Migratory Bird Hunting; Final 2022-23 Frameworks for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 20

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2021-0057; FF09M30000-223-FXMB1231099BPP0]

RIN 1018-BF07

Migratory Bird Hunting; Final 2022-23 Frameworks for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations

AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) is establishing the 2022-23 final frameworks from which States may select season dates, limits, and other options for the 2022-23 migratory game bird hunting season for certain migratory game birds. We annually prescribe outside limits (which we call “frameworks”) within which States may select hunting seasons. Frameworks specify the outside dates, season lengths, shooting hours, bag and possession limits, and areas where migratory game bird hunting may occur. These frameworks are necessary to allow State selections of seasons and limits and to allow harvest at levels compatible with migratory game bird population status and habitat conditions. Migratory game bird hunting seasons provide opportunities for recreation and sustenance, and aid Federal, State, and Tribal governments in the management of migratory game birds.

DATES:

This rule takes effect on July 15, 2022.

ADDRESSES:

States should send their season selections to: Chief, Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: MB, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803. You may inspect comments received on the migratory bird hunting regulations at

https://www.regulations.gov

at Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2021-0057. You may obtain copies of referenced reports from the street address above, or from the Division of Migratory Bird Management's website at

http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/,

or at

https://www.regulations.gov

at Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2021-0057.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jerome Ford, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, (202) 208-1050. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services offered within their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Process for Establishing Annual Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations

As part of the Department of the Interior's retrospective regulatory review, in 2015, we developed a schedule for migratory game bird hunting regulations that is more efficient and establishes hunting season dates earlier than was possible under the previous process. Under the current 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 current process in the August 3, 2017,

Federal Register

(82 FR 36308). This final rule is the third in a series of proposed and final rules that establish regulations for the 2022-23 migratory game bird hunting season.

Regulations Schedule for 2022

The process for promulgating annual regulations for the hunting of migratory game birds involves the publication of a series of proposed and final rulemaking documents. On August 31, 2021, we published in the

Federal Register

(86 FR 48649) a proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20. The proposal provided a background and overview of the migratory bird hunting regulations process, and addressed the establishment of seasons, limits, and other regulations for hunting migratory game birds under §§ 20.101 through 20.107, 20.109, and 20.110 of subpart K. This document is one of the final rules for promulgating annual migratory game bird hunting regulations. Major steps in the 2022-23 regulatory cycle relating to open public meetings and

Federal Register

notifications were illustrated in the diagram at the end of the August 31, 2021, proposed rule. For this regulatory cycle, we combined elements of the document that is described in the diagram as Supplemental Proposals with the document that is described as Proposed Season Frameworks.

Further, in the August 31, 2021, proposed rule we explained that all sections of subsequent documents outlining hunting frameworks and guidelines would be organized under numbered headings, which were set forth at 86 FR 48651. This and subsequent documents will refer only to numbered items requiring attention. Because we will omit those items not requiring attention, the remaining numbered items may be discontinuous, and the list will appear incomplete.

We provided the meeting dates and locations for the Service Regulations Committee (SRC)

(https://www.fws.gov/event/us-fish-and-wildlife-service-migratory-bird-regulations-committee-meeting)

and Flyway Council meetings

(https://www.fws.gov/partner/migratory-bird-program-administrative-flyways)

on Flyway calendars posted on our website. We announced the April SRC meeting in the March 25, 2021,

Federal Register

(86 FR 15957) and on our website. The August 31, 2021, proposed rule provided detailed information on the proposed 2022-23 regulatory schedule and announced the September SRC meeting. The SRC conducted an open meeting with the Flyway Council on April 6, 2021, to discuss preliminary issues for the 2022-23 regulations, and on September 28-29, 2021, to review information on the current status of migratory game birds and develop recommendations for the 2022-23 regulations for these species.

On February 2, 2022, we published in the

Federal Register

(87 FR 5946) the proposed frameworks for the 2022-23 season migratory game bird hunting season. We have considered all pertinent comments received, which includes comments submitted in response to our August 31 and February 2 proposed rulemaking documents and comments from the September SRC meeting. This document establishes final regulatory frameworks for migratory game bird hunting regulations for the 2022-23 season and includes no substantive changes from the February 2, 2022, proposed rule except a minor correction (see 3. Mergansers and 4. Canada and Cackling Geese, below). We will publish State selections in the

Federal Register

as amendments to §§ 20.101 through 20.107 and 20.109 of title 50 CFR part 20.

Population Status and Harvest

Each year, we publish reports that provide detailed information on the status and harvest of certain migratory game bird species. These reports are available at the address indicated under

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

or from our website at:

https://www.fws.gov/library/collections/population-status,

or

https://www.fws.gov/library/collections/migratory-bird-hunting-activity-and-harvest-reports.

We used the following annual reports published in August 2021 in the development of proposed frameworks for the migratory bird hunting regulations: Adaptive Harvest Management, 2022 Hunting Season; American Woodcock Population Status, 2021; Band-tailed Pigeon Population Status, 2021; Migratory Bird Hunting Activity and Harvest During the 2019-20 and 2020-21 Hunting Seasons; Mourning Dove Population Status, 2021; Status and Harvests of Sandhill Cranes, Mid-continent, Rocky Mountain, Lower Colorado River Valley and Eastern Populations, 2021; and Waterfowl Population Status, 2021.

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. Migratory game bird hunting seasons provide opportunities for recreation and sustenance, and aid Federal, State, and Tribal governments in the management of migratory game birds. 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 conclude 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 during the public comment period.

Review of Public Comments and Flyway Council Recommendations

The preliminary proposed rulemaking, which appeared in the August 31, 2021,

Federal Register

, opened the public comment period for migratory game bird hunting regulations and described the proposed regulatory alternatives for the 2022-23 duck hunting season. Comments and recommendations are summarized below and numbered in the order set forth in the August 31, 2021, proposed rule (see 86 FR 48649).

We received recommendations from all four Flyway Councils at the April and September SRC meetings; all recommendations are from the September meeting unless otherwise noted. 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. As explained earlier in this document, 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.

General

Written Comments:

Several commenters protested the entire migratory bird hunting regulations process, protested the killing of all migratory birds, and questioned the status and habitat data on which the migratory bird hunting regulations are based.

Service Response:

As we indicate above under Population Status and Harvest, 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. Sustaining migratory bird populations and ensuring a variety of sustainable uses, including harvest, is consistent with the guiding principles by which migratory birds are to be managed under the conventions between the United States and several foreign nations for the protection and management of these birds. We have taken into account available information and considered public comments and continue to conclude that the hunting seasons provided for herein are compatible with the current status of migratory bird populations and long-term population goals. In regard to the regulations process, the Flyway Council system of migratory bird management has been a longstanding example of State-Federal cooperative management since its establishment in 1952 in the regulation development process and bird population and habitat monitoring. However, as always, we continue to seek new ways to streamline and improve the process and ensure adequate conservation of the resource.

1. Ducks

A. General Harvest Strategy

Council Recommendations:

The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended adoption of the liberal regulatory alternative for their respective flyways.

Service Response:

As we stated in the August 31, 2021, proposed rule, we intend to continue use of Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM) to help determine appropriate duck-hunting regulations for the 2022-23 season. AHM is a tool that permits sound resource decisions in the face of uncertain regulatory impacts and provides a mechanism for reducing that uncertainty over time. We use an AHM protocol (decision framework) to evaluate four regulatory alternatives, each with a different expected harvest level, and choose the optimal regulation for duck hunting based on the status and demographics of mallards for the Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyways, and based on the status and demographics of a suite of four species (eastern waterfowl) in the Atlantic Flyway (see below, and the earlier referenced report “Adaptive Harvest Management, 2022 Hunting Season” for more details). We have specific AHM protocols that guide appropriate bag limits and season lengths for species of special concern, including black ducks, scaup, and pintails, within the general duck season. These protocols use the same outside season dates and lengths as those regulatory alternatives for the 2022-23 general duck season.

For the 2022-23 hunting season, we will continue to use independent optimizations to determine the appropriate regulatory alternative for mallard stocks in the Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyways and for eastern waterfowl in the Atlantic Flyway. This means that we will develop regulations for mid-continent mallards, western mallards, and eastern waterfowl independently based on the breeding stock(s) that contributes primarily to each Flyway. We detailed implementation of AHM protocols for mid-continent and western mallards in the July 24, 2008,

Federal Register

(73 FR 43290), and for eastern waterfowl in the September 21, 2018,

Federal Register

(83 FR 47868).

We also stated in the August 31, 2021, proposed rule that the coronavirus pandemic and associated travel restrictions and human health concerns in the United States and Canada prevented the Service and their partners from performing the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (WBPHS) and estimating waterfowl breeding abundances and habitat conditions in the spring of 2021 in some cases. As a result, AHM protocols have been adjusted only as necessary to inform decisions on duck hunting regulations based on model predictions of breeding abundances and habitat conditions. In most cases, system models specific to each AHM decision framework have been used to predict breeding abundances from the available information (

e.g.,

2019 observations). However, for some system State

variables (

i.e.,

pond numbers and mean latitude), we have used updated time series models to forecast 2021 values based on the most recent information. These technical adjustments are described in detail in the report entitled “Adaptive Harvest Management, 2022 Hunting Season” referenced above under Population Status and Harvest.

Atlantic Flyway

For the Atlantic Flyway, we set duck-hunting regulations based on the status and demographics of a suite of four duck species (eastern waterfowl) in eastern Canada and the Atlantic Flyway States: green-winged teal, common goldeneye, ring-necked duck, and wood duck. For purposes of the assessment, eastern waterfowl stocks are those breeding in eastern Canada and Maine (Federal WBPHS fixed-wing surveys in strata 51-53, 56, and 62-70, and helicopter plot surveys in strata 51-52, 63-64, 66-68, and 70-72) and in Atlantic Flyway States from New Hampshire south to Virginia (Atlantic Flyway Breeding Waterfowl Survey, AFBWS). Abundance estimates for green-winged teal, ring-necked ducks, and goldeneyes are derived annually by integrating fixed-wing and helicopter survey data from eastern Canada and Maine (WBPHS strata 51-53, 56, and 62-72). Counts of green-winged teal, ring-necked ducks, and goldeneyes in the AFBWS are negligible and therefore excluded from population estimates for those species. Abundance estimates for wood ducks in the Atlantic Flyway (Maine south to Florida) are estimated by integrating data from the AFBWS and the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Counts of wood ducks from the WBPHS are negligible and therefore excluded from population estimates.

For the 2022-23 hunting season, we evaluated alternative harvest regulations for eastern waterfowl using: (1) A management objective of 98 percent of maximum long-term sustainable harvest for eastern waterfowl; (2) the 2022-23 regulatory alternatives; and (3) current stock-specific population models and associated weights. Based on the liberal regulatory alternative selected for the 2021-22 duck hunting season, the 2021 abundances of 1.02 million observed wood ducks, and of 0.34 million American green-winged teal, 0.71 million ring-necked ducks, and 0.59 million goldeneyes predicted for the eastern survey area and Atlantic Flyway, the optimal regulation for the Atlantic Flyway is the liberal alternative. Therefore, we concur with the recommendation of the Atlantic Flyway Council regarding selection of the liberal regulatory alternative as described in the August 31, 2021, proposed rule for the 2022-23 season.

The mallard bag limit in the Atlantic Flyway is based on a separate assessment of the harvest potential of eastern mallards (see xi. Other, below, for further discussion on the mallard bag limit in the Atlantic Flyway).

Mississippi and Central Flyways

For the Mississippi and Central Flyways, we set duck-hunting regulations based on the status and demographics of mid-continent mallards and habitat conditions (pond numbers in Prairie Canada). For purposes of the assessment, mid-continent mallards are those breeding in central North America (Federal WBPHS strata 13-18, 20-50, and 75-77), and in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin (State surveys).

For the 2022-23 hunting season, we evaluated alternative harvest regulations for mid-continent mallards using: (1) A management objective of maximum long-term sustainable harvest; (2) the 2022-23 regulatory alternatives; and (3) current population models and associated weights. Based on a liberal regulatory alternative selected for the 2021-22 hunting season, the 2021 model predictions of 8.62 million mid-continent mallards and 2.94 million ponds in Prairie Canada, the optimal regulation for the Mississippi and Central Flyways is the liberal alternative. Therefore, we concur with the recommendations of the Mississippi and Central Flyway Councils regarding selection of the liberal regulatory alternative as described in the August 31, 2021, proposed rule for the 2022-23 season.

Pacific Flyway

For the Pacific Flyway, we set duck-hunting regulations based on the status and demographics of western mallards. For purposes of the assessment, western mallards consist of two substocks and are those breeding in Alaska and Yukon Territory (Federal WBPHS strata 1-12) and those breeding in the southern Pacific Flyway including California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia (State and Provincial surveys) combined.

For the 2022-23 hunting season, we evaluated alternative harvest regulations for western mallards using: (1) A management objective of maximum long-term sustainable harvest; (2) the 2022-23 regulatory alternatives; and (3) the current population model. Based on a liberal regulatory alternative selected for the 2021-22 hunting season, and 2021 abundances of 1.17 million western mallards observed in Alaska (0.64 million) and predicted for the southern Pacific Flyway (0.53 million), the optimal regulation for the Pacific Flyway is the liberal alternative. Therefore, we concur with the recommendation of the Pacific Flyway Council regarding selection of the liberal regulatory alternative as described in the August 31, 2021, proposed rule for the 2022-23 season.

B. Regulatory Alternatives

Council Recommendations:

At the April SRC meeting, the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended that AHM regulatory alternatives for duck hunting during the 2022-23 season remain the same as those used in the previous season.

Service Response:

Consistent with Flyway Council recommendations, the AHM regulatory alternatives proposed for the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyways in the August 31, 2021, proposed rule (86 FR 48649) will be used for the 2022-23 hunting season (see accompanying table at the end of that document for specific information). The AHM regulatory alternatives consist only of the maximum season lengths, framework dates, and bag limits for total ducks and mallards. Restrictions for certain species within these frameworks that are not covered by existing harvest strategies will be addressed elsewhere in these frameworks. For those species with specific harvest strategies (pintails, black ducks, and scaup), those strategies will again be used for the 2022-23 hunting season.

D. Special Seasons/Species Management

i. Early Teal Seasons

Because a spring 2021 abundance estimate from the WBPHS for blue-winged teal was not available, we used time series models to predict their abundance. The predicted estimate was 5.83 million birds. Because this estimate is greater than 4.7 million birds, the special early teal season guidelines (see 79 FR 51403, August 28, 2014) indicate that a 16-day special early (September) teal season with a 6-teal daily bag limit is appropriate for States in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central flyways.

ii. Early Teal/Wood Duck Seasons

In Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee, in lieu of a special early 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

special early 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.

iii. Black Ducks

Council Recommendations:

The Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway Councils recommended continued use of the AHM protocol for black ducks, and adoption of the moderate regulatory alternative for their respective flyways. The Flyway-specific regulations consist of a daily bag limit of two black ducks and a season length of 60 days.

Service Response:

The Service, Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway Councils, and Canada adopted an international AHM protocol for black ducks in 2012 (77 FR 49868; August 17, 2012), whereby we set black duck hunting regulations for the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways (and Canada) based on the status and demographics of these birds. The AHM protocol clarifies country-specific target harvest levels and reduces conflicts over regulatory policies.

For the 2022-23 hunting season, we evaluated country-specific alternative harvest regulations using: (1) A management objective of 98 percent of maximum long-term sustainable harvest; (2) country-specific regulatory alternatives; and (3) current population models and associated weights. Based on the moderate regulatory alternative selected for the 2021-22 hunting season and the 2021 model predictions of 0.54 million breeding black ducks and 0.39 million breeding mallards (Federal WBPHS strata 51, 52, 63, 64, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, and 72; core survey area), the optimal regulation for the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways is the moderate alternative (and the liberal alternative in Canada). Therefore, we concur with the recommendations of the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway Councils.

iv. Canvasbacks

Council Recommendations:

The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended adoption of the liberal regulatory alternative for their respective flyways. The Flyway-specific regulations consist of a daily bag limit of two canvasbacks and a season length of 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,

Federal Register

(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 breeding population size in Alaska and north-central North America (Federal WBPHS traditional survey area, strata 1-18, 20-50, and 75-77), growth rate, survival, and harvest, and a population model to evaluate alternative harvest regulations based on a management objective of maximum long-term sustainable harvest. The decision support tool calls for a closed season when the population is below 460,000, a 1-bird daily bag limit when the population is between 460,000 and 480,000, and a 2-bird daily bag limit when the population is greater than 480,000. Because abundance estimates were not available from the WBPHS, we used two different methods to predict canvasback abundance during spring 2021. One used a population model initially developed in the 1990s, and the other used the time series of recent abundances from the WBPHS. Based on the resulting predictions of 639,239 and 677,422 canvasbacks, respectively, for the two approaches, we concur with the recommendations of the four Flyway Councils regarding selection of the liberal regulatory alternative for the 2022-23 season.

v. Pintails

Council Recommendations:

The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended adoption of the liberal regulatory alternative with a 1-pintail daily bag limit for their respective flyways. The Flyway-specific regulations consist of a season length of 60 days in the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, 74 days in the Central Flyway, and 107 days in the Pacific Flyway.

Service Response:

The Service and four Flyway Councils adopted an AHM protocol for pintail in 2010 (75 FR 44856; July 29, 2010), whereby we set pintail hunting regulations in all four Flyways based on the status and demographics of these birds.

For the 2022-23 hunting season, we evaluated alternative harvest regulations for pintails using: (1) A management objective of maximum long-term sustainable harvest, including a closed-season constraint of 1.75 million birds; (2) the regulatory alternatives; and (3) current population models and associated weights. Based on a liberal regulatory alternative with a 1-bird daily bag limit for the 2021-22 season, and the 2021 model predictions of 2.50 million pintails with the center of the population predicted to occur at a mean latitude of 55.47 degrees (Federal WBPHS traditional survey area, strata 1-18, 20-50, and 75-77), the optimal regulation for all four Flyways is the liberal alternative with a 1-pintail daily bag limit. Therefore, we concur with the recommendations of the four Flyway Councils.

vi. Scaup

Council Recommendations:

The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended adoption of the restrictive regulatory alternative for the 2022-23 season. The Flyway-specific regulations consist of a 60-day season with a 1-bird daily bag limit during 40 consecutive days and a 2-bird daily bag limit during 20 consecutive days in the Atlantic Flyway, a 60-day season with a 2-bird daily bag limit during 45 consecutive days and a 1-bird daily bag limit during 15 consecutive days in the Mississippi Flyway, a 1-bird daily bag limit for 74 days in the Central Flyway (which may have separate segments of 39 days and 35 days), and an 86-day season with a 2-bird daily bag limit in the Pacific Flyway.

Service Response:

The Service and four Flyway Councils adopted an AHM protocol for scaup in 2008 (73 FR 43290, July 24, 2008; and 73 FR 51124, August 29, 2008) whereby we set scaup hunting regulations in all four Flyways based on the status and demographics of these birds.

For the 2022-23 hunting season, we evaluated alternative harvest regulations for scaup using: (1) A management objective of 95 percent of maximum sustainable harvest; (2) the regulatory alternatives; and (3) the current population model. Based on a moderate regulatory alternative for the 2021-22 season, and the 2021 model prediction of 3.53 million scaup (Federal WBPHS traditional survey area, strata 1-18, 20-50, and 75-77), the optimal regulation for all four Flyways is the restrictive alternative. Therefore, we concur with the recommendations of the four Flyway Councils regarding selection of the restrictive alternative for the 2022-23 season.

xi. Other

Council Recommendations:

The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended a mallard daily bag limit of two birds, only one of which could be female, for the Atlantic Flyway.

Service Response:

We agree with the Atlantic Flyway Council's recommendation for a mallard daily bag limit of two birds, of which only one may be female, for the Atlantic Flyway. The Atlantic Flyway Council's eastern waterfowl AHM protocol (see above) did not specifically address bag limits for mallards. The number of breeding mallards in the northeastern United States (about two-thirds of the eastern mallard population in 1998) has decreased by about 38 percent since 1998, and the overall population has declined by about 1 percent per year during that time period. This situation has resulted in reduced harvest potential for that population. The Service conducted a Prescribed Take Level (PTL) analysis to estimate the allowable take (kill rate) for eastern mallards and compared that with the expected kill rate under the most liberal season length (60 days) considered as part of the eastern waterfowl AHM regulatory alternatives.

Using contemporary data and assuming a management objective of maximum long-term sustainable harvest, the PTL analysis estimated an allowable kill rate of 0.194-0.198. The expected kill rate for eastern mallards under a 60-day season and a 2-mallard daily bag limit in the U.S. portion of the Atlantic Flyway was 0.193 (SE = 0.016), which is slightly below (but not significantly different from) the point estimate of allowable kill at maximum long-term sustainable harvest. This estimate indicates that a 2-bird daily bag limit is sustainable at this time.

2. Sea Ducks

Council Recommendations:

The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended three changes to the sea duck hunting regulations in the Atlantic Flyway: (1) Elimination of the special sea duck season; (2) reduction of the sea duck daily bag limit within the regular duck season to 4 sea ducks of which no more than 3 may be scoters, long-tailed ducks, or eiders, and no more than 1 may be a female eider; and (3) retention of the exception that allows shooting of crippled waterfowl from a boat under power in the currently defined special sea duck areas in the Atlantic Flyway. These recommendations were consistent with the recommendations presented by the Atlantic Flyway Council during the April 6, 2021, SRC meeting for initial discussion. We announced these possible changes to sea duck hunting regulations in the Atlantic Flyway in the August 31, 2021, proposed rule to allow the greatest opportunity for public review and comment.

Service Response:

We agree with the Atlantic Flyway Council's recommendations for the sea duck harvest regulations in the Atlantic Flyway. Special season regulations are used to provide additional hunting opportunity for species considered to be underutilized. We have authorized a special sea duck season (including eiders, long-tailed duck, and scoters) in the Atlantic Flyway since 1938. By 1973, 13 of the 17 Atlantic Flyway States allowed special seasons consisting of 107 days with a daily bag limit of 7 sea ducks. We reduced the scoter daily bag limit to 4 ducks in 1993. In 2016, we reduced the season length from 107 to 60 days and the daily bag limit from 6 to 5 sea ducks of which no more than 4 may be eiders, long-tailed ducks, or scoters. We anticipated the 2016 restrictions would reduce average annual sea duck harvest by approximately 25 percent compared to average annual harvest during the period 2011-2015. See the March 28, 2016,

Federal Register

(81 FR 17305) for a discussion of the Sea Duck Harvest Potential Assessment completed at that time.

The changes to the 2016 Atlantic Flyway sea duck regulations did not achieve the target reduction in total sea duck harvest. Therefore, we are supportive of the changes recommended by the Atlantic Flyway Council due to the continued concern regarding the status and trends of sea duck populations in the Atlantic Flyway, and our desire to reduce sea duck harvest in the Atlantic Flyway below the average annual harvest observed during 2011-2015. Regarding existing regulation that allows shooting of crippled waterfowl from a boat under power in the currently defined special sea duck area, the purpose of this regulation is to protect human safety and minimize duck crippling loss associated with hunting ducks at sea in the Atlantic Flyway.

3. Mergansers

Council Recommendations:

The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended removing the species-specific restriction of two hooded mergansers beginning with the 2022-23 season. Hooded mergansers would become part of an aggregate merganser (common, red-breasted, and hooded) bag limit. The Mississippi Flyway Council supported the recommendation if an evaluation was conducted to determine the effects of the change on merganser populations and harvest.

Written Comments:

The Central Flyway Council noted that their recommendation on the merganser bag limit presented to and approved by the SRC on September 28-29, 2021, was not reflected in the February 2, 2022, proposed rule for the 2022-2023 season. The Central Flyway Council recommended eliminating the separate merganser bag limit of 5 birds, of which no more than 2 may be hooded mergansers, and including mergansers in the general duck season bag limit of 6 ducks (including mergansers in the aggregate) with no merganser species-specific bag limit restrictions.

Service Response:

We agree with the Atlantic Flyway Council recommendation to remove the 2 hooded merganser daily bag limit and implementation of an aggregate merganser bag (common, red-breasted, and hooded) beginning with the 2022 season. The Service also agrees with the recommendation from the Mississippi Flyway Council that the Atlantic Flyway Council should conduct an evaluation of the regulation change on merganser populations and harvest. This assessment should be conducted following the completion of the 2024-25 season.

Also, we agree with the Central Flyway Council's recommendation to eliminate the separate merganser daily bag limit of 5 birds and include mergansers in the general duck season bag limit of 6 birds in the aggregate with no merganser species-specific bag limit restrictions. This is more liberal in that it removes the species-specific restriction of two hooded mergansers in the daily bag limit, but is more restrictive in that mergansers would be part of an aggregate 6-bird daily bag limit with ducks rather than allowing a 5-bird merganser daily bag limit in addition to a 6-bird duck daily bag limit. We expect this to have negligible impact to hooded and other merganser population status. It will reduce potential overall duck and merganser harvest, and States already have the option of including mergansers in the duck bag limit of 6 birds in the aggregate. Also, this change will result in more simple duck (including merganser) hunting regulations and be more consistent across States split between the Central and Pacific Flyways.

4. Canada and Cackling Geese

B. Regular Seasons

Council Recommendations:

The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended three changes to the dark goose season framework in the Atlantic Flyway including:

1. Adopting the restrictive regulatory option as described in the Atlantic Flyway Council's Atlantic Population (AP) Canada Geese Harvest Strategy (30-day season between December 25 through January 25 with a daily bag limit of 1 goose) for all AP Canada geese zones in the U.S. portion of the Atlantic Flyway, including North Carolina;

2. The addition of a special late season in Vermont, the Lake Champlain Zone of New York, and the AP Canada geese zones in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The season may be December 1-February 15 in Vermont and the Lake Champlain Zone of New York, and December 15-February 15 in the AP Canada geese zones of Connecticut and Massachusetts. The daily bag limit is 5 geese; and

3. Eliminating the Southern James Bay Population (SJBP) of Canada geese zone in Pennsylvania with this area becoming part of Pennsylvania's Atlantic Flyway Resident Population (RP) of Canada geese zone.

The Pacific Flyway Council recommended several changes to the Canada and cackling goose and brant season framework in the Pacific Flyway. Specifically:

1. Increasing the daily bag limit for Canada and cackling geese and brant in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming from 4 to 5 geese in the aggregate;

2. Changing the closing date for Canada and cackling geese and brant in Utah's Wasatch Front Zone from the first Sunday in February to February 15;

3. Approving a 3-segment season option for Canada and cackling geese in California's Balance of State Zone; and

4. Decreasing the daily bag limit for Canada and cackling geese in Washington's Southwest Permit Zone and Oregon's Northwest Permit Zone from 4 to 3 geese in the aggregate.

Written Comments:

The Atlantic Flyway Council noted the February 2, 2022, proposed frameworks (87 FR 5946) incorrectly listed the season dates for AP Canada geese zones as between December 25 through January 25 for all AP Canada geese zones. The Atlantic Flyway Council requested the text be revised to reflect the correct framework dates as:

New England (CT, MA, VT) and Lake Champlain Zone of New York: October 10-February 5;

Mid-Atlantic (NJ, NY, PA): fourth Saturday in October-February 5;

Chesapeake (DE, MD, VA): November 15-February 5; and

North Carolina (Northeast Unit): the Saturday prior to December 25-January 31.

Service Response:

We agree with the Atlantic Flyway Council's three recommended changes to the Canada and cackling goose season framework in the Atlantic Flyway. The Service and Atlantic Flyway Council have been concerned with the status of AP Canada geese for several years, and the restrictive regulatory alternative is commensurate with the population's status. More specifically, AP Canada geese declined in abundance precipitously (from 118,000 to 34,000 breeding pairs) between 1988 and 1995, due to high harvest pressure and poor production. Hunting season restrictions were enacted in response to the decline. These restrictions and several years of favorable nesting conditions and good gosling production resulted in a rapid recovery of the population, and by 2002, the breeding pair estimate had rebounded to 182,000. For the next 15 years, pair counts remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 161,000 and 216,000 breeding pairs. However, in the 2018 breeding season, the breeding pair estimate dropped abruptly to 112,000, and gosling productivity was almost nonexistent. The 2019 breeding pair estimate was statistically similar to 2018, and productivity was near the long-term average. No breeding pair survey was conducted in 2020 or 2021, due to logistical constraints arising from the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2021, the Atlantic Flyway Council, in collaboration with the Service, updated their 2013 harvest strategy for AP Canada geese. The revision incorporated several additional years of experience on effects of contemporary harvest regulations on AP Canada geese abundance and recent advances in population modeling and other analytical tools. The harvest strategy supports the Council's 2008 management plan for AP Canada geese and is consistent with the overarching goal of the plan: To maintain AP Canada geese and their habitats at a level that provides optimum opportunities for people to use and enjoy geese on a sustainable basis.

Regarding the additional special late seasons in three areas, these areas account for a small proportion of the AP Canada goose harvest. Since 1999, the New England region (including AP, NAP, and RP Canada goose zones) has accounted for only 1.3 percent of all AP Canada goose band recoveries. The special late season occurs after most AP Canada geese have migrated from the region (early to mid-December). The objective of the special late season is to increase harvest of RP Canada geese while minimizing impacts to AP Canada geese. An existing late special season with a similar objective has been allowed in parts of New Jersey since 1994. The additional special late seasons will provide increased opportunity for hunters and an additional tool for State agencies to manage resident populations of geese.

Regarding the Council's recommendation to eliminate the SJBP Canada geese zone in Pennsylvania, the SJBP of Canada geese is no longer recognized as a separate population by the Service or the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway Councils. The SJBP of Canada geese is now considered part of the larger Southern Hudson Bay Population (SHBP) of Canada geese, which is monitored and managed according to the Mississippi Flyway Council's management plan. Elimination of the SJBP Canada geese zone in Pennsylvania and incorporation of this area into the RP Canada geese zone will expose Canada geese in the area to slightly more liberal regulations but will not appreciably increase harvest of AP Canada geese. This change will simplify regulations, provide increased hunting opportunity, and provide increased opportunity to manage resident population of geese.

We agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation to increase the daily bag limit for Canada and cackling geese and brant in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming from 4 to 5 geese in the aggregate. Cackling geese and brant are uncommon in interior States in the Pacific Flyway. The basic goose season framework for the Pacific Flyway includes these species in an aggregate bag limit for interior States because of the difficulty in hunter differentiation of these species and because harvest of cackling geese and brant is negligible to their population status. The western Canada goose is the primary subspecies of Canada goose occurring in interior States in the Pacific Flyway. There are two populations of western Canada goose in the Pacific Flyway: Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) and Pacific Population (PP). The most recent 3-year (2017-2019) average population estimate for RMP western Canada geese is 205,338 and is well above the Council's population objective of 117,000 geese. Similarly,

the most recent 3-year (2017-2019) average population estimate for PP western Canada geese is 330,725 and is well above the Council's population objective of about 120,000 geese. Since 1970, western Canada goose abundance in the Pacific Flyway has increased 5.4 percent per year based on the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey. The Pacific Flyway Council's management plans for PP and RMP Canada geese prescribe liberalized hunting seasons when population status is over objective levels. The change will simplify regulations in States split into two flyways (

i.e.,

Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and New Mexico). Currently, there is a daily bag limit of 4 geese in the Pacific Flyway portions of these States and 5 geese in the Central Flyway portions.

We also agree with the Council's recommendation to change the closing date for Canada and cackling geese and brant in Utah's Wasatch Front Zone from the first Sunday in February to February 15. The western Canada goose is the primary subspecies of Canada goose in Utah. Abundance of RMP Canada geese is well above the Council's population objective (see above). The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has been collecting data on Canada geese in urban areas along the Wasatch Front (

i.e.,

Salt Lake, Weber, Davis, and Utah Counties) since 2006. Data indicate abundance of urban geese has increased up to about 10,000 geese. Approximately 58.3 percent of all resident RMP Canada geese banded in Utah are harvested during the last 3 weeks of the season in the Wasatch Front Zone. Allowing a later closing date will provide additional flexibility to the State to address increasing depredation and nuisance complaints associated with Canada geese in urban areas and provide hunting opportunity.

We also agree with the Council's recommendation to allow a 3-segment split hunting season for Canada and cackling geese in California's Balance of State Zone. Current frameworks allow a 3-segment split for Canada and cackling geese, but this arrangement requires Pacific Flyway Council and Service approval and a 3-year evaluation by each participating State. The primary subspecies of white-cheeked geese in California are the western Canada goose and Aleutian cackling goose. The current 3-year (2019-2021) average population estimate for Aleutian cackling geese is 168,009 and is well above the Council's population objective of 60,000 geese. Similarly, abundance of PP Canada geese is well above the Council's population objective (see above). Allowing the Canada and cackling geese season to be split into 3 segments will provide additional flexibility to the State to address increasing depredation and nuisance complaints associated with Canada and cackling geese and provide hunting opportunity. In addition, a 3-segment season will be consistent with the current light goose and white-fronted goose seasons in California's Balance of State Zone, which will help simplify regulations.

Finally, we also agree with the Council's recommendation that the daily bag limit for Canada and cackling geese in Washington's Southwest Permit Zone and Oregon's Northwest Permit Zone be reduced from 4 to 3 geese in the aggregate. The most recent 3-year (2018, 2019, 2021) average of available fall projected population estimates for minima cackling geese is 206,763 and is below the Council's population objective of 250,000 ± 10 percent (225,000-275,000). Band recovery data from hunter harvest of minima cackling geese indicate that most (77 percent) of the fall-winter harvest occurs in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington, and the next highest harvest area (6 percent) is western Alaska (Units 9, 17, and 18). Accordingly, the Pacific Flyway Council also recommended that the daily bag limit for Canada and cackling geese in parts of Alaska be reduced from 6 to 4 geese in the aggregate. The decrease in the daily bag limits is specifically intended to maintain objective abundance of minima cackling geese and is consistent with the Council's harvest strategy for these birds.

Regarding the Atlantic Flyway Council's request for correction to frameworks dates for AP Canada geese, we have made the suggested corrections. The changes correspond to the season dates and structure identified in the Atlantic Flyway Council's AP Canada geese harvest strategy and have been supported by the SRC.

6. Brant

Council Recommendations:

The Pacific Flyway Council recommended that the 2022-23 brant season frameworks be determined based on the harvest strategy in the Council's management plan for the Pacific population of brant pending results of the 2022 Winter Brant Survey (WBS). If results of the 2022 WBS are not available, results of the most recent WBS should be used.

Service Response:

We agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation. As we discussed in the August 21, 2020,

Federal Register

(85 FR 51854), the harvest strategy used to determine the Pacific brant season frameworks does not fit well within the current regulatory process. In developing the annual proposed frameworks for Pacific brant, the Pacific Flyway Council and the Service use the 3-year average number of brant counted during the WBS in the Pacific Flyway to determine annual allowable season length and daily bag limits. The WBS is conducted each January, which is after the date that proposed frameworks are formulated in the regulatory process. However, the data are typically available by the expected publication of these final frameworks. When we acquire the survey data, we determine the appropriate allowable harvest for the Pacific brant season according to the harvest strategy in the Pacific Flyway Council's management plan for the Pacific population of brant published in the August 21, 2020,

Federal Register

(see 85 FR 51861).

The recent 3-year average (2020-2022) WBS count of Pacific brant was 150,717. Based on the harvest strategy, the appropriate season length and daily bag limit framework for Pacific brant in the 2022-23 season is a 107-day season with a 4-bird daily bag limit in Alaska, and a 37-day season with a 2-bird daily bag limit in California, Oregon, and Washington.

8. Swans

Council Recommendations:

The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended the initial allocation of swan hunting permits of 347 in Delaware, 4,721 in North Carolina, and 532 in Virginia (5,600 total) for the 2022-23 seasons and allowing unissued swan hunting permits to be reallocated to States within the Atlantic Flyway.

Service Response:

We agree with the Atlantic Flyway Council's recommendations for changes to the swan hunting permit allocation in the Atlantic Flyway. In 2021, the Atlantic Flyway Council updated an assessment to allocate allowable tundra swan hunting permits among States in the Atlantic Flyway based on the distribution of tundra swans from the 3 most recent Mid-winter Survey counts. The permit allocation is reevaluated every 3 years. The evaluation in 2021 provided that the 3-year (2019-2021) average distribution of tundra swan abundance during the Mid-winter Survey was 6.2 percent in Delaware, 84.3 percent in North Carolina, and 9.5 percent in Virginia. Given the current allowable harvest of 5,600 tundra swans in the Atlantic Flyway, again the Council's recommended allocation of swan hunting permits is 347 in Delaware, 4,721 in North Carolina, and

532 in Virginia. This is a minor change from the 2021 season permit allocation, which was 67 in Delaware, 4,895 in North Carolina, and 638 in Virginia. Distributing allowable tundra swan harvest among States based on the distribution of tundra swans during winter is consistent with the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway Council's management plan for the Eastern Population (EP) of tundra swans and provides equitable hunting opportunity among States. Finally, a State may have insufficient applicants to issue all available swan hunting permits. The swan season framework currently allows a second permit to be issued to hunters from unissued permits remaining after the first drawing. Should permits still remain unissued, any portion of these unused permits would be available for temporary redistribution to other States with swan seasons in the flyway. This procedure is consistent with the Councils' management plan for EP tundra swans, provides the greatest tundra swan hunting opportunity, and maintains harvest within allowable limits for the population and within each flyway.

9. Sandhill Cranes

Council Recommendations:

The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended a 1-year extension to the 3-year (2019, 2020, and 2021) experimental sandhill crane season in Alabama. The Central and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended that allowable harvest of Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) of cranes be determined based on the formula described in the Pacific and Central Flyway Councils' Management Plan for RMP cranes pending results of the fall 2021 abundance and recruitment surveys.

Service Response:

We agree with the Mississippi Flyway Council's recommendation for a 1-year extension to the 3-year (2019, 2020, and 2021) experimental sandhill crane season in Alabama. As we provided above under Process for Establishing Annual Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations, we now develop proposed hunting season frameworks for a given year in the fall of the prior year. According to the Eastern Population Sandhill Crane Management Plan and Memorandum of Agreement between the Service and Atlantic Flyway Council, 3 years of data are needed for evaluation before experimental seasons can be approved as operational. Alabama administered the third year of an experimental sandhill crane season during the 2021 hunting season and has only 2 years of data to evaluate at the time we proposed regulations for the 2022-23 season. Approval of an additional year for the 3-year experimental sandhill crane season in Alabama allows the season to continue during the 2022 hunting season when 3 years of experimental season data will be available and allow consideration of an operational season beginning with the 2023 hunting season.

We agree with the Central and Pacific Flyway Councils' recommendations to determine allowable harvest of RMP cranes using the formula in the Pacific and Central Flyway Councils' management plan for RMP cranes pending results of the fall 2021 abundance and recruitment surveys. As we discussed in the March 28, 2016,

Federal Register

(81 FR 17302), the harvest strategy used to calculate the allowable harvest of RMP cranes does not fit well within the current regulatory process. In developing the annual proposed frameworks for RMP cranes, the Flyway Councils and the Service use the fall abundance and recruitment surveys of RMP cranes to determine annual allowable harvest. Results of the fall abundance and recruitment surveys of RMP cranes are released between December 1 and January 31 each year, which is after the date proposed frameworks are developed. However, the data are typically available by the expected publication of these final frameworks. When we acquire the survey data, we determine the appropriate allowable harvest for the RMP crane season according to the harvest strategy in the Central and Pacific Flyway Councils' management plan for RMP cranes published in the March 28, 2016,

Federal Register

(see 81 FR 17307).

The 2021 fall RMP crane abundance estimate was 23,963 cranes, resulting in a 3-year (2019-2021) average of 23,630 cranes, similar to the previous 3-year average, which was 22,909 cranes. The RMP crane recruitment estimate was 8.75 percent young in the fall population, resulting in a 3-year (2019-2021) average of 9.12 percent, which is higher than the previous 3-year average of 8.25 percent. Using the current harvest strategy and the above most recent 3-year average abundance and recruitment estimates, the allowable harvest for the 2022-23 season is 2,778 cranes.

16. Doves

Council Recommendations:

The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended adoption of the standard regulatory alternative as prescribed in the national mourning dove harvest strategy for their respective Mourning Dove Management Units. The standard regulatory alternative consists of a 90-day season and 15-bird daily bag limit for States within the Eastern and Central Management Units, and a 60-day season and 15-bird daily bag limit for States in the Western Management Unit.

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 2022-23 season.

17. Alaska

Council Recommendations:

The Pacific Flyway Council recommended that the daily bag limit for Canada and cackling geese (

i.e.,

minima cackling geese) be reduced from 6 to 4 geese in the aggregate in Units 9, 17, and 18.

Service Response:

We agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation. The most recent 3-year (2018, 2019, 2021) average of available fall projected population estimates for minima cackling geese is 206,763 and is below the Council's population objective of 250,000 ± 10 percent (225,000-275,000). Band recovery data from hunter harvest of minima cackling geese indicates that most (77 percent) of the fall-winter harvest occurs in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington, and the next highest harvest area (6 percent) is western Alaska (Units 9, 17, and 18). Accordingly, the Pacific Flyway Council also recommended that the daily bag limit for Canada and cackling geese in parts of Oregon and Washington be reduced from 4 to 3 geese in the aggregate. The decrease in the daily bag limits is specifically intended to maintain objective abundance of minima cackling geese and is consistent with the Council's harvest strategy for these birds.

Required Determinations

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Consideration

The programmatic document, “Second Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement: Issuance of Annual Regulations Permitting the Sport Hunting of Migratory Birds (EIS 20130139),” filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on May 24, 2013, addresses NEPA compliance by the Service for issuance of the annual framework regulations for hunting of migratory game bird species. We published a notice of availability in the

Federal Register

on May 31, 2013 (78 FR 32686), and our Record of Decision on July 26, 2013 (78 FR 45376). We also address NEPA compliance for waterfowl hunting frameworks through the annual preparation of separate environmental assessments, the most recent being “Duck Hunting Regulations for 2021-22,” with its corresponding March 2021 finding of no significant impact. In addition, an August 1985 environmental assessment entitled “Guidelines for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations on Federal Indian Reservations and Ceded Lands” is available from the person listed above under the caption

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

.

Endangered Species Act Consideration

Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531

et seq.

), provides that the Secretary shall insure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered species or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat. After we published the August 31, 2021, proposed rule, we conducted formal consultations to ensure that actions resulting from these regulations would not likely jeopardize the continued existence of endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitat. Findings from these consultations are included in a biological opinion, which concluded that the regulations are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered or threatened species. The biological opinion resulting from this section 7 consultation is available for public inspection at the address indicated under

ADDRESSES

.

Regulatory Planning and Review—Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

Executive Order (E.O.) 12866 provides that the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) will review all significant rules. OIRA has reviewed this rule and has determined that this rule is significant because it would have an annual effect of $100 million or more on the economy.

E.O. 13563 reaffirms the principles of E.O. 12866 while calling for improvements in the nation's regulatory system to promote predictability, to reduce uncertainty, and to use the best, most innovative, and least burdensome tools for achieving regulatory ends. E.O. 13563 directs agencies to consider regulatory approaches that reduce burdens and maintain flexibility and freedom of choice for the public where these approaches are relevant, feasible, and consistent with regulatory objectives. E.O. 13563 emphasizes further that regulations must be based on the best available science and that the rulemaking process must allow for public participation and an open exchange of ideas. We have developed this rule in a manner consistent with these requirements.

An economic analysis was prepared for the 2022-23 migratory bird hunting season. This analysis was based on data from the 2016 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (National Survey), the most recent year for which data are available (see discussion under Regulatory Flexibility Act, below). This analysis estimated consumer surplus for three alternatives for duck hunting regulations. As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget in Circular A-4, consumers' surplus is the difference between what a consumer pays for a unit of a good or service and the maximum amount the consumer would be willing to pay for that unit. The duck hunting regulatory alternatives are (1) issue restrictive regulations allowing fewer days than those issued during the 2021-22 season, (2) issue moderate regulations allowing more days than those in Alternative 1, and (3) issue liberal regulations similar to the regulations in the 2021-22 season. For the 2021-22 season, we chose Alternative 3, with an estimated consumer surplus across all flyways of $270-$358 million with a mid-point estimate of $314 million. We also chose Alternative 3 for the 2009-10 through 2020-21 seasons. The 2022-23 analysis is part of the record for this rule and is available at

https://www.regulations.gov

at Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2021-0057.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The annual migratory bird hunting regulations have a significant economic impact on substantial numbers of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601

et seq.

). We prepare regulatory flexibility analyses, updated annually, to analyze the economic impacts of the annual hunting regulations on small business entities. The primary source of information about hunter expenditures for migratory game bird hunting is the National Survey, which is generally conducted at 5-year intervals. The 2021 analysis is based on the 2016 National Survey and the U.S. Department of Commerce's County Business Patterns, from which it is estimated that migratory bird hunters would spend approximately $2.2 billion at small businesses in 2022. Copies of the analysis are available upon request from the person listed above under the caption

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

, or from

https://www.regulations.gov

at Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2021-0057.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

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

Paperwork Reduction Act

This rule does not contain any new collection of information that requires approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501

et seq.

). OMB has previously approved the information collection requirements associated with migratory bird surveys and the procedures for establishing annual migratory bird hunting seasons under the following OMB control numbers:

• 1018-0019, “North American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey” (expires 02/29/2024).

• 1018-0023, “Migratory Bird Surveys, 50 CFR 20.20” (expires 04/30/2023). Includes Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program, Migratory Bird Hunter Surveys, Sandhill Crane Survey, and Parts Collection Survey.

• 1018-0171, “Establishment of Annual Migratory Bird Hunting Seasons, 50 CFR part 20” (expires 10/31/2024).

You may view the information collection request(s) at

http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

We have determined and certify, in compliance with the requirements of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, 2 U.S.C. 1502

et seq.,

that this rulemaking will not impose a cost of $100 million or more in any given year on local or State government or private entities. Therefore, this rule is not a “significant regulatory action” under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

Civil Justice Reform—Executive Order 12988

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

Takings Implication Assessment

In accordance with E.O. 12630, this rule, authorized by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, does not have significant takings implications and does not affect any constitutionally protected property rights. This rule will not result in the physical occupancy of property, the physical invasion of property, or the regulatory taking of any property. In fact, this rule will allow hunters to exercise otherwise unavailable privileges and, therefore, will reduce restrictions on the use of private and public property.

Energy Effects—Executive Order 13211

E.O. 13211 requires agencies to prepare statements of energy effects when undertaking certain actions. While this rule is a significant regulatory action under E.O. 12866, it is not expected to adversely affect energy supplies, distribution, or use. Therefore, this action is not a significant energy action and no statement of energy effects is required.

Government-to-Government Relationship With Tribes

In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994, “Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal Governments” (59 FR 22951), E.O. 13175, and 512 DM 2, we have evaluated possible effects on Federally recognized Indian Tribes and have determined that there are

de minimis

effects on Indian trust resources. Tribal proposals are contained in separate rulemaking documents. Through this process to establish annual hunting regulations, we regularly coordinate with Tribes that are affected by this rule.

Federalism Effects

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

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 20

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

Final Regulations Frameworks for 2022-23 Hunting Seasons on Certain Migratory Game Birds

Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and delegated authorities, the Department of the Interior is establishing the following frameworks for outside dates, season lengths, shooting hours, bag and possession limits, and areas within which States may select seasons for hunting migratory game birds between the dates of September 1, 2022, and March 10, 2023. These frameworks are summarized below.

Table of Contents

a. General

i. Flyways and Management Units

1. Waterfowl Flyways

2. Mallard Management Units

3. Mourning Dove Management Units

4. Woodcock Management Regions

ii. Definitions

iii. Migratory Game Bird Seasons in the Atlantic Flyway

b. Season Frameworks

i. Special Youth and Veterans-Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Days

ii. Special Early Teal Seasons

iii. Special Early Teal-Wood Duck Seasons

iv. Duck, Merganser, Coot and Goose Seasons

1. Atlantic Flyway

A. Duck, Merganser and Coot Seasons

B. Special Early Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons

C. Dark Goose Seasons

D. Light Goose Seasons

E. Brant Seasons

2. Mississippi Flyway

A. Duck, Merganser, and Coot Seasons

B. Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons

C. White-fronted Goose Seasons

D. Brant Seasons

E. Dark Goose Seasons

F. Light Goose Seasons

3. Central Flyway

A. Duck, Merganser, and Coot Seasons

B. Special Early Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons

C. Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, and Brant Seasons

D. White-fronted Goose Seasons

E. Light Goose Seasons

4. Pacific Flyway

A. Duck, Merganser, Coot, and Gallinule Seasons

B. Goose Seasons

i.

Special Early Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons

ii.

Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, and Brant Seasons

iii.

Brant Seasons

iv.

White-fronted Goose Seasons

v.

Light Goose Seasons

5. Swan Seasons

6. Sandhill Crane Seasons

7. Gallinule Seasons

8. Rail Seasons

9. Snipe Seasons

10. American Woodcock Seasons

11. Band-tailed Pigeon Seasons

12. Dove Seasons

13. Alaska

A. Duck, Goose, Sandhill Crane, and Snipe Seasons

B. Tundra Swan Seasons

14. Hawaii

A. Mourning Dove Seasons

15. Puerto Rico

A. Dove and Pigeon Seasons

B. Duck, Coot, Gallinule, and Snipe Seasons

16. Virgin Islands

A. Dove and Pigeon Seasons

B. Duck Seasons

17. Special Falconry Regulations

c. Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions

a. General

Outside Dates:

Outside dates are the earliest and latest dates within which States may establish hunting seasons. All outside dates specified below are inclusive.

Season Lengths:

Season lengths are the maximum number of days hunting may occur within the outside dates for hunting seasons. Days are consecutive and concurrent for all species included in each season framework unless otherwise specified.

Season Segments:

Season segments are the maximum number of consecutive-day segments the season lengths may be divided. The sum of the hunting days for all season segments may not exceed the season lengths allowed.

Zones:

Unless otherwise specified, States may select hunting seasons by zones. Zones for duck seasons (and associated youth and veterans—active military waterfowl hunting days, gallinule seasons, and snipe seasons) and dove seasons may be selected only

in years we declare such changes can be made (

i.e.,

open seasons for zones and splits) and according to federally established guidelines for duck and dove zones and split seasons.

Area, Zone, and Unit Descriptions:

Areas open to hunting must be described, delineated, and designated as such in each State's hunting regulations, and, except for early teal seasons, these areas must also be published in the

Federal Register

as a Federal migratory bird hunting frameworks final rule. Geographic descriptions related to regulations are contained in a later portion of this document.

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 limits.

Permits:

For some species of migratory birds, the Service authorizes the use of permits to regulate harvest or monitor their take by hunters, or both. In such cases, 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.

i. Flyways and Management Units

We generally set migratory bird hunting frameworks for the conterminous U.S. States by Flyway or Management Unit/Region. Frameworks for Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands are contained in separate sections near the end of the frameworks portion of this document. The States included in the Flyways and Management Units/Regions are described below.

1. 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 Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and those portions of Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming not included in the Central Flyway.

2. Mallard Management Units

High Plains Management Unit:

Roughly defined as that portion of the Central Flyway that lies west of the 100th meridian. See c. Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions,

Ducks (Including Mergansers) and Coots,

below, for specific boundaries in each State.

Columbia Basin 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

ii. 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, cackling 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.

iii. 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 of migratory birds is prohibited statewide by State law or regulation, all Sundays are closed to the take of all migratory game birds.

b. Season Frameworks

i. Special Youth and Veterans—Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Days

Outside Dates and Season Lengths:

States may select 2 days per duck-hunting zone, designated as “Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days,” and 2 days per duck-hunting zone, designated as “Veterans and Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Days,” in addition to their regular duck seasons. The days may be held concurrently or may be nonconsecutive. The Youth Waterfowl Hunting 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. Both sets of 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, swans, mergansers, coots, and gallinules. Bag limits are the same as those allowed in the regular season except in States that implement a hybrid season for scaup (

i.e.,

different bag limits during different portions of the season), in which case the bag limit will be 2 scaup per day.

Flyway species and area restrictions would remain in effect.

Participation Restrictions for Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days:

States may use their established definition of age for youth hunters. However, youth hunters must be under the age of 18. 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. Swans may be taken only by participants possessing applicable swan permits.

Participation Restrictions for Veterans and Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Days:

Veterans (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code) and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than for training), may participate. Swans may be taken only by participants possessing applicable swan permits.

ii. Special Early Teal Seasons

Areas:

Atlantic Flyway:

Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Mississippi Flyway:

Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. The season in Minnesota is experimental.

Central Flyway:

Colorado (part), Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico (part), Oklahoma, and Texas.

Outside Dates:

September 1-30.

Season Lengths:

16 days.

Daily Bag Limits:

6 teal.

Shooting Hours:

One-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except in the States of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, and Wisconsin, where the hours are from sunrise to sunset.

iii. Special Early Teal-Wood Duck Seasons

Areas:

Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

Seasons:

In lieu of a special early 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-day teal-wood duck season. The daily bag limit is 6 teal.

iv. Duck, Merganser, Coot, and Goose Seasons

1. Atlantic Flyway

A. Duck, Merganser, and Coot Seasons

Outside Dates:

Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24)-January 31.

Season Lengths and Daily Bag Limits:

60 days. The daily bag limit is 6 ducks, including no more than 2 mallards (no more than 1 of which can be female), 2 black ducks, 1 pintail, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous whistling duck, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, and 4 sea ducks (including no more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders and no more than 1 female eider). The season for scaup may be split into 2 segments, with one segment consisting of 40 consecutive days with a 1-scaup daily bag limit, and the second segment consisting of 20 consecutive days with a 2-scaup daily bag limit. The daily bag limit of mergansers is 5. In States that include mergansers in the duck bag limit, the daily limit is the same as the duck bag limit. The daily bag limit of coots is 15.

Closed Seasons:

There is no open season on the harlequin duck.

Zones and Split Seasons:

Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and West Virginia may split their seasons into 3 segments. Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Vermont may select seasons in each of 3 zones; Pennsylvania may select seasons in each of 4 zones; New York may select seasons in each of 5 zones; and all these States may split their season in each zone into 2 segments. Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia may select seasons in each of 2 zones; and all these States may split their season in each zone into 3 segments. Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia must conduct an evaluation of the impacts of zones and splits on hunter dynamics (

e.g.,

hunter numbers, satisfaction) and harvest during the 2021-25 seasons.

Special Provisions:

The seasons, limits, and shooting hours should be the same between New York's Lake Champlain Zone and Vermont's Lake Champlain Zone, and between Vermont's Connecticut River Zone and New Hampshire's Inland Zone.

A craft under power may be used to shoot and retrieve dead or crippled birds in the Sea Duck Area in the Atlantic Flyway. The Sea Duck Area includes 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.

B. Special Early Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons

Outside Dates and Season Lengths:

15 days during September 1-15 in the Eastern Unit of Maryland; 30 days during September 1-30 in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Long Island Zone of New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and South Carolina; and 25 days during September 1-25 in the remainder of the Atlantic Flyway.

Daily Bag Limits:

15 geese in the aggregate.

Shooting Hours:

One-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except that during any special early Canada and cackling goose season, shooting hours may extend to one-half hour after sunset if all other waterfowl seasons are closed in the specific applicable area.

C. Dark Goose Seasons

Outside Dates, Season Lengths, and Daily Bag Limits:

Regulations are State and zone specific as provided below.

Area

Outside dates

Season

length

Season

segments

Daily bag limit

Connecticut:

Atlantic Population (AP) Zone

Oct 10-Feb 5

30

2

1

AP Zone Late Season Area (Special season)

Dec 15-Feb 15

54

1

5

North Atlantic Population (NAP) Zone

Oct 1-Jan 31

60

2

2

NAP Late Season Area (Special season)

Jan 15-Feb 15

27

1

5

Resident Population (RP) Zone

Oct 1-Feb 15

80

3

5

Delaware

Nov 15-Feb 5

30

2

1

Florida

Oct 1-Mar 10

80

3

5

Georgia

Oct 1-Mar 10

80

3

5

Maine:

North NAP-H Zone

Oct 1-Jan 31

60

2

2

South NAP-H Zone

Oct 1-Jan 31

60

2

2

Coastal NAP-L Zone

Oct 1-Feb 15

70

2

3

Maryland:

AP Zone

Nov 15-Feb 5

30

2

1

RP Zone

Nov 15-Mar 10

80

3

5

Massachusetts:

AP Zone

Oct 10-Feb 5

30

2

1

AP Zone Late Season Area (Special season)

Dec 15-Feb 15

54

1

5

NAP Zone

Oct 1-Jan 31

60

2

2

NAP Late Season Area (Special season)

Jan 15-Feb 15

27

1

5

New Hampshire

Oct 1-Jan 31

60

2

2

New Jersey:

AP Zone

Fourth Saturday in Oct (22)-Feb 5

30

2

1

NAP Zone

Oct 1-Jan 31

60

2

2

Special Late Season Area (Special season)

Jan 15-Feb 15

27

1

5

New York:

AP Zone

Fourth Saturday in Oct (22)-Feb 5

30

2

1

AP (Lake Champlain) Zone

Oct 10-Feb 5

30

2

1

NAP High Harvest Zone

Oct 1-Jan 31

60

2

2

NAP Low Harvest Zone

Oct 1-Feb 15

70

2

3

Western Long Island RP Zone

Saturday nearest Sep 24 (24)-last day of Feb (28)

107

3

8

Remainder of RP Zone

Fourth Saturday in Oct (22)-last day of Feb (28)

80

3

5

AP (Lake Champlain) Zone Late Season (Special season)

Dec 1-Feb 15

77

1

5

North Carolina:

Northeast Zone

Saturday prior to Dec 25 (24)-Jan 31

30

1

1

RP Zone

Oct 1-Mar 10

80

3

5

Pennsylvania:

AP Zone

Fourth Saturday in Oct (22)-Feb 5

30

2

1

RP Zone

Fourth Saturday in Oct (22)-Mar 10

80

3

5

Rhode Island:

Statewide

Oct 1-Jan 31

60

2

2

Late Season Area (Special season)

Jan 15-Feb 15

32

2

5

South Carolina

Oct 1-Mar 10

80

3

5

Vermont:

Connecticut River Zone

Oct 1-Jan 31

60

2

2

Interior Zone

Oct 10-Feb 5

30

2

1

Lake Champlain Zone

Oct 10-Feb 5

30

2

1

Interior, and Lake Champlain Zones Late Season (Special Season)

Dec 1-Feb 15

77

1

5

Virginia:

AP Zone

Nov 15-Feb 5

30

2

1

SJBP Zone

Nov 15-Jan 14

40

2

3

RP Zone

Nov 15-Mar 10

80

3

5

SJBP Zone Late Season (Special season)

Jan 15-Feb 15

32

1

5

West Virginia:

Oct 1-Mar 10

80

3

5

D. Light Goose Seasons

Outside Dates:

October 1-March 10.

Season Lengths:

107 days. Seasons may be split into 3 segments.

Daily Bag limits:

25 light geese. There is no possession limit.

E. Brant Seasons

Outside Dates:

Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24)-January 31.

Season Lengths:

50 days. Seasons may be split into 2 segments.

Daily Bag Limits:

2 brant.

2. Mississippi Flyway

A. Duck, Merganser, and Coot Seasons

Outside Dates:

Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24)-January 31.

Season Lengths and Daily Bag Limits:

60 days. The daily bag limit is 6 ducks, including no more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be females), 1 mottled duck, 2 black ducks, 1 pintail, 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, and 2 redheads. The season for scaup may be split into 2 segments, with one segment consisting of 45 days with a 2-scaup daily bag limit, and the second segment consisting of 15 days with a 1-scaup daily bag limit. 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. The daily bag limit of coots is 15.

Zones and Split Seasons:

Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi may split their seasons into 3 segments. Kentucky and Tennessee may select seasons in each of 2 zones; Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin may select seasons in each of 3 zones; and all these States may split their season in each zone into 2 segments. Illinois may select seasons in each of 4 zones. Louisiana may select seasons in each of 2 zones and may split their season in each zone into 3 segments. Louisiana must conduct an evaluation of the impacts of zones and splits on hunter dynamics (

e.g.,

hunter numbers, satisfaction) and harvest during the 2021-25 seasons.

B. Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons

Outside Dates:

September 1-February 15.

Season Lengths:

107 days, which may be split into 4 segments.

Daily Bag Limits:

5 geese in the aggregate.

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 and cackling geese if all other waterfowl and crane seasons are closed in the specific applicable area.

C. White-fronted Goose Seasons

Outside Dates:

September 1-February 15.

Season Lengths and Daily Bag Limits:

74 days with a daily bag limit of 3 geese, 88 days with a daily bag limit of 2 geese, or 107 days with a daily bag limit of 1 goose. Seasons may be split into 4 segments.

D. Brant Seasons

Outside Dates:

September 1-February 15.

Season Lengths and Daily Bag Limits:

70 days with a daily bag limit of 2 brant or 107 days with a daily bag limit of 1 brant. Seasons may be split into 4 segments.

Special Provisions:

In lieu of a separate brant season, brant may be included in the season for Canada and cackling geese with a daily bag limit of 5 geese in the aggregate.

E. Dark Goose Seasons

Areas:

Alabama, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin in lieu of separate seasons for Canada and cackling geese, white-fronted geese, and brant.

Outside Dates:

September 1-February 15.

Season Lengths:

107 days, which may be split into 4 segments.

Daily Bag Limits:

5 geese in the aggregate.

F. Light Goose Seasons

Outside Dates:

September 1-February 15.

Season Lengths:

107 days, which may be split into 4 segments.

Daily Bag and Possession Limits:

The daily bag limit is 20 geese. There is no possession limit for light geese.

3. Central Flyway

A. Ducks, Merganser, and Coot Seasons

Outside Dates:

Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24)-January 31.

Season Lengths and Duck Daily Bag Limits:

74 days, except in the High Plains Mallard Management Unit where the season length is 97 days and the last 23 days must be consecutive and may start no earlier than the Saturday nearest December 10 (December 10). The daily bag limit is 6 ducks and mergansers in the aggregate, including no more than 5 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be females), 2 redheads, 3 wood ducks, 1 pintail, and 2 canvasbacks. The daily bag limit for scaup is 1, and the season for scaup may be split into 2 segments, with one segment consisting of 39 consecutive days and another segment consisting of 35 consecutive days. 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.

Coot Daily Bag Limits:

15 coots.

Zones 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.

North Dakota may split their season into 3 segments. Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas may select seasons in each of 2 zones; and Colorado, Kansas, South Dakota, and Wyoming may select seasons in each of 3 zones; and all these States may split their season in each zone into 2 segments. Nebraska may select seasons in each of 4 zones.

B. Special Early Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons

Outside Dates and Seasons Lengths:

In Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas, 30 days between September 1-30; in Colorado, New Mexico, Montana, and Wyoming, Canada and cackling goose seasons of not more than 15 days between September 1-15; and in North Dakota, 22 days between September 1-22.

Daily Bag Limits:

5 geese in the aggregate in Colorado, New Mexico, Montana, Wyoming, and Texas; 8 geese in the aggregate in Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma; and 15 geese in the aggregate in North Dakota and South Dakota.

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.

C. Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, and Brant Seasons

Outside Dates:

Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24)-the

Sunday nearest February 15 (February 12).

Seasons and Daily Bag Limits:

In Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and the Eastern Goose Zone of Texas, 107 days with a daily bag limit of 8 geese; in Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming, 107 days with a daily bag limit of 5 geese; and in Texas (Western Goose Zone), 95 days with a daily bag limit of 5 geese.

Split Seasons:

Seasons may be split into 3 segments. Three-segment seasons require Central Flyway Council and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approval, and a 3-year evaluation by each participating State.

D. White-fronted Goose Seasons

Outside Dates:

Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24)-the Sunday nearest February 15 (February 12).

Season Length and Daily Bag Limits:

Except as subsequently provided, either 74 days with a daily bag limit of 3 geese, or 88 days with a daily bag limit of 2 geese, or 107 days with a daily bag limit of 1 goose. In Texas (Western Goose Zone), 95 days with a daily bag limit of 2 geese. Seasons may be split into 3 segments.

E. Light Goose Seasons

Outside Dates:

Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24)-March 10.

Season Lengths:

107 days. Seasons may be split into 3 segments.

Daily Bag and Possession Limits:

The daily bag limit is 50 with no possession limit.

Special Provisions:

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.

4. Pacific Flyway

A. Duck, Merganser, Coot, and Gallinule Seasons

Outside Dates:

Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24)-January 31.

Season Lengths and Daily Bag Limits:

107 days. The daily bag limit is 7 ducks and mergansers in the aggregate, including no more than 2 female mallards, 1 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, 2 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. The daily bag limit of coots and gallinules is 25 in the aggregate.

Zones and Split Seasons:

Montana and New Mexico may split their seasons into 3 segments. Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming may select seasons in each of 2 zones; Nevada may select seasons in each of 3 zones; California may select seasons in each of 5 zones; and all these States may split their season in each zone into 2 segments. Idaho may select seasons in each of 4 zones.

Special Provisions:

The seasons, limits, and shooting hours should be the same between the Colorado River Zone of California and the South Zone of Arizona.

B. Goose Seasons

i. Special Early Canada and Cackling Goose Seasons

Outside Dates:

September 1-20.

Season Lengths:

15 days.

Daily Bag Limits:

5 geese in the aggregate, except in Pacific County, Washington, where the daily bag limit is 15 geese in the aggregate.

ii. Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, and Brant Seasons

Outside Dates:

Except as subsequently provided, September 24 (September 24)-January 31.

Season Lengths:

Except as subsequently provided, 107 days.

Daily Bag Limits:

Except as subsequently provided, in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, the daily bag limit is 5 Canada and cackling geese and brant in the aggregate. In Oregon and Washington, the daily bag limit is 4 Canada and cackling geese in the aggregate. In California, the daily bag limit is 10 Canada and cackling geese in the aggregate.

Split Seasons:

Seasons may be split into 3 segments. Three-segment seasons require Pacific Flyway Council and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approval and a 3-year evaluation by each participating State.

iii. Brant Seasons

Areas:

California, Oregon, and Washington.

Outside Dates:

September 24 (September 24)-January 31.

Season Lengths and Daily Bag Limits:

37 days and 2 brant.

Zones:

Washington and California may select seasons in each of 2 zones.

Special Provisions:

In Oregon and California, the brant season must end no later than December 15.

iv. White-Fronted Goose Seasons

Outside Dates:

Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24)-March 10.

Season Lengths:

107 days.

Daily Bag Limits:

Except as subsequently provided, 10 geese.

Split Seasons:

Seasons may be split into 3 segments. Three-segment seasons require Pacific Flyway Council and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approval and a 3-year evaluation by each participating State.

v. Light Goose Seasons

Outside Dates:

Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24)-March 10.

Season Lengths:

107 days. Seasons may be split into 3 segments.

Daily Bag Limits:

20 geese, except in Washington where the daily bag limit for light geese is 10 on or before the last Sunday in January (January 29).

California

Balance of State Zone:

A Canada and cackling goose season may be selected with outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24) and March 10, and may be split into 3 segments. 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 January 31 should be concurrent with Oregon's South Coast Zone.

Northeastern Zone:

The white-fronted goose season may be split into 3 segments.

Oregon

Eastern Zone:

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

Northwest Permit Zone:

A Canada and cackling goose season may be selected with outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24) and March 10 with a daily bag limit of 3 geese in the aggregate. Canada and cackling goose and white-fronted goose seasons may be split into 3 segments. In the Tillamook County Management Area, the hunting season is closed on geese.

South Coast Zone:

A Canada and cackling goose season may be selected with outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24) and March 10 with a daily bag limit of 6 geese in the aggregate. Canada and cackling goose and white-fronted goose seasons may be split into 3 segments. Hunting days that occur after January 31 should be concurrent with California's North Coast Special Management Area.

Utah

Wasatch Front Zone:

A Canada and cackling goose and brant season may be selected with outside dates between the

Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24) and February 15.

Washington

Areas 2 Inland and 2 Coastal (Southwest Permit Zone):

A Canada and cackling goose season may be selected in each zone with outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24) and March 10 with a daily bag limit of 3 geese in the aggregate. Canada and cackling goose and white-fronted goose seasons may be split into 3 segments.

Area 4:

Canada and cackling goose and white-fronted 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 5 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 and cackling 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 and cackling goose season on the dusky Canada goose population.

5. Swan Seasons

Pacific Flyway

Areas:

Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Utah.

Outside Dates:

Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24)-January 31.

Season Lengths:

107 days. Seasons may be split into 2 segments.

Permits:

Hunting is by permit only. Permits will be issued by the State. The total number of permits issued may not exceed 50 in Idaho, 500 in Montana, 650 in Nevada, and 2,750 in Utah. Permits will authorize the take of no more than 1 swan per permit. Only 1 permit may be issued per hunter in Montana and Utah; 2 permits may be issued per hunter in Nevada.

Quotas:

The swan season in the respective State must end upon attainment of the following reported harvest of trumpeter swans: 20 in Utah and 10 in Nevada. There is no quota in Idaho and Montana.

Monitoring:

Each State must evaluate hunter participation, species-specific swan harvest, and hunter compliance in providing either species-determinant parts (at least the intact head) or bill measurements (bill length from tip to posterior edge of the nares opening, and presence or absence of yellow lore spots on the bill in front of the eyes) of harvested swans for species identification. Each State should use appropriate measures to maximize hunter compliance with the State's program for swan harvest reporting. Each State must achieve a hunter compliance of at least 80 percent in providing species-determinant parts or bill measurements of harvested swans for species identification, or subsequent permits will be reduced by 10 percent in the respective State. Each State must provide to the Service by June 30 following the swan season a report detailing hunter participation, species-specific swan harvest, and hunter compliance in reporting harvest. In Idaho and Montana, all hunters that harvest a swan must complete and submit a reporting card (bill card) with the bill measurement and color information from the harvested swan within 72 hours of harvest for species determination. In Utah and Nevada, all hunters that harvest a swan must have the swan or species-determinant parts examined by a State or Federal biologist within 72 hours of harvest for species determination.

Other Provisions:

In Utah, the season is subject to the terms of the Memorandum of Agreement entered into with the Service in January 2019 regarding harvest monitoring, season closure procedures, and education requirements to minimize take of trumpeter swans during the swan season.

Atlantic and Central Flyways

Areas:

Delaware, North Carolina, and Virginia in the Atlantic Flyway and North Dakota, South Dakota east of the Missouri River, and part of Montana in the Central Flyway.

Outside Dates:

October 1-January 31 in the Atlantic Flyway and the Saturday nearest October 1 (October 1)-January 31 in the Central Flyway.

Season Lengths:

90 days in the Atlantic Flyway and 107 days in the Central Flyway.

Permits:

Hunting is by permit only. Permits will be issued by the States. No more than 5,600 permits may be issued in the Atlantic Flyway including 347 in Delaware, 4,721 in North Carolina, and 532 in Virginia. No more than 4,000 permits may be issued in the Central Flyway including 500 in Montana, 2,200 in North Dakota, and 1,300 in South Dakota. Permits will authorize the take of no more than 1 swan per permit. A second permit may be issued to hunters from unissued permits remaining after the first drawing. Unissued permits may be reallocated to States within a Flyway.

Monitoring:

Each State must evaluate hunter participation, species-specific swan harvest, and hunter compliance in providing measurements of harvested swans for species identification. Each State should use appropriate measures to maximize hunter compliance with the State's program for swan harvest reporting. Each State must achieve a hunter compliance of at least 80 percent in providing species-determinant measurements of harvested swans for species identification. Each State must provide to the Service by June 30 following the swan season a report detailing hunter participation, species-specific swan harvest, and hunter compliance in reporting harvest.

Other Provisions:

In lieu of a general swan hunting season, States may select a season only for tundra swans. States selecting a season only for tundra swans must obtain harvest and hunter participation data. The season in Delaware is experimental.

6. Sandhill Crane Seasons

Mississippi Flyway

Areas:

Alabama, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Tennessee.

Outside Dates:

September 1-February 28 in Minnesota, and September 1-January 31 in Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

Season Lengths:

37 days in the designated portion of Minnesota's Northwest Goose Zone, and 60 days in Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

Daily Bag and Possession Limits:

The daily bag limit is 1 crane in Minnesota, 2 cranes in Kentucky, and 3 cranes in Alabama and Tennessee. In Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee, the seasonal bag limit is 3 cranes.

Permits:

Hunting is by permit only. Permits will be issued by the State.

Other Provisions:

The number of permits, open areas, season dates, protection plans for other species, and other provisions of seasons must be consistent with Council management plans and approved by the Mississippi Flyway Council. The season in Alabama is experimental.

Central Flyway

Areas:

Colorado, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.

Outside Dates:

September 1-February 28.

Season Lengths:

37 days in Texas (Zone C), 58 days in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, and 93 days in New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Daily Bag Limits:

3 cranes, except 2 cranes in North Dakota (Area 2) and Texas (Zone C).

Permits:

Each person participating in the regular sandhill crane season must have a valid Federal or State sandhill crane hunting permit.

Central and Pacific Flyways

Areas:

Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming within the range of the Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) of sandhill cranes.

Outside Dates:

September 1-January 31.

Season Lengths:

60 days. The season may be split into 3 segments.

Daily Bag and Possession limits:

The daily bag limit is 3 cranes, and the possession limit is 9 cranes per season.

Permits:

Hunting is by permit only. Permits will be issued by the State.

Other Provisions:

Numbers of permits, open areas, season dates, protection plans for other species, and other provisions of seasons must be consistent with Councils' management plan and approved by the Central and Pacific Flyway Councils, with the following exceptions:

1.

In Utah, 100 percent of the harvest will be assigned to the RMP crane quota;

2.

In Arizona, monitoring the racial composition of the harvest must be conducted at 3-year intervals unless 100 percent of the harvest will be assigned to the RMP crane quota;

3.

In Idaho, 100 percent of the harvest will be assigned to the RMP crane quota; and

4.

In the Estancia Valley hunt area of New Mexico, the level and racial composition of the harvest must be monitored; greater sandhill cranes in the harvest will be assigned to the RMP crane quota.

7. Gallinule Seasons

Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways

Outside Dates:

September 1-January 31.

Season Lengths:

70 days.

Daily Bag Limits:

15 gallinules.

Zones and Split Seasons:

Seasons may be selected by zones established for duck hunting. The season in each zone may be split into 2 segments.

Pacific Flyway

States in the Pacific Flyway may select their hunting seasons between the outside dates for the season on ducks, mergansers, and coots; therefore, Pacific Flyway frameworks for gallinules are included with the duck, merganser, and coot frameworks.

8. Rail Seasons

Areas:

Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways and the Pacific Flyway Portions of Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming.

Outside Dates:

September 1-January 31.

Season Lengths:

70 days. Seasons may be split into 2 segments.

Daily Bag Limits

Clapper and King Rails:

In Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Rhode Island, 10 rails in the aggregate. In Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia, 15 rails in the aggregate.

Sora and Virginia Rails:

25 rails in the aggregate.

9. Snipe Seasons

Outside Dates:

September 1-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.

Season Lengths:

107 days.

Daily Bag limits:

8 snipe.

Zones and Split Seasons:

Seasons may be selected by zones established for duck seasons. The season in each zone may be split into 2 segments.

10. American Woodcock Seasons

Areas:

Eastern and Central Management Regions

Outside Dates:

September 13-January 31.

Season Lengths:

Except as subsequently provided, 45 days.

Daily Bag Limits:

3 woodcock.

Zones and Split Seasons:

Seasons may be split into 2 segments. New Jersey may select seasons in each of 2 zones. The season in each zone may not exceed 36 days.

11. Band-Tailed Pigeon Seasons

California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada

Outside Dates:

September 15-January 1.

Seasons Lengths:

9 days.

Daily Bag Limits:

2 pigeons.

Zones:

California may select seasons in each of 2 zones. The season in each zone may not exceed 9 days. The season in the North Zone must close by October 3.

Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah

Outside Dates:

September 1-November 30.

Season Lengths:

14 days.

Daily Bag Limits:

2 pigeons.

Zones:

New Mexico may select seasons in each of 2 zones. The season in each zone may not exceed 14 days. The season in the South Zone may not open until October 1.

12. Dove Seasons

Eastern Management Unit

Outside Dates:

September 1-January 31.

Season Lengths:

90 days.

Daily Bag Limits:

15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate.

Zones and Split Seasons:

Seasons may be split into 3 segments; Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi may select seasons in each of 2 zones and may split their season in each zone into 3 segments.

Central Management Unit

Outside Dates:

September 1-January 15.

Season Lengths:

90 days.

All States Except Texas

Daily Bag Limits:

15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate.

Zones and Split Seasons:

Seasons may be split into 3 segments; New Mexico may select seasons in each of 2 zones and may split their season in each zone into 3 segments.

Texas

Daily Bag Limits:

15 mourning, white-winged, and white-tipped doves in the aggregate, of which no more than 2 may be white-tipped doves.

Zones and Split Seasons:

Texas may select hunting seasons for each of 3 zones subject to the following conditions:

1.

The season may be split into 2 segments, 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, below).

2.

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.

Special White-Winged Dove Season in Texas

In addition, Texas may select a hunting season of not more than 6 days, consisting of two 3-consecutive-day periods, for the Special White-winged Dove Area 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. Shooting hours are from noon to sunset.

Western Management Unit

Outside Dates:

September 1-January 15.

Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington

Season Lengths:

60 days.

Daily Bag Limits:

15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate.

Zones and Split Seasons:

Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Washington may split their seasons into 2 segments. Oregon may select hunting seasons in each of 2 zones and may split their season in each zone into 2 segments.

Arizona and California

Season Lengths:

60 days, which may be split between 2 segments, September 1-15 and November 1-January 15.

Daily Bag Limits:

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 may 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 may be white-winged doves.

13. Alaska

A. Duck, Goose, Sandhill Crane, and Snipe Seasons

Outside Dates:

Except as subsequently provided, September 1-January 26.

Season Lengths:

Except as subsequently provided, 107 days for ducks, geese (except brant), sandhill cranes, and snipe. The season length for brant will be determined based on the upcoming brant winter survey results and the Pacific brant harvest strategy.

Zones and Split Seasons:

A season may be established in each of 5 zones. The season in the Southeast Zone may be split into 2 segments.

Closed Seasons:

The hunting season is closed on the spectacled eider and Steller's eider.

Daily Bag and Possession Limits and Special Conditions

Ducks:

The basic daily bag limit is 7 ducks. The basic daily bag limit in the North Zone is 10 ducks, and in the Gulf Coast Zone is 8 ducks. The basic daily bag limits may include 2 canvasbacks and may not include sea ducks.

In addition to the basic daily bag limits, the sea duck daily bag limit is 10, including 6 each of either harlequin or long-tailed ducks. Sea ducks include scoters, common and king eiders, harlequin ducks, long-tailed ducks, and common, hooded, and red-breasted mergansers.

Light Geese:

The daily bag limit is 6 geese.

Canada and Cackling Geese:

The daily bag limit is 4 Canada and cackling geese in the aggregate with the following exceptions, and subject to the following conditions:

1.

In Game Management Units (Units) 5 and 6, in the Gulf Coast Zone, outside dates are September 28-December 16.

2.

On Middleton Island in Unit 6, in the Gulf Coast Zone, all hunting is by permit only. Each hunter is required to complete a mandatory Canada and cackling goose identification class prior to being issued a permit. Hunters must check in and check out when hunting. The daily bag and possession limits are 1 goose. 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 5 or less) with a bill length between 40 and 50 millimeters.

3.

In Unit 10, in the Pribilof and Aleutian Islands Zone, the daily bag limit is 6 geese in the aggregate.

White-fronted Geese:

The daily bag limit is 4 geese with the following exceptions:

1.

In Unit 9, in the Gulf Coast Zone, Unit 10, in the Pribilof and Aleutian Islands Zone, and Unit 17, in the North Zone, the daily bag limit is 6 geese.

2.

In Unit 18, in the North Zone, the daily bag limit is 10 geese.

Emperor Geese:

The emperor geese season is subject to the following conditions:

1.

All hunting is by permit only.

2.

One goose may be harvested per hunter per season.

3.

Total harvest may not exceed 500 geese.

4.

In Unit 8, in the Kodiak Zone, 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 4 brant.

Snipe:

The daily bag limit is 8 snipe.

Sandhill Cranes:

The daily bag limit is 2 cranes in the Southeast, Gulf Coast, Kodiak, and Pribilof and Aleutian Islands Zones, and Unit 17 in the North Zone. In the remainder of the North Zone (outside Unit 17), the daily bag limit is 3 cranes.

B. Tundra Swan Seasons

Outside Dates:

September 1-October 31.

Season Lengths:

31 days.

Daily Bag and Possession Limits and Special Conditions:

All hunting is by permit only according to the following conditions.

1.

In Unit 17, in the North Zone, 200 permits may be issued; 3 tundra swans may be authorized per permit, and 1 permit may be issued per hunter per season.

2.

In Unit 18, in the North Zone, 500 permits may be issued; 3 tundra swans may be authorized per permit, and 1 permit may be issued per hunter per season.

3.

In Unit 22, in the North Zone, 300 permits may be issued; 3 tundra swans may be authorized per permit, and 1 permit may be issued per hunter per season.

4.

In Unit 23, in the North Zone, 300 permits may be issued; 3 tundra swans may be authorized per permit, and 1 permit may be issued per hunter per season.

14. Hawaii

A. Mourning Dove Seasons

Outside Dates:

October 1-January 31.

Season Lengths and Daily Bag Limits:

65 days with a daily bag limit of 15 doves or 75 days with a daily bag of 12 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.

15. Puerto Rico

A. Dove and Pigeon Seasons

Outside Dates:

September 1-January 15.

Season Lengths:

60 days.

Daily Bag Limits:

30 Zenaida, mourning, and white-winged doves in the aggregate, of which 10 may be Zenaida doves and 3 may be mourning doves, and 5 scaly-naped pigeons.

Closed Seasons:

There is no open season 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.

B. Duck, Coot, Gallinule, and Snipe Seasons

Outside Dates:

October 1-January 31.

Season Lengths:

55 days. The season may be split into 2 segments.

Daily Bag Limits:

6 ducks, 6 common gallinules, and 8 snipe.

Closed Seasons:

There is no open season 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. There is no open season on the purple gallinule, American coot, and Caribbean coot.

Closed Areas:

There is no open season on ducks, gallinules, and snipe in the Municipality of Culebra and on Desecheo Island.

16. Virgin Islands

A. Dove and Pigeon Seasons

Outside Dates:

September 1-January 15.

Season Lengths:

60 days.

Daily Bag and Possession Limits:

10 Zenaida doves.

Closed Seasons:

There is no open season for ground-doves, quail-doves, and 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.

B. Duck Seasons

Outside Dates:

December 1-January 31.

Season Lengths:

55 days.

Daily Bag Limits:

6 ducks.

Closed Seasons:

There is no open season on the ruddy duck, white-cheeked pintail, West Indian whistling-duck, fulvous whistling-duck, and masked duck.

17. Special Falconry Regulations

In accordance with 50 CFR 21.82, falconry is a permitted means of taking migratory game birds in any State except for Hawaii. States may select an extended season for taking migratory game birds in accordance with the following:

Outside Dates:

September 1-March 10.

Season Lengths:

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 split into 3 segments.

Daily Bag Limits:

Falconry daily bag limits for all permitted migratory game birds must not exceed 3 birds in the aggregate, during extended falconry seasons, any special or experimental seasons, and regular hunting seasons in each State, including those that do not select an extended falconry season.

Note:

General hunting regulations, including seasons and hunting hours, apply to falconry. Regular season bag limits do not apply to falconry. The falconry bag limit is not in addition to shooting limits.

c. 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

Western Zone:

Allegany, Carroll, Garrett, Frederick and Washington Counties; and those portions of Baltimore, Howard, Prince George's, and Montgomery Counties west of a line beginning at 2012;83 at the Pennsylvania State line, following 2012;83 south to the intersection of 2012;83 and 2012;695 (Outer Loop), south following 2012;695 (Outer Loop) to its intersection with 2012;95, south following 2012;95 to its intersection with 2012;495 (Outer Loop), and following 2012;495 (Outer Loop) to the Virginia shore of the Potomac River.

Eastern Zone:

That portion of the State not included in the Western Zone.

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 Street-Elm Street 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 Route 10 and Route 25-A in Orford, east on Route 25-A to Route 25 in Wentworth, southeast on Route 25 to Exit 26 of Route I-93 in Plymouth, south on Route I-93 to Route 3 at Exit 24 of Route I-93 in Ashland, northeast on Route 3 to Route 113 in Holderness, north on Route 113 to Route 113-A in Sandwich, north on Route 113-A to Route 113 in Tamworth, east on Route 113 to Route 16 in Chocorua, north on Route 16 to Route 302 in Conway, east on Route 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 Route I-91 at the Massachusetts border, north on Route I-91 to Route 2, north on Route 2 to Route 102, north on Route 102 to Route 253, and north on Route 253 to the border with Canada and the area of New Hampshire west of Route 63 at the Massachusetts border, north on Route 63 to Route 12, north on Route 12 to Route 12-A, north on Route 12-A to Route 10, north on Route 10 to Route 135, north on Route 135 to Route 3, north on Route 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 Route 4 west to the city of Dover, south to the intersection of Route 108, south along Route 108 through Madbury, Durham, and Newmarket to the junction of Route 85 in Newfields, south to Route 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.

North Carolina

Coastal Zone:

All counties and portions of counties east of I-95.

Inland Zone:

All counties and portions of counties west of I-95.

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.

Virginia

Western Zone:

All counties and portions of counties west of I-95.

Eastern Zone:

All counties and portions of counties east of I-95.

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-2012; Iowa border at Interstate 29, southeast along Interstate 29 to State Highway 20 to the Iowa-2012; Illinois border. The south duck hunting zone is that part of Iowa west of Interstate 29 and south of State Highway 92 east to the Iowa-Illinois border. The central duck hunting zone is the remainder of the State.

Central Zone:

The remainder of Iowa not included in the North and South zones.

South Zone:

The south duck hunting zone is that part of Iowa west of Interstate 29 and south of State Highway 92 east to the Iowa-Illinois border.

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 beginning at the Arkansas border, then south on U.S. Hwy 79 to State Hwy 9, then south on State Hwy 9 to State Hwy 147, then south on State Hwy 147 to U.S. Hwy 167, then south and east on U.S. Hwy 167 to U.S. Hwy 90, then south on U.S. Hwy 90 to the Mississippi State line.

West 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 Michigan-Wisconsin boundary line in Lake Michigan, directly due west of the mouth of Stoney Creek in section 31, T14N R18W, Oceana County, then proceed easterly and southerly along the centerline of Stoney Creek to its intersection with Scenic Drive, southerly on Scenic Drive to Stoney Lake Road in section 5, T13N R18W, Oceana County, easterly on Stoney Lake Road then both west and east Garfield Roads (name change only; not an intersection) then crossing highway U.S.-31 to State Highway M-20 (north of the town of New Era; also locally named Hayes Road) in section 33, T14N R17W, Oceana County, easterly on M-20 through Oceana, Newaygo, Mecosta, Isabella, and Midland Counties to highway U.S.-10 business route in the city of Midland, easterly on U.S.-10 Business Route (BR) to highway U.S.-10 at the Bay County line, easterly on U.S.-10 then crossing U.S.-75 to State Highway M-25 (west of the town of Bay City), easterly along M-25 into Tuscola County then northeasterly and easterly on M-25 through Tuscola County into Huron County, turning southeasterly on M-25 (near the town of Huron City; also locally named North Shore Road) to the centerline of Willow Creek in section 4, T18N R14E, Huron County, then northerly along the centerline of Willow Creek to the mouth of Willow Creek into Lake Huron, then directly due east along a line from the mouth of Willow Creek heading east into Lake Huron to a point due east and on the Michigan/U.S.-Canadian border.

South Zone:

The remainder of Michigan.

Minnesota

North Duck Zone:

That portion of the State north of a line extending east from the North Dakota State line along State Highway 210 to State Highway 23 and east to State Highway 39 and east to the Wisconsin State line at the Oliver Bridge.

South Duck Zone:

The portion of the State south of a line extending east from the South Dakota State line along U.S. Highway 212 to Interstate 494 and east to Interstate 94 and east to the Wisconsin State line.

Central Duck Zone:

The remainder of the State.

Missouri

North Zone:

That portion of Missouri north of a line running west from the Illinois border at I-70; west on I-70 to Hwy 65; north on Hwy 65 to Hwy 41, north on Hwy 41 to Hwy 24; west on Hwy 24 to MO Hwy 10, west on Hwy 10 to Hwy 69, north on Hwy 69 to MO Hwy 116, west on MO Hwy 116 to Hwy 59, south on Hwy 59 to the Kansas border.

Middle Zone:

The remainder of Missouri not included in other zones.

South Zone:

That portion of Missouri south of a line running west from the Illinois border on MO Hwy 74 to MO Hwy 25; south on MO Hwy 25. to U.S. Hwy 62; west on U.S. Hwy 62 to MO Hwy 53; north on MO Hwy 53 to MO Hwy 51; north on MO Hwy 51 to U.S. Hwy 60; west on U.S. Hwy 60 to MO Hwy 21; north on MO Hwy 21 to MO Hwy 72; west on MO Hwy 72 to MO Hwy 32; west on MO Hwy 32 to U.S. Hwy 65; north on U.S. Hwy 65 to U.S. Hwy 54; west on U.S. Hwy 54 to the Kansas border.

Ohio

Lake Erie Marsh Zone:

Includes all land and water within the boundaries of the area bordered by a line beginning at the intersection of Interstate 75 at the Ohio-Michigan State line and continuing south to Interstate 280, then south on I-280 to the Ohio Turnpike (I-80/I-90), then east on the Ohio Turnpike to the Erie-Lorain County line, then north to Lake Erie, then following the Lake Erie shoreline at a distance of 200 yards offshore, then following the shoreline west toward and around the northern tip of Cedar Point Amusement Park, then continuing from the westernmost point of Cedar Point toward the southernmost tip of the sand bar at the mouth of Sandusky Bay and out into Lake Erie at a distance of 200 yards offshore continuing parallel to the Lake Erie shoreline north and west toward the northernmost tip of Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge, then following a direct line toward the southernmost tip of Wood Tick Peninsula in Michigan to a point that intersects the Ohio-Michigan State line, then following the State line back to the point of the beginning.

North Zone:

That portion of the State, excluding the Lake Erie Marsh Zone,

north of a line extending east from the Indiana State line along U.S. Highway (U.S.) 33 to State Route (SR) 127, then south along SR 127 to SR 703, then south along SR 703 and including all lands within the Mercer Wildlife Area to SR 219, then east along SR 219 to SR 364, then north along SR 364 and including all lands within the St. Mary's Fish Hatchery to SR 703, then east along SR 703 to SR 66, then north along SR 66 to U.S. 33, then east along U.S. 33 to SR 385, then east along SR 385 to SR 117, then south along SR 117 to SR 273, then east along SR 273 to SR 31, then south along SR 31 to SR 739, then east along SR 739 to SR 4, then north along SR 4 to SR 95, then east along SR 95 to SR 13, then southeast along SR 13 to SR 3, then northeast along SR 3 to SR 60, then north along SR 60 to U.S. 30, then east along U.S. 30 to SR 3, then south along SR 3 to SR 226, then south along SR 226 to SR 514, then southwest along SR 514 to SR 754, then south along SR 754 to SR 39/60, then east along SR 39/60 to SR 241, then north along SR 241 to U.S. 30, then east along U.S. 30 to SR 39, then east along SR 39 to the Pennsylvania State line.

South Zone:

The remainder of Ohio not included in the Lake Erie Marsh Zone or the North Zone.

Tennessee

Reelfoot Zone:

All or portions of Lake and Obion Counties.

Remainder of State:

That portion of Tennessee outside of the Reelfoot Zone.

Wisconsin

North Zone:

That portion of the State north of a line extending east from the Minnesota State line along U.S. Highway 10 to U.S. Highway 41, then north on U.S. Highway 41 to the Michigan State line.

Open Water Zone:

That portion of the State extending 500 feet or greater from the Lake Michigan shoreline bounded by the Michigan State line and the Illinois State line.

South Zone:

The remainder of the State.

Central Flyway

Colorado (Central Flyway Portion)

Special Teal Season Area:

Lake and Chaffee Counties and that portion of the State east of Interstate Highway 25.

Northeast Zone:

All areas east of Interstate 25 and north of Interstate 70.

Southeast Zone:

All areas east of Interstate 25 and south of Interstate 70, and all of El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano, and Las Animas Counties.

Mountain/Foothills Zone:

All areas west of Interstate 25 and east of the Continental Divide, except El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano, and Las Animas Counties.

Kansas

High Plains:

That portion of the State west of U.S. 283.

Low Plains Early Zone:

That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the Federal Hwy U.S.-283 and State Hwy 96 junction, then east on State Hwy 96 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-183, then north on Federal Hwy U.S.-183 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-24, then east on Federal Hwy U.S.-24 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-281, then north on Federal Hwy U.S.-281 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-36, then east on Federal Hwy U.S.-36 to its junction with State Hwy K-199, then south on State Hwy K-199 to its junction with Republic County 30th Road, then south on Republic County 30th Road to its junction with State Hwy K-148, then east on State Hwy K-148 to its junction with Republic County 50th Road, then south on Republic County 50th Road to its junction with Cloud County 40th Road, then south on Cloud County 40th Road to its junction with State Hwy K-9, then west on State Hwy K-9 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-24, then west on Federal Hwy U.S.-24 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-181, then south on Federal Hwy U.S.-181 to its junction with State Hwy K-18, then west on State Hwy K-18 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-281, then south on Federal Hwy U.S.-281 to its junction with State Hwy K-4, then east on State Hwy K-4 to its junction with interstate Hwy I-135, then south on interstate Hwy I-135 to its junction with State Hwy K-61, then southwest on State Hwy K-61 to its junction with McPherson County 14th Avenue, then south on McPherson County 14th Avenue to its junction with McPherson County Arapaho Road, then west on McPherson County Arapaho Road to its junction with State Hwy K-61, then southwest on State Hwy K-61 to its junction with State Hwy K-96, then northwest on State Hwy K-96 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-56, then southwest on Federal Hwy U.S.-56 to its junction with State Hwy K-19, then east on State Hwy K-19 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-281, then south on Federal Hwy U.S.-281 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-54, then west on Federal Hwy U.S.-54 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-183, then north on Federal Hwy U.S.-183 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-56, then southwest on Federal Hwy U.S.-56 to its junction with North Main Street in Spearville, then south on North Main Street to Davis Street, then east on Davis Street to Ford County Road 126 (South Stafford Street), then south on Ford County Road 126 to Garnett Road, then east on Garnett Road to Ford County Road 126, then south on Ford County Road 126 to Ford Spearville Road, then west on Ford Spearville Road to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-400, then northwest on Federal Hwy U.S.-400 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-283, and then north on Federal Hwy U.S.-283 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-96.

Low Plains Late Zone:

That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the Federal Hwy U.S.-283 and State Hwy 96 junction, then north on Federal Hwy U.S.-283 to the Kansas-Nebraska State line, then east along the Kansas-Nebraska State line to its junction with the Kansas-Missouri State line, then southeast along the Kansas-Missouri State line to its junction with State Hwy K-68, then west on State Hwy K-68 to its junction with interstate Hwy I-35, then southwest on interstate Hwy I-35 to its junction with Butler County NE 150th Street, then west on Butler County NE 150th Street to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-77, then south on Federal Hwy U.S.-77 to its junction with the Kansas-Oklahoma State line, then west along the Kansas-Oklahoma State line to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-283, then north on Federal Hwy U.S.-283 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-400, then east on Federal Hwy U.S.-400 to its junction with Ford Spearville Road, then east on Ford Spearville Road to Ford County Road 126 (South Stafford Street), then north on Ford County Road 126 to Garnett Road, then west on Garnett Road to Ford County Road 126, then north on Ford County Road 126 to Davis Street, then west on Davis Street to North Main Street, then north on North Main Street to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-56, then east on Federal Hwy U.S.-56 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-183, then south on Federal Hwy U.S.-183 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-54, then east on Federal Hwy U.S.-54 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-281, then north on Federal Hwy U.S.-281 to its junction with State Hwy K-19, then west on State Hwy K-19 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-56, then east on Federal Hwy U.S.-56 to its junction with State Hwy K-96, then southeast on State Hwy K-96 to its junction with State Hwy K-61, then northeast on State Hwy K-61 to its junction with McPherson County Arapaho Road, then east on McPherson County Arapaho Road to its junction with McPherson County 14th Avenue, then north on

McPherson County 14th Avenue to its junction with State Hwy K-61, then east on State Hwy K-61 to its junction with interstate Hwy I-135, then north on interstate Hwy I-135 to its junction with State Hwy K-4, then west on State Hwy K-4 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-281, then north on Federal Hwy U.S.-281 to its junction with State Hwy K-18, then east on State Hwy K-18 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-181, then north on Federal Hwy U.S.-181 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-24, then east on Federal Hwy U.S.-24 to its junction with State Hwy K-9, then east on State Hwy K-9 to its junction with Cloud County 40th Road, then north on Cloud County 40th Road to its junction with Republic County 50th Road, then north on Republic County 50th Road to its junction with State Hwy K-148, then west on State Hwy K-148 to its junction with Republic County 30th Road, then north on Republic County 30th Road to its junction with State Hwy K-199, then north on State Hwy K-199 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-36, then west on Federal Hwy U.S.-36 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-281, then south on Federal Hwy U.S.-281 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-24, then west on Federal Hwy U.S.-24 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-183, then south on Federal Hwy U.S.-183 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-96, and then west on Federal Hwy U.S.-96 to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-283.

Low Plains Southeast Zone:

That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the Missouri-Kansas State line west on K-68 to its junction with I-35, then southwest on I-35 to its junction with Butler County, NE 150th Street, then west on NE 150th Street to its junction with Federal Hwy U.S.-77, then south on Federal Hwy U.S.-77 to the Oklahoma-Kansas State line, then east along the Kansas-Oklahoma State line to its junction with the Kansas-Missouri State line, then north along the Kansas-Missouri State line to its junction with State Hwy K-68.

Montana (Central Flyway Portion)

Zone 1:

The Counties of Blaine, Carter, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Garfield, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, McCone, Musselshell, Petroleum, Phillips, Powder River, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Valley, Wheatland, and Wibaux.

Zone 2:

The Counties of Big Horn, Carbon, Custer, Prairie, Rosebud, Treasure, and Yellowstone.

Nebraska

High Plains:

That portion of Nebraska lying west of a line beginning at the South Dakota-Nebraska border on U.S. Hwy 183; south on U.S. Hwy 183 to U.S. Hwy 20; west on U.S. Hwy 20 to NE Hwy 7; south on NE Hwy 7 to NE Hwy 91; southwest on NE Hwy 91 to NE Hwy 2; southeast on NE Hwy 2 to NE Hwy 92; west on NE Hwy 92 to NE Hwy 40; south on NE Hwy 40 to NE Hwy 47; south on NE Hwy 47 to NE Hwy 23; east on NE Hwy 23 to U.S. Hwy 283; and south on U.S. Hwy 283 to the Kansas-Nebraska border.

Zone 1:

Area bounded by designated Federal and State highways and political boundaries beginning at the South Dakota-Nebraska border at U.S. Hwy 183; south along Hwy 183 to NE Hwy 12; east to NE Hwy 137; south to U.S. Hwy 20; east to U.S. Hwy 281; north to the Niobrara River; east along the Niobrara River to the Boyd County Line; north along the Boyd County line to NE Hwy 12; east to NE 26E Spur; north along the NE 26E Spur to the Ponca State Park boat ramp; north and west along the Missouri River to the Nebraska-South Dakota border; west along the Nebraska-South Dakota border to U.S. Hwy 183. Both banks of the Niobrara River in Keya Paha and Boyd counties east of U.S. Hwy 183 shall be included in Zone 1.

Zone 2:

Those areas of the State that are not contained in Zones 1, 3, or 4.

Zone 3:

Area bounded by designated Federal and State highways, County Roads, and political boundaries beginning at the Wyoming Nebraska border at its northernmost intersection with the Interstate Canal; southeast along the Interstate Canal to the northern border of Scotts Bluff County; east along northern borders of Scotts Bluff and Morrill Counties to Morrill County Road 125; south to Morrill County Rd 94; east to County Rd 135; south to County Rd 88; east to County Rd 147; south to County Rd 88; southeast to County Rd 86; east to County Rd 151; south to County Rd 80; east to County Rd 161; south to County Rd 76; east to County Rd 165; south to County Rd 167; south to U.S. Hwy 26; east to County Rd 171; north to County Rd 68; east to County Rd 183; south to County Rd 64; east to County Rd 189; north to County Rd 70; east to County Rd 201; south to County Rd 60A; east to County Rd 203; south to County Rd 52; east to Keith County Line; north along the Keith County line to the northern border of Keith County; east along the northern boundaries of Keith and Lincoln Counties to NE Hwy 97; south to U.S. Hwy 83; south to E Hall School Rd; east to North Airport Road; south to U.S. Hwy 30; east to NE Hwy 47; south to NE Hwy 23; east on NE Hwy 23 to U.S. Hwy 283; south on U.S. Hwy 283 to the Kansas-Nebraska border; west along Kansas-Nebraska border to the Nebraska-Colorado border; north and west to the Wyoming-Nebraska border; north along the Wyoming-Nebraska border to its northernmost-intersection with the Interstate Canal.

Zone 4:

Area encompassed by designated Federal and State highways and County Roads beginning at the intersection of U.S. Hwy 283 at the Kansas-Nebraska border; north to NE Hwy 23; west to NE Hwy 47; north to Dawson County Rd 769; east to County Rd 423; south to County Rd 766; east to County Rd 428; south to County Rd 763; east to NE Hwy 21; south to County Rd 761; east on County Rd 761 to County Road 437; south to the Dawson County Canal; southeast along Dawson County Canal; east to County Rd 444; south to U.S. Hwy 30; east to U.S. Hwy 183; north to Buffalo County Rd 100; east to 46th Ave.; north to NE Hwy 40; east to NE Hwy 10; north to County Rd 220 and Hall County Husker Highway; east to Hall County S 70th Rd; north to NE Hwy 2; east to U.S. Hwy 281; north to Chapman Rd; east to 7th Rd; south to U.S. Hwy 30; north and east to NE Hwy 14; south to County Rd 22; west to County Rd M; south to County Rd 21; west to County Rd K; south to U.S. Hwy 34; west to NE Hwy 2; south to U.S. Hwy I-80; west to Gunbarrel Rd (Hall/Hamilton County line); south to Giltner Rd; west to U.S. Hwy 281; south to W. 82nd St; west to Holstein Ave.; south to U.S. Hwy 34; west to NE Hwy 10; north to Kearney County Rd R and Phelps County Rd 742; west to Gosper County Rd 433; south to N. Railway Street; west to Commercial Ave.; south to NE Hwy 23; west to Gosper County Rd 427; south to Gosper County Rd 737; west to Gosper County Rd 426; south to Gosper County Rd 735; east to Gosper County Rd 427; south to Furnas County Rd 276; west to Furnas County Rd 425.5/425; south to U.S. Hwy 34; east to NE Hwy 4; east to NE Hwy 10; south to U.S. Hwy 136; east to NE Hwy 14; south to NE Hwy 8; east to U.S. Hwy 81; north to NE Hwy 4; east to NE Hwy 15; north to U.S. Hwy 6; east to NE Hwy 33; east to SW 142 Street; south to W. Hallam Rd; east to SW 100 Rd; south to W. Chestnut Rd; west to NE Hwy 103; south to NE Hwy 4; west to NE Hwy 15; south to U.S. Hwy 136; east to Jefferson County Rd 578 Ave.; south to PWF Rd; east to NE Hwy 103; south to NE Hwy 8; east to U.S. Hwy 75; north to U.S. Hwy 136; east to the intersection of U.S. Hwy 136 and the Steamboat Trace (Trace); north along the Trace to the intersection with Federal Levee R-562; north along

Federal Levee R-562 to the intersection with Nemaha County Rd 643A; south to the Trace; north along the Trace/Burlington Northern Railroad right-of-way to NE Hwy 2; west to U.S. Hwy 75; north to NE Hwy 2; west to NE Hwy 50; north to Otoe County Rd D; east to N. 32nd Rd; north to Otoe County Rd B; west to NE Hwy 50; north to U.S. Hwy 34; west to NE Hwy 63; north to NE Hwy 66; north and west to U.S. Hwy 77; north to NE Hwy 109; west along NE Hwy 109 and Saunders County Rd X to Saunders County 19; south to NE Hwy 92; west to NE Hwy Spur 12F; south to Butler County Rd 30; east to County Rd X; south to County Rd 27; west to County Rd W; south to County Rd 26; east to County Rd X; south to County Rd 21 (Seward County Line); west to NE Hwy 15; north to County Rd 34; west to County Rd H; south to NE Hwy 92; west to U.S. Hwy 81; south to NE Hwy 66; west to Dark Island Trail, north to Merrick County Rd M; east to Merrick County Rd 18; north to NE Hwy 92; west to NE Hwy 14; north to NE Hwy 52; west and north to NE Hwy 91; west to U.S. Hwy 281; south to NE Hwy 58; west to NE Hwy 11; west and south to NE Hwy 2; west to NE Hwy 68; north to NE Hwy L82A; west to NE Hwy 10; north to NE Hwy 92; west to U.S. Hwy 183; north to Round Valley Rd; west to Sargent River Rd; west to Sargent Rd; west to NE Hwy S21A; west to NE Hwy 2; north to NE Hwy 91 to North Loup Spur Rd; north to North Loup River Rd; north and east along to Pleasant Valley/Worth Rd; east to Loup County Line; north along the Loup County Line to Loup-Brown County line; east along northern boundaries of Loup and Garfield Counties to NE Hwy 11; south to Cedar River Road; east and south to NE Hwy 70; east to U.S. Hwy 281; north to NE Hwy 70; east to NE Hwy 14; south to NE Hwy 39; southeast to NE Hwy 22; east to U.S. Hwy 81; southeast to U.S. Hwy 30; east to the Iowa-Nebraska border; south to the Missouri-Nebraska border; south to Kansas-Nebraska border; west along Kansas-Nebraska border to U.S. Hwy 283.

New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion)

North Zone:

That portion of the State north of I-40 and U.S. 54.

South Zone:

The remainder of New Mexico.

North Dakota

High Plains:

That portion of the State south and west of a line beginning at the junction of U.S. Hwy 83 and the South Dakota State line, then north along U.S. Hwy 83 and I-94 to ND Hwy 41, then north on ND Hwy 41 to ND Hwy 53, then west on ND Hwy 53 to U.S. Hwy 83, then north on U.S. Hwy 83 to U.S. Hwy 2, then west on U.S. Hwy 2 to the Williams County line, then north and west along the Williams and Divide County lines to the Canadian border.

Low Plains:

The remainder of North Dakota.

Oklahoma

High Plains:

The Counties of Beaver, Cimarron, and Texas.

Low Plains Zone 1:

That portion of the State east of the High Plains Zone and north of a line extending east from the Texas State line along OK 33 to OK 47, east along OK 47 to U.S. 183, south along U.S. 183 to I-40, east along I-40 to U.S. 177, north along U.S. 177 to OK 33, east along OK 33 to OK 18, north along OK 18 to OK 51, west along OK 51 to I-35, north along I-35 to U.S. 412, west along U.S. 412 to OK 132, then north along OK 132 to the Kansas State line.

Low Plains Zone 2:

The remainder of Oklahoma.

South Dakota

High Plains:

That portion of the State west of a line beginning at the North Dakota State line and extending south along U.S. 83 to U.S. 14, east on U.S. 14 to Blunt, south on the Blunt-Canning Road to SD 34, east and south on SD 34 to SD 50 at Lee's Corner, south on SD 50 to I-90, east on I-90 to SD 50, south on SD 50 to SD 44, west on SD 44 across the Platte-Winner bridge to SD 47, south on SD 47 to U.S. 18, east on U.S. 18 to SD 47, south on SD 47 to the Nebraska State line.

Low Plains North Zone:

That portion of northeastern South Dakota east of the High Plains Unit and north of a line extending east along U.S. 212 to the Minnesota State line.

Low Plains South Zone:

That portion of Gregory County east of SD 47 and south of SD 44; Charles Mix County south of SD 44 to the Douglas County line; south on SD 50 to Geddes; east on the Geddes Highway to U.S. 281; south on U.S. 281 and U.S. 18 to SD 50; south and east on SD 50 to the Bon Homme Co

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