Migratory Bird Hunting; Final Frameworks for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations, 17301-17335 [2016-06601]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 59 (Monday, March 28, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17301-17335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06601]



[[Page 17301]]

Vol. 81

Monday,

No. 59

March 28, 2016

Part III





Department of the Interior





-----------------------------------------------------------------------





Fish and Wildlife Service





-----------------------------------------------------------------------





50 CFR Part 20





Migratory Bird Hunting; Final Frameworks for Migratory Bird Hunting 
Regulations; Final Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 59 / Monday, March 28, 2016 / Rules 
and Regulations

[[Page 17302]]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 20

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2015-0034; FF09M21200-167-FXMB1231099BPP0]
RIN 1018-BA70


Migratory Bird Hunting; Final Frameworks for Migratory Bird 
Hunting Regulations

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) prescribes final 
frameworks from which States may select season dates, limits, and other 
options for the 2016-17 migratory bird hunting seasons. The effect of 
this final rule is to facilitate the States' selection of hunting 
seasons and to further the annual establishment of the migratory bird 
hunting regulations. 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 hunting 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: This rule takes effect on March 28, 2016.

ADDRESSES: States should send their season selections to: Chief, 
Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
MS: MB, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803. You may 
inspect comments received on the migratory bird hunting regulations 
during normal business hours at the Service's office at 5275 Leesburg 
Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803. You may obtain copies of referenced 
reports from the street address above, or from the Division of 
Migratory Bird Management's Web site at https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/, or at https://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-HQ-
MB-2015-0034.

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) 358-1714.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Regulations Schedule for 2016

    On August 6, 2015, we published in the Federal Register (80 FR 
47388) 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 
2016-17 regulatory cycle relating to open public meetings and Federal 
Register notifications were also identified in the August 6, 2015, 
proposed rule. Further, we explained that all sections of subsequent 
documents outlining hunting frameworks and guidelines were organized 
under numbered headings. Therefore, it is important to note that we 
omit those items requiring no attention, and remaining numbered items 
appear discontinuous and incomplete.
    On October 20-21, 2015, we held open meetings with the Flyway 
Council Consultants, at which the participants reviewed information on 
the current status of migratory game birds and developed 
recommendations for the 2016-17 regulations for these species.
    On December 11, 2015, we published in the Federal Register (80 FR 
77088) the proposed frameworks for the 2016-17 season migratory bird 
hunting regulations. This document establishes final frameworks for 
migratory bird hunting regulations for the 2016-17 season. There are no 
substantive changes from the December 11 proposed rule. We will publish 
State selections in the Federal Register as amendments to Sec. Sec.  
20.101 through 20.107, and 20.109 of title 50 CFR part 20.

 Status and Harvest

    In the December 11 proposed rule we provided preliminary 
information on the status and harvest of migratory game birds excerpted 
from various reports. For more detailed information on methodologies 
and results, you may obtain complete copies of the various reports at 
the address indicated under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or from our 
Web site at https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewsPublicationsReports.html.

Review of Public Comments and Flyway Council Recommendations

    The preliminary proposed rulemaking, which appeared in the August 
6, 2015, Federal Register, opened the public comment period for 
migratory game bird hunting regulations. The December 11, 2015, Federal 
Register publication discussed and proposed the frameworks for the 
2016-17 season migratory bird hunting regulations. Comments are 
summarized below and numbered in the order used in the August 6 Federal 
Register. We have included only the numbered items pertaining to 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. Wherever possible, they are discussed under headings 
corresponding to the numbered items in the August 6, 2015, Federal 
Register document.

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. The commenter further stated that the general public was 
excluded from the process and that regulation-setting meetings are not 
announced and closed to the general public.
    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.
    Regarding the claims about excluding the general public from the 
regulations-setting process and holding closed meetings, we note that 
on May 27, 2015, we published in the Federal Register (80 FR 30205) a 
document concerning

[[Page 17303]]

the first Service Regulations Committee (SRC) meeting to discuss 
preliminary issues on the 2016-17 migratory bird hunting regulations. 
On August 6, 2015, we published in the Federal Register (80 FR 47388) a 
proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20. The proposal provided a background 
and overview of the migratory bird hunting regulations process, and 
identified major steps in the 2016-17 regulatory cycle relating to open 
public meetings and Federal Register notifications, including notice of 
the October 21-22, 2015, SRC meeting. On October 20-21, 2015, we held 
open meetings with the Flyway Council Consultants, at which the 
participants reviewed information on the current status of migratory 
game birds and developed recommendations for the 2016-17 regulations 
for these species. In accordance with Department of the Interior 
(hereinafter Department) policy regarding meetings of the SRC attended 
by any person outside the Department, these meetings are open to public 
observation. The Service is committed to providing access to this 
meeting for all participants.

1. Ducks

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 will continue using adaptive harvest 
management (AHM) to help determine appropriate duck-hunting regulations 
for the 2016-17 season. AHM permits sound resource decisions in the 
face of uncertain regulatory impacts and provides a mechanism for 
reducing that uncertainty over time. We use AHM to evaluate four 
alternative regulatory levels for duck hunting based on the population 
status of mallards. (We enact other hunting regulations for species of 
special concern, such as canvasbacks, scaup, and pintails).
    The prescribed regulatory alternative for the Atlantic, 
Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyways is based on the status of 
mallard populations that contribute primarily to each Flyway. In the 
Atlantic Flyway, we set hunting regulations based on the population 
status of mallards breeding in eastern North America (Federal survey 
strata 51-54 and 56, and State surveys in New England and the mid-
Atlantic region). In the Central and Mississippi Flyways, we set 
hunting regulations based on the status and dynamics of mid-continent 
mallards. Mid-continent mallards are those breeding in central North 
America (Federal survey strata 13-18, 20-50, and 75-77, and State 
surveys in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan). In the Pacific Flyway, 
we set hunting regulations based on the status and dynamics of western 
mallards. Western mallards are those breeding in Alaska and the 
northern Yukon Territory (as based on Federal surveys in strata 1-12), 
and in California and Oregon (as based on State-conducted surveys).
    For the 2016-17 season, we will continue to use independent 
optimization to determine the optimal regulatory choice for each 
mallard stock. This means that we develop regulations for eastern 
mallards, mid-continent mallards, and western mallards independently, 
based upon the breeding stock that contributes primarily to each 
Flyway. We detailed implementation of this AHM decision framework for 
western and mid-continent mallards in the July 24, 2008, Federal 
Register (73 FR 43290) and for eastern mallards in the July 20, 2012, 
Federal Register (77 FR 42920). We further documented how adjustments 
were made to these decision frameworks in order to be compatible with 
the new regulatory schedule (https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/management/AHM/SEIS&AHMReportFinal.pdf).
    For the 2016-17 hunting season, we considered the same regulatory 
alternatives as those used last year. The nature of the 
``restrictive,'' ``moderate,'' and ``liberal'' alternatives has 
remained essentially unchanged since 1997, except that extended 
framework dates have been offered in the ``moderate'' and ``liberal'' 
regulatory alternatives since 2002 (67 FR 47224; July 17, 2002).
    The optimal AHM strategies for mid-continent, eastern, and western 
mallards for the 2016-17 hunting season were calculated using: (1) 
Harvest-management objectives specific to each mallard stock; (2) the 
2016-17 regulatory alternatives (see further discussion below under B. 
Regulatory Alternatives); and (3) current population models and 
associated weights. Based on ``liberal'' regulatory alternatives 
selected for the 2015 hunting season, the 2015 survey results of 11.79 
million mid-continent mallards and 4.15 million ponds in Prairie 
Canada, 0.73 million eastern mallards (0.19 million and 0.54 million 
respectively in northeast Canada and the northeastern United States), 
and 0.73 million western mallards (0.26 million in California-Oregon 
and 0.47 million in Alaska), the optimal regulatory choice for all four 
Flyways is the ``liberal'' alternative. Therefore, we concur with the 
recommendations of the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific 
Flyway Councils regarding selection of the ``liberal'' regulatory 
alternative for the 2016-17 season and will adopt the ``liberal'' 
regulatory alternative, as described in the August 6, 2015, Federal 
Register.
B. Regulatory Alternatives
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway 
Councils recommended that the framework closing date for ducks be 
extended to January 31 in the ``moderate'' and ``liberal'' regulatory 
alternatives.
    Written Comments: Several commenters expressed a desire for a later 
closing framework date, citing changes in climate and the migratory 
timing of birds. Several others recommended that States (in particular 
those in the upper Midwest) should shift their opening season dates 
later in order to allow more hunting in December.
    Service Response: We do not support the Councils' recommendation, 
or the commenters' request, to extend the duck season framework closing 
date to January 31 at this time. We note that the current framework 
opening and closing dates were developed through a cooperative effort 
between all four Flyway Councils and that framework dates are only one 
of several components that comprise the regulatory packages utilized in 
AHM. Regulatory packages also consider season length, daily bag limits, 
and shooting hours. We believe the current regulatory packages in the 
Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways should remain unchanged until 
revisions to the AHM protocols, which are being undertaken by the 
Flyways, have been completed. Those efforts will include examination of 
duck harvest management objectives, model updates, and revisions to 
regulatory packages, including framework dates. We prefer that the 
issue of framework dates and any other component of the regulatory 
packages be addressed through this cooperative process and would prefer 
a comprehensive approach to revising regulatory packages rather than 
making incremental changes.
    Regarding the timing of States' earlier opening season dates, we 
note that these dates are selected solely by the States (within the 
overall frameworks). Requests to move back the opening date should be 
directed to your State wildlife agency.
D. Special Seasons/Species Management
i. September Teal Seasons
    For the 2016-17 season, we utilized the 2015 breeding population 
estimate

[[Page 17304]]

of 8.3 million blue-winged teal from the traditional survey area 
(Federal survey strata 1-18, 20-50, and 75-77) and the criteria 
developed for the teal season harvest strategy. Thus, a 16-day 
September teal season in the Atlantic, Central, and Mississippi Flyways 
is appropriate for the 2016 season.
iii. Black Ducks
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway 
Councils recommended that the Service continue to follow the 
International Black Duck AHM Strategy for the 2016-17 season.
    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, which includes 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 2016-17 season, the optimal country-specific regulatory 
strategies were calculated using: (1) The black duck harvest objective 
(98 percent of long-term cumulative harvest); (2) 2016-17 country-
specific regulatory alternatives; (3) current parameter estimates for 
mallard competition and additive mortality; and (4) 2015 survey results 
of 0.54 million breeding black ducks and 0.41 million breeding mallards 
in the core survey area. The optimal regulatory choices for the 2016-17 
season are the ``moderate'' package in Canada and the ``restrictive'' 
package in the United States.
iv. Canvasbacks
    Council Recommendations: The Mississippi, Central, and Pacific 
Flyway Councils recommended a full season for canvasbacks with a 2-bird 
daily bag limit. The Atlantic Flyway Council 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 allowed 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.
    As we discussed in the August 6, 2015, proposed rule, the current 
harvest strategy relies on information that is not yet available under 
this new regulatory process. Thus, the current canvasback harvest 
management strategy is no longer usable for the 2016-17 season and 
beyond. We further stated that we do not yet have a new harvest 
strategy to propose for use in the future and that we would review the 
most recent information on canvasback populations, habitat conditions, 
and harvests with the goal of compiling the best information available 
for use in making a harvest management decision for the 2016-17 season.
    As such, we support the Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyways' 
recommendation for a 2-canvasback daily bag limit for the 2016-17 
season and will offer the opportunity to all four Flyways. This past 
year's spring survey resulted in an estimate of 757,000 canvasbacks and 
4.15 million Canadian ponds. The former canvasback harvest strategy 
predicts a 2016 canvasback breeding population of 727,000 birds under 
the current 2015-16 ``liberal'' duck season with a 2-canvasback daily 
bag limit. Our analysis indicates that the expected harvest associated 
with a 2-bird bag limit during the 2016 season poses a very small 
possibility of the spring 2017 canvasback abundance falling below 
500,000 birds given the current abundance of canvasbacks. However, we 
also recognize that in previous years where 2 canvasbacks per day were 
allowed in the daily bag limit, the following year required a more 
restrictive daily bag limit, and we are prepared to recommend 
restrictions for the 2017-18 season if necessary. Thus, we strongly 
encourage the Flyways to begin working with Service staff to develop a 
process for informing canvasback harvest management decisions prior to 
the Flyway meetings next March.
v. Pintails
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and 
Pacific Flyway Councils recommended a full season for pintails, 
consisting of a 2-bird daily bag limit and a 60-day season in the 
Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, a 74-day season in the Central 
Flyway, and a 107-day season in the Pacific Flyway.
    Service Response: The current derived pintail harvest strategy was 
adopted by the Service and Flyway Councils in 2010 (75 FR 44856; July 
29, 2010). For the 2016-17 season, 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 2016-17 regulatory alternatives and associated 
predicted harvests; and (3) current population models and their 
relative weights. Based on a ``liberal'' regulatory alternative with a 
2-bird daily bag limit in 2015, the 2015 survey results of 3.04 million 
pintails observed at a mean latitude of 55.9 and a latitude-adjusted 
breeding population of 4.16 million birds, the optimal regulatory 
choice for all four Flyways for the 2016-17 hunting season 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 a 3-bird daily bag in the Mississippi Flyway, a 74-
day season with a 3-bird daily bag limit in the Central 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

[[Page 17305]]

24, 2008, and 73 FR 51124 on August 29, 2008) with initial 
``restrictive,'' ``moderate,'' and ``liberal'' regulatory packages 
adopted for each Flyway.
    For scaup, optimal regulatory strategies for the 2016-17 season 
were calculated using: (1) An objective to achieve 95 percent of long-
term cumulative harvest, (2) current scaup regulatory alternatives, and 
(3) updated model parameters and weights. Based on a ``moderate'' 
regulatory alternative selected in 2015 and the 2015 survey results of 
4.40 million scaup, the optimal regulatory choice for the 2016-17 
season for all four Flyways is the ``moderate'' regulatory alternative.
ix. Youth Hunt
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 
allowing the States to use their definitions of age for youth hunters 
as the age requirement for participation in youth hunting days.
    The Mississippi and Central Flyway Councils recommended that we 
allow States to use their established definitions of age for youth 
hunters as the age requirement for participation in youth hunting days, 
not to include anyone over the age of 17.
    The Pacific Flyway Council recommended striking the participation 
restriction that youth hunters must be 15 years of age or younger and 
allowing each State to use their established definition for the age of 
youth hunters as long as it is 17 years of age or younger. The Council 
further recommended retaining other participation restrictions 
requiring that an adult at least 18 years of age must accompany the 
youth hunter into the field.
    Service Response: Since its inception in 1996, the Special Youth 
Waterfowl Hunting Days have fostered greater involvement of youth in 
waterfowl hunting and conservation. However, we recognize that many 
States allow individuals 17 years and younger to participate in youth 
hunting seasons other than those for waterfowl, whereas the current 
Federal framework for the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days is 15 years and 
younger. We further recognize that this difference has caused some 
confusion and frustration from youth hunters, especially those between 
the ages of 15 and 17. Thus, we agree that allowing individual States 
to have a common definition of youth age for all of their different 
youth hunting seasons would simplify the issue for many States. States 
would still have the option to adopt an age restriction younger than 17 
if they so choose. For those youth hunters 16 years of age and older, 
the requirement to possess a Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and 
Conservation Stamp (also known as Federal Duck Stamp) would remain in 
effect, as would the requirement that any youth hunter must be 
accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age.

2. Sea Ducks

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 
that sea ducks in the Atlantic Flyway be exposed to no more than 60 
days of hunting in any Special Sea Duck Area, or regular duck hunting 
area or zone. They further recommended that in ``Special Sea Duck 
Areas,'' the bag limit for sea ducks would be 5, to include no more 
than 4 eiders, 4 scoters, or 4 long-tailed ducks. In regular duck 
season areas and in States with no special sea duck areas, sea ducks 
would count toward the total bag of 6 ducks, which could include no 
more than 4 eiders, 4 scoters, and 4 long-tailed ducks. Splits would be 
allowed in the Special Sea Duck Area if the sea duck season is set 
concurrently with the regular duck season; otherwise, season dates in 
the Special Sea Duck Area could not be split. Lastly, the Council 
recommended that the taking of crippled waterfowl under power be 
allowed to continue in Special Sea Duck Areas as they are currently 
delineated (50 CFR 20.105) (regardless of whether a special sea duck 
season is held).
    Written Comments: The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and 
Wildlife and several other commenters requested that we continue to 
allow the sea duck daily bag limit in the special sea duck area to be 
independent of the regular duck season daily bag limit, when the 
special sea duck season and the regular season are open concurrently. 
They noted that we have allowed this for more than 50 years, and stated 
that a change would result in both additional regulatory complexity and 
unnecessary loss of hunting opportunity in some Atlantic Ocean coastal 
areas.
    Service Response: We agree with the Atlantic Flyway Council's 
recommendations to reduce the harvest of sea ducks. The recent Sea Duck 
Harvest Potential Assessment indicates that the likelihood of 
overharvest of scoter, Atlantic common eider, and long-tailed duck 
populations ranges from 48 percent (Eastern black scoter) to 95 percent 
(long-tailed duck) under current regulations. Further, sea ducks have a 
low reproduction rate, but a high longevity of adults. As such, hunting 
mortality is almost entirely additive. One of the incentives for sea 
duck hunting has been the opportunity for hunters to achieve a high 
daily bag limit (7 ducks). The Atlantic Flyway Council believes, and we 
concur, that reducing the general daily bag limit to 5 will reduce that 
incentive, but still allow special sea duck hunting opportunity. The 
recommended changes in season length, daily bag limits, and area 
restrictions are expected to achieve a harvest reduction of 
approximately 25 percent.
    Regarding the commenters' request that we continue to allow hunters 
to take other ducks in addition to sea ducks in the special sea duck 
area when both seasons are open, we concur. We examined records of 
individual duck hunts from 2005-2014 that hunters reported to the 
annual Federal harvest surveys. Those records indicate that less than 1 
percent of the reported daily duck bags that included sea ducks would 
have been illegal under our previous proposed change. Thus, reverting 
back to the status quo on this specific aspect from our previously 
identified proposed change would likely have minimal impact on the 
harvest of either sea ducks or other duck species while also removing 
any perceptions of additional regulatory complexity or unnecessary loss 
of hunting opportunities.
    A copy of the sea duck harvest potential assessment is available at 
the address indicated under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, or from 
our Web site at https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewsPublicationsReports.html.

4. Canada Geese

A. Special [Early] Seasons
    Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended 
generalizing the special early Canada goose season frameworks in the 
Pacific Flyway to apply to all States except Alaska. Specifically, the 
Council recommended a Canada goose season of up to 15 days during 
September 1-20 with a daily bag limit of not more than 5 Canada geese, 
except in Pacific County, Washington, where the daily bag limit could 
not exceed 15 Canada geese. The Council recommended that all areas open 
to hunting of Canada geese in each State must be described, delineated, 
and designated as such in each State's hunting regulations.
    Service Response: We agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's 
recommendation to generalize the special early Canada goose season 
framework to apply to all Pacific Flyway States except Alaska. The 
special early Canada goose hunting season is generally designed to 
reduce or control

[[Page 17306]]

overabundant resident Canada goose populations. Early Canada goose 
seasons are currently allowed in 6 of 11 Pacific Flyway States 
excluding Alaska. Allowing a general season length of up to 15 days 
during September 1-20 and a bag limit of up to 5 Canada geese in all of 
the Pacific Flyway States except Alaska will simplify and standardize 
the early Canada goose season framework among Pacific Flyway States and 
provide a tool to help reduce or control the abundance of resident 
Canada geese in all Pacific Flyway States. The Flyway-wide framework is 
more consistent with the frameworks for other species and the special 
early Canada goose season frameworks in other Flyways.
B. Regular Seasons
    Council Recommendations: The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended 
that the opening and closing framework dates for all geese in the 
Mississippi Flyway be September 1 to February 15 beginning in 2016. 
They also recommended that the frameworks for Canada geese in the 
Mississippi Flyway, beginning in 2016, allow 107 days with up to a 5-
bird daily bag limit September 1-30 (except in the Intensive Harvest 
Zone in Minnesota, which may have up to a 10-bird daily bag limit) and 
a 3-bird daily bag limit for the remainder of the season. Seasons could 
be split into 4 segments.
    Service Response: As we have previously indicated (77 FR 58444, 
September 20, 2012), we support the Mississippi Flyway Council 
recommendations to move from State-specific frameworks to Flyway-wide 
Canada goose frameworks. Management of Canada geese in the Mississippi 
Flyway is complicated by the need to balance potentially conflicting 
objectives for arctic, subarctic, and temperate (resident) breeding 
populations. Increased abundance of temperate-breeding Canada geese has 
caused conflicts with people and human activities, and regulations have 
been gradually liberalized to increase harvest of such birds to reduce 
those conflicts. The Council believes that hunting is an important 
means of controlling goose populations in the Mississippi Flyway, but 
notes that Canada goose harvest has declined since 2006, even with 
recent liberalizations enacted in the flyway. The Council believes the 
recommended season structure will allow State managers additional 
flexibility in days, dates, and bag limits to meet management needs and 
the desires of goose hunters in their State, and we concur.
    We also agree with the Council's recommendation to adjust the 
opening and closing framework dates for all geese in the Mississippi 
Flyway to September 1 through February 15 beginning in 2016. The 
Council's recommendation to change the goose framework opening date 
from the Saturday nearest September 24 to September 1 is compatible 
with the recent change in our regulatory schedule that combines the 
early and late season regulations processes (see also 5. White-Fronted 
Geese and 7. Snow and Ross's (Light) Geese, below).
    Lastly, we note that the Council is developing a general Canada 
Goose Management Plan for the Flyway, which will incorporate aspects of 
existing management plans for migrant populations (Eastern Prairie 
Population (EPP), Mississippi Valley Population (MVP), and Southern 
James Bay Population (SJBP)) and the temperate-nesting Giant Canada 
Goose population. Although the Flyway no longer recognizes zones for 
EPP, MVP and SJBP populations, we note that portions of the SJBP 
population migrate to the Atlantic Flyway. Therefore, we urge the 
Mississippi Flyway Council to consult with the Atlantic Flyway Council 
as the general Canada goose management plan is being developed for the 
Mississippi Flyway.

5. White-Fronted Geese

    Council Recommendations: The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended 
that the opening and closing framework dates for all geese in the 
Mississippi Flyway be September 1 to February 15 beginning in 2016.
    Service Response: We agree with the Mississippi Flyway Council's 
recommendation to adjust the opening and closing framework dates for 
all geese in the Mississippi Flyway to September 1 through February 15 
beginning in 2016. Currently, framework dates for white-fronted geese 
are from the Saturday nearest September 24 to the Sunday nearest 
February 15. Adjusting the framework dates for other geese (snow and 
white-fronted geese) will allow States flexibility to open and/or close 
all goose seasons on the same date. Since the numbers of white-fronted 
geese present in the Mississippi Flyway in September are low, we expect 
no impacts from this change.

6. Brant

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommends 
that the 2016-17 season for Atlantic brant follow the Atlantic Flyway 
Brant Hunt plan pending the results of the 2016 Atlantic Flyway mid-
winter waterfowl survey. The Council also recommended that if the 
results of the 2016 mid-winter survey are not available, then the 
results of the most recent mid-winter survey should be used.
    Service Response: As we discussed in the August 6, 2015, proposed 
rule, the current harvest strategy used to determine the Atlantic brant 
season frameworks does not fit well within the new regulatory process, 
similar to the Rocky Mountain Population sandhill crane issue discussed 
below under 9. Sandhill Cranes. In developing the annual proposed 
frameworks for Atlantic brant in the past, the Atlantic Flyway Council 
and the Service used the number of brant counted during the Mid-winter 
Waterfowl Survey (MWS) in the Atlantic Flyway, and took into 
consideration the brant population's expected productivity that summer. 
The MWS is conducted each January, and expected brant productivity is 
based on early-summer observations of breeding habitat conditions and 
nesting effort in important brant nesting areas. Thus, the data under 
consideration were available before the annual Flyway and SRC decision-
making meetings took place in late July. Although the former regulatory 
alternatives for Atlantic brant were developed by factoring together 
long-term productivity rates (observed during November and December 
productivity surveys) with estimated observed harvest under different 
framework regulations, the primary decision-making criterion for 
selecting the annual frameworks was the MWS count.
    Under the new regulatory schedule for the 2016-17 migratory bird 
hunting regulations, neither the expected 2016 brant production 
information (available summer 2016) nor the 2016 MWS count (conducted 
in January 2016) was available at the time of the December 11, 2015, 
proposed rule. However, we stated at that time that the 2016 MWS would 
be completed and winter brant data would be available by the expected 
publication of the final frameworks. Therefore, in the September 24, 
2015, Federal Register (80 FR 57664), we adopted the Atlantic Flyway's 
changes to the then-current Atlantic brant hunt plan strategies. 
Current harvest packages (strategies) for Atlantic brant hunting 
seasons are as follows:
     If the mid-winter waterfowl survey (MWS) count is <100,000 
Atlantic brant, the season would be closed.
     If the MWS count is between 100,000 and 115,000 brant, 
States could select a 30-day season with a 1-bird daily bag limit.
     If the MWS count is between 115,000 and 130,000 brant, 
States could

[[Page 17307]]

select a 30-day season with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
     If the MWS count is between 130,000 and 150,000 brant, 
States could select a 50-day season with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
     If the MWS count is between 150,000 and 200,000 brant, 
States could select a 60-day season with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
     If the MWS count is >200,000 brant, States could select a 
60-day season with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
    Under all the above open-season alternatives, seasons would be 
between the Saturday nearest September 24 and January 31. Further, 
States could split their seasons into 2 segments.
    The recently completed 2016 MWS Atlantic brant count was 157,927 
brant. Thus, utilizing the above Atlantic brant hunt strategies, the 
appropriate Atlantic brant hunting season for the 2016-17 season is a 
60-day season with a 2-bird daily bag limit.

7. Snow and Ross's (Light) Geese

    Council Recommendations: The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended 
that the opening and closing framework dates for all geese in the 
Mississippi Flyway be September 1 to February 15 beginning in 2016.
    Service Response: As we stated above under 5. White-fronted Geese, 
we agree with the Mississippi Flyway Council's recommendation to adjust 
the opening and closing framework dates for all geese in the 
Mississippi Flyway to September 1 through February 15 beginning in 
2016. Currently, framework dates for snow geese are from the Saturday 
nearest September 24 to the Sunday nearest February 15. Adjusting the 
framework dates for other geese (light and white-fronted geese) will 
allow States flexibility to open and/or close all goose seasons on the 
same date. Since there are low numbers of snow geese present in the 
Mississippi Flyway in September, we expect no impacts from this change.

9. Sandhill Cranes

    Council Recommendations: The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended 
that Tennessee be allowed an additional year (2016-17) of their 
experimental sandhill crane hunting season under harvest guidelines set 
for their experimental season.
    The Central and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended (1) the 
addition of a new Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) sandhill crane 
hunting unit in Carbon County, Montana; (2) a new hunt area for RMP 
sandhill cranes in Sheridan, Johnson, and Natrona Counties, Wyoming; 
and (3) that allowable harvest be determined based on the formula 
described in the Pacific and Central Flyway Management Plan for RMP 
sandhill cranes.
    Service Response: We agree with the Mississippi Flyway Council to 
allow Tennessee an additional year under the existing experimental 
season. The Council notes that harvest during the first 2 years of the 
experiment was well below the permitted number, 342 and 393 cranes, 
respectively, in 2013 and 2014. The approved Tennessee sandhill crane 
hunt plan allows Tennessee to issue 775 hunters a total of 2,325 
permits (3 per person). This permit allocation was based on a peak 
number of cranes observed in Tennessee (23,334 during 2009-13), so the 
continued allotment of permits would still fall within guidelines set 
by the Eastern Population Crane Management Plan. While the 2015-16 
season marks the completion of Tennessee's experimental 3-year sandhill 
crane season, Tennessee will collect and analyze population and hunter 
data during the 2015-16 season and prepare a final report on the 
experimental season for distribution at the late summer 2016 Flyway 
meeting. We expect a proposal for an operational season will likely be 
made at that time.
    We also agree with the Central and Pacific Flyway Council's 
recommendation for new RMP sandhill crane hunting areas in Montana 
(Carbon County) and Wyoming (Sheridan, Johnson, and Natrona Counties). 
The new hunt areas are consistent with the Pacific and Central Flyway 
Council's RMP sandhill crane management plan hunting area requirements.
    Regarding the RMP crane harvest, as we discussed in the August 6, 
2015, and December 11, 2015, proposed rules, the current harvest 
strategy used to calculate the allowable harvest of the RMP of sandhill 
cranes does not fit well within the new regulatory process, similar to 
the Atlantic brant issue discussed above under 6. Brant. Currently, 
results of the fall survey of RMP sandhill cranes, upon which the 
annual allowable harvest is based, will continue to be released between 
December 15 and January 31 each year, which is after the date for which 
proposed frameworks will be formulated in the new regulatory process. 
If the usual procedures for determining allowable harvest were used, 
data 2-4 years old would be used to determine the annual allocation for 
RMP sandhill cranes. Due to the variability in fall survey counts and 
recruitment for this population, and their impact on the annual harvest 
allocations, we agree that relying on data that is 2-4 years old is not 
ideal.
    Thus, we agree that the formula to determine the annual allowable 
harvest for RMP sandhill cranes should be used under the new regulatory 
schedule and propose to utilize it as such. That formula uses 
information on abundance and recruitment collected annually through 
operational monitoring programs, as well as constant values based on 
past research or monitoring for survival of fledglings to breeding age 
and harvest retrieval rate. The formula is:

H = C x P x R x L x f

Where:

H = total annual allowable harvest;
C = the average of the three most recent, reliable fall population 
indices;
P = the average proportion of fledged chicks in the fall population 
in the San Luis Valley during the most recent 3 years for which data 
are available;
R = estimated recruitment of fledged chicks to breeding age (current 
estimate is 0.5);
L = retrieval rate of 0.80 (allowance for an estimated 20 percent 
crippling loss based on hunter interviews); and
f = (C/16,000)\3\ (a variable factor used to adjust the total 
harvest to achieve a desired effect on the entire population)

    The 2015 fall RMP sandhill crane abundance estimate was 24,330 
cranes, resulting in a 3-year (2013-15) average of 21,453 cranes, an 
increase from the previous 3-year average of 18,482 cranes. The RMP 
crane recruitment estimate was 11.8 percent fledglings in the fall 
population, resulting in a 3-year (2013-15) average of 9.56 percent, an 
increase from the previous 3-year average of 8.23 percent. Using the 
above formula and the above most recent 3-year average abundance and 
recruitment estimates, the allowable harvest for the 2016-17 season is 
1,978 cranes.

14. Woodcock

    In 2011, we implemented a harvest strategy for woodcock (76 FR 
19876, April 8, 2011). The harvest strategy provides a transparent 
framework for making regulatory decisions for woodcock season length 
and bag limit while we work to improve monitoring and assessment 
protocols for this species. Utilizing the criteria developed for the 
strategy, the 3-year average for the Singing Ground Survey indices and 
associated credible intervals fall within the ``moderate package'' for 
both the Eastern and Central Management Regions. As such, a ``moderate 
season'' for both management regions for the 2016-17 season is 
appropriate.
    Specifics of the harvest strategy can be found at https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewsPublicationsReports.html.

[[Page 17308]]

16. Doves

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway 
Councils recommended use of the ``standard'' season framework 
comprising a 90-day season and 15-bird daily bag limit for States 
within the Eastern Management Unit.
    The Mississippi and Central Flyway Councils recommended the use of 
the ``standard'' season package of a 15-bird daily bag limit and a 90-
day season for the 2016-17 mourning dove season in the States within 
the Central Management Unit.
    The Pacific Flyway Council recommended use of the ``standard'' 
season framework for States in the Western Management Unit (WMU) 
population of mourning doves.
    Service Response: Based on the harvest strategies and current 
population status, we agree with the recommended selection of the 
``standard'' season frameworks for mourning doves in the Eastern, 
Central, and Western Management Units for the 2016-17 season.

17. Alaska

    Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended 
increasing the daily bag limit for brant from 2 to 3, and increasing 
the daily bag limit for light geese from 4 to 6.
    Service Response: We agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's 
recommendation to increase the daily bag limit in Alaska from 2 to 3 
brant. The Flyway management plan for Pacific brant allows harvest to 
increase by two times the current level if the 3-year average 
population index exceeds 135,000 brant based on the mid-winter 
waterfowl survey. The 3-year (2013-2015) average is 157,700 brant, and 
is near the population objective of 162,000 brant. Increasing the daily 
bag limit from 2 to 3 brant will allow additional hunting opportunity 
while maintaining the season length at the maximum of 107 days for 
brant, and is not expected to increase harvest appreciably from that 
anticipated with a 2-brant daily bag limit.
    We also agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation to 
increase the light goose daily bag limit from 4 to 6 light geese in 
Alaska. Two populations of light geese occur in Alaska, and both are 
above Flyway management plan 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 (most 
recent estimate), which is above the objective of 200,000 geese. Most 
of WAP lesser snow geese nest in the Egg River colony on Banks Island, 
Canada, but there are small, but growing, nesting colonies along the 
Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska. In 2015, biologists noted high lesser 
snow goose nest survival (>95%) on the Colville River Delta and 
Ikpikpuk colonies on the Alaskan Arctic Coastal Plain. Biologists also 
noted earlier gosling development than any prior documented instance at 
the later colony. Favorable nesting conditions were also observed 
across much of the North Slope of Alaska and western Arctic. The 
population estimate for Wrangel Island snow geese was 240,000 in 2015, 
which is above the objective of 120,000 geese.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

    The programmatic document, ``Second Final Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement: Issuance of Annual Regulations 
Permitting the Sport Hunting of Migratory Birds (EIS 20130139),'' filed 
with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on May 24, 2013, 
addresses NEPA compliance by the Service for issuance of the annual 
framework regulations for hunting of migratory game bird species. We 
published a notice of availability in the Federal Register on May 31, 
2013 (78 FR 32686), and our Record of Decision on July 26, 2013 (78 FR 
45376). We also address NEPA compliance for waterfowl hunting 
frameworks through the annual preparation of separate environmental 
assessments, the most recent being ``Duck Hunting Regulations for 2016-
17,'' with its corresponding January 2016, finding of no significant 
impact. In addition, an August 1985 environmental assessment entitled 
``Guidelines for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations on Federal Indian 
Reservations and Ceded Lands'' is available from the person indicated 
under the caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Endangered Species Act Consideration

    Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), provides that, ``The Secretary shall review other 
programs administered by him and utilize such programs in furtherance 
of the purposes of this Act'' (and) shall ``insure that any action 
authorized, funded, or carried out * * * is not likely to jeopardize 
the continued existence of any endangered species or threatened species 
or result in the destruction or adverse modification of [critical] 
habitat. * * *.'' Consequently, we conducted formal consultations to 
ensure that actions resulting from these regulations would not likely 
jeopardize the continued existence of endangered or threatened species 
or result in the destruction or adverse modification of their critical 
habitat. Findings from these consultations are included in a biological 
opinion, which concluded that the regulations are not likely to 
jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered or threatened 
species. Additionally, these findings may have caused modification of 
some regulatory measures previously proposed, and the final frameworks 
reflect any such modifications. Our biological opinions resulting from 
this section 7 consultation are public documents available for public 
inspection at the address indicated under ADDRESSES.

Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Orders 12866 and 13563)

    Executive Order 12866 provides that the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) will review all significant rules. OIRA has 
reviewed this rule and has determined that this rule is significant 
because it would have an annual effect of $100 million or more on the 
economy.
    Executive Order 13563 reaffirms the principles of E.O. 12866 while 
calling for improvements in the nation's regulatory system to promote 
predictability, to reduce uncertainty, and to use the best, most 
innovative, and least burdensome tools for achieving regulatory ends. 
The executive order directs agencies to consider regulatory approaches 
that reduce burdens and maintain flexibility and freedom of choice for 
the public where these approaches are relevant, feasible, and 
consistent with regulatory objectives. E.O. 13563 emphasizes further 
that regulations must be based on the best available science and that 
the rulemaking process must allow for public participation and an open 
exchange of ideas. We have developed this rule in a manner consistent 
with these requirements.
    An updated economic analysis was prepared for the 2013-14 season. 
This analysis was based on data from the newly released 2011 National 
Hunting and Fishing Survey, the most recent year for which data are 
available (see discussion in Regulatory Flexibility Act section below). 
This analysis estimated consumer surplus for three alternatives for 
duck hunting (estimates for other species are not quantified due to 
lack of data). The alternatives were: (1) Issue restrictive regulations 
allowing fewer days than those issued during the 2012-13 season, (2) 
issue moderate regulations allowing more days than those in alternative 
1, and (3) issue

[[Page 17309]]

liberal regulations identical to the regulations in the 2012-13 season. 
For the 2013-14 season, we chose Alternative 3, with an estimated 
consumer surplus across all flyways of $317.8-$416.8 million. For the 
2016-17 season, we have also chosen alternative 3. We also chose 
alternative 3 for the 2009-10, the 2010-11, the 2011-12, the 2012-13, 
the 2014-15, and the 2015-16 seasons. The 2013-14 analysis is part of 
the record for this rule and is available at https://www.regulations.gov 
at Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2015-0034.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The annual migratory bird hunting regulations have a significant 
economic impact on substantial numbers of small entities under the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). We analyzed the 
economic impacts of the annual hunting regulations on small business 
entities in detail as part of the 1981 cost-benefit analysis. This 
analysis was revised annually from 1990-95. In 1995, the Service issued 
a Small Entity Flexibility Analysis (Analysis), which was subsequently 
updated in 1996, 1998, 2004, 2008, and 2013. The primary source of 
information about hunter expenditures for migratory game bird hunting 
is the National Hunting and Fishing Survey, which is conducted at 5-
year intervals. The 2013 Analysis was based on the 2011 National 
Hunting and Fishing Survey and the U.S. Department of Commerce's County 
Business Patterns, from which it was estimated that migratory bird 
hunters would spend approximately $1.5 billion at small businesses in 
2013. Copies of the Analysis are available upon request from the 
Division of Migratory Bird Management (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT) or from our Web site at https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds or 
at https://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2015-0034.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    This rule is a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. For the reasons outlined above, 
this rule will have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or 
more. However, because this rule establishes hunting seasons, we are 
not deferring the effective date under the exemption contained in 5 
U.S.C. 808(1).

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:
     1018-0019--North American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey 
(expires 5/31/2018).
     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.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    We have determined and certify, in compliance with the requirements 
of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, 2 U.S.C. 1502 et seq., that this 
rulemaking will not impose a cost of $100 million or more in any given 
year on local or State government or private entities. Therefore, this 
rule is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act.

Civil Justice Reform--Executive Order 12988

    The Department, in promulgating this rule, has determined that this 
rule will not unduly burden the judicial system and that it meets the 
requirements of sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988.

Takings Implication Assessment

    In accordance with Executive Order 12630, this rule, authorized by 
the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-711), does not have 
significant takings implications and does not affect any 
constitutionally protected property rights. This rule will not result 
in the physical occupancy of property, the physical invasion of 
property, or the regulatory taking of any property. In fact, this rule 
allows hunters to exercise otherwise unavailable privileges and, 
therefore, reduces restrictions on the use of private and public 
property.

Energy Effects--Executive Order 13211

    Executive Order 13211 requires agencies to prepare Statements of 
Energy Effects when undertaking certain actions. While this rule is a 
significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866, it is not 
expected to adversely affect energy supplies, distribution, or use. 
Therefore, this action is not a significant energy action and no 
Statement of Energy Effects is required.

Government-to-Government Relationship With Tribes

    In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994, 
``Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal 
Governments'' (59 FR 22951), Executive Order 13175, and 512 DM 2, we 
have evaluated possible effects on Federally recognized Indian tribes 
and have determined that there are no effects on Indian trust 
resources. However, in the August 6 Federal Register, we solicited 
proposals for special migratory bird hunting regulations for certain 
Tribes on Federal Indian reservations, off-reservation trust lands, and 
ceded lands for the 2016-17 migratory bird hunting season. The 
resulting proposals will be contained in a separate proposed rule. By 
virtue of these actions, we have consulted with affected Tribes.

Federalism Effects

    Due to the migratory nature of certain species of birds, the 
Federal Government has been given responsibility over these species by 
the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. We annually prescribe frameworks from 
which the States make selections regarding the hunting of migratory 
birds, and we employ guidelines to establish special regulations on 
Federal Indian reservations and ceded lands. This process preserves the 
ability of the States and tribes to determine which seasons meet their 
individual needs. Any State or Indian tribe may be more restrictive 
than the Federal frameworks at any time. The frameworks are developed 
in a cooperative process with the States and the Flyway Councils. This 
process allows States to participate in the development of frameworks 
from which they will make selections, thereby having an influence on 
their own regulations. These rules do not have a substantial direct 
effect on fiscal capacity, change the roles or responsibilities of 
Federal or State governments, or intrude on State policy or 
administration. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 13132, 
these regulations do not have significant federalism effects and do not 
have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a 
federalism summary impact statement.

Regulations Promulgation

    The rulemaking process for migratory game bird hunting, by its 
nature, operates under a time constraint as seasons must be established 
each year or hunting seasons remain closed. However, we intend that the 
public be provided extensive opportunity for

[[Page 17310]]

public input and involvement in compliance with Administrative 
Procedure Act requirements. Thus, when the preliminary proposed 
rulemaking was published, we established what we believed were the 
longest periods possible for public comment and the most opportunities 
for public involvement. We also provided notification of our 
participation in multiple Flyway Council meetings, opportunities for 
additional public review and comment on all Flyway Council proposals 
for regulatory change, and opportunities for additional public review 
during the SRC meeting. Therefore, we believe that sufficient public 
notice and opportunity for involvement have been given to affected 
persons regarding the migratory bird hunting frameworks for the 2016-17 
hunting seasons.
    Further, after establishment of the final frameworks, States need 
sufficient time to conduct their own public processes to select season 
dates and limits; to communicate those selections to us; and to 
establish and publicize the necessary regulations and procedures to 
implement their decisions Thus, we believe that if there were a delay 
in the effective date of these regulations after this final rulemaking, 
States might not be able to meet their own administrative needs and 
requirements.
    For the reasons cited above, we therefore find that ``good cause'' 
exists, within the terms of 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) of the Administrative 
Procedure Act, and these frameworks will, therefore, take effect 
immediately upon publication.
    Therefore, under authority of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (July 
3, 1918), as amended (16 U.S.C. 703-711), we prescribe final frameworks 
setting forth the species to be hunted, the daily bag and possession 
limits, the shooting hours, the season lengths, the earliest opening 
and latest closing season dates, and hunting areas, from which State 
conservation agency officials will select hunting season dates and 
other options. Upon receipt of season selections from these officials, 
we will publish a final rulemaking amending 50 CFR part 20 to reflect 
seasons, limits, and shooting hours for the United States for the 2016-
17 seasons.

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 2016-17 
hunting seasons are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 703-712 and 16 U.S.C. 
742 a-j.

    Dated: March 11, 2016.
Michael J. Bean,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

Final Regulations Frameworks for 2016-17 Hunting Seasons on Certain 
Migratory Game Birds

    Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and delegated 
authorities, the Department of the Interior approved the following 
frameworks for season lengths, shooting hours, bag and possession 
limits, and outside dates within which States may select seasons for 
hunting migratory game birds between the dates of September 1, 2016, 
and March 10, 2017. 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.

Duck Management Units

    High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Roughly defined as that 
portion of the Central Flyway that lies west of the 100th meridian.
    Columbia Basin Mallard Management Unit: In Washington, all areas 
east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of the Big White Salmon River 
in Klickitat County; and in Oregon, the counties of Gilliam, Morrow, 
and Umatilla.

Mourning Dove Management Units

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

Woodcock Management Regions

    Eastern Management Region: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, 
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 
North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, 
Virginia, and West Virginia.
    Central Management Region: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, 
Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,

[[Page 17311]]

Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, 
Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.
    Other geographic descriptions are contained in a later portion of 
this document.

Definitions

    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 
Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington, and the Atlantic Flyway), and 
all other goose species except light geese.
    Light geese: Snow (including blue) geese and Ross's geese.
    Area, Zone, and Unit Descriptions: Geographic descriptions related 
to 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: States may use their established 
definition of age for youth hunters. However, youth hunters may not be 
over the age of 17. 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. Youth hunters 16 years of age and older must possess a Federal 
Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (also known as Federal 
Duck Stamp). Tundra swans may only be taken by participants possessing 
applicable tundra swan permits.

Special September Teal Season

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

Special September Duck Seasons

    Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee: In lieu of a special September 
teal season, a 5-consecutive-day teal/wood duck season may be selected 
in September. The daily bag limit may not exceed 6 teal and wood ducks 
in the aggregate, of which no more than 2 may be wood ducks. In 
addition, a 4-consecutive-day experimental teal-only season may be 
selected in September either immediately before or immediately after 
the 5-consecutive-day teal/wood duck season. The daily bag limit is 6 
teal.
    Iowa: In lieu of an experimental special September teal season, 
Iowa may hold up to 5 days of its regular duck hunting season in 
September. All ducks that are legal during the regular duck season may 
be taken during the September segment of the season. The September 
season segment may commence no earlier than the Saturday nearest 
September 20 (September 17). The daily bag and possession limits will 
be the same as those in effect during the remainder of the regular duck 
season. The remainder of the regular duck season may not begin before 
October 10.

Waterfowl

Atlantic Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots
    Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 
24) and the last Sunday in January (January 29).
    Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: 60 days. The daily bag limit is 6 
ducks, including no more than 4 mallards (no more than 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, 2 canvasbacks, 4 
scoters, 4 eiders, and 4 long-tailed ducks.
    Closures: The season on harlequin ducks is closed.
    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 2 of which may be hooded mergansers.
    Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
    Lake Champlain Zone, New York: The waterfowl seasons, limits, and 
shooting hours should be the same as those selected for the Lake 
Champlain Zone of Vermont.
    Connecticut River Zone, Vermont: The waterfowl seasons, limits, and 
shooting hours should be the same as those selected for the Inland Zone 
of New Hampshire.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, 
North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, and West 
Virginia may split their seasons into three segments; Connecticut, 
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 
Pennsylvania, and Vermont may select hunting seasons by zones and may 
split their seasons into two segments in each zone.
Scoters, Eiders, and Long-Tailed Ducks
Special Sea Duck Seasons
    Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New

[[Page 17312]]

Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South 
Carolina, and Virginia may select a Special Sea Duck Season in 
designated Special Sea Duck Areas. If a Special Sea Duck Season is 
selected, scoters, eiders, and long-tailed ducks may be taken in the 
designated Special Sea Duck Area(s) only during the Special Sea Duck 
Season dates; scoter, eiders, and long-tailed ducks may be taken 
outside of Special Sea Duck Area(s) during the regular duck season, in 
accordance with the frameworks for ducks, mergansers, and coots 
specified above.
    Outside Dates: Between September 15 and January 31.
    Special Sea Duck Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: 60 consecutive 
hunting days, or 60 days that are concurrent with the regular duck 
season, with a daily bag limit of 5, singly or in the aggregate, of the 
listed sea duck species, including no more than 4 scoters, 4 eiders, 
and 4 long-tailed 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 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, 4 eiders, and 4 
long-tailed ducks) and possession limits.
    Special Sea Duck Areas: In all coastal waters and all waters of 
rivers and streams seaward from the first upstream bridge in Maine, New 
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York; in 
New Jersey, all coastal waters seaward from the International 
Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) Demarcation 
Lines shown on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 
Nautical Charts and further described in 33 CFR 80.165, 80.501, 80.502, 
and 80.503; in any waters of the Atlantic Ocean and in any tidal waters 
of any bay that are separated by at least 1 mile of open water from any 
shore, island, and emergent vegetation in South Carolina and Georgia; 
and in any waters of the Atlantic Ocean and in any tidal waters of any 
bay that are separated by at least 800 yards of open water from any 
shore, island, and emergent vegetation in Delaware, Maryland, North 
Carolina, and Virginia; and provided that any such areas have been 
described, delineated, and designated as special sea duck hunting areas 
under the hunting regulations adopted by the respective States.
Canada Geese
Special Early Canada Goose Seasons
    A Canada goose season of up to 15 days during September 1-15 may be 
selected for the Eastern Unit of Maryland. Seasons not to exceed 30 
days during September 1-30 may be selected for Connecticut, Florida, 
Georgia, New Jersey, New York (Long Island Zone only), North Carolina, 
Rhode Island, and South Carolina. Seasons may not exceed 25 days during 
September 1-25 in the remainder of the Flyway. Areas open to the 
hunting of Canada geese must be described, delineated, and designated 
as such in each State's hunting regulations.
    Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 15 Canada geese.
    Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except that 
during any special early Canada goose season, shooting hours may extend 
to one-half hour after sunset if all other waterfowl seasons are closed 
in the specific applicable area.
Regular Canada Goose Seasons
    Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: Specific regulations for 
Canada geese are shown below by State. These seasons may also include 
white-fronted geese in an aggregate daily bag limit. Unless specified 
otherwise, seasons may be split into two segments.
    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:
    AP Zone: A 50-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in 
October (October 22) and February 5, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
    RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday 
in October (October 22) and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. 
The season may be split into 3 segments.
    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.
    AP Zone: A 50-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in 
October (October 22), except in the Lake Champlain Area where the 
opening date is October 10, through 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 24) and March 10, with an 
8-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments.
    Rest of State RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between the 
fourth Saturday in October (October 22) and March 10, with a 5-bird 
daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments.
    North Carolina:
    SJBP Zone: A 70-day season may be held between October 1 and 
December 31, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
    RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and March 
10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 
segments.
    Northeast Hunt Unit: A 14-day season may be held between the 
Saturday prior

[[Page 17313]]

to December 25 (December 24) 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 1) 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 22) 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 22) 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 60-
day season between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24) and 
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.

Mississippi Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots
    Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 
24) and the last Sunday in January (January 29).
    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, 2 canvasbacks, 3 scaup, and 2 redheads.
    Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit is 5, only 2 of which may be 
hooded mergansers. In States that include mergansers in the duck bag 
limit, the daily limit is the same as the duck bag limit, only 2 of 
which may be hooded mergansers.
    Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, 
Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and 
Wisconsin may select hunting seasons by zones.
    In Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, 
Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, the season may be split into 
two segments in each zone.
    In Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi, the season may be split into 
three segments.
Geese
Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits
    Canada Geese: States may select seasons for Canada geese not to 
exceed 107 days with a 5-bird daily bag limit September 1-30 (except in 
the Intensive Harvest Zone in Minnesota, which may have up to a 10-bird 
daily bag limit) and a 3-bird daily bag limit for the remainder of the 
season. Seasons may be held between September 1 and February 15 and may 
be split into 4 segments.
    White-fronted Geese and Brant: Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, 
Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, and Tennessee may select a season for 
white-fronted geese not to exceed 74 days with 3 geese daily, or 88 
days with 2 geese daily, or 107 days with 1 goose daily between 
September 1 and February 15; Alabama, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, 
Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin may select a season for white-fronted 
geese not to exceed 107 days with 5 geese daily, in aggregate with dark 
geese between September 1 and February 15. States may select a season 
for brant not to exceed 70 days with 2 brant daily, or 107 days with 1 
brant daily with outside dates the same as for Canada geese; 
alternately, States may include brant in an aggregate goose bag limit 
with either Canada geese, white-fronted geese, or dark geese.
    Light Geese: States may select seasons for light geese not to 
exceed 107 days, with 20 geese daily between the September 1 and 
February 15. There is no possession limit for light geese.
    Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except that 
during September 1-15 shooting hours may extend to one-half hour after 
sunset for Canada geese if all other waterfowl and crane seasons are 
closed in the specific applicable area.
    Split Seasons: Seasons for geese may be split into three segments 
unless otherwise indicated.

Central Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots
    Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 
24) and the last Sunday in January (January 29).
Hunting Seasons
    High Plains Mallard Management Unit (roughly defined as that 
portion of the Central Flyway that 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 10).
    Remainder of the Central Flyway: 74 days.
    Duck 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 2 
canvasbacks. 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

[[Page 17314]]

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
Special Early Canada Goose Seasons
    In Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas, Canada 
goose seasons of up to 30 days during September 1-30 may be selected. 
In Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming, Canada 
goose seasons of up to 15 days during September 1-15 may be selected. 
The daily bag limit may not exceed 5 Canada geese, except in Kansas, 
Nebraska, and Oklahoma, where the daily bag limit may not exceed 8 
Canada geese and in North Dakota and South Dakota, where the daily bag 
limit may not exceed 15 Canada geese. Areas open to the hunting of 
Canada geese must be described, delineated, and designated as such in 
each State's hunting regulations.
    Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except that 
during September 1-15 shooting hours may extend to one-half hour after 
sunset if all other waterfowl and crane seasons are closed in the 
specific applicable area.
Regular Goose Seasons
    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 24) and 
the Sunday nearest February 15 (February 12). For light geese, outside 
dates for seasons may be selected between the Saturday nearest 
September 24 (September 24) 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.
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 3, or an 88-day season with a bag limit of 2, or a 
season of 107 days 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 2.

Pacific Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots
    Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 
24) and the last Sunday in January (January 29).
    Hunting Seasons and Duck and Merganser Limits: 107 days. The daily 
bag limit is 7 ducks and mergansers, including no more than 2 female 
mallards, 2 pintails, 2 canvasbacks, 3 scaup, and 2 redheads. For 
scaup, the season length is 86 days, which may be split according to 
applicable zones and split duck hunting configurations approved for 
each State.
    Coot, Common Moorhen, and Purple Gallinule Limits: The daily bag 
limit of coots, common moorhens, and purple gallinules is 25, singly or 
in the aggregate.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, 
Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming may select hunting 
seasons by zones and may split their seasons into two segments.
    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
Special Early Canada Goose Seasons
    A Canada goose season of up to 15 days during September 1-20 may be 
selected. The daily bag limit may not exceed 5 Canada geese, except in 
Pacific County, Washington, where the daily bag limit may not exceed 15 
Canada geese. Areas open to hunting of Canada geese in each State must 
be described, delineated, and designated as such in each State's 
hunting regulations.
Regular Goose Seasons
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 24) and the last Sunday in January (January 
29). In Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Utah, the daily 
bag limit is 4 Canada geese and brant in the aggregate. In New Mexico 
and Wyoming, the daily bag limit is 3 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 37-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 24) 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 24) and March 10. The 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 24) 
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 (January 29) should be concurrent with Oregon's South Coast 
Zone.

[[Page 17315]]

    Idaho:
    Zone 2: Idaho will continue to monitor the snow goose hunt that 
occurs after the last Sunday in January (January 29) in the American 
Falls Reservoir/Fort Hall Bottoms and surrounding areas at 3-year 
intervals.
    Oregon: The daily bag limit for light geese is 6 on or before the 
last Sunday in January (January 29).
    Harney and Lake County Zone: For Lake County only, the daily white-
fronted goose bag limit is 1.
    Northwest Permit Zone: A Canada goose season may be selected with 
outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24) 
and March 10. Goose seasons may be split into 3 segments. The daily bag 
limit of light geese is 6. In the Tillamook County Management Area, the 
hunting season is closed on geese.
    South Coast Zone: A Canada goose season may be selected with 
outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24) 
and March 10. The daily bag limit of Canada geese is 6. Hunting days 
that occur after the last Sunday in January (January 29) should be 
concurrent with California's North Coast Special Management Area. Goose 
seasons 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 24) and the first Sunday 
in February (February 5).
    Washington: The daily bag limit is 4 geese.
    Area 1: Goose season outside dates are between the Saturday nearest 
September 24 (September 24) and the last Sunday in January (January 
29).
    Areas 2A and 2B (Southwest Permit Zone): A Canada goose season may 
be selected with outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 
24 (September 24) and March 10. Goose seasons may be split into 3 
segments.
    Area 4: Goose seasons may be split into 3 segments.
Permit Zones
    In Oregon and Washington permit zones, the hunting season is closed 
on dusky Canada geese. A dusky Canada goose is any dark-breasted Canada 
goose (Munsell 10 YR color value five or less) with a bill length 
between 40 and 50 millimeters. Hunting of geese will only be by hunters 
possessing a State-issued permit authorizing them to do so. Shooting 
hours for geese may begin no earlier than sunrise. Regular Canada goose 
seasons in the permit zones of Oregon and Washington remain subject to 
the Memorandum of Understanding entered into with the Service regarding 
monitoring the impacts of take during the regular Canada goose season 
on the dusky Canada goose population.
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 issue only 1 
permit per hunter. Each State's season may open no earlier than the 
Saturday nearest October 1 (October 1). 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 11) 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 2003, 
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 8) 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 hunter compliance rate, or subsequent permits will be reduced 
by 10 percent. All three States must provide to the Service by June 30, 
2017, 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 1) 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.
Sandhill Cranes
Regular Seasons in the Mississippi Flyway
    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and February 28 in Minnesota, 
and between September 1 and January 31 in Kentucky.
    Hunting Seasons: A season not to exceed 37 consecutive days may be 
selected in the designated portion of northwestern Minnesota (Northwest 
Goose Zone), and a season not to exceed 60 consecutive days, in 
Kentucky.
    Daily Bag Limit: 2 sandhill cranes. In Kentucky, the seasonal bag 
limit is 3 sandhill cranes.
    Permits: Each person participating in the regular sandhill crane 
seasons must have a valid Federal or State sandhill crane hunting 
permit.
    Other Provisions: The number of permits (where applicable), open 
areas,

[[Page 17316]]

season dates, protection plans for other species, and other provisions 
of seasons must be consistent with the management plans and approved by 
the Mississippi Flyway Council.
Experimental Season in the Mississippi Flyway
    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons: A season not to exceed 60 consecutive days may be 
selected in Tennessee.
    Bag Limit: Not to exceed 3 daily and 3 per season in Tennessee.
    Permits: Each person participating in the regular sandhill crane 
season must have a valid Federal or State sandhill crane hunting 
permit.
    Other Provisions: Numbers of permits, open areas, season dates, 
protection plans for other species, and other provisions of seasons 
must be consistent with the management plan and approved by the 
Mississippi Flyway Council.
Regular Seasons in the Central Flyway
    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and February 28.
    Hunting Seasons: Seasons not to exceed 37 consecutive days may be 
selected in designated portions of Texas (Area 2). Seasons not to 
exceed 58 consecutive days may be selected in designated portions of 
the following States: Colorado, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, South 
Dakota, and Wyoming. Seasons not to exceed 93 consecutive days may be 
selected in designated portions of the following States: New Mexico, 
Oklahoma, and Texas.
    Daily Bag Limits: 3 sandhill cranes, except 2 sandhill cranes in 
designated portions of North Dakota (Area 2) and Texas (Area 2).
    Permits: Each person participating in the regular sandhill crane 
season must have a valid Federal or State sandhill crane hunting 
permit.
Special Seasons in the Central and Pacific Flyways
    Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming 
may select seasons for hunting sandhill cranes within the range of the 
Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) subject to the following conditions:
    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons: The season in any State or zone may not exceed 30 
consecutive days.
    Bag limits: Not to exceed 3 daily and 9 per season.
    Permits: Participants must have a valid permit, issued by the 
appropriate State, in their possession while hunting.
    Other Provisions: Numbers of permits, open areas, season dates, 
protection plans for other species, and other provisions of seasons 
must be consistent with the management plan and approved by the Central 
and Pacific Flyway Councils, with the following exceptions:
    A. In Utah, 100 percent of the harvest will be assigned to the RMP 
quota;
    B. In Arizona, monitoring the racial composition of the harvest 
must be conducted at 3-year intervals;
    C. In Idaho, 100 percent of the harvest will be assigned to the RMP 
quota; and
    D. In New Mexico, the season in the Estancia Valley is 
experimental, with a requirement to monitor the level and racial 
composition of the harvest; greater sandhill cranes in the harvest will 
be assigned to the RMP quota.
Common Moorhens and Purple Gallinules
    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and the last Sunday in January 
(January 29) in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways. States 
in the Pacific Flyway have been allowed to select their hunting seasons 
between the outside dates for the season on ducks, mergansers, and 
coots; therefore, frameworks for common moorhens and purple gallinules 
are included with the duck, merganser, and coot frameworks.
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Seasons may not exceed 70 
days in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways. Seasons may be 
split into 2 segments. The daily bag limit is 15 common moorhens and 
purple gallinules, singly or in the aggregate of the two species.
    Zoning: Seasons may be selected by zones established for duck 
hunting.
Rails
    Outside Dates: States included herein may select seasons between 
September 1 and the last Sunday in January (January 29) on clapper, 
king, sora, and Virginia rails.
    Hunting Seasons: Seasons may not exceed 70 days, and may be split 
into 2 segments.
Daily Bag Limits
    Clapper and King Rails: In Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New 
Jersey, and Rhode Island, 10, singly or in the aggregate of the two 
species. In Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia, 15, singly or in the 
aggregate of the two species.
    Sora and Virginia Rails: In the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central 
Flyways and the Pacific Flyway portions of Colorado, Montana, New 
Mexico, and Wyoming, 25 rails, singly or in the aggregate of the two 
species. The season is closed in the remainder of the Pacific Flyway.
Snipe
    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and February 28, except in 
Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, 
New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia, where the 
season must end no later than January 31.
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Seasons may not exceed 107 
days and may be split into two segments. The daily bag limit is 8 
snipe.
    Zoning: Seasons may be selected by zones established for duck 
hunting.
American Woodcock
    Outside Dates: States in the Eastern Management Region may select 
hunting seasons between October 1 and January 31. States in the Central 
Management Region may select hunting seasons between the Saturday 
nearest September 22 (September 24) and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Seasons may not exceed 45 
days in the Eastern and Central Regions. The daily bag limit is 3. 
Seasons may be split into two segments.
    Zoning: New Jersey may select seasons in each of two zones. The 
season in each zone may not exceed 36 days.
Band-Tailed Pigeons
Pacific Coast States (California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada)
    Outside Dates: Between September 15 and January 1.
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 9 consecutive 
days, with a daily bag limit of 2.
    Zoning: California may select hunting seasons not to exceed 9 
consecutive days in each of two zones. The season in the North Zone 
must close by October 3.
Four-Corners States (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah)
    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and November 30.
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 14 consecutive 
days, with a daily bag limit of 2.
    Zoning: New Mexico may select hunting seasons not to exceed 14 
consecutive days in each of two zones. The season in the South Zone may 
not open until October 1.
Doves
    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 15, except as 
otherwise

[[Page 17317]]

provided, States may select hunting seasons and daily bag limits as 
follows:
Eastern Management Unit
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 90 days, with a 
daily bag limit of 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: States may select hunting seasons in each 
of two zones. The season within each zone may be split into not more 
than three periods. Regulations for bag and possession limits, season 
length, and shooting hours must be uniform within specific hunting 
zones.
Central Management Unit
    For all States except Texas:
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 90 days, with a 
daily bag limit of 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: States may select hunting seasons in each 
of two zones. The season within each zone may be split into not more 
than three periods.
Texas
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 90 days, with a 
daily bag limit of 15 mourning, white-winged, and white-tipped doves in 
the aggregate, of which no more than 2 may be white-tipped doves.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Texas may select hunting seasons for each 
of three zones subject to the following conditions:
    A. The hunting season may be split into not more than two periods, 
except in that portion of Texas in which the special white-winged dove 
season is allowed, where a limited take of mourning and white-tipped 
doves may also occur during that special season (see Special White-
Winged Dove Area).
    B. A season may be selected for the North and Central Zones between 
September 1 and January 25; and for the South Zone between the Friday 
nearest September 20 (September 23), but not earlier than September 17, 
and January 25.
    C. Except as noted above, regulations for bag and possession 
limits, season length, and shooting hours must be uniform within each 
hunting zone.
    Special White-Winged Dove Area in Texas: In addition, Texas may 
select a hunting season of not more than 4 days for the Special White-
Winged Dove Area of the South Zone between September 1 and September 
19. The daily bag limit may not exceed 15 white-winged, mourning, and 
white-tipped doves in the aggregate, of which no more than 2 may be 
mourning doves and no more than 2 may be white-tipped doves.
Western Management Unit
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits
    Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington: Not more than 60 
consecutive days, with a daily bag limit of 15 mourning and white-
winged doves in the aggregate.
    Arizona and California: Not more than 60 days, which may be split 
between two periods, September 1-15 and November 1-January 15. In 
Arizona, during the first segment of the season, the daily bag limit is 
15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate, of which no more 
than 10 could be white-winged doves. During the remainder of the 
season, the daily bag limit is 15 mourning doves. In California, the 
daily bag limit is 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate, 
of which no more than 10 could be white-winged doves.
Alaska
    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 26.
    Hunting Seasons: Alaska may select 107 consecutive days for 
waterfowl, sandhill cranes, and common snipe in each of 5 zones. The 
season may be split without penalty in the Kodiak Zone. The seasons in 
each zone must be concurrent.
    Closures: The hunting season is closed on emperor geese, spectacled 
eiders, and Steller's eiders.
Daily Bag and Possession Limits
    Ducks: Except as noted, a basic daily bag limit of 7 ducks. Daily 
bag limits in the North Zone are 10, and in the Gulf Coast Zone, they 
are 8. The basic limits may include no more than 1 canvasback daily and 
may not include sea ducks.
    In addition to the basic duck limits, Alaska may select sea duck 
limits of 10 daily, singly or in the aggregate, including no more than 
6 each of either harlequin or long-tailed ducks. Sea ducks include 
scoters, common and king eiders, harlequin ducks, long-tailed ducks, 
and common and red-breasted mergansers.
    Light Geese: The daily bag limit is 6.
    Canada Geese: The daily bag limit is 4 with the following 
exceptions:
    A. In Units 5 and 6, the taking of Canada geese is permitted from 
September 28 through December 16.
    B. On Middleton Island in Unit 6, a special, permit-only Canada 
goose season may be offered. A mandatory goose identification class is 
required. Hunters must check in and check out. The bag limit is 1 daily 
and 1 in possession. The season will close if incidental harvest 
includes 5 dusky Canada geese. A dusky Canada goose is any dark-
breasted Canada goose (Munsell 10 YR color value five or less) with a 
bill length between 40 and 50 millimeters.
    C. In Units 9, 10, 17, and 18, the daily bag limit is 6 Canada 
geese.
    White-fronted Geese: The daily bag limit is 4 with the following 
exceptions:
    A. In Units 9, 10, and 17, the daily bag limit is 6 white-fronted 
geese.
    B. In Unit 18, the daily bag limit is 10 white-fronted geese.
    Brant: The daily bag limit is 3.
    Snipe: The daily bag limit is 8.
    Sandhill cranes: The daily bag limit is 2 in the Southeast, Gulf 
Coast, Kodiak, and Aleutian Zones, and Unit 17 in the North Zone. In 
the remainder of the North Zone (outside Unit 17), the daily bag limit 
is 3.
    Tundra Swans: Open seasons for tundra swans may be selected subject 
to the following conditions:
    A. All seasons are by registration permit only.
    B. All season framework dates are September 1-October 31.
    C. In Unit 17, no more than 200 permits may be issued during this 
operational season. No more than 3 tundra swans may be authorized per 
permit, with no more than 1 permit issued per hunter per season.
    D. In Unit 18, no more than 500 permits may be issued during the 
operational season. No more than 3 tundra swans may be authorized per 
permit. No more than 1 permit may be issued per hunter per season.
    E. In Unit 22, no more than 300 permits may be issued during the 
operational season. No more than 3 tundra swans may be authorized per 
permit. No more than 1 permit may be issued per hunter per season.
    F. In Unit 23, no more than 300 permits may be issued during the 
operational season. No more than 3 tundra swans may be authorized per 
permit. No more than 1 permit may be issued per hunter per season.
Hawaii
    Outside Dates: Between October 1 and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons: Not more than 65 days (75 under the alternative) 
for mourning doves.
    Bag Limits: Not to exceed 15 (12 under the alternative) mourning 
doves.

    Note: Mourning doves may be taken in Hawaii in accordance with 
shooting hours and other regulations set by the State of Hawaii, and 
subject to the applicable provisions of 50 CFR part 20.


[[Page 17318]]



Puerto Rico

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

Virgin Islands

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

Special Falconry Regulations

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

Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions

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.
Maryland
    Special Teal Season Area: Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, 
Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, 
and Worcester Counties; that part of Anne Arundel County east of 
Interstate 895, Interstate 97, and Route 3; that part of Prince 
George's County east of Route 3 and Route 301; and that part of Charles 
County east of Route 301 to the Virginia State Line.
Massachusetts
    Western Zone: That portion of the State west of a line extending 
south from the Vermont State line on I-91 to MA 9, west on MA 9 to MA 
10, south on MA 10 to U.S. 202, south on U.S. 202 to the Connecticut 
State line.
    Central Zone: That portion of the State east of the Berkshire Zone 
and west of a line extending south from the New Hampshire State line on 
I-95 to U.S. 1, south on U.S. 1 to I-93, south on I-93 to MA 3, south 
on MA 3 to U.S. 6, west on U.S. 6 to MA 28, west on MA 28 to I-195, 
west to the Rhode Island State line; except the waters, and the lands 
150 yards inland from the high-water mark, of the Assonet River 
upstream to the MA 24 bridge, and the Taunton River upstream to the 
Center 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. 25-A 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,

[[Page 17319]]

north on Rte. 113-A to Rte. 113 in Tamworth, east on Rte. 113 to Rte. 
16 in Chocorua, north on Rte. 16 to Rte. 302 in Conway, east on Rte. 
302 to the Maine-New Hampshire border.
    Inland Zone: That portion of the State south and west of the 
Northern Zone, west of the Coastal Zone, and includes the area of 
Vermont and New Hampshire as described for hunting reciprocity. A 
person holding a New Hampshire hunting license that allows the taking 
of migratory waterfowl or a person holding a Vermont resident hunting 
license that allows the taking of migratory waterfowl may take 
migratory waterfowl and coots from the following designated area of the 
Inland Zone: The State of Vermont east of 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 New Hampshire west of Rte. 63 at the 
Massachusetts border, north on Rte. 63 to Rte. 12, north on Rte. 12 to 
Rte. 12-A, north on Rte. 12-A 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 U.S. 2; east along U.S. 2 
to VT 102; north along VT 102 to VT 253; north along VT 253 to the 
Canadian border.
    Connecticut River Zone: The remaining portion of Vermont east of 
the Interior Zone.

Mississippi Flyway

Illinois
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending 
west from the Indiana border along Peotone-Beecher Road to Illinois 
Route 50, south along Illinois Route 50 to Wilmington-Peotone Road, 
west along Wilmington-Peotone Road to Illinois Route 53, north along 
Illinois Route 53 to New River Road, northwest along New River Road to 
Interstate Highway 55, south along I-55 to Pine Bluff-Lorenzo Road, 
west along Pine Bluff-Lorenzo Road to Illinois Route 47, north along 
Illinois Route 47 to I-80, west along I-80 to I-39, south along I-39 to 
Illinois Route 18, west along Illinois Route 18 to Illinois Route 29, 
south along Illinois Route 29 to Illinois Route 17, west along Illinois 
Route 17 to the Mississippi River, and due south across the Mississippi 
River to the Iowa border.
    Central Zone: That portion of the State south of the North Duck 
Zone line to a line extending west from the Indiana border along I-70 
to Illinois Route 4, south along Illinois Route 4 to Illinois Route 
161, west along Illinois Route 161 to Illinois Route 158, south and 
west along Illinois Route 158 to Illinois Route 159, south along 
Illinois Route 159 to Illinois Route 3, south along Illinois Route 3 to 
St. Leo's Road, south along St. Leo's Road to Modoc Road, west along 
Modoc Road to Modoc Ferry Road, southwest along Modoc Ferry Road to 
Levee Road, southeast along Levee Road to County Route 12 (Modoc Ferry 
entrance Road), south along County Route 12 to the Modoc Ferry route 
and southwest on the Modoc Ferry route across the Mississippi River to 
the Missouri border.
    South Zone: That portion of the State south and east of a line 
extending west from the Indiana border along Interstate 70, south along 
U.S. Highway 45, to Illinois Route 13, west along Illinois Route 13 to 
Greenbriar Road, north on

[[Page 17320]]

Greenbriar Road to Sycamore Road, west on Sycamore Road to N. Reed 
Station Road, south on N. Reed Station Road to Illinois Route 13, west 
along Illinois Route 13 to Illinois Route 127, south along Illinois 
Route 127 to State Forest Road (1025 N), west along State Forest Road 
to Illinois Route 3, north along Illinois Route 3 to the south bank of 
the Big Muddy River, west along the south bank of the Big Muddy River 
to the Mississippi River, west across the Mississippi River to the 
Missouri border.
    South Central Zone: The remainder of the State between the south 
border of the Central Zone and the North border of the South Zone.
Indiana
    North Zone: That part of Indiana north of a line extending east 
from the Illinois border along State Road 18 to U.S. 31; north along 
U.S. 31 to U.S. 24; east along U.S. 24 to Huntington; southeast along 
U.S. 224; south along State Road 5; and east along State Road 124 to 
the Ohio border.
    Central Zone: That part of Indiana south of the North Zone boundary 
and north of the South Zone boundary.
    South Zone: That part of Indiana south of a line extending east 
from the Illinois border along U.S. 40; south along U.S. 41; east along 
State Road 58; south along State Road 37 to Bedford; and east along 
U.S. 50 to the Ohio border.
Iowa
    North Zone: That portion of Iowa north of a line beginning on the 
South Dakota-Iowa border at Interstate 29, southeast along Interstate 
29 to State Highway 175, east along State Highway 175 to State Highway 
37, southeast along State Highway 37 to State Highway 183, northeast 
along State Highway 183 to State Highway 141, east along State Highway 
141 to U.S. Highway 30, and along U.S. Highway 30 to the Illinois 
border.
    Missouri River Zone: That portion of Iowa west of a line beginning 
on the South Dakota-Iowa border at Interstate 29, southeast along 
Interstate 29 to State Highway 175, and west along State Highway 175 to 
the Iowa-Nebraska border.
    South Zone: The remainder of Iowa.
Kentucky
    West Zone: All counties west of and including Butler, Daviess, 
Ohio, Simpson, and Warren Counties.
    East Zone: The remainder of Kentucky.
Louisiana
    East Zone: That area of the State between the Mississippi State 
line and a line going south on Hwy 79 from the Arkansas border to 
Homer, then south on Hwy 9 to Arcadia, then south on Hwy 147 to Hodge, 
then south on Hwy 167 to Turkey Creek, then south on Hwy 13 to Eunice, 
then west on Hwy 190 to Kinder, then south on Hwy 165 to Iowa, then 
west on I-10 to its junction with Hwy 14 at Lake Charles, then south 
and east on Hwy 14 to its junction with Hwy 90 in New Iberia, then east 
on Hwy 90 to the Mississippi State line.
    West Zone: That area between the Texas State line and a line going 
east on I-10 from the Texas border to Hwy 165 at Iowa, then north on 
Hwy 165 to Kinder, then east on Hwy 190 to Eunice, then north on Hwy 13 
to Turkey Creek, then north on Hwy 167 to Hodge, then north on Hwy 147 
to Arcadia, then north on Hwy 9 to Homer, then north on Hwy 79 to the 
Arkansas border.
    Coastal Zone: Remainder of the State.
Michigan
    North Zone: The Upper Peninsula.
    Middle Zone: That portion of the Lower Peninsula north of a line 
beginning at the 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 a line beginning at the intersection 
of Interstate 75 at the Ohio-Michigan State line and continuing south 
to Interstate 280, then south on I-280 to the Ohio Turnpike (I-80/I-
90), then east on the Ohio Turnpike to the Erie-Lorain county line, 
then north to Lake Erie, then following the Lake Erie shoreline at a 
distance of 200 yards offshore, then following the shoreline west 
toward and around the northern tip of Cedar Point Amusement Park, then 
continuing from the westernmost point of Cedar Point toward the 
southernmost tip of the sand bar at the mouth of Sandusky Bay and out 
into Lake Erie at a distance of 200 yards offshore continuing parallel 
to the Lake Erie shoreline north and west toward the northernmost tip 
of Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge, then following a direct line 
toward the southernmost tip of Wood Tick Peninsula in Michigan to a 
point that intersects the Ohio-Michigan State line, then following the 
State line back to the point of the beginning.
    North Zone: That portion of the State, excluding the Lake Erie 
Marsh Zone, north of a line extending east from the

[[Page 17321]]

Indiana State line along U.S. Highway 33 to State Route 127, then south 
along SR 127 to SR 703, then south along SR 703 and including all lands 
within the Mercer Wildlife Area to SR 219, then east along SR 219 to SR 
364, then north along SR 364 and including all lands within the St. 
Mary's Fish Hatchery to SR 703, then east along SR 703 to SR 66, then 
north along SR 66 to U.S. 33, then east along U.S. 33 to SR 385, then 
east along SR 385 to SR 117, then south along SR 117 to SR 273, then 
east along SR 273 to SR 31, then south along SR 31 to SR 739, then east 
along SR 739 to SR 4, then north along SR 4 to SR 95, then east along 
SR 95 to SR 13, then southeast along SR 13 to SR 3, then northeast 
along SR 3 to SR 60, then north along SR 60 to U.S. 30, then east along 
U.S. 30 to SR 3, then south along SR 3 to SR 226, then south along SR 
226 to SR 514, then southwest along SR 514 to SR 754, then south along 
SR 754 to SR 39/60, then east along SR 39/60 U.S. to SR 241, then north 
along SR 241 to U.S. 30, then east along U.S. 30 to SR 39, then east 
along SR 39 to the Pennsylvania State line.
    South Zone: The remainder of Ohio not included in the Lake Erie 
Marsh Zone or the North Zone.
Tennessee
    Reelfoot Zone: All or portions of Lake and Obion Counties.
    Remainder of State: That portion of Tennessee outside of the 
Reelfoot Zone.
Wisconsin
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending 
east from the Minnesota State line along U.S. Highway 10 into Portage 
County to County Highway HH, east on County Highway HH to State Highway 
66 and then east on State Highway 66 to U.S. Highway 10, continuing 
east on U.S. Highway 10 to U.S. Highway 41, then north on U.S. Highway 
41 to the Michigan State line.
    Mississippi River Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning 
at the intersection of the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway and 
the Illinois State line in Grant County and extending northerly along 
the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway to the city limit of 
Prescott in Pierce County, then west along the Prescott city limit to 
the Minnesota State line.
    South Zone: The remainder of Wisconsin.

Central Flyway

Colorado (Central Flyway Portion)
    Special Teal Season Area: Lake and Chaffee Counties and that 
portion of the State east of Interstate Highway 25.
    Northeast Zone: All areas east of Interstate 25 and north of 
Interstate 70.
    Southeast Zone: All areas east of Interstate 25 and south of 
Interstate 70, and all of El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano, and Las Animas 
Counties.
    Mountain/Foothills Zone: All areas west of Interstate 25 and east 
of the Continental Divide, except El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano, and Las 
Animas Counties.
Kansas
    High Plains Zone: That portion of the State west of U.S. 283.
    Low Plains Early Zone: That part of Kansas bounded by a line from 
the federal highway U.S.-283 and State highway U.S.-96 junction, then 
east on federal highway U.S.-96 to its junction with federal highway 
U.S.-183, then north on federal highway U.S.-183 to its junction with 
federal highway U.S.-24, then east on federal highway U.S.-24 to its 
junction with federal highway U.S-.281, then north on federal highway 
U.S.-281 to its junction with federal highway U.S.-36, then east on 
federal highway U.S.-36 to its junction with State highway K-199, then 
south on State highway K-199 to its junction with Republic County 30th 
Road, then south on Republic County 30th Road to its junction with 
State highway K-148, then east on State highway K-148 to its junction 
with Republic County 50th Road, then south on Republic County 50th Road 
to its junction with Cloud County 40th Road, then south on Cloud County 
40th Road to its junction with State highway K-9, then west on State 
highway K-9 to its junction with federal highway U.S.-24, then west on 
federal highway U.S.-24 to its junction with federal highway U.S.-181, 
then south on federal highway U.S.-181 to its junction with State 
highway K-18, then west on State highway K-18 to its junction with 
federal highway U.S.-281, then south on federal highway U.S.-281 to its 
junction with State highway K-4, then east on State highway K-4 to its 
junction with interstate highway I-135, then south on interstate 
highway I-135 to its junction with State highway K-61, then southwest 
on State highway K-61 to its junction with McPherson County 14th 
Avenue, then south on McPherson County 14th Avenue to its junction with 
McPherson County Arapaho Rd, then west on McPherson County Arapaho Rd 
to its junction with State highway K-61, then southwest on State 
highway K-61 to its junction with State highway K-96, then northwest on 
State highway K-96 to its junction with federal highway U.S.-56, then 
southwest on federal highway U.S.-56 to its junction with State highway 
K-19, then east on State highway K-19 to its junction with federal 
highway U.S.-281, then south on federal highway U.S.-281 to its 
junction with federal highway U.S.-54, then west on federal highway 
U.S.-54 to its junction with federal highway U.S.-183, then north on 
federal highway U.S.-183 to its junction with federal highway U.S.-56, 
then southwest on federal highway U.S.-56 to its junction with North 
Main Street in Spearville, then south on North Main Street to Davis 
Street, then east on Davis Street to Ford County Road 126 (South 
Stafford Street), then south on Ford County Road 126 to Garnett Road, 
then east on Garnett Road to Ford County Road 126, then south on Ford 
County Road 126 to Ford Spearville Road, then west on Ford Spearville 
Road to its junction with federal highway U.S.-400, then northwest on 
federal highway U.S.-400 to its junction with federal highway U.S.-283, 
and then north on federal highway U.S.-283 to its junction with federal 
highway U.S.-96.
    Low Plains Late Zone: That part of Kansas bounded by a line from 
the federal highway U.S.-283 and federal highway U.S.-96 junction, then 
north on federal highway U.S.-283 to the Kansas-Nebraska State line, 
then east along the Kansas-Nebraska State line to its junction with the 
Kansas-Missouri State line, then southeast along the Kansas-Missouri 
State line to its junction with State highway K-68, then west on State 
highway K-68 to its junction with interstate highway I-35, then 
southwest on interstate highway I-35 to its junction with Butler County 
NE 150th Street, then west on Butler County NE 150th Street to its 
junction with federal highway U.S.-77, then south on federal highway 
U.S.-77 to its junction with the Kansas-Oklahoma State line, then west 
along the Kansas-Oklahoma State line to its junction with federal 
highway U.S.-283, then north on federal highway U.S.-283 to its 
junction with federal highway U.S.-400, then east on federal highway 
U.S.-400 to its junction with Ford Spearville Road, then east on Ford 
Spearville Road to Ford County Road 126 (South Stafford Street), then 
north on Ford County Road 126 to Garnett Road, then west on Garnett 
Road to Ford County Road 126, then north on Ford County Road 126 to 
Davis Street, then west on Davis Street to North Main Street, then 
north on North Main Street to its junction with federal highway U.S.-
56, then east on federal highway U.S.-56 to its junction with federal 
highway U.S.-183, then south on federal highway U.S.-183 to its 
junction with federal highway U.S.-54, then east on federal highway 
U.S.-54 to

[[Page 17322]]

its junction with federal highway U.S.-281, then north on federal 
highway U.S.-281 to its junction with State highway K-19, then west on 
State highway K-19 to its junction with federal highway U.S.-56, then 
east on federal highway U.S.-56 to its junction with State highway K-
96, then southeast on State highway K-96 to its junction with State 
highway K-61, then northeast on State highway K-61 to its junction with 
McPherson County Arapaho Road, then east on McPherson County Arapaho 
Road to its junction with McPherson County 14th Avenue, then north on 
McPherson County 14th Avenue to its junction with State highway K-61, 
then east on State highway K-61 to its junction with interstate highway 
I-135, then north on interstate highway I-135 to its junction with 
State highway K-4, then west on State highway K-4 to its junction with 
federal highway U.S.-281, then north on federal highway U.S.-281 to its 
junction with State highway K-18, then east on State highway K-18 to 
its junction with federal highway U.S.-181, then north on federal 
highway U.S.-181 to its junction with federal highway U.S.-24, then 
east on federal highway U.S.-24 to its junction with State highway K-9, 
then east on State highway K-9 to its junction with Cloud County 40th 
Road, then north on Cloud County 40th Road to its junction with 
Republic County 50th Road, then north on Republic County 50th Road to 
its junction with State highway K-148, then west on State highway K-148 
to its junction with Republic County 30th Road, then north on Republic 
County 30th Road to its junction with State highway K-199, then north 
on State highway K-199 to its junction with federal highway U.S.-36, 
then west on federal highway U.S.-36 to its junction with federal 
highway U.S.-281, then south on federal highway U.S.-281 to its 
junction with federal highway U.S.-24, then west on federal highway 
U.S.-24 to its junction with federal highway U.S.-183, then south on 
federal highway U.S.-183 to its junction with federal highway U.S.-96, 
and then west on federal highway U.S.-96 to its junction with federal 
highway U.S.-283.
    Southeast Zone: That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the 
Missouri-Kansas State line west on K-68 to its junction with I-35, then 
southwest on I-35 to its junction with Butler County, NE 150th Street, 
then west on NE 150th Street to its junction with federal highway U.S.-
77, then south on federal highway U.S.-77 to the Oklahoma-Kansas State 
line, then east along the Kansas-Oklahoma State line to its junction 
with the Kansas-Missouri State line, then north along the Kansas-
Missouri State line to its junction with State highway K-68.
Montana (Central Flyway Portion)
    Zone 1: The Counties of Blaine, Carter, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, 
Fergus, Garfield, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, McCone, Musselshell, 
Petroleum, Phillips, Powder River, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan, 
Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Valley, Wheatland, and Wibaux.
    Zone 2: The Counties of Big Horn, Carbon, Custer, Prairie, Rosebud, 
Treasure, and Yellowstone.
Nebraska
    Special Teal Season Area (south): That portion of the State south 
of a line beginning at the Wyoming State line; east along U.S. 26 to 
Nebraska Highway L62A east to U.S. 385; south to U.S. 26; east to NE 
92; east along NE 92 to NE 61; south along NE 61 to U.S. 30; east along 
U.S. 30 to the Iowa border.
    Special Teal Season Area (north): The remainder of the State.
    High Plains: That portion of Nebraska lying west of a line 
beginning at the South Dakota-Nebraska border on U.S. Hwy. 183; south 
on U.S. Hwy. 183 to U.S. Hwy. 20; west on U.S. Hwy. 20 to NE Hwy. 7; 
south on NE Hwy. 7 to NE Hwy. 91; southwest on NE Hwy. 91 to NE Hwy. 2; 
southeast on NE Hwy. 2 to NE Hwy. 92; west on NE Hwy. 92 to NE Hwy. 40; 
south on NE Hwy. 40 to NE Hwy. 47; south on NE Hwy. 47 to NE Hwy. 23; 
east on NE Hwy. 23 to U.S. Hwy. 283; and south on U.S. Hwy. 283 to the 
Kansas-Nebraska border.
    Zone 1: Area bounded by designated Federal and State highways and 
political boundaries beginning at the South Dakota-Nebraska border west 
of NE Hwy. 26E Spur and north of NE Hwy. 12; those portions of Dixon, 
Cedar, and Knox Counties north of NE Hwy. 12; that portion of Keya Paha 
County east of U.S. Hwy. 183; and all of Boyd County. Both banks of the 
Niobrara River in Keya Paha and Boyd counties east of U.S. Hwy. 183 
shall be included in Zone 1.
    Zone 2: The area south of Zone 1 and north of Zone 3.
    Zone 3: Area bounded by designated Federal and State highways, 
County Roads, and political boundaries beginning at the Wyoming-
Nebraska border at the intersection of the Interstate Canal; east along 
northern borders of Scotts Bluff and Morrill Counties to Broadwater 
Road; south to Morrill County Rd 94; east to County Rd 135; south to 
County Rd 88; southeast to County Rd 151; south to County Rd 80; east 
to County Rd 161; south to County Rd 76; east to County Rd 165; south 
to County Rd 167; south to U.S. Hwy 26; east to County Rd 171; north to 
County Rd 68; east to County Rd 183; south to County Rd 64; east to 
County Rd 189; north to County Rd 70; east to County Rd 201; south to 
County Rd 60A; east to County Rd 203; south to County Rd 52; east to 
Keith County Line; 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 NE Hwy 
47; north to Dawson County Rd 769; east to County Rd 423; south to 
County Rd 766; east to County Rd 428; south to County Rd 763; east to 
NE Hwy 21 (Adams Street); south to County Rd 761; east to the Dawson 
County Canal; south and east along the Dawson County Canal to County Rd 
444; south to U.S. Hwy 30; east to U.S. Hwy 183; north to Buffalo 
County Rd 100; east to 46th Avenue; north to NE Hwy 40; south and east 
to NE Hwy 10; north to Buffalo County Rd 220 and Hall County Husker 
Hwy; east to Hall County Rd 70; north to NE Hwy 2; east to U.S. Hwy 
281; north to Chapman Rd; east to 7th Rd; south to U.S. Hwy 30; 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 Drive 
443; north to Sargent Rd; west to NE Hwy S21A; west to NE Hwy 2; west 
and north to NE Hwy 91; north and east to North Loup Spur Rd; north to 
North Loup River Rd; east to Pleasant Valley/Worth Rd; east to Loup 
County Line; north to Loup-Brown county line; east along northern 
boundaries of Loup and Garfield Counties to Cedar River Rd; south to NE 
Hwy 70; east to U.S. Hwy 281; north to NE Hwy 70; east to NE Hwy 14; 
south to NE Hwy 39; southeast to NE Hwy 22; east to U.S. Hwy 81; 
southeast to U.S. Hwy 30; east to U.S. Hwy 75; north to the Washington 
County line; east to the Iowa-Nebraska border; south to the Missouri-
Nebraska border; south to Kansas-Nebraska border; west along Kansas-
Nebraska border to Colorado-Nebraska border; north and west to Wyoming-
Nebraska border; north to intersection of Interstate Canal; and 
excluding that area in Zone 4.
    Zone 4: Area encompassed by designated Federal and State highways 
and County Roads beginning at the intersection of NE Hwy 8 and U.S. Hwy 
75; north to U.S. Hwy 136; east to the intersection of U.S. Hwy 136 and 
the

[[Page 17323]]

Steamboat Trace (Trace); north along the Trace to the intersection with 
Federal Levee R-562; north along Federal Levee R-562 to the 
intersection with Nemaha County Rd 643A; south to the Trace; north 
along the Trace/Burlington Northern Railroad right-of-way to NE Hwy 2; 
west to U.S. Hwy 75; north to NE Hwy 2; west to NE Hwy 50; north to 
U.S. Hwy 34; west to NE Hwy 63; north to NE Hwy 66; north and west to 
U.S. Hwy 77; north to NE Hwy 92; west to NE Hwy Spur 12F; south to 
Butler County Rd 30; east to County Rd X; south to County Rd 27; west 
to County Rd W; south to County Rd 26; east to County Rd X; south to 
County Rd 21 (Seward County Line); west to NE Hwy 15; north to County 
Rd 34; west to County Rd H; south to NE Hwy 92; west to U.S. Hwy 81; 
south to NE Hwy 66; west to 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 Lochland Rd; west to Holstein Avenue; 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 Jefferson County Rd 578 Avenue; south to PWF Rd; 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
    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 State 
line south along U.S. 95 to Vidal Junction; south on a road known as 
``Aqueduct

[[Page 17324]]

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 Zone: All of Kings and Tulare Counties 
and that portion of Kern County north of the Southern Zone.
    Balance of State Zone: The remainder of California not included in 
the Northeastern, Colorado River, Southern, and the Southern San 
Joaquin Valley Zones.
Colorado (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    Eastern Zone: Routt, Grand, Summit, Eagle, and Pitkin Counties, 
those portions of Saguache, San Juan, Hinsdale, and Mineral in the 
Pacific Flyway (i.e., west of the Continental Divide), and Gunnison 
County except the following area: The portion of Gunnison County west 
of Curecanti Creek, west of the Gunnison River-North Fork of Gunnison 
River divide to Kebler Pass, west of Kebler Pass and the Ruby Range 
summit, and west and south of the Pitkin/Gunnison County line west of 
the Ruby Range. This area corresponds to the North Fork of Gunnison 
River Valley, and is already established by Colorado Division of Parks 
and Wildlife as the Gunnison County portions of GMU 521, 53, and 63.
    Western Zone: The remainder of the Pacific Flyway portion of 
Colorado not included in the Eastern 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: Elko and White Pine Counties.
    Northwest Zone: Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Esmeralda, Eureka, 
Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, and Washoe 
Counties.
    South Zone: Clark and Lincoln Counties.
    Moapa Valley Special Management Area: That portion of Clark County 
including the Moapa Valley to the confluence of the Muddy and Virgin 
Rivers.
Oregon
    Zone 1: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas, 
Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, 
Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Wasco, 
Washington, and Yamhill, Counties.
    Zone 2: The remainder of Oregon not included in Zone 1.
Utah
    Zone 1: Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Morgan, Rich, 
Salt Lake, Summit, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber Counties, and that 
part of Toole County north of I-80.
    Zone 2: The remainder of Utah not included in Zone 1.
Washington
    East Zone: All areas east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of 
the Big White Salmon River in Klickitat County.
    West Zone: The remainder of Washington not included in the East 
Zone.
Wyoming (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    Snake River Zone: Beginning at the south boundary of Yellowstone 
National Park and the Continental Divide; south along the Continental 
Divide to Union Pass and the Union Pass Road (U.S.F.S. Road 600); west 
and south along the Union Pass Road to U.S.F.S. Road 605; south along 
U.S.F.S. Road 605 to the Bridger-Teton National Forest boundary; along 
the national forest boundary to the Idaho State line; north along the 
Idaho State line to the south boundary of Yellowstone National Park; 
east along the Yellowstone National Park boundary to the Continental 
Divide.
    Balance of State Zone: The remainder of the Pacific Flyway portion 
of Wyoming not included in the Snake River Zone.

Geese

Atlantic Flyway

Connecticut
    Early Canada Goose Seasons:
    South Zone: Same as for ducks.
    North Zone: Same as for ducks.
    Regular Seasons:
    AP Unit: Litchfield County and the portion of Hartford County west 
of a line beginning at the Massachusetts border in Suffield and 
extending south along Route 159 to its intersection with Route 91 in 
Hartford, and then extending south along Route 91 to its intersection 
with the Hartford-Middlesex County line.
    Atlantic Flyway Resident Population (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.
Maine
    Same zones as for ducks.
Maryland
    Early Canada Goose Seasons:
    Eastern Unit: Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, 
Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester 
Counties; and that part of Anne Arundel County east of Interstate 895, 
Interstate 97, and Route 3; that part of Prince George's County east of 
Route 3 and Route 301; and that part of Charles County east of Route 
301 to the Virginia State line.
    Western Unit: Allegany, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, 
Howard, Montgomery, and Washington Counties and that part of Anne 
Arundel County west of Interstate 895, Interstate 97, and

[[Page 17325]]

Route 3; that part of Prince George's County west of Route 3 and Route 
301; and that part of Charles County west of Route 301 to the Virginia 
State line.
    Regular Seasons:
    Resident Population (RP) Zone: Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, 
Montgomery, and Washington Counties; that portion of Prince George's 
County west of Route 3 and Route 301; that portion of Charles County 
west of Route 301 to the Virginia State line; and that portion of 
Carroll County west of Route 31 to the intersection of Route 97, and 
west of Route 97 to the Pennsylvania 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
    AP Zone: North and South Zones (see duck zones).
    RP Zone: The Coastal Zone (see duck zones).
    Special Late Season Area: In northern New Jersey, that portion of 
the State within a continuous line that runs east along the New York 
State boundary line to the Hudson River; then south along the New York 
State boundary to its intersection with Route 440 at Perth Amboy; then 
west on Route 440 to its intersection with Route 287; then west along 
Route 287 to its intersection with Route 206 in Bedminster (Exit 18); 
then north along Route 206 to its intersection with Route 94: Then west 
along Route 94 to the tollbridge in Columbia; then north along the 
Pennsylvania State boundary in the Delaware River to the beginning 
point. In southern New Jersey, that portion of the State within a 
continuous line that runs west from the Atlantic Ocean at Ship Bottom 
along Route 72 to Route 70; then west along Route 70 to Route 206; then 
south along Route 206 to Route 536; then west along Route 536 to Route 
322; then west along Route 322 to Route 55; then south along Route 55 
to Route 553 (Buck Road); then south along Route 553 to Route 40; then 
east along Route 40 to route 55; then south along Route 55 to Route 552 
(Sherman Avenue); then west along Route 552 to Carmel Road; then south 
along Carmel Road to Route 49; then east along Route 49 to Route 555; 
then south along Route 555 to Route 553; then east along Route 553 to 
Route 649; then north along Route 649 to Route 670; then east along 
Route 670 to Route 47; then north along Route 47 to Route 548; then 
east along Route 548 to Route 49; then east along Route 49 to Route 50; 
then south along Route 50 to Route 9; then south along Route 9 to Route 
625 (Sea Isle City Boulevard); then east along Route 625 to the 
Atlantic Ocean; then north to the beginning point.
New York
    Lake Champlain Goose Area: The same as the Lake Champlain Waterfowl 
Hunting Zone, which is that area of New York State lying east and north 
of a continuous line extending along Route 11 from the New York-Canada 
International boundary south to Route 9B, south along Route 9B to Route 
9, south along Route 9 to Route 22 south of Keeseville, south along 
Route 22 to the west shore of South Bay along and around the shoreline 
of South Bay to Route 22 on the east shore of South Bay, 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

[[Page 17326]]

54A to Steuben County Route 87, east along Route 87 to Steuben County 
Route 96, east along Route 96 to Steuben County Route 114, east along 
Route 114 to Schuyler County Route 23, east and southeast along Route 
23 to Schuyler County Route 28, southeast along Route 28 to Route 409 
at Watkins Glen, south along Route 409 to Route 14, south along Route 
14 to Route 224 at Montour Falls, east along Route 224 to Route 228 in 
Odessa, north along Route 228 to Route 79 in Mecklenburg, east along 
Route 79 to Route 366 in Ithaca, northeast along Route 366 to Route 13, 
northeast along Route 13 to Interstate Route 81 in Cortland, north 
along Route 81 to the north shore of the Salmon River to shore of Lake 
Ontario, extending generally northwest in a straight line to the 
nearest point of the International boundary with Canada, south and west 
along the International boundary to the point of beginning.
    Hudson Valley Goose Area: That area of New York State lying within 
a continuous line extending from Route 4 at the New York-Vermont 
boundary, west and south along Route 4 to Route 149 at Fort Ann, west 
on Route 149 to Route 9, south along Route 9 to Interstate Route 87 (at 
Exit 20 in Glens Falls), south along Route 87 to Route 29, west along 
Route 29 to Route 147 at Kimball Corners, south along Route 147 to 
Schenectady County Route 40 (West Glenville Road), west along Route 40 
to Touareuna Road, south along Touareuna Road to Schenectady County 
Route 59, south along Route 59 to State Route 5, east along Route 5 to 
the Lock 9 bridge, southwest along the Lock 9 bridge to Route 5S, 
southeast along Route 5S to Schenectady County Route 58, southwest 
along Route 58 to the NYS Thruway, south along the Thruway to Route 7, 
southwest along Route 7 to Schenectady County Route 103, south along 
Route 103 to Route 406, east along Route 406 to Schenectady County 
Route 99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route 99 to Dunnsville Road, 
south along Dunnsville Road to Route 397, southwest along Route 397 to 
Route 146 at Altamont, southeast along Route 146 to Main Street in 
Altamont, west along Main Street to Route 156, southeast along Route 
156 to Albany County Route 307, southeast along Route 307 to Route 85A, 
southwest along Route 85A to Route 85, south along Route 85 to Route 
443, southeast along Route 443 to Albany County Route 301 at 
Clarksville, southeast along Route 301 to Route 32, south along Route 
32 to Route 23 at Cairo, west along Route 23 to Joseph Chadderdon Road, 
southeast along Joseph Chadderdon Road to Hearts Content Road (Greene 
County Route 31), southeast along Route 31 to Route 32, south along 
Route 32 to Greene County Route 23A, east along Route 23A to Interstate 
Route 87 (the NYS Thruway), south along Route 87 to Route 28 (Exit 19) 
near Kingston, northwest on Route 28 to Route 209, southwest on Route 
209 to the New York-Pennsylvania boundary, southeast along the New 
York-Pennsylvania boundary to the New York-New Jersey boundary, 
southeast along the New York-New Jersey boundary to Route 210 near 
Greenwood Lake, northeast along Route 210 to Orange County Route 5, 
northeast along Orange County Route 5 to Route 105 in the Village of 
Monroe, east and north along Route 105 to Route 32, northeast along 
Route 32 to Orange County Route 107 (Quaker Avenue), east along Route 
107 to Route 9W, north along Route 9W to the south bank of Moodna 
Creek, southeast along the south bank of Moodna Creek to the New 
Windsor-Cornwall town boundary, northeast along the New Windsor-
Cornwall town boundary to the Orange-Dutchess County boundary (middle 
of the Hudson River), north along the county boundary to Interstate 
Route 84, east along Route 84 to the Dutchess-Putnam County boundary, 
east along the county boundary to the New York-Connecticut boundary, 
north along the New York-Connecticut boundary to the New York-
Massachusetts boundary, north along the New York-Massachusetts boundary 
to the New York-Vermont boundary, north to the point of beginning.
    Eastern Long Island Goose Area (NAP High Harvest Area): That area 
of Suffolk County lying east of a continuous line extending due south 
from the New York-Connecticut boundary to the northernmost end of 
Roanoke Avenue in the Town of Riverhead; then south on Roanoke Avenue 
(which becomes County Route 73) to State Route 25; then west on Route 
25 to Peconic Avenue; then south on Peconic Avenue to County Route (CR) 
104 (Riverleigh Avenue); then south on CR 104 to CR 31 (Old Riverhead 
Road); then south on CR 31 to Oak Street; then south on Oak Street to 
Potunk Lane; then west on Stevens Lane; then south on Jessup Avenue (in 
Westhampton Beach) to Dune Road (CR 89); then due south to 
international waters.
    Western Long Island Goose Area (RP Area): That area of Westchester 
County and its tidal waters southeast of Interstate Route 95 and that 
area of Nassau and Suffolk Counties lying west of a continuous line 
extending due south from the New York-Connecticut boundary to the 
northernmost end of Sound Road (just east of Wading River Marsh); then 
south on Sound Road to North Country Road; then west on North Country 
Road to Randall Road; then south on Randall Road to Route 25A, then 
west on Route 25A to the Sunken Meadow State Parkway; then south on the 
Sunken Meadow Parkway to the Sagtikos State Parkway; then south on the 
Sagtikos Parkway to the Robert Moses State Parkway; then south on the 
Robert Moses Parkway to its southernmost end; then due south to 
international waters.
    Central Long Island Goose Area (NAP Low Harvest Area): That area of 
Suffolk County lying between the Western and Eastern Long Island Goose 
Areas, as defined above.
    South Goose Area: The remainder of New York State, excluding New 
York City.
North Carolina
    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

[[Page 17327]]

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.
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

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
    Early Canada Goose Seasons:
    North September Canada Goose Zone: That portion of the State north 
of a line extending west from the Indiana border along Interstate 80 to 
I-39, south along I-39 to Illinois Route 18, west along Illinois Route 
18 to Illinois Route 29, south along Illinois Route 29 to Illinois 
Route 17, west along Illinois Route 17 to the Mississippi River, and 
due south across the Mississippi River to the Iowa border.
    Central September Canada Goose Zone: That portion of the State 
south of the North September Canada Goose Zone line to a line extending 
west from the Indiana border along I-70 to Illinois Route 4, south 
along Illinois Route 4 to Illinois Route 161, west along Illinois Route 
161 to Illinois Route 158, south and west along Illinois Route 158 to 
Illinois Route 159, south along Illinois Route 159 to Illinois Route 3, 
south along Illinois Route 3 to St. Leo's Road, south along St. Leo's 
Road to Modoc Road, west along Modoc Road to Modoc Ferry Road, 
southwest along Modoc Ferry Road to Levee Road, southeast along Levee 
Road to County Route 12 (Modoc Ferry entrance Road), south along County 
Route 12 to the Modoc Ferry route and southwest on the Modoc Ferry 
route across the Mississippi River to the Missouri border.
    South September Canada Goose Zone: That portion of the State south 
and east of a line extending west from the Indiana border along 
Interstate 70, south along U.S. Highway 45, to Illinois Route 13, west 
along Illinois Route 13 to Greenbriar Road, north on Greenbriar Road to 
Sycamore Road, west on Sycamore Road to N. Reed Station Road, south on 
N. Reed Station Road to Illinois Route 13, west along Illinois Route 13 
to Illinois Route 127, south along Illinois Route 127 to State Forest 
Road (1025 N), west along State Forest Road to Illinois Route 3, north 
along Illinois Route 3 to the south bank of the Big Muddy River, west 
along the south bank of the Big Muddy River to the Mississippi River, 
west across the Mississippi River to the Missouri border.
    South Central September Canada Goose Zone: The remainder of the 
State between the south border of the Central September Canada Goose 
Zone and the North border of the South September Canada Goose Zone.
    Regular Seasons:
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending 
west from the Indiana border along Interstate 80 to I-39, south along 
I-39 to Illinois Route 18, west along Illinois Route 18 to Illinois 
Route 29, south along Illinois Route 29 to Illinois Route 17, west 
along Illinois Route 17 to the Mississippi River, and due south across 
the Mississippi River to the Iowa border.
    Central Zone: That portion of the State south of the North Goose 
Zone line to a line extending west from the Indiana border along I-70 
to Illinois Route 4, south along Illinois Route 4 to Illinois Route 
161, west along Illinois Route 161 to Illinois Route 158, south and 
west along Illinois Route 158 to Illinois Route 159, south along 
Illinois Route 159 to Illinois Route 3, south along Illinois Route 3 to 
St. Leo's Road, south along St. Leo's Road to Modoc Road, west along 
Modoc Road to Modoc Ferry Road, southwest along Modoc Ferry Road to 
Levee Road, southeast along Levee Road to County Route 12 (Modoc Ferry 
entrance Road), south along County Route 12 to the Modoc Ferry route 
and southwest on the Modoc Ferry route across the Mississippi River to 
the Missouri border.
    South Zone: Same zone as for ducks.
    South Central Zone: Same zone as for ducks.
Indiana
    Same zones as for ducks but in addition:
    Late Canada Goose Season Zone: That part of the State encompassed 
by the following Counties: Adams, Allen, Boone, Clay, De Kalb, Elkhart, 
Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Huntington, Johnson, Kosciusko, 
Lagrange, La Porte, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Noble, Parke, 
Shelby, Starke, Steuben, St. Joseph, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo, Wells, 
and Whitley.
Iowa
    Early Canada Goose Seasons:

[[Page 17328]]

    Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Goose Zone: Includes portions of Linn and 
Johnson Counties bounded as follows: Beginning at the intersection of 
the west border of Linn County and Linn County Road E2W; then south and 
east along County Road E2W to Highway 920; then north along Highway 920 
to County Road E16; then east along County Road E16 to County Road W58; 
then south along County Road W58 to County Road E34; then east along 
County Road E34 to Highway 13; then south along Highway 13 to Highway 
30; then east along Highway 30 to Highway 1; then south along Highway 1 
to Morse Road in Johnson County; then east along Morse Road to Wapsi 
Avenue; then south along Wapsi Avenue to Lower West Branch Road; then 
west along Lower West Branch Road to Taft Avenue; then south along Taft 
Avenue to County Road F62; then west along County Road F62 to Kansas 
Avenue; then north along Kansas Avenue to Black Diamond Road; then west 
on Black Diamond Road to Jasper Avenue; then north along Jasper Avenue 
to Rohert Road; then west along Rohert Road to Ivy Avenue; then north 
along Ivy Avenue to 340th Street; then west along 340th Street to Half 
Moon Avenue; then north along Half Moon Avenue to Highway 6; then west 
along Highway 6 to Echo Avenue; then north along Echo Avenue to 250th 
Street; then east on 250th Street to Green Castle Avenue; then north 
along Green Castle Avenue to County Road F12; then west along County 
Road F12 to County Road W30; then north along County Road W30 to 
Highway 151; then north along the Linn-Benton County line to the point 
of beginning.
    Des Moines Goose Zone: Includes those portions of Polk, Warren, 
Madison and Dallas Counties bounded as follows: Beginning at the 
intersection of Northwest 158th Avenue and County Road R38 in Polk 
County; then south along R38 to Northwest 142nd Avenue; then east along 
Northwest 142nd Avenue to Northeast 126th Avenue; then east along 
Northeast 126th Avenue to Northeast 46th Street; then south along 
Northeast 46th Street to Highway 931; then east along Highway 931 to 
Northeast 80th Street; then south along Northeast 80th Street to 
Southeast 6th Avenue; then west along Southeast 6th Avenue to Highway 
65; then south and west along Highway 65 to Highway 69 in Warren 
County; then south along Highway 69 to County Road G24; then west along 
County Road G24 to Highway 28; then southwest along Highway 28 to 43rd 
Avenue; then north along 43rd Avenue to Ford Street; then west along 
Ford Street to Filmore Street; then west along Filmore Street to 10th 
Avenue; then south along 10th Avenue to 155th Street in Madison County; 
then west along 155th Street to Cumming Road; then north along Cumming 
Road to Badger Creek Avenue; then north along Badger Creek Avenue to 
County Road F90 in Dallas County; then east along County Road F90 to 
County Road R22; then north along County Road R22 to Highway 44; then 
east along Highway 44 to County Road R30; then north along County Road 
R30 to County Road F31; then east along County Road F31 to Highway 17; 
then north along Highway 17 to Highway 415 in Polk County; then east 
along Highway 415 to Northwest 158th Avenue; then east along Northwest 
158th Avenue to the point of beginning.
    Cedar Falls/Waterloo Goose Zone: Includes those portions of Black 
Hawk County bounded as follows: Beginning at the intersection of County 
Roads C66 and V49 in Black Hawk County, then south along County Road 
V49 to County Road D38, then west along County Road D38 to State 
Highway 21, then south along State Highway 21 to County Road D35, then 
west along County Road D35 to Grundy Road, then north along Grundy Road 
to County Road D19, then west along County Road D19 to Butler Road, 
then north along Butler Road to County Road C57, then north and east 
along County Road C57 to U.S. Highway 63, then south along U.S. Highway 
63 to County Road C66, then east along County Road C66 to the point of 
beginning.
    Regular Seasons:
    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
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of the line from the 
Texas border at Hwy 190/12 east to Hwy 49, then south on Hwy 49 to I-
10, then east on I-10 to I-12, then east on I-12 to 1-10, then east on 
I-10 to the Mississippi State line.
    South Zone: Remainder of the State.
Michigan
    North Zone: Same as North duck zone.
    Middle Zone: Same as Middle duck zone.
    South Zone: Same as South duck zone.
    Tuscola/Huron Goose Management Unit (GMU): Those portions of 
Tuscola and Huron Counties bounded on the south by Michigan Highway 138 
and Bay City Road, on the east by Colwood and Bay Port Roads, on the 
north by Kilmanagh Road and a line extending directly west off the end 
of Kilmanagh Road into Saginaw Bay to the west boundary, and on the 
west by the Tuscola-Bay County line and a line extending directly north 
off the end of the Tuscola-Bay County line into Saginaw Bay to the 
north boundary.
    Allegan County GMU: That area encompassed by a line beginning at 
the junction of 136th Avenue and Interstate Highway 196 in Lake Town 
Township and extending easterly along 136th Avenue to Michigan Highway 
40, southerly along Michigan 40 through the city of Allegan to 108th 
Avenue in Trowbridge Township, westerly along 108th Avenue to 46th 
Street, northerly along 46th Street to 109th Avenue, westerly along 
109th Avenue to I-196 in Casco Township, then northerly along I-196 to 
the point of beginning.
    Saginaw County GMU: That portion of Saginaw County bounded by 
Michigan Highway 46 on the north; Michigan 52 on the west; Michigan 57 
on the south; and Michigan 13 on the east.
    Muskegon Wastewater GMU: That portion of Muskegon County within the 
boundaries of the Muskegon County wastewater system, east of the 
Muskegon State Game Area, in sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 
30, and 32, T10N R14W, and sections 1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 24, and 
25, T10N R15W, as posted.
    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
    Early Canada Goose Seasons:
    Northwest Goose Zone: That portion of the State encompassed by a 
line extending east from the North Dakota border along U.S. Highway 2 
to State Trunk Highway (STH) 32, north along STH 32 to STH 92, east 
along STH 92 to County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 2 in Polk County, north 
along CSAH 2 to

[[Page 17329]]

CSAH 27 in Pennington County, north along CSAH 27 to STH 1, east along 
STH 1 to CSAH 28 in Pennington County, north along CSAH 28 to CSAH 54 
in Marshall County, north along CSAH 54 to CSAH 9 in Roseau County, 
north along CSAH 9 to STH 11, west along STH 11 to STH 310, and north 
along STH 310 to the Manitoba border.
    Intensive Harvest Zone: That portion of the State encompassed by a 
line extending east from the junction of US 2 and the North Dakota 
border, US 2 east to MN 32, MN 32 north to MN 92, MN 92 south to MN 
200, MN 200 east to US 71, US 71 south to US 10, US 10 east to MN 101, 
MN 101 south to Interstate 94, Interstate 94 east to US 494, US 494 
south to US 212, US 212 west to MN 23, MN 23 south to US 14, US 14 west 
to the South Dakota border, South Dakota Border north to the North 
Dakota border, North Dakota border north to US 2.
    Rest of State: Remainder of Minnesota.
    Regular Seasons:
    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
    Same zones as for ducks.
Tennessee
    Northwest Goose Zone: Lake, Obion, and Weakley Counties and those 
portions of Gibson and Dyer Counties north of State Highways 20 and 104 
and east of U.S. Highways 45 and 45W.
    Remainder of State: That portion of Tennessee outside of the 
Northwest Goose Zone.
Wisconsin
    Early Canada Goose Seasons:
    Early-Season Subzone A: That portion of the State encompassed by a 
line beginning at the intersection of U.S. Highway 141 and the Michigan 
border near Niagara, then south along U.S. 141 to State Highway 22, 
west and southwest along State 22 to U.S. 45, south along U.S. 45 to 
State 22, west and south along State 22 to State 110, south along State 
110 to U.S. 10, south along U.S. 10 to State 49, south along State 49 
to State 23, west along State 23 to State 73, south along State 73 to 
State 60, west along State 60 to State 23, south along State 23 to 
State 11, east along State 11 to State 78, then south along State 78 to 
the Illinois border.
    Early-Season Subzone B: The remainder of the State.
    Regular Seasons:
    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.

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.
Montana (Central Flyway Portion)
    Zone 1: Same as Zone 1 for ducks and coots.
    Zone 2: Same as Zone 2 for ducks and coots.
Nebraska
Dark Geese
    Niobrara Unit: That area contained within and bounded by the 
intersection of the 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.
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

[[Page 17330]]

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; then 
north on ND Hwy 6 to I-94; then west on I-94 to ND Hwy 49; then north 
on ND Hwy 49 to ND Hwy 200; then north on Mercer County Rd. 21 to the 
section line between sections 8 and 9 (T146N-R87W); then north on that 
section line to the southern shoreline to Lake Sakakawea; then east 
along the southern shoreline (including Mallard Island) of Lake 
Sakakawea to U.S. Hwy 83; then south on U.S. Hwy 83 to ND Hwy 200; then 
east on ND Hwy 200 to ND Hwy 41; then south on ND Hwy 41 to U.S. Hwy 
83; then south on U.S. Hwy 83 to I-94; then east on I-94 to U.S. Hwy 
83; then south on U.S. Hwy 83 to the South Dakota border; then west 
along the South Dakota border to ND Hwy 6.
    Rest of State: Remainder of North Dakota.
South Dakota
    Early Canada Goose Seasons:
    Special Early Canada Goose Unit: The Counties of Campbell, 
Marshall, Roberts, Day, Clark, Codington, Grant, Hamlin, Deuel, 
Walworth; that portion of Perkins County west of State Highway 75 and 
south of State Highway 20; that portion of Dewey County north of Bureau 
of Indian Affairs Road 8, Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 9, and the 
section of U.S. Highway 212 east of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 8 
junction; that portion of Potter County east of U.S. Highway 83; that 
portion of Sully County east of U.S. Highway 83; portions of Hyde, 
Buffalo, Brule, and Charles Mix counties north and east of a line 
beginning at the Hughes-Hyde County line on State Highway 34, east to 
Lees Boulevard, southeast to State Highway 34, east 7 miles to 350th 
Avenue, south to Interstate 90 on 350th Avenue, south and east on State 
Highway 50 to Geddes, east on 285th Street to U.S. Highway 281, and 
north on U.S. Highway 281 to the Charles Mix-Douglas County boundary; 
that portion of Bon Homme County north of State Highway 50; McPherson, 
Edmunds, Kingsbury, Brookings, Lake, Moody, Miner, Faulk, Hand, 
Jerauld, Douglas, Hutchinson, Turner, Union, Clay, Yankton, Aurora, 
Beadle, Davison, Hanson, Sanborn, Spink, Brown, Harding, Butte, 
Lawrence, Meade, Oglala Lakota (formerly Shannon), Jackson, Mellette, 
Todd, Jones, Haakon, Corson, Ziebach, and McCook Counties; and those 
portions of Minnehaha and Lincoln counties outside of an area bounded 
by a line beginning at the junction of the South Dakota-Minnesota State 
line and Minnehaha County Highway 122 (254th Street) west to its 
junction with Minnehaha County Highway 149 (464th Avenue), south on 
Minnehaha County Highway 149 (464th Avenue) to Hartford, then south on 
Minnehaha County Highway 151 (463rd Avenue) to State Highway 42, east 
on State Highway 42 to State Highway 17, south on State Highway 17 to 
its junction with Lincoln County Highway 116 (Klondike Road), and east 
on Lincoln County Highway 116 (Klondike Road) to the South Dakota-Iowa 
State line, then north along the South Dakota-Iowa and South Dakota-
Minnesota border to the junction of the South Dakota-Minnesota State 
line and Minnehaha County Highway 122 (254th Street).
    Regular Seasons:
    Unit 1: Same as that for the September Canada Goose Season.
    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
    Same zones as for ducks.
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.

[[Page 17331]]

    Southern Zone: That portion of southern California (but excluding 
the Colorado River Zone) south and east of a line extending from the 
Pacific Ocean east along the Santa Maria River to CA 166 near the City 
of Santa Maria; east on CA 166 to CA 99; south on CA 99 to the crest of 
the Tehachapi Mountains at Tejon Pass; east and north along the crest 
of the Tehachapi Mountains to CA 178 at Walker Pass; east on CA 178 to 
U.S. 395 at the town of Inyokern; south on U.S. 395 to CA 58; east on 
CA 58 to I-15; east on I-15 to CA 127; north on CA 127 to the Nevada 
border.
    Imperial County Special Management Area: The area bounded by a line 
beginning at Highway 86 and the Navy Test Base Road; south on Highway 
86 to the town of Westmoreland; continue through the town of 
Westmoreland to Route S26; east on Route S26 to Highway 115; north on 
Highway 115 to Weist Rd.; north on Weist Rd. to Flowing Wells Rd.; 
northeast on Flowing Wells Rd. to the Coachella Canal; northwest on the 
Coachella Canal to Drop 18; a straight line from Drop 18 to Frink Rd.; 
south on Frink Rd. to Highway 111; north on Highway 111 to Niland 
Marina Rd.; southwest on Niland Marina Rd. to the old Imperial County 
boat ramp and the water line of the Salton Sea; from the water line of 
the Salton Sea, a straight line across the Salton Sea to the Salinity 
Control Research Facility and the Navy Test Base Road; southwest on the 
Navy Test Base Road to the point of beginning.
    Balance of State Zone: The remainder of California not included in 
the Northeastern, Colorado River, and Southern Zones.
    North Coast Special Management Area: Del Norte and Humboldt 
Counties.
    Sacramento Valley Special Management Area: That area bounded by a 
line beginning at Willows south on I-5 to Hahn Road; easterly on Hahn 
Road and the Grimes-Arbuckle Road to Grimes; northerly on CA 45 to the 
junction with CA 162; northerly on CA 45/162 to Glenn; and westerly on 
CA 162 to the point of beginning in Willows.
Colorado (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    Same zones as for ducks.
Idaho
Canada 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, 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; 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.
    Zone 4: Bear Lake County; Bingham County within the Blackfoot 
Reservoir drainage; and Caribou County, except that portion within the 
Fort Hall Indian Reservation.
White-Fronted Geese
    Same zones as for ducks.
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.
Nevada
    Same zones as for ducks.
New Mexico (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    North Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of New Mexico located north 
of I-40.
    South Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of New Mexico located south 
of I-40.
Oregon
    Northwest Permit Zone: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Lane, 
Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and 
Yamhill Counties.
    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: That portion of Tillamook County 
beginning at the point where Old Woods Rd crosses the south shores of 
Horn Creek, north on Old Woods Rd to Sand Lake Rd at Woods, north on 
Sand Lake Rd to the intersection with McPhillips Dr, due west (~200 
yards) from the intersection to the Pacific coastline, south on the 
Pacific coastline to Neskowin Creek, east along the north shores of 
Neskowin Creek and then Hawk Creek to Salem Ave, east on Salem Ave in 
Neskowin to Hawk Ave, east on Hawk Ave to Hwy 101, north on Hwy 101 to 
Resort Dr, north on Resort Dr to a point due west of the south shores 
of Horn Creek at its confluence with the Nestucca River, due east (~80 
yards) across the Nestucca River to the south shores of Horn Creek, 
east along the south shores of Horn Creek to the point of beginning.
    Southwest Zone: Those portions of Douglas, Coos, and Curry Counties 
east of Highway 101, and Josephine and Jackson Counties.
    South Coast Zone: Those portions of Douglas, Coos, and Curry 
Counties west of Highway 101.
    Eastern Zone: Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Gilliam, Grant, Hood River, 
Jefferson, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and 
Wheeler Counties.
    Klamath County Zone: Klamath County.
    Harney and Lake County Zone: Harney and Lake Counties.
    Malheur County Zone: Malheur County.
Utah
    Northern Zone: Boundary begins at the intersection of the eastern 
boundary of Public Shooting Grounds Waterfowl Management Area and SR-83 
(Promontory Road); east along SR-83 to I-15; south on I-15 to the Perry 
access road; southwest along this road to the Bear River Bird Refuge 
boundary; west, north, and then east along the refuge boundary until it 
intersects the Public Shooting Grounds Waterfowl

[[Page 17332]]

Management Area boundary; east and north along the Public Shooting 
Grounds Waterfowl Management Area boundary to SR-83.
    Wasatch Front Zone: Boundary begins at the Weber-Box Elder county 
line at I-15; east along Weber county line to U.S.-89; south on U.S.-89 
to I-84; east and south and along I-84 to I-80; south along I-80 to 
U.S.-189; south and west along U.S.-189 to the Utah County line; 
southeast and then west along this line to I-15; north on I-15 to U.S.-
6; west on U.S.-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: Washington County.
    Balance of State Zone: The remainder of Utah not included in the 
Northern, Wasatch Front, and Washington County Zones.
Washington
    Area 1: Skagit, Island, and Snohomish Counties.
    Area 2A (Southwest Permit Zone): Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum 
Counties.
    Area 2B (Southwest Permit Zone): Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties.
    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
    Northern Zone: Del Norte, Humboldt, and Mendocino Counties.
    Balance of State Zone: The remainder of the State not included in 
the Northern Zone.
Washington
    Puget Sound Zone: Skagit County.
    Coastal Zone: Pacific County.

Swans

Central Flyway

    South Dakota: Aurora, Beadle, Brookings, Brown, Brule, Buffalo, 
Campbell, Clark, Codington, Davison, Day, Deuel, Edmunds, Faulk, Grant, 
Hamlin, Hand, Hanson, Hughes, Hyde, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Lake, Marshall, 
McCook, McPherson, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Potter, Roberts, Sanborn, 
Spink, Sully, and Walworth Counties.

Pacific Flyway

Montana (Pacific Flyway Portion)
    Open Area: Cascade, Chouteau, Hill, Liberty, and Toole Counties and 
those portions of Pondera and Teton Counties lying east of U.S. 287-89.
Nevada
    Open Area: Churchill, Lyon, and Pershing Counties.
Utah
    Open Area: Those portions of Box Elder, Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, 
and Toole Counties lying west of I-15, north of I-80, and south of a 
line beginning from the Forest Street exit to the Bear River National 
Wildlife Refuge boundary; then north and west along the Bear River 
National Wildlife Refuge boundary to the farthest west boundary of the 
Refuge; then west along a line to Promontory Road; then north on 
Promontory Road to the intersection of SR 83; then north on SR 83 to I-
84; then north and west on I-84 to State Hwy 30; then west on State Hwy 
30 to the Nevada-Utah State line; then south on the Nevada-Utah State 
line to I-80.

Doves

Alabama
    South Zone: Baldwin, Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Escambia, 
Geneva, Henry, Houston, and Mobile Counties.
    North Zone: Remainder of the State.
Florida
    Northwest Zone: The Counties of Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, 
Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, 
Washington, Leon (except that portion north of U.S. 27 and east of 
State Road 155), Jefferson (south of U.S. 27, west of State Road 59 and 
north of U.S. 98), and Wakulla (except that portion south of U.S. 98 
and east of the St. Marks River).
    South Zone: Remainder of State.
Louisiana
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending 
east from the Texas border along State Highway 12 to U.S. Highway 190, 
east along U.S. 190 to Interstate Highway 12, east along Interstate 
Highway 12 to Interstate Highway 10, then east along Interstate Highway 
10 to the Mississippi border.
    South Zone: The remainder of the State.
Mississippi
    North Zone: That portion of the State north and west of a line 
extending west from the Alabama State line along U.S. Highway 84 to its 
junction with State Highway 35, then south along State Highway 35 to 
the Louisiana State line.
    South Zone: The remainder of Mississippi.
Texas
    North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line beginning at 
the International Bridge south of Fort Hancock; north along FM 1088 to 
TX 20; west along TX 20 to TX 148; north along TX 148 to I-10 at Fort 
Hancock; east along I-10 to I-20; northeast along I-20 to I-30 at Fort 
Worth; northeast along I-30 to the Texas-Arkansas State line.
    South Zone: That portion of the State south and west of a line 
beginning at the International Bridge south of Del Rio, proceeding east 
on U.S. 90 to State Loop 1604 west of San Antonio; then south, east, 
and north along Loop 1604 to I-10 east of San Antonio; then east on I-
10 to Orange, Texas.
    Special White-winged Dove Area in the South Zone: That portion of 
the State south and west of a line beginning at the International Toll 
Bridge in Del Rio; then northeast along U.S. Highway 277 Spur to U.S. 
Highway 90 in Del Rio; then east along U.S. Highway 90 to State Loop 
1604; then along Loop 1604 south and east to Interstate Highway 37; 
then south along Interstate Highway 37 to U.S. Highway 181 in Corpus 
Christi; then north and east along U.S. 181 to the Corpus Christi Ship 
Channel, then eastwards along the south shore of the Corpus Christi 
Ship Channel to the Gulf of Mexico.
    Central Zone: That portion of the State lying between the North and 
South Zones.

Band-Tailed Pigeons

California
    North Zone: Alpine, Butte, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lassen, 
Mendocino,

[[Page 17333]]

Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity Counties.
    South Zone: The remainder of the State not included in the North 
Zone.
New Mexico
    North Zone: North of a line following U.S. 60 from the Arizona 
State line east to I-25 at Socorro and then south along I-25 from 
Socorro to the Texas State line.
    South Zone: The remainder of the State not included in the North 
Zone.
Washington
    Western Washington: The State of Washington excluding those 
portions lying east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of the Big 
White Salmon River in Klickitat County.

Woodcock

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

Sandhill Cranes

Mississippi Flyway

Minnesota
    Northwest Goose Zone: That portion of the State encompassed by a 
line extending east from the North Dakota border along U.S. Highway 2 
to State Trunk Highway (STH) 32, north along STH 32 to STH 92, east 
along STH 92 to County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 2 in Polk County, north 
along CSAH 2 to CSAH 27 in Pennington County, north along CSAH 27 to 
STH 1, east along STH 1 to CSAH 28 in Pennington County, north along 
CSAH 28 to CSAH 54 in Marshall County, north along CSAH 54 to CSAH 9 in 
Roseau County, north along CSAH 9 to STH 11, west along STH 11 to STH 
310, and north along STH 310 to the Manitoba border.
Tennessee
    Hunt Zone: That portion of the State south of Interstate 40 and 
east of State Highway 56.
    Closed Zone: Remainder of the State.

Central Flyway

    Colorado: The Central Flyway portion of the State except the San 
Luis Valley (Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Hinsdale, Mineral, Rio Grande, 
and Saguache Counties east of the Continental Divide) and North Park 
(Jackson County).
    Kansas: That portion of the State west of a line beginning at the 
Oklahoma border, north on I-35 to Wichita, north on I-135 to Salina, 
and north on U.S. 81 to the Nebraska border.
Montana
    Regular Season Open Area: The Central Flyway portion of the State 
except for that area south and west of Interstate 90, which is closed 
to sandhill crane hunting.
    Special Season Open Area: Carbon County.
New Mexico
    Regular-Season Open Area: Chaves, Curry, De Baca, Eddy, Lea, Quay, 
and Roosevelt Counties.
    Special Season Open Areas:
    Middle Rio Grande Valley Area: The Central Flyway portion of New 
Mexico in Socorro and Valencia Counties.
    Estancia Valley Area: Those portions of Santa Fe, Torrance, and 
Bernallilo Counties within an area bounded on the west by New Mexico 
Highway 55 beginning at Mountainair north to NM 337, north to NM 14, 
north to I-25; on the north by I-25 east to U.S. 285; on the east by 
U.S. 285 south to U.S. 60; and on the south by U.S. 60 from U.S. 285 
west to NM 55 in Mountainair.
    Southwest Zone: Area bounded on the south by the New Mexico-Mexico 
border; on the west by the New Mexico-Arizona border north to 
Interstate 10; on the north by Interstate 10 east to U.S. 180, north to 
N.M. 26, east to N.M. 27, north to N.M. 152, and east to Interstate 25; 
on the east by Interstate 25 south to Interstate 10, west to the Luna 
County line, and south to the New Mexico-Mexico border.
North Dakota
    Area 1: That portion of the State west of U.S. 281.
    Area 2: That portion of the State east of U.S. 281.
    Oklahoma: That portion of the State west of I-35.
    South Dakota: That portion of the State west of U.S. 281.
Texas
    Zone A: That portion of Texas lying west of a line beginning at the 
international toll bridge at Laredo, then northeast along U.S. Highway 
81 to its junction with Interstate Highway 35 in Laredo, then north 
along Interstate Highway 35 to its junction with Interstate Highway 10 
in San Antonio, then northwest along Interstate Highway 10 to its 
junction with U.S. Highway 83 at Junction, then north along U.S. 
Highway 83 to its junction with U.S. Highway 62, 16 miles north of 
Childress, then east along U.S. Highway 62 to the Texas-Oklahoma State 
line.
    Zone B: That portion of Texas lying within boundaries beginning at 
the junction of U.S. Highway 81 and the Texas-Oklahoma State line, then 
southeast along U.S. Highway 81 to its junction with U.S. Highway 287 
in Montague County, then southeast along U.S. Highway 287 to its 
junction with Interstate Highway 35W in Fort Worth, then southwest 
along Interstate Highway 35 to its junction with Interstate Highway 10 
in San Antonio, then northwest along Interstate Highway 10 to its 
junction with U.S. Highway 83 in the town of Junction, then north along 
U.S. Highway 83 to its junction with U.S. Highway 62, 16 miles north of 
Childress, then east along U.S. Highway 62 to the Texas-Oklahoma State 
line, then south along the Texas-Oklahoma State line to the south bank 
of the Red River, then eastward along the vegetation line on the south 
bank of the Red River to U.S. Highway 81.
    Zone C: The remainder of the State, except for the closed areas.
    Closed areas: (A) That portion of the State lying east and north of 
a line beginning at the junction of U.S. Highway 81 and the Texas-
Oklahoma State line, then southeast along U.S. Highway 81 to its 
junction with U.S. Highway 287 in Montague County, then southeast along 
U.S. Highway 287 to its junction with I-35W in Fort Worth, then 
southwest along I-35 to its junction with U.S. Highway 290 East in 
Austin, then east along U.S. Highway 290 to its junction with 
Interstate Loop 610 in Harris County, then south and east along 
Interstate Loop 610 to its junction with Interstate Highway 45 in 
Houston, then south on Interstate Highway 45 to State Highway 342, then 
to the shore of the Gulf of Mexico, and then north and east along the 
shore of the Gulf of Mexico to the Texas-Louisiana State line.
    (B) That portion of the State lying within the boundaries of a line 
beginning at the Kleberg-Nueces County line and the shore of the Gulf 
of Mexico, then west along the County line to Park Road 22 in Nueces 
County, then north and west along Park Road 22 to its junction with 
State Highway 358 in Corpus Christi, then west and north along State 
Highway 358 to its junction with State Highway 286, then north along 
State Highway 286 to its junction with Interstate Highway 37, then east 
along Interstate Highway 37 to its junction with U.S. Highway 181, then 
north and west along U.S. Highway 181 to its junction with U.S. Highway 
77 in Sinton, then north and east along U.S. Highway 77 to its junction 
with U.S. Highway 87 in Victoria, then south and east along U.S. 
Highway 87 to its junction with State Highway 35 at Port Lavaca, then 
north and east along State Highway 35 to the south end of the Lavaca 
Bay Causeway, then south and

[[Page 17334]]

east along the shore of Lavaca Bay to its junction with the Port Lavaca 
Ship Channel, then south and east along the Lavaca Bay Ship Channel to 
the Gulf of Mexico, and then south and west along the shore of the Gulf 
of Mexico to the Kleberg-Nueces County line.
Wyoming
    Regular Season Open Area: Campbell, Converse, Crook, Goshen, 
Laramie, Niobrara, Platte, and Weston Counties.
    Special Season Open Areas:
    Riverton-Boysen Unit: Portions of Fremont County.
    Park and Big Horn County Unit: All of Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park, 
and Washakie Counties.
    Johnson, Natrona, and Sheridan County Unit: All of Johnson, 
Natrona, and Sheridan Counties.

Pacific Flyway

Arizona
    Special Season Area: Game Management Units 28, 30A, 30B, 31, and 
32.
Idaho
    Area 1: All of Bear Lake County and all of Caribou County except 
that portion lying within the Grays Lake Basin.
    Area 2: All of Teton County except that portion lying west of State 
Highway 33 and south of Packsaddle Road (West 400 North) and north of 
the North Cedron Road (West 600 South) and east of the west bank of the 
Teton River.
    Area 3: All of Fremont County except the Chester Wetlands Wildlife 
Management Area.
    Area 4: All of Jefferson County.
    Area 5: All of Bannock County east of Interstate-15 and south of 
U.S. Highway 30; and all of Franklin County.
Montana
    Zone 1 (Warm Springs Portion of Deer Lodge County): Those portions 
of Deer Lodge County lying within the following described boundary: 
Beginning at the intersection of I-90 and Highway 273, then westerly 
along Highway 273 to the junction of Highway 1, then southeast along 
said highway to Highway 275 at Opportunity, then east along said 
highway to East Side County road, then north along said road to Perkins 
Lake, then west on said lane to I-90, then north on said interstate to 
the junction of Highway 273, the point of beginning. Except for 
sections 13 and 24, T5N, R10W; and Warm Springs Pond number 3.
    Zone 2 (Ovando-Helmville Area): That portion of the Pacific Flyway, 
located in Powell County lying within the following described boundary: 
Beginning at the junction of State Routes 141 and 200, then west along 
Route 200 to its intersection with the Blackfoot River at Russell Gates 
Fishing Access Site (Powell-Missoula County line), then southeast along 
said river to its intersection with the Ovando-Helmville Road (County 
Road 104) at Cedar Meadows Fishing Access Site, then south and east 
along said road to its junction with State Route 141, then north along 
said route to its junction with State Route 200, the point of 
beginning.
    Zone 3 (Dillon/Twin Bridges/Cardwell Areas): That portion of 
Beaverhead, Madison, and Jefferson Counties lying within the following 
described boundaries: Beginning at Dillon, then northerly along U.S. 
Hwy 91 to its intersection with the Big Hole River at Brown's Bridge 
north of Glen, then southeasterly and northeasterly along the Big Hole 
River to High Road, then east along High Road to State Highway 41, then 
east along said highway to the Beaverhead River, then north along said 
river to the Jefferson River and north along the Jefferson River to the 
Ironrod Bridge, then northeasterly along State Highway 41 to the 
junction with State Highway 55, then northeasterly along said highway 
to the junction with I-90, then east along I-90 to Cardwell and Route 
359 then south along Route 359 to the Parrot Hill/Cedar Hill Road then 
southwesterly along said road and the Cemetery Hill Road to the Parrot 
Ditch road to the Point of Rocks Road to Carney Lane to the Bench Road 
to the Waterloo Road and Bayers Lanes, to State Highway 41, then east 
along State Highway 41 to the Beaverhead River, then south along the 
Beaverhead River to the mouth of the Ruby River, then southeasterly 
along the Ruby River to the East Bench Road, then southwesterly along 
the East Bench Road to the East Bench Canal, then southwesterly along 
said canal to the Sweetwater Road, then west along Sweetwater Road to 
Dillon, the point of beginning, plus the remainder of Madison County 
and all of Gallatin County.
    Zone 4 (Broadwater County): Broadwater County.
Utah
    Cache County: Cache County.
    East Box Elder County: That portion of Box Elder County beginning 
on the Utah-Idaho State line at the Box Elder-Cache County line; west 
on the State line to the Pocatello Valley County Road; south on the 
Pocatello Valley County Road to I-15; southeast on I-15 to SR-83; south 
on SR-83 to Lamp Junction; west and south on the Promontory Point 
County Road to the tip of Promontory Point; south from Promontory Point 
to the Box Elder-Weber County line; east on the Box Elder-Weber County 
line to the Box Elder-Cache County line; north on the Box Elder-Cache 
County line to the Utah-Idaho State line.
    Rich County: Rich County.
    Uintah County: Uintah County.
Wyoming
    Area 1 (Bear River): All of the Bear River and Ham's Fork River 
drainages in Lincoln County.
    Area 2 (Salt River Area): All of the Salt River drainage in Lincoln 
County south of the McCoy Creek Road.
    Area 3 (Eden Valley Area): All lands within the Bureau of 
Reclamation's Eden Project in Sweetwater County.
    Area 5 (Uintah County Area): Uinta County.

All Migratory Game Birds in Alaska

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

All Migratory Game Birds in the Virgin Islands

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

All Migratory Game Birds in Puerto Rico

    Municipality of Culebra Closure Area: All of the municipality of 
Culebra.
    Desecheo Island Closure Area: All of Desecheo Island.
    Mona Island Closure Area: All of Mona Island.
    El Verde Closure Area: Those areas of the municipalities of Rio 
Grande and Loiza delineated as follows: (1) All lands between Routes 
956 on the west and 186 on the east, from Route 3 on the north to the 
juncture of Routes 956 and 186 (Km 13.2) in the south; (2) all lands 
between Routes 186 and 966 from the juncture of 186 and 966 on the 
north, to the Caribbean National Forest Boundary on the south; (3) all 
lands lying west of Route 186 for 1 kilometer from the juncture of 
Routes 186 and 956 south to Km 6 on Route 186; (4) all lands within Km 
14 and Km 6 on the west and the Caribbean National Forest Boundary on 
the east; and (5) all lands within the Caribbean National Forest 
Boundary whether private or public.

[[Page 17335]]

    Cidra Municipality and adjacent areas: All of Cidra Municipality 
and portions of Aguas Buenas, Caguas, Cayey, and Comerio Municipalities 
as encompassed within the following boundary: Beginning on Highway 172 
as it leaves the municipality of Cidra on the west edge, north to 
Highway 156, east on Highway 156 to Highway 1, south on Highway 1 to 
Highway 765, south on Highway 765 to Highway 763, south on Highway 763 
to the Rio Guavate, west along Rio Guavate to Highway 1, southwest on 
Highway 1 to Highway 14, west on Highway 14 to Highway 729, north on 
Highway 729 to Cidra Municipality boundary to the point of the 
beginning.

[FR Doc. 2016-06601 Filed 3-25-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-155-P