# Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed Frameworks for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A2018-02112 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Proposed Rule - **Published:** February 2, 2018 - **Citation:** 83 FR 4964 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 20 [Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2017-0028; FF09M21200-178-FXMB1231099BPP0] RIN 1018-BB73 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 2018-19 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 March 5, 2018. 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-2017-0028. • U.S. mail or hand delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-HQ-MB-2017-0028; 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: New Process for the Annual Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations As part of DOI's retrospective regulatory review, 2 years ago we developed a schedule for migratory game bird hunting regulations that is more efficient and provides hunting season dates much earlier than was possible under the old process. The new process makes planning easier for the States and all parties interested in migratory bird hunting. Beginning in the summer of 2015, with the development of the 2016-17 hunting seasons, we started promulgating our annual migratory game bird hunting regulations using a new schedule that combines the previously used early- and late-season regulatory processes into a single process. We make decisions for harvest management based on predictions derived from long-term biological information and established harvest strategies and, therefore, can establish migratory bird hunting seasons much earlier than the system we used for many years. Under the new process, we develop proposed hunting season frameworks for a given year in the fall of the prior year. We then finalize those frameworks a few months later, thereby enabling the State agencies to select and publish their season dates in early summer. We provided a detailed overview of the new process in the August 3, 2017, Federal Register (82 FR 36308). This proposed rule is the third in a series of proposed and final rules for the establishment of the 2018-19 hunting seasons. Regulations Schedule for 2018 On August 3, 2017, we published a proposal to amend title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at part 20 (82 FR 36308). 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 2018-19 regulatory cycle relating to open public meetings and Federal Register notifications were also identified in a August 3, 2017, 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 Early 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 3 proposed rule also provided detailed information on the proposed 2018-19 regulatory schedule and announced the Service Regulations Committee (SRC) and Flyway Council meetings. On October 3, 2017, we published in the Federal Register (82 FR 46011) a second document providing supplemental proposals for migratory bird hunting regulations. The October 3 supplement also provided detailed information on the 2018-19 regulatory schedule and re-announced the SRC and Flyway Council meetings. On October 17-18, 2017, 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 2018-19 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 November 1, 2017, on the August 3 and October 3, 2017, proposed rulemaking documents 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, 2018. Population Status and Harvest Each year we publish various species status reports that provide detailed information on the status and harvest of migratory game birds, including information on the methodologies and results. These reports are available at the address indicated under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or from our website at https://www.fws.gov/birds/surveys-and-data/reports-and-publications/population-status.php. We used the following reports: Adaptive Harvest Management, 2018 Hunting Season (September, 2017); American Woodcock Population Status, 2017 (August, 2017); Band-tailed Pigeon Population Status, 2017 (August, 2017); Migratory Bird Hunting Activity and Harvest During the 2015-16 and 2016-17 Hunting Seasons (August, 2017); Mourning Dove Population Status, 2017 (August, 2017); Status and Harvests of Sandhill Cranes, Mid-continent, Rocky Mountain, Lower Colorado River Valley and Eastern Populations, 2017 (August, 2017); and Waterfowl Population Status, 2017 (August, 2017). Review of Public Comments and Flyway Council Recommendations The preliminary proposed rulemaking, which appeared in the August 3, 2017, Federal Register , opened the public comment period for migratory game bird hunting regulations and discussed the regulatory alternatives for the 2018-19 duck hunting season. Comments and recommendations are summarized below and numbered in the order used in the August 3, 2017, proposed rule. 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 have included only the numbered items pertaining to issues for which we received recommendations. Consequently, the issues do not follow in successive numerical order. 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 3, 2017, 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 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 2018-19 season. AHM allows 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 British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California (as based on Canadian Wildlife Service and State-conducted surveys). For the 2018-19 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). Further documentation on how adjustments were made to these decision frameworks can be found at https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/management/AHM/SEIS&AHMReportFinal.pdf. As we stated in the October 3, 2017, proposed rule, for the 2018-19 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 2018-19 hunting season were calculated using: (1) Harvest-management objectives specific to each mallard stock; (2) the 2018-19 regulatory alternatives; and (3) current population models and associated weights. Based on “liberal” regulatory alternatives selected for the 2017-18 hunting season, the 2017 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (WBPHS) results of 10.64 million mid-continent mallards and 4.33 million ponds in Prairie Canada, 0.65 million eastern mallards, and 0.98 million western mallards (0.44 million in California-Oregon and 0.54 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 2018-19 season and propose to adopt the “liberal” regulatory alternative, as described in the October 3, 2017, Federal Register . C. Zones and Split Seasons Written Comments: The Colorado Parks and Wildlife requested a minor boundary change between the east and west zones in the Pacific Flyway portion of the State due to unintended law enforcement issues. The existing zones split Elkhead Reservoir. Service Response: We agree. The change is very minor and aids in hunter compliance by placing the entire reservoir into one zone. D. Special Seasons/Species Management i. September Teal Seasons Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council requested that Florida be allowed to hold an experimental September teal-only season for an additional year (2018), to allow sufficient time to incorporate the 2017 results into a final report evaluating impacts to non-target species. The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended that teal seasons in Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Kentucky be made operational beginning in 2018-19. They further recommended that Tennessee be granted an additional year of experimental status for their teal season to collect an additional year of data to support evaluations and that Iowa be allowed to retain the option to select a September 5-day duck season or an operational early teal season for the 2018-19 hunting seasons. Iowa's decision would remain in effect under current duck season frameworks. The Central Flyway Council recommended that Nebraska's experimental September teal season be made operational for the 2018-19 hunting season. Service Response: For the 2018-19 season, we will utilize the 2017 breeding population estimate of 7.9 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 2018-19 season. We agree with the Atlantic Flyway's request to extend Florida's experimental teal-only season through 2018, to allow the State sufficient time to prepare a full report on the results of its study on impacts to non-target species. We also agree with the Mississippi Flyway's request that September teal seasons in Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Kentucky be made operational beginning in 2018-19. Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin submitted a report that summarized results from their 3-year experimental September teal season conducted during 2014-16. Results from those studies demonstrated that nontarget species attempt rates were below the acceptable rate of 25 percent (range 4.6 to 6.6 percent). Although Michigan and Wisconsin each had one year in which the nontarget harvest rate exceeded the acceptable rate of 10 percent, the harvest rate in the other 2 years of the studies in each State were well below 10 percent (range 4.0 to 6.7 for Michigan and 0.0 for both years in Wisconsin), and thus we believe that production (“northern”) States in the Mississippi Flyway have satisfied the experimental criteria for nontarget species harvest rates. None of the three States opened an experimental season prior to sunrise; therefore, a comparison of nontarget species attempt and harvest rates during pre- and post-sunrise periods was not made. Furthermore, we concur that Iowa shall be allowed to retain the option to select either a September 5-day duck season or an operational September teal season for the 2018-19 hunting season. The Service previously agreed to allow Iowa to retain these options when the State suspended its special September 5-day duck season in order to conduct a 3-year experimental September teal season along with other production States in the Flyway. When Iowa chooses either of these options for the 2018-19 season, that decision will remain in effect for future years under current duck season frameworks. With regard to the results from the 3-year experimental September teal-only season that follows the operational September teal-wood duck season in Kentucky, the nontarget species attempt rate for both the pre-sunrise (7.7 percent) and post-sunrise (13.4 percent) periods were below the acceptable rate of 25 percent. Similarly, the nontarget species harvest rate for both the pre-sunrise (5.0 percent) and post-sunrise (6.0 percent) periods were below the acceptable rate of 10 percent. Therefore, we agree with the Mississippi Flyway Council's request to make the September teal-only season in Kentucky operational. Finally, we agree with the Mississippi Flyway's request to extend Tennessee's experimental teal-only season through 2018, to allow the Service sufficient time to review a report recently submitted by Tennessee that contains results from a fourth experimental year conducted in September 2017. The Service will examine results from all 4 years of the study to determine whether Tennessee has met experimental criteria with regard to nontarget species attempt and harvest rates. We also agree with the Central Flyway Council's recommendation regarding Nebraska's experimental September teal season. In 2014, we allowed States in northern (“production”) areas of the Central and Mississippi Flyways to open, on an experimental basis, September teal seasons similar to those offered since 1969 to southern (“non-production”) States. For these experimental seasons, each State entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Service that specified sample sizes ( i.e., observations of hunter performance) and decision criteria that would need to be met for these experimental seasons to become operational. Hunters' rates of attempting to shoot nontarget waterfowl species and the harvest rate of nontarget species could not exceed certain levels. Nebraska collected 4 years of information and met the sample-size requirements. The attempt rates at nontarget species (pre-sunrise period: 7.9 percent; post-sunrise period: 13.6 percent; both periods combined: 12.4 percent) were below our acceptable rate of 25 percent. Further, the harvest rate of nontarget species was 3 percent, below the acceptable rate of 10 percent. Therefore, we support granting operational status to September teal seasons in the northern portion of Nebraska. 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 2018-19 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 https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/management/AHM/BlackDuckInternationalHarvestStrategy.pdf. For the 2018-19 season, the optimal country-specific regulatory strategies were calculated using: (1) The black duck harvest objective (98 percent of long-term cumulative harvest); (2) 2018-19 country-specific regulatory alternatives; (3) current parameter estimates for mallard competition and additive mortality; and (4) 2017 survey results of 0.54 million breeding black ducks and 0.44 million breeding mallards in the core survey area. The optimal regulatory choices for the 2018-19 season are the “liberal” package in Canada and the “moderate” package in the United States. iv. Canvasbacks Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended a full season for canvasbacks with a 2-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: As we discussed in the March 28, 2016, final rule (81 FR 17302), the canvasback harvest strategy that we had relied on until 2015 was not viable under our new regulatory process because it required biological information that was not yet available at the time a decision on season structure needed to be made. We do not yet have a new harvest strategy to propose for use in guiding canvasback harvest management in the future. However, we have worked with technical staff of the four Flyway Councils to develop a decision framework (hereafter, decision support tool) that relies on the best biological information available to develop recommendations for annual canvasback harvest regulations. The decision support tool uses available information (1994-2014) on canvasback population size, growth rate, survival, and harvest and a discrete logistic growth model to derive an optimal harvest policy with an objective of maximum sustained yield. The decision support tool calls for a closed season when the observed population is below 460,000, a 1-bird daily bag limit when the observed breeding population is between 460,000 and 480,000, and a 2-bird daily bag limit when the observed population is greater than 480,000. Given that the 2017 canvasback breeding population estimate was 733,000 birds, we support the Flyways' recommendations for a 2-canvasback daily bag limit for the 2018-19 season. v. Pintails Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended a full season for pintails, consisting of a 2-bird daily bag limit and a 60-day season in the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, a 74-day season in the Central Flyway, and a 107-day season in the Pacific Flyway. Service Response: The current derived pintail harvest strategy was adopted by the Service and Flyway Councils in 2010 (75 FR 44856; July 29, 2010). For the 2018-19 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 1-bird daily bag limit for the 2017-18 season, and the 2017 survey results of 2.89 million pintails observed at a mean latitude of 56.7 degrees, the optimal regulatory choice for all four Flyways for the 2018-19 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 2018-19 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 2017, and the 2017 survey results of 4.37 million scaup, the optimal regulatory choice for the 2018-19 season for all four Flyways is the “moderate” regulatory alternative. 4. Canada Geese A. Special Early Seasons Council Recommendations: The Central Flyway Council recommended changing the zone boundaries in North Dakota, modifying the boundary of the “Remainder of State” zone to form a new zone in the western portion of the State. Service Response: We support the Central Flyway Council's recommendation. The change in zone boundaries will allow the State to increase harvest of resident Canada geese in eastern portions of the State, where goose/human conflicts need to be alleviated, without negatively impacting hunter opportunities in western portions of the State. B. Regular Seasons Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council revised its North Atlantic Population (NAP) Harvest Strategy by (1) eliminating the “very restrictive” regulatory option, and (2) incorporating uncertainty around breeding population estimates into the annual regulatory option decision. Under the revised strategy, the Council recommended adoption of the moderate season option, which would consist of a 60-day season with a 2-bird daily bag limit, with a framework of October 1 to January 31 for the high harvest NAP areas; and a 70-day season with a 3-bird daily bag limit, with a framework of October 1 to February 15 for the low harvest NAP areas for the 2018-19 season. The Council further recommended discontinuance of North Carolina's Southern James Bay Population (SJBP) zone. This area would become part of North Carolina's Atlantic Flyway Resident Population (AFRP) Zone. The Central Flyway Council recommended the implementation of modified Canada goose hunting zones in North Dakota and Wyoming. Wyoming would conduct an evaluation of the 3-way splits in two zones in accordance with established criteria. The Pacific Flyway Council recommended increasing the daily bag limit for Canada geese from 4 to 6 in the Northwest Permit Zone of Oregon. They further recommended reducing the size of Oregon's Tillamook County Management Area ( i.e., reducing the size of the goose hunting closure). Service Response: We agree with the Atlantic Flyway Council's decision to explicitly consider uncertainty around breeding population estimates when developing its annual regulatory recommendation for NAP Canada geese, and we support the Council's recommendation for a moderate season in 2018-19. We also agree that the SJBP zone designation in North Carolina can be eliminated, and that incorporating that area into the State's AFRP zone is appropriate. The SJBP is no longer managed as a separate population in the Mississippi Flyway, where most of these birds are harvested; thus, the SJBP zone in North Carolina is not needed for harvest management purposes. We support the Central Flyway Council's recommendations. The change in North Dakota was previously addressed above in 4.A. Special Early Seasons. The changes will allow the States to better satisfy hunters' desires to hunt at certain times of the season without negatively impacting Canada goose populations. Wyoming will work together with the Service to conduct an evaluation of their change to conform to Service requirements. We also agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation to increase the daily bag limit from 4 to 6 Canada geese in Oregon's Northwest Permit Zone. Seven subspecies of Canada geese occur in this area, but cackling Canada geese are the most abundant. The current 3-year average predicted fall population estimate (2015-17) for cackling geese is 321,475, which is substantially above the Flyway population objective of 250,000. The increase in bag limit is specifically intended to decrease abundance of cackling geese and address associated depredation complaints, and is consistent with the Council's harvest strategy for these birds. However, the bag limit increase could result in increased harvest of the 6 other subspecies of Canada geese in the area, but is not expected to be significant. Canada goose harvest in the area is expected to increase by less than 10 percent with the bag limit change, and State harvest data indicate cackling geese represent about 70 percent of the Canada goose harvest in this area. Other subspecies of Canada geese are over the Council's population objectives, have no open hunting season, occur mostly outside of the Northwest Zone, or have stable trends in abundance during the last 10 years. More specific to these other Canada goose subspecies, the current 3-year average breeding population estimate (2015-17) for Aleutian Canada geese is 167,451, which is substantially above the Flyway population objective of 60,000 geese. The current 3-year average breeding population estimate (2015-17) for the Pacific Population of western Canada geese is 313,200 and exceeds area-specific Flyway objectives. The hunting season on dusky Canada geese, a subspecies of management concern, is currently closed in this area. The potential for increased incidental take of dusky geese is expected to be small, and monitoring programs are in place to evaluate population status. Vancouver Canada geese are relatively nonmigratory, occur primarily in remote estuarine areas of southeast Alaska and northern British Columbia ( i.e., Northwest Permit Zone is on the periphery of the subspecies' range), and additional harvest associated with the bag limit increase is expected to be insignificant. For Taverner's Canada geese and lesser Canada geese, there are no Flyway management plans, population objectives, or population- specific monitoring programs because these birds cannot be differentiated during surveys and breeding distributions are not disjunct. However, these subspecies are encountered during general waterfowl breeding population and habitat surveys across North America. Indices from these surveys indicate that abundance of Taverner's and lesser geese have been stable during the last 10 (2008-17) years. We also agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation to reduce the size of the Tillamook County Management Area ( i.e., goose hunting closure). Oregon's Tillamook County Management Area was established in 1982 to provide protection for Aleutian Canada geese, specifically those that primarily breed on the Semidi Islands, Alaska, and winter near Pacific City, Oregon. Aleutian Canada geese were listed as an endangered population in 1967 (32 FR 4001, March 11, 1967) under the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966, which was later superseded by the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. ); downlisted to threatened status in 1990 (55 FR 51106, December 12, 1990); and removed from protection under the Act in 2001 (66 FR 15643, March 20, 2001). The current 3-year average breeding population estimate (2015-17) for Aleutian geese is 167,451, which is substantially above the Flyway population objective of 60,000 geese. The Semidi Islands population segment is currently about 300 birds, and has consisted of about 100-300 birds since the 1990s. Monitoring data indicate that these birds almost exclusively use two pastures/hayfields within the goose hunting closure area. The closure area includes both non-goose habitat and pastures/hayfields the Semidi Islands geese do not use. The closure area has been reduced four times (2002, 2005, 2007, and 2011) since establishment to focus protection on areas Semidi Islands geese use and address depredation complaints resulting from increasing abundance of several populations of Canada and white-fronted geese in the area. This fifth reduction in the goose hunting closure area is expected to maintain the same level of protection for Semidi Islands geese and address the increasing number of goose depredation complaints in the area currently closed to goose hunting. Reduction of the goose hunting closure area could result in increased take of dusky Canada geese, a subspecies of management concern known to winter primarily in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington. However, the hunting season for this subspecies is closed in this area, the potential for increased incidental take is expected to be small, and monitoring programs are in place to evaluate population status. 5. White-Fronted Geese Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended removal of the special goose season outside date restriction in Washington's Area 1. Service Response: We agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation. Removing the restriction would change the hunting season framework dates for white-fronted geese from the Saturday nearest September 24 and the last Sunday in February to the Saturday nearest September 24 and March 10, consistent with the general framework for the Pacific Flyway. The current 3-year average predicted fall population estimate (2015-17) for the Pacific Population of greater white-fronted geese is 633,399, which is substantially above the Flyway population objective of 300,000. The Area 1 framework date restriction was implemented when the local 3-year average snow goose count was below the 70,000 bird objective established in Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's management plan for Wrangel Island snow geese. The current 3-year average snow goose count (2015-17) is 83,175, and exceeds the threshold of 70,000 birds. Removing the framework date restriction for white-fronted geese in Washington's Area 1 will simplify regulations by matching the general framework dates for white-fronted geese in the Pacific Flyway. 6. Brant Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended that the 2018-19 season for Atlantic brant follow the Atlantic Flyway brant hunt plan pending the results of the 2018 Atlantic Flyway mid-winter waterfowl survey. The Council also recommended that if the results of the 2018 mid-winter survey are not available, then the results of the most recent mid-winter survey should be used. Service Response: As we discussed March 28, 2016, final rule (81 FR 17302), the current harvest strategy used to determine the Atlantic brant season frameworks does not fit well within the new regulatory process, similar to the Rocky Mountain Population (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, neither the expected 2018 brant production information (available summer 2018) nor the 2018 MWS count (conducted in January 2018) is yet available. However, the 2018 MWS will be completed and winter brant data will be available by the expected publication of the final frameworks (late February 2018). 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 2018 MWS brant count in January 2018, we will select the appropriate Atlantic brant hunting season for 2018-19 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 Pacific Flyway Council recommended, in Washington, removing the special goose season outside date restriction in Area 1. Service Response: We agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation. Removing the restriction would change the hunting season closing framework date for light geese from the last Sunday in February to March 10, consistent with the general framework for the Pacific Flyway. The Area 1 framework date restriction was implemented when the local 3-year average snow goose count was below the 70,000 bird objective established in Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's management plan for Wrangel Island snow geese. The current 3-year average snow goose count (2015-17) is 83,175, and exceeds the threshold of 70,000 birds. Three populations of light geese occur in the Pacific Flyway, and all are above Flyway objectives based on the most recent breeding population indices. The population estimate for the Western Arctic Population (WAP) of lesser snow geese was 419,800 in 2013 (most recent estimate) on Banks Island, which is above the objective of 200,000 geese. Ross's geese were estimated at 624,100 in 2016 (most recent estimate) at Karrak Lake and are above the objective of 100,000 geese. The current 3-year average breeding population estimate (2015-17) for Wrangel Island snow geese is 297,333, which is above the objective of 120,000 geese. Current evidence suggests most light geese in Washington during fall and early winter are primarily Wrangel Island snow geese, but an influx of WAP lesser snow and Ross's geese may occur during late winter as birds begin to move north from California toward breeding areas. Removing the closing framework date restriction for light geese in Washington's Area 1 will simplify regulations by matching the general framework dates for light geese in the Pacific Flyway. 9. Sandhill Cranes Council Recommendations: The Central and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended changing the framework season length for Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) cranes from 30 consecutive days to 60 days that may be split into segments. The Pacific Flyway Council recommended a maximum of three season segments, whereas the Central Flyway Council recommendation did not specify a maximum number of season segments. The Pacific Flyway Council further recommended establishment of a new hunting unit for RMP cranes in the Malad River area of Oneida County, Idaho, and that allowable harvest of RMP cranes be determined based on the formula described in the Pacific and Central Flyway Management Plan for RMP cranes. Service Response: We agree with the Central and Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation to increase the season length for RMP cranes from 30 to 60 days and to allow the season to be split into segments. However, we will restrict the number of season segments to three, consistent with the Pacific Flyway recommendation. The change in season length and splits is intended to provide increased flexibility to States in addressing crop depredation concerns and cranes staging for longer periods. This change is not expected to result in harvest of RMP cranes above allowable levels because States are allocated a maximum allowable harvest annually according to the harvest strategy specified in the Pacific and Central Flyway Council's RMP crane management plan. However, we note that increasing hunting opportunities likely will increase harvest and bring States closer to their harvest allocations. The Service, collaboratively with the States, will continue to monitor take levels to ensure that realized take remains within those allowed in the Flyway Councils' harvest strategy. We also agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation to create a new hunting area for RMP cranes in Idaho to include a portion of Oneida County. The new hunting area is consistent with the hunting area requirements in the Pacific and Central Flyway Council's RMP crane management plan. Because this is a shared population between the Pacific and Central Flyways, the same recommendation should have come from the Central Flyway Council. Although we did not receive a formal recommendation from them, the Central Flyway Council has indicated to the Service that it supports the recommendation. Regarding the RMP crane harvest, as we discussed in the March 28, 2016, final rule (81 FR 17302), the current harvest strategy used to calculate the allowable harvest of RMP cranes does not fit well within the new regulatory process, similar to the Atlantic brant issue discussed above under 6. Brant. Results of the fall abundance and recruitment surveys of RMP cranes, which are used in the calculation of the annual allowable harvest, will continue to be released between December 1 and January 31 each year, which is after the date proposed frameworks will be formulated in the new regulatory process. If we were to propose regulations at this point in time, data 2 to 4 years old would be used to determine the annual allowable harvest and State harvest allocations for RMP cranes. We agree that relying on data that is 2 to 4 years old is not ideal due to the variability in fall abundance and recruitment for this population, and the significance of these data in the annual harvest allocations. Thus, we agree that the formula to determine the annual allowable harvest for RMP cranes published in the March 28, 2016, final rule should be used under the new regulatory schedule. We will produce a final estimate for the allowable harvest of RMP cranes and publish it in the final frameworks rule, allowing us to use data that is 1 to 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 limits 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 2018-19 season is appropriate. Specifics of the harvest strategy can be found at https://www.fws.gov/birds/surveys-and-data/webless-migratory-game-birds/american-woodcock.php. 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 (EMU). The daily bag limit could be composed of mourning doves and white-winged doves, singly or in combination. They also recommended that the closing framework date for the EMU be changed from January 15 to January 31. 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 2018-19 mourning dove season in the States within the Central Management Unit. The Pacific Flyway Council recommended use of the “standard” season framework for States in the Western Management Unit (WMU) population of mourning doves. Service Response: Based on the harvest strategies and current population status, we agree with the recommended selection of the “standard” season frameworks for doves in the Eastern, Central, and Western Management Units for the 2018-19 season. 22. Other Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended that Atlantic Flyway States be granted compensatory days for webless migratory game bird hunting beginning with the 2018-19 hunting season in States where Sunday hunting for migratory game birds is prohibited by a State law adopted prior to 1997 (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania). Service Response: We agree with the Atlantic Flyway Council's recommendation to allow compensatory days for all migratory game bird species in States where Sunday hunting is prohibited by State law. Compensatory days will provide additional hunting opportunity for dove, woodcock, rail, snipe, and gallinule hunters in those States, thereby assisting State agency efforts to retain hunters. We expect that the biological impacts of the additional hunting opportunity afforded by compensatory days will be minimal on snipe, rails, and gallinules, which are lightly hunted in the Atlantic Flyway. More than 88 percent of the mourning dove harvest in the Atlantic Flyway occurs during the first month of the season, and only 4 of the affected States have dove seasons; thus, adding compensatory days later in the dove season in those States will not increase the harvest significantly. Based on recent (2012-2016) estimates of woodcock harvested per day, the additional 7 woodcock hunting days (5 in New Jersey) in the affected States is expected to result in approximately 5,500 additional woodcock harvested, about 9 percent of the recent annual woodcock harvest in the Atlantic Flyway. If this additional harvest results in measurable adverse population impacts, the woodcock hunting season and harvest in the Atlantic Flyway will be adjusted in accordance with the woodcock harvest strategy, which is based on the population status of the species. 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 3 and October 3 proposed rules; for descriptions of our actions to ensure compliance with the following statutes and Executive Orders, see our August 3, 2017, proposed rule (82 FR 36308): • 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, 13563, and 13771. 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 2018-19 hunting season are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 703-712 and 16 U.S.C. 742 a-j. Dated: January 16, 2018. Jason Larrabee, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Exercising the Authority of the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. Proposed Regulations Frameworks for 2018-19 Hunting Seasons on Certain Migratory Game Birds Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and delegated authorities, the Department of the Interior approved the following proposed frameworks 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, 2018, and March 10, 2019. 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. See Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions, Ducks (Including Mergansers) and Coots for specific boundaries in each State. 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 the 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. Migratory Game Bird 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 the take of all migratory game birds. 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 weekends, 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. Central Flyway: Colorado (part), Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico (part), Oklahoma, and Texas. 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 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. The teal-only seasons in Florida and Tennessee are experimental. 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 22). 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 22) and the last Sunday in January (January 27). Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: 60 days. The daily bag limit is 6 ducks, including no more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 of which can be females), 2 black ducks, 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; scoters, eiders, and long-tailed ducks may be taken outside of Special Sea Duck Area(s) during the regular duck season, in accordance with the frameworks for ducks, mergansers, and coots specified above. Outside Dates: Between September 15 and January 31. Special Sea Duck Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: 60 consecutive hunting days, or 60 days that are concurrent with the regular duck season, with a daily bag limit of 5, singly or in the aggregate, of the listed sea duck species, including no more than 4 scoters, 4 eiders, and 4 long-tailed ducks. Within the special sea duck areas, during the regular duck season in the Atlantic Flyway, States may choose to allow the above sea duck limits in addition to the limits applying to other ducks during the regular season. In all other areas, sea ducks may be taken only during the regular open season for ducks and are part of the regular duck season daily bag (not to exceed 4 scoters, 4 eiders, and 4 long-tailed ducks) and possession limits. Special Sea Duck Areas: In all coastal waters and all waters of rivers and streams seaward from the first upstream bridge in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York; in New Jersey, all coastal waters seaward from the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) Demarcation Lines shown on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Nautical Charts and further described in 33 CFR 80.165, 80.501, 80.502, and 80.503; in any waters of the Atlantic Ocean and in any tidal waters of any bay that are separated by at least 1 mile of open water from any shore, island, and emergent vegetation in South Carolina and Georgia; and in any waters of the Atlantic Ocean and in any tidal waters of any bay that are separated by at least 800 yards of open water from any shore, island, and emergent vegetation in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia; and provided that any such areas have been described, delineated, and designated as special sea duck hunting areas under the hunting regulations adopted by the respective States. Canada Geese Special Early Canada Goose Seasons A Canada goose season of up to 15 days during September 1-15 may be selected for the Eastern Unit of Maryland. Seasons not to exceed 30 days during September 1-30 may be selected for Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York (Long Island Zone only), North Carolina, Rhode Island, and South Carolina. Seasons may not exceed 25 days during September 1-25 in the remainder of the Flyway. Areas open to the hunting of Canada geese must be described, delineated, and designated as such in each State's hunting regulations. Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 15 Canada geese. Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except that during any special early Canada goose season, shooting hours may extend to one-half hour after sunset if all other waterfowl seasons are closed in the specific applicable area. Regular Canada Goose Seasons Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: Specific regulations for Canada geese are shown below by State. These seasons may also include white-fronted geese in an aggregate daily bag limit. Unless specified otherwise, seasons may be split into two segments. Connecticut North Atlantic Population (NAP) Zone: Between October 1 and January 31, a 60-day season may be held with a 2-bird daily bag limit. Atlantic Population (AP) Zone: A 50-day season may be held between October 10 and February 5, with a 3-bird daily bag limit. South Zone: A special season may be held between January 15 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. Resident Population (RP) Zone: An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments. Delaware A 50-day season may be held between November 15 and February 5, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. Florida An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments. Georgia An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments. Maine A 60-day season may be held Statewide between October 1 and January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. Maryland RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between November 15 and March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments. AP Zone: A 50-day season may be held between November 15 and February 5, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. Massachusetts NAP Zone: A 60-day season may be held between October 1 and January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. Additionally, a special season may be held from January 15 to February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. AP Zone: A 50-day season may be held between October 10 and February 5, with a 3-bird daily bag limit. New Hampshire A 60-day season may be held Statewide between October 1 and January 31 with a 2-bird daily bag limit. New Jersey AP Zone: A 50-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in October (October 27) and February 5, with a 3-bird daily bag limit. RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in October (October 27) 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 January 31, a 60-day season may be held, with a 2-bird daily bag limit in the High Harvest areas; and between October 1 and February 15, a 70-day season may be held, with a 3-bird daily bag limit in the Low Harvest areas. AP Zone: A 50-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in October (October 27), except in the Lake Champlain Area where the opening date is October 10, 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 22) and March 10, with an 8-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments. Rest of State RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in October (October 27) and March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments. North Carolina 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 22) and January 31, with a 1-bird daily bag limit. Pennsylvania SJBP Zone: A 78-day season may be held between the first Saturday in October (October 6) and February 15, with a 3-bird daily bag limit. RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in October (October 27) and March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments. AP Zone: A 50-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in October (October 27) and February 5, with a 3-bird daily bag limit. Rhode Island A 60-day season may be held between October 1 and January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. A special late season may be held in designated areas from January 15 to February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. South Carolina In designated areas, an 80-day season may be held between October 1 and March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments. Vermont Lake Champlain Zone and Interior Zone: A 50-day season may be held between October 10 and February 5, with a 3-bird daily bag limit. Connecticut River Zone: A 60-day season may be held between October 1 and January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. Virginia SJBP Zone: A 40-day season may be held between November 15 and January 14, with a 3-bird daily bag limit. Additionally, a special late season may be held between January 15 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. AP Zone: A 50-day season may be held between November 15 and February 5, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between November 15 and March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments. West Virginia An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The 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 season between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 22) and January 31. States may split their seasons into two segments. The season length and daily bag limit will be based on the upcoming Mid-Winter Survey results and the Atlantic brant hunt plan. Mississippi Flyway Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 22) and the last Sunday in January (January 27). Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: The season may not exceed 60 days, with a daily bag limit of 6 ducks, including no more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be females), 1 mottled duck, 2 black ducks, 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 during September 1-30, and a 3-bird daily bag limit for the remainder of the season. Seasons may be held between September 1 and February 15, and may be split into 4 segments. White-fronted Geese and Brant: Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, and Tennessee may select a season for white-fronted geese not to exceed 74 days with 3 geese daily, or 88 days with 2 geese daily, or 107 days with 1 goose daily between September 1 and February 15; Alabama, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin may select a season for white-fronted geese not to exceed 107 days with 5 geese daily, in aggregate with dark geese between September 1 and February 15. States may select a season for brant not to exceed 70 days with 2 brant daily, or 107 days with 1 brant daily with outside dates the same as for Canada geese; alternately, States may include brant in an aggregate goose bag limit with either Canada geese, white-fronted geese, or dark geese. Light Geese: States may select seasons for light geese not to exceed 107 days, with 20 geese daily between September 1 and February 15. There is no possession limit for light geese. Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except that during September 1-15 shooting hours may extend to one-half hour after sunset for Canada geese if all other waterfowl and crane seasons are closed in the specific applicable area. Split Seasons: Seasons for geese may be split into four segments unless otherwise indicated. Central Flyway Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 22) and the last Sunday in January (January 27). Hunting Seasons 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 8). 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, Montana, and Wyoming, Canada goose seasons of up to 15 days during September 1-15 may be selected. In North Dakota, Canada goose seasons of up to 22 days during September 1-22 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 22) and the Sunday nearest February 15 (February 17). For light geese, outside dates for seasons may be selected between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 22) and March 10. In the Rainwater Basin Light Goose Area (East and West) of Nebraska, temporal and spatial restrictions that are consistent with the late-winter snow goose hunting strategy 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 22) and the last Sunday in January (January 27). 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 22) and the last Sunday in January (January 27). In Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, the daily bag limit is 4 Canada geese and brant in the aggregate. In California, Oregon, and Washington, the daily bag limit is 4 Canada geese. For brant, Oregon and Washington may select a 16-day season and California a 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 22) 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 22) 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 22) and March 10. In the Sacramento Valley Special Management Area, the season on white-fronted geese must end on or before December 28, and the daily bag limit is 3 white-fronted geese. In the North Coast Special Management Area, hunting days that occur after the last Sunday in January (January 27) should be concurrent with Oregon's South Coast Zone. Oregon: The daily bag limit for light geese is 6 on or before the last Sunday in January (January 27). 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 22) and March 10. Goose seasons may be split into 3 segments. The daily bag limits of Canada geese and light geese are 6 each. 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 22) and March 10. The daily bag limit of Canada geese is 6. Hunting days that occur after the last Sunday in January (January 27) 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 Zone with outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 22) and the first Sunday in February (February 3). Washington: The daily bag limit for light geese is 6. Areas 2A and 2B (Southwest Permit Zone): A Canada goose season may be selected with outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 22) 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 (September 29). These seasons are also subject to the following conditions: Montana: No more than 500 permits may be issued. The season must end no later than December 1. The State must implement a harvest-monitoring program to measure the species composition of the swan harvest and should use appropriate measures to maximize hunter compliance in reporting bill measurement and color information. Utah: No more than 2,000 permits may be issued. During the swan season, no more than 10 trumpeter swans may be taken. The season must end no later than the second Sunday in December (December 9) or upon attainment of 10 trumpeter swans in the harvest, whichever occurs earliest. The Utah season remains subject to the terms of the Memorandum of Agreement entered into with the Service in August 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 6) or upon attainment of 5 trumpeter swans in the harvest, whichever occurs earliest. In addition, the States of Utah and Nevada must implement a harvest-monitoring program to measure the species composition of the swan harvest. The harvest-monitoring program must require that all harvested swans or their species-determinant parts be examined by either State or Federal biologists for the purpose of species classification. The States should use appropriate measures to maximize hunter compliance in providing bagged swans for examination. Further, the States of Montana, Nevada, and Utah must achieve at least an 80-percent hunter compliance rate, or subsequent permits will be reduced by 10 percent. All three States must provide to the Service by June 30, 2019, 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 6,250 permits may be issued. —In Virginia, no more than 750 permits may be issued. In the Central Flyway —The season may be 107 days, between the Saturday nearest October 1 (September 29) and January 31. —In the Central Flyway portion of Montana, no more than 625 permits may be issued. —In North Dakota, no more than 2,500 permits may be issued. —In South Dakota, no more than 1,875 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 and Tennessee. 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 and Tennessee. Daily Bag Limit: 1 sandhill crane in Minnesota, 2 sandhill cranes in Kentucky, and 3 sandhill cranes in Tennessee. In Kentucky and Tennessee, 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. 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 60 days, and may be split into no more than 3 segments. 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 27) 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 27) 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 22) 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 31 in the Eastern Management Unit, and between September 1 and January 15 in the Central and Western Management Units, 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 in Texas). B. A season may be selected for the North and Central Zones between September 1 and January 25; and for the South Zone between September 14 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 days, which may be split between two periods. The daily bag limit is 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 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 2 canvasbacks 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. Emperor Geese: Open seasons for emperor geese may be selected subject to the following conditions: A. All seasons are by permit only. B. No more than 1 emperor goose may be authorized per permit. C. Total harvest may not exceed 1,000 emperor geese. D. In State Game Management Unit 18, the Kodiak Island Road Area is closed to hunting. The Kodiak Island Road Area consists of all lands and water (including exposed tidelands) east of a line extending from Crag Point in the north to the west end of Saltery Cove in the south and all lands and water south of a line extending from Termination Point along the north side of Cascade Lake extending to Anton Larsen Bay. Marine waters adjacent to the closed area are closed to harvest within 500 feet from the water's edge. The offshore islands are open to harvest, for example: Woody, Long, Gull, and Puffin islands. 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 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, and any special or experimental seasons must not exceed 107 days for any species or group of species in a geographical area. Each extended season may be divided into a maximum of 3 segments. Framework Dates: Seasons must fall between September 1 and March 10. Daily Bag Limits: Falconry daily bag limits for all permitted migratory game birds must not exceed 3 birds, singly or in the aggregate, during extended falconry seasons, any special or experimental seasons, and regular hunting seasons in all States, including those that do not select an extended falconry season. Regular Seasons: General hunting regulations, including seasons and hunting hours, apply to falconry in each State listed in 50 CFR 21.29. Regular season bag limits do not apply to falconry. The falconry bag limit is not in addition to gun limits. Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions Ducks (Including Mergansers) and Coots Atlantic Flyway Connecticut North Zone: That portion of the State north of I-95. South Zone: Remainder of the State. Maine North Zone: That portion north of the line extending east along Maine State Highway 110 from the New Hampshire-Maine State line to the intersection of Maine State Highway 11 in Newfield; then north and east along Route 11 to the intersection of U.S. Route 202 in Auburn; then north and east on Route 202 to the intersection of I-95 in Augusta; then north and east along I-95 to Route 15 in Bangor; then east along Route 15 to Route 9; then east along Route 9 to Stony Brook in Baileyville; then east along Stony Brook to the U.S. border. Coastal Zone: That portion south of a line extending east from the Maine-New Brunswick border in Calais at the Route 1 Bridge; then south along Route 1 to the Maine-New Hampshire border in Kittery. South Zone: Remainder of the State. Maryland Special Teal Season Area: Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties; that part of Anne Arundel County east of Interstate 895, Interstate 97, and Route 3; that part of Prince George's County east of Route 3 and Route 301; and that part of Charles County east of Route 301 to the Virginia State Line. Massachusetts Western Zone: That portion of the State west of a line extending south from the Vermont State line on I-91 to MA 9, west on MA 9 to MA 10, south on MA 10 to U.S. 202, south on U.S. 202 to the Connecticut State line. Central Zone: That portion of the State east of the Berkshire Zone and west of a line extending south from the New Hampshire State line on I-95 to U.S. 1, south on U.S. 1 to I-93, south on I-93 to MA 3, south on MA 3 to U.S. 6, west on U.S. 6 to MA 28, west on MA 28 to I-195, west to the Rhode Island State line; except the waters, and the lands 150 yards inland from the high-water mark, of the Assonet River upstream to the MA 24 bridge, and the Taunton River upstream to the Center St.-Elm St. bridge shall be in the Coastal Zone. Coastal Zone: That portion of Massachusetts east and south of the Central Zone. New Hampshire Northern Zone: That portion of the State east and north of the Inland Zone beginning at the Jct. of Rte. 10 and Rte. 25-A in Orford, east on Rte. 25-A to Rte. 25 in Wentworth, southeast on Rte. 25 to Exit 26 of Rte. I-93 in Plymouth, south on Rte. I-93 to Rte. 3 at Exit 24 of Rte. I-93 in Ashland, northeast on Rte. 3 to Rte. 113 in Holderness, north on Rte. 113 to Rte. 113-A in Sandwich, north on Rte. 113-A to Rte. 113 in Tamworth, east on Rte. 113 to Rte. 16 in Chocorua, north on Rte. 16 to Rte. 302 in Conway, east on Rte. 302 to the Maine-New Hampshire border. Inland Zone: That portion of the State south and west of the Northern Zone, west of the Coastal Zone, and includes the area of Vermont and New Hampshire as described for hunting reciprocity. A person holding a New Hampshire hunting license that allows the taking of migratory waterfowl or a person holding a Vermont resident hunting license that allows the taking of migratory waterfowl may take migratory waterfowl and coots from the following designated area of the Inland Zone: The State of Vermont east of Rte. I-91 at the Massachusetts border, north on Rte. I-91 to Rte. 2, north on Rte. 2 to Rte. 102, north on Rte. 102 to Rte. 253, and north on Rte. 253 to the border with Canada and the area of New Hampshire west of Rte. 63 at the Massachusetts border, north on Rte. 63 to Rte. 12, north on Rte. 12 to Rte. 12-A, north on Rte. 12-A to Rte 10, north on Rte. 10 to Rte. 135, north on Rte. 135 to Rte. 3, north on Rte. 3 to the intersection with the Connecticut River. Coastal Zone: That portion of the State east of a line beginning at the Maine-New Hampshire border in Rollinsford, then extending to Rte. 4 west to the city of Dover, south to the intersection of Rte. 108, south along Rte. 108 through Madbury, Durham, and Newmarket to the junction of Rte. 85 in Newfields, south to Rte. 101 in Exeter, east to Interstate 95 (New Hampshire Turnpike) in Hampton, and south to the Massachusetts border. New Jersey Coastal Zone: That portion of the State seaward of a line beginning at the New York State line in Raritan Bay and extending west along the New York State line to NJ 440 at Perth Amboy; west on NJ 440 to the Garden State Parkway; south on the Garden State Parkway to NJ 109; south on NJ 109 to Cape May County Route 633 (Lafayette Street); south on Lafayette Street to Jackson Street; south on Jackson Street to the shoreline at Cape May; west along the shoreline of Cape May beach to COLREGS Demarcation Line 80.503 at Cape May Point; south along COLREGS Demarcation Line 80.503 to the Delaware State line in Delaware Bay. North Zone: That portion of the State west of the Coastal Zone and north of a line extending west from the Garden State Parkway on NJ 70 to the New Jersey Turnpike, north on the turnpike to U.S. 206, north on U.S. 206 to U.S. 1 at Trenton, west on U.S. 1 to the Pennsylvania State line in the Delaware River. South Zone: That portion of the State not within the North Zone or the Coastal Zone. New York Lake Champlain Zone: That area east and north of a continuous line extending along U.S. 11 from the New York-Canada International boundary south to NY 9B, south along NY 9B to U.S. 9, south along U.S. 9 to NY 22 south of Keesville; south along NY 22 to the west shore of South Bay, along and around the shoreline of South Bay to NY 22 on the east shore of South Bay; southeast along NY 22 to U.S. 4, northeast along U.S. 4 to the Vermont State line. Long Island Zone: That area consisting of Nassau County, Suffolk County, that area of Westchester County southeast of I-95, and their tidal waters. Western Zone: That area west of a line extending from Lake Ontario east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, and south along I-81 to the Pennsylvania State line. Northeastern Zone: That area north of a continuous line extending from Lake Ontario east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, south along I-81 to NY 31, east along NY 31 to NY 13, north along NY 13 to NY 49, east along NY 49 to NY 365, east along NY 365 to NY 28, east along NY 28 to NY 29, east along NY 29 to NY 22, north along NY 22 to Washington County Route 153, east along CR 153 to the New York-Vermont boundary, exclusive of the Lake Champlain Zone. Southeastern Zone: The remaining portion of New York. Pennsylvania Lake Erie Zone: The Lake Erie waters of Pennsylvania and a shoreline margin along Lake Erie from New York on the east to Ohio on the west extending 150 yards inland, but including all of Presque Isle Peninsula. Northwest Zone: The area bounded on the north by the Lake Erie Zone and including all of Erie and Crawford Counties and those portions of Mercer and Venango Counties north of I-80. North Zone: That portion of the State east of the Northwest Zone and north of a line extending east on I-80 to U.S. 220, Route 220 to I-180, I-180 to I-80, and I-80 to the Delaware River. South Zone: The remaining portion of Pennsylvania. Vermont Lake Champlain Zone: The U.S. portion of Lake Champlain and that area north and west of the line extending from the New York border along U.S. 4 to VT 22A at Fair Haven; VT 22A to U.S. 7 at Vergennes; U.S. 7 to VT 78 at Swanton; VT 78 to VT 36; VT 36 to Maquam Bay on Lake Champlain; along and around the shoreline of Maquam Bay and Hog Island to VT 78 at the West Swanton Bridge; VT 78 to VT 2 in Alburg; VT 2 to the Richelieu River in Alburg; along the east shore of the Richelieu River to the Canadian border. Interior Zone: That portion of Vermont east of the Lake Champlain Zone and west of a line extending from the Massachusetts border at Interstate 91; north along Interstate 91 to U.S. 2; east along U.S. 2 to VT 102; north along VT 102 to VT 253; north along VT 253 to the Canadian border. Connecticut River Zone: The remaining portion of Vermont east of the Interior Zone. Mississippi Flyway Illinois North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending west from the Indiana border along Peotone-Beecher Road to Illinois Route 50, south along Illinois Route 50 to Wilmington-Peotone Road, west along Wilmington-Peotone Road to Illinois Route 53, north along Illinois Route 53 to New River Road, northwest along New River Road to Interstate Highway 55, south along I-55 to Pine Bluff-Lorenzo Road, west along Pine Bluff-Lorenzo Road to Illinois Route 47, north along Illinois Route 47 to I-80, west along I-80 to I-39, south along I-39 to Illinois Route 18, west along Illinois Route 18 to Illinois Route 29, south along Illinois Route 29 to Illinois Route 17, west along Illinois Route 17 to the Mississippi River, and due south across the Mississippi River to the Iowa border. Central Zone: That portion of the State south of the North Duck Zone line to a line extending west from the Indiana border along I-70 to Illinois Route 4, south along Illinois Route 4 to Illinois Route 161, west along Illinois Route 161 to Illinois Route 158, south and west along Illinois Route 158 to Illinois Route 159, south along Illinois Route 159 to Illinois Route 3, south along Illinois Route 3 to St. Leo's Road, south along St. Leo's Road to Modoc Road, west along Modoc Road to Modoc Ferry Road, southwest along Modoc Ferry Road to Levee Road, southeast along Levee Road to County Route 12 (Modoc Ferry entrance Road), south along County Route 12 to the Modoc Ferry route and southwest on the Modoc Ferry route across the Mississippi River to the Missouri border. South Zone: That portion of the State south and east of a line extending west from the Indiana border along Interstate 70, south along U.S. Highway 45, to Illinois Route 13, west along Illinois Route 13 to Greenbriar Road, north on Greenbriar Road to Sycamore Road, west on Sycamore Road to N. Reed Station Road, south on N. Reed Station Road to Illinois Route 13, west along Illinois Route 13 to Illinois Route 127, south along Illinois Route 127 to State Forest Road (1025 N), west along State Forest Road to Illinois Route 3, north along Illinois Route 3 to the south bank of the Big Muddy River, west along the south bank of the Big Muddy River to the Mississippi River, west across the Mississippi River to the Missouri border. South Central Zone: The remainder of the State between the south border of the Central Zone and the North border of the South Zone. Indiana North Zone: That part of Indiana north of a line extending east from the Illinois border along State Road 18 to U.S. 31; north along U.S. 31 to U.S. 24; east along U.S. 24 to Huntington; southeast along U.S. 224; south along State Road 5; and east along State Road 124 to the Ohio border. Central Zone: That part of Indiana south of the North Zone boundary and north of the South Zone boundary. South Zone: That part of Indiana south of a line extending east from the Illinois border along I-70; east along National Ave.; east along U.S. 150; south along U.S. 41; east along State Road 58; south along State Road 37 to Bedford; and east along U.S. 50 to the Ohio border. Iowa North Zone: That portion of Iowa north of a line beginning on the South Dakota-Iowa border at Interstate 29, southeast along Interstate 29 to State Highway 175, east along State Highway 175 to State Highway 37, southeast along State Highway 37 to State Highway 183, northeast along State Highway 183 to State Highway 141, east along State Highway 141 to U.S. Highway 30, and along U.S. Highway 30 to the Illinois border. Missouri River Zone: That portion of Iowa west of a line beginning on the South Dakota-Iowa border at Interstate 29, southeast along Interstate 29 to State Highway 175, and west along State Highway 175 to the Iowa-Nebraska border. South Zone: The remainder of Iowa. Kentucky West Zone: All counties west of and including Butler, Daviess, Ohio, Simpson, and Warren Counties. East Zone: The remainder of Kentucky. Louisiana East Zone: That area of the State between the Mississippi State line and a line going south on Hwy 79 from the Arkansas border to Homer, then south on Hwy 9 to Arcadia, then south on Hwy 147 to Hodge, then south on Hwy 167 to Turkey Creek, then south on Hwy 13 to Eunice, then west on Hwy 190 to Kinder, then south on Hwy 165 to Iowa, then west on I-10 to its junction with Hwy 14 at Lake Charles, then south and east on Hwy 14 to its junction with Hwy 90 in New Iberia, then east on Hwy 90 to the Mississippi State line. West Zone: That area between the Texas State line and a line going east on I-10 from the Texas border to Hwy 165 at Iowa, then north on Hwy 165 to Kinder, then east on Hwy 190 to Eunice, then north on Hwy 13 to Turkey Creek, then north on Hwy 167 to Hodge, then north on Hwy 147 to Arcadia, then north on Hwy 9 to Homer, then north on Hwy 79 to the Arkansas border. Coastal Zone: Remainder of the State. Michigan North Zone: The Upper Peninsula. Middle Zone: That portion of the Lower Peninsula north of a line beginning at the [Text truncated at 120,000 characters. The full text is on the page linked above.] --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A2018-02112. Public record. Not legal advice.