Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed Frameworks for Early-Season Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations; Notice of Meetings, 44579-44601 [2014-17569]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 147 (Thursday, July 31, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44579-44601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17569]



[[Page 44579]]

Vol. 79

Thursday,

No. 147

July 31, 2014

Part V





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 Early-Season Migratory 
Bird Hunting Regulations; Notice of Meetings; Proposed Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 79 , No. 147 / Thursday, July 31, 2014 / 
Proposed Rules

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 20

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2014-0017; FF09M21200-134-FXMB1231099BPP0]
RIN 1018-AZ80


Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed Frameworks for Early-Season 
Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations; Notice of Meetings

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; supplemental.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter Service or we) 
is proposing to establish the 2014-15 early-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 
maximum number of birds that may be taken and possessed in early 
seasons. Early seasons may open as early as September 1, and include 
seasons in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 
These frameworks are necessary to allow State selections of specific 
final seasons and limits and to allow recreational harvest at levels 
compatible with population status and habitat conditions. This proposed 
rule also provides the final regulatory alternatives for the 2014-15 
duck hunting seasons.

DATES: Comments: You must submit comments on the proposed early-season 
frameworks by August 11, 2014.
    Meetings: The Service Migratory Bird Regulations Committee (SRC) 
will meet to consider and develop proposed regulations for late-season 
migratory bird hunting and the 2014 spring/summer migratory bird 
subsistence seasons in Alaska on July 30-31, 2014. All meetings will 
commence at approximately 8:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: Comments: 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-HQ-
MB-2014-0017.
     U. S. Mail or Hand Delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: FWS-HQ-MB-2014-0017; Division of Policy and Directives 
Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S. Fish & Wildlife 
Headquarters, MS: BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-
3803.
    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 Review of Public Comments section below for more 
information).
    Meetings: The Service Migratory Bird Regulations Committee (SRC) 
will meet at the Holiday Inn Arlington at Ballston, 4610 N. Fairfax 
Dr., Arlington, VA.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Regulations Schedule for 2014

    On April 30, 2014, we published in the Federal Register (79 FR 
24512) 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 
2014-15 regulatory cycle relating to open public meetings and Federal 
Register notifications were also identified in the April 30 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 June 4, 2014, we published in the Federal Register (79 FR 32418) 
a second document providing supplemental proposals for early- and late-
season migratory bird hunting regulations. The June 4 supplement also 
provided detailed information on the 2014-15 regulatory schedule and 
announced the SRC and Flyway Council meetings.
    This document, the third in a series of proposed, supplemental, and 
final rulemaking documents for migratory bird hunting regulations, 
deals specifically with proposed frameworks for early-season 
regulations and the regulatory alternatives for the 2014-15 duck 
hunting seasons. It will lead to final frameworks from which States may 
select season dates, shooting hours, and daily bag and possession 
limits for the 2014-15 season.
    We have considered all pertinent comments received through June 27, 
2014, on the April 30 and June 4, 2014, rulemaking documents in 
developing this document. In addition, new proposals for certain early-
season regulations are provided for public comment. Comment periods are 
specified above under DATES. We will publish final regulatory 
frameworks for early seasons in the Federal Register on or about August 
16, 2014.

Service Migratory Bird Regulations Committee Meetings

    Participants at the June 25-26, 2014, meetings reviewed information 
on the current status of migratory shore and upland game birds and 
developed 2014-15 migratory game bird regulations recommendations for 
these species plus regulations for migratory game birds in Alaska, 
Puerto Rico, and the U.S. 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.
    Participants at the previously announced July 30-31, 2014, meetings 
will review information on the current status of waterfowl and develop 
recommendations for the 2014-15

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regulations pertaining to regular waterfowl seasons and other species 
and seasons not previously discussed at the early-season meetings. In 
accordance with Department of the Interior policy, these meetings are 
open to public observation and you may submit comments on the matters 
discussed.

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 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 waterfowl 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.
    Spring was delayed even later than last year across most of the 
survey area. Habitat conditions during the survey were mostly improved 
or similar to last year, due to average to above-average annual 
precipitation. The exceptions were west-central Alberta and east of 
James Bay in Quebec. Alaska was the only region that experienced an 
early spring. The total pond estimate (Prairie Canada and United States 
combined) was 7.2  0.2 million which was similar to the 
2013 estimate of 6.9  0.2 million and 40 percent above the 
long-term average of 5.1  0.03 million.
Traditional Survey Area (U.S. and Canadian Prairies and Parklands)
    In the traditional survey area, the majority of the Canadian 
prairies had below to well-below-average winter temperatures and 
average precipitation. Southern Manitoba benefitted from last year's 
summer and fall precipitation, whereas southern Saskatchewan and most 
of Alberta were aided by spring 2014 precipitation. The 2014 estimate 
of ponds in Prairie Canada was 4.6  0.2 million. This 
estimate was similar to the 2013 estimate (4.6  0.2 
million) and 33 percent above the 1961-2013 average (3.5  
0.03 million). The Parklands remained in good condition from previous 
years' carry-over water, and the boreal region has benefitted from 
above-average annual precipitation. Most of the Canadian portion of the 
traditional survey area was rated as good or excellent this year, and 
the region continued to receive additional precipitation after the 
survey.
    Much of the U.S. prairies had average winter precipitation and 
well-below-average winter temperatures that continued into spring. 
Habitat conditions improved in the western Dakotas and Montana from 
2013 but remained similar in the eastern Dakotas. The 2014 pond 
estimate for the northcentral United States was 2.6  0.1 
million which was similar to the 2013 estimate (2.3  0.1 
million) and 53 percent above the 1974-2013 average (1.7  
0.02 million). Waterfowl habitat in North Dakota remains under pressure 
from wetland drainage, loss of Conservation Reserve Program grasses, 
and energy development.
Eastern Survey Area
    Winter and spring temperatures in the eastern survey area were also 
well below normal with most areas receiving average to above-average 
precipitation. Habitat conditions were similar to 2013 or improved, 
particularly in the northeastern United States. An exception was the 
area east of James Bay in Quebec, which has experienced dry conditions 
and extensive wildfires. Less flooding was noted across the eastern 
survey area, in contrast to some years, and continued cool, damp spring 
conditions in the Maritimes could limit waterfowl production.

Status of Teal

    The estimate of blue-winged teal from the traditional survey area 
is 8.5 million. This count was similar to 2013, and is 75 percent above 
the 1955-2013 average.

Sandhill Cranes

    The annual indices to abundance of Mid-Continent Population (MCP) 
sandhill cranes have been relatively stable since 1982, and slightly 
increasing over the last few years. The preliminary spring 2014 index 
for sandhill cranes in the Central Platte River Valley (CPRV), 
Nebraska, uncorrected for visibility bias, was 444,144 birds. This 
estimate is significantly lower than that of last year, but 30 percent 
above the long-term average. The photo-corrected, 3-year average for 
2011-13 was 563,167, which is above the established population-
objective range of 349,000-472,000 cranes.
    All Central Flyway States, except Nebraska, allowed crane hunting 
in portions of their States during 2013-14. Estimates of hunter 
activity and harvest were not available for all areas at the time of 
this report. However, preliminary estimates suggest approximately 
9,000-10,000 hunters in the U.S. portion of the Central Flyway 
participated in these seasons, which was about 30 percent higher than 
the number that participated in the previous season. Those hunters 
harvested around 20,000 MCP cranes during the 2013-14 seasons, which 
was 34 percent higher than the harvest for the previous year and 36 
percent higher than the long-term average. The retrieved harvest of MCP 
cranes in hunt areas outside of the Central Flyway (Arizona, Pacific 
Flyway portion of New Mexico, Minnesota, Alaska, Canada, and Mexico 
combined) was about 14,000 during 2013-14. The preliminary estimate for 
the North American MCP sport harvest, including crippling losses, was 
38,104 birds, which was a 36 percent increase from the previous year's 
estimate. The long-term (1982-2012) trends for the MCP indicate that 
harvest has been increasing at a higher rate than population growth.
    The fall 2013 pre-migration survey for the Rocky Mountain 
Population (RMP) resulted in a count of 20,360 cranes. The 3-year 
average was 17,757 sandhill cranes, which is within the established 
population objective of 17,000-21,000 for the RMP. Hunting seasons 
during 2013-14 in portions of Arizona, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, 
Utah, and Wyoming resulted in a harvest of 678 RMP cranes, a 40 percent 
decrease from the previous year's harvest.
    The Lower Colorado River Valley Population (LCRVP) survey results 
indicated a 9 percent increase from 3,078 birds in 2013, to 3,353 birds 
in 2014. The 3-year average is 3,026 LCRVP cranes, which is above the 
population objective of 2,500.
    The Eastern Population (EP) sandhill crane fall survey index 
(64,322) decreased by 27 percent in 2013, and the 3-year average for 
the survey is 74,784 cranes. Over the last 3 seasons, Kentucky has 
harvested an average of 80 birds per year from this population. 
Tennessee held its first hunting season on these birds last year, and 
harvested 350 cranes.

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Woodcock

    The American woodcock (Scolopax minor) is managed as two management 
regions, the Eastern and the Central. Singing-ground and Wing-
collection Surveys were conducted to assess population status. The 
Singing-ground Survey is intended to measure long-term changes in 
woodcock population levels. Singing-ground Survey data for 2014 
indicate that the number of singing male woodcock per route in the 
Eastern Management Region was unchanged from 2013, while it was 7.3 
percent lower in the Central Management Region. There were significant, 
declining 10-year trends in woodcock heard for both the Eastern and 
Central Management Regions during 2004-2014, which marks the first time 
in 10 years that the 10-year trend for the Eastern Region has been 
significant and the first time in 3 years that the 10-year trend has 
been significant in the Central Region. Both management regions have a 
long-term (1968-2014) declining trend (-1.0 percent per year in the 
Eastern Management Region and -0.9 percent per year in the Central 
Management Region).
    The Wing-collection Survey provides an index to recruitment. Data 
from this survey indicate that the 2013 recruitment index for the U.S. 
portion of the Eastern Region (1.60 immatures per adult female) was 3.2 
percent less than the 2012 index, and 2.3 percent less than the long-
term (1963-2012) average. The recruitment index for the U.S. portion of 
the Central Region (1.54 immatures per adult female) was 7.2 percent 
less than the 2012 index and 1.4 percent less than the long-term (1963-
2012) average.

Band-Tailed Pigeons

    Two subspecies of band-tailed pigeon occur north of Mexico, and are 
managed as two separate populations: Interior and Pacific Coast. 
Information on the abundance and harvest of band-tailed pigeons is 
collected annually in the United States and British Columbia. Abundance 
information comes from the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and the Mineral 
Site Survey (MSS, specific to the Pacific Coast Population). Harvest 
and hunter participation are estimated from the Migratory Bird Harvest 
Information Program (HIP). The BBS provided evidence that the abundance 
of Pacific Coast band-tailed pigeons decreased (-2.0 percent per year) 
over the long term (1968-2013). Trends in abundance during the recent 
10- and 5-year periods were inconclusive for both the BBS and MSS. An 
estimate of hunters and harvest were not available for 2013, but 3,900 
hunters harvested 10,900 birds in 2012.
    For Interior band-tailed pigeons, the BBS provided evidence that 
abundance decreased (-5.6 percent per year) over the long term (1968-
2013). Trends in abundance during the recent 10- and 5-year periods 
were inconclusive. An estimated 1,000 hunters harvested 1,600 pigeons 
in 2013.

Mourning Doves

    Doves in the United States are managed in three management units, 
Eastern (EMU), Central (CMU), and Western (WMU). We annually summarize 
information collected in the United States on survival, recruitment, 
abundance and harvest of mourning doves. We report on trends in the 
number of doves heard and seen per route from the all-bird BBS, and 
provide absolute abundance estimates based on band recovery and harvest 
data. Harvest and hunter participation are estimated from the HIP.
    At this time 2013 harvest information and abundance estimates are 
not available. Estimates of absolute abundance are available only since 
2003, and indicate that there are about 349 million doves in the United 
States, and annual abundance during the recent 5 years appears 
stationary in the Eastern Management Unit (EMU) and WMU, but may be 
declining in the CMU. However, abundance appeared to increase between 
2011 and 2012 in the CMU and WMU.
    The most recent HIP estimates available (2012) for mourning dove 
total harvest, active hunters, and total days afield in the United 
States were 14,490,800 birds, 828,900 hunters, and 2,538,000 days 
afield. Harvest and hunter participation at the unit level were: EMU, 
6,279,900 birds, 349,600 hunters, and 1,015,600 days afield; CMU, 
6,361,600 birds, 338,700 hunters, and 1,108,700 days afield; and WMU, 
1,849,400 birds, 140,700 hunters, and 413,700 days afield.

Review of Public Comments

    The preliminary proposed rulemaking (April 30 Federal Register) 
opened the public comment period for migratory game bird hunting 
regulations and announced the proposed regulatory alternatives for the 
2014-15 duck hunting season. Comments concerning early-season issues 
and the proposed alternatives are summarized below and numbered in the 
order used in the April 30 Federal Register document. Only the numbered 
items pertaining to early-seasons issues and the proposed regulatory 
alternatives for which we received written comments are included. 
Consequently, the issues do not follow in consecutive numerical or 
alphabetical order.
    We received recommendations from all four Flyway Councils. Some 
recommendations supported continuation of last year's frameworks. Due 
to the comprehensive nature of the annual review of the frameworks 
performed by the Councils, support for continuation of last year's 
frameworks is assumed for items for which no recommendations were 
received. Council recommendations for changes in the frameworks are 
summarized below.
    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 30 Federal Register document.

1. Ducks

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

A. General Harvest Strategy

    Council Recommendations: The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended 
that regulations changes be restricted to one step per year, both when 
restricting as well as liberalizing hunting regulations.
    Service Response: As we stated in the April 30 Federal Register, we 
intend to continue use of Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM) to help 
determine appropriate duck-hunting regulations for the 2014-15 season. 
AHM is a tool that permits sound resource decisions in the face of 
uncertain regulatory impacts, as well as providing a mechanism for 
reducing that uncertainty over time. The current AHM protocol is used 
to evaluate four alternative regulatory levels based on the population 
status of mallards and their breeding habitat (i.e., abundance of 
ponds) (special hunting restrictions are enacted for certain species, 
such as canvasbacks, black ducks, scaup, and pintails).
    Regarding the Mississippi Flyway Council recommendation to limit 
regulatory changes to one step per year, we noted in the May 2013 
release of the

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SEIS on sport hunting and associated Record of Decision (78 FR 45385) 
that any recommendations for changes such as the inclusion of a one-
step constraint should be considered within the context of the process 
that is being used to revise current AHM protocols. As AHM decision-
making frameworks for mid-continent mallards are modified in the 
upcoming revision process, regulatory alternatives should be crafted by 
the Flyways in the context of those changes, including revised harvest 
management objectives and the demographic models that predict changes 
in waterfowl status due to those regulations. We look forward to 
working with the Flyway Councils in this exercise.
    We will propose a specific regulatory alternative for each of the 
Flyways during the 2014-15 season after survey information becomes 
available later this summer. More information on AHM is located at 
https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/CurrentBirdIssues/Management/AHM/AHM-intro.htm.

B. Regulatory Alternatives

    Council Recommendations: The Mississippi and Central Flyway 
Councils recommended that regulatory alternatives for duck hunting 
seasons remain the same as those used in 2013-14.
    Service Response: The regulatory alternatives proposed in the April 
30 Federal Register will be used for the 2014-15 hunting season (see 
accompanying table at the end of this proposed rule for specifics). In 
2005, the AHM regulatory alternatives were modified to consist only of 
the maximum season lengths, framework dates, and bag limits for total 
ducks and mallards. Restrictions for certain species within these 
frameworks that are not covered by existing harvest strategies will be 
addressed during the late-season regulations process. For those species 
with specific harvest strategies (canvasbacks, pintails, black ducks, 
and scaup), those strategies will again be used for the 2014-15 hunting 
season.

D. Special Seasons/Species Management

i. September Teal Seasons
    Council Recommendations: The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended 
that Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin be granted special 
September teal hunting seasons for an experimental 3-year period 
beginning in September 2014. The Council recommended that the framework 
for these seasons follow the established teal harvest strategy (i.e., 9 
or 16 days with up to 6 bird daily limits) with sunrise to sunset 
shooting hours. Further, they recommended that the Service work with 
these States to develop a mutually acceptable evaluation plan prior to 
June 2014. In the event that this recommendation is not approved or 
Iowa declines the opportunity, the Council recommended that Iowa be 
allowed to retain their early September duck season.
    The Central Flyway Council recommended allowing an experimental 
September teal season in the portion of Nebraska not currently open to 
September teal hunting. Criteria for the experimental season would be 
the same as for other non-production States, and the State of Nebraska 
will work with the Service to develop an evaluation plan for the 
experiment.
    Service Response: We appreciate the long-standing interest by the 
Flyway Councils to pursue additional teal harvest opportunity. With 
this interest in mind, in 2009, the Flyways and Service began to assess 
the collective results of all teal harvest, including harvest during 
special September seasons. The Teal Harvest Potential Working Group 
conducted this assessment work, which included a thorough assessment of 
the harvest potential for both blue-winged and green-winged teal, as 
well as an assessment of the impacts of current special September 
seasons on these two species. Cinnamon teal were subsequently included 
in this assessment.
    In the April 9, 2013, Federal Register, we stated that the final 
report of the Teal Harvest Potential Working Group (https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewReportsPublications/Teal/Final%20Teal%20Assessment%20Report%20Mar%2012%202013.pdf) indicated 
that additional opportunity could be provided for blue-winged teal and 
green-winged teal. Therefore, last year, we supported recommendations 
from the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyway Councils to increase 
the daily bag limit from 4 to 6 teal in the aggregate during the 
Special September teal season in 2013-14. However, at that time, we did 
not support additional changes to the structure of the September teal 
season until specific management objectives for teal had been 
articulated and a comprehensive, cross-flyway approach to developing 
and evaluating other potential avenues by which additional teal harvest 
opportunity could be provided had been completed. We recognized, 
however, that this comprehensive approach could include addition of new 
hunting seasons (e.g., September teal seasons in northern States) as 
well as expanded hunting opportunities (e.g., season lengths, bag 
limits) in States with existing teal seasons.
    After the February SRC meeting, in the April 30, 2014, Federal 
Register (79 FR 24518), we indicated that we were willing to consider 
proposals to conduct experimental September teal seasons in production 
States if fully evaluated for impacts to teal and non-target species. 
Thus, we agree with the Mississippi Flyway Council's recommendation to 
allow an experimental special September teal season in Minnesota, 
Wisconsin, Michigan, and Iowa, and the Central Flyway Council's 
recommendation to allow an experimental season in the production area 
of Nebraska (generally north of the Platte River). During the 3-year 
experiment, a 16-day season with a 6-teal daily bag limit will be 
offered if the blue-winged teal population estimate from the 
traditional survey area (i.e., strata 1-18, 20-50, and 75-77) is >4.7 
million birds, and a 9-day season will be offered when the blue-winged 
teal estimate is between 3.3 and 4.7 million birds. We will work with 
the five affected States to develop evaluation plans and associated 
memoranda of agreement (MOA) for these experiments. The plan will 
consist of a 3-year evaluation of hunter performance (via spy blind 
studies) with regard to attempt rates on non-target species during the 
experimental September teal season.
    Before the season is approved operationally, the participating 
States must demonstrate negligible impacts to non-target species, 
defined as a non-target attempt rate no greater than 0.25 and non-
target kill rate no greater than 0.10. The season will not be approved 
for operational status if the experiment determines that (1) the upper 
90 percent confidence limit on the attempt rate at non-target species 
exceeds 0.25, or (2) the kill of non-target species exceeds 10 percent 
of the kill of teal and non-target species combined. Additional 
specifics regarding the evaluations will be contained in the MOAs. 
Further, if any of the participating States wish to allow pre-sunrise 
shooting hours during the special September teal season experiment, 
this evaluation must examine attempt rates on non-target species during 
both the period 30 minutes prior to sunrise and the post-sunrise 
period. Nebraska should conduct their experiment independent from the 
four States in the Mississippi Flyway.
    If Iowa decides to participate in this experiment, Iowa must 
suspend their 5-day September duck season for the

[[Page 44584]]

duration of their participation. Iowa has requested, and we concur, 
that upon conclusion of the experiment they be given the opportunity to 
revert back to a 5-day September duck season if they so desire, 
regardless of the results of the experiment. However, if Iowa decides 
to retain their 5-day September duck season, or revert to it after the 
experiment, they will not be allowed to implement a September teal 
season in subsequent years. States should submit annual progress 
reports for this evaluation and a final report must be submitted and 
accepted by the Service before we consider making such seasons 
operational.
    Regarding the regulations for this year, utilizing the criteria 
developed for the teal season harvest strategy, this year's estimate of 
8.5 million blue-winged teal from the traditional survey area indicates 
that a 16-day September teal season in the Atlantic, Central, and 
Mississippi Flyways is appropriate for 2014.
ii. September Teal/Wood Duck Seasons
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 
that the daily bag limit for teal in Florida during the September teal/
wood duck season be a total of 6 birds with no more than 2 wood ducks 
(the current total bag is 4 birds with no more than 2 wood ducks). The 
Council further recommended that Florida be permitted to add additional 
teal-only days to their September teal/wood duck season. In years when 
the teal harvest strategy calls for a 9-day teal season, Florida would 
maintain their current 5-day teal/wood duck season. In years when the 
teal harvest strategy calls for a 16-day teal season, Florida would add 
4 additional teal-only days to their current 5-day teal/wood duck 
season.
    The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended that the teal bag limit 
during Kentucky and Tennessee's September teal/wood duck seasons be the 
same as that permitted in other States with September teal-only 
seasons. The Council further recommended that States with September 
teal/wood duck seasons (Kentucky and Tennessee) be permitted to add 
additional teal-only days to their September teal/wood duck seasons. In 
years when the teal harvest strategy calls for a 9-day teal season, 
those States would maintain their current 5-day wood duck/teal season. 
In years when the teal harvest strategy calls for a 16-day teal season, 
those States would add 4 additional teal-only days to their current 5-
day teal/wood duck season.
    Service Response: Given the results from the previously referenced 
final report of the Teal Harvest Potential Working Group indicating 
that additional opportunity could be provided for blue-winged teal and 
green-winged teal (see discussion in D. Special Seasons/Species 
Management, i. September Teal Seasons), we concur with the Atlantic and 
Mississippi Flyway Councils' recommendations to allow 4 additional 
teal-only days during their September teal/wood duck season in Florida, 
Kentucky, and Tennessee when the teal harvest strategy provides for a 
16-day Special September teal season. The 4 additional days must be 
consecutive and be held contiguously (i.e., no split) with the wood 
duck/teal portion of this special season. Furthermore, this change must 
be accompanied by an extensive public outreach effort to alert hunters 
to the differential regulations for the two time periods during the 
special season, especially with regard to wood ducks. Finally, this 
change is contingent on completion of a 3-year evaluation of hunter 
performance (via spy blind studies) with regard to attempt rates on 
non-target species during the ``teal-only'' portion of this special 
season.
    Before the ``teal only'' portion of this season is approved 
operationally, the States must demonstrate negligible impacts to non-
target species, defined as a non-target attempt rate no greater than 
0.25 and non-target kill rate no greater than 0.10. The ``teal only'' 
portion of this season will not be approved for operational status if 
the experiment determines that (1) the upper 90 percent confidence 
limit on the attempt rate at non-target species exceeds 0.25, or (2) 
the kill of non-target species exceeds 10 percent of the kill of teal 
and non-target species combined. Additional specifics regarding the 
evaluations will be contained in the MOAs. If any of the 3 States 
wishes to retain pre-sunrise shooting hours during the ``teal only'' 
portion of the season, this evaluation must examine attempt rates on 
non-target species during both the period 30 minutes prior to sunrise 
and the post-sunrise period. This special season will not be expanded 
to other States.
xi. Other
    Council Recommendations: The Central Flyway Council recommended 
that two additional blue-winged teal be allowed in the daily duck bag 
for the first 16 days of the regular duck season in the production 
States of North and South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming. Impacts of this 
change would be evaluated over the first 3 years, beginning with the 
2014-15 hunting season.
    Service Response: In the April 30 Federal Register, we stated that 
``any proposal to increase teal harvest, in order to be consistent with 
the intent of special regulations, should direct harvest primarily at 
blue-winged teal, and further that if Flyway Councils wished to pursue 
past regulatory approaches such as bonus teal, . . . to provide 
additional teal harvest opportunity, we requested that they provide 
compelling information as to why such policies and approaches should be 
reinstated (i.e., bonus teal) . . .'' While we further stated that we 
would prefer a consistent approach toward providing additional teal 
opportunities in northern States, we recognize the Central Flyway's 
preference for using bonus blue-winged teal bag limits to provide 
additional teal opportunities and the Central Flyway's rationale for 
doing so. Thus, we support the Central Flyway Council's recommendation 
to include bonus blue-winged teal in the regular season daily duck bag 
limit. The recent assessment of teal harvest opportunity indicated 
additional harvest potential for this species can be supported in most 
years (see discussion in D. Special Seasons/Species Management, i. 
September Teal Seasons), and we believe the proposal for bonus blue-
winged teal will provide hunters increased opportunities with a very 
low likelihood of negative impacts to the blue-winged teal population. 
Further, we believe impacts to species other than blue-winged teal also 
are likely to be low. We will work with the Flyways to develop 
appropriate evaluation techniques to monitor any potential effects.
    Thus, beginning in the 2014-15 regular duck seasons, we propose 
that two bonus blue-winged teal be included for the first 16 days of 
the regular duck season of the Central, Mississippi, and Atlantic 
Flyways when the blue-winged teal population estimate from the 
traditional survey area (i.e., strata 1-18, 20-50, and 75-77) is >4.7 
million birds, and for the first 9 days when the blue-winged teal 
estimate is between 3.3 and 4.7 million. Bonus blue-winged teal will 
not be allowed when the blue-winged teal estimate is less than 3.3 
million. In the Central Flyway, this regulation would be available only 
to the States of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. In 
the Mississippi Flyway, if Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, or Wisconsin 
desire to include bonus blue-winged teal in their regulations instead 
of an experimental special September teal season, they should submit a 
recommendation to the Service during the upcoming late-season

[[Page 44585]]

regulation process. Northern States in the Atlantic Flyway (i.e., 
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, 
Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and West Virginia) may 
also select bonus blue-winged teal under the same regulations, but must 
submit a recommendation to do so at the upcoming late-season regulation 
process.
    During the next 3 years, no expansion of teal opportunities in 
either production or non-production States in any Flyway will be 
allowed. These stipulations are to ensure that an evaluation of bonus 
blue-winged teal can proceed immediately and a comprehensive teal 
harvest strategy can be developed. The evaluation plan must be reviewed 
and supported by the Service's Division of Migratory Bird Management, 
and the strategy vetted by the Harvest Management Working Group and 
approved by the Service.
    Bonus birds of other species will only be considered after a 
rigorous assessment of the harvest potential of the species, 
appropriate evaluations of the effects of the addition of the species 
to the bonus bag limit, and integration of the regulations into the 
applicable duck harvest management strategy(ies) in place at the time. 
Flyway(s) proposing such changes would be responsible for providing the 
resources for all necessary work.
    Finally, because the proposal to allow two bonus blue-winged teal 
during the first 16 days of the regular duck season is technically a 
late season issue, and we have yet to propose specific frameworks for 
late seasons, we will reiterate this proposal in the forthcoming late 
season proposed rule (tentatively scheduled for mid to late August). 
Proposed frameworks for each Flyway will provide detailed specifics on 
the bonus blue-winged teal proposal.

4. Canada Geese

A. Special Seasons

    Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended 
increasing the daily bag limit from 5 to 15 Canada geese in Pacific 
County, Washington. The Council also pointed out the need to eliminate 
several previously approved framework restrictions in Wyoming and 
Idaho.
    Service Response: We agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's 
request to increase the Canada goose daily bag limit in Pacific County, 
Washington, and eliminate several previously approved framework 
restrictions in Wyoming and Idaho. The special early Canada goose 
hunting season is generally designed to reduce or control overabundant 
resident Canada goose populations. Increasing the daily bag limit from 
5 to 15 geese in Pacific County, Washington, may help reduce or control 
existing populations of resident Canada geese, particularly those non-
migratory (resident) dark-breasted Canada geese. Resident dark-breasted 
Canada geese are a result of the release in the mid-1970s of a 
transplanted flock of dusky Canada geese held in captivity since 1958. 
These transplanted geese hybridized with native, non-migratory western 
Canada geese and are similar in appearance to migratory dusky Canada 
geese for which there are especially restrictive regulations to 
minimize incidental harvest. Harvest of dark-breasted resident Canada 
geese during the regular hunting season can result in violation and 
premature closure of the regular Canada goose hunting season if these 
geese are misidentified as migratory dusky Canada geese.

B. Regular Seasons

    Council Recommendations: The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended 
that the framework opening date for all species of geese for the 
regular goose seasons in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and Wisconsin 
be September 16, 2014, and in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan be 
September 11, 2014.
    Service Response: We concur with recommended framework opening 
dates. Michigan, beginning in 1998, and Wisconsin, beginning in 1989, 
have opened their regular Canada goose seasons prior to the Flyway-wide 
framework opening date to address resident goose management concerns in 
these States. As we have previously stated (73 FR 50678, August 27, 
2008), we agree with the objective to increase harvest pressure on 
resident Canada geese in the Mississippi Flyway and will continue to 
consider the opening dates in both States as exceptions to the general 
Flyway opening date, to be reconsidered annually. The framework closing 
date for the early goose season in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is 
September 10. By changing the framework opening date for the regular 
season to September 11 in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan there will be 
no need to close goose hunting in that area for 5 days and thus lose 
the ability to maintain harvest pressure on resident Canada geese. We 
note that the most recent resident Canada goose estimate for the 
Mississippi Flyway was a record high 1,767,900 geese during the spring 
of 2012, 8 percent higher than the 2011 estimate of 1,629,800 geese, 
and well above the Flyway's population goal of 1.18 to 1.40 million 
birds.

C. Special Late Seasons

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 
that Rhode Island be approved for minor expansion of the late season 
hunting zone boundary for Canada geese.
    Service Response: We concur with the Council's recommended minor 
late season hunting zone expansion in Rhode Island. Resident Canada 
geese are overabundant in the Atlantic Flyway, and their numbers 
continue to increase in Rhode Island despite special early and late 
seasons designed to control them. No harvest of migrant Canada geese 
has been documented during Rhode Island's special late season for 
resident Canada geese, and we expect that this expansion will increase 
harvest pressure on resident geese without impacting migrant Canada 
geese.
9. Sandhill Cranes
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway 
Councils recommended that Kentucky be allowed a 1-year continuation of 
their sandhill crane season for the 2014-15 season under harvest 
guidelines approved for their experimental season.
    The Central and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended the expansion 
of an existing Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) sandhill crane hunting 
unit in southwestern Montana (the Dillon/Twin Bridges/Cardwell hunt 
area to include all of Madison and Gallatin Counties). The Councils 
also recommended using the 2014 RMP sandhill crane harvest allocation 
of 676 birds as proposed in the allocation formula using the 3-year 
running population average for 2011-13.
    Service Response: We agree with the recommendation to allow 
Kentucky a 1-year continuation of their sandhill crane season. Although 
data from the third year of the experimental season is not yet 
available for review and incorporation into their assessment and final 
report, data from the first and second years indicate that harvest has 
been within the anticipated harvest analyzed in the 2011 environmental 
assessment. We look forward to receiving the final report this winter 
and will make a decision on the season's continuation next summer.
    We also agree with the Central and Pacific Flyway Councils' 
recommendations on the RMP sandhill crane hunt area expansion in 
southwestern Montana and harvest allocation of 676 birds for the 2014-
15 season, as outlined in the RMP sandhill crane management plan's hunt 
area

[[Page 44586]]

requirements and harvest allocation formula. The objective for RMP 
sandhill cranes is to manage for a stable population index of 17,000-
21,000 cranes determined by an average of the three most recent, 
reliable September (fall pre-migration) surveys. Additionally, the RMP 
management plan allows for the regulated harvest of cranes when the 3-
year average of the population indices exceeds 15,000 cranes. In 2013, 
20,360 cranes were counted in the September survey, an increase from 
the previous year's count of 15,417 cranes. The most recent 3-year 
average for the RMP sandhill crane fall index was 17,757, a slight 
decrease from the previous 3-year average of 17,992.
14. Woodcock
    In 2011, we implemented an interim harvest strategy for woodcock 
for a period of 5 years (2011-15) (76 FR 19876, April 8, 2011). The 
interim harvest strategy provides a transparent framework for making 
regulatory decisions for woodcock season length and bag limit while we 
work to improve monitoring and assessment protocols for this species. 
Utilizing the criteria developed for the interim strategy, the 3-year 
average for the Singing Ground Survey indices and associated confidence 
intervals fall within the ``moderate package'' for both the Eastern and 
Central Management Regions. As such, a ``moderate season'' for both 
management regions for the 2014-15 woodcock hunting season is 
appropriate. Specifics of the interim harvest strategy can be found at 
https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewsPublicationsReports.html.
15. Band-Tailed Pigeons
    Last year, the Pacific Flyway Council recommended reducing the 
daily bag limit for the Interior population of band-tailed pigeons from 
5 birds to 2 (season length was unchanged at about 30 days), and the 
Central Flyway Council recommended no change. The Pacific Flyway 
Council also expressed concern about the status of the population and 
what an appropriate framework may be, and expressed concern about the 
inequity between frameworks between the Pacific Coast and Interior 
populations given similar population trajectories. While we did not 
change the Federal frameworks, we did reiterate our longstanding 
practice of giving considerable deference to harvest strategies 
developed in cooperative Flyway management plans. We further stated 
that a harvest strategy does not exist for the Interior population of 
band-tailed pigeons even though the development of one was identified 
as a high priority when the management plan was adopted in 2001. Thus, 
we recommended that the two Flyway Councils discuss this issue and 
advise us of the results of these deliberations at our June 2014 
regulatory meeting. It is our desire to see adoption of a mutually 
acceptable harvest strategy for this population as soon as possible. We 
also note that both Arizona and Utah opted for more restrictive 
regulations last year than the Federal frameworks allow. While we 
recognize the pro-active nature of these voluntary State restrictions 
in part of the species' range, the actions do not fully address 
population-wide concerns expressed by the Pacific Flyway Council.
    Despite our request, the Pacific and Central Flyway Councils did 
not reach consensus on what an appropriate framework may be (although 
both the Pacific and Central Flyways recommended no change in the 
Federal framework this year, leaving the option for restriction up to 
individual States), and indicated that development of a harvest 
strategy was not forthcoming. We have taken a close look at the limited 
data, and believe further investigation is warranted to ensure harvest 
is commensurate with population status. We recognize the need and 
difficulty in obtaining additional data for this population, but 
believe that there are analytical techniques that may allow use of 
available information to quantify the harvest potential of this 
population and better inform what an appropriate framework may be. We 
recommend that the Council's work together and with the Service's 
Division of Migratory Bird Management to review available information 
and conduct an assessment of the harvest potential of this population. 
We request they advise us of the results of this assessment and develop 
a regulatory recommendation using this information at our June 2015 
regulatory meeting.
16. Mourning Doves
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway 
Councils recommended use of the ``standard'' season framework comprised 
of a 90-day season and 15-bird daily bag limit for States within the 
Eastern Management Unit. The daily bag limit could be composed of 
mourning doves and white-winged doves, singly or in combination.
    The Mississippi and Central Flyway Councils recommend the use of 
the ``standard'' season package of a 15-bird daily bag limit and a 70-
day season for the 2014-15 mourning dove season in the States within 
the Central Management Unit.
    The Pacific Flyway Council recommended use of the ``standard'' 
season framework for States in the Western Management Unit (WMU) 
population of doves. In Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, 
the season length would be no more than 60 consecutive days with a 
daily bag limit of 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate. 
In Arizona and California, the season length would be no more than 60 
consecutive days, which could be split between two periods, September 
1-15 and November 1-January 15. In Arizona, during the first segment of 
the season, the daily bag limit would be 15 mourning and white-winged 
doves in the aggregate, of which no more than 10 could be white-winged 
doves. During the remainder of the season, the daily bag limit would be 
15 mourning doves. In California, the daily bag limit would be 15 
mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate, of which no more than 
10 could be white-winged doves.
    The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils 
also recommended that the Service use a 3-year running average to 
calculate the predicted dove abundance in the annual assessment of the 
status of mourning doves in support of the regulation-setting process 
under the dove harvest strategy beginning with the 2015-16 hunting 
season.
    Service Response: Last year, we approved implementation of the 
national mourning dove harvest strategy, as developed by the Mourning 
Dove Task Force, for the 2014-15 hunting season (78 FR 52658, August 
23, 2013). This strategy replaced the interim harvest strategies that 
had been in place since 2009. A copy of the new strategy is available 
at available on our Web site at https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewReportsPublications/Dove/MODO%20Harvest%20Strategy%202014.pdf, or at 
https://www.regulations.gov.
    We also support modification of this national harvest strategy such 
that a 3-year running average is used to calculate each year's 
abundance estimate and calculate predicted dove abundance in the annual 
assessment of the status of mourning doves beginning with the 2015-16 
hunting season as recommended by all four flyway Councils and vetted 
through the Mourning Dove Task Force. This Task Force continues to be a 
useful venue for developing issues for consideration and potential 
modification to the National Strategy.

[[Page 44587]]

    This year, based on the harvest strategies and current population 
status, we agree with the recommended selection of the ``standard'' 
season frameworks for doves in the Eastern, Central, and Western 
Management Units.
18. Alaska
    Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended 
several changes in the Alaska early season frameworks. Specifically, 
they recommended:
    1. Splitting the ``Dark Geese'' framework into separate frameworks 
for Canada geese and white-fronted geese.
    2. For both Canada geese and white-fronted geese, the basic 
framework for season dates, outside dates, zones, and daily bag and 
possession limits remains the same as it was under ``Dark Geese.''
    3. In Unit 18, in western Alaska, white-fronted geese daily bag and 
possession limits would be increased from a dark goose daily bag limit 
of 6 birds, 18 in possession, to a white-fronted goose daily bag limit 
of 8 birds, 24 in possession.
    4. In Units 6B, 6C, and Hawkins and Hinchinbrook Islands in 6D, if 
dusky Canada geese exceed the population threshold to return to Action 
Level 1 status (3-year average based on May 2011, 2012, and 2014 
surveys), then implement Action Level 1 regulations as stated in the 
Pacific Flyway Council's management plan for dusky geese, and eliminate 
requirements for a special permit hunt and harvest quota, but maintain 
possession limits at 2 times the daily bag limit.
    Service Response: We agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's 
recommended changes in the Alaska early season frameworks, including 
elimination of requirements for a special permit hunt and harvest quota 
in Units 6B, 6C, and Hawkins and Hinchinbrook Islands in 6D. The 3-year 
(2011-13) moving average fall population of Pacific white-fronted geese 
was 628,198 geese, and is well above the population objective of 
300,000 geese as identified in the Pacific Flyway Council's management 
plan for this population. The Yukon-Kuskowim Delta (Unit 18) supports 
over 95 percent of the breeding population of Pacific white-fronted 
geese.
    With regard to the Action Level regulations as described in the 
Council's management plan for dusky Canada geese, the dusky Canada 
goose population estimate for 2014 was 15,049 geese and represents an 
increase from the 2012 estimate of 13,660 geese (there was no estimate 
available in 2013). The recent 3-year (2011-14) average population 
estimate was 13,503 geese, which is above the threshold of 12,500 geese 
necessary to remove Action Level 2 harvest restrictions and return to 
Action Level 1 harvest regulations, which do not require a special 
permit hunt and harvest quota for dusky Canada geese.

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, 5275 Leesburg 
Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
    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 proposed rule; for descriptions of our 
actions to ensure compliance with the following statutes and Executive 
Orders, see our April 30, 2014, proposed rule (79 FR 24512):
     National Environmental Policy Act;
     Endangered Species Act;
     Regulatory Planning and Review;
     Regulatory Flexibility Act;
     Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act;
     Paperwork Reduction Act;
     Unfunded Mandates Reform Act;
     Executive Orders 12630, 12988, 13175, 13132, 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 2014-15 
hunting season are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 703-712 and 16 U.S.C. 
742a-j.

    Dated: July 21, 2014.
Rachel Jacobson,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

Proposed Regulations Frameworks for 2014-15 Early Hunting Seasons on 
Certain Migratory Game Birds

    Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and delegated 
authorities, the Department of the Interior approved the following 
proposed frameworks, which prescribe season lengths, bag limits, 
shooting hours, and outside dates within which States may select 
hunting seasons for certain migratory game birds between September 1, 
2014, and March 10, 2015. These frameworks are summarized below.

General

    Dates: All outside dates noted below are inclusive.
    Shooting and Hawking (taking by falconry) Hours: Unless otherwise 
specified, from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset daily.
    Possession Limits: Unless otherwise specified, possession limits 
are three times the daily bag limit.
    Permits: For some species of migratory birds, the Service 
authorizes the use of permits to regulate harvest or monitor their take 
by sport hunters, or both. In many cases (e.g., tundra swans, some 
sandhill crane populations), the Service determines the amount of 
harvest that may be taken during hunting seasons during its formal 
regulations-setting process, and the

[[Page 44588]]

States then issue permits to hunters at levels predicted to result in 
the amount of take authorized by the Service. Thus, although issued by 
States, the permits would not be valid unless the Service approved such 
take in its regulations.
    These Federally authorized, State-issued permits are issued to 
individuals, and only the individual whose name and address appears on 
the permit at the time of issuance is authorized to take migratory 
birds at levels specified in the permit, in accordance with provisions 
of both Federal and State regulations governing the hunting season. The 
permit must be carried by the permittee when exercising its provisions 
and must be presented to any law enforcement officer upon request. The 
permit is not transferrable or assignable to another individual, and 
may not be sold, bartered, traded, or otherwise provided to another 
person. If the permit is altered or defaced in any way, the permit 
becomes invalid.

Flyways and Management Units

Waterfowl Flyways

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

Management Units

Mourning Dove Management Units

    Eastern Management Unit--All States east of the Mississippi River, 
and Louisiana.
    Central Management Unit--Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, 
Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, 
Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.
    Western Management Unit--Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, 
Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

Woodcock Management Regions

    Eastern Management Region--Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, 
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 
North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, 
Virginia, and West Virginia.
    Central Management Region--Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, 
Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, 
Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, 
Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.
    Other geographic descriptions are contained in a later portion of 
this document.

Definitions

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

Waterfowl Seasons in the Atlantic Flyway

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

Special September Teal Season

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

Special September Duck Seasons

    Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee: In lieu of a special September 
teal season, a 5-consecutive-day season may be selected in September. 
The daily bag limit may not exceed 6 teal and wood ducks in the 
aggregate, of which no more than 2 may be wood ducks. In addition, a 4-
consecutive-day experimental season may be selected in September either 
immediately before or immediately after the 5-consecutive day teal/wood 
duck season. The daily bag limit is 6 teal.
    Iowa: In lieu of an experimental special September teal season, 
Iowa may hold up to 5 days of its regular duck hunting season in 
September. All ducks that are legal during the regular duck season may 
be taken during the September segment of the season. The September 
season segment may commence no earlier than the Saturday nearest 
September 20 (September 20). The daily bag and possession limits will 
be the same as those in effect last year but are subject to change 
during the late-season regulations process. The remainder of the 
regular duck season may not begin before October 10.

Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days

    Outside Dates: States may select 2 days per duck-hunting zone, 
designated as ``Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days,'' in addition to their 
regular duck seasons. The days must be held outside any regular duck 
season on a weekend, holidays, or other non-school days when youth 
hunters would have the maximum opportunity to participate. The days may 
be held up to 14 days before or after any regular duck-season 
frameworks or within any split of a regular duck season, or within any 
other open season on migratory birds.
    Daily Bag Limits: The daily bag limits may include ducks, geese, 
mergansers, coots, and gallinules and will be the same as those allowed 
in the regular season. Flyway species and area restrictions will remain 
in effect.
    Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
    Participation Restrictions: Youth hunters must be 15 years of age 
or

[[Page 44589]]

younger. In addition, an adult at least 18 years of age must accompany 
the youth hunter into the field. This adult may not duck hunt but may 
participate in other seasons that are open on the special youth day.

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

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

Special Early Canada Goose Seasons

Atlantic Flyway

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

Mississippi Flyway

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

Central Flyway

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

Pacific Flyway

General Seasons
    California may select a 9-day season in Humboldt County during 
September 1-15. The daily bag limit is 2.
    Colorado may select a 9-day season during September 1-15. The daily 
bag limit is 4.
    Oregon may select a 15-day season during September 1-15. In 
addition, Oregon may select a 15-day season in the Northwest Zone 
during September 1-20. The daily bag limit is 5.
    Idaho may select a 7-day season during September 1-15. The daily 
bag limit is 2.
    Washington may select a 15-day season during September 1-15. The 
daily bag limit is 5, except in Pacific County where the daily bag 
limit is 15.
    Wyoming may select an 8-day season during September 1-15. The daily 
bag limit is 3
    Areas open to hunting of Canada geese in each State must be 
described, delineated, and designated as such in each State's hunting 
regulations.

Regular Goose Seasons

Mississippi Flyway

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

Sandhill Cranes

Regular Seasons in the Mississippi Flyway

    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and February 28.
    Hunting Seasons: A season not to exceed 37 consecutive days may be 
selected in the designated portion of northwestern Minnesota (Northwest 
Goose Zone).
    Daily Bag Limit: 2 sandhill cranes.
    Permits: Each person participating in the regular sandhill crane 
season must have a valid Federal or State sandhill crane hunting 
permit.

Experimental Seasons in the Mississippi Flyway

    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons: A season not to exceed 30 consecutive days may be 
selected in Kentucky and a season not

[[Page 44590]]

to exceed 60 consecutive days may be selected in Tennessee.
    Daily Bag Limit: Not to exceed 2 daily and 2 per season in 
Kentucky. Not to exceed 3 daily and 3 per season in Tennessee.
    Permits: Each person participating in the regular sandhill crane 
season must have a valid Federal or State sandhill crane hunting 
permit.
    Other Provisions: Numbers of permits, open areas, season dates, 
protection plans for other species, and other provisions of seasons 
must be consistent with the management plan and approved by the 
Mississippi Flyway Council.

Regular Seasons in the Central Flyway

    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and February 28.
    Hunting Seasons: Seasons not to exceed 37 consecutive days may be 
selected in designated portions of Texas (Area 2). Seasons not to 
exceed 58 consecutive days may be selected in designated portions of 
the following States: Colorado, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, South 
Dakota, and Wyoming. Seasons not to exceed 93 consecutive days may be 
selected in designated portions of the following States: New Mexico, 
Oklahoma, and Texas.
    Daily Bag Limits: 3 sandhill cranes, except 2 sandhill cranes in 
designated portions of North Dakota (Area 2) and Texas (Area 2).
    Permits: Each person participating in the regular sandhill crane 
season must have a valid Federal or State sandhill crane hunting 
permit.

Special Seasons in the Central and Pacific Flyways

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

Special Seasons in the Pacific Flyway

    Arizona may select a season for hunting sandhill cranes within the 
range of the Lower Colorado River Population (LCR) of sandhill cranes, 
subject to the following conditions:
    Outside Dates: Between January 1 and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons: The season may not exceed 3 days.
    Bag limits: Not to exceed 1 daily and 1 per season.
    Permits: Participants must have a valid permit, issued by the 
appropriate State, in their possession while hunting.
    Other provisions: The season is experimental. Numbers of permits, 
open areas, season dates, protection plans for other species, and other 
provisions of seasons must be consistent with the management plan and 
approved by the Pacific Flyway Council.

Common Moorhens and Purple Gallinules

    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and the last Sunday in January 
(January 25) in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways. States 
in the Pacific Flyway have been allowed to select their hunting seasons 
between the outside dates for the season on ducks; therefore, they are 
late-season frameworks, and no frameworks are provided in this 
document.
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Seasons may not exceed 70 
days in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways. Seasons may be 
split into 2 segments. The daily bag limit is 15 common moorhens and 
purple gallinules, singly or in the aggregate of the two species.
    Zoning: Seasons may be selected by zones established for duck 
hunting.

Rails

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

Snipe

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

American Woodcock

    Outside Dates: States in the Eastern Management Region may select 
hunting seasons between October 1 and January 31. States in the Central 
Management Region may select hunting seasons between the Saturday 
nearest September 22 (September 20) and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Seasons may not exceed 45 
days in the Eastern Region and 45 days in the Central Region. The daily 
bag limit is 3. Seasons may be split into two segments.
    Zoning: New Jersey may select seasons in each of two zones. The 
season in each zone may not exceed 36 days.

Band-Tailed Pigeons

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

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

[[Page 44591]]

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

    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and November 30.
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 30 consecutive 
days, with a daily bag limit of 5.
    Zoning: New Mexico may select hunting seasons not to exceed 20 
consecutive days in each of two zones. The season in the South Zone may 
not open until October 1.

Doves

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

Eastern Management Unit

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

Central Management Unit

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

Western Management Unit

    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits:
    Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington--Not more than 60 
consecutive days, with a daily bag limit of 15 mourning and white-
winged doves in the aggregate.
    Arizona and California--Not more than 60 days, which may be split 
between two periods, September 1-15 and November 1-January 15. In 
Arizona, during the first segment of the season, the daily bag limit is 
15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate, of which no more 
than 10 could be white-winged doves. During the remainder of the 
season, the daily bag limit is 15 mourning doves. In California, the 
daily bag limit is 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate, 
of which no more than 10 could be white-winged doves.

Alaska

    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 26.
    Hunting Seasons: Alaska may select 107 consecutive days for 
waterfowl, sandhill cranes, and common snipe in each of 5 zones. The 
season may be split without penalty in the Kodiak Zone. The seasons in 
each zone must be concurrent.
    Closures: The hunting season is closed on emperor geese, spectacled 
eiders, and Steller's eiders.
    Daily Bag and Possession Limits:
    Ducks--Except as noted, a basic daily bag limit of 7 ducks. Daily 
bag limits in the North Zone are 10, and in the Gulf Coast Zone, they 
are 8. The basic limits may include no more than 1 canvasback daily and 
may not include sea ducks.
    In addition to the basic duck limits, Alaska may select sea duck 
limits of 10 daily, singly or in the aggregate, including no more than 
6 each of either harlequin or long-tailed ducks. Sea ducks include 
scoters, common and king eiders, harlequin ducks, long-tailed ducks, 
and common and red-breasted mergansers.
    Light Geese--The daily bag limit is 4.
    Canada Geese--The daily bag limit is 4 with the following 
exceptions:
    A. In Units 5 and 6, the taking of Canada geese is permitted from 
September 28 through December 16.
    B. On Middleton Island in Unit 6, a special, permit-only Canada 
goose season may be offered. A mandatory goose identification class is 
required. Hunters must check in and check out. The bag limit is 1 daily 
and 1 in possession. The season will close if incidental harvest 
includes 5 dusky Canada geese. A dusky Canada goose is any dark-
breasted Canada goose (Munsell 10 YR color value five or less) with a 
bill length between 40 and 50 millimeters.
    C. In Units 6-B, 6-C, and on Hinchinbrook and Hawkins Islands in 
Unit 6-D, the possession limit is two times the daily bag limit.
    D. In Units 9, 10, 17, and 18, the daily bag limit is 6 Canada 
geese.
    White-fronted Geese--The daily bag limit is 4 with the following 
exceptions:
    A. In Units 9, 10, and 17, the daily bag limit is 6 white-fronted 
geese.
    B. In Unit 18, the daily bag limit is 8 white-fronted geese.
    Brant--The daily bag limit is 2.
    Snipe--The daily bag limit is 8.
    Sandhill cranes--The daily bag limit is 2 in the Southeast, Gulf 
Coast, Kodiak, and Aleutian Zones, and Unit 17 in the North Zone. In 
the remainder of the North Zone (outside Unit 17), the daily bag limit 
is 3.
    Tundra Swans--Open seasons for tundra swans may be selected subject 
to the following conditions:
    A. All seasons are by registration permit only.
    B. All season framework dates are September 1-October 31.
    C. In Unit 17, no more than 200 permits may be issued during this 
operational season. No more than 3 tundra swans may be authorized per 
permit, with no more than 1 permit may be issued per hunter per season.
    D. In Unit 18, no more than 500 permits may be issued during the 
operational season. No more than 3 tundra swans may be authorized per 
permit. No more than 1 permit may be issued per hunter per season.
    E. In Unit 22, no more than 300 permits may be issued during the 
operational season. No more than 3 tundra swans may be authorized per 
permit. No more than 1 permit may be issued per hunter per season.
    F. In Unit 23, no more than 300 permits may be issued during the

[[Page 44592]]

operational season. No more than 3 tundra swans may be authorized per 
permit. No more than 1 permit may be issued per hunter per season.

Hawaii

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

Puerto Rico

Doves and Pigeons
    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 15.
    Hunting Seasons: Not more than 60 days.
    Daily Bag and Possession Limits: Not to exceed 20 Zenaida, 
mourning, and white-winged doves in the aggregate, of which not more 
than 10 may be Zenaida doves and 3 may be mourning doves. Not to exceed 
5 scaly-naped pigeons.
    Closed Seasons: The season is closed on the white-crowned pigeon 
and the plain pigeon, which are protected by the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico.
    Closed Areas: There is no open season on doves or pigeons in the 
following areas: Municipality of Culebra, Desecheo Island, Mona Island, 
El Verde Closure Area, and Cidra Municipality and adjacent areas.
Ducks, Coots, Moorhens, Gallinules, and Snipe
    Outside Dates: Between October 1 and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons: Not more than 55 days may be selected for hunting 
ducks, common moorhens, and common snipe. The season may be split into 
two segments.
    Daily Bag Limits:
    Ducks--Not to exceed 6.
    Common moorhens--Not to exceed 6.
    Common snipe--Not to exceed 8.
    Closed Seasons: The season is closed on the ruddy duck, white-
cheeked pintail, West Indian whistling duck, fulvous whistling duck, 
and masked duck, which are protected by the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico. The season also is closed on the purple gallinule, American coot, 
and Caribbean coot.
    Closed Areas: There is no open season on ducks, common moorhens, 
and common snipe in the Municipality of Culebra and on Desecheo Island.

Virgin Islands

Doves and Pigeons
    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 15.
    Hunting Seasons: Not more than 60 days for Zenaida doves.
    Daily Bag and Possession Limits: Not to exceed 10 Zenaida doves.
    Closed Seasons: No open season is prescribed for ground or quail 
doves or pigeons.
    Closed Areas: There is no open season for migratory game birds on 
Ruth Cay (just south of St. Croix).
    Local Names for Certain Birds: Zenaida dove, also known as mountain 
dove; bridled quail-dove, also known as Barbary dove or partridge; 
common ground-dove, also known as stone dove, tobacco dove, rola, or 
tortolita; scaly-naped pigeon, also known as red-necked or scaled 
pigeon.
Ducks
    Outside Dates: Between December 1 and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons: Not more than 55 consecutive days.
    Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 6.
    Closed Seasons: The season is closed on the ruddy duck, white-
cheeked pintail, West Indian whistling duck, fulvous whistling duck, 
and masked duck.

Special Falconry Regulations

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

Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions

Doves

Alabama
    South Zone--Baldwin, Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Escambia, 
Geneva, Henry, Houston, and Mobile Counties.
    North Zone--Remainder of the State.
California
    White-winged Dove Open Areas--Imperial, Riverside, and San 
Bernardino Counties.
Florida
    Northwest Zone--The Counties of Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, 
Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, 
Washington, Leon (except that portion north of U.S. 27 and east of 
State Road 155), Jefferson (south of U.S. 27, west of State Road 59 and 
north of U.S. 98), and Wakulla (except that portion south of U.S. 98 
and east of the St. Marks River).
    South Zone--Remainder of State.
Louisiana
    North Zone--That portion of the State north of a line extending 
east from the Texas border along State Highway 12 to U.S. Highway 190, 
east along U.S. 190 to Interstate Highway 12, east along Interstate 12 
to Interstate Highway 10, then east along Interstate Highway 10 to the 
Mississippi border.
    South Zone--The remainder of the State.
Mississippi
    North Zone--That portion of the State north and west of a line 
extending west from the Alabama State line along U.S. Highway 84 to its 
junction with State Highway 35, then south along State Highway 35 to 
the Louisiana State line.
    South Zone--The remainder of Mississippi.
Texas
    North Zone--That portion of the State north of a line beginning at 
the International Bridge south of Fort Hancock; north along FM 1088 to 
TX 20; west along TX 20 to TX 148; north along TX 148 to I-10 at Fort 
Hancock; east along I-10 to I-20; northeast along I-20 to I-30 at Fort 
Worth; northeast along I-30 to the Texas-Arkansas State line.
    South Zone--That portion of the State south and west of a line 
beginning at the International Bridge south of Del Rio, proceeding east 
on U.S. 90 to State Loop 1604 west of San Antonio; then south, east, 
and north along Loop 1604 to

[[Page 44593]]

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

Band-Tailed Pigeons

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

Woodcock

New Jersey

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

Special September Canada Goose Seasons

Atlantic Flyway

Connecticut
    North Zone--That portion of the State north of I-95.
    South Zone--The remainder of the State.
Maryland
    Eastern Unit--Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, 
Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester 
Counties; and that part of Anne Arundel County east of Interstate 895, 
Interstate 97 and Route 3; that part of Prince George's County east of 
Route 3 and Route 301; and that part of Charles County east of Route 
301 to the Virginia State line.
    Western Unit--Allegany, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, 
Howard, Montgomery, and Washington Counties and that part of Anne 
Arundel County west of Interstate 895, Interstate 97 and Route 3; that 
part of Prince George's County west of Route 3 and Route 301; and that 
part of Charles County west of Route 301 to the Virginia State line.
Massachusetts
    Western Zone--That portion of the State west of a line extending 
south from the Vermont border on I-91 to MA 9, west on MA 9 to MA 10, 
south on MA 10 to U.S. 202, south on U.S. 202 to the Connecticut 
border.
    Central Zone--That portion of the State east of the Berkshire Zone 
and west of a line extending south from the New Hampshire border on I-
95 to U.S. 1, south on U.S. 1 to I-93, south on I-93 to MA 3, south on 
MA 3 to U.S. 6, west on U.S. 6 to MA 28, west on MA 28 to I-195, west 
to the Rhode Island border; except the waters, and the lands 150 yards 
inland from the high-water mark, of the Assonet River upstream to the 
MA 24 bridge, and the Taunton River upstream to the Center St.-Elm St. 
bridge will be in the Coastal Zone.
    Coastal Zone--That portion of Massachusetts east and south of the 
Central Zone.
New York
    Lake Champlain Zone--The U.S. portion of Lake Champlain and that 
area east and north of a line extending along NY 9B from the Canadian 
border to U.S. 9, south along U.S. 9 to NY 22 south of Keesville; south 
along NY 22 to the west shore of South Bay, along and around the 
shoreline of South Bay to NY 22 on the east shore of South Bay; 
southeast along NY 22 to U.S. 4, northeast along U.S. 4 to the Vermont 
border.
    Eastern Long Island Goose Area (North Atlantic Population (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 (Resident Population (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.
    Western Zone--That area west of a line extending from Lake Ontario 
east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, and south along 
I-81 to the Pennsylvania border.
    Northeastern Zone--That area north of a line extending from Lake 
Ontario east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, south 
along I-81 to NY 49, east along NY 49 to NY 365, east along NY 365 to 
NY 28, east along NY 28 to NY 29, east along NY 29 to I-87, north along 
I-87 to U.S. 9 (at Exit 20), north along U.S. 9 to NY 149, east along 
NY 149 to U.S. 4, north along U.S. 4 to the Vermont border, exclusive 
of the Lake Champlain Zone.
    Southeastern Zone--The remaining portion of New York.
Pennsylvania
    Southern James Bay Population (SJBP) Zone--The area north of I-80 
and west of I-79, including in the city of Erie west of Bay Front 
Parkway to and including the Lake Erie Duck Zone (Lake Erie, Presque 
Isle, and the area within 150 yards of the Lake Erie Shoreline).
Vermont
    Lake Champlain Zone--The U.S. portion of Lake Champlain and that 
area north and west of the line extending from the New York border 
along U.S. 4 to VT 22A at Fair Haven; VT 22A to U.S. 7 at Vergennes; 
U.S. 7 to VT 78 at Swanton; VT 78 to VT 36; VT 36 to Maquam Bay on Lake 
Champlain; along and around the shoreline of Maquam

[[Page 44594]]

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

Mississippi Flyway

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

[[Page 44595]]

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

Central Flyway

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

Pacific Flyway

Oregon
    Northwest Zone--Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Lane, 
Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk, Multnomah, Tillamook, Washington, and 
Yamhill Counties.
    Southwest Zone--Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, and 
Klamath Counties.
    East Zone--Baker, Gilliam, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, 
Union, and Wasco Counties.
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.

Ducks

Atlantic Flyway

New York
    Lake Champlain Zone--The U.S. portion of Lake Champlain and that 
area east and north of a line extending along NY 9B from the Canadian 
border to U.S. 9, south along U.S. 9 to NY 22 south of Keesville; south 
along NY 22 to the west shore of South Bay, along and around the 
shoreline of South Bay to NY 22 on the east shore of South Bay; 
southeast along NY 22 to U.S. 4, northeast along U.S. 4 to the Vermont 
border.
    Long Island Zone--That area consisting of Nassau County, Suffolk 
County, that area of Westchester County southeast of I-95, and their 
tidal waters.
    Western Zone--That area west of a line extending from Lake Ontario 
east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, and south along 
I-81 to the Pennsylvania border.

[[Page 44596]]

    Northeastern Zone--That area north of a line extending from Lake 
Ontario east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, south 
along I-81 to NY 49, east along NY 49 to NY 365, east along NY 365 to 
NY 28, east along NY 28 to NY 29, east along NY 29 to I-87, north along 
I-87 to U.S. 9 (at Exit 20), north along U.S. 9 to NY 149, east along 
NY 149 to U.S. 4, north along U.S. 4 to the Vermont border, exclusive 
of the Lake Champlain Zone.
    Southeastern Zone--The remaining portion of New York.
Maryland
    Special Teal Season Area-- Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, 
Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, 
and Worcester Counties; that part of Anne Arundel County east of 
Interstate 895, Interstate 97, and Route 3; that part of Prince Georges 
County east of Route 3 and Route 301; and that part of Charles County 
east of Route 301 to the Virginia State Line.

Mississippi Flyway

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

Central Flyway

Colorado
    Special Teal Season Area--Lake and Chaffee Counties and that 
portion of the State east of Interstate Highway 25.
Kansas
    High Plains Zone --That portion of the State west of U.S. 283.
    Early Zone --That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the 
Nebraska-Kansas State line south on K-128 to its junction with U.S.-36, 
then east on U.S.-36 to its junction with K-199, then south on K-199 to 
its junction with Republic County 30 Rd, then south on Republic County 
30 Rd to its junction with K-148, then east on K-148 to its junction 
with Republic County 50 Rd, then south on Republic County 50 Rd to its 
junction with Cloud County 40th Rd, then south on Cloud County 40th Rd 
to its junction with K-9, then west on K-9 to its junction with U.S.-
24, then west on U.S.-24 to its junction with U.S.-281, then north on 
U.S.-281 to its junction with U.S.-36, then west on U.S.-36 to its 
junction with U.S.-183, then south on U.S.-183 to its junction with 
U.S.-24, then west on U.S.-24 to its junction with K-18, then southeast 
on K-18 to its junction with U.S.-183, then south on U.S.-183 to its 
junction with K-4, then east on K-4 to its junction with I-135, then 
south on I-135 to its junction with K-61, then southwest on K-61 to 
McPherson County 14th Avenue, then south on McPherson County 14th 
Avenue to its junction with Arapaho Rd, then west on Arapaho Rd to its 
junction with K-61, then southwest on K-61 to its junction with K-96, 
then northwest on K-96 to its junction with U.S.-56, then southwest on 
U.S.-56 to its junction with K-19, then east on K-19 to its junction 
with U.S.-281, then south on U.S.-281 to its junction with U.S.-54, 
then west on U.S.-54 to its junction with U.S.-183, then north on U.S.-
183 to its junction with U.S.-56, then southwest on U.S.-56 to its 
junction with Ford County Rd 126, then south on Ford County Rd 126 to 
its junction with U.S.-400, then northwest on U.S.-400 to its junction 
with U.S.-283, then north on U.S.-283 to its junction with the 
Nebraska-Kansas State line, then east along the Nebraska-Kansas State 
line to its junction with K-128.
    Late Zone--That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the Nebraska-
Kansas State line south on K-128 to its junction with U.S.-36, then 
east on U.S.-36 to its junction with K-199, then south on K-199 to its 
junction with Republic County 30 Rd, then south on Republic County 30 
Rd to its junction with K-148, then east on K-148 to its junction with 
Republic County 50 Rd, then south on Republic County 50 Rd to its 
junction with Cloud County 40th Rd, then south on Cloud County 40th Rd 
to its junction with K-9, then west on K-9 to its junction with U.S.-
24, then west on U.S.-24 to its junction with U.S.-281, then north on 
U.S.-281 to its junction with U.S.-36, then west on U.S.-36 to its 
junction with U.S.-183, then south on U.S.-183 to its junction

[[Page 44597]]

with U.S.-24, then west on U.S.-24 to its junction with K-18, then 
southeast on K-18 to its junction with U.S.-183, then south on U.S.-183 
to its junction with K-4, then east on K-4 to its junction with I-135, 
then south on I-135 to its junction with K-61, then southwest on K-61 
to 14th Avenue, then south on 14th Avenue to its junction with Arapaho 
Rd, then west on Arapaho Rd to its junction with K-61, then southwest 
on K-61 to its junction with K-96, then northwest on K-96 to its 
junction with U.S.-56, then southwest on U.S.-56 to its junction with 
K-19, then east on K-19 to its junction with U.S.-281, then south on 
U.S.-281 to its junction with U.S.-54, then west on U.S.-54 to its 
junction with U.S.-183, then north on U.S.-183 to its junction with 
U.S.-56, then southwest on U.S.-56 to its junction with Ford County Rd 
126, then south on Ford County Rd 126 to its junction with U.S.-400, 
then northwest on U.S.-400 to its junction with U.S.-283, then south on 
U.S.-283 to its junction with the Oklahoma-Kansas State line, then east 
along the Oklahoma-Kansas State line to its junction with U.S.-77, then 
north on U.S.-77 to its junction with Butler County, NE. 150th Street, 
then east on Butler County, NE. 150th Street to its junction with U.S.-
35, then northeast on U.S.-35 to its junction with K-68, then east on 
K-68 to the Kansas-Missouri State line, then north along the Kansas-
Missouri State line to its junction with the Nebraska State line, then 
west along the Kansas-Nebraska State line to its junction with K-128.
    Southeast Zone--That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the 
Missouri-Kansas State line west on K-68 to its junction with U.S.-35, 
then southwest on U.S.-35 to its junction with Butler County, NE 150th 
Street, then west on NE 150th Street until its junction with K-77, then 
south on K-77 to the Oklahoma-Kansas State line, then east along the 
Kansas-Oklahoma State line to its junction with the Missouri State 
line, then north along the Kansas-Missouri State line to its junction 
with K-68.
Nebraska
    Special Teal Season Area (south)--That portion of the State south 
of a line beginning at the Wyoming State line; east along U.S. 26 to 
Nebraska Highway L62A east to U.S. 385; south to U.S. 26; east to NE 
92; east along NE 92 to NE 61; south along NE 61 to U.S. 30; east along 
U.S. 30 to the Iowa border.
    Special Teal Season Area (north)--The remainder of the State.
    High Plains--That portion of Nebraska lying west of a line 
beginning at the South Dakota-Nebraska border on U.S. Hwy. 183; south 
on U.S. Hwy. 183 to U.S. Hwy. 20; west on U.S. Hwy. 20 to NE Hwy. 7; 
south on NE Hwy. 7 to NE Hwy. 91; southwest on NE Hwy. 91 to NE Hwy. 2; 
southeast on NE Hwy. 2 to NE Hwy. 92; west on NE Hwy. 92 to NE Hwy. 40; 
south on NE Hwy. 40 to NE Hwy. 47; south on NE Hwy. 47 to NE Hwy. 23; 
east on NE Hwy. 23 to U.S. Hwy. 283; and south on U.S. Hwy. 283 to the 
Kansas-Nebraska border.
    Zone 1--Area bounded by designated Federal and State highways and 
political boundaries beginning at the South Dakota-Nebraska border west 
of NE Hwy. 26E Spur and north of NE Hwy. 12; those portions of Dixon, 
Cedar and Knox Counties north of NE Hwy. 12; that portion of Keya Paha 
County east of U.S. Hwy. 183; and all of Boyd County. Both banks of the 
Niobrara River in Keya Paha and Boyd counties east of U.S. Hwy. 183 
shall be included in Zone 1.
    Zone 2--The area south of Zone 1 and north of Zone 3.
    Zone 3--Area bounded by designated Federal and State highways, 
County Roads, and political boundaries beginning at the Wyoming-
Nebraska border at the intersection of the Interstate Canal; east along 
northern borders of Scotts Bluff and Morrill Counties to Broadwater 
Road; south to Morrill County Rd 94; east to County Rd 135; south to 
County Rd 88; southeast to County Rd 151; south to County Rd 80; east 
to County Rd 161; south to County Rd 76; east to County Rd 165; south 
to Country Rd 167; south to U.S. Hwy. 26; east to County Rd 171; north 
to County Rd 68; east to County Rd 183; south to County Rd 64; east to 
County Rd 189; north to County Rd 70; east to County Rd 201; south to 
County Rd 60A; east to County Rd 203; south to County Rd 52; east to 
Keith County Line; east along the northern boundaries of Keith and 
Lincoln Counties to NE Hwy. 97; south to U.S. Hwy 83; south to E Hall 
School Rd; east to N Airport Road; south to U.S. Hwy. 30; east to 
Merrick County Rd 13; north to County Rd O; east to NE Hwy. 14; north 
to NE Hwy. 52; west and north to NE Hwy. 91; west to U.S. Hwy. 281; 
south to NE Hwy. 22; west to NE Hwy. 11; northwest to NE Hwy. 91; west 
to U.S. Hwy. 183; south to Round Valley Rd; west to Sargent River Rd; 
west to Sargent Rd; west to Milburn Rd; north to Blaine County Line; 
east to Loup County Line; north to NE Hwy. 91; west to North Loup Spur 
Rd; north to North Loup River Rd; east to Pleasant Valley/Worth Rd; 
east to Loup County Line; north to Loup-Brown county line; east along 
northern boundaries of Loup and Garfield Counties to Cedar River Rd; 
south to NE Hwy. 70; east to U.S. Hwy. 281; north to NE Hwy. 70; east 
to NE Hwy. 14; south to NE Hwy. 39; southeast to NE Hwy. 22; east to 
U.S. Hwy. 81; southeast to U.S. Hwy. 30; east to U.S. Hwy. 75; north to 
the Washington County line; east to the Iowa-Nebraska border; south to 
the Missouri-Nebraska border; south to Kansas-Nebraska border; west 
along Kansas-Nebraska border to Colorado-Nebraska border; north and 
west to Wyoming-Nebraska border; north to intersection of Interstate 
Canal; and excluding that area in Zone 4.
    Zone 4--Area encompassed by designated Federal and State highways 
and County Roads beginning at the intersection of NE Hwy. 8 and U.S. 
Hwy. 75; north to U.S. Hwy. 136; east to the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 
136 and the Steamboat Trace (Trace); north along the Trace to the 
intersection with Federal Levee R-562; north along Federal Levee R-562 
to the intersection with the Trace; north along the Trace/Burlington 
Northern Railroad right-of-way to NE Hwy. 2; west to U.S. Hwy. 75; 
north to NE Hwy. 2; west to NE Hwy. 43; north to U.S. Hwy. 34; east to 
NE Hwy. 63; north to NE Hwy. 66; north and west to U.S. Hwy. 77; north 
to NE Hwy. 92; west to NE Hwy. Spur 12F; south to Butler County Rd 30; 
east to County Rd X; south to County Rd 27; west to County Rd W; south 
to County Rd 26; east to County Rd X; south to County Rd 21 (Seward 
County Line); west to NE Hwy. 15; north to County Rd 34; west to County 
Rd J; south to NE Hwy. 92; west to U.S. Hwy. 81; south to NE Hwy. 66; 
west to Polk County Rd C; north to NE Hwy. 92; west to U.S. Hwy. 30; 
west to Merrick County Rd 17; south to Hordlake Road; southeast to 
Prairie Island Road; southeast to Hamilton County Rd T; south to NE 
Hwy. 66; west to NE Hwy. 14; south to County Rd 22; west to County Rd 
M; south to County Rd 21; west to County Rd K; south to U.S. Hwy. 34; 
west to NE Hwy. 2; south to U.S. Hwy. I-80; west to Gunbarrel Rd (Hall/
Hamilton county line); south to Giltner Rd; west to U.S. Hwy. 281; 
south to U.S. Hwy. 34; west to NE Hwy. 10; north to Kearney County Rd R 
and Phelps County Rd 742; west to U.S. Hwy. 283; south to U.S. Hwy 34; 
east to U.S. Hwy. 136; east to U.S. Hwy. 183; north to NE Hwy. 4; east 
to NE Hwy. 10; south to U.S. Hwy. 136; east to NE Hwy. 14; south to NE 
Hwy. 8; east to U.S. Hwy. 81; north to NE Hwy. 4; east to NE Hwy. 15; 
south to U.S. Hwy. 136; east to NE Hwy. 103; south to NE Hwy. 8; east 
to U.S. Hwy. 75.

[[Page 44598]]

New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion)
    North Zone--That portion of the State north of I-40 and U.S. 54.
    South Zone--The remainder of New Mexico.

Pacific Flyway

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

Canada Geese

Michigan
    North Zone--Same as North duck zone.
    Middle Zone--Same as Middle duck zone.
    South Zone--Same as South duck zone.
    Tuscola/Huron Goose Management Unit (GMU): Those portions of 
Tuscola and Huron Counties bounded on the south by Michigan Highway 138 
and Bay City Road, on the east by Colwood and Bay Port Roads, on the 
north by Kilmanagh Road and a line extending directly west off the end 
of Kilmanagh Road into Saginaw Bay to the west boundary, and on the 
west by the Tuscola-Bay County line and a line extending directly north 
off the end of the Tuscola-Bay County line into Saginaw Bay to the 
north boundary.
    Allegan County GMU: That area encompassed by a line beginning at 
the junction of 136th Avenue and Interstate Highway 196 in Lake Town 
Township and extending easterly along 136th Avenue to Michigan Highway 
40, southerly along Michigan 40 through the city of Allegan to 108th 
Avenue in Trowbridge Township, westerly along 108th Avenue to 46th 
Street, northerly along 46th Street to 109th Avenue, westerly along 
109th Avenue to I-196 in Casco Township, then northerly along I-196 to 
the point of beginning.
    Saginaw County GMU: That portion of Saginaw County bounded by 
Michigan Highway 46 on the north; Michigan 52 on the west; Michigan 57 
on the south; and Michigan 13 on the east.
    Muskegon Wastewater GMU: That portion of Muskegon County within the 
boundaries of the Muskegon County wastewater system, east of the 
Muskegon State Game Area, in sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 
30, and 32, T10N R14W, and sections 1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 24, and 
25, T10N R15W, as posted.
Wisconsin
    Same zones as for ducks but in addition:
    Horicon Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at the 
intersection of State 21 and the Fox River in Winnebago County and 
extending westerly along State 21 to the west boundary of Winnebago 
County, southerly along the west boundary of Winnebago County to the 
north boundary of Green Lake County, westerly along the north 
boundaries of Green Lake and Marquette Counties to State 22, southerly 
along State 22 to State 33, westerly along State 33 to I-39, southerly 
along I-39 to I-90/94, southerly along I-90/94 to State 60, easterly 
along State 60 to State 83, northerly along State 83 to State 175, 
northerly along State 175 to State 33, easterly along State 33 to U.S. 
45, northerly along U.S. 45 to the east shore of the Fond Du Lac River, 
northerly along the east shore of the Fond Du Lac River to Lake 
Winnebago, northerly along the western shoreline of Lake Winnebago to 
the Fox River, then westerly along the Fox River to State 21.
    Exterior Zone: That portion of the State not included in the 
Horicon Zone.
    Mississippi River Subzone: That area encompassed by a line 
beginning at the intersection of the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe 
Railway and the Illinois State line in Grant County and extending 
northerly along the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway to the city 
limit of Prescott in Pierce County, then west along the Prescott city 
limit to the Minnesota State line.
    Brown County Subzone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at 
the intersection of the Fox River with Green Bay in Brown County and 
extending southerly along the Fox River to State 29, northwesterly 
along State 29 to the Brown County line, south, east, and north along 
the Brown County line to Green Bay, due west to the midpoint of the 
Green Bay Ship Channel, then southwesterly along the Green Bay Ship 
Channel to the Fox River.

Sandhill Cranes

Mississippi Flyway
Minnesota
    Northwest Goose Zone--That portion of the State encompassed by a 
line extending east from the North Dakota border along U.S. Highway 2 
to State Trunk Highway (STH) 32, north along STH 32 to STH 92, east 
along STH 92

[[Page 44599]]

to County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 2 in Polk County, north along CSAH 2 
to CSAH 27 in Pennington County, north along CSAH 27 to STH 1, east 
along STH 1 to CSAH 28 in Pennington County, north along CSAH 28 to 
CSAH 54 in Marshall County, north along CSAH 54 to CSAH 9 in Roseau 
County, north along CSAH 9 to STH 11, west along STH 11 to STH 310, and 
north along STH 310 to the Manitoba border.
Tennessee
    Hunt Zone--That portion of the State south of Interstate 40 and 
east of State Highway 56.
    Closed Zone--Remainder of the State.
Central Flyway
    Colorado--The Central Flyway portion of the State except the San 
Luis Valley (Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Hinsdale, Mineral, Rio Grande, 
and Saguache Counties east of the Continental Divide) and North Park 
(Jackson County).
    Kansas--That portion of the State west of a line beginning at the 
Oklahoma border, north on I-35 to Wichita, north on I-135 to Salina, 
and north on U.S. 81 to the Nebraska border.
    Montana--The Central Flyway portion of the State except for that 
area south and west of Interstate 90, which is closed to sandhill crane 
hunting.
New Mexico
    Regular-Season Open Area--Chaves, Curry, De Baca, Eddy, Lea, Quay, 
and Roosevelt Counties.
    Middle Rio Grande Valley Area--The Central Flyway portion of New 
Mexico in Socorro and Valencia Counties.
    Estancia Valley Area--Those portions of Santa Fe, Torrance and 
Bernallilo Counties within an area bounded on the west by New Mexico 
Highway 55 beginning at Mountainair north to NM 337, north to NM 14, 
north to I-25; on the north by I-25 east to U.S. 285; on the east by 
U.S. 285 south to U.S. 60; and on the south by U.S. 60 from U.S. 285 
west to NM 55 in Mountainair.
    Southwest Zone--Area bounded on the south by the New Mexico/Mexico 
border; on the west by the New Mexico/Arizona border north to 
Interstate 10; on the north by Interstate 10 east to U.S. 180, north to 
N.M. 26, east to N.M. 27, north to N.M. 152, and east to Interstate 25; 
on the east by Interstate 25 south to Interstate 10, west to the Luna 
county line, and south to the New Mexico/Mexico border.
North Dakota
    Area 1--That portion of the State west of U.S. 281.
    Area 2--That portion of the State east of U.S. 281.
    Oklahoma--That portion of the State west of I-35.
    South Dakota--That portion of the State west of U.S. 281.
Texas
    Zone A--That portion of Texas lying west of a line beginning at the 
international toll bridge at Laredo, then northeast along U.S. Highway 
81 to its junction with Interstate Highway 35 in Laredo, then north 
along Interstate Highway 35 to its junction with Interstate Highway 10 
in San Antonio, then northwest along Interstate Highway 10 to its 
junction with U.S. Highway 83 at Junction, then north along U.S. 
Highway 83 to its junction with U.S. Highway 62, 16 miles north of 
Childress, then east along U.S. Highway 62 to the Texas-Oklahoma State 
line.
    Zone B--That portion of Texas lying within boundaries beginning at 
the junction of U.S. Highway 81 and the Texas-Oklahoma State line, then 
southeast along U.S. Highway 81 to its junction with U.S. Highway 287 
in Montague County, then southeast along U.S. Highway 287 to its 
junction with Interstate Highway 35W in Fort Worth, then southwest 
along Interstate Highway 35 to its junction with Interstate Highway 10 
in San Antonio, then northwest along Interstate Highway 10 to its 
junction with U.S. Highway 83 in the town of Junction, then north along 
U.S. Highway 83 to its junction with U.S. Highway 62, 16 miles north of 
Childress, then east along U.S. Highway 62 to the Texas-Oklahoma State 
line, then south along the Texas-Oklahoma State line to the south bank 
of the Red River, then eastward along the vegetation line on the south 
bank of the Red River to U.S. Highway 81.
    Zone C--The remainder of the State, except for the closed areas.
    Closed areas--(A) That portion of the State lying east and north of 
a line beginning at the junction of U.S. Highway 81 and the Texas-
Oklahoma State line, then southeast along U.S. Highway 81 to its 
junction with U.S. Highway 287 in Montague County, then southeast along 
U.S. Highway 287 to its junction with Interstate Highway 35W in Fort 
Worth, then southwest along Interstate Highway 35 to its junction with 
U.S. Highway 290 East in Austin, then east along U.S. Highway 290 to 
its junction with Interstate Loop 610 in Harris County, then south and 
east along Interstate Loop 610 to its junction with Interstate Highway 
45 in Houston, then south on Interstate Highway 45 to State Highway 
342, then to the shore of the Gulf of Mexico, and then north and east 
along the shore of the Gulf of Mexico to the Texas-Louisiana State 
line.
    (B) That portion of the State lying within the boundaries of a line 
beginning at the Kleberg-Nueces County line and the shore of the Gulf 
of Mexico, then west along the County line to Park Road 22 in Nueces 
County, then north and west along Park Road 22 to its junction with 
State Highway 358 in Corpus Christi, then west and north along State 
Highway 358 to its junction with State Highway 286, then north along 
State Highway 286 to its junction with Interstate Highway 37, then east 
along Interstate Highway 37 to its junction with U.S. Highway 181, then 
north and west along U.S. Highway 181 to its junction with U.S. Highway 
77 in Sinton, then north and east along U.S. Highway 77 to its junction 
with U.S. Highway 87 in Victoria, then south and east along U.S. 
Highway 87 to its junction with State Highway 35 at Port Lavaca, then 
north and east along State Highway 35 to the south end of the Lavaca 
Bay Causeway, then south and east along the shore of Lavaca Bay to its 
junction with the Port Lavaca Ship Channel, then south and east along 
the Lavaca Bay Ship Channel to the Gulf of Mexico, and then south and 
west along the shore of the Gulf of Mexico to the Kleberg-Nueces County 
line.
Wyoming
    Regular Season Open Area-- Campbell, Converse, Crook, Goshen, 
Laramie, Niobrara, Platte, and Weston Counties.
    Riverton-Boysen Unit--Portions of Fremont County.
    Park and Big Horn County Unit--All of Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park 
and Washakie Counties.
Pacific Flyway
Arizona
    Special Season Area--Game Management Units 28, 30A, 30B, 31, and 
32.
Idaho
    Special Season Area--See State regulations.
Montana
    Special Season Area--See State regulations.
Utah
    Special Season Area--Rich, Cache, and Unitah Counties and that 
portion of Box Elder County beginning on the Utah-Idaho State line at 
the Box Elder-Cache County line; west on the State line to the 
Pocatello Valley County Road; south on the Pocatello Valley County Road 
to I-15; southeast on I-15

[[Page 44600]]

to SR-83; south on SR-83 to Lamp Junction; west and south on the 
Promontory Point County Road to the tip of Promontory Point; south from 
Promontory Point to the Box Elder-Weber County line; east on the Box 
Elder-Weber County line to the Box Elder-Cache County line; north on 
the Box Elder-Cache County line to the Utah-Idaho State line.
Wyoming
    Bear River Area--That portion of Lincoln County described in State 
regulations.
    Salt River Area--That portion of Lincoln County described in State 
regulations.
    Farson-Eden Area--Those portions of Sweetwater and Sublette 
Counties described in State regulations.
    Uinta County Area--That portion of Uinta County described in State 
regulations.

All Migratory Game Birds in Alaska

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

All Migratory Game Birds in the Virgin Islands

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

All Migratory Game Birds in Puerto Rico

    Municipality of Culebra Closure Area--All of the municipality of 
Culebra.
    Desecheo Island Closure Area--All of Desecheo Island.
    Mona Island Closure Area--All of Mona Island.
    El Verde Closure Area--Those areas of the municipalities of Rio 
Grande and Loiza delineated as follows: (1) All lands between Routes 
956 on the west and 186 on the east, from Route 3 on the north to the 
juncture of Routes 956 and 186 (Km 13.2) in the south; (2) all lands 
between Routes 186 and 966 from the juncture of 186 and 966 on the 
north, to the Caribbean National Forest Boundary on the south; (3) all 
lands lying west of Route 186 for 1 kilometer from the juncture of 
Routes 186 and 956 south to Km 6 on Route 186; (4) all lands within Km 
14 and Km 6 on the west and the Caribbean National Forest Boundary on 
the east; and (5) all lands within the Caribbean National Forest 
Boundary whether private or public.
    Cidra Municipality and adjacent areas--All of Cidra Municipality 
and portions of Aguas Buenas, Caguas, Cayey, and Comerio Municipalities 
as encompassed within the following boundary: Beginning on Highway 172 
as it leaves the municipality of Cidra on the west edge, north to 
Highway 156, east on Highway 156 to Highway 1, south on Highway 1 to 
Highway 765, south on Highway 765 to Highway 763, south on Highway 763 
to the Rio Guavate, west along Rio Guavate to Highway 1, southwest on 
Highway 1 to Highway 14, west on Highway 14 to Highway 729, north on 
Highway 729 to Cidra Municipality boundary to the point of the 
beginning.
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

[[Page 44601]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP31JY14.005

[FR Doc. 2014-17569 Filed 7-30-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-C