# Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed Frameworks for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations

> Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more.

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A2015-31169

## Record

- **Collection:** Federal Register
- **Document type:** Proposed Rule
- **Published:** December 11, 2015
- **Citation:** 80 FR 77088

## Text

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; Proposed Frameworks for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations

AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Proposed rule; supplemental.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter Service or we) is proposing to establish the 2016-17 hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds. We annually prescribe frameworks, or outer limits, for dates and times when hunting may occur and the number of birds that may be taken and possessed in 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:

You must submit comments on the proposed migratory bird hunting frameworks by January 11, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

Comments:
You may submit comments on the proposals by one of the following methods:

•
Federal eRulemaking Portal:

http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2015-0034.

•
U.S. mail or hand delivery:
Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-HQ-MB-2015-0034; Division of Policy, Performance, and Management Programs; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

We will post all comments on
http://www.regulations.gov.
This generally means that we will post any personal information you provide us (see the Review of Public Comments and Flyway Council Recommendations section, below, for more information).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

As part of DOI's retrospective regulatory review, we developed a schedule for migratory game bird hunting regulations that is more efficient and will provide dates much earlier than was possible under the old process. This will facilitate planning for the States and all parties interested in migratory bird hunting. Beginning with the 2016-17 hunting season, we are using a new schedule for establishing our annual migratory game bird hunting regulations. We will combine the current early- and late-season regulatory actions into a single process, based on predictions derived from long-term biological information and harvest strategies, to establish migratory bird hunting seasons much earlier than the system we have used for many years. Under the new process, we will develop proposed hunting season frameworks for a given year in the fall of the prior year. We will finalize those frameworks a few months later, thereby enabling the State agencies to select and publish their season dates in early summer.

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 §§ 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. Those headings are:

1. Ducks

A. General Harvest Strategy

B. Regulatory Alternatives

C. Zones and Split Seasons

D. Special Seasons/Species Management

i. September Teal Seasons

ii. September Teal/Wood Duck Seasons

iii. Black ducks

iv. Canvasbacks

v. Pintails

vi. Scaup

vii. Mottled ducks

viii. Wood ducks

ix. Youth Hunt

x. Mallard Management Units

xi. Other

2. Sea Ducks

3. Mergansers

4. Canada Geese

A. Special Seasons

B. Regular Seasons

C. Special Late Seasons

5. White-fronted Geese

6. Brant

7. Snow and Ross's (Light) Geese

8. Swans

9. Sandhill Cranes

10. Coots

11. Moorhens and Gallinules

12. Rails

13. Snipe

14. Woodcock

15. Band-tailed Pigeons

16. Doves

17. Alaska

18. Hawaii

19. Puerto Rico

20. Virgin Islands

21. Falconry

22. Other

Subsequent documents will refer only to numbered items requiring attention. Therefore, it is important to note that we will omit those items requiring no attention, and remaining numbered items will be discontinuous and appear incomplete.

The August 6 proposed rule also provided detailed information on the proposed 2016-17 regulatory schedule and announced the Service Regulations Committee (SRC) and Flyway Council meetings.

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.

This document deals specifically with proposed frameworks for the migratory bird hunting regulations. It will lead to final frameworks from which States may select season dates, shooting hours, areas, and limits.

We have considered all pertinent comments received through October 23, 2015, on the August 6, 2015, proposed rulemaking document in developing this document. In addition, new proposals for certain regulations are provided for public comment. The comment period is specified above under
DATES
. We will publish final regulatory frameworks for migratory game bird hunting in the
Federal Register
on or around February 28, 2016.

Population Status and Harvest

The following paragraphs provide information on the status and harvest of migratory game birds excerpted from various reports. Due to the overlapping nature this first year of the new regulatory process for establishing the annual migratory game bird hunting regulations, most all of this information was previously reported in the July 21, 2015, and August 25, 2015, proposed rules for the 2015-16 migratory game bird hunting seasons (80 FR 43266 and 80 FR 51658). However, as an aid to the reader, we are providing it again here. We are also providing updated status information for the Mid-Continent

Population of sandhill cranes from the March, 2015 surveys.

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
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewsPublicationsReports.html.

Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey

Federal, provincial, and State agencies conduct surveys each spring to estimate the size of breeding populations and to evaluate habitat conditions. These surveys are conducted using fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and ground crews and encompass principal breeding areas of North America, covering an area over 2.0 million square miles. The traditional survey area comprises Alaska, western Canada, and the north central United States, and includes approximately 1.3 million square miles. The eastern survey area includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Labrador, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, New York, and Maine, an area of approximately 0.7 million square miles.

Despite an early spring over most of the survey area, habitat conditions during the 2015 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (WBPHS) were similar to or poorer than last year. With the exception of portions of southern Saskatchewan and central latitudes of eastern Canada, in many areas the decline in habitat conditions was due to average to below-average annual precipitation. The total pond estimate (Prairie Canada and United States combined) was 6.3 ± 0.2 million, which was 12 percent below the 2014 estimate of 7.2 ± 0.2 million but 21 percent above the long-term average of 5.2 ± 0.03 million. The 2015 estimate of ponds in Prairie Canada was 4.2 ± 0.1 million. This estimate was 10 percent below the 2014 estimate of 4.6 ± 0.2 million but 19 percent above the long-term average (3.5 ± 0.02 million). The 2015 pond estimate for the north central United States was 2.2 ± 0.09 million, which was 16 percent below the 2014 estimate of 2.6 ± 0.1 million and 28 percent above the long-term average (1.7 ± 0.02 million).

Additional details of the 2015 Survey were provided in the July 21, 2015,
Federal Register
and are available from our Web site at
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds.

Breeding Population Status

In the traditional survey area, which includes strata 1-18, 20-50, and 75-77, the total duck population estimate (excluding scoters [
Melanitta
spp.], eiders [
Somateria
spp. and
Polysticta stelleri
], long-tailed ducks [
Clangula hyemalis
], mergansers [
Mergus
spp. and
Lophodytes cucullatus
], and wood ducks [
Aix sponsa
]) was 49.5 ± 0.8 [SE] million birds. This estimate is similar to the 2014 estimate of 49.2 ± 0.8 million, and is 43 percent higher than the long-term average (1955-2014). This year also marks the highest estimates in the time series for mallards (
Anas platyrhynchos
) and green-winged teal (
A. crecca
). Estimated mallard abundance was 11.6 ± 0.4 million, which was similar to the 2014 estimate of 10.9 ± 0.3 million, and 51 percent above the long-term average of 7.7 ± 0.04 million. Estimated abundance of gadwall (
A. strepera;
3.8 ± 0.2 million) and American wigeon (
A. americana;
3.0 ± 0.2 million) were similar to last year's estimates, and were 100 percent and 17 percent above their long-term averages of 1.9 ± 0.02 million and 2.6 ± 0.02 million, respectively. The estimated abundance of green-winged teal was 4.1 ± 0.3 million, which was 19 percent above the 2014 estimate of 3.4 ± 0.2 million and 98 percent above the long-term average (2.1 ± 0.02 million). Estimated blue-winged teal (
A. discors;
8.5 ± 0.4 million) abundance was similar to the 2014 estimate, and 73 percent above the long-term average of 4.9 ± 0.04 million.

Estimated Abundance of Northern Shovelers

(
A. clypeata;
4.4 ± 0.2 million) was 17 percent below the 2014 estimate but 75 percent above the long-term average of 2.5 ± 0.02 million. Northern pintail abundance (
A. acuta;
3.0 ± 0.2 million) was similar to the 2014 estimate and 24 percent below the long-term average of 4.0 ± 0.04 million. Abundance estimates for redheads (
Aythya americana;
1.2 ± 0.1 million) and canvasbacks (
A. valisineria;
0.8 ± 0.06 million) were similar to their 2014 estimates and were 71 percent and 30 percent above their long-term averages of 0.7 ± 0.01 million and 0.6 ± 0.01 million, respectively. Estimated abundance of scaup (
A. affinis
and
A. marila
combined; 4.4 ± 0.3 million) was similar to the 2014 estimate and 13 percent below the long-term average of 5.0 ± 0.05 million.

The eastern survey area was restratified in 2005, and is now composed of strata 51-72. In the eastern survey area, estimated abundance of American black ducks (
Anas rubripes
) was 0.5 ± .04 million, which was 11 percent below last year's estimate and 13 percent below the 1990-2014 average. The estimated abundance of mallards (0.4 ± 0.1 million) and mergansers (0.4 ± 0.04 million) were similar to the 2014 estimates and their 1990-2014 averages. Abundance estimates of green-winged teal (0.2 ± 0.04 million) and goldeneyes (common and Barrow's [
Bucephala clangula
and
B. islandica
], 0.4 ± 0.4 million) were similar to their 2014 estimates, and were 14 percent and 15 percent below their 1990-2014 averages of 0.3 ± 0.04 million and 0.4 ± 0.07 million, respectively. The abundance estimate of ring-necked ducks (
Aythya collaris,
0.5 ± 0.07 million) was similar to the 2014 estimate and the 1990-2014 average.

Status of Geese and Swans

We provide information on the population status and productivity of North American Canada geese (
Branta canadensis
), brant (
B. bernicla
), snow geese (
Chen caerulescens
), Ross's geese (
C. rossii
), emperor geese (
C. canagica
), white-fronted geese (
Anser albifrons
), and tundra swans (
Cygnus columbianus
). Production of arctic-nesting geese depends heavily upon the timing of snow and ice melt, and spring and early-summer temperatures.

In 2015, conditions in the Arctic and boreal areas important for geese were variable. Compared to last year, snow and ice conditions were less extensive in the western Arctic, more extensive in the central Arctic, and similar in the eastern Arctic. Breeding conditions were good on Bylot Island in the eastern Arctic, and an average to above-average fall flight was expected for greater snow geese. Biologists reported later-than-average spring phenology at Southampton Island, the northern and western coastal areas of the Hudson Bay, and the southern portion of Baffin Island. Atlantic brant have had 3 years of low production, and below-average production was expected again this year. Habitat conditions across Atlantic Canada were generally good, except for a more persistent spring snow pack and ice coverage in higher elevation areas in Newfoundland and Labrador. Nesting conditions were below average on the Ungava Peninsula, and lakes and ponds along the eastern Hudson Bay coast remained frozen in mid-June. North Atlantic Population and Atlantic Population Canada goose numbers were similar to recent averages, and average fall flights were expected. Of the Canada goose populations that migrate through the Mississippi Flyway, Eastern Prairie Population numbers were similar to last year, and average to above-average production was expected; Southern James Bay Population and Mississippi Valley Population breeding numbers were down relative to recent years, with

average and below-average fall flights predicted, respectively. Ice breakup and nesting phenology in the Queen Maud Gulf region of the central Arctic were similar to long-term averages, and nesting conditions and habitat were good to above average in the western Arctic and Northwest Territories. Thus, average to above-average production was expected for Ross's, mid-continent snow, mid-continent white-fronted, and lesser and Central Flyway Arctic nesting Canada geese.

Alaska experienced an early spring and mild breakup of ice with minimal flooding on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and other interior areas of the State. With less persistent ice and snow cover and favorable breeding conditions in the western Arctic and Alaska, the outlook for goose and swan populations nesting in these areas was good to excellent. With the exception of cackling Canada geese, indices for geese and swans that breed on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta were lower this year compared to last year, though later survey timing relative to the early spring conditions may have contributed to lower counts. Record high counts were observed this year for the Wrangel Island Population of lesser snow geese and dusky Canada geese, and the spring index for emperor geese was the highest recorded in over three decades.

Across much of the Canadian and U.S. prairies, spring phenology was early. Habitat conditions were generally rated good to fair on the Canadian prairies and fair to poor on the U.S. prairies. Southern and central portions of the western United States were exceptionally dry, and habitat conditions there were generally poor. However, production of temperate-nesting Canada geese over most of their North American range is expected to be average, and similar to previous years.

Of the 28 goose and swan populations included in the report, 6 had significant positive trends during the most recent 10-year period (
P
< 0.05): Western Prairie and Great Plains Population, dusky, and Aleutian Canada geese; and mid-continent, Western Central Flyway, and Western Arctic and Wrangel Island light geese. Three populations, Atlantic brant, and the Atlantic and Southern James Bay Populations of Canada geese, showed a statistically significant negative 10-year trend. Of the 13 populations for which primary indices included variance estimates, Ross's geese statistically significantly increased and 2 populations statistically significantly decreased (Southern James Bay Population and Mississippi Valley Population Canada geese) in 2015 compared to 2014. Of the 15 populations for which primary indices did not include variance estimates, 8 populations were higher than last year, and 7 populations were lower.

Waterfowl Harvest and Hunter Activity

National surveys of migratory bird hunters were conducted during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 hunting seasons. More than 1 million waterfowl hunters harvested 13,716,400 (± 6 percent) ducks and 3,360,400 (± 6 percent) geese in 2013, and more than 1 million waterfowl hunters harvested 13,267,800 (± 4 percent) ducks and 3,321,100 (± 11 percent) geese in 2014. Mallard, green-winged teal, gadwall, blue-winged/cinnamon teal, and wood duck (
Aix sponsa
) were the five most-harvested duck species in the United States, and Canada goose was the predominant goose species in the goose harvest.

Sandhill Cranes

The annual indices to abundance of the Mid-Continent Population (MCP) of sandhill cranes (
Grus canadensis
) have been relatively stable since 1982, but have shown more inter-annual variability in recent years. The spring 2015 estimate of sandhill cranes in the Central Platte River Valley (CPRV), Nebraska, was 452,616 birds. This estimate is 31 percent lower than the estimate from March 2014. The 3-year average for photo-corrected counts (which are more accurate than ocular estimates because they account for birds present but not seen by aerial crews) for 2013-15 was 623,812, which is above the established population-objective range of 349,000- 472,000 cranes. All Central Flyway States, except Nebraska, allowed crane hunting in portions of their States during 2014-15. An estimated 7,825 Central Flyway hunters participated in these seasons, which was 24 percent lower than the number that participated in the previous season. Hunters harvested 15,776 MCP cranes in the U.S. portion of the Central Flyway during the 2014-15 seasons, which was 27 percent lower than the harvest for the previous year but 6 percent higher than the long-term average. The retrieved harvest of MCP cranes in hunt areas outside of the Central Flyway (Arizona, Pacific Flyway portion of New Mexico, Minnesota, Alaska, Canada, and Mexico combined) was 13,221 during 2014-15. The preliminary estimate for the North American MCP sport harvest, including crippling losses, was 32,666 birds, which was a 19 percent decrease from the previous year's estimate. The long-term (1982-2012) trends for the MCP indicate that harvest has been increasing at a higher rate than population growth.

The fall 2014 pre-migration survey for the Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) resulted in a count of 19,668 cranes. The 3-year average was 18,482 sandhill cranes, which is within the established population objective of 17,000-21,000 for the RMP. Hunting seasons during 2014-15 in portions of Arizona, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming resulted in a harvest of 624 RMP cranes, an 8 percent decrease from the previous year's harvest.

The Eastern Population (EP) sandhill crane fall survey index (83,479) increased by 30 percent in 2014, and a combined total of 401 cranes were harvested in Kentucky's fourth hunting season and Tennessee's second season.

Woodcock

The American woodcock (
Scolopax minor
) is managed as two management regions, the Eastern and the Central. Singing Ground and Wing-collection Surveys are conducted to assess population status. The Singing Ground Survey is intended to measure long-term changes in woodcock population levels.

Singing Ground Survey data for 2015 indicate that the number of singing male woodcock per route in the Eastern and Central Management Regions was unchanged from 2014. There was a statistically significant, declining 10-year trend in woodcock heard for the Eastern Management Region during 2005-15, while the 10-year trend in the Central Management Region was not significant. This marks the second year in a row that the 10-year trend in the Eastern Management Region has shown a decline. Both management regions have a long-term (1968-2015) declining trend (−1.1 percent per year in the Eastern Management Region and −0.7 percent per year in the Central Management Region).

The Wing-collection Survey provides an index to recruitment. Wing-collection Survey data indicate that the 2014 recruitment index for the U.S. portion of the Eastern Region (1.49 immatures per adult female) was 6.9 percent less than the 2013 index, and 8.9 percent less than the long-term (1963-2013) average. The recruitment index for the U.S. portion of the Central Region (1.39 immatures per adult female) was 9.7 percent less than the 2013 index and 10.6 percent less than the long-term (1963-2013) average.

During the 2014-15 seasons, hunters in the Eastern Region harvested 58,600 birds, which was 6.2 percent below the number for the previous season and 31.4 percent below the long-term (1999-2013) average. In the Central Region, 141,500 woodcock were harvested, 21.4

percent less than in 2013 and 36.5 percent less than the long-term average.

Band-Tailed Pigeons

Two subspecies of band-tailed pigeon (
Columba fasciata
) occur north of Mexico, and are managed as two separate populations: Interior and Pacific Coast. Information on the abundance and harvest of band-tailed pigeons is collected annually in the United States and British Columbia. Abundance information comes from the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and the Mineral Site Survey (MSS, specific to the Pacific Coast Population). Harvest and hunter participation are estimated from the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP).

The BBS provided evidence that the abundance of Pacific Coast band-tailed pigeons decreased (−1.8 percent per year) over the long term (1968-2014). No trends in abundance were evident during the recent 10- and 5-year periods for both the BBS and MSS. Harvest estimates indicate that 2,900 active hunters took 12,000 pigeons and spent 8,800 days afield in 2014. Composition of harvest was 25 percent hatching-year pigeons.

For Interior band-tailed pigeons, the BBS provided evidence that abundance decreased (−5.5 percent per year) over the long term (1968-2014). Similar to Pacific Coast birds, no trends in abundance were evident during the recent 10- and 5-year periods. An estimated 1,500 hunters harvested 1,500 pigeons and spent 3,300 days afield in 2014.

Mourning Doves

Doves in the United States are managed in three management units, Eastern (EMU), Central (CMU), and Western (WMU). We annually summarize information collected in the United States on survival, recruitment, abundance, and harvest of mourning doves (
Zenaida macroura
). We report on trends in the number of doves heard and seen per route from the all-bird BBS, and provide absolute abundance estimates based on band recovery and harvest data. Harvest and hunter participation are estimated from the HIP.

BBS data suggested that the abundance of mourning doves over the last 49 years increased in the Eastern Management Unit (EMU) and decreased in the Central (CMU) and Western (WMU) Management Units. Estimates of absolute abundance are available only since 2003 and indicate that there are about 274 million doves in the United States. Predicted abundances for 2015 (and lower 70 percent credible intervals [CI]) are 79.3 million birds (64.3) for the EMU, 139.5 million (124.3) for the CMU, and 52.6 million (45.0) for the WMU.

Current (2014) HIP estimates for mourning dove total harvest, active hunters, and total days afield in the United States were 13,809,500 birds, 839,600 hunters, and 2,386,700 days afield. Harvest and hunter participation at the unit level were: EMU, 4,889,800 birds, 310,200 hunters, and 791,300 days afield; CMU, 7,654,700 birds, 427,100 hunters, and 1,333,600 days afield; and WMU, 1,265,000 birds, 102,300 hunters, and 261,800 days afield.

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 and discussed the regulatory alternatives for the 2016-17 duck hunting season. Comments are summarized below and numbered in the order used in the August 6, 2015, proposed rule. 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.

We seek additional information and comments on the recommendations in this supplemental proposed rule. New proposals and modifications to previously described proposals are discussed below. Wherever possible, they are discussed under headings corresponding to the numbered items in the August 6, 2015, proposed rule.

General

Written Comments:
A commenter protested the entire migratory bird hunting regulations process, the killing of all migratory birds, and status and habitat data on which the migratory bird hunting regulations are based.

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

1. Ducks

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 propose to 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 recommend continuing to use independent optimization to determine the optimal regulatory choice for each mallard stock. This means that we would 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 (
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/management/AHM/SEIS&AHMReportFinal.pdf
).

For the 2016-17 hunting season, we are continuing to consider the same regulatory alternatives as those used last year. The nature of the “restrictive,” “moderate,” and “liberal” alternatives has remained essentially unchanged since 1997, except that extended framework dates have been offered in the “moderate” and “liberal” regulatory alternatives since 2002 (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 (traditional survey area minus Alaska and the Old Crow Flats area of the Yukon Territory, plus Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan) 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 propose to 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.

Service Response:
We do not support the Councils' recommendation 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 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.

D. Special Seasons/Species Management

i. September Teal Seasons

For the 2016-17 season, we will utilize the 2015 breeding population estimate of 8.3 million blue-winged teal from the traditional survey area 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, 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
http://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 regulatory alternatives and associated predicted harvest; 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 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 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 Hunt 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).

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). Further, sea ducks have a low reproduction rate normally offset by the 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. They further estimate that the recommended changes in season length, daily bag limits, and area restrictions are expected to achieve an approximate harvest reduction of 25 percent.

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 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 58448, 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 Sept. 24 to the Sunday nearest Feb. 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 RMP 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) is yet available. However, the 2016 MWS will be completed and winter brant data will be available by the expected publication of the final frameworks (late February 2016). 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 now 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 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.

When we acquire the 2016 MWS brant count in January 2016, we will select the appropriate Atlantic brant hunting season for 2016-17 from the above Atlantic brant hunt strategies and publish the result in the final frameworks rule.

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 Sept. 24 to the Sunday nearest Feb. 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 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 Council's 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, proposed rule, 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 × P × R × L × 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)

A final estimate for the allowable harvest would be available to publish in the final rule, allowing us to use data that is 1-3 years old as is currently practiced.

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 confidence intervals fall within the “moderate package” for both the Eastern and Central Management Regions. As such, a “moderate season” for both management regions for the 2016-17 season is appropriate.

Specifics of the harvest strategy can be found at
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewsPublicationsReports.html.

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 daily bag limit could be composed of mourning doves and white-winged doves, singly or in combination.

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. In Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, the season length would be no more than 60 consecutive days with a daily bag limit of 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate. In Arizona and California, the season length would be no more than 60 consecutive days, which could be split between two periods, September 1-15 and November 1-January 15. In Arizona, during the first segment of the season, the daily bag limit would be 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate, of which no more than 10 could be white-winged doves. During the remainder of the season, the daily bag limit would be 15 mourning doves. In California, the daily bag limit would be 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate, of which no more than 10 could be white-winged doves.

Service Response:
Based on the harvest strategies and current population status, we agree with the recommended selection of the “standard” season frameworks for doves in the Eastern, Central, and Western Management Units 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.

Public Comments

The Department of the Interior's policy is, whenever possible, to afford the public an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking process. Accordingly, we invite interested persons to submit written comments, suggestions, or recommendations regarding the proposed regulations. Before promulgating final migratory game bird hunting regulations, we will consider all comments we receive. These comments, and any additional information we receive, may lead to final regulations that differ from these proposals.

You may submit your comments and materials concerning this proposed rule by one of the methods listed in
ADDRESSES
. We will not accept comments sent by email or fax. We will not consider hand-delivered comments that we do not receive, or mailed comments that are not postmarked, by the date specified in
DATES
.

We will post all comments in their entirety—including your personal

identifying information—on
http://www.regulations.gov.
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting documentation we used in preparing this proposed rule, will be available for public inspection on
http://www.regulations.gov,
or by appointment, during normal business hours, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory Bird Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia.

We will consider, but possibly may not respond in detail to, each comment. As in the past, we will summarize all comments we receive during the comment period and respond to them after the closing date in the preambles of any final rules.

Required Determinations

Based on our most current data, we are affirming our required determinations made in the August 6 proposed rule; for descriptions of our actions to ensure compliance with the following statutes and Executive Orders, see our August 6, 2015, proposed rule (80 FR 47388):

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Consideration;

• Endangered Species Act Consideration;

• Regulatory Flexibility Act;

• Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act;

• Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

• Unfunded Mandates Reform Act;

• Executive Orders 12630, 12866, 12988, 13132, 13175, 13211, and 13563.

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

Dated: December 2, 2015.
Michael J. Bean,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

Proposed 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 proposals 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,

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 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, 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. If the regular duck season is open in the Special Sea Duck Area, other ducks may be taken in the Special Sea Duck Area(s), but the total daily bag limit cannot exceed 6 ducks in these areas, including no more than 5 sea ducks. At no time or place are special sea duck daily bag limits considered to be in addition to daily bag limits for regular ducks.

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, 80.170, 80.501, 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.

Special Late Goose Season Area: A special season may be held between January 15 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit in designated areas of Suffolk County.

AP Zone: A 50-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in October (October 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 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 30-day season between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24) and January 31. States may split their seasons into two segments. Season length and daily bag limits will be based on the upcoming MWS results and the Atlantic brant hunt plan.

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. 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 Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24) 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 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 should be concurrent with Oregon's South Coast Zone.

Idaho:

Zone 2: Idaho will continue to monitor the snow goose hunt that occurs after the last Sunday in January in the American Falls Reservoir/Fort Hall Bottoms and surrounding areas at 3-year intervals.

Oregon:
The daily bag limit for light geese is 6 on or before the last Sunday in January.

Harney and Lake County Zone: For Lake County only, the daily white-fronted goose bag limit is 1.

Northwest 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 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, 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 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.

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,

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A2015-31169. Public record. Not legal advice.