its junction with K-18, then southeast on K-18 to its junction 
with US-183, then south on US-183 to its junction with K-4, then east 
on K-4 to its junction with I-135, then south on I-135 to its junction 
with K-61, then southwest on K-61 to 14th Avenue, then south on 14th 
Avenue to its junction with Arapaho Rd, then west on Arapaho Rd to its 
junction with K-61, then southwest on K-61 to its junction with K-96, 
then northwest on K-96 to its junction with US-56, then southwest on 
US-56 to its junction with K-19, then east on K-19 to its junction with 
US-281, then south on US-281 to its junction with US-54, then west on 
US-54 to its junction with US-183, then north on US-183 to its junction 
with US-56, then southwest on US-56 to its junction with Ford County Rd 
126, then south on Ford County Rd 126 to its junction with US-400, then 
northwest on US-400 to its junction with US-283, then south on US-283 
to its junction with the Oklahoma-Kansas State line, then east along 
the Oklahoma-Kansas State line to its junction with US-77, then north 
on US-77 to its junction with Butler County, NE 150th Street, then east 
on Butler County, NE 150th Street to its junction with US-35, then 
northeast on US-35 to its junction with K-68, then east on K-68 to the 
Kansas-Missouri State line, then north along the Kansas-Missouri State 
line to its junction with the Nebraska State line, then west along the 
Kansas-Nebraska State line to its junction with K-128.
    Southeast Zone: That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the 
Missouri-Kansas State line west on K-68 to its junction with US-35, 
then southwest on US-35 to its junction with Butler County, NE 150th 
Street, then west on NE 150th Street until its junction with K-77, then 
south on K-77 to the Oklahoma-Kansas State line, then east along the 
Kansas-Oklahoma State line to its junction with the Missouri State 
line, then north along the Kansas-Missouri State line to its junction 
with K-68.
Montana (Central Flyway Portion)
    Zone 1: The Counties of Blaine, Carbon, Carter, Daniels, Dawson, 
Fallon, Fergus, Garfield, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, McCone, 
Musselshell, Petroleum, Phillips, Powder River, Richland, Roosevelt, 
Sheridan, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, and 
Yellowstone.
    Zone 2: The remainder of Montana.
Nebraska
    High Plains--That portion of Nebraska lying west of a line 
beginning at the South Dakota-Nebraska border on U.S. Hwy. 183; south 
on U.S. Hwy. 183 to U.S. Hwy. 20; west on U.S. Hwy. 20 to NE Hwy. 7; 
south on NE Hwy. 7 to NE Hwy. 91; southwest on NE Hwy. 91 to NE Hwy. 2; 
southeast on NE Hwy. 2 to NE Hwy. 92; west on NE Hwy. 92 to NE Hwy. 40; 
south on NE Hwy. 40 to NE Hwy. 47; south on NE Hwy. 47 to

[[Page 49883]]

NE Hwy. 23; east on NE Hwy. 23 to U.S. Hwy. 283; and south on U.S. Hwy. 
283 to the Kansas-Nebraska border.
    Zone 1--Area bounded by designated Federal and State highways and 
political boundaries beginning at the South Dakota-Nebraska border west 
of NE Hwy. 26E Spur and north of NE Hwy. 12; those portions of Dixon, 
Cedar and Knox Counties north of NE Hwy. 12; that portion of Keya Paha 
County east of U.S. Hwy. 183; and all of Boyd County. Both banks of the 
Niobrara River in Keya Paha and Boyd counties east of U.S. Hwy. 183 
shall be included in Zone 1.
    Zone 2--The area south of Zone 1 and north of Zone 3.
    Zone 3--Area bounded by designated Federal and State highways, 
County Roads, and political boundaries beginning at the Wyoming-
Nebraska border at the intersection of the Interstate Canal; east along 
northern borders of Scotts Bluff and Morrill Counties to Broadwater 
Road; south to Morrill County Rd 94; east to County Rd 135; south to 
County Rd 88; southeast to County Rd 151; south to County Rd 80; east 
to County Rd 161; south to County Rd 76; east to County Rd 165; south 
to Country Rd 167; south to U.S. Hwy. 26; east to County Rd 171; north 
to County Rd 68; east to County Rd 183; south to County Rd 64; east to 
County Rd 189; north to County Rd 70; east to County Rd 201; south to 
County Rd 60A; east to County Rd 203; south to County Rd 52; east to 
Keith County Line; east along the northern boundaries of Keith and 
Lincoln Counties to NE Hwy. 97; south to U.S. Hwy 83; south to E Hall 
School Rd; east to N Airport Road; south to U.S. Hwy. 30; east to 
Merrick County Rd 13; north to County Rd O; east to NE Hwy. 14; north 
to NE Hwy. 52; west and north to NE Hwy. 91; west to U.S. Hwy. 281; 
south to NE Hwy. 22; west to NE Hwy. 11; northwest to NE Hwy. 91; west 
to U.S. Hwy. 183; south to Round Valley Rd; west to Sargent River Rd; 
west to Sargent Rd; west to Milburn Rd; north to Blaine County Line; 
east to Loup County Line; north to NE Hwy. 91; west to North Loup Spur 
Rd; north to North Loup River Rd; east to Pleasant Valley/Worth Rd; 
east to Loup County Line; north to Loup-Brown county line; east along 
northern boundaries of Loup and Garfield Counties to Cedar River Road; 
south to NE Hwy. 70; east to U.S. Hwy. 281; north to NE Hwy. 70; east 
to NE Hwy. 14; south to NE Hwy. 39; southeast to NE Hwy. 22; east to 
U.S. Hwy. 81; southeast to U.S. Hwy. 30; east to U.S. Hwy. 75; north to 
the Washington County line; east to the Iowa-Nebraska border; south to 
the Missouri-Nebraska border; south to Kansas-Nebraska border; west 
along Kansas-Nebraska border to Colorado-Nebraska border; north and 
west to Wyoming-Nebraska border; north to intersection of Interstate 
Canal; and excluding that area in Zone 4.
    Zone 4--Area encompassed by designated Federal and State highways 
and County Roads beginning at the intersection of NE Hwy. 8 and U.S. 
Hwy. 75; north to U.S. Hwy. 136; east to the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 
136 and the Steamboat Trace (Trace); north along the Trace to the 
intersection with Federal Levee R-562; north along Federal Levee R-562 
to the intersection with the Trace; north along the Trace/Burlington 
Northern Railroad right-of-way to NE Hwy. 2; west to U.S. Hwy. 75; 
north to NE Hwy. 2; west to NE Hwy. 43; north to U.S. Hwy. 34; east to 
NE Hwy. 63; north to NE Hwy. 66; north and west to U.S. Hwy. 77; north 
to NE Hwy. 92; west to NE Hwy. Spur 12F; south to Butler County Rd 30; 
east to County Rd X; south to County Rd 27; west to County Rd W; south 
to County Rd 26; east to County Rd X; south to County Rd 21 (Seward 
County Line); west to NE Hwy. 15; north to County Rd 34; west to County 
Rd J; south to NE Hwy. 92; west to U.S. Hwy. 81; south to NE Hwy. 66; 
west to Polk County Rd C; north to NE Hwy. 92; west to U.S. Hwy. 30; 
west to Merrick County Rd 17; south to Hordlake Road; southeast to 
Prairie Island Road; southeast to Hamilton County Rd T; south to NE 
Hwy. 66; west to NE Hwy. 14; south to County Rd 22; west to County Rd 
M; south to County Rd 21; west to County Rd K; south to U.S. Hwy. 34; 
west to NE Hwy. 2; south to U.S. Hwy. I-80; west to Gunbarrel Rd (Hall/
Hamilton county line); south to Giltner Rd; west to U.S. Hwy. 281; 
south to U.S. Hwy. 34; west to NE Hwy. 10; north to Kearney County Rd R 
and Phelps County Rd 742; west to U.S. Hwy. 283; south to U.S. Hwy 34; 
east to U.S. Hwy. 136; east to U.S. Hwy. 183; north to NE Hwy. 4; east 
to NE Hwy. 10; south to U.S. Hwy. 136; east to NE Hwy. 14; south to NE 
Hwy. 8; east to U.S. Hwy. 81; north to NE Hwy. 4; east to NE Hwy. 15; 
south to U.S. Hwy. 136; east to NE Hwy. 103; south to NE Hwy. 8; east 
to U.S. Hwy. 75.
New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion)
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of I-40 and U.S. 54.
    South Zone: The remainder of New Mexico.
North Dakota
    High Plains Unit: That portion of the State south and west of a 
line from the South Dakota State line along U.S. 83 and I-94 to ND 41, 
north to U.S. 2, west to the Williams/Divide County line, then north 
along the County line to the Canadian border.
    Low Plains Unit: The remainder of North Dakota.
Oklahoma
    High Plains Zone: The Counties of Beaver, Cimarron, and Texas.
    Low Plains Zone 1: That portion of the State east of the High 
Plains Zone and north of a line extending east from the Texas State 
line along OK 33 to OK 47, east along OK 47 to U.S. 183, south along 
U.S.183 to I-40, east along I-40 to U.S. 177, north along U.S. 177 to 
OK 33, east along OK 33 to OK 18, north along OK 18 to OK 51, west 
along OK 51 to I-35, north along I-35 to U.S. 412, west along U.S. 412 
to OK 132, then north along OK 132 to the Kansas State line.
    Low Plains Zone 2: The remainder of Oklahoma.
South Dakota
    High Plains Zone: That portion of the State west of a line 
beginning at the North Dakota State line and extending south along U.S. 
83 to U.S.14, east on U.S.14 to Blunt, south on the Blunt-Canning Rd to 
SD 34, east and south on SD 34 to SD 50 at Lee's Corner, south on SD 50 
to I-90, east on I-90 to SD 50, south on SD 50 to SD 44, west on SD 44 
across the Platte-Winner bridge to SD 47, south on SD 47 to U.S.18, 
east on U.S. 18 to SD 47, south on SD 47 to the Nebraska State line.
    North Zone: That portion of northeastern South Dakota east of the 
High Plains Unit and north of a line extending east along U.S. 212 to 
the Minnesota State line.
    South Zone: That portion of Gregory County east of SD 47 and south 
of SD 44; Charles Mix County south of SD 44 to the Douglas County line; 
south on SD 50 to Geddes; east on the Geddes Highway to U.S. 281; south 
on U.S. 281 and U.S. 18 to SD 50; south and east on SD 50 to the Bon 
Homme County line; the Counties of Bon Homme, Yankton, and Clay south 
of SD 50; and Union County south and west of SD 50 and I-29.
    Middle Zone: The remainder of South Dakota.
Texas
    High Plains Zone: That portion of the State west of a line 
extending south from the Oklahoma State line along U.S. 183 to Vernon, 
south along U.S. 283 to Albany, south along TX 6 to TX 351 to Abilene, 
south along U.S. 277 to Del Rio, then south along the Del Rio 
International Toll Bridge access road to the Mexico border.

[[Page 49884]]

    Low Plains North Zone: That portion of northeastern Texas east of 
the High Plains Zone and north of a line beginning at the International 
Toll Bridge south of Del Rio, then extending east on U.S. 90 to San 
Antonio, then continuing east on I-10 to the Louisiana State line at 
Orange, Texas.
    Low Plains South Zone: The remainder of Texas.
    Wyoming (Central Flyway Portion)
    Zone C1: Big Horn, Converse, Goshen, Hot Springs, Natrona, Park, 
Platte, and Washakie Counties; and Fremont County excluding the 
portions west or south of the Continental Divide.
    Zone C2: Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Niobrara, Sheridan, and Weston 
Counties.
    Zone C3: Albany and Laramie Counties; and that portion of Carbon 
County east of the Continental Divide.
Pacific Flyway
Arizona
    Game Management Units (GMU) as follows:
    South Zone: Those portions of GMUs 6 and 8 in Yavapai County, and 
GMUs 10 and 12B-45.
    North Zone: GMUs 1-5, those portions of GMUs 6 and 8 within 
Coconino County, and GMUs 7, 9, 12A.
California
    Northeastern Zone: In that portion of California lying east and 
north of a line beginning at the intersection of Interstate 5 with the 
California-Oregon line; south along Interstate 5 to its junction with 
Walters Lane south of the town of Yreka; west along Walters Lane to its 
junction with Easy Street; south along Easy Street to the junction with 
Old Highway 99; south along Old Highway 99 to the point of intersection 
with Interstate 5 north of the town of Weed; south along Interstate 5 
to its junction with Highway 89; east and south along Highway 89 to 
Main Street Greenville; north and east to its junction with North 
Valley Road; south to its junction of Diamond Mountain Road; north and 
east to its junction with North Arm Road; south and west to the 
junction of North Valley Road; south to the junction with Arlington 
Road (A22); west to the junction of Highway 89; south and west to the 
junction of Highway 70; east on Highway 70 to Highway 395; south and 
east on Highway 395 to the point of intersection with the California-
Nevada State line; north along the California-Nevada State line to the 
junction of the California-Nevada-Oregon State lines; west along the 
California-Oregon State line to the point of origin.
    Colorado River Zone: Those portions of San Bernardino, Riverside, 
and Imperial Counties east of a line extending from the Nevada State 
line south along U.S. 95 to Vidal Junction; south on a road known as 
``Aqueduct Road'' in San Bernardino County through the town of Rice to 
the San Bernardino-Riverside County line; south on a road known in 
Riverside County as the ``Desert Center to Rice Road'' to the town of 
Desert Center; east 31 miles on I-10 to the Wiley Well Road; south on 
this road to Wiley Well; southeast along the Army-Milpitas Road to the 
Blythe, Brawley, Davis Lake intersections; south on the Blythe-Brawley 
paved road to the Ogilby and Tumco Mine Road; south on this road to 
U.S. 80; east 7 miles on U.S. 80 to the Andrade-Algodones Road; south 
on this paved road to the Mexican border at Algodones, Mexico.
    Southern Zone: That portion of southern California (but excluding 
the Colorado River Zone) south and east of a line extending from the 
Pacific Ocean east along the Santa Maria River to CA 166 near the City 
of Santa Maria; east on CA 166 to CA 99; south on CA 99 to the crest of 
the Tehachapi Mountains at Tejon Pass; east and north along the crest 
of the Tehachapi Mountains to CA 178 at Walker Pass; east on CA 178 to 
U.S. 395 at the town of Inyokern; south on U.S. 395 to CA 58; east on 
CA 58 to I-15; east on I-15 to CA 127; north on CA 127 to the Nevada 
State line.
    Southern San Joaquin Valley Temporary Zone: All of Kings and Tulare 
Counties and that portion of Kern County north of the Southern Zone.
    Balance-of-State Zone: The remainder of California not included in 
the Northeastern, Southern, and Colorado River Zones, and the Southern 
San Joaquin Valley Temporary Zone.
Idaho
    Zone 1: All lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian 
Reservation, including private inholdings; Bannock County; Bingham 
County, except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; 
and Power County east of State Highway 37 and State Highway 39.
    Zone 2: Adams, Bear Lake, Benewah, Bingham within the Blackfoot 
Reservoir drainage, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, Boundary, Butte, Camas, 
Caribou except the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, Clark, Clearwater, 
Custer, Franklin, Fremont, Idaho, Jefferson, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, 
Lewis, Madison, Nez Perce, Oneida, Power County west of State Highway 
37 and State Highway 39, Shoshone, Teton, and Valley Counties.
    Zone 3: Ada, Boise, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome, 
Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, and Washington 
Counties.
Nevada
    Northeast Zone: All of Elko and White Pine Counties.
    Northwest Zone: All of Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Esmeralda, 
Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, and 
Washoe Counties.
    South Zone: All of Clark and Lincoln County.
Oregon
    Zone 1: Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Lane, Douglas, Coos, Curry, 
Josephine, Jackson, Linn, Benton, Polk, Marion, Yamhill, Washington, 
Columbia, Multnomah, Clackamas, Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, 
Morrow and Umatilla Counties.
    Columbia Basin Mallard Management Unit: Gilliam, Morrow, and 
Umatilla Counties.
    Zone 2: The remainder of the State.
Utah
    Zone 1: All of Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Morgan, 
Rich, Salt Lake, Summit, Unitah, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber Counties, and 
that part of Toole County north of I-80.
    Zone 2: The remainder of Utah.
Washington
    East Zone: All areas east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of 
the Big White Salmon River in Klickitat County.
    Columbia Basin Mallard Management Unit: Same as East Zone.
    West Zone: All areas to the west of the East Zone.
Wyoming
    Snake River Zone: Beginning at the south boundary of Yellowstone 
National Park and the Continental Divide; south along the Continental 
Divide to Union Pass and the Union Pass Road (U.S.F.S. Road 600); west 
and south along the Union Pass Road to U.S.F.S. Road 605; south along 
U.S.F.S. Road 605 to the Bridger-Teton National Forest boundary; along 
the national forest boundary to the Idaho State line; north along the 
Idaho State line to the south boundary of Yellowstone National Park; 
east along the Yellowstone National Park boundary to the Continental 
Divide.
    Balance of State Zone: Balance of the Pacific Flyway in Wyoming 
outside the Snake River Zone.

Geese

Atlantic Flyway
Connecticut
    AP Unit: Litchfield County and the portion of Hartford County west 
of a

[[Page 49885]]

line beginning at the Massachusetts border in Suffield and extending 
south along Route 159 to its intersection with Route 91 in Hartford, 
and then extending south along Route 91 to its intersection with the 
Hartford/Middlesex County line.
    AFRP Unit: Starting at the intersection of I-95 and the Quinnipiac 
River, north on the Quinnipiac River to its intersection with I-91, 
north on I-91 to I-691, west on I-691 to the Hartford County line, and 
encompassing the rest of New Haven County and Fairfield County in its 
entirety.
    NAP H-Unit: All of the rest of the State not included in the AP or 
AFRP descriptions above.
    South Zone: Same as for ducks.
    North Zone: Same as for ducks.
Maine
    Same zones as for ducks.
Maryland
    Resident Population (RP) Zone: Garrett, Allegany, Washington, 
Frederick, and Montgomery Counties; that portion of Prince George's 
County west of Route 3 and Route 301; that portion of Charles County 
west of Route 301 to the Virginia State line; and that portion of 
Carroll County west of Route 31 to the intersection of Route 97, and 
west of Route 97 to the Pennsylvania line.
    AP Zone: Remainder of the State.
Massachusetts
    NAP Zone: Central and Coastal Zones (see duck zones).
    AP Zone: The Western Zone (see duck zones).
    Special Late Season Area: The Central Zone and that portion of the 
Coastal Zone (see duck zones) that lies north of the Cape Cod Canal, 
north to the New Hampshire line.
New Hampshire
    Same zones as for ducks.
New Jersey
    North: That portion of the State within a continuous line that runs 
east along the New York State boundary line to the Hudson River; then 
south along the New York State boundary to its intersection with Route 
440 at Perth Amboy; then west on Route 440 to its intersection with 
Route 287; then west along Route 287 to its intersection with Route 206 
in Bedminster (Exit 18); then north along Route 206 to its intersection 
with Route 94: then west along Route 94 to the tollbridge in Columbia; 
then north along the Pennsylvania State boundary in the Delaware River 
to the beginning point.
    South: That portion of the State within a continuous line that runs 
west from the Atlantic Ocean at Ship Bottom along Route 72 to Route 70; 
then west along Route 70 to Route 206; then south along Route 206 to 
Route 536; then west along Route 536 to Route 322; then west along 
Route 322 to Route 55; then south along Route 55 to Route 553 (Buck 
Road); then south along Route 553 to Route 40; then east along Route 40 
to route 55; then south along Route 55 to Route 552 (Sherman Avenue); 
then west along Route 552 to Carmel Road; then south along Carmel Road 
to Route 49; then east along Route 49 to Route 555; then south along 
Route 555 to Route 553; then east along Route 553 to Route 649; then 
north along Route 649 to Route 670; then east along Route 670 to Route 
47; then north along Route 47 to Route 548; then east along Route 548 
to Route 49; then east along Route 49 to Route 50; then south along 
Route 50 to Route 9; then south along Route 9 to Route 625 (Sea Isle 
City Boulevard); then east along Route 625 to the Atlantic Ocean; then 
north to the beginning point.
New York
    Lake Champlain Goose Area: The same as the Lake Champlain Waterfowl 
Hunting Zone, which is that area of New York State lying east and north 
of a continuous line extending along Route 11 from the New York-Canada 
International boundary south to Route 9B, south along Route 9B to Route 
9, south along Route 9 to Route 22 south of Keeseville, south along 
Route 22 to the west shore of South Bay along and around the shoreline 
of South Bay to Route 22 on the east shore of South Bay, southeast 
along Route 22 to Route 4, northeast along Route 4 to the New York-
Vermont boundary.
    Northeast Goose Area: The same as the Northeastern Waterfowl 
Hunting Zone, which is that area of New York State lying north of a 
continuous line extending from Lake Ontario east along the north shore 
of the Salmon River to Interstate 81, south along Interstate Route 81 
to Route 31, east along Route 31 to Route 13, north along Route 13 to 
Route 49, east along Route 49 to Route 365, east along Route 365 to 
Route 28, east along Route 28 to Route 29, east along Route 29 to Route 
22 at Greenwich Junction, north along Route 22 to Washington County 
Route 153, east along CR 153 to the New York-Vermont boundary, 
exclusive of the Lake Champlain Zone.
    East Central Goose Area: That area of New York State lying inside 
of a continuous line extending from Interstate Route 81 in Cicero, east 
along Route 31 to Route 13, north along Route 13 to Route 49, east 
along Route 49 to Route 365, east along Route 365 to Route 28, east 
along Route 28 to Route 29, east along Route 29 to Route 147 at Kimball 
Corners, south along Route 147 to Schenectady County Route 40 (West 
Glenville Road), west along Route 40 to Touareuna Road, south along 
Touareuna Road to Schenectady County Route 59, south along Route 59 to 
State Route 5, east along Route 5 to the Lock 9 bridge, southwest along 
the Lock 9 bridge to Route 5S, southeast along Route 5S to Schenectady 
County Route 58, southwest along Route 58 to the NYS Thruway, south 
along the Thruway to Route 7, southwest along Route 7 to Schenectady 
County Route 103, south along Route 103 to Route 406, east along Route 
406 to Schenectady County Route 99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route 
99 to Dunnsville Road, south along Dunnsville Road to Route 397, 
southwest along Route 397 to Route 146 at Altamont, west along Route 
146 to Albany County Route 252, northwest along Route 252 to 
Schenectady County Route 131, north along Route 131 to Route 7, west 
along Route 7 to Route 10 at Richmondville, south on Route 10 to Route 
23 at Stamford, west along Route 23 to Route 7 in Oneonta, southwest 
along Route 7 to Route 79 to Interstate Route 88 near Harpursville, 
west along Route 88 to Interstate Route 81, north along Route 81 to the 
point of beginning.
    West Central Goose Area: That area of New York State lying within a 
continuous line beginning at the point where the northerly extension of 
Route 269 (County Line Road on the Niagara-Orleans County boundary) 
meets the International boundary with Canada, south to the shore of 
Lake Ontario at the eastern boundary of Golden Hill State Park, south 
along the extension of Route 269 and Route 269 to Route 104 at Jeddo, 
west along Route 104 to Niagara County Route 271, south along Route 271 
to Route 31E at Middleport, south along Route 31E to Route 31, west 
along Route 31 to Griswold Street, south along Griswold Street to Ditch 
Road, south along Ditch Road to Foot Road, south along Foot Road to the 
north bank of Tonawanda Creek, west along the north bank of Tonawanda 
Creek to Route 93, south along Route 93 to Route 5, east along Route 5 
to Crittenden-Murrays Corners Road, south on Crittenden-Murrays Corners 
Road to the NYS Thruway, east along the Thruway 90 to Route 98 (at 
Thruway Exit 48) in Batavia, south along Route 98 to Route 20, east 
along Route 20 to Route 19 in Pavilion Center, south along Route 19 to

[[Page 49886]]

Route 63, southeast along Route 63 to Route 246, south along Route 246 
to Route 39 in Perry, northeast along Route 39 to Route 20A, northeast 
along Route 20A to Route 20, east along Route 20 to Route 364 (near 
Canandaigua), south and east along Route 364 to Yates County Route 18 
(Italy Valley Road), southwest along Route 18 to Yates County Route 34, 
east along Route 34 to Yates County Route 32, south along Route 32 to 
Steuben County Route 122, south along Route 122 to Route 53, south 
along Route 53 to Steuben County Route 74, east along Route 74 to Route 
54A (near Pulteney), south along Route 54A to Steuben County Route 87, 
east along Route 87 to Steuben County Route 96, east along Route 96 to 
Steuben County Route 114, east along Route 114 to Schuyler County Route 
23, east and southeast along Route 23 to Schuyler County Route 28, 
southeast along Route 28 to Route 409 at Watkins Glen, south along 
Route 409 to Route 14, south along Route 14 to Route 224 at Montour 
Falls, east along Route 224 to Route 228 in Odessa, north along Route 
228 to Route 79 in Mecklenburg, east along Route 79 to Route 366 in 
Ithaca, northeast along Route 366 to Route 13, northeast along Route 13 
to Interstate Route 81 in Cortland, north along Route 81 to the north 
shore of the Salmon River to shore of Lake Ontario, extending generally 
northwest in a straight line to the nearest point of the International 
boundary with Canada, south and west along the International boundary 
to the point of beginning.
    Hudson Valley Goose Area: That area of New York State lying within 
a continuous line extending from Route 4 at the New York-Vermont 
boundary, west and south along Route 4 to Route 149 at Fort Ann, west 
on Route 149 to Route 9, south along Route 9 to Interstate Route 87 (at 
Exit 20 in Glens Falls), south along Route 87 to Route 29, west along 
Route 29 to Route 147 at Kimball Corners, south along Route 147 to 
Schenectady County Route 40 (West Glenville Road), west along Route 40 
to Touareuna Road, south along Touareuna Road to Schenectady County 
Route 59, south along Route 59 to State Route 5, east along Route 5 to 
the Lock 9 bridge, southwest along the Lock 9 bridge to Route 5S, 
southeast along Route 5S to Schenectady County Route 58, southwest 
along Route 58 to the NYS Thruway, south along the Thruway to Route 7, 
southwest along Route 7 to Schenectady County Route 103, south along 
Route 103 to Route 406, east along Route 406 to Schenectady County 
Route 99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route 99 to Dunnsville Road, 
south along Dunnsville Road to Route 397, southwest along Route 397 to 
Route 146 at Altamont, southeast along Route 146 to Main Street in 
Altamont, west along Main Street to Route 156, southeast along Route 
156 to Albany County Route 307, southeast along Route 307 to Route 85A, 
southwest along Route 85A to Route 85, south along Route 85 to Route 
443, southeast along Route 443 to Albany County Route 301 at 
Clarksville, southeast along Route 301 to Route 32, south along Route 
32 to Route 23 at Cairo, west along Route 23 to Joseph Chadderdon Road, 
southeast along Joseph Chadderdon Road to Hearts Content Road (Greene 
County Route 31), southeast along Route 31 to Route 32, south along 
Route 32 to Greene County Route 23A, east along Route 23A to Interstate 
Route 87 (the NYS Thruway), south along Route 87 to Route 28 (Exit 19) 
near Kingston, northwest on Route 28 to Route 209, southwest on Route 
209 to the New York-Pennsylvania boundary, southeast along the New 
York-Pennsylvania boundary to the New York-New Jersey boundary, 
southeast along the New York-New Jersey boundary to Route 210 near 
Greenwood Lake, northeast along Route 210 to Orange County Route 5, 
northeast along Orange County Route 5 to Route 105 in the Village of 
Monroe, east and north along Route 105 to Route 32, northeast along 
Route 32 to Orange County Route 107 (Quaker Avenue), east along Route 
107 to Route 9W, north along Route 9W to the south bank of Moodna 
Creek, southeast along the south bank of Moodna Creek to the New 
Windsor-Cornwall town boundary, northeast along the New Windsor-
Cornwall town boundary to the Orange-Dutchess County boundary (middle 
of the Hudson River), north along the county boundary to Interstate 
Route 84, east along Route 84 to the Dutchess-Putnam County boundary, 
east along the county boundary to the New York-Connecticut boundary, 
north along the New York-Connecticut boundary to the New York-
Massachusetts boundary, north along the New York-Massachusetts boundary 
to the New York-Vermont boundary, north to the point of beginning.
    Eastern Long Island Goose Area (NAP High Harvest Area): That area 
of Suffolk County lying east of a continuous line extending due south 
from the New York-Connecticut boundary to the northernmost end of 
Roanoke Avenue in the Town of Riverhead; then south on Roanoke Avenue 
(which becomes County Route 73) to State Route 25; then west on Route 
25 to Peconic Avenue; then south on Peconic Avenue to County Route (CR) 
104 (Riverleigh Avenue); then south on CR 104 to CR 31 (Old Riverhead 
Road); then south on CR 31 to Oak Street; then south on Oak Street to 
Potunk Lane; then west on Stevens Lane; then south on Jessup Avenue (in 
Westhampton Beach) to Dune Road (CR 89); then due south to 
international waters.
    Western Long Island Goose Area (RP Area): That area of Westchester 
County and its tidal waters southeast of Interstate Route 95 and that 
area of Nassau and Suffolk Counties lying west of a continuous line 
extending due south from the New York-Connecticut boundary to the 
northernmost end of the Sunken Meadow State Parkway; then south on the 
Sunken Meadow Parkway to the Sagtikos State Parkway; then south on the 
Sagtikos Parkway to the Robert Moses State Parkway; then south on the 
Robert Moses Parkway to its southernmost end; then due south to 
international waters.
    Central Long Island Goose Area (NAP Low Harvest Area): That area of 
Suffolk County lying between the Western and Eastern Long Island Goose 
Areas, as defined above.
    South Goose Area: The remainder of New York State, excluding New 
York City.
    Special Late Canada Goose Area: That area of the Central Long 
Island Goose Area lying north of State Route 25A and west of a 
continuous line extending northward from State Route 25A along Randall 
Road (near Shoreham) to North Country Road, then east to Sound Road and 
then north to Long Island Sound and then due north to the New York-
Connecticut boundary.
North Carolina
    SJBP Hunt Zone: Includes the following Counties or portions of 
Counties: Anson, Cabarrus, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Halifax (that 
portion east of NC 903), Montgomery (that portion west of NC 109), 
Northampton, Richmond (that portion south of NC 73 and west of US 220 
and north of US 74), Rowan, Stanly, Union, and Wake.
    RP Hunt Zone: Includes the following Counties or portions of 
Counties: Alamance, Alleghany, Alexander, Ashe, Avery, Beaufort, Bertie 
(that portion south and west of a line formed by NC 45 at the 
Washington Co. line to US 17 in Midway, US 17 in Midway to US 13 in 
Windsor, US 13 in Windsor to the Hertford Co. line), Bladen, Brunswick, 
Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Carteret, Caswell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, 
Cleveland, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Davie, Duplin, Edgecombe, 
Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Gates, Graham, Granville, Greene, Guilford,

[[Page 49887]]

Halifax (that portion west of NC 903), Harnett, Haywood, Henderson, 
Hertford, Hoke, Iredell, Jackson, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, 
Lincoln, McDowell, Macon, Madison, Martin, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, 
Montgomery (that portion that is east of NC 109), Moore, Nash, New 
Hanover, Onslow, Orange, Pamlico, Pender, Person, Pitt, Polk, Randolph, 
Richmond (all of the county with exception of that portion that is 
south of NC 73 and west of US 220 and north of US 74), Robeson, 
Rockingham, Rutherford, Sampson, Scotland, Stokes, Surry, Swain, 
Transylvania, Vance, Warren, Watauga, Wayne, Wilkes, Wilson, Yadkin, 
and Yancey.
    Northeast Hunt Unit: Includes the following Counties or portions of 
Counties: Bertie (that portion north and east of a line formed by NC 45 
at the Washington County line to US 17 in Midway, US 17 in Midway to US 
13 in Windsor, US 13 in Windsor to the Hertford Co. line), Camden, 
Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and 
Washington.
Pennsylvania
    Resident Canada Goose Zone: All of Pennsylvania except for SJBP 
Zone and the area east of route SR 97 from the Maryland State Line to 
the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of US Route 
30, south of US Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, east of 
SR 743 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of I-80, 
and south of I-80 to the New Jersey State line.
    SJBP Zone: The area north of I-80 and west of I-79 including in the 
city of Erie west of Bay Front Parkway to and including the Lake Erie 
Duck zone (Lake Erie, Presque Isle, and the area within 150 yards of 
the Lake Erie Shoreline).
    AP Zone: The area east of route SR 97 from Maryland State Line to 
the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of US Route 
30, south of US Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, east of 
SR 743 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of I-80, 
south of I-80 to New Jersey State line.
Rhode Island
    Special Area for Canada Geese: Kent and Providence Counties and 
portions of the towns of Exeter and North Kingston within Washington 
County (see State regulations for detailed descriptions).
South Carolina
    Canada Goose Area: Statewide except for Clarendon County, that 
portion of Orangeburg County north of SC Highway 6, and that portion of 
Berkeley County north of SC Highway 45 from the Orangeburg County line 
to the junction of SC Highway 45 and State Road S-8-31 and that portion 
west of the Santee Dam.
Vermont
    Same zones as for ducks.
Virginia
    AP Zone: The area east and south of the following line--the 
Stafford County line from the Potomac River west to Interstate 95 at 
Fredericksburg, then south along Interstate 95 to Petersburg, then 
Route 460 (SE) to City of Suffolk, then south along Route 32 to the 
North Carolina line.
    SJBP Zone: The area to the west of the AP Zone boundary and east of 
the following line: the ``Blue Ridge'' (mountain spine) at the West 
Virginia-Virginia Border (Loudoun County-Clarke County line) south to 
Interstate 64 (the Blue Ridge line follows county borders along the 
western edge of Loudoun-Fauquier-Rappahannock-Madison-Greene-Albemarle 
and into Nelson Counties), then east along Interstate Rt. 64 to Route 
15, then south along Rt. 15 to the North Carolina line.
    RP Zone: The remainder of the State west of the SJBP Zone.
Mississippi Flyway
Alabama
    Same zones as for ducks, but in addition:
    SJBP Zone: That portion of Morgan County east of U.S. Highway 31, 
north of State Highway 36, and west of U.S. 231; that portion of 
Limestone County south of U.S. 72; and that portion of Madison County 
south of Swancott Road and west of Triana Road.
Arkansas
    Northwest Zone: Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Conway, Crawford, 
Faulkner, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Madison, Marion, Newton, Perry, 
Pope, Pulaski, Searcy, Sebastian, Scott, Van Buren, Washington, and 
Yell Counties.
Illinois
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending 
west from the Indiana border along Interstate 80 to I-39, south along 
I-39 to Illinois Route 18, west along Illinois Route 18 to Illinois 
Route 29, south along Illinois Route 29 to Illinois Route 17, west 
along Illinois Route 17 to the Mississippi River, and due south across 
the Mississippi River to the Iowa border.
    Central Zone: That portion of the State south of the North Goose 
Zone line to a line extending west from the Indiana border along I-70 
to Illinois Route 4, south along Illinois Route 4 to Illinois Route 
161, west along Illinois Route 161 to Illinois Route 158, south and 
west along Illinois Route 158 to Illinois Route 159, south along 
Illinois Route 159 to Illinois Route 3, south along Illinois Route 3 to 
St. Leo's Road, south along St. Leo's road to Modoc Road, west along 
Modoc Road to Modoc Ferry Road, southwest along Modoc Ferry Road to 
Levee Road, southeast along Levee Road to County Route 12 (Modoc Ferry 
entrance Road), south along County Route 12 to the Modoc Ferry route 
and southwest on the Modoc Ferry route across the Mississippi River to 
the Missouri border.
    South Zone: Same zones as for ducks.
    South Central Zone: Same zones as for ducks.
Indiana
    Same zones as for ducks but in addition:
Special Canada Goose Seasons
    Late Canada Goose Season Zone: That part of the State encompassed 
by the following Counties: Steuben, Lagrange, Elkhart, St. Joseph, La 
Porte, Starke, Marshall, Kosciusko, Noble, De Kalb, Allen, Whitley, 
Huntington, Wells, Adams, Boone, Hamilton, Madison, Hendricks, Marion, 
Hancock, Morgan, Johnson, and Shelby.
    Experimental Late Canada Goose Season Zone: That part of the State 
encompassed by the following Counties: Vermillion, Parke, Vigo, Clay, 
Sullivan, and Greene.
Iowa
    Same zones as for ducks.
Kentucky
    Western Zone: That portion of the State west of a line beginning at 
the Tennessee State line at Fulton and extending north along the 
Purchase Parkway to Interstate Highway 24, east along I-24 to U.S. 
Highway 641, north along U.S. 641 to U.S. 60, northeast along U.S. 60 
to the Henderson County line, then south, east, and northerly along the 
Henderson County line to the Indiana State line.
    Pennyroyal/Coalfield Zone: Butler, Daviess, Ohio, Simpson, and 
Warren Counties and all counties lying west to the boundary of the 
Western Goose Zone.
Louisiana
    Same zones as for ducks.
Michigan
    (a) North Zone--Same as North duck zone.
    (b) Middle Zone--Same as Middle duck zone.
    (c) South Zone--Same as South duck zone.

[[Page 49888]]

    Tuscola/Huron Goose Management Unit (GMU): Those portions of 
Tuscola and Huron Counties bounded on the south by Michigan Highway 138 
and Bay City Road, on the east by Colwood and Bay Port Roads, on the 
north by Kilmanagh Road and a line extending directly west off the end 
of Kilmanagh Road into Saginaw Bay to the west boundary, and on the 
west by the Tuscola-Bay County line and a line extending directly north 
off the end of the Tuscola-Bay County line into Saginaw Bay to the 
north boundary.
    Allegan County GMU: That area encompassed by a line beginning at 
the junction of 136th Avenue and Interstate Highway 196 in Lake Town 
Township and extending easterly along 136th Avenue to Michigan Highway 
40, southerly along Michigan 40 through the city of Allegan to 108th 
Avenue in Trowbridge Township, westerly along 108th Avenue to 46th 
Street, northerly along 46th Street to 109th Avenue, westerly along 
109th Avenue to I-196 in Casco Township, then northerly along I-196 to 
the point of beginning.
    Saginaw County GMU: That portion of Saginaw County bounded by 
Michigan Highway 46 on the north; Michigan 52 on the west; Michigan 57 
on the south; and Michigan 13 on the east.
    Muskegon Wastewater GMU: That portion of Muskegon County within the 
boundaries of the Muskegon County wastewater system, east of the 
Muskegon State Game Area, in sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 
30, and 32, T10N R14W, and sections 1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 24, and 
25, T10N R15W, as posted.
    Special Canada Goose Seasons:
    Southern Michigan Late Season Canada Goose Zone: Same as the South 
Duck Zone excluding Tuscola/Huron Goose Management Unit (GMU), Allegan 
County GMU, Saginaw County GMU, and Muskegon Wastewater GMU.
Minnesota
    Same zones as for ducks but in addition:
    Rochester Goose Zone: That part of the State within the following 
described boundary:
    Beginning at the intersection of State Trunk Highway (STH) 247 and 
County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 4, Wabasha County; thence along CSAH 4 
to CSAH 10, Olmsted County; thence along CSAH 10 to CSAH 9, Olmsted 
County; thence along CSAH 9 to CSAH 22, Winona County; thence along 
CSAH 22 to STH 74; thence along STH 74 to STH 30; thence along STH 30 
to CSAH 13, Dodge County; thence along CSAH 13 to U.S. Highway 14; 
thence along U.S. Highway 14 to STH 57; thence along STH 57 to CSAH 24, 
Dodge County; thence along CSAH 24 to CSAH 13, Olmsted County; thence 
along CSAH 13 to U.S. Highway 52; thence along U.S. Highway 52 to CSAH 
12, Olmsted County; thence along CSAH 12 to STH 247; thence along STH 
247 to the point of beginning.
Missouri
    Same zones as for ducks.
Ohio
    Lake Erie Goose Zone: That portion of Ohio north of a line 
beginning at the Michigan border and extending south along Interstate 
75 to Interstate 280, south on Interstate 280 to Interstate 80, and 
east on Interstate 80 to the Pennsylvania border.
    North Zone: That portion of Ohio north of a line beginning at the 
Indiana border and extending east along Interstate 70 to the West 
Virginia border excluding the portion of Ohio within the Lake Erie 
Goose Zone.
    South Zone: The remainder of Ohio.
Tennessee
    Southwest Zone: That portion of the State south of State Highways 
20 and 104, and west of U.S. Highways 45 and 45W.
    Northwest Zone: Lake, Obion, and Weakley Counties and those 
portions of Gibson and Dyer Counties not included in the Southwest 
Tennessee Zone.
    Kentucky/Barkley Lakes Zone: That portion of the State bounded on 
the west by the eastern boundaries of the Northwest and Southwest Zones 
and on the east by State Highway 13 from the Alabama State line to 
Clarksville and U.S. Highway 79 from Clarksville to the Kentucky State 
line.
Wisconsin
    Same zones as for ducks but in addition:
    Horicon Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at the 
intersection of State Highway 21 and the Fox River in Winnebago County 
and extending westerly along State 21 to the west boundary of Winnebago 
County, southerly along the west boundary of Winnebago County to the 
north boundary of Green Lake County, westerly along the north 
boundaries of Green Lake and Marquette Counties to State 22, southerly 
along State 22 to State 33, westerly along State 33 to Interstate 
Highway 39, southerly along Interstate Highway 39 to Interstate Highway 
90/94, southerly along I-90/94 to State 60, easterly along State 60 to 
State 83, northerly along State 83 to State 175, northerly along State 
175 to State 33, easterly along State 33 to U.S. Highway 45, northerly 
along U.S. 45 to the east shore of the Fond Du Lac River, northerly 
along the east shore of the Fond Du Lac River to Lake Winnebago, 
northerly along the western shoreline of Lake Winnebago to the Fox 
River, then westerly along the Fox River to State 21.
    Exterior Zone: That portion of the State not included in the 
Horicon Zone.
    Mississippi River Subzone: That area encompassed by a line 
beginning at the intersection of the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe 
Railway and the Illinois State line in Grant County and extending 
northerly along the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway to the city 
limit of Prescott in Pierce County, then west along the Prescott city 
limit to the Minnesota State line.
    Brown County Subzone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at 
the intersection of the Fox River with Green Bay in Brown County and 
extending southerly along the Fox River to State Highway 29, 
northwesterly along State 29 to the Brown County line, south, east, and 
north along the Brown County line to Green Bay, due west to the 
midpoint of the Green Bay Ship Channel, then southwesterly along the 
Green Bay Ship Channel to the Fox River.
Central Flyway
Colorado (Central Flyway Portion)
    Northern Front Range Area: All areas in Boulder, Larimer and Weld 
Counties from the Continental Divide east along the Wyoming border to 
U.S. 85, south on U.S. 85 to the Adams County line, and all lands in 
Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Gilpin, and 
Jefferson Counties.
    North Park Area: Jackson County.
    South Park and San Luis Valley Area: All of Alamosa, Chaffee, 
Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Fremont, Lake, Park, Rio Grande and Teller 
Counties, and those portions of Saguache, Mineral and Hinsdale Counties 
east of the Continental Divide.
    Remainder: Remainder of the Central Flyway portion of Colorado.
    Eastern Colorado Late Light Goose Area: That portion of the State 
east of Interstate Highway 25.
Nebraska
Dark Geese
    Niobrara Unit: That area contained within and bounded by the 
intersection of the South Dakota State line and the eastern Cherry 
County line, south along the Cherry County line to the Niobrara River, 
east to the Norden Road, south on the Norden Road to U.S. Hwy 20, east 
along U.S. Hwy 20 to NE Hwy 14, north along NE Hwy 14 to NE Hwy 59 and 
County Road 872, west along County

[[Page 49889]]

Road 872 to the Knox County Line, north along the Knox County Line to 
the South Dakota State line. Where the Niobrara River forms the 
boundary, both banks of the river are included in the Niobrara Unit.
    East Unit: That area north and east of U.S. 81 at the Kansas-
Nebraska State line, north to NE Hwy 91, east to U.S. 275, south to 
U.S. 77, south to NE 91, east to U.S. 30, east to Nebraska-Iowa State 
line.
    Platte River Unit: That area north and west of U.S. 81 at the 
Kansas-Nebraska State line, north to NE Hwy 91, west along NE 91 to NE 
11, north to the Holt County line, west along the northern border of 
Garfield, Loup, Blaine and Thomas Counties to the Hooker County line, 
south along the Thomas-Hooker County lines to the McPherson County 
line, east along the south border of Thomas County to the western line 
of Custer County, south along the Custer-Logan County line to NE 92, 
west to U.S. 83, north to NE 92, west to NE 61, south along NE 61 to NE 
92, west along NE 92 to U.S. Hwy 26, south along U.S. Hwy 26 to Keith 
County Line, south along Keith County Line to the Colorado State line.
    Panhandle Unit: That area north and west of Keith-Deuel County Line 
at the Nebraska-Colorado State line, north along the Keith County Line 
to U.S. Hwy 26, west to NE Hwy 92, east to NE Hwy 61, north along NE 
Hwy 61 to NE Hwy 2, west along NE 2 to the corner formed by Garden--
Grant--Sheridan Counties, west along the north border of Garden, 
Morrill, and Scotts Bluff Counties to the intersection of the 
Interstate Canal, west to the Wyoming State line.
    North--Central Unit: The remainder of the State.
Light Geese
    Rainwater Basin Light Goose Area (West): The area bounded by the 
junction of U.S. 283 and U.S. 30 at Lexington, east on U.S. 30 to U.S. 
281, south on U.S. 281 to NE 4, west on NE 4 to U.S. 34, continue west 
on U.S. 34 to U.S. 283, then north on U.S. 283 to the beginning.
    Rainwater Basin Light Goose Area (East): The area bounded by the 
junction of U.S. 281 and U.S. 30 at Grand Island, north and east on 
U.S. 30 to NE 14, south to NE 66, east to US 81, north to NE 92, east 
on NE 92 to NE 15, south on NE 15 to NE 4, west on NE 4 to U.S. 281, 
north on U.S. 281 to the beginning.
    Remainder of State: The remainder portion of Nebraska.
    New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion)
Dark Geese
    Middle Rio Grande Valley Unit: Sierra, Socorro, and Valencia 
Counties.
    Remainder: The remainder of the Central Flyway portion of New 
Mexico.
North Dakota
    Missouri River Canada Goose Zone: The area within and bounded by a 
line starting where ND Hwy 6 crosses the South Dakota border; thence 
north on ND Hwy 6 to I-94; thence west on I-94 to ND Hwy 49; thence 
north on ND Hwy 49 to ND Hwy 200; thence north on Mercer County Rd. 21 
to the section line between sections 8 and 9 (T146N-R87W); thence north 
on that section line to the southern shoreline to Lake Sakakawea; 
thence east along the southern shoreline (including Mallard Island) of 
Lake Sakakawea to US Hwy 83; thence south on US Hwy 83 to ND Hwy 200; 
thence east on ND Hwy 200 to ND Hwy 41; thence south on ND Hwy 41 to US 
Hwy 83; thence south on US Hwy 83 to I-94; thence east on I-94 to US 
Hwy 83; thence south on US Hwy 83 to the South Dakota border; thence 
west along the South Dakota border to ND Hwy 6.
    Rest of State: Remainder of North Dakota.
South Dakota
Canada Geese
    Unit 1: Remainder of South Dakota.
    Unit 2: Gregory, Hughes, Lyman, Perkins, and Stanley Counties; that 
portion of Potter County west of US Highway 83; that portion of Sully 
County west of US Highway 83; that portion of Bon Homme, Brule, 
Buffalo, Charles Mix, and Hyde County south and west of a line 
beginning at the Hughes-Hyde County line on SD Highway 34, east to Lees 
Boulevard, southeast to SD 34, east 7 miles to 350th Avenue, south to 
I-90, south and east on SD Highway 50 to Geddes, east on 285th Street 
to US Highway 281, south on US Highway 281 to SD 50, east and south on 
SD 50 to the Bon Homme-Yankton County boundary; that portion of Fall 
River County east of SD Highway 71 and US Highway 385; that portion of 
Custer County east of SD Highway 79 and south of French Creek; that 
portion of Dewey County south of BIA Road 8, BIA Road 9, and the 
section of US 212 east of BIA Road 8 junction.
    Unit 3: Bennett County.
Texas
    Northeast Goose Zone: That portion of Texas lying east and north of 
a line beginning at the Texas-Oklahoma border at U.S. 81, then 
continuing south to Bowie and then southeasterly along U.S. 81 and U.S. 
287 to I-35W and I-35 to the juncture with I-10 in San Antonio, then 
east on I-10 to the Texas-Louisiana border.
    Southeast Goose Zone: That portion of Texas lying east and south of 
a line beginning at the International Toll Bridge at Laredo, then 
continuing north following I-35 to the juncture with I-10 in San 
Antonio, then easterly along I-10 to the Texas-Louisiana border.
    West Goose Zone: The remainder of the State.
Wyoming (Central Flyway Portion)
Dark Geese
    Zone C1: Converse, Hot Springs, Natrona, and Washakie Counties, and 
the portion of Park County east of the Shoshone National Forest 
boundary and south of a line beginning where the Shoshone National 
Forest boundary crosses Park County Road 8VC, easterly along said road 
to Park County Road 1AB, easterly along said road to Wyoming Highway 
120, northerly along said highway to Wyoming Highway 294, southeasterly 
along said highway to Lane 9, easterly along said lane to the town of 
Powel and Wyoming Highway 14A, easterly along said highway to the Park 
County and Big Horn County Line.
    Zone C2: Albany, Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Laramie, Niobrara, 
Sheridan, and Weston Counties, and that portion of Carbon County east 
of the Continental Divide; that portion of Park County west of the 
Shoshone National Forest boundary, and that portion of Park County 
north of a line beginning where the Shoshone National Forest boundary 
crosses Park County Road 8VC, easterly along said road to Park County 
Road 1AB, easterly along said road to Wyoming Highway 120, northerly 
along said highway to Wyoming Highway 294, southeasterly along said 
highway to Lane 9, easterly along said lane to the town of Powel and 
Wyoming Highway 14A, easterly along said highway to the Park County and 
Big Horn County Line.
Pacific Flyway
Arizona
    North Zone: Game Management Units 1-5, those portions of Game 
Management Units 6 and 8 within Coconino County, and Game Management 
Units 7, 9, and 12A.
    South Zone: Those portions of Game Management Units 6 and 8 in 
Yavapai County, and Game Management Units 10 and 12B-45.
California
    Northeastern Zone: In that portion of California lying east and 
north of a line beginning at the intersection of

[[Page 49890]]

Interstate 5 with the California-Oregon line; south along Interstate 5 
to its junction with Walters Lane south of the town of Yreka; west 
along Walters Lane to its junction with Easy Street; south along Easy 
Street to the junction with Old Highway 99; south along Old Highway 99 
to the point of intersection with Interstate 5 north of the town of 
Weed; south along Interstate 5 to its junction with Highway 89; east 
and south along Highway 89 to main street Greenville; north and east to 
its junction with North Valley Road; south to its junction of Diamond 
Mountain Road; north and east to its junction with North Arm Road; 
south and west to the junction of North Valley Road; south to the 
junction with Arlington Road (A22); west to the junction of Highway 89; 
south and west to the junction of Highway 70; east on Highway 70 to 
Highway 395; south and east on Highway 395 to the point of intersection 
with the California-Nevada State line; north along the California-
Nevada State line to the junction of the California-Nevada-Oregon State 
lines west along the California-Oregon State line to the point of 
origin.
    Colorado River Zone: Those portions of San Bernardino, Riverside, 
and Imperial Counties east of a line extending from the Nevada border 
south along U.S. 95 to Vidal Junction; south on a road known as 
``Aqueduct Road'' in San Bernardino County through the town of Rice to 
the San Bernardino-Riverside County line; south on a road known in 
Riverside County as the ``Desert Center to Rice Road'' to the town of 
Desert Center; east 31 miles on I-10 to the Wiley Well Road; south on 
this road to Wiley Well; southeast along the Army-Milpitas Road to the 
Blythe, Brawley, Davis Lake intersections; south on the Blythe-Brawley 
paved road to the Ogilby and Tumco Mine Road; south on this road to 
U.S. 80; east 7 miles on U.S. 80 to the Andrade-Algodones Road; south 
on this paved road to the Mexican border at Algodones, Mexico.
    Southern Zone: That portion of southern California (but excluding 
the Colorado River Zone) south and east of a line extending from the 
Pacific Ocean east along the Santa Maria River to CA 166 near the City 
of Santa Maria; east on CA 166 to CA 99; south on CA 99 to the crest of 
the Tehachapi Mountains at Tejon Pass; east and north along the crest 
of the Tehachapi Mountains to CA 178 at Walker Pass; east on CA 178 to 
U.S. 395 at the town of Inyokern; south on U.S. 395 to CA 58; east on 
CA 58 to I-15; east on I-15 to CA 127; north on CA 127 to the Nevada 
border.
    Imperial County Special Management Area: The area bounded by a line 
beginning at Highway 86 and the Navy Test Base Road; south on Highway 
86 to the town of Westmoreland; continue through the town of 
Westmoreland to Route S26; east on Route S26 to Highway 115; north on 
Highway 115 to Weist Rd.; north on Weist Rd. to Flowing Wells Rd.; 
northeast on Flowing Wells Rd. to the Coachella Canal; northwest on the 
Coachella Canal to Drop 18; a straight line from Drop 18 to Frink Rd.; 
south on Frink Rd. to Highway 111; north on Highway 111 to Niland 
Marina Rd.; southwest on Niland Marina Rd. to the old Imperial County 
boat ramp and the water line of the Salton Sea; from the water line of 
the Salton Sea, a straight line across the Salton Sea to the Salinity 
Control Research Facility and the Navy Test Base Road; southwest on the 
Navy Test Base Road to the point of beginning.
    Balance-of-State Zone: The remainder of California not included in 
the Northeastern, Southern, and the Colorado River Zones.
    North Coast Special Management Area: The Counties of Del Norte and 
Humboldt.
    Sacramento Valley Special Management Area: That area bounded by a 
line beginning at Willows south on I-5 to Hahn Road; easterly on Hahn 
Road and the Grimes-Arbuckle Road to Grimes; northerly on CA 45 to the 
junction with CA 162; northerly on CA 45/162 to Glenn; and westerly on 
CA 162 to the point of beginning in Willows.
Colorado (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    West Central Area: Archuleta, Delta, Dolores, Gunnison, LaPlata, 
Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, and San Miguel Counties and those 
portions of Hinsdale, Mineral, and Saguache Counties west of the 
Continental Divide.
    State Area: The remainder of the Pacific-Flyway Portion of 
Colorado.
Idaho
    Zone 1: Adams, Bannock, Bear Lake, Benewah, Bingham north of State 
Highway 20 and east of the west bank of the Snake River and the 
American Falls Reservoir bluff, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, Boundary, 
Butte, Camas, Caribou, Clark, Clearwater, Custer, Franklin, Fremont, 
Idaho, Jefferson, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Madison, Nez Perce, 
Oneida, Power south of Interstate 86 and east of the west bank of the 
Snake River and the American Falls Reservoir bluff, Shoshone, Teton, 
and Valley Counties.
    Zone 2: Ada, Boise, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome, 
Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, and Washington 
Counties.
    Zone 3: Bingham County south of State Highway 20 and west of the 
west bank of the Snake River and the American Falls Reservoir bluff and 
Power County north of Interstate 86 and west of the west bank of the 
Snake River and the American Falls Reservoir bluff.
Montana (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    East of the Divide Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of the State 
located east of the Continental Divide.
    West of the Divide Zone: The remainder of the Pacific Flyway 
portion of Montana.
Nevada
    Northeast Zone: All of Elko and White Pine Counties.
    Northwest Zone: All of Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Esmeralda, 
Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, and 
Washoe Counties.
    South Zone: All of Clark and Lincoln County.
    New Mexico (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    North Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of New Mexico located north 
of I-40.
    South Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of New Mexico located south 
of I-40.
Oregon
    Southwest Zone: Those portions of Douglas, Coos, and Curry Counties 
east of Highway 101, and Josephine and Jackson Counties.
    South Coast Zone: Those portions of Douglas, Coos, and Curry 
Counties west of Highway 101.
    Northwest Special Permit Zone: That portion of western Oregon west 
and north of a line running south from the Columbia River in Portland 
along I-5 to OR 22 at Salem; then east on OR 22 to the Stayton Cutoff; 
then south on the Stayton Cutoff to Stayton and due south to the 
Santiam River; then west along the north shore of the Santiam River to 
I-5; then south on I-5 to OR 126 at Eugene; then west on OR 126 to 
Greenhill Road; then south on Greenhill Road to Crow Road; then west on 
Crow Road to Territorial Hwy; then west on Territorial Hwy to OR 126; 
then west on OR 126 to Milepost 19; then north to the intersection of 
the Benton and Lincoln County line; then north along the western 
boundary of Benton and Polk Counties to the southern boundary of 
Tillamook County; then west along the Tillamook County boundary to the 
Pacific Coast.
    Lower Columbia/N. Willamette Valley Management Area: Those portions 
of Clatsop, Columbia, Multnomah, and

[[Page 49891]]

Washington Counties within the Northwest Special Permit Zone.
    Tillamook County Management Area: All of Tillamook County. The 
following portion of the Tillamook County Management Area is closed to 
goose hunting beginning at the point where Old Woods Rd crosses the 
south shores of Horn Creek, north on Old Woods Rd to Sand Lake Rd at 
Woods, north on Sand Lake Rd to the intersection with McPhillips Dr., 
due west (~200 yards) from the intersection to the Pacific coastline, 
south on the Pacific coastline to Neskowin Creek, east along the north 
shores of Neskowin Creek and then Hawk Creek to Salem Ave, east on 
Salem Ave in Neskowin to Hawk Ave, east on Hawk Ave to Hwy 101, north 
on Hwy 101 to Resort Dr., north on Resort Dr. to a point due west of 
the south shores of Horn Creek at its confluence with the Nestucca 
River, due east (~80 yards) across the Nestucca River to the south 
shores of Horn Creek, east along the south shores of Horn Creek to the 
point of beginning.
    Northwest Zone: Those portions of Clackamas, Lane, Linn, Marion, 
Multnomah, and Washington Counties outside of the Northwest Special 
Permit Zone and all of Lincoln County.
    Eastern Zone: Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, 
Umatilla, Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler, Grant, Baker, Union, 
and Wallowa Counties.
    Harney and Lake County Zone: All of Harney and Lake Counties.
    Klamath County Zone: All of Klamath County.
    Malheur County Zone: All of Malheur County.
Utah
    Northern Utah Zone: All of Cache and Rich Counties, and that 
portion of Box Elder County beginning at I-15 and the Weber-Box Elder 
County line; east and north along this line to the Weber-Cache County 
line; east along this line to the Cache-Rich County line; east and 
south along the Rich County line to the Utah-Wyoming State line; north 
along this line to the Utah-Idaho State line; west on this line to 
Stone, Idaho-Snowville, Utah road; southwest on this road to Locomotive 
Springs Wildlife Management Area; east on the county road, past 
Monument Point and across Salt Wells Flat, to the intersection with 
Promontory Road; south on Promontory Road to a point directly west of 
the northwest corner of the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge boundary; 
east along an imaginary line to the northwest corner of the Refuge 
boundary; south and east along the Refuge boundary to the southeast 
corner of the boundary; northeast along the boundary to the Perry 
access road; east on the Perry access road to I-15; south on I-15 to 
the Weber-Box Elder County line.
    Remainder-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of Utah.
Washington
    Area 1: Skagit, Island, and Snohomish Counties.
    Area 2A (SW Quota Zone): Clark County, except portions south of the 
Washougal River; Cowlitz County; and Wahkiakum County.
    Area 2B (SW Quota Zone): Pacific County.
    Area 3: All areas west of the Pacific Crest Trail and west of the 
Big White Salmon River that are not included in Areas 1, 2A, and 2B.
    Area 4: Adams, Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, 
Lincoln, Okanogan, Spokane, and Walla Walla Counties.
    Area 5: All areas east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of the 
Big White Salmon River that are not included in Area 4.

Brant

Pacific Flyway
California
    North Coast Zone: Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties.
    South Coast Zone: Balance of the State.
Washington
    Puget Sound Zone: Skagit County.
    Coastal Zone: Pacific County.

Swans

Central Flyway
    South Dakota: Aurora, Beadle, Brookings, Brown, Brule, Buffalo, 
Campbell, Clark, Codington, Davison, Deuel, Day, Edmunds, Faulk, Grant, 
Hamlin, Hand, Hanson, Hughes, Hyde, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Lake, Marshall, 
McCook, McPherson, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Potter, Roberts, Sanborn, 
Spink, Sully, and Walworth Counties.
Pacific Flyway
Montana (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    Open Area: Cascade, Chouteau, Hill, Liberty, and Toole Counties and 
those portions of Pondera and Teton Counties lying east of U.S. 287-89.
Nevada
    Open Area: Churchill, Lyon, and Pershing Counties.
Utah
    Open Area: Those portions of Box Elder, Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, 
and Toole Counties lying west of I-15, north of I-80, and south of a 
line beginning from the Forest Street exit to the Bear River National 
Wildlife Refuge boundary; then north and west along the Bear River 
National Wildlife Refuge boundary to the farthest west boundary of the 
Refuge; then west along a line to Promontory Road; then north on 
Promontory Road to the intersection of SR 83; then north on SR 83 to I-
84; then north and west on I-84 to State Hwy 30; then west on State Hwy 
30 to the Nevada-Utah State line; then south on the Nevada-Utah State 
line to I-80.
[FR Doc. 2012-20078 Filed 8-16-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P