Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed Frameworks for Late-Season Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations, 50511-50536 [2014-19855]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 163 (Friday, August 22, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50511-50536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19855]



[[Page 50511]]

Vol. 79

Friday,

No. 163

August 22, 2014

Part IV





Department of the Interior





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Fish and Wildlife Service





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50 CFR Part 20





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

Federal Register / Vol. 79 , No. 163 / Friday, August 22, 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 Late-Season 
Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; Supplemental.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter Service or we) is 
proposing to establish the 2014-15 late-season hunting regulations for 
certain migratory game birds. We annually prescribe frameworks, or 
outer limits, for dates and times when hunting may occur and the number 
of birds that may be taken and possessed in late seasons. These 
frameworks are necessary to allow State selections of seasons and 
limits and to allow recreational harvest at levels compatible with 
population and habitat conditions.

DATES: You must submit comments on the proposed migratory bird hunting 
late-season frameworks by September 2, 2014.

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 and Flyway Council 
Recommendations section, below, for more information).

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 proposed 2014-15 regulatory 
schedule and announced the Service Regulations Committee (SRC) and 
Flyway Council meetings.
    On June 25-26, 2014, we held open meetings with the Flyway Council 
Consultants, at which the participants reviewed information on the 
current status of migratory shore and upland game birds and developed 
recommendations for the 2014-15 regulations for these species plus 
regulations for migratory game birds in Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the 
Virgin Islands; special September waterfowl seasons in designated 
States; special sea duck seasons in the Atlantic Flyway; and extended 
falconry seasons. In addition, we reviewed and discussed preliminary 
information on the status of waterfowl as it relates to the development 
and selection of the regulatory packages for the 2014-15 regular 
waterfowl seasons.
    On July 31, 2014, we published in the Federal Register (79 FR 
44580) a third document specifically dealing with the proposed 
frameworks for early-season regulations. In late August 2014, we will 
publish a rulemaking establishing final frameworks for early-season 
migratory bird hunting regulations for the 2014-15 season.
    On July 30-31, 2014, we held open meetings with the Flyway Council 
Consultants, at which the participants reviewed the status of waterfowl 
and developed recommendations for the 2014-15 regulations for these 
species.
    This document deals specifically with proposed frameworks for the 
late-season migratory bird hunting regulations. It will lead to final 
frameworks from which States may select season dates, shooting hours, 
areas, and limits.
    We have considered all pertinent comments received through August 
1, 2014, on the April 30 and June 4, 2014, rulemaking documents in 
developing this document. In addition, new proposals for certain late-
season regulations are provided for public comment. The comment period 
is specified above under DATES. We will publish final regulatory 
frameworks for late-season migratory game bird hunting in the Federal 
Register on or around September 20, 2014.

Population Status and Harvest

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

[[Page 50513]]

INFORMATION CONTACT or from our Web site at https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewsPublicationsReports.html.

Waterfowl Breeding and Habitat Survey

    Federal, provincial, and State agencies conduct surveys each spring 
to estimate the size of breeding populations and to evaluate the 
conditions of the habitats. These surveys are conducted using fixed-
wing aircraft, helicopters, and ground crews and encompass principal 
breeding areas of North America, covering an area over 2.0 million 
square miles. The traditional survey area comprises Alaska, Canada, and 
the northcentral United States, and includes approximately 1.3 million 
square miles. The eastern survey area includes parts of Ontario, 
Quebec, Labrador, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New 
Brunswick, New York, and Maine, an area of approximately 0.7 million 
square miles.
    Overall, 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. 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 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). Additional details of the 
2013 Survey were provided in the July 31 Federal Register and are 
available from our Web site at https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewsPublicationsReports.html.
Breeding Population Status
    In the traditional survey area, which includes strata 1-18, 20-50, 
and 75-77, the total duck population estimate (excluding scoters 
[Melanitta spp.], eiders [Somateria spp. and Polysticta stelleri], 
long-tailed ducks [Clangula hyemalis], mergansers [Mergus spp. and 
Lophodytes cucullatus], and wood ducks [Aix sponsa]) was 49.2  0.8 [SE] million birds. This was a record-high count, represents 
an 8 percent increase from last year's estimate of 45.6  
0.7 million, and is 43 percent higher than the long-term average (1955-
2013). Estimated mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) abundance was 10.9  0.3 million, which was similar to the 2013 estimate, and 42 
percent above the long-term average of 7.7  0.04 million. 
Estimated abundance of gadwall (A. strepera; 3.8  0.2 
million) was similar to the 2013 estimate and 102 percent above the 
long-term average (1.9  0.02 million). The estimate for 
American wigeon (A. americana; 3.1  0.2 million) was 18 
percent above the 2013 estimate of 2.6  0.2 million and 20 
percent above the long-term average of 2.6  0.02 million. 
The estimated abundance of green-winged teal (A. crecca) was 3.4  0.2 million, which was similar to the 2013 estimate and 69 
percent above the long-term average (2.0  0.02 million). 
The estimate for blue-winged teal (A. discors; 8.5  0.5 
million) was similar to the 2013 estimate and 75 percent above the 
long-term average of 4.9  0.04 million. The estimate for 
northern shoveler (A. clypeata; 5.3  0.3 million) was a 
record high, but statistically similar to the 2013 estimate and 114 
percent above the long-term average of 2.5  0.02 million. 
The northern pintail estimate (A. acuta; 3.2  0.2 million) 
was similar to the 2013 estimate and was 20 percent below the long-term 
average of 4.0  0.04 million. Abundance estimates of 
redheads (Aythya americana; 1.3  0.1 million) and 
canvasbacks (A. valisineria; 0.7  0.05 million) were 
similar to their 2013 estimates and were 85 percent and 18 percent 
above their long-term averages of 0.7  0.01 million and 0.6 
 0.01 million, respectively. Estimated abundance of scaup 
(A. affinis and A. marila combined; 4.6  0.3 million) was 
similar to the 2013 estimate and the long-term average of 5.0  0.05 million.
    The eastern survey area was restratified in 2005, and is now 
composed of strata 51-72. In the eastern survey area, estimated 
abundance of American black ducks (Anas rubripes) was 0.6  
.04 million, which was similar to the 2013 estimate and the 1990-2013 
average. The estimated abundance of mallards was 0.4  0.1 
million, which was similar to the 2013 estimate and the 1990-2013 
average. Abundance estimates of green-winged teal (0.2  
0.04 million) and ring-necked ducks (Aythya collaris; 0.5  
0.1 million) were 19 percent and 22 percent below their 2013 estimates, 
and similar to their 1990-2013 averages, respectively. Abundance 
estimates for goldeneyes (common [Bucephala clangula] and Barrow's [B. 
islandica] combined) and mergansers were similar to last year's 
estimates and their 1990-2013 averages.
Fall Flight Estimate
    The midcontinent mallard population is composed of mallards from 
the traditional survey area (revised in 2008 to exclude mallards in 
Alaska and the Old Crow Flats area of the Yukon Territory), Michigan, 
Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and is estimated to be 13.4  1.3 
million birds in 2014. This is similar to the 2013 estimate of 13.1 
 1.2 million. See section 1.A. General Harvest Strategy for 
further discussion of the implications of this information for this 
year's selection of the appropriate hunting regulations.

Status of Geese and Swans

    We provide information on the population status and productivity of 
North American Canada geese (Branta canadensis), brant (B. bernicla), 
snow geese (Chen caerulescens), Ross's geese (C. rossii), emperor geese 
(C. canagica), white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons), and tundra swans 
(Cygnus columbianus). Production of arctic-nesting geese depends 
heavily upon the timing of snow and ice melt, and spring and early 
summer temperatures.
    In 2014, conditions in the arctic and boreal areas important for 
geese were variable. Conditions in the north-central Arctic were very 
poor for nesting as spring was very late, with snow cover persisting 
into July. By contrast, spring was early in many of the more southern 
regions in the Central Arctic. At Karrak Lake on the Queen Maude Gulf, 
ice break-up was 14 days earlier than average, so biologists expected 
above-average production by the snow and Ross's geese, and Mid-
continent white-fronted geese that nest there. Conditions in many areas 
of the eastern Arctic were favorable for breeding waterfowl. Spring 
phenology was early on Southampton and Bylot Islands, and excellent 
production by the greater snow geese that nest on Bylot was expected. 
Spring was slightly early on the Ungava Peninsula, and biologists 
predicted slightly above-average production of the Atlantic Population 
Canada geese that nest there. Spring was cold and wet in Newfoundland 
and Labrador, but the timing of nesting was normal, and the outlook for 
production of North Atlantic Population Canada geese was good. Alaska 
experienced a very early, warm spring, with little or no flooding, so 
the outlook for the many goose and swan populations nesting there was 
excellent. The favorable conditions on Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta 
(YKD) were a welcome contrast to 2013, when a late

[[Page 50514]]

ice break-up and a storm-surge flood made for very poor production. 
Predicted production of Emperor geese, cackling Canada geese, and 
white-fronted geese should be much improved in 2014. On the Copper 
River Delta, the early phenology and the highest dusky Canada goose 
index in 20 years suggests an excellent year for this population. Of 
the Canada goose populations that migrate to the Mississippi Flyway, 
predicted production was above-average for the Eastern Prairie 
Population, but below-average for the Mississippi Valley and the 
Southern James Bay populations, the latter for the second year in a 
row. Indices of wetland abundance in the Canadian and U.S. prairies in 
2014 continued to improve, with the exception of the eastern two-thirds 
of South Dakota and the Red River Valley in North Dakota. Although 
early spring was cold and wet in many goose nesting areas of the United 
States, the outlook for production was generally good. Breeding 
populations of most temperate-nesting geese remained high in 2014, 
despite efforts to reduce or stabilize them. Production and fall 
flights of temperate-nesting Canada geese over most of North America 
should be average in 2014.
    Primary abundance indices increased for 9 goose populations and 
decreased for 11 goose populations in 2014 compared to 2013. Primary 
abundance indices for both populations of tundra swans (Eastern and 
Western) decreased in 2014 from 2013 levels. The following populations 
displayed significant positive trends during the most recent 10-year 
period (P < 0.05): Central Flyway Arctic Nesting--West Tier (formerly 
Short Grass Prairie), North Atlantic, and Aleutian Canada geese; Mid-
continent, Western Central Flyway, and Western Arctic/Wrangel Island 
light geese; Eastern Population tundra swans; and the Pacific 
population of white-fronted geese. Only Atlantic Flyway Resident (AFRP) 
and Central Flyway Arctic Nesting--West Tier (formerly Tall Grass 
Prairie) Canada geese showed significantly negative 10-year trends. The 
forecast for the production of geese and swans in North America is 
variable, depending on the population and its breeding area.

Waterfowl Harvest and Hunter Activity

    National surveys of migratory bird hunters were conducted during 
the 2012-13 and 2013-14 hunting seasons. Over 1.1 million waterfowl 
hunters harvested 15,704,500 (6 percent) ducks and 
3,191,200 (6 percent) geese in 2012, and about 1 million 
waterfowl hunters harvested 13,716,400 (6 percent) ducks 
and 3,360,400 (6 percent) geese during the 2013-14 season. 
Mallard, green-winged teal, gadwall, blue-winged, and wood duck (Aix 
sponsa) were the 5 most-harvested duck species in the United States, 
and Canada goose was the predominant species in the goose harvest.

Review of Public Comments and Flyway Council Recommendations

    The preliminary proposed rulemaking, which appeared in the April 
30, 2014, Federal Register, opened the public comment period for 
migratory game bird hunting regulations. The supplemental proposed 
rule, which appeared in the June 4, 2014, Federal Register, discussed 
the regulatory alternatives for the 2014-15 duck hunting season. Late-
season comments are summarized below and numbered in the order used in 
the June 4 Federal Register. We have included only the numbered items 
pertaining to late-season issues for which we received written 
comments. Consequently, the issues do not follow in successive 
numerical 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 and June 4, 2014, Federal Register documents.

General

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

1. Ducks

    Categories used to discuss issues related to duck harvest 
management are: (A) General Harvest Strategy, (B) Regulatory 
Alternatives, (C) Zones and Split Seasons, and (D) Special Seasons/
Species Management. The categories correspond to previously published 
issues/discussion, and only those containing substantial 
recommendations are discussed below.
A. General Harvest Strategy
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and 
Pacific Flyway Councils recommended the adoption of the ``liberal'' 
regulatory alternative.
    Service Response: We continue to use adaptive harvest management 
(AHM) protocols that allow hunting regulations to vary among Flyways in 
a manner that recognizes each Flyway's breeding-ground derivation of 
mallards. In 2008, we described and adopted a protocol for regulatory 
decision-making for the newly defined stock of western mallards (73 FR 
43290; July 24, 2008). For the 2014 hunting season, we continue to 
believe that the prescribed regulatory choice for the Pacific Flyway 
should be based on the status of this western mallard breeding stock, 
while the regulatory choice for the Mississippi and Central Flyways 
should depend on the status of the redefined mid-continent mallard 
stock. We also recommend that the regulatory choice for the Atlantic 
Flyway continue to depend on the status of eastern mallards.
    For the 2014 hunting season, we are continuing to consider the same 
regulatory alternatives as those used last year. The nature of the 
``restrictive,'' ``moderate,'' and ``liberal'' alternatives has 
remained essentially unchanged

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since 1997, except that extended framework dates have been offered in 
the ``moderate'' and ``liberal'' regulatory alternatives since 2002 (67 
FR 47224; July 17, 2002). Also, in 2003, we agreed to place a 
constraint on closed seasons in the Mississippi and Central Flyways 
whenever the midcontinent mallard breeding-population size (as defined 
prior to 2008; traditional survey area plus Minnesota, Michigan, and 
Wisconsin) was >= 5.5 million (68 FR 37362; June 23, 2003). This 
constraint subsequently was revised in 2008 to >= 4.75 million to 
account for the change in the definition of midcontinent mallards to 
exclude birds from Alaska and the Old Crow Flats area of the Yukon 
Territory (73 FR 43293; July 24, 2008).
    The optimal AHM strategies for midcontinent and western mallards 
for the 2014-15 hunting season were calculated using: (1) Harvest-
management objectives specific to each mallard stock; (2) the 2014 
regulatory alternatives; and (3) current population models and 
associated weights for midcontinent and western mallards. Based on this 
year's survey results of 11.04 million midcontinent mallards 
(traditional survey area minus Alaska and the Old Crow Flats area of 
the Yukon Territory, plus Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan) and 4.63 
million ponds in Prairie Canada, the prescribed regulatory choice for 
the Mississippi and Central Flyways is the ``liberal'' alternative. 
Similarly, based on an estimated 0.82 million western mallards (0.32 in 
California-Oregon and 0.50 in Alaska) the prescribed regulatory 
alternative in the Pacific Flyway is also ``liberal.''
    In 2013, mechanical problems and corresponding safety concerns with 
Service aircraft limited survey coverage, which precluded our ability 
to estimate breeding population sizes for the eastern strata of the 
Waterfowl Breeding and Population Habitat Survey (WBPHS). As a result, 
we were unable to update eastern mallard AHM model weights and derive 
an optimal harvest policy for 2014. Therefore, the 2014 eastern mallard 
AHM decision will be based on the 2014 eastern mallard population 
estimate and the optimal regulatory strategy derived for the Atlantic 
Flyway in 2012. Based on an estimated eastern mallard population of 
0.86 million (0.22 and 0.63 million respectively in northeast Canada 
and the northeastern United States), the prescribed regulatory choice 
for the Atlantic Flyway is the ``liberal'' alternative. We note that in 
2012, the eastern mallard observed breeding population was 0.84 
million.
    Therefore, we concur with the recommendations of the Atlantic, 
Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils regarding selection 
of the ``liberal'' regulatory alternative and propose to adopt the 
``liberal'' regulatory alternative, as described in the June 4, 2014, 
Federal Register.
D. Special Seasons/Species Management
iii. Black Ducks
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway 
Councils recommended that the Service follow the International Black 
Duck AHM Strategy for 2014-15.
    Service Response: In 2012, we adopted the International Black Duck 
AHM Strategy (77 FR 49868; August 17, 2012). The formal strategy is the 
result of 14 years of technical and policy decisions developed and 
agreed upon by both Canadian and U.S. agencies and waterfowl managers. 
The strategy clarifies what harvest levels each country will manage for 
and reduces conflicts over country-specific regulatory policies. 
Further, the strategy allows for attainment of fundamental objectives 
of black duck management: resource conservation, perpetuation of 
hunting tradition, and equitable access to the black duck resource 
between Canada and the United States while accommodating the 
fundamental sources of uncertainty, partial controllability and 
observability, structural uncertainty, and environmental variation. The 
underlying model performance is assessed annually, with a comprehensive 
evaluation of the entire strategy (objectives and model set) planned 
after 6 years. A copy of the strategy is available at the address 
indicated under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, or from our Web site 
at https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewsPublicationsReports.html.
    For the 2014-15 season, the optimal country-specific regulatory 
strategies were calculated in September 2013 using: (1) The black duck 
harvest objective (98 percent of long-term cumulative harvest); (2) 
2014-15 country specific regulatory alternatives; (3) parameter 
estimates for mallard competition and additive mortality; and (4) 2013 
estimates of 0.62 million breeding black ducks and 0.50 million 
breeding mallards in the core survey area. The optimal regulatory 
choices are the moderate package in Canada and the restrictive package 
in the United States.
iv. Canvasbacks
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and 
Pacific Flyway Councils recommended a full season for canvasbacks with 
a 1-bird daily bag limit. Season lengths would be 60 days in the 
Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, 74 days in the Central Flyway, and 
107 days in the Pacific Flyway.
    Service Response: Since 1994, we have followed a canvasback harvest 
strategy whereby if canvasback population status and production are 
sufficient to permit a harvest of one canvasback per day nationwide for 
the entire length of the regular duck season, while still attaining an 
objective of 500,000 birds the following spring, the season on 
canvasbacks should be opened. A partial season would be permitted if 
the estimated allowable harvest was below that associated with a 1-bird 
daily bag limit for the entire season. If neither of these conditions 
can be met, the harvest strategy calls for a closed season on 
canvasbacks nationwide. In 2008 (73 FR 43290; July 24, 2008), we 
announced our decision to modify the canvasback harvest strategy to 
incorporate the option for a 2-bird daily bag limit for canvasbacks 
when the predicted breeding population the subsequent year exceeds 
725,000 birds.
    This year's spring survey resulted in an estimate of 685,000 
canvasbacks. This was similar to the 2013 estimate of 787,000 
canvasbacks and 18 percent above the 1955-2013 average. The estimate of 
ponds in Prairie Canada was 4.6 million, which was also similar to last 
year's estimate of 4.6 million and 33 percent above the long-term 
average. Based on harvest predictions using data through 2009, the 
canvasback harvest strategy predicts a 2015 canvasback population of 
730,600 birds under a liberal duck season with a 1-bird daily bag limit 
and 671,000 with a 2-bird daily bag limit. Because the predicted 2015 
spring canvasback population under a ``liberal'' 1-bird bag season is 
greater than 500,000, and the predicted population under a ``liberal'' 
2-bird bag is less than 725,000, and since the recommended duck season 
under AHM is ``liberal,'' the harvest strategy stipulates that there 
should be a full canvasback season with a 1-bird daily bag limit.
v. Pintails
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and 
Pacific Flyway Councils recommended a full season for pintails, 
consisting of a 2-bird daily bag limit and a 60-day season in the 
Atlantic and Mississippi

[[Page 50516]]

Flyways, a 74-day season in the Central Flyway, and a 107-day season in 
the Pacific Flyway.
    Service Response: The current derived pintail harvest strategy was 
adopted by the Service and Flyway Councils in 2010 (75 FR 44856; July 
29, 2010). For this year, an optimal regulatory strategy for pintails 
was calculated with: (1) An objective of maximizing long-term 
cumulative harvest, including a closed-season constraint of 1.75 
million birds; (2) the regulatory alternatives and associated predicted 
harvest; and (3) current population models and their relative weights. 
Based on this year's survey results of 3.22 million pintails observed 
at a mean latitude of 53.9 degrees and a latitude-adjusted breeding 
population of 3.79 million birds, the optimal regulatory choice for all 
four Flyways is the ``liberal'' alternative with a 2-bird daily bag 
limit.
vi. Scaup
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and 
Pacific Flyway Councils recommended use of the ``moderate'' regulation 
package, consisting of a 60-day season with a 2-bird daily bag in the 
Atlantic Flyway, and an 86-day season with a 3-bird daily bag limit in 
the Pacific Flyway.
    Service Response: In 2008, we adopted and implemented a new scaup 
harvest strategy (73 FR 43290 on July 24, 2008, and 73 FR 51124 on 
August 29, 2008) with initial ``restrictive,'' ``moderate,'' and 
``liberal'' regulatory packages adopted for each Flyway.
    The 2014 breeding population estimate for scaup is 4.61 million, 
which is similar to the 2013 estimate of 4.17 million. Total estimated 
U.S. scaup harvest for the 2013-14 season was 0.33 million birds. An 
optimal regulatory strategy for scaup was calculated with an objective 
of achieving 95 percent of maximum long-term cumulative harvest and 
updated model parameters and their relative weights. Based on this 
year's breeding population estimate of 4.61 million, the optimal 
regulatory choice for scaup is the ``moderate'' package in all four 
Flyways.
xi. Other
    Council Recommendations: The Central Flyway Council recommended 
that two additional (bonus) 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 Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
    The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended that two additional teal 
(blue-winged, green-winged, and cinnamon teal collectively) be allowed 
in the daily duck bag for the first 16 days of the regular duck season 
in the production States of Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. 
Impacts of both of these changes 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 . . .'' The recent assessment of teal harvest 
potential indicated additional harvest for this species can be 
supported in most years, 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. Thus, we support the Central Flyway Council's 
recommendation to include bonus blue-winged teal in the regular season 
daily duck bag limit. We will work with the Flyway to develop 
appropriate evaluation techniques to monitor any potential effects.
    We do not support the Mississippi Flyway Council's recommendation 
to include all teal in the bonus bag limit. We have clearly stated that 
the focus of additional teal harvest should be directed at blue-winged 
teal, and do not support new special regulations that would target 
other species of waterfowl, including the other teal species. Although 
the teal harvest potential assessment indicated some additional harvest 
opportunity exists for both blue-winged and green-winged teal, the 
amount of additional opportunity for green-winged teal appears to be 
much lower than for blue-winged teal. For blue-winged teal, the optimal 
harvest rates predicted for the additive model were about 2-2.5 times 
higher than observed harvest rates, but the optimal harvest rate for 
green-winged teal was only 1.3-1.5 times higher than observed rates, 
suggesting less room for additional harvest opportunity for green-
winged teal. Furthermore, the models used to assess the impacts of 
harvest on green-winged teal population size did not perform as well as 
the models used for blue-winged teal. Thus, we have less confidence in 
the results for green-winged teal. Improving the predictive ability of 
the green-winged teal models would require improvements to monitoring 
programs (e.g., banding, harvest, and/or abundance monitoring) beyond 
those that currently exist. Data were insufficient to assess the 
harvest potential for cinnamon teal.
    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 and Mississippi 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, this 
regulation would be available only to the States of Iowa, Michigan, 
Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
    During the next 3 years, no additional expansion of teal hunting 
opportunity will be allowed. This will ensure that an evaluation of 
recently enacted additional teal hunting opportunities 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, adequate 
evaluations of the effects of the additional harvest associated with 
the bonus bag limit on the status of the species, 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.
    We prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the new teal 
hunting opportunities. Specifics of the five alternatives we analyzed 
and a copy of the EA can be found on our Web site at https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds, or at https://www.regulations.gov.

4. Canada Geese

B. Regular Seasons
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 
that regulations for the North Atlantic Population of Canada geese 
(NAP) be liberalized per the NAP Canada Goose Management Plan and Hunt 
Strategy. The ``liberal'' season option would consist of a 70-day 
season with a 3-bird

[[Page 50517]]

daily bag limit and a framework between October 1 and February 15 for 
the high- and low-harvest NAP areas. The Council also recommended that 
the size of the closed area surrounding Santee National Wildlife Refuge 
and lands in close proximity to the refuge be reduced beginning with 
the 2014-15 hunting season. The area removed from the closed area would 
be managed as an Atlantic Flyway Resident Population harvest area with 
an 80-day season and 5-bird daily bag limit.
    The Pacific Flyway Council recommended several changes to dark 
goose season frameworks:
    1. Simplify goose frameworks in the Pacific Flyway by combining 
interior and coastal States frameworks into single frameworks for 
Canada geese and brant, white-fronted geese, and light geese. This 
would include:
    a. Increasing the season length for Canada geese in California, 
Oregon, and Washington from 100 to 107 days; and
    b. Changing the framework opening date for geese in California, 
Oregon, and Washington from the Saturday closest to October 1 to the 
Saturday closest to September 24.
    2. In California, increase the bag limit for Canada geese from 4 to 
10 per day, and in those zones where exceptions exist, increase the 
Canada goose bag limit from 6 to 10 per day.
    3. In Oregon, increase the bag limit for Canada geese in the South 
Coast Zone on hunt days on or before the last Sunday in January from 4 
to 6 per day.
    4. In Oregon, remove bag limit restrictions for cackling and 
Aleutian geese in the Northwest and Northwest Special Permit Zones of 
not more than 3 per day within the overall Canada goose daily bag 
limit.
    5. In Washington, remove the bag limit restriction for cackling 
geese in Area 2A and 2B (Southwest Washington Permit Zone) of not more 
than 3 per day within the overall Canada goose daily bag limit.
    6. In Oregon and Washington, increase dusky Canada goose quotas 
from 90 to 165 geese in the Northwest Special Permit Zone of Oregon, 
and from 45 to 85 geese in Area 2A and 2B of Washington (Southwest 
Washington Permit Zone).
    7. In Utah, Nevada, and Arizona, increase the daily bag limit from 
3 to 4 Canada geese and brant, singly or in the aggregate.
    8. In Utah, modify the Northern Utah Zone to include the Locomotive 
State Wildlife Area and adjacent areas which were previously in the 
Remainder of State Zone.
    9. In Utah, modify the descriptions of the Wasatch Front Zone and 
the Remainder of State Zone so that the Wasatch Front Zone is described 
by roads instead of county boundaries.
    Service Response: We agree with the Atlantic Flyway Council's 
recommendation concerning liberalization of the frameworks for NAP 
geese. The 3-year NAP breeding population mean (65,344) is above the 
2001-05 level of 59,994 needed for liberalization. Further, the NAP 
breeding population has been slowly increasing for the past 5 years and 
NAP harvest in the United States is buffered to a large extent by the 
Atlantic Flyway Resident Population (AFRP). We also support the 
Council's recommendation to reduce the closed area in South Carolina. 
The proposed reduction in the size of the closed area should continue 
to provide adequate protection for migrant Canada goose stocks 
associated with this area. Further, opening up some new areas to goose 
hunting will provide additional harvest opportunity to control abundant 
AFRP Canada geese.
    We support the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendations to increase 
the basic season length in California, Oregon, and Washington from 100 
to 107 days, and to change the framework opening date in California, 
Oregon, and Washington. These recommendations are intended to simplify 
frameworks by establishing consistency in season lengths and opening 
dates for Canada goose, light goose, and white-fronted goose seasons 
throughout the Pacific Flyway south of Alaska. We do not expect the 
increased season length to significantly increase harvest as many areas 
in these States already have exceptions for a 107-day season length, or 
have combinations of youth hunting days, September seasons, and regular 
seasons which total 107 days.
    We also support the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation to 
increase the daily bag limit in California from 4 or 6, depending on 
the zone, to 10 per day. Aleutian, cackling, and western Canada geese 
represent the primary Canada goose populations inhabiting California, 
and are currently over population objectives identified in Flyway 
management plans. The current 3-year (2012-2014) average estimated 
number of Aleutian Canada geese is 145,780, well above the population 
objective of 60,000 geese. The current 3-year (2012-2014) average 
population estimate for cackling Canada geese is 265,281, and exceeds 
the population objective of 250,000 geese. Also, the 3-year (2012-2014) 
average population estimate for the Pacific population of western 
Canada geese is 249,890, and is nearly double the objective of 126,650 
geese. However, the Flyway management plan indicates that the western 
Canada goose population segment (flock) objective for the California 
reference area is between 1,000 and 1,250 nesting pairs. The 
traditional survey area in the northeast portion of the California 
reference area indicates only 588 nesting pairs, but a broader survey 
over the California reference area indicates a current 3-year average 
breeding population estimate of 47,128 geese. We note that California 
has maintained more restrictive regulations in their Northeast Zone to 
protect the breeding population of western Canada geese there. While we 
support the recommendation, we also believe the Flyway management plan 
for the Pacific population of western Canada geese should be revised by 
2016 to update the population objective if necessary and clarify the 
metric used to index the status of this population and prescribe 
harvest management regulations.
    With regard to the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation to 
increase the daily bag limit in Oregon's South Coast Zone on hunt days 
on or before the last Sunday in January from 4 to 6 per day, we concur. 
We note that Oregon's South Coast Zone daily bag limit is already 6 
Canada geese after the last Sunday in January. Increased bag limits in 
Oregon's South Coast Zone are intended to increase harvest rates of 
Aleutian Canada geese, which exceed the Flyway population objective by 
more than two times.
    We also support the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendations to 
remove the daily bag limit restrictions specific to cackling and 
Aleutian Canada geese in Oregon's Northwest and Northwest Special 
Permit Zones of not more than 3 per day, and to remove the daily bag 
limit restriction specific to cackling Canada geese in Washington's 
Area 2A and 2B (Southwest Permit Zone) of not more than 3 per day 
within the basic daily bag limit of 4 Canada geese per day in these 
areas. As previously noted, the Aleutian Canada goose population is 
currently more than 2 times over the Flyway population objective, and 
the cackling Canada goose population also exceeds the Flyway population 
objective. The bag limit increases are intended to increase harvest 
rates of cackling Canada geese and address agricultural damage issues 
in Oregon and Washington. However, we note that long-term solutions to 
agricultural depredation issues will not be completely addressed 
through harvest regulations. Thus, we encourage the States in the 
Pacific Flyway to continue to work toward implementing other approaches 
for reducing agricultural

[[Page 50518]]

depredation as detailed in the Flyway's Canada goose depredation plan.
    We also support the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation to 
increase the dusky Canada goose quotas from 90 to 165 in Oregon's 
Northwest Special Permit Zone, and 45 to 85 in Washington's Area 2A and 
2B (Southwest Permit Zone). The Flyway's dusky Canada goose management 
plan specifies that Oregon's and Washington's harvest quotas will 
increase from 90 and 45 to 165 and 85, respectively, when the 3-year 
average population of dusky Canada geese exceeds 12,500 (Action level 
1). The most current 3-year average population (2011-2014, no estimate 
was available in 2013) is 13,678. We do not expect change in the quotas 
to result in increased goose harvest. Oregon and Washington rarely 
exceed sub-area dusky quotas and do not exceed the current lower 
quotas. The status of dusky Canada geese continues to be a matter of 
concern and harvest restrictions have been in place to protect these 
geese throughout their range since the 1970's. We continue to support 
the harvest strategy described in the Flyway management plan for this 
population.
    We also support the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation to 
increase the daily Canada goose and brant bag limit from 3 to 4 singly 
or in the aggregate in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. State restrictions 
have been imposed in those 3 States to help establish and build 
breeding population segments (flocks) identified by State reference 
areas in the Flyway management plan. However, the current 3-year 
average population estimate (2012-14) for the Rocky Mountain population 
of western Canada geese is 144,255, which is substantially above the 
Flyway population objective of 117,000 geese. The management plan for 
this population indicates that when the most recent 3-year average 
breeding population index is between 87,825 and 117,000 geese, minor 
harvest adjustments may be made for individual flocks and reference 
areas. Removal of the daily bag limit restrictions in Arizona, Nevada, 
and Utah will make their Canada goose bag limits the same as those in 
other interior Pacific Flyway States (Colorado, Idaho, and Montana), 
resulting in greater consistency throughout the Flyway.
    Lastly, we support the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendations to 
modify Utah's Northern Utah Zone and to modify the descriptions of 
Utah's Wasatch Front Zone and the Remainder of State Zone. The proposed 
modifications would result in consistent regulations on other nearby 
wildlife management areas in the Northern Utah Zone, and we do not 
expect that this change would have any impact on goose harvest. Also, 
some hunters have had difficulty determining the boundary for the 
Wasatch Front Zone because the zone was defined based on county lines, 
which do not necessarily follow visible landmarks. This change in 
boundary description is more easily identifiable based on visible 
landmarks and should reduce uncertainty by sportsmen when afield.

5. White-Fronted Geese

    Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended 
increasing the daily bag limit from 6 to 10 per day in the Pacific 
Flyway except in Alaska, and expanding the framework opening outside 
dates in California, Oregon, and Washington from the Saturday closest 
to October 1 to the Saturday closest to September 24.
    Service Response: We support the Pacific Flyway Council's 
recommendations. The current 3-year average population estimate (2012-
14) for Pacific white-fronted geese is 627,108, which is substantially 
above the Flyway population objective of 300,000 geese. Further, the 
population has shown an upward trend for nearly the last 30 years. As 
the number of Pacific white-fronted geese has increased, so have 
complaints of agricultural damage on wintering and staging areas. The 
bag limit increase should allow additional harvest of Pacific white-
fronted geese while maintaining traditional Canada goose hunting 
opportunities. We do not expect a significant increase in Tule white-
fronted goose harvest with the proposed bag limit increase as more 
restrictive frameworks remain in place in the Pacific Flyway to 
restrict harvest of Tule white-fronted geese (for example, California's 
Sacramento Valley Special Management Area). Population estimates for 
Tule white-fronted geese indicate a stable population, and the current 
3-year average population estimate (2012-14) is approximately 10,000 
geese. While the Special Management Area is in place to restrict the 
harvest of Tule geese, the absolute number of Tule geese harvested 
remains very low (ranging from 40-173 per year). With regard to 
framework dates, moving the framework opening date ahead by 1 week is 
intended to simplify frameworks by aligning outside dates for white-
fronted goose, Canada goose, and light goose seasons to allow 
consistency throughout the Pacific Flyway south of Alaska.

6. Brant

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended a 
30-day season with a 2-bird daily bag limit for the 2014-15 hunting 
season.
    Service Response: The 2014 mid-winter index (MWI) for Atlantic 
brant was 132,936. While the brant management plan allows for a 50-day 
season with a 2-bird daily bag limit when the MWI estimate falls 
between 125,000 and 150,000 brant, the hunt plan provides for 
consideration of factors other than population size in decisions about 
season length. The Council noted that the percentage of young in the 
brant fall flight in the previous 2 years was extremely low (6.5 
percent and 3.7 percent) compared to the previous 10-year average of 
17.6 percent, and preliminary information for 2014 suggests a third 
consecutive year of poor production. We concur with the Council's 
conservative approach.

7. Snow and Ross's (Light) Geese

    Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended 
several changes to light goose season frameworks:
    1. Changing the framework opening date for light geese in 
California, Oregon, and Washington from the Saturday closest to October 
1 to the Saturday closest to September 24;
    2. Increasing the basic bag limit for light geese in California, 
Oregon, and Washington from 6 or 10 per day to 20 per day; and
    3. Implementing a bag limit restriction for light geese in Oregon 
of 6 per day during all hunts occurring on or before the last Sunday in 
January.
    Service Response: We support the Pacific Flyway Council's 
recommendation to expand the framework opening outside dates for light 
geese in California, Oregon, and Washington. Moving the framework 
opening date ahead by 1 week is intended to simplify frameworks by 
aligning outside dates for white-fronted goose, Canada goose, and light 
goose seasons to allow consistency throughout the Pacific Flyway south 
of Alaska.
    We also support the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendations to 
increase the basic bag limit for light geese in California, Oregon, and 
Washington from 6 or 10 per day to 20 per day. Increasing the basic 
light goose bag limit in California, Oregon, and Washington will 
simplify frameworks by aligning bag limits for light geese to allow 
consistency throughout the Pacific Flyway south of Alaska. 
Additionally, three populations of light geese occur in

[[Page 50519]]

the Pacific Flyway and are above Flyway population objectives based on 
the most recent breeding population indices. The population estimate 
for the Western Arctic Population (WAP) of lesser snow geese was 
451,000 in 2013, which is above the objective of 200,000 geese. Ross's 
geese were estimated at 766,000 in 2012, and are above the objective of 
100,000 geese. The population estimate for Wrangel Island snow geese 
was 160,000 in 2013, which is above the objective of 120,000 geese. The 
Council notes that the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) designated the 
WAP lesser snow goose and Ross's geese as overabundant in 2014 based on 
the population's long-term population growth, evidence of localized 
habitat degradation on the breeding grounds, low harvest rate, and high 
adult survival rate. Further, management prescriptions recommended in 
the WAP lesser snow goose and Ross's goose management plans are meant 
to keep the populations within objective levels and prevent habitat 
degradation problems. The increase in daily bag limit is intended to 
slow the growth rate of WAP lesser snow geese and Ross's geese.
    Increasing bag limits on light geese has the potential for 
additional impacts to Wrangel Island snow geese. Wrangel Island snow 
geese winter primarily in British Columbia-Washington (60 percent) and 
California (40 percent), but some winter in Oregon. California is the 
winter terminus for all three populations of light geese. The number of 
light geese estimated to winter in California is approximately 
1,000,000. Only about 5 percent of the wintering population is composed 
of Wrangel Island snow geese. We agree with the Council that the large 
portion of WAP lesser snow geese and Ross's geese wintering in 
California serve as a buffer to the small portion of Wrangel Island 
snow geese wintering in California. Further, restrictive frameworks 
remain in place in Washington and Oregon to restrict harvest of Wrangel 
Island snow geese including a 4-bird daily bag limit for light geese in 
Washington's and Oregon's Northwest Permit zones. Also the Pacific 
Flyway Council recommended retaining the current daily bag limit of 6 
light geese in Oregon on or before the last Sunday in January when 
light geese in the State are likely to be Wrangel Island snow geese.
    With regard to implementing a bag limit restriction for light geese 
in Oregon of 6 per day on or before the last Sunday in January, we 
concur. Current evidence suggests most light geese in Oregon during 
fall and early winter are primarily Wrangel Island snow geese, but an 
influx of WAP lesser snow and Ross's geese occurs during late winter as 
birds begin to move north toward breeding areas. A bag limit for light 
geese in Oregon of 6 per day on or before the last Sunday in January is 
similar to the 6-bird bag limit currently allowed for light geese in 
Oregon, and should retain protective measures for Wrangel Island snow 
geese at a time of the year when they make up the majority of light 
geese inhabiting Oregon.

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, Virginia. 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.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This final rule does not contain any new information collection 
that requires approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). We may not conduct or sponsor and you are not 
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. 
OMB has reviewed and approved the information collection requirements 
associated with migratory bird surveys and assigned the following OMB 
control numbers:
     1018-0010--Mourning Dove Call Count Survey (discontinued 
7/29/2014).
     1018-0019--North American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey 
(expires 4/30/2015).
     1018-0023--Migratory Bird Surveys (expires 6/30/2017). 
Includes Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program, Migratory Bird 
Hunter Surveys, Sandhill Crane Survey, and Parts Collection Survey.

Other Required Determinations

    Based on our most current data, we are affirming our required 
determinations made in the April 30, June 4, and July 31 proposed 
rules; 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 (NEPA) Consideration;
     Endangered Species Act Consideration;
     Regulatory Flexibility Act;
     Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act;
     Unfunded Mandates Reform Act;
     Executive Orders 12630, 12866, 12988, 13132, 13175, and 
13211.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 20

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

    The rules that eventually will be promulgated for the 2014-15 
hunting season are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 703-712 and 16 U.S.C. 742 
a-j.

    Dated: August 14, 2014.
Michael J. Bean,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

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

    Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and delegated 
authorities, the

[[Page 50520]]

Department of the Interior approved the following proposals for season 
lengths, shooting hours, bag and possession limits, and outside dates 
within which States may select seasons for hunting waterfowl and coots 
between the dates of September 1, 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 States then issue permits to 
hunters at levels predicted to result in the amount of take authorized 
by the Service. Thus, although issued by States, the permits would not 
be valid unless the Service approved such take in its regulations.
    These Federally authorized, State-issued permits are issued to 
individuals, and only the individual whose name and address appears on 
the permit at the time of issuance is authorized to take migratory 
birds at levels specified in the permit, in accordance with provisions 
of both Federal and State regulations governing the hunting season. The 
permit must be carried by the permittee when exercising its provisions 
and must be presented to any law enforcement officer upon request. The 
permit is not transferrable or assignable to another individual, and 
may not be sold, bartered, traded, or otherwise provided to another 
person. If the permit is altered or defaced in any way, the permit 
becomes invalid.

Flyways and Management Units

Waterfowl Flyways

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

Management Units

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

Definitions

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

Waterfowl Seasons in the Atlantic Flyway

    In the Atlantic Flyway States of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, 
Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, 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 Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days

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

Atlantic Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots

    Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 
27) and the last Sunday in January (January 25).
    Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: 60 days. The daily bag limit is 6 
ducks, including no more than 4 mallards (no more that 2 of which can 
be females), 1 black duck, 2 pintails, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous 
whistling duck, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 scaup, 1 canvasback, and 4 
scoters.
    Closures: The season on harlequin ducks is closed.
    Sea Ducks: Within the special sea duck areas, during the regular 
duck season in the Atlantic Flyway, States may choose to allow the 
above sea duck limits in addition to the limits applying to other ducks 
during the regular duck season. In all other areas, sea ducks may be 
taken only during the regular open season for ducks and are part of the 
regular duck season daily bag (not to exceed 4 scoters) and possession 
limits.
    Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit of mergansers is 5, only 2 of 
which may be hooded mergansers. In States that include mergansers in 
the duck bag limit, the daily limit is the same as the duck bag limit, 
only two of which may be hooded mergansers.
    Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
    Lake Champlain Zone, New York: The waterfowl seasons, limits, and 
shooting hours should be the same as those selected for the Lake 
Champlain Zone of Vermont.
    Connecticut River Zone, Vermont: The waterfowl seasons, limits, and 
shooting hours should be the same as

[[Page 50521]]

those selected for the Inland Zone of New Hampshire.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, 
North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, and West 
Virginia may split their seasons into three segments; Connecticut, 
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 
Pennsylvania, and Vermont may select hunting seasons by zones and may 
split their seasons into two segments in each zone.

Canada Geese

    Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: Specific regulations for 
Canada geese are shown below by State. These seasons also include 
white-fronted geese. Unless specified otherwise, seasons may be split 
into two segments. In areas within States where the framework closing 
date for Atlantic Population (AP) goose seasons overlaps with special 
late-season frameworks for resident geese, the framework closing date 
for AP goose seasons is January 14.
Connecticut
    North Atlantic Population (NAP) Zone: Between October 1 and 
February 15, a 70-day season may be held with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
    Atlantic Population (AP) Zone: A 50-day season may be held between 
October 10 and February 5, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
    South Zone: A special season may be held between January 15 and 
February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
    Resident Population (RP) Zone: An 80-day season may be held between 
October 1 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season 
may be split into 3 segments.
    Delaware: A 50-day season may be held between November 15 and 
February 5, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    Florida: An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and March 
10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 
segments.
    Georgia: An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and March 
10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 
segments.
    Maine: A 70-day season may be held Statewide between October 1 and 
February 15, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
Maryland:
    RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between November 15 and March 
10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 
segments.
    AP Zone: A 50-day season may be held between November 15 and 
February 5, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
Massachusetts:
    NAP Zone: A 70-day season may be held between October 1 and 
February 15, with a 3-bird daily bag limit. Additionally, a special 
season may be held from January 15 to February 15, with a 5-bird daily 
bag limit.
    AP Zone: A 50-day season may be held between October 10 and 
February 5, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
    New Hampshire: A 70-day season may be held Statewide between 
October 1 and February 15, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
New Jersey
    Statewide: A 50-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday 
in October (October 25) and February 5, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
    Special Late Goose Season Area: A special season may be held in 
designated areas of North and South New Jersey from January 15 to 
February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
New York
    NAP Zone: Between October 1 and February 15, a 70-day season may be 
held, with a 3-bird daily bag limit in both the High Harvest and Low 
Harvest areas.
    Special Late Goose Season Area: A special season may be held 
between January 15 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit in 
designated areas of Suffolk County.
    AP Zone: A 50-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in 
October (October 25), except in the Lake Champlain Area where the 
opening date is October 10, and February 5, with a 3-bird daily bag 
limit.
    Western Long Island RP Zone: A 107-day season may be held between 
the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 27) and March 10, with an 
8-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments.
    Rest of State RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between the 
fourth Saturday in October (October 25) and March 10, with a 5-bird 
daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments.
North Carolina
    SJBP Zone: A 70-day season may be held between October 1 and 
December 31, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
    RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and March 
10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 
segments.
    Northeast Hunt Unit: A 14-day season may be held between the 
Saturday prior to December 25 (December 20) and January 31, with a 1-
bird daily bag limit.
Pennsylvania
    SJBP Zone: A 78-day season may be held between the first Saturday 
in October (October 4) and February 15, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
    RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday 
in October (October 25) and March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. 
The season may be split into 3 segments.
    AP Zone: A 50-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in 
October (October 25) and February 5, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
    Rhode Island: A 70-day season may be held between October 1 and 
February 15, with a 3-bird daily bag limit. A special late season may 
be held in designated areas from January 15 to February 15, with a 5-
bird daily bag limit.
    South Carolina: In designated areas, an 80-day season may be held 
between October 1 and March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The 
season may be split into 3 segments.
Vermont
    Lake Champlain Zone and Interior Zone: A 50-day season may be held 
between October 10 and February 5 with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
    Connecticut River Zone: A 70-day season may be held between October 
1 and February 15, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
Virginia
    SJBP Zone: A 40-day season may be held between November 15 and 
January 14, with a 3-bird daily bag limit. Additionally, a special late 
season may be held between January 15 and February 15, with a 5-bird 
daily bag limit.
    AP Zone: A 50-day season may be held between November 15 and 
February 5, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between November 15 and March 
10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 
segments.
    West Virginia: An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and 
March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 
segments in each zone.

Light Geese

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

Brant

    Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: States may select a 30-
day

[[Page 50522]]

season between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 27) and 
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. States may split their 
seasons into two segments.

Mississippi Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots

    Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 
27) and the last Sunday in January (January 25).
    Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: The season may not exceed 60 days, 
with a daily bag limit of 6 ducks, including no more than 4 mallards 
(no more than 2 of which may be females), 1 mottled duck, 1 black duck, 
2 pintails, 3 wood ducks, 1 canvasback, 3 scaup, and 2 redheads. In 
addition to the daily limits listed above, the States of Iowa, 
Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin may include an additional 2 blue-
winged teal in the daily bag limit in lieu of selecting an experimental 
September teal season during the first 16 days of the regular duck 
season in each respective duck hunting zone.
    Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit is 5, only 2 of which may be 
hooded mergansers. In States that include mergansers in the duck bag 
limit, the daily limit is the same as the duck bag limit, only 2 of 
which may be hooded mergansers.
    Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 
Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, 
and Wisconsin may select hunting seasons by zones.
    In Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, 
Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, the season may be 
split into two segments in each zone.
    In Arkansas and Mississippi, the season may be split into three 
segments.

Geese

    Split Seasons: Seasons for geese may be split into three segments.
    Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: States may select 
seasons for light geese not to exceed 107 days, with 20 geese daily 
between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 27) and March 10; 
for white-fronted geese not to exceed 74 days with 2 geese daily or 88 
days with 1 goose daily between the Saturday nearest September 24 
(September 27) and the Sunday nearest February 15 (February 15); and 
for brant not to exceed 70 days, with 2 brant daily or 107 days with 1 
brant daily between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 27) 
and January 31. There is no possession limit for light geese. States 
may select seasons for Canada geese not to exceed 92 days with 2 geese 
daily or 78 days with 3 geese daily between the Saturday nearest 
September 24 (September 27) and January 31 with the following 
exceptions listed by State:
    Arkansas: The season may extend to February 15.
Indiana
    Late Canada Goose Season Area: A special Canada goose season of up 
to 15 days may be held during February 1-15 in the Late Canada Goose 
Season Zone. During this special season, the daily bag limit cannot 
exceed 5 Canada geese.
    Iowa: The season for Canada geese may extend for 107 days. The 
daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese.
Michigan
    The framework opening date for all geese is September 11 in the 
Upper Peninsula of Michigan and September 16 in the Lower Peninsula of 
Michigan.
    Southern Michigan Late Canada Goose Season Zone: A 30-day special 
Canada goose season may be held between December 31 and February 15. 
The daily bag limit is 5 Canada geese.
    Minnesota: The season for Canada geese may extend for 107 days. The 
daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese.
    Missouri: The season for Canada geese may extend for 85 days. The 
daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese.
    Tennessee: Northwest Zone--The season for Canada geese may extend 
to February 15.
Wisconsin
    Horicon Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is September 
16.
    Exterior Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is 
September 16.
    Additional Limits: In addition to the harvest limits stated for the 
respective zones above, an additional 4,500 Canada geese may be taken 
in the Horicon Zone under special agricultural permits.

Central Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots

    Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 
27) and the last Sunday in January (January 25).
    Hunting Seasons: High Plains Mallard Management Unit (roughly 
defined as that portion of the Central Flyway which lies west of the 
100th meridian): 97 days. The last 23 days must run consecutively and 
may start no earlier than the Saturday nearest December 10 (December 
13).
    Remainder of the Central Flyway: 74 days.
    Bag Limits: The daily bag limit is 6 ducks, with species and sex 
restrictions as follows: 5 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be 
females), 3 scaup, 2 redheads, 3 wood ducks, 2 pintails, and 1 
canvasback. In Texas, the daily bag limit on mottled ducks is 1, except 
that no mottled ducks may be taken during the first 5 days of the 
season. In addition to the daily limits listed above, the States of 
Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, in lieu of selecting 
an experimental September teal season, may include an additional daily 
bag and possession limit of 2 and 6 blue-winged teal, respectively, 
during the first 16 days of the regular duck season in each respective 
duck hunting zone. These extra limits are in addition to the regular 
duck bag and possession limits.
    Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit is 5 mergansers, only 2 of 
which may be hooded mergansers. In States that include mergansers in 
the duck daily bag limit, the daily limit may be the same as the duck 
bag limit, only two of which may be hooded mergansers.
    Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Colorado, Kansas (Low Plains portion), 
Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma (Low Plains portion), South 
Dakota (Low Plains portion), Texas (Low Plains portion), and Wyoming 
may select hunting seasons by zones.
    In Colorado, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, 
South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, the regular season may be split into 
two segments.

Geese

    Split Seasons: Seasons for geese may be split into three segments. 
Three-way split seasons for Canada geese require Central Flyway Council 
and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approval, and a 3-year evaluation by 
each participating State.
    Outside Dates: For dark geese, seasons may be selected between the 
outside dates of the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 27) and 
the Sunday nearest February 15 (February 15). For light geese, outside 
dates for seasons may be selected between the Saturday nearest 
September 24 (September 27) and March 10. In the Rainwater Basin Light 
Goose Area (East and West) of Nebraska, temporal and spatial 
restrictions that are consistent with the late-winter snow goose 
hunting strategy cooperatively developed by the Central Flyway Council 
and the Service are required.

[[Page 50523]]

Season Lengths and Limits
    Light Geese: States may select a light goose season not to exceed 
107 days. The daily bag limit for light geese is 50 with no possession 
limit.
    Dark Geese: In Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South 
Dakota, and the Eastern Goose Zone of Texas, States may select a season 
for Canada geese (or any other dark goose species except white-fronted 
geese) not to exceed 107 days with a daily bag limit of 8. For white-
fronted geese, these States may select either a season of 74 days with 
a bag limit of 2 or an 88-day season with a bag limit of 1.
    In Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming, States may select 
seasons not to exceed 107 days. The daily bag limit for dark geese is 5 
in the aggregate.
    In the Western Goose Zone of Texas, the season may not exceed 95 
days. The daily bag limit for Canada geese (or any other dark goose 
species except white-fronted geese) is 5. The daily bag limit for 
white-fronted geese is 1.

Pacific Flyway

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

    Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 
27) and the last Sunday in January (January 25).
    Hunting Seasons and Duck and Merganser Limits: Concurrent 107 days. 
The daily bag limit is 7 ducks and mergansers, including no more than 2 
female mallards, 2 pintails, 1 canvasback, 3 scaup, and 2 redheads. For 
scaup, the season length is 86 days, which may be split according to 
applicable zones/split duck hunting configurations approved for each 
State.
    The season on coots, common moorhens, and purple gallinules may be 
between the outside dates for the season on ducks, but not to exceed 
107 days.
    Coot, Common Moorhen, and Purple Gallinule Limits: The daily bag 
limit of coots, common moorhens, and purple gallinules are 25, singly 
or in the aggregate.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, 
Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming may select hunting seasons by 
zones. Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, 
and Wyoming may split their seasons into two segments.
    Colorado, Montana, and New Mexico may split their seasons into 
three segments.
    Colorado River Zone, California: Seasons and limits should be the 
same as seasons and limits selected in the adjacent portion of Arizona 
(South Zone).

Geese

Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits:
    Canada geese and brant: Except as subsequently noted, 107-day 
seasons may be selected with outside dates between the Saturday nearest 
September 24 (September 27) and the last Sunday in January (January 
25). In Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Utah, the daily 
bag limit is 4 Canada geese and brant in the aggregate. In California, 
Oregon, and Washington, the daily bag limit is 4 Canada geese. For 
brant, Oregon and Washington may select a 16-day season and California 
a 30-day season. Days must be consecutive. Washington and California 
may select hunting seasons for up to two zones. The daily bag limit is 
2 brant and is in addition to other goose limits. In Oregon and 
California, the brant season must end no later than December 15.
    White-fronted geese: Except as subsequently noted, 107-day seasons 
may be selected with outside dates between the Saturday nearest 
September 24 (September 27) and March 10. The daily bag limit is 10.
    Light geese: Except as subsequently noted, 107-day seasons may be 
selected with outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 
(September 27) and March 10. The basic daily bag limit is 20.
    Split Seasons: Unless otherwise specified, seasons for geese may be 
split into up to 3 segments. Three-way split seasons for Canada geese 
and white-fronted geese require Pacific Flyway Council and U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service approval and a 3-year evaluation by each 
participating State.
    California: The daily bag limit for Canada geese is 10.
    Balance-of-State Zone: A Canada goose season may be selected with 
outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 27) 
and March 10. In the Sacramento Valley Special Management Area, the 
season on white-fronted geese must end on or before December 28, and 
the daily bag limit is 3 white-fronted geese. In the North Coast 
Special Management Area, hunting days that occur after the last Sunday 
in January should be concurrent with Oregon's South Coast Zone.
Idaho
    Zone 2: Idaho will continue to monitor the snow goose hunt that 
occurs after the last Sunday in January in the American Falls 
Reservoir/Fort Hall Bottoms and surrounding areas at 3-year intervals.
    New Mexico: The daily bag limit for Canada geese and brant is 3 in 
the aggregate.
    Oregon: The daily bag limit for light geese is 6 on or before the 
last Sunday in January.
    Harney and Lake County Zone: For Lake County only, the daily white-
fronted goose bag limit is 1.
    Northwest Zone: For geese, outside dates are between the Saturday 
nearest September 24 (September 27) and March 10. The season may be 
split into 3 segments.
    Northwest Special Permit Zone: For geese, outside dates are between 
the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 27) and March 10. The 
season may be split into 3 segments. The daily bag limit of light geese 
is 4.
    South Coast Zone: A Canada goose season may be selected with 
outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 27) 
and March 10. The daily bag limit is 6. Hunting days that occur after 
the last Sunday in January should be concurrent with California's North 
Coast Special Management Area. The season may be split into 3 segments.
    Utah: A Canada goose and brant season may be selected in the 
Wasatch Front and Washington County Zones with outside dates between 
the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 27) and the first Sunday 
in February (February 1).
    Washington: The daily bag limit is 4 geese.
    Area 1: Outside dates are between the Saturday nearest September 24 
(September 27) and the last Sunday in January (January 25).
    Areas 2A and 2B (Southwest Permit Zone): Regular goose seasons may 
be split into 3 segments. A special late goose season may be held 
between the Saturday following the close of the general goose season 
and March 10. In the Southwest Permit Zone Area 2B (Pacific County), 
the daily bag limit may include 1 Aleutian goose.
    Area 4: The season may be split into 3 segments.
    Wyoming: The daily bag limit for Canada geese and brant is 3 in the 
aggregate.
Permit Zones
    In Oregon and Washington permit zones, goose seasons must end upon 
attainment of individual quotas of dusky Canada geese allotted to the 
designated areas of Oregon (165) and Washington (85). The September 
Canada goose season, regular goose season, any special late Canada 
goose season, and any extended falconry season, combined, must not 
exceed 107

[[Page 50524]]

days, and the established quota of dusky Canada geese must not be 
exceeded. Hunting of geese in those designated areas will be only by 
hunters possessing a State-issued permit authorizing them to do so. In 
a Service-approved investigation, the State must obtain quantitative 
information on hunter compliance with those regulations aimed at 
reducing the take of dusky geese. If the monitoring program cannot be 
conducted, for any reason, the season must immediately close.

Swans

    In portions of the Pacific Flyway (Montana, Nevada, and Utah), an 
open season for taking a limited number of swans may be selected. 
Permits will be issued by the State and will authorize each permittee 
to take no more than 1 swan per season with each permit. Nevada may 
issue up to 2 permits per hunter. Montana and Utah may only issue 1 
permit per hunter. Each State's season may open no earlier than the 
Saturday nearest October 1 (October 4). These seasons are also subject 
to the following conditions:
    Montana: No more than 500 permits may be issued. The season must 
end no later than December 1. The State must implement a harvest-
monitoring program to measure the species composition of the swan 
harvest and should use appropriate measures to maximize hunter 
compliance in reporting bill measurement and color information.
    Utah: No more than 2,000 permits may be issued. During the swan 
season, no more than 10 trumpeter swans may be taken. The season must 
end no later than the second Sunday in December (December 14) or upon 
attainment of 10 trumpeter swans in the harvest, whichever occurs 
earliest. The Utah season remains subject to the terms of the 
Memorandum of Agreement entered into with the Service in August 2001, 
regarding harvest monitoring, season closure procedures, and education 
requirements to minimize the take of trumpeter swans during the swan 
season.
    Nevada: No more than 650 permits may be issued. During the swan 
season, no more than 5 trumpeter swans may be taken. The season must 
end no later than the Sunday following January 1 (January 4) or upon 
attainment of 5 trumpeter swans in the harvest, whichever occurs 
earliest.
    In addition, the States of Utah and Nevada must implement a 
harvest-monitoring program to measure the species composition of the 
swan harvest. The harvest-monitoring program must require that all 
harvested swans or their species-determinant parts be examined by 
either State or Federal biologists for the purpose of species 
classification. The States should use appropriate measures to maximize 
hunter compliance in providing bagged swans for examination. Further, 
the States of Montana, Nevada, and Utah must achieve at least an 80-
percent compliance rate, or subsequent permits will be reduced by 10 
percent. All three States must provide to the Service by June 30, 2015, 
a report detailing harvest, hunter participation, reporting compliance, 
and monitoring of swan populations in the designated hunt areas.

Tundra Swans

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

In the Atlantic Flyway

--The season may be 90 days, between October 1 and January 31.
--In North Carolina, no more than 5,000 permits may be issued.
--In Virginia, no more than 600 permits may be issued.

In the Central Flyway

--The season may be 107 days, between the Saturday nearest October 1 
(October 4) and January 31.
--In the Central Flyway portion of Montana, no more than 500 permits 
may be issued.
--In North Dakota, no more than 2,200 permits may be issued.
--In South Dakota, no more than 1,300 permits may be issued.

Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions

Ducks (Including Mergansers) and Coots

Atlantic Flyway
Connecticut
North Zone: That portion of the State north of I-95.
South Zone: Remainder of the State.
Maine
North Zone: That portion north of the line extending east along Maine 
State Highway 110 from the New Hampshire-Maine State line to the 
intersection of Maine State Highway 11 in Newfield; then north and east 
along Route 11 to the intersection of U.S. Route 202 in Auburn; then 
north and east on Route 202 to the intersection of I-95 in Augusta; 
then north and east along I-95 to Route 15 in Bangor; then east along 
Route 15 to Route 9; then east along Route 9 to Stony Brook in 
Baileyville; then east along Stony Brook to the United States border.
    Coastal Zone: That portion south of a line extending east from the 
Maine-New Brunswick border in Calais at the Route 1 Bridge; then south 
along Route 1 to the Maine-New Hampshire border in Kittery.
    South Zone: Remainder of the State.
Massachusetts
    Western Zone: That portion of the State west of a line extending 
south from the Vermont State line on I-91 to MA 9, west on MA 9 to MA 
10, south on MA 10 to U.S. 202, south on U.S. 202 to the Connecticut 
State line.
    Central Zone: That portion of the State east of the Berkshire Zone 
and west of a line extending south from the New Hampshire State line on 
I-95 to U.S. 1, south on U.S. 1 to I-93, south on I-93 to MA 3, south 
on MA 3 to U.S. 6, west on U.S. 6 to MA 28, west on MA 28 to I-195, 
west to the Rhode Island State line; except the waters, and the lands 
150 yards inland from the high-water mark, of the Assonet River 
upstream to the MA 24 bridge, and the Taunton River upstream to the 
Center St.-Elm St. bridge shall be in the Coastal Zone.
    Coastal Zone: That portion of Massachusetts east and south of the 
Central Zone.
New Hampshire
    Northern Zone: That portion of the State east and north of the 
Inland Zone beginning at the Jct. of Rte. 10 and Rte. 25A in Orford, 
east on Rte. 25A to Rte. 25 in Wentworth, southeast on Rte. 25 to Exit 
26 of Rte. I-93 in Plymouth, south on Rte. I-93 to Rte. 3 at Exit 24 of 
Rte. I-93 in Ashland, northeast on Rte. 3 to Rte. 113 in Holderness, 
north on Rte. 113 to Rte. 113-A in Sandwich, north on Rte. 113-A to 
Rte. 113 in Tamworth, east on Rte. 113 to Rte. 16 in Chocorua, north on 
Rte. 16 to Rte. 302 in Conway, east on Rte. 302 to the Maine-New 
Hampshire border.
    Inland Zone: That portion of the State south and west of the 
Northern Zone, west of the Coastal Zone, and includes the area of 
Vermont and New Hampshire as described for hunting reciprocity. A 
person holding a New

[[Page 50525]]

Hampshire hunting license which allows the taking of migratory 
waterfowl or a person holding a Vermont resident hunting license which 
allows the taking of migratory waterfowl may take migratory waterfowl 
and coots from the following designated area of the Inland Zone: the 
State of Vermont east of Rte. I-91 at the Massachusetts border, north 
on Rte. I-91 to Rte. 2, north on Rte. 2 to Rte. 102, north on Rte. 102 
to Rte. 253, and north on Rte. 253 to the border with Canada and the 
area of NH west of Rte. 63 at the MA border, north on Rte. 63 to Rte. 
12, north on Rte. 12 to Rte. 12-A, north on Rte. 12A to Rte 10, north 
on Rte. 10 to Rte. 135, north on Rte. 135 to Rte. 3, north on Rte. 3 to 
the intersection with the Connecticut River.
    Coastal Zone: That portion of the State east of a line beginning at 
the Maine-New Hampshire border in Rollinsford, then extending to Rte. 4 
west to the city of Dover, south to the intersection of Rte. 108, south 
along Rte. 108 through Madbury, Durham, and Newmarket to the junction 
of Rte. 85 in Newfields, south to Rte. 101 in Exeter, east to 
Interstate 95 (New Hampshire Turnpike) in Hampton, and south to the 
Massachusetts border.
New Jersey
    Coastal Zone: That portion of the State seaward of a line beginning 
at the New York State line in Raritan Bay and extending west along the 
New York State line to NJ 440 at Perth Amboy; west on NJ 440 to the 
Garden State Parkway; south on the Garden State Parkway to the 
shoreline at Cape May and continuing to the Delaware State line in 
Delaware Bay.
    North Zone: That portion of the State west of the Coastal Zone and 
north of a line extending west from the Garden State Parkway on NJ 70 
to the New Jersey Turnpike, north on the turnpike to U.S. 206, north on 
U.S. 206 to U.S. 1 at Trenton, west on U.S. 1 to the Pennsylvania State 
line in the Delaware River.
    South Zone: That portion of the State not within the North Zone or 
the Coastal Zone.
New York
    Lake Champlain Zone: That area east and north of a continuous line 
extending along U.S. 11 from the New York-Canada International boundary 
south to NY 9B, south along NY 9B to U.S. 9, south along U.S. 9 to NY 
22 south of Keesville; south along NY 22 to the west shore of South 
Bay, along and around the shoreline of South Bay to NY 22 on the east 
shore of South Bay; southeast along NY 22 to U.S. 4, northeast along 
U.S. 4 to the Vermont State line.
    Long Island Zone: That area consisting of Nassau County, Suffolk 
County, that area of Westchester County southeast of I-95, and their 
tidal waters.
    Western Zone: That area west of a line extending from Lake Ontario 
east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, and south along 
I-81 to the Pennsylvania State line.
    Northeastern Zone: That area north of a continuous line extending 
from Lake Ontario east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-
81, south along I-81 to NY 31, east along NY 31 to NY 13, north along 
NY 13 to NY 49, east along NY 49 to NY 365, east along NY 365 to NY 28, 
east along NY 28 to NY 29, east along NY 29 to NY 22, north along NY 22 
to Washington County Route 153, east along CR 153 to the New York-
Vermont boundary, exclusive of the Lake Champlain Zone.
    Southeastern Zone: The remaining portion of New York.
Pennsylvania
    Lake Erie Zone: The Lake Erie waters of Pennsylvania and a 
shoreline margin along Lake Erie from New York on the east to Ohio on 
the west extending 150 yards inland, but including all of Presque Isle 
Peninsula.
    Northwest Zone: The area bounded on the north by the Lake Erie Zone 
and including all of Erie and Crawford Counties and those portions of 
Mercer and Venango Counties north of I-80.
    North Zone: That portion of the State east of the Northwest Zone 
and north of a line extending east on I-80 to U.S. 220, Route 220 to I-
180, I-180 to I-80, and I-80 to the Delaware River.
    South Zone: The remaining portion of Pennsylvania.
Vermont
    Lake Champlain Zone: The U.S. portion of Lake Champlain and that 
area north and west of the line extending from the New York border 
along U.S. 4 to VT 22A at Fair Haven; VT 22A to U.S. 7 at Vergennes; 
U.S. 7 to VT 78 at Swanton; VT 78 to VT 36; VT 36 to Maquam Bay on Lake 
Champlain; along and around the shoreline of Maquam Bay and Hog Island 
to VT 78 at the West Swanton Bridge; VT 78 to VT 2 in Alburg; VT 2 to 
the Richelieu River in Alburg; along the east shore of the Richelieu 
River to the Canadian border.
    Interior Zone: That portion of Vermont east of the Lake Champlain 
Zone and west of a line extending from the Massachusetts border at 
Interstate 91; north along Interstate 91 to US 2; east along US 2 to VT 
102; north along VT 102 to VT 253; north along VT 253 to the Canadian 
border.
    Connecticut River Zone: The remaining portion of Vermont east of 
the Interior Zone.
Mississippi Flyway
Alabama
    South Zone: Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
    North Zone: The remainder of Alabama.
Illinois
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending 
west from the Indiana border along Peotone-Beecher Road to Illinois 
Route 50, south along Illinois Route 50 to Wilmington-Peotone Road, 
west along Wilmington-Peotone Road to Illinois Route 53, north along 
Illinois Route 53 to New River Road, northwest along New River Road to 
Interstate Highway 55, south along I-55 to Pine Bluff-Lorenzo Road, 
west along Pine Bluff-Lorenzo Road to Illinois Route 47, north along 
Illinois Route 47 to I-80, west along I-80 to I-39, south along I-39 to 
Illinois Route 18, west along Illinois Route 18 to Illinois Route 29, 
south along Illinois Route 29 to Illinois Route 17, west along Illinois 
Route 17 to the Mississippi River, and due south across the Mississippi 
River to the Iowa border.
    Central Zone: That portion of the State south of the North Duck 
Zone line to a line extending west from the Indiana border along I-70 
to Illinois Route 4, south along Illinois Route 4 to Illinois Route 
161, west along Illinois Route 161 to Illinois Route 158, south and 
west along Illinois Route 158 to Illinois Route 159, south along 
Illinois Route 159 to Illinois Route 3, south along Illinois Route 3 to 
St. Leo's Road, south along St. Leo's Road to Modoc Road, west along 
Modoc Road to Modoc Ferry Road, southwest along Modoc Ferry Road to 
Levee Road, southeast along Levee Road to County Route 12 (Modoc Ferry 
entrance Road), south along County Route 12 to the Modoc Ferry route 
and southwest on the Modoc Ferry route across the Mississippi River to 
the Missouri border.
    South Zone: That portion of the State south and east of a line 
extending west from the Indiana border along Interstate 70, south along 
U.S. Highway 45, to Illinois Route 13, west along Illinois Route 13 to 
Greenbriar Road, north on Greenbriar Road to Sycamore Road, west on 
Sycamore Road to N. Reed Station Road, south on N. Reed Station Road to 
Illinois Route 13, west along Illinois Route 13 to Illinois Route 127, 
south along Illinois Route 127 to State

[[Page 50526]]

Forest Road (1025 N), west along State Forest Road to Illinois Route 3, 
north along Illinois Route 3 to the south bank of the Big Muddy River, 
west along the south bank of the Big Muddy River to the Mississippi 
River, west across the Mississippi River to the Missouri border.
    South Central Zone: The remainder of the State between the south 
border of the Central Zone and the North border of the South Zone.
Indiana
    North Zone--That part of Indiana north of a line extending east 
from the Illinois border along State Road 18 to U.S. 31; north along 
U.S. 31 to U.S. 24; east along U.S. 24 to Huntington; southeast along 
U.S. 224; south along State Road 5; and east along State Road 124 to 
the Ohio border.
    Central Zone--That part of Indiana south of the North Zone boundary 
and north of the South Zone boundary.
    South Zone--That part of Indiana south of a line extending east 
from the Illinois border along U.S. 40; south along U.S. 41; east along 
State Road 58; south along State Road 37 to Bedford; and east along 
U.S. 50 to the Ohio border.
Iowa
    North Zone--That portion of Iowa north of a line beginning on the 
South Dakota-Iowa border at Interstate 29, southeast along Interstate 
29 to State Highway 175, east along State Highway 175 to State Highway 
37, southeast along State Highway 37 to State Highway 183, northeast 
along State Highway 183 to State Highway 141, east along State Highway 
141 to U.S. Highway 30, and along U.S. Highway 30 to the Illinois 
border.
    Missouri River Zone--That portion of Iowa west of a line beginning 
on the South Dakota-Iowa border at Interstate 29, southeast along 
Interstate 29 to State Highway 175, and west along State Highway 175 to 
the Iowa-Nebraska border.
    South Zone--The remainder of Iowa.
Kentucky
    West Zone: All counties west of and including Butler, Daviess, 
Ohio, Simpson, and Warren Counties.
    East Zone: The remainder of Kentucky.
Louisiana
    West: That portion of the State west and north of a line beginning 
at the Arkansas-Louisiana border on LA 3; south on LA 3 to Bossier 
City; then east along I-20 to Minden; then south along LA 7 to 
Ringgold; then east along LA 4 to Jonesboro; then south along U.S. Hwy 
167 to its junction with LA 106; west on LA 106 to Oakdale; then south 
on U.S. Hwy 165 to junction with U.S. Hwy 190 at Kinder; then west on 
U.S. Hwy 190/LA 12 to the Texas State border.
    East: That portion of the State east and north of a line beginning 
at the Arkansas-Louisiana border on LA 3; south on LA 3 to Bossier 
City; then east along I-20 to Minden; then south along LA 7 to 
Ringgold; then east along LA 4 to Jonesboro; then south along U.S. Hwy 
167 to Lafayette; then southeast along U.S. Hwy 90 to the Mississippi 
State line.
    Coastal: Remainder of the State.
Michigan
    North Zone: The Upper Peninsula.
    Middle Zone: That portion of the Lower Peninsula north of a line 
beginning at the Wisconsin State line in Lake Michigan due west of the 
mouth of Stony Creek in Oceana County; then due east to, and easterly 
and southerly along the south shore of Stony Creek to Scenic Drive, 
easterly and southerly along Scenic Drive to Stony Lake Road, easterly 
along Stony Lake and Garfield Roads to Michigan Highway 20, east along 
Michigan 20 to U.S. Highway 10 Business Route (BR) in the city of 
Midland, easterly along U.S. 10 BR to U.S. 10, easterly along U.S. 10 
to Interstate Highway 75/U.S. Highway 23, northerly along I-75/U.S. 23 
to the U.S. 23 exit at Standish, easterly along U.S. 23 to the 
centerline of the Au Gres River, then southerly along the centerline of 
the Au Gres River to Saginaw Bay, then on a line directly east 10 miles 
into Saginaw Bay, and from that point on a line directly northeast to 
the Canadian border.
    South Zone: The remainder of Michigan.
Minnesota
    North Duck Zone: That portion of the State north of a line 
extending east from the North Dakota State line along State Highway 210 
to State Highway 23 and east to State Highway 39 and east to the 
Wisconsin State line at the Oliver Bridge.
    South Duck Zone: The portion of the State south of a line extending 
east from the South Dakota State line along U.S. Highway 212 to 
Interstate 494 and east to Interstate 94 and east to the Wisconsin 
State line.
    Central Duck Zone: The remainder of the State.
Missouri
    North Zone: That portion of Missouri north of a line running west 
from the Illinois border at Lock and Dam 25; west on Lincoln County 
Hwy. N to Mo. Hwy. 79; south on Mo. Hwy. 79 to Mo. Hwy. 47; west on Mo. 
Hwy. 47 to I-70; west on I-70 to the Kansas border.
    Middle Zone: The remainder of Missouri not included in other zones.
    South Zone: That portion of Missouri south of a line running west 
from the Illinois border on Mo. Hwy. 74 to Mo. Hwy. 25; south on Mo. 
Hwy. 25 to U.S. Hwy. 62; west on U.S. Hwy. 62 to Mo. Hwy. 53; north on 
Mo. Hwy. 53 to Mo. Hwy. 51; north on Mo. Hwy. 51 to U.S. Hwy. 60; west 
on U.S. Hwy. 60 to Mo. Hwy. 21; north on Mo. Hwy. 21 to Mo. Hwy. 72; 
west on Mo. Hwy. 72 to Mo. Hwy. 32; west on Mo. Hwy. 32 to U.S. Hwy. 
65; north on U.S. Hwy. 65 to U.S. Hwy. 54; west on U.S. Hwy. 54 to U.S. 
Hwy. 71; south on U.S. Hwy. 71 to Jasper County Hwy. M (Base Line 
Blvd.); west on Jasper County Hwy. M (Base Line Blvd.) to CRD 40 (Base 
Line Blvd.); west on CRD 40 (Base Line Blvd.) to the Kansas border.
Ohio
    Lake Erie Marsh Zone: Includes all land and water within the 
boundaries of the area bordered by Interstate 75 from the Ohio-Michigan 
line to Interstate 280 to Interstate 80 to the Erie-Lorain County line 
extending to a line measuring two hundred (200) yards from the 
shoreline into the waters of Lake Erie and including the waters of 
Sandusky Bay and Maumee Bay.
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line beginning at 
the Ohio-Indiana border and extending east along Interstate 70 to the 
Ohio-West Virginia border.
    South Zone: The remainder of Ohio.
Tennessee
    Reelfoot Zone: All or portions of Lake and Obion Counties.
    State Zone: The remainder of Tennessee.
Wisconsin
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending 
east from the Minnesota State line along U.S. Highway 10 into Portage 
County to County Highway HH, east on County Highway HH to State Highway 
66 and then east on State Highway 66 to U.S. Highway 10, continuing 
east on U.S. Highway 10 to U.S. Highway 41, then north on U.S. Highway 
41 to the Michigan State line.
    Mississippi River Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning 
at the intersection of the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway and 
the Illinois State line in Grant County and extending northerly along 
the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway

[[Page 50527]]

to the city limit of Prescott in Pierce County, then west along the 
Prescott city limit to the Minnesota State line.
    South Zone: The remainder of Wisconsin.
Central Flyway
Colorado (Central Flyway Portion)
    Northeast Zone: All areas east of Interstate 25 and north of 
Interstate 70.
    Southeast Zone: All areas east of Interstate 25 and south of 
Interstate 70, and all of El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano, and Las Animas 
Counties.
    Mountain/Foothills Zone: All areas west of Interstate 25 and east 
of the Continental Divide, except El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano, and Las 
Animas Counties.
Kansas
    High Plains Zone: That portion of the State west of U.S. 283.
    Early Zone: That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the 
Nebraska-Kansas State line south on K-128 to its junction with U.S.-36, 
then east on U.S.-36 to its junction with K-199, then south on K-199 to 
its junction with Republic County 30 Rd, then south on Republic County 
30 Rd to its junction with K-148, then east on K-148 to its junction 
with Republic County 50 Rd, then south on Republic County 50 Rd to its 
junction with Cloud County 40th Rd, then south on Cloud County 40th Rd 
to its junction with K-9, then west on K-9 to its junction with U.S.-
24, then west on U.S.-24 to its junction with U.S.-281, then north on 
U.S.-281 to its junction with U.S.-36, then west on U.S.-36 to its 
junction with U.S.-183, then south on U.S.-183 to its junction with 
U.S.-24, then west on U.S.-24 to its junction with K-18, then southeast 
on K-18 to its junction with U.S.-183, then south on U.S.-183 to its 
junction with K-4, then east on K-4 to its junction with I-135, then 
south on I-135 to its junction with K-61, then southwest on K-61 to 
McPherson County 14th Avenue, then south on McPherson County 14th 
Avenue to its junction with Arapaho Rd, then west on Arapaho Rd to its 
junction with K-61, then southwest on K-61 to its junction with K-96, 
then northwest on K-96 to its junction with U.S.-56, then southwest on 
U.S.-56 to its junction with K-19, then east on K-19 to its junction 
with U.S.-281, then south on U.S.-281 to its junction with U.S.-54, 
then west on U.S.-54 to its junction with U.S.-183, then north on U.S.-
183 to its junction with U.S.-56, then southwest on U.S.-56 to its 
junction with Ford County Rd 126, then south on Ford County Rd 126 to 
its junction with U.S.-400, then northwest on U.S.-400 to its junction 
with U.S.-283, then north on U.S.-283 to its junction with the 
Nebraska-Kansas State line, then east along the Nebraska-Kansas State 
line to its junction with K-128.
    Late Zone: That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the Nebraska-
Kansas State line south on K-128 to its junction with U.S.-36, then 
east on U.S.-36 to its junction with K-199, then south on K-199 to its 
junction with Republic County 30 Rd, then south on Republic County 30 
Rd to its junction with K-148, then east on K-148 to its junction with 
Republic County 50 Rd, then south on Republic County 50 Rd to its 
junction with Cloud County 40th Rd, then south on Cloud County 40th Rd 
to its junction with K-9, then west on K-9 to its junction with U.S.-
24, then west on U.S.-24 to its junction with U.S.-281, then north on 
U.S.-281 to its junction with U.S.-36, then west on U.S.-36 to its 
junction with U.S.-183, then south on U.S.-183 to its junction with 
U.S.-24, then west on U.S.-24 to its junction with K-18, then southeast 
on K-18 to its junction with U.S.-183, then south on U.S.-183 to its 
junction with K-4, then east on K-4 to its junction with I-135, then 
south on I-135 to its junction with K-61, then southwest on K-61 to 
14th Avenue, then south on 14th Avenue to its junction with Arapaho Rd, 
then west on Arapaho Rd to its junction with K-61, then southwest on K-
61 to its junction with K-96, then northwest on K-96 to its junction 
with U.S.-56, then southwest on U.S.-56 to its junction with K-19, then 
east on K-19 to its junction with U.S.-281, then south on U.S.-281 to 
its junction with U.S.-54, then west on U.S.-54 to its junction with 
U.S.-183, then north on U.S.-183 to its junction with U.S.-56, then 
southwest on U.S.-56 to its junction with Ford County Rd 126, then 
south on Ford County Rd 126 to its junction with U.S.-400, then 
northwest on U.S.-400 to its junction with U.S.-283, then south on 
U.S.-283 to its junction with the Oklahoma-Kansas State line, then east 
along the Oklahoma-Kansas State line to its junction with U.S.-77, then 
north on U.S.-77 to its junction with Butler County, NE 150th Street, 
then east on Butler County, NE 150th Street to its junction with U.S.-
35, then northeast on U.S.-35 to its junction with K-68, then east on 
K-68 to the Kansas-Missouri State line, then north along the Kansas-
Missouri State line to its junction with the Nebraska State line, then 
west along the Kansas-Nebraska State line to its junction with K-128.
    Southeast Zone: That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the 
Missouri-Kansas State line west on K-68 to its junction with U.S.-35, 
then southwest on U.S.-35 to its junction with Butler County, NE 150th 
Street, then west on NE 150th Street until its junction with K-77, then 
south on K-77 to the Oklahoma-Kansas State line, then east along the 
Kansas-Oklahoma State line to its junction with the Missouri State 
line, then north along the Kansas-Missouri State line to its junction 
with K-68.
Montana (Central Flyway Portion)
    Zone 1: The Counties of Blaine, Carbon, Carter, Daniels, Dawson, 
Fallon, Ferus, Garfield, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, McCone, 
Musselshell, Petroleum, Phillips, Powder River, Richland, Roosevelt, 
Sheridan, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, and 
Yellowstone.
    Zone 2: The remainder of Montana.
Nebraska
    High Plains--That portion of Nebraska lying west of a line 
beginning at the South Dakota-Nebraska border on U.S. Hwy. 183; south 
on U.S. Hwy. 183 to U.S. Hwy. 20; west on U.S. Hwy. 20 to NE Hwy. 7; 
south on NE Hwy. 7 to NE Hwy. 91; southwest on NE Hwy. 91 to NE Hwy. 2; 
southeast on NE Hwy. 2 to NE Hwy. 92; west on NE Hwy. 92 to NE Hwy. 40; 
south on NE Hwy. 40 to NE Hwy. 47; south on NE Hwy. 47 to 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;

[[Page 50528]]

south to County Rd 64; east to County Rd 189; north to County Rd 70; 
east to County Rd 201; south to County Rd 60A; east to County Rd 203; 
south to County Rd 52; east to Keith County Line; east along the 
northern boundaries of Keith and Lincoln Counties to NE Hwy. 97; south 
to U.S. Hwy 83; south to E Hall School Rd; east to N Airport Road; 
south to U.S. Hwy. 30; east to Merrick County Rd 13; north to County Rd 
O; east to NE Hwy. 14; north to NE Hwy. 52; west and north to NE Hwy. 
91; west to U.S. Hwy. 281; south to NE Hwy. 22; west to NE Hwy. 11; 
northwest to NE Hwy. 91; west to U.S. Hwy. 183; south to Round Valley 
Rd; west to Sargent River Rd; west to Sargent Rd; west to Milburn Rd; 
north to Blaine County Line; east to Loup County Line; north to NE Hwy. 
91; west to North Loup Spur Rd; north to North Loup River Rd; east to 
Pleasant Valley/Worth Rd; east to Loup County Line; north to Loup-Brown 
county line; east along northern boundaries of Loup and Garfield 
Counties to Cedar River Road; south to NE Hwy. 70; east to U.S. Hwy. 
281; north to NE Hwy. 70; east to NE Hwy. 14; south to NE Hwy. 39; 
southeast to NE Hwy. 22; east to U.S. Hwy. 81; southeast to U.S. Hwy. 
30; east to U.S. Hwy. 75; north to the Washington County line; east to 
the Iowa-Nebraska border; south to the Missouri-Nebraska border; south 
to Kansas-Nebraska border; west along Kansas-Nebraska border to 
Colorado-Nebraska border; north and west to Wyoming-Nebraska border; 
north to intersection of Interstate Canal; and excluding that area in 
Zone 4.
    Zone 4--Area encompassed by designated Federal and State highways 
and County Roads beginning at the intersection of NE Hwy. 8 and U.S. 
Hwy. 75; north to U.S. Hwy. 136; east to the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 
136 and the Steamboat Trace (Trace); north along the Trace to the 
intersection with Federal Levee R-562; north along Federal Levee R-562 
to the intersection with the Trace; north along the Trace/Burlington 
Northern Railroad right-of-way to NE Hwy. 2; west to U.S. Hwy. 75; 
north to NE Hwy. 2; west to NE Hwy. 43; north to U.S. Hwy. 34; east to 
NE Hwy. 63; north to NE Hwy. 66; north and west to U.S. Hwy. 77; north 
to NE Hwy. 92; west to NE Hwy. Spur 12F; south to Butler County Rd 30; 
east to County Rd X; south to County Rd 27; west to County Rd W; south 
to County Rd 26; east to County Rd X; south to County Rd 21 (Seward 
County Line); west to NE Hwy. 15; north to County Rd 34; west to County 
Rd J; south to NE Hwy. 92; west to U.S. Hwy. 81; south to NE Hwy. 66; 
west to Polk County Rd C; north to NE Hwy. 92; west to U.S. Hwy. 30; 
west to Merrick County Rd 17; south to Hordlake Road; southeast to 
Prairie Island Road; southeast to Hamilton County Rd T; south to NE 
Hwy. 66; west to NE Hwy. 14; south to County Rd 22; west to County Rd 
M; south to County Rd 21; west to County Rd K; south to U.S. Hwy. 34; 
west to NE Hwy. 2; south to U.S. Hwy. I-80; west to Gunbarrel Rd (Hall/
Hamilton county line); south to Giltner Rd; west to U.S. Hwy. 281; 
south to U.S. Hwy. 34; west to NE Hwy. 10; north to Kearney County Rd R 
and Phelps County Rd 742; west to U.S. Hwy. 283; south to U.S. Hwy 34; 
east to U.S. Hwy. 136; east to U.S. Hwy. 183; north to NE Hwy. 4; east 
to NE Hwy. 10; south to U.S. Hwy. 136; east to NE Hwy. 14; south to NE 
Hwy. 8; east to U.S. Hwy. 81; north to NE Hwy. 4; east to NE Hwy. 15; 
south to U.S. Hwy. 136; east to NE Hwy. 103; south to NE Hwy. 8; east 
to U.S. Hwy. 75.
New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion)
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of I-40 and U.S. 54.
    South Zone: The remainder of New Mexico.
North Dakota
    High Plains Unit: That portion of the State south and west of a 
line from the South Dakota State line along U.S. 83 and I-94 to ND 41, 
north to U.S. 2, west to the Williams/Divide County line, then north 
along the County line to the Canadian border.
    Low Plains Unit: The remainder of North Dakota.
Oklahoma
    High Plains Zone: The Counties of Beaver, Cimarron, and Texas.
    Low Plains Zone 1: That portion of the State east of the High 
Plains Zone and north of a line extending east from the Texas State 
line along OK 33 to OK 47, east along OK 47 to U.S. 183, south along 
U.S. 183 to I-40, east along I-40 to U.S. 177, north along U.S. 177 to 
OK 33, east along OK 33 to OK 18, north along OK 18 to OK 51, west 
along OK 51 to I-35, north along I-35 to U.S. 412, west along U.S. 412 
to OK 132, then north along OK 132 to the Kansas State line.
    Low Plains Zone 2: The remainder of Oklahoma.
South Dakota
    High Plains Zone: That portion of the State west of a line 
beginning at the North Dakota State line and extending south along U.S. 
83 to U.S. 14, east on U.S. 14 to Blunt, south on the Blunt-Canning Rd 
to SD 34, east and south on SD 34 to SD 50 at Lee's Corner, south on SD 
50 to I-90, east on I-90 to SD 50, south on SD 50 to SD 44, west on SD 
44 across the Platte-Winner bridge to SD 47, south on SD 47 to U.S. 18, 
east on U.S. 18 to SD 47, south on SD 47 to the Nebraska State line.
    North Zone: That portion of northeastern South Dakota east of the 
High Plains Unit and north of a line extending east along U.S. 212 to 
the Minnesota State line.
    South Zone: That portion of Gregory County east of SD 47 and south 
of SD 44; Charles Mix County south of SD 44 to the Douglas County line; 
south on SD 50 to Geddes; east on the Geddes Highway to U.S. 281; south 
on U.S. 281 and U.S. 18 to SD 50; south and east on SD 50 to the Bon 
Homme County line; the Counties of Bon Homme, Yankton, and Clay south 
of SD 50; and Union County south and west of SD 50 and I-29.
    Middle Zone: The remainder of South Dakota.
Texas
    High Plains Zone: That portion of the State west of a line 
extending south from the Oklahoma State line along U.S. 183 to Vernon, 
south along U.S. 283 to Albany, south along TX 6 to TX 351 to Abilene, 
south along U.S. 277 to Del Rio, then south along the Del Rio 
International Toll Bridge access road to the Mexico border.
    Low Plains North Zone: That portion of northeastern Texas east of 
the High Plains Zone and north of a line beginning at the International 
Toll Bridge south of Del Rio, then extending east on U.S. 90 to San 
Antonio, then continuing east on I-10 to the Louisiana State line at 
Orange, Texas.
    Low Plains South Zone: The remainder of Texas.
    Wyoming (Central Flyway portion)
    Zone C1: Big Horn, Converse, Goshen, Hot Springs, Natrona, Park, 
Platte, and Washakie Counties; and Fremont County excluding the 
portions west or south of the Continental Divide.
    Zone C2: Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Niobrara, Sheridan, and Weston 
Counties.
    Zone C3: Albany and Laramie Counties; and that portion of Carbon 
County east of the Continental Divide.
Pacific Flyway
Arizona
    Game Management Units (GMU) as follows:
    South Zone: Those portions of GMUs 6 and 8 in Yavapai County, and 
GMUs 10 and 12B-45.

[[Page 50529]]

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

Geese

Atlantic Flyway
Connecticut
    AP Unit: Litchfield County and the portion of Hartford County west 
of a line beginning at the Massachusetts border in Suffield and 
extending south along Route 159 to its intersection with Route 91 in 
Hartford, and then extending south along Route 91 to its intersection 
with the Hartford/Middlesex County line.
    AFRP Unit: Starting at the intersection of I-95 and the Quinnipiac 
River, north on the Quinnipiac River to its intersection with I-91, 
north on I-91 to I-691, west on I-691 to the Hartford County line, and 
encompassing the rest of New Haven County and Fairfield County in its 
entirety.
    NAP H-Unit: All of the rest of the State not included in the AP or 
AFRP descriptions above.
    South Zone: Same as for ducks.
    North Zone: Same as for ducks.
Maine
    Same zones as for ducks.
Maryland
    Resident Population (RP) Zone: Garrett, Allegany, Washington, 
Frederick, and Montgomery Counties; that portion of Prince George's 
County

[[Page 50530]]

west of Route 3 and Route 301; that portion of Charles County west of 
Route 301 to the Virginia State line; and that portion of Carroll 
County west of Route 31 to the intersection of Route 97, and west of 
Route 97 to the Pennsylvania line.
    AP Zone: Remainder of the State.
Massachusetts
    NAP Zone: Central and Coastal Zones (see duck zones).
    AP Zone: The Western Zone (see duck zones).
    Special Late Season Area: The Central Zone and that portion of the 
Coastal Zone (see duck zones) that lies north of the Cape Cod Canal, 
north to the New Hampshire line.
New Hampshire
    Same zones as for ducks.
New Jersey
    North: That portion of the State within a continuous line that runs 
east along the New York State boundary line to the Hudson River; then 
south along the New York State boundary to its intersection with Route 
440 at Perth Amboy; then west on Route 440 to its intersection with 
Route 287; then west along Route 287 to its intersection with Route 206 
in Bedminster (Exit 18); then north along Route 206 to its intersection 
with Route 94: then west along Route 94 to the tollbridge in Columbia; 
then north along the Pennsylvania State boundary in the Delaware River 
to the beginning point.
    South: That portion of the State within a continuous line that runs 
west from the Atlantic Ocean at Ship Bottom along Route 72 to Route 70; 
then west along Route 70 to Route 206; then south along Route 206 to 
Route 536; then west along Route 536 to Route 322; then west along 
Route 322 to Route 55; then south along Route 55 to Route 553 (Buck 
Road); then south along Route 553 to Route 40; then east along Route 40 
to route 55; then south along Route 55 to Route 552 (Sherman Avenue); 
then west along Route 552 to Carmel Road; then south along Carmel Road 
to Route 49; then east along Route 49 to Route 555; then south along 
Route 555 to Route 553; then east along Route 553 to Route 649; then 
north along Route 649 to Route 670; then east along Route 670 to Route 
47; then north along Route 47 to Route 548; then east along Route 548 
to Route 49; then east along Route 49 to Route 50; then south along 
Route 50 to Route 9; then south along Route 9 to Route 625 (Sea Isle 
City Boulevard); then east along Route 625 to the Atlantic Ocean; then 
north to the beginning point.
New York
    Lake Champlain Goose Area: The same as the Lake Champlain Waterfowl 
Hunting Zone, which is that area of New York State lying east and north 
of a continuous line extending along Route 11 from the New York-Canada 
International boundary south to Route 9B, south along Route 9B to Route 
9, south along Route 9 to Route 22 south of Keeseville, south along 
Route 22 to the west shore of South Bay along and around the shoreline 
of South Bay to Route 22 on the east shore of South Bay, southeast 
along Route 22 to Route 4, northeast along Route 4 to the New York-
Vermont boundary.
    Northeast Goose Area: The same as the Northeastern Waterfowl 
Hunting Zone, which is that area of New York State lying north of a 
continuous line extending from Lake Ontario east along the north shore 
of the Salmon River to Interstate 81, south along Interstate Route 81 
to Route 31, east along Route 31 to Route 13, north along Route 13 to 
Route 49, east along Route 49 to Route 365, east along Route 365 to 
Route 28, east along Route 28 to Route 29, east along Route 29 to Route 
22 at Greenwich Junction, north along Route 22 to Washington County 
Route 153, east along CR 153 to the New York-Vermont boundary, 
exclusive of the Lake Champlain Zone.
    East Central Goose Area: That area of New York State lying inside 
of a continuous line extending from Interstate Route 81 in Cicero, east 
along Route 31 to Route 13, north along Route 13 to Route 49, east 
along Route 49 to Route 365, east along Route 365 to Route 28, east 
along Route 28 to Route 29, east along Route 29 to Route 147 at Kimball 
Corners, south along Route 147 to Schenectady County Route 40 (West 
Glenville Road), west along Route 40 to Touareuna Road, south along 
Touareuna Road to Schenectady County Route 59, south along Route 59 to 
State Route 5, east along Route 5 to the Lock 9 bridge, southwest along 
the Lock 9 bridge to Route 5S, southeast along Route 5S to Schenectady 
County Route 58, southwest along Route 58 to the NYS Thruway, south 
along the Thruway to Route 7, southwest along Route 7 to Schenectady 
County Route 103, south along Route 103 to Route 406, east along Route 
406 to Schenectady County Route 99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route 
99 to Dunnsville Road, south along Dunnsville Road to Route 397, 
southwest along Route 397 to Route 146 at Altamont, west along Route 
146 to Albany County Route 252, northwest along Route 252 to 
Schenectady County Route 131, north along Route 131 to Route 7, west 
along Route 7 to Route 10 at Richmondville, south on Route 10 to Route 
23 at Stamford, west along Route 23 to Route 7 in Oneonta, southwest 
along Route 7 to Route 79 to Interstate Route 88 near Harpursville, 
west along Route 88 to Interstate Route 81, north along Route 81 to the 
point of beginning.
    West Central Goose Area: That area of New York State lying within a 
continuous line beginning at the point where the northerly extension of 
Route 269 (County Line Road on the Niagara-Orleans County boundary) 
meets the International boundary with Canada, south to the shore of 
Lake Ontario at the eastern boundary of Golden Hill State Park, south 
along the extension of Route 269 and Route 269 to Route 104 at Jeddo, 
west along Route 104 to Niagara County Route 271, south along Route 271 
to Route 31E at Middleport, south along Route 31E to Route 31, west 
along Route 31 to Griswold Street, south along Griswold Street to Ditch 
Road, south along Ditch Road to Foot Road, south along Foot Road to the 
north bank of Tonawanda Creek, west along the north bank of Tonawanda 
Creek to Route 93, south along Route 93 to Route 5, east along Route 5 
to Crittenden-Murrays Corners Road, south on Crittenden-Murrays Corners 
Road to the NYS Thruway, east along the Thruway 90 to Route 98 (at 
Thruway Exit 48) in Batavia, south along Route 98 to Route 20, east 
along Route 20 to Route 19 in Pavilion Center, south along Route 19 to 
Route 63, southeast along Route 63 to Route 246, south along Route 246 
to Route 39 in Perry, northeast along Route 39 to Route 20A, northeast 
along Route 20A to Route 20, east along Route 20 to Route 364 (near 
Canandaigua), south and east along Route 364 to Yates County Route 18 
(Italy Valley Road), southwest along Route 18 to Yates County Route 34, 
east along Route 34 to Yates County Route 32, south along Route 32 to 
Steuben County Route 122, south along Route 122 to Route 53, south 
along Route 53 to Steuben County Route 74, east along Route 74 to Route 
54A (near Pulteney), south along Route 54A to Steuben County Route 87, 
east along Route 87 to Steuben County Route 96, east along Route 96 to 
Steuben County Route 114, east along Route 114 to Schuyler County Route 
23, east and southeast along Route 23 to Schuyler County Route 28, 
southeast along Route 28 to Route 409 at Watkins Glen, south along 
Route 409 to Route 14, south along Route 14 to Route 224 at Montour 
Falls, east along Route 224 to Route 228 in Odessa, north along Route 
228 to Route 79 in Mecklenburg, east along

[[Page 50531]]

Route 79 to Route 366 in Ithaca, northeast along Route 366 to Route 13, 
northeast along Route 13 to Interstate Route 81 in Cortland, north 
along Route 81 to the north shore of the Salmon River to shore of Lake 
Ontario, extending generally northwest in a straight line to the 
nearest point of the International boundary with Canada, south and west 
along the International boundary to the point of beginning.
    Hudson Valley Goose Area: That area of New York State lying within 
a continuous line extending from Route 4 at the New York-Vermont 
boundary, west and south along Route 4 to Route 149 at Fort Ann, west 
on Route 149 to Route 9, south along Route 9 to Interstate Route 87 (at 
Exit 20 in Glens Falls), south along Route 87 to Route 29, west along 
Route 29 to Route 147 at Kimball Corners, south along Route 147 to 
Schenectady County Route 40 (West Glenville Road), west along Route 40 
to Touareuna Road, south along Touareuna Road to Schenectady County 
Route 59, south along Route 59 to State Route 5, east along Route 5 to 
the Lock 9 bridge, southwest along the Lock 9 bridge to Route 5S, 
southeast along Route 5S to Schenectady County Route 58, southwest 
along Route 58 to the NYS Thruway, south along the Thruway to Route 7, 
southwest along Route 7 to Schenectady County Route 103, south along 
Route 103 to Route 406, east along Route 406 to Schenectady County 
Route 99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route 99 to Dunnsville Road, 
south along Dunnsville Road to Route 397, southwest along Route 397 to 
Route 146 at Altamont, southeast along Route 146 to Main Street in 
Altamont, west along Main Street to Route 156, southeast along Route 
156 to Albany County Route 307, southeast along Route 307 to Route 85A, 
southwest along Route 85A to Route 85, south along Route 85 to Route 
443, southeast along Route 443 to Albany County Route 301 at 
Clarksville, southeast along Route 301 to Route 32, south along Route 
32 to Route 23 at Cairo, west along Route 23 to Joseph Chadderdon Road, 
southeast along Joseph Chadderdon Road to Hearts Content Road (Greene 
County Route 31), southeast along Route 31 to Route 32, south along 
Route 32 to Greene County Route 23A, east along Route 23A to Interstate 
Route 87 (the NYS Thruway), south along Route 87 to Route 28 (Exit 19) 
near Kingston, northwest on Route 28 to Route 209, southwest on Route 
209 to the New York-Pennsylvania boundary, southeast along the New 
York-Pennsylvania boundary to the New York-New Jersey boundary, 
southeast along the New York-New Jersey boundary to Route 210 near 
Greenwood Lake, northeast along Route 210 to Orange County Route 5, 
northeast along Orange County Route 5 to Route 105 in the Village of 
Monroe, east and north along Route 105 to Route 32, northeast along 
Route 32 to Orange County Route 107 (Quaker Avenue), east along Route 
107 to Route 9W, north along Route 9W to the south bank of Moodna 
Creek, southeast along the south bank of Moodna Creek to the New 
Windsor-Cornwall town boundary, northeast along the New Windsor-
Cornwall town boundary to the Orange-Dutchess County boundary (middle 
of the Hudson River), north along the county boundary to Interstate 
Route 84, east along Route 84 to the Dutchess-Putnam County boundary, 
east along the county boundary to the New York-Connecticut boundary, 
north along the New York-Connecticut boundary to the New York-
Massachusetts boundary, north along the New York-Massachusetts boundary 
to the New York-Vermont boundary, north to the point of beginning.
    Eastern Long Island Goose Area (NAP High Harvest Area): That area 
of Suffolk County lying east of a continuous line extending due south 
from the New York-Connecticut boundary to the northernmost end of 
Roanoke Avenue in the Town of Riverhead; then south on Roanoke Avenue 
(which becomes County Route 73) to State Route 25; then west on Route 
25 to Peconic Avenue; then south on Peconic Avenue to County Route (CR) 
104 (Riverleigh Avenue); then south on CR 104 to CR 31 (Old Riverhead 
Road); then south on CR 31 to Oak Street; then south on Oak Street to 
Potunk Lane; then west on Stevens Lane; then south on Jessup Avenue (in 
Westhampton Beach) to Dune Road (CR 89); then due south to 
international waters.
    Western Long Island Goose Area (RP Area): That area of Westchester 
County and its tidal waters southeast of Interstate Route 95 and that 
area of Nassau and Suffolk Counties lying west of a continuous line 
extending due south from the New York-Connecticut boundary to the 
northernmost end of the Sunken Meadow State Parkway; then south on the 
Sunken Meadow Parkway to the Sagtikos State Parkway; then south on the 
Sagtikos Parkway to the Robert Moses State Parkway; then south on the 
Robert Moses Parkway to its southernmost end; then due south to 
international waters.
    Central Long Island Goose Area (NAP Low Harvest Area): That area of 
Suffolk County lying between the Western and Eastern Long Island Goose 
Areas, as defined above.
    South Goose Area: The remainder of New York State, excluding New 
York City.
    Special Late Canada Goose Area: That area of the Central Long 
Island Goose Area lying north of State Route 25A and west of a 
continuous line extending northward from State Route 25A along Randall 
Road (near Shoreham) to North Country Road, then east to Sound Road and 
then north to Long Island Sound and then due north to the New York-
Connecticut boundary.
North Carolina
    SJBP Hunt Zone: Includes the following Counties or portions of 
Counties: Anson, Cabarrus, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Halifax (that 
portion east of NC 903), Montgomery (that portion west of NC 109), 
Northampton, Richmond (that portion south of NC 73 and west of U.S. 220 
and north of U.S. 74), Rowan, Stanly, Union, and Wake.
    RP Hunt Zone: Includes the following Counties or portions of 
Counties: Alamance, Alleghany, Alexander, Ashe, Avery, Beaufort, Bertie 
(that portion south and west of a line formed by NC 45 at the 
Washington Co. line to U.S. 17 in Midway, U.S. 17 in Midway to U.S. 13 
in Windsor, U.S. 13 in Windsor to the Hertford Co. line), Bladen, 
Brunswick, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Carteret, Caswell, Catawba, 
Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Davie, Duplin, 
Edgecombe, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Gates, Graham, Granville, Greene, 
Guilford, Halifax (that portion west of NC 903), Harnett, Haywood, 
Henderson, Hertford, Hoke, Iredell, Jackson, Johnston, Jones, Lee, 
Lenoir, Lincoln, McDowell, Macon, Madison, Martin, Mecklenburg, 
Mitchell, Montgomery (that portion that is east of NC 109), Moore, 
Nash, New Hanover, Onslow, Orange, Pamlico, Pender, Person, Pitt, Polk, 
Randolph, Richmond (all of the county with exception of that portion 
that is south of NC 73 and west of U.S. 220 and north of U.S. 74), 
Robeson, Rockingham, Rutherford, Sampson, Scotland, Stokes, Surry, 
Swain, Transylvania, Vance, Warren, Watauga, Wayne, Wilkes, Wilson, 
Yadkin, and Yancey.
    Northeast Hunt Unit: Includes the following Counties or portions of 
Counties: Bertie (that portion north and east of a line formed by NC 45 
at the Washington County line to U.S. 17 in Midway, U.S. 17 in Midway 
to U.S. 13 in Windsor, U.S. 13 in Windsor to the Hertford Co. line), 
Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, 
and Washington.

[[Page 50532]]

Pennsylvania
    Resident Canada Goose Zone: All of Pennsylvania except for SJBP 
Zone and the area east of route SR 97 from the Maryland State Line to 
the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of U.S. 
Route 30, south of U.S. Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, 
east of SR 743 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of 
I-80, and south of I-80 to the New Jersey State line.
    SJBP Zone: The area north of I-80 and west of I-79 including in the 
city of Erie west of Bay Front Parkway to and including the Lake Erie 
Duck zone (Lake Erie, Presque Isle, and the area within 150 yards of 
the Lake Erie Shoreline).
    AP Zone: The area east of route SR 97 from Maryland State Line to 
the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of U.S. 
Route 30, south of U.S. Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, 
east of SR 743 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of 
I-80, south of I-80 to New Jersey State line.
Rhode Island
    Special Area for Canada Geese: Kent and Providence Counties and 
portions of the towns of Exeter and North Kingston within Washington 
County (see State regulations for detailed descriptions).
South Carolina
    Canada Goose Area: Statewide except for the following area:
    East of U.S. 301: That portion of Clarendon County bounded to the 
North by S-14-25, to the East by Hwy 260, and to the South by the 
markers delineating the channel of the Santee River.
    West of U.S. 301: That portion of Clarendon County bounded on the 
North by S-14-26 extending southward to that portion of Orangeburg 
County bordered by Hwy 6.
Vermont
    Same zones as for ducks.
Virginia
    AP Zone: The area east and south of the following line--the 
Stafford County line from the Potomac River west to Interstate 95 at 
Fredericksburg, then south along Interstate 95 to Petersburg, then 
Route 460 (SE) to City of Suffolk, then south along Route 32 to the 
North Carolina line.
    SJBP Zone: The area to the west of the AP Zone boundary and east of 
the following line: the ``Blue Ridge'' (mountain spine) at the West 
Virginia-Virginia Border (Loudoun County-Clarke County line) south to 
Interstate 64 (the Blue Ridge line follows county borders along the 
western edge of Loudoun-Fauquier-Rappahannock-Madison-Greene-Albemarle 
and into Nelson Counties), then east along Interstate Rt. 64 to Route 
15, then south along Rt. 15 to the North Carolina line.
    RP Zone: The remainder of the State west of the SJBP Zone.
Mississippi Flyway
Alabama
    Same zones as for ducks, but in addition:
    SJBP Zone: That portion of Morgan County east of U.S. Highway 31, 
north of State Highway 36, and west of U.S. 231; that portion of 
Limestone County south of U.S. 72; and that portion of Madison County 
south of Swancott Road and west of Triana Road.
Arkansas
    Northwest Zone: Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Conway, Crawford, 
Faulkner, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Madison, Marion, Newton, Perry, 
Pope, Pulaski, Searcy, Sebastian, Scott, Van Buren, Washington, and 
Yell Counties.
Illinois
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending 
west from the Indiana border along Interstate 80 to I-39, south along 
I-39 to Illinois Route 18, west along Illinois Route 18 to Illinois 
Route 29, south along Illinois Route 29 to Illinois Route 17, west 
along Illinois Route 17 to the Mississippi River, and due south across 
the Mississippi River to the Iowa border.
    Central Zone: That portion of the State south of the North Goose 
Zone line to a line extending west from the Indiana border along I-70 
to Illinois Route 4, south along Illinois Route 4 to Illinois Route 
161, west along Illinois Route 161 to Illinois Route 158, south and 
west along Illinois Route 158 to Illinois Route 159, south along 
Illinois Route 159 to Illinois Route 3, south along Illinois Route 3 to 
St. Leo's Road, south along St. Leo's road to Modoc Road, west along 
Modoc Road to Modoc Ferry Road, southwest along Modoc Ferry Road to 
Levee Road, southeast along Levee Road to County Route 12 (Modoc Ferry 
entrance Road), south along County Route 12 to the Modoc Ferry route 
and southwest on the Modoc Ferry route across the Mississippi River to 
the Missouri border.
    South Zone: Same zones as for ducks.
    South Central Zone: Same zones as for ducks.
Indiana
    Same zones as for ducks but in addition:
Special Canada Goose Seasons
    Late Canada Goose Season Zone: That part of the State encompassed 
by the following Counties: Steuben, Lagrange, Elkhart, St. Joseph, La 
Porte, Starke, Marshall, Kosciusko, Noble, De Kalb, Allen, Whitley, 
Huntington, Wells, Adams, Boone, Hamilton, Madison, Hendricks, Marion, 
Hancock, Morgan, Johnson, Shelby, Vermillion, Parke, Vigo, Clay, 
Sullivan, and Greene.
Iowa
    Same zones as for ducks.
Kentucky
    Western Zone: That portion of the State west of a line beginning at 
the Tennessee State line at Fulton and extending north along the 
Purchase Parkway to Interstate Highway 24, east along I-24 to U.S. 
Highway 641, north along U.S. 641 to U.S. 60, northeast along U.S. 60 
to the Henderson County line, then south, east, and northerly along the 
Henderson County line to the Indiana State line.
    Pennyroyal/Coalfield Zone: Butler, Daviess, Ohio, Simpson, and 
Warren Counties and all counties lying west to the boundary of the 
Western Goose Zone.
Louisiana
    Same zones as for ducks.
Michigan
    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

[[Page 50533]]

Casco Township, then northerly along I-196 to the point of beginning.
    Saginaw County GMU: That portion of Saginaw County bounded by 
Michigan Highway 46 on the north; Michigan 52 on the west; Michigan 57 
on the south; and Michigan 13 on the east.
    Muskegon Wastewater GMU: That portion of Muskegon County within the 
boundaries of the Muskegon County wastewater system, east of the 
Muskegon State Game Area, in sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 
30, and 32, T10N R14W, and sections 1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 24, and 
25, T10N R15W, as posted.
Special Canada Goose Seasons
    Southern Michigan Late Season Canada Goose Zone: Same as the South 
Duck Zone excluding Tuscola/Huron Goose Management Unit (GMU), Allegan 
County GMU, Saginaw County GMU, and Muskegon Wastewater GMU.
Minnesota
    Same zones as for ducks but in addition:
    Rochester Goose Zone: That part of the State within the following 
described boundary: Beginning at the intersection of State Trunk 
Highway (STH) 247 and County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 4, Wabasha 
County; thence along CSAH 4 to CSAH 10, Olmsted County; thence along 
CSAH 10 to CSAH 9, Olmsted County; thence along CSAH 9 to CSAH 22, 
Winona County; thence along CSAH 22 to STH 74; thence along STH 74 to 
STH 30; thence along STH 30 to CSAH 13, Dodge County; thence along CSAH 
13 to U.S. Highway 14; thence along U.S. Highway 14 to STH 57; thence 
along STH 57 to CSAH 24, Dodge County; thence along CSAH 24 to CSAH 13, 
Olmsted County; thence along CSAH 13 to U.S. Highway 52; thence along 
U.S. Highway 52 to CSAH 12, Olmsted County; thence along CSAH 12 to STH 
247; thence along STH 247 to the point of beginning.
Missouri
    Same zones as for ducks.
Ohio
    Lake Erie Goose Zone: That portion of Ohio north of a line 
beginning at the Michigan border and extending south along Interstate 
75 to Interstate 280, south on Interstate 280 to Interstate 80, and 
east on Interstate 80 to the Pennsylvania border.
    North Zone: That portion of Ohio north of a line beginning at the 
Indiana border and extending east along Interstate 70 to the West 
Virginia border excluding the portion of Ohio within the Lake Erie 
Goose Zone.
    South Zone: The remainder of Ohio.
Tennessee
    Southwest Zone: That portion of the State south of State Highways 
20 and 104, and west of U.S. Highways 45 and 45W.
    Northwest Zone: Lake, Obion, and Weakley Counties and those 
portions of Gibson and Dyer Counties not included in the Southwest 
Tennessee Zone.
    Kentucky/Barkley Lakes Zone: That portion of the State bounded on 
the west by the eastern boundaries of the Northwest and Southwest Zones 
and on the east by State Highway 13 from the Alabama State line to 
Clarksville and U.S. Highway 79 from Clarksville to the Kentucky State 
line.
Wisconsin
    Same zones as for ducks but in addition:
    Horicon Zone: That portion of the State encompassed by a boundary 
beginning at the intersection of State 23 and State 73 and moves south 
along State 73 until the intersection of State 73 and State 60, then 
moves east along State 60 until the intersection of State 60 and State 
83, and then moves north along State 83 until the intersection of State 
83 and State 33 at which point it moves east until the intersection of 
State 33 and U.S. 45, then moves north along U.S. 45 until the 
intersection of U.S. 45 and State 23, at which point it moves west 
along State 23 until the intersection of State 23 and State 73.
    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.
Central Flyway
Colorado (Central Flyway Portion)
    Northern Front Range Area: All areas in Boulder, Larimer and Weld 
Counties from the Continental Divide east along the Wyoming border to 
U.S. 85, south on U.S. 85 to the Adams County line, and all lands in 
Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Gilpin, and 
Jefferson Counties.
    North Park Area: Jackson County.
    South Park and San Luis Valley Area: All of Alamosa, Chaffee, 
Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Fremont, Lake, Park, Rio Grande and Teller 
Counties, and those portions of Saguache, Mineral and Hinsdale Counties 
east of the Continental Divide.
    Remainder: Remainder of the Central Flyway portion of Colorado.
    Eastern Colorado Late Light Goose Area: That portion of the State 
east of Interstate Highway 25.
Nebraska
Dark Geese
    Niobrara Unit: That area contained within and bounded by the 
intersection of the South Dakota State line and the eastern Cherry 
County line, south along the Cherry County line to the Niobrara River, 
east to the Norden Road, south on the Norden Road to U.S. Hwy 20, east 
along U.S. Hwy 20 to NE Hwy 14, north along NE Hwy 14 to NE Hwy 59 and 
County Road 872, west along County Road 872 to the Knox County Line, 
north along the Knox County Line to the South Dakota State line. Where 
the Niobrara River forms the boundary, both banks of the river are 
included in the Niobrara Unit.
    East Unit: That area north and east of U.S. 81 at the Kansas-
Nebraska State line, north to NE Hwy 91, east to U.S. 275, south to 
U.S. 77, south to NE 91, east to U.S. 30, east to Nebraska-Iowa State 
line.
    Platte River Unit: That area north and west of U.S. 81 at the 
Kansas-Nebraska State line, north to NE Hwy 91, west along NE 91 to NE 
11, north to the Holt County line, west along the northern border of 
Garfield, Loup, Blaine and Thomas Counties to the Hooker County line, 
south along the Thomas-Hooker County lines to the McPherson County 
line, east along the south border of Thomas County to the western line 
of Custer County, south along the Custer-Logan County line to NE 92, 
west to U.S. 83, north to NE 92, west to NE 61, south along NE 61 to NE 
92, west along NE 92 to U.S. Hwy 26, south along U.S. Hwy 26 to Keith 
County Line, south along Keith County Line to the Colorado State line.
    Panhandle Unit: That area north and west of Keith-Deuel County Line 
at the Nebraska-Colorado State line, north along the Keith County Line 
to U.S. Hwy 26, west to NE Hwy 92, east to NE Hwy 61, north along NE 
Hwy 61 to NE Hwy 2, west along NE 2 to the corner formed by Garden-
Grant-Sheridan Counties, west along the north border of Garden, 
Morrill, and Scotts Bluff Counties to the intersection of the 
Interstate Canal, west to the Wyoming State line.
    North-Central Unit: The remainder of the State.

[[Page 50534]]

Light Geese
    Rainwater Basin Light Goose Area: The area bounded by the junction 
of NE Hwy. 92 and NE Hwy. 15, south along NE Hwy. 15 to NE Hwy. 4, west 
along NE Hwy. 4 to U.S. Hwy. 34, west along U.S. Hwy. 34 to U.S. Hwy. 
283, north along U.S. Hwy. 283 to U.S. Hwy. 30, east along U.S. Hwy. 30 
to NE Hwy. 92, east along NE Hwy. 92 to the beginning.
    Remainder of State: The remainder portion of Nebraska.
New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion)
Dark Geese
    Middle Rio Grande Valley Unit: Sierra, Socorro, and Valencia 
Counties.
    Remainder: The remainder of the Central Flyway portion of New 
Mexico.
North Dakota
    Missouri River Canada Goose Zone: The area within and bounded by a 
line starting where ND Hwy 6 crosses the South Dakota border; thence 
north on ND Hwy 6 to I-94; thence west on I-94 to ND Hwy 49; thence 
north on ND Hwy 49 to ND Hwy 200; thence north on Mercer County Rd. 21 
to the section line between sections 8 and 9 (T146N-R87W); thence north 
on that section line to the southern shoreline to Lake Sakakawea; 
thence east along the southern shoreline (including Mallard Island) of 
Lake Sakakawea to U.S. Hwy 83; thence south on U.S. Hwy 83 to ND Hwy 
200; thence east on ND Hwy 200 to ND Hwy 41; thence south on ND Hwy 41 
to U.S. Hwy 83; thence south on U.S. Hwy 83 to I-94; thence east on I-
94 to U.S. Hwy 83; thence south on U.S. Hwy 83 to the South Dakota 
border; thence west along the South Dakota border to ND Hwy 6.
    Rest of State: Remainder of North Dakota.
South Dakota
Canada Geese
    Unit 1: the Counties of Campbell, Marshall, Roberts, Day, Clark, 
Codington, Grant, Hamlin, Deuel, Walworth, 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, north on U.S. Highway 281 to the Charles Mix-Douglas 
County boundary, that portion of Bon Homme County north of State 
Highway 50, that portion of Fall River County west of State Highway 71 
and U.S. Highway 385, that portion of Custer County west of State 
Highway 79 and north of French Creek, 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, Pennington, Shannon, Jackson, Mellette, Todd, Jones, Haakon, 
Corson, Ziebach, McCook, and Minnehaha Counties.
    Unit 2: Remainder of South Dakota.
    Unit 3: Bennett County.
Texas
    Northeast Goose Zone: That portion of Texas lying east and north of 
a line beginning at the Texas-Oklahoma border at U.S. 81, then 
continuing south to Bowie and then southeasterly along U.S. 81 and U.S. 
287 to I-35W and I-35 to the juncture with I-10 in San Antonio, then 
east on I-10 to the Texas-Louisiana border.
    Southeast Goose Zone: That portion of Texas lying east and south of 
a line beginning at the International Toll Bridge at Laredo, then 
continuing north following I-35 to the juncture with I-10 in San 
Antonio, then easterly along I-10 to the Texas-Louisiana border.
    West Goose Zone: The remainder of the State.
Wyoming (Central Flyway Portion)
Dark Geese
    Zone G1: Big Horn, Converse, Hot Springs, Natrona, Park, and 
Washakie Counties; and Fremont County excluding those portions south or 
west of the Continental Divide.
    Zone G1A: Goshen and Platte Counties.
    Zone G2: Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Niobrara, Sheridan, and Weston 
Counties.
    Zone G3: Albany and Laramie Counties; and that portion of Carbon 
County east of the Continental Divide.
Pacific Flyway
Arizona
    North Zone: Game Management Units 1-5, those portions of Game 
Management Units 6 and 8 within Coconino County, and Game Management 
Units 7, 9, and 12A.
    South Zone: Those portions of Game Management Units 6 and 8 in 
Yavapai County, and Game Management Units 10 and 12B-45.
California
    Northeastern Zone: In that portion of California lying east and 
north of a line beginning at the intersection of 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

[[Page 50535]]

178 at Walker Pass; east on CA 178 to U.S. 395 at the town of Inyokern; 
south on U.S. 395 to CA 58; east on CA 58 to I-15; east on I-15 to CA 
127; north on CA 127 to the Nevada border.
    Imperial County Special Management Area: The area bounded by a line 
beginning at Highway 86 and the Navy Test Base Road; south on Highway 
86 to the town of Westmoreland; continue through the town of 
Westmoreland to Route S26; east on Route S26 to Highway 115; north on 
Highway 115 to Weist Rd.; north on Weist Rd. to Flowing Wells Rd.; 
northeast on Flowing Wells Rd. to the Coachella Canal; northwest on the 
Coachella Canal to Drop 18; a straight line from Drop 18 to Frink Rd.; 
south on Frink Rd. to Highway 111; north on Highway 111 to Niland 
Marina Rd.; southwest on Niland Marina Rd. to the old Imperial County 
boat ramp and the water line of the Salton Sea; from the water line of 
the Salton Sea, a straight line across the Salton Sea to the Salinity 
Control Research Facility and the Navy Test Base Road; southwest on the 
Navy Test Base Road to the point of beginning.
    Balance-of-State Zone: The remainder of California not included in 
the Northeastern, Southern, and the Colorado River Zones.
    North Coast Special Management Area: The Counties of Del Norte and 
Humboldt.
    Sacramento Valley Special Management Area: That area bounded by a 
line beginning at Willows south on I-5 to Hahn Road; easterly on Hahn 
Road and the Grimes-Arbuckle Road to Grimes; northerly on CA 45 to the 
junction with CA 162; northerly on CA 45/162 to Glenn; and westerly on 
CA 162 to the point of beginning in Willows.
Colorado (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    West Central Area: Archuleta, Delta, Dolores, Gunnison, LaPlata, 
Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, and San Miguel Counties and those 
portions of Hinsdale, Mineral, and Saguache Counties west of the 
Continental Divide.
    State Area: The remainder of the Pacific-Flyway Portion of 
Colorado.
Idaho
Canada Geese, White-fronted Geese, and Brant
    Zone 1: All lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian 
Reservation, including private in-holdings; Bannock County; Bingham 
County, except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; 
Caribou County within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation; and Power 
County east of State Highway 37 and State Highway 39.
    Zone 2: Adams, Bear Lake, Benewah, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, 
Boundary, Butte, Camas, Clark, Clearwater, Custer, Franklin, Fremont, 
Idaho, Jefferson, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Madison, Nez Perce, 
Oneida, Shoshone, Teton, and Valley Counties; Bingham County within the 
Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; Caribou County, except the Fort Hall 
Indian Reservation; and Power County west of State Highway 37 and State 
Highway 39.
    Zone 3: Ada, Boise, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome, 
Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, and Washington 
Counties.
Light Geese
    Zone 1: All lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian 
Reservation, including private in-holdings; Bannock County; Bingham 
County east of the west bank of the Snake River, west of the McTucker 
boat ramp access road, and east of the American Falls Reservoir bluff, 
except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; Caribou 
County within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation; and Power County below 
the American Falls Reservoir bluff, and within the Fort Hall Indian 
Reservation.
    Zone 2: Bingham County west of the west bank of the Snake River, 
east of the McTucker boat ramp access road, and west of the American 
Falls Reservoir bluff; Power County except below the American Falls 
Reservoir bluff, and those lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian 
Reservation.
    Zone 3: Ada, Boise, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome, 
Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, and Washington 
Counties.
    Zone 4: Adams, Bear Lake, Benewah, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, 
Boundary, Butte, Camas, Clark, Clearwater, Custer, Franklin, Fremont, 
Idaho, Jefferson, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Madison, Nez Perce, 
Oneida, Shoshone, Teton, and Valley Counties; Caribou County, except 
the Fort Hall Indian Reservation; Bingham County within the Blackfoot 
Reservoir drainage.
Montana (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    East of the Divide Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of the State 
located east of the Continental Divide.
    West of the Divide Zone: The remainder of the Pacific Flyway 
portion of Montana.
Nevada
    Northeast Zone: All of Elko and White Pine Counties.
    Northwest Zone: All of Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Esmeralda, 
Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, and 
Washoe Counties.
    South Zone: All of Clark and Lincoln County.
New Mexico (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    North Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of New Mexico located north 
of I-40.
    South Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of New Mexico located south 
of I-40.
Oregon
    Southwest Zone: Those portions of Douglas, Coos, and Curry Counties 
east of Highway 101, and Josephine and Jackson Counties.
    South Coast Zone: Those portions of Douglas, Coos, and Curry 
Counties west of Highway 101.
    Northwest Special Permit Zone: That portion of western Oregon west 
and north of a line running south from the Columbia River in Portland 
along I-5 to OR 22 at Salem; then east on OR 22 to the Stayton Cutoff; 
then south on the Stayton Cutoff to Stayton and due south to the 
Santiam River; then west along the north shore of the Santiam River to 
I-5; then south on I-5 to OR 126 at Eugene; then west on OR 126 to 
Greenhill Road; then south on Greenhill Road to Crow Road; then west on 
Crow Road to Territorial Hwy; then west on Territorial Hwy to OR 126; 
then west on OR 126 to Milepost 19; then north to the intersection of 
the Benton and Lincoln County line; then north along the western 
boundary of Benton and Polk Counties to the southern boundary of 
Tillamook County; then west along the Tillamook County boundary to the 
Pacific Coast.
    Lower Columbia/N. Willamette Valley Management Area: Those portions 
of Clatsop, Columbia, Multnomah, and Washington Counties within the 
Northwest Special Permit Zone.
    Tillamook County Management Area: All of Tillamook County. The 
following portion of the Tillamook County Management Area is closed to 
goose hunting beginning at the point where Old Woods Rd crosses the 
south shores of Horn Creek, north on Old Woods Rd to Sand Lake Rd at 
Woods, north on Sand Lake Rd to the intersection with McPhillips Dr., 
due west (~200 yards) from the intersection to the Pacific coastline, 
south on the Pacific coastline to Neskowin Creek, east along the north 
shores of Neskowin Creek and then Hawk Creek to Salem Ave, east on 
Salem Ave in Neskowin to Hawk Ave, east on Hawk Ave to Hwy 101, north 
on Hwy 101 to Resort Dr., north on Resort Dr. to a point due west of 
the south shores of Horn Creek at its confluence

[[Page 50536]]

with the Nestucca River, due east (~80 yards) across the Nestucca River 
to the south shores of Horn Creek, east along the south shores of Horn 
Creek to the point of beginning.
    Northwest Zone: Those portions of Clackamas, Lane, Linn, Marion, 
Multnomah, and Washington Counties outside of the Northwest Special 
Permit Zone and all of Lincoln County.
    Eastern Zone: Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, 
Umatilla, Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler, Grant, Baker, Union, 
and Wallowa Counties.
    Harney and Lake County Zone: All of Harney and Lake Counties.
    Klamath County Zone: All of Klamath County.
    Malheur County Zone: All of Malheur County.
Utah
    Northern Utah Zone: That portion of Box Elder County beginning the 
Weber-Box Elder county line, north along the Box Elder county line to 
the Utah-Idaho State line; west on this line to Stone, Idaho-Snowville, 
Utah road; southwest on this road to the Locomotive Springs Wildlife 
Management Area boundary; west, south, east, and then north along this 
boundary to the county road; east on the county road, past Monument 
Point and across Salt Wells Flat, to the intersection with Promontory 
Road; south on Promontory Road to a point directly west of the 
northwest corner of the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge boundary; east 
along a line to the northwest corner of the Refuge boundary; south and 
east along the Refuge boundary to the southeast corner of the boundary; 
northeast along the boundary to the Perry access road; east on the 
Perry access road to I-15; south on I-15 to the Weber-Box Elder County 
line.
    Wasatch Front Zone: Boundary begins at the Weber-Box Elder county 
line at I-15; east along Weber county line to US-89; south on US-89 to 
I-84; east and south and along I-84 to I-80; south along I-80 to US-
189; south and west along US-189 to the Utah County line; southeast and 
then west along this line to I-15; north on I-15 to US-6; west on US-6 
to SR-36; north on SR-36 to I-80; north along a line from this 
intersection to the southern tip of Promontory Point and Promontory 
Road; east and north along this road to the causeway separating Bear 
River Bay from Ogden Bay; east on this causeway to the southwest corner 
of Great Salt Lake Mineral Corporations (GSLMC) west impoundment; north 
and east along GSLMC's west impoundment to the northwest corner of the 
impoundment; directly north from this point along an imaginary line to 
the southern boundary of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge; east along 
this southern boundary to the Perry access road; northeast along this 
road to I-15; south along I-15 to the Weber-Box Elder county line.
    Washington County Zone: All of Washington County.
    Remainder-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of Utah.
Washington
    Area 1: Skagit, Island, and Snohomish Counties.
    Area 2A (Southwest Permit Zone): Clark County, except portions 
south of the Washougal River; Cowlitz County; and Wahkiakum County.
    Area 2B (Southwest Permit Zone): Pacific County.
    Area 3: All areas west of the Pacific Crest Trail and west of the 
Big White Salmon River that are not included in Areas 1, 2A, and 2B.
    Area 4: Adams, Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, 
Lincoln, Okanogan, Spokane, and Walla Walla Counties.
    Area 5: All areas east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of the 
Big White Salmon River that are not included in Area 4.

Brant

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

Swans

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

[FR Doc. 2014-19855 Filed 8-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P