# Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed 2024-25 Frameworks for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations

> Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more.

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A2024-09965

## Record

- **Collection:** Federal Register
- **Document type:** Proposed Rule
- **Published:** May 13, 2024
- **Citation:** 89 FR 41522

## Text

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 20
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2023-0113; FXMB1231099BPP0-245-FF09M32000]
RIN 1018-BG63
Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed 2024-25 Frameworks for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations

AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Proposed rule; supplemental.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) is proposing to establish the frameworks from which States may select season dates, limits, and other options for the 2024-25 migratory game bird hunting season. 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:

You must submit comments on the proposed migratory bird hunting frameworks by June 12, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

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

•
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
In the Search box, enter FWS-HQ-MB-2023-0113, which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then, click on the Search button. On the resulting page, in the panel on the left side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, check the Proposed Rule box to locate this document. You may submit a comment by clicking on “Comment.”

•
U.S. Mail:
Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-HQ-MB-2023-0113; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: JAO/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

We will not accept emailed or faxed comments. We will post all comments on
https://www.regulations.gov.
This generally means that we will post any personal information you provide us (see Public Comments, below, for more information).

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jerome Ford, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, (703) 358-2606. 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

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. We provided a detailed overview of the current process in the August 3, 2017,
Federal Register
(82 FR 36308). This proposed rule is the second in a series of proposed and final rules that establish regulations for the 2024-25 migratory game bird hunting season in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

On February 8, 2024, we published in the
Federal Register
(89 FR 8631) a proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20. The proposal provided a background and overview of the migratory bird hunting regulations process, and addressed the establishment of seasons, limits, and other regulations for hunting migratory game birds under §§ 20.101 through 20.107, 20.109, and 20.110 of subpart K. Major steps in the regulations development process for the 2024-25 hunting season relating to open public meetings and
Federal Register
notifications were illustrated in the diagram at the end of the February 8, 2024, proposed rule.

Further, in the February 8, 2024, proposed rule we explained that sections of subsequent documents outlining hunting frameworks and guidelines would be organized under numbered headings, which were set forth in that proposed rule (see 89 FR 8631). This document refers only to numbered items requiring attention and omits those items not requiring attention. Therefore, the numbered items are discontinuous, and the list appears incomplete.

We provided the meeting dates and locations for the Service Regulations Committee (SRC) on our website at
https://www.fws.gov/event/us-fish-and-wildlife-service-migratory-bird-regulations-committee-meeting
and Flyway Council meetings on Flyway calendars posted on our website at
https://www.fws.gov/partner/migratory-bird-program-administrative-flyways.
The February 8, 2024, proposed rule provided detailed information on the proposed 2024-25 regulatory schedule. The SRC conducted an open meeting with the Flyway Council Consultants on May 31, 2023, to discuss preliminary issues for the 2024-25 regulations, and on October 10, 2023, to review information on the current status of migratory game birds and develop recommendations for the 2024-25 regulations for these species.

This supplemental proposed rule provides the regulatory alternatives for the 2024-25 duck hunting season and provides proposed frameworks for the 2024-25 migratory bird hunting season. It will lead to final frameworks from which States may select season dates, shooting hours, areas, and limits. We have considered all pertinent comments received through March 11, 2024, which includes comments submitted in response to our February 8, 2024, proposed rulemaking document and comments from the May and October SRC meetings. In addition, new proposals for certain regulations are provided for public comment. The comment period is specified above under
DATES
. Our goal is to publish final regulatory frameworks for migratory game bird hunting in the
Federal Register
in spring 2024.

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

We used the following annual reports published in August 2023 in the

development of these regulatory frameworks for the migratory bird hunting season:

• Adaptive Harvest Management, 2024 Hunting Season;

• American Woodcock Population Status, 2023;

• Band-tailed Pigeon Population Status, 2023;

• Migratory Bird Hunting Activity and Harvest During the 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 Hunting Seasons;

• Mourning Dove Population Status, 2023;

• Status and Harvests of Sandhill Cranes, Mid-continent, Rocky Mountain, Lower Colorado River Valley and Eastern Populations, 2023; and

• Waterfowl Population Status, 2023.

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 proposed 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 February 8, 2024,
Federal Register
, opened the public comment period for migratory game bird hunting regulations and described the proposed regulatory alternatives for the 2024-25 duck hunting season. Comments and recommendations are summarized below and numbered in the order set forth in the February 8, 2024, proposed rule (see 89 FR 8631).

We received recommendations from all four Flyway Councils at the May and October SRC meetings; all recommendations are from the October 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.

We seek additional information and comments on the recommendations in this supplemental proposed rule. New proposals and modifications to previously described proposals are discussed below. Wherever possible, proposals are discussed under headings corresponding to the numbered items in the February 8, 2024, proposed rule.

General

Written Comment:
Several commenters protested the entire migratory bird hunting regulations process and 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 indicated 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.

Written Comment:
A few commenters suggested specific season lengths and daily bag limits for waterfowl hunting.

Service Response:
We annually prescribe outside limits for migratory bird hunting, and these limits 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. Following the decision frameworks adopted by the Service and Flyway Council recommendations based on Flyway Council management plans and harvest strategies, we used the most current data on populations, habitat, and harvest strategies and have determined the appropriate limits. All of the Flyway Council recommendations included a public comment period during the Councils' adoption process. As we indicated 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. We have taken into account available information and considered public comments and continue to conclude that the maximum limits for hunting seasons provided for herein are compatible with the current status of migratory bird populations and long-term population goals. It is up to the States to select specific hunting seasons for migratory birds within these federally established limits, and the States each have their own process for rulemaking and considering public comments on specific season lengths, daily bag limits, hunting areas, etc.

Written Comment:
One commenter suggested a 70-day season limit should be implemented for the Atlantic Flyway with a 4-scaup daily bag limit.

Service Response:
The maximum season length for the general duck hunting season in the Atlantic Flyway is determined using the most current data on populations, habitat, and harvest following the eastern waterfowl Adaptive Harvest Management decision framework that we adopted for the Atlantic Flyway through a cooperative process with the Atlantic Flyway Council and published in the
Federal Register
for public comment (83 FR 27841, June 14, 2018, and 84 FR 16154, April 17, 2019). The season length for the general duck season for the Atlantic Flyway suggested by the commenter is inconsistent with current data, the Atlantic Flyway Council's recommendation, and the Service's decision framework for the general duck season. Similarly, the daily bag limit for scaup in the Atlantic Flyway is established using the most current data on populations, habitat, and harvest

following the decision framework that we adopted for the Atlantic Flyway through a cooperative process with the Atlantic Flyway Council and published in the
Federal Register
for public comment (3 FR 43290, July 24, 2008, and 73 FR 51124, August 29, 2008). The scaup daily bag limit suggested by the commenter is inconsistent with current data, Atlantic Flyway Council's recommendation, and the Service's decision framework for scaup seasons.

Written Comment:
One commenter stated that the pilot study being conducted only in South Dakota and Nebraska should be expanded to all States. The commenter further suggested that the 4-year study should be conducted every year to ensure compatibility with long-term viability of migratory bird populations. Another commenter expressed concern regarding the relaxing of waterfowl identification requirements for waterfowl hunting for the purpose of increasing hunter numbers. The commenter stated that increasing waterfowl hunter numbers should not mean less meticulous standards of hunting despite associated reduced daily bag limit. The commenter recognizes that there are special protocols for species of special concern, but questions if those protocols will be taken seriously if identification of waterfowl is not prioritized.

Service Response:
In 2020, we authorized a request from the Central Flyway Council for a 4-year pilot study on a two-tier duck hunting regulatory system in South Dakota and Nebraska. The intent of the two-tier regulation study is to evaluate whether regulations that relax the requirement for hunters to identify duck species can improve waterfowl hunter recruitment and retention. The pilot study for the two-tier system does not directly relate to special protocols; we anticipate minimal impacts from the pilot study to species of special concern because the two-tier system applies only under a liberal or moderate season and the reduced bag limit for the subset of hunters participating under the applicable tier. We will not expand this two-tier regulatory system to other studies or States until completion of a final report and evaluation of the current pilot study, which includes analysis of species of concern. The pilot study report will be due to the Service after the 2024-25 hunting season.

Written Comment:
We received a comment from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Division of Resource Management (Band), in Minnesota. The Band raised the issue of potential conflicts between Tribal members harvesting wild rice and the teal hunting season by the public. The Band asked that, to affirmatively protect their citizens while continuing the safe exercise of treaty rights to harvest wild rice, the following provision be added to the final rule, “No hunting by any person will be allowed within one-half mile of posted wild rice beds open to harvest within the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. No travel by boat is allowed within a wild rice bed unless while ricing.” The Band also objected to the Service's preliminary determinations in the preamble with respect to the “Government-to-Government Relationship With Tribes,” requesting specific language changes to this determination.

Service Response:
We have facilitated meetings to understand the potential conflict between harvesting wild rice and the experimental teal season where the public can hunt waterfowl on Leech Lake within the Band's reservation (the current teal hunting conflict is with respect to the State of Minnesota's experimental early teal season; the State may request in the future that the experimental season become operational). These activities are not mutually exclusive, and based on the facilitated meetings held we remain optimistic that those discussions will result in local solutions that minimize potential conflicts between the two activities. Last year, the Band and the State of Minnesota agreed to State waterfowl hunting rules that resolved this conflict (Department of Natural Resources, Adopted Expedited Emergency Game and Fish Rules: 6240.0200, Subp. 8. Early teal season restrictions, “Within the boundaries of the Leech Lake Reservation, taking teal during the early teal season is prohibited within one-half mile of wild rice beds that are posted open to rice harvesting by Tribal authorities.”). The Service is willing to facilitate discussions between the Band and the State again to ensure that Band members are able to continue to safely harvest wild rice during the early experimental hunting season.

The Service encourages the Band and the State to come into a long-term agreement that resolves these issues, especially if the State of Minnesota decides to make the experimental early teal season operational. Similarly, until the State decides to make this teal season operational, adopting the Band's recommended provisions may be premature. As for the Band's recommended regulatory language, we have chosen not to adopt the Band's recommended provision in the 2024-25 migratory game bird hunting frameworks because such language falls outside the scope of this regulation, which prescribes the outside limits of “frameworks” within which States may select hunting seasons. However, during development of our final rule that will set forth State season selections for the 2024-25 migratory game bird hunting seasons, we will consider incorporating regulatory language adopted by the State of Minnesota to address Tribal concerns, if such language is available. Having delegated Tribal hunting season-related regulations to the Tribes (see 88 FR 60375; September 1, 2023), we believe the Band may want to incorporate its recommended regulatory language in its own regulations. We encourage the Tribe to consider mutually acceptable solutions with the State, and to inform us if there are any mechanisms through which the Department can facilitate such discussions.

In response to the Band's request to modify our preliminary determinations in the “Required Determinations” portion of our February 8, 2024, proposed rule (89 FR 8631), we have clarified these determinations in that portion of the preamble to this proposed rule. While the Band's comment specifically noted the “Government-to-Government Relationship With Tribes” preliminary determination, because the Band's comment raises issues on their reservation lands, we have also clarified our determination on “Federalism Effects—Executive Order 13132.”

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 February 8, 2024, proposed rule, we intend to continue use of Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM) to help determine appropriate duck-hunting regulations for the 2024-25 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 for the Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyways based on the status and demographics of mallards and in the Atlantic Flyway based on the status and demographics of a suite of four species (eastern waterfowl) (see below, and the earlier referenced report “Adaptive Harvest Management, 2024

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, pintails, and eastern mallards. These protocols have species-specific regulatory alternatives.

For the 2024-25 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 contribute 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).

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 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (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 2024-25 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 2024-25 regulatory alternatives; and (3) current stock-specific population models and associated weights. Based on the liberal regulatory alternative selected for the 2023-24 duck hunting season and the 2023 survey estimates of 0.97 million wood ducks, 0.39 million American green-winged teal, 0.66 million ring-necked ducks, and 0.85 million goldeneyes in 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 February 8, 2024, proposed rule for the 2024-25 season.

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 and the United States). 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 2024-25 hunting season, we evaluated alternative harvest regulations for mid-continent mallards using: (1) A management objective of maximum long-term sustainable harvest; (2) the 2024-25 regulatory alternatives; and (3) the current population model. Based on a liberal regulatory alternative selected for the 2023-24 hunting season and the 2023 survey estimates of 6.22 million mid-continent mallards and 4.98 million total ponds observed in Prairie Canada and the United States, the optimal choice for the 2024-25 hunting season in the Mississippi and Central Flyways is the liberal regulatory 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 February 8, 2024, proposed rule for the 2024-25 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 2024-25 hunting season, we evaluated alternative harvest regulations for western mallards using: (1) A management objective of maximum long-term sustainable harvest; (2) the 2024-25 regulatory alternatives; and (3) the current population model. Based on a liberal regulatory alternative selected for the 2023-24 hunting season and 2023 survey estimates of 0.82 million western mallards observed in Alaska (0.38 million) and the southern Pacific Flyway (0.44 million), the optimal regulation for the Pacific Flyway is the liberal regulatory alternative. Therefore, we concur with the recommendation of the Pacific Flyway Council regarding selection of the liberal regulatory alternative as described in the February 8, 2024, proposed rule for the 2024-25 season.

B. Regulatory Alternatives

Council Recommendations:
At the May 2023 SRC meeting, the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended that AHM regulatory alternatives for duck hunting during the 2024-25 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 February 8, 2024, proposed rule (89 FR 8631) will be used for the 2024-25 duck 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. For those species with specific harvest strategies (pintails, black ducks, scaup, and eastern mallards), each with their own set of regulatory alternatives, the species-specific strategies and regulatory alternatives will be used for the 2024-25 hunting season.

D. Special Seasons/Species Management

i. Early Teal Seasons

The special early teal season guidelines (see 79 FR 51402 at 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 if the Federal WBPHS (traditional survey area; strata 1-18, 20-50, and 75-77) estimate is greater than 4.7 million blue-winged

teal. The 2023 survey estimate is 5.3 million blue-winged teal, indicating a 16-day special early teal season with a 6-teal daily bag limit is appropriate.

Council Recommendations:
The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended that the experimental teal season in Minnesota be extended for a fourth year with no data collection required.

Service Response:
The Service concurs with the Mississippi Flyway Council's recommendation. In the July 16, 2021,
Federal Register
(86 FR 37854), we authorized a 3-year experimental special early teal season in Minnesota beginning in 2021 or 2022. Previously, we described in the August 28, 2014,
Federal Register
(79 FR 51402) that the Flyway Councils and Service completed a thorough assessment of the harvest potential for teal (blue-winged, green-winged, and cinnamon), and an assessment of the impacts of current special early seasons on these three species. The criteria established in 2014 regarding the experimental season and transition to operational status applies. We worked with the State of Minnesota to develop an evaluation plan and associated memorandum of agreement (MOA) for this experimental season detailing the required sample sizes, decision criteria for the experimental season to become operational, and roles and responsibilities. The plan consists of a 3-year evaluation of hunter performance (via spy blind studies) with regard to attempt and kill rates on nontarget species during the experimental early teal season. The 1-year extension of the experimental teal season, without a requirement to collect data, will allow the current harvest opportunity to continue during the 2024 early teal season until an evaluation of the first 3 years of data is completed. Any future request for operational status will be based on that evaluation and relevant data collected during the experimental season. We note that preliminary results indicate Minnesota has met all criteria for operational status based on currently available data through the second year of the experimental season.

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 six teal and wood ducks in the aggregate, of which no more than two 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 six teal.

iii. Black Ducks

Council Recommendations:
The Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway Councils recommended 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.

For the 2024-25 hunting season, we evaluated alternative harvest regulations for black ducks using: (1) A management objective of 98 percent of maximum long-term sustainable harvest; (2) the black duck regulatory alternatives; and (3) current population model. Based on the moderate regulatory alternative selected for the 2023-24 hunting season and the 2023 survey estimate of 0.73 million black ducks, the optimal regulation for the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways is the moderate alternative. 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 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. Based on the 2023 survey estimate of 619,000 canvasbacks, we concur with the recommendations of the four Flyway Councils regarding selection of the liberal regulatory alternative for the 2024-25 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 the four Flyway Councils adopted an AHM protocol for pintails 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 2024-25 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 pintail 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 2023-24 season, and the 2023 survey estimates of 2.22 million pintails at a mean latitude of 54.78 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 for the 2024-25 season.

vi. Scaup

Council Recommendations:
The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended adoption of the restrictive regulatory alternative for their respective flyways. 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 2024-25 hunting season, we evaluated alternative harvest regulations for scaup using: (1) A management objective of 95 percent of maximum sustainable harvest; (2) the scaup regulatory alternatives; and (3) current population model. Based on a restrictive regulatory alternative for the 2023-24 season, and the 2023 survey estimate of 3.52 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 2024-25 season.

ix. Eastern Mallards

Council Recommendations:
The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended adoption of the liberal regulatory alternative for their flyway. The Atlantic Flyway regulation consists of a daily bag limit of four mallards, no more than two of which may be hens, and a season length of 60 days.

Service Response:
The Service and Atlantic Flyway Council adopted an AHM protocol for eastern mallards in 2023 (88 FR 6054, January 30, 2023) whereby we set mallard hunting regulations in the Atlantic Flyway based on the status and demographics of these birds.

For the 2024-25 hunting season, we evaluated alternative harvest regulations for eastern mallards using: (1) A management objective of 98 percent of maximum sustainable harvest; (2) the eastern mallard regulatory alternatives; and (3) current population model. Based on a liberal regulatory alternative for the 2023-24 season, and the 2023 survey estimate of 1.20 million eastern mallards (Federal WBPHS eastern survey area and AFBWS), 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 alternative for the 2024-25 season.

4. Canada and Cackling Geese

B. Regular Seasons

Council Recommendations:
The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended the moderate regulatory option as defined in the Council's harvest strategy for Atlantic Population (AP) Canada geese (30-day season with a daily bag limit of 3 geese in the Mid-Atlantic and New England Regions; 2 geese per day in the Chesapeake Region; 1 goose per day in North Carolina) in the AP Zones of the Atlantic Flyway. In addition, in Vermont, the Lake Champlain Zone of New York, and the AP Zones in Connecticut and Massachusetts, a special late season may be held in addition to the regular AP Canada goose season with a maximum daily bag limit of 5 geese. The Pacific Flyway Council recommended changing the season closing date for Canada and cackling geese (including brant except in California, Oregon and Washington) in the Pacific Flyway from January 31 to February 15.

Service Response:
We agree with the Atlantic Flyway Council's recommendation to implement the moderate regulatory option as described in the Council's harvest strategy for AP Canada geese for the 2024-25 hunting season. The AP Canada goose is one of three populations of Canada geese managed in the Atlantic Flyway and has a long history of intensive management due to its importance to subsistence and sport hunters in Canada and the United States. In 2021, the Council adopted a harvest strategy to prescribe appropriate hunting regulations for AP Canada geese commensurate with the status of this population. The 2023 breeding population estimate for AP Canada geese is 115,000 pairs. Breeding habitat conditions appeared to be slightly improved in 2023 compared to 2022. Using the most current breeding population and habitat data, the model predicted the 2024 median number of breeding pairs is 147,500. The predicted August 2023 juvenile-to-adult age ratio is 1.43 which is greater than the long-term (1997-2022) average of 1.28. The Council's AP Canada goose harvest strategy prescribes the moderate regulatory alternative when the model-predicted abundance for the out-year is between 125,000 and 160,000 pairs. The moderate regulatory option in the Council's harvest strategy for AP Canada geese is appropriate considering the current status of this population and habitat conditions.

We also agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation to change the season closing date for Canada and cackling geese (including brant except in California, Oregon and Washington) in the Pacific Flyway from January 31 to February 15. The Pacific Flyway Council adopted a management plan for the Pacific Flyway Population (PFP) of western Canada geese in 2023. The management plan includes a harvest strategy that prescribes season outside dates of Saturday nearest September 24 and February 15 when the 3-year average population index for PFP western Canada geese exceeds 200,000 birds. The most recent 3-year (2020, 2022, and 2023) average population estimate for PFP western Canada geese is 419,906, and is well (110 percent) above the Council's population objective. The extension of the closing date by about 2 weeks from the end of January to mid-February is expected to provide additional hunting opportunities, increase harvest, and help limit the continued growth of PFP western Canada geese. The basic season frameworks for Canada and cackling geese in the Pacific Flyway are generally based on the status of PFP western Canada geese. There are special restrictions geographically in the season frameworks to address concern for any of the other six subspecies of white-cheeked geese wintering in the Pacific Flyway, which are managed as separate populations. Brant are included in the season limits for Canada and cackling geese in interior States because brant generally do not occur in these areas.

5. White-Fronted Geese

Council Recommendations:
The Central Flyway Council recommended the following season frameworks of dark geese (Canada geese, white-fronted geese, and all other geese except light geese) in west-tier States (Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and the Western Goose Zone of Texas) of the Central Flyway: Outside dates Saturday nearest September 24 and Sunday nearest February 15; the season may be divided into two segments, except in Wyoming where the season may be divided into three segments; season

length 95 days in the Western Goose Zone of Texas and 107 days in the remainder of the west-tier States; the daily bag limit is five dark geese in the aggregate; and the possession limit is three times the daily bag limit.

Service Response:
We agree with the Central Flyway Council's recommendation. The Council's recommendation is consistent with the management plan for the Midcontinent Population of greater white-fronted geese approved by the Pacific, Central, and Mississippi Flyway Councils. The only change to the frameworks is that the white-fronted goose daily bag limit in the Western Goose Zone of Texas is now in the aggregate with dark geese rather than a separate limit, and the daily bag limit is increased from two to five geese. This change is expected to simplify regulations in that the dark goose bag and possession limits are now the same for all west-tier States. Any possible additional harvest of greater white-fronted geese from this regulatory change would be negligible for the Central Flyway.

6. Brant

Council Recommendations:
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended that the 2024-25 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 2024 Winter Brant Survey (WBS). If results of the 2024 WBS are not available, results of the most recent WBS should be used.

Service Response:
We agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation that the 2024-25 Pacific brant season framework be determined by the harvest strategy in the Council's management plan for the Pacific population of brant pending results of the 2024 WBS. 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 final frameworks. When we acquire the survey data, we will 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
(85 FR 51854) and publish the results in the final frameworks rule.

8. Swans

Council Recommendations:
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended increasing the number of swan hunting permits in Nevada from 650 to 750 and that the experimental swan hunting season in northern Idaho be granted operational status.

Service Response:
We agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation to increase the number of swan hunting permits in Nevada from 650 to 750. The most recent 3-year (2021-2023) average population estimate for the Western Population of tundra swans is 97,709 and is 63 percent above the Council's population objective of 60,000 swans. The demand for swan hunting permits has exceeded the limit of 650 available in Nevada during the last 5 years. In 2022, swan permit sales transitioned from a first-come first-served process to an application-limited drawing process in which there were 817 applicants for 650 available permits. The mean annual participation rate over the past 5 years for Nevada swan permit holders was 63 percent, with a mean annual harvest of 200 swans; mean annual incidental trumpeter swan harvest was 1.7 trumpeter swans. The estimated annual increase in swan harvest in Nevada with 100 additional hunting permits is 30 swans. The estimated additional harvest of trumpeter swans would be negligible. The swan season in Nevada continues (28 years) to be compliant with environmental impact statements for the general swan season in the Pacific Flyway and the Service's outside limits for the general swan season in the Pacific Flyway including monitoring and mandatory hunter reporting of swan harvest for species identification. Increasing the number of swan hunting permits in Nevada would provide biologically appropriate additional hunting opportunity where there is apparent demand.

We also agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation to grant operational status to the swan hunting season in northern Idaho. Idaho completed a 3-year (2020-2022 hunting seasons) evaluation of the experimental swan hunting season. Fifty swan hunting permits were issued each year. Any hunter who harvested a swan was required, within 3 days of the date of kill, to present the swan carcass at a check station for species identification and to complete a harvest report. After the season, any swan tag holder who did not complete a harvest report was sent a survey questionnaire in the mail and asked to report their hunting activity and harvest. The average annual compliance rate for swan permit holders in returning their hunter activity and harvest questionnaire was 90 percent (range = 84-93 percent). The estimated average hunter compliance in providing species-determinant parts of harvested swans for species identification was also 90 percent (range = 84-93 percent). The estimated average percentage of swan permit holders that actively hunted swans in Idaho was 69 percent (33 hunters). The estimated mean annual harvest was 11 tundra swans and 5 trumpeter swans (but was ≤2 during 2 of the 3 years). In 2018, the Service and Pacific Flyway Council evaluated the impact swan hunting has had on the Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) of trumpeter swans and demonstrated tundra swan hunting and trumpeter swan population restoration are compatible in the Pacific Flyway. Current swan harvest levels across all Pacific Flyway States are well within conservatively estimated acceptable limits for the Western Population of tundra swans and RMP trumpeter swans. Lastly, the swan season in Idaho is compliant with environmental impact statements for the general swan season in the Pacific Flyway and the Service's outside limits for the general swan season in the Pacific Flyway including monitoring and mandatory hunter reporting of swan harvest for species identification. No changes to the swan season in northern Idaho are being proposed at this time except the change in status from experimental to operational.

9. Sandhill Cranes

Council Recommendations:
The Central and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended a minor expansion to the hunting areas for the Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) of sandhill cranes in Montana to include that portion of Stillwater County north of I-90. The Central and Pacific Flyway Councils also recommended that allowable harvest of the RMP sandhill cranes be determined based on the formula described in the Pacific and Central Flyway Councils' Management Plan for RMP cranes when the 2023 fall abundance and recruitment data become available.

Service Response:
We agree with the Central and Pacific Flyway Councils' recommendation to expand the RMP

sandhill crane hunting areas in Montana to include that portion of Stillwater County north of I-90. This will be more restrictive in crane hunting opportunity overall in that it changes the applicable season frameworks for northern Stillwater County from those for the Midcontinent Population (MCP) of sandhill cranes (not limited by special hunting permit requirement) to those for RMP sandhill cranes (limited by special hunting permit requirement). The expanded RMP crane hunting areas are consistent with the Pacific and Central Flyway Council's RMP sandhill crane management plan hunting area requirements.

We also 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 2023 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 final frameworks. When we acquire the survey data, we will 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
(81 FR 17302) and publish the results in the final frameworks rule.

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 (WMU). Also, the Central Flyway Council recommended that the season length of 6 days for the special white-winged dove season in Texas (between September 1 and 19) be allowed to be split into three segments. The Pacific Flyway Council recommended allowing up to 10 white-winged doves in Arizona's daily bag limit during season days from November 1 through January 15.

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 2024-25 season.

We also agree with the Central Flyway Council's recommendation that the season length of 6 days for the special white-winged dove season in Texas be allowed to be split into three segments. As we discussed in the July 16, 2021,
Federal Register
(86 FR 37862), we agreed with the Central Flyway Council's recommendation to add 2 days to the existing 4 hunting days permitted in the special white-winged dove area in Texas, and to codify in Federal regulations that shooting hours for those 6 days will be from noon to sunset. The additional days allowed more opportunity and flexibility to hunters by providing 3-consecutive days of dove hunting (Friday-Sunday) each of the first 2 weekends in September. Anticipating that Texas would split the 6-day season into two 3-day segments, we codified into the season framework that the 6-day season may consist of two 3-consecutive-day periods. However, Texas officials have noted that in some years calendar dates would not allow for these 2 full weekends prior to September 14 and that they would prefer to have the hunting days before September 14 around weekends and holidays to maximize hunting opportunity and hunter participation. Thus, specifying that Texas may split the 6-day season into three segments would allow the State more flexibility in aligning the season with weekends and holidays to maximize hunting opportunity and hunter participation.

In the past, the Service stated concern about the effect of early September hunting on late-nesting mourning doves (see 86 FR 37862, July 16, 2021, and 76 FR 54056, August 30, 2011). We stated that abundances of mourning doves in the Central Management Unit have declined since 2008, and additional harvest associated with this change could exacerbate that trend. We encourage the State of Texas and the Central Flyway Council to conduct appropriate monitoring of both mourning and white-winged doves that will inform adjustments to the dove harvest management strategy, if necessary, to maintain desired abundances of doves. Such efforts should include contemporary nesting ecology studies to determine the extent of nesting activity in September, various aspects of nesting ecology (
e.g.,
nesting rate, clutch size, nest success), and exposure of nesting adults to harvest. We note that Texas continues to monitor mourning and white-winged dove harvest during the special white-winged dove season. The most recent harvest estimates indicate that mourning dove harvest has not increased with the addition of 2 days to the special white-winged dove season beginning with the 2021 season.

Finally, we also agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation to allow up to 10 white-winged doves in Arizona's daily bag limit during season days from November 1 through January 15. Within the WMU, most white-winged doves breed in Arizona. The Arizona spring call count survey indicates white-winged doves have increased in abundance considerably during the recent 10 years. Arizona is currently the only State in the WMU where the season frameworks do not allow take of white-winged doves during part of the dove season. Historically, white-winged doves migrated out of Arizona prior to November 1; however, in recent years, small numbers of white-winged doves have been present in the State during the late season. Allowing a limited take of white-winged doves during Arizona's late dove season would provide additional hunting opportunity where it is biologically appropriate, reduce the potential for a hunter to be cited for accidental harvest of white-winged doves during the dove season (
i.e.,
species misidentification), and simplify frameworks for the dove season across the WMU. White-winged dove harvest would be limited to 10 within the 15-dove aggregate bag limit to be consistent with the frameworks for the dove season in California and during the early season in Arizona. The outside limits for the remainder of the WMU States is 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate. Because most white-winged doves have migrated south of Arizona before the late season, the additional harvest of white-winged doves is expected to be small. There is no expected significant increase in the harvest of mourning doves, but harvest could be reduced by any buffering effect

of white-winged dove harvest during the late season.

Public Comments

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

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

We may post all comments in their entirety—including your personal identifying information—on
https://www.regulations.gov.
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will consider, but possibly may not respond in detail to, each comment. As in the past, we will summarize all comments we receive during the comment period and respond to them after the closing date in the preambles of any final rules.

Required Determinations

Based on our most current data, we are affirming our required determinations made in the February 8, 2024, proposed rule (89 FR 8631), but we are clarifying two preliminary determinations as set forth below. For descriptions of our actions to ensure compliance with the following statutes and Executive Orders, see our February 8, 2024, proposed rule (89 FR 8631):

• National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321
et seq.
);

• Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543);

• Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601
et seq.
);

• Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801
et seq.
);

• Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.
);

• Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501
et seq.
); and

• Executive Orders 12630, 12866 (as reaffirmed by E.O. 13563 and amended by E.O. 14094), 12988, and 13211.

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 with respect to impacts to Tribes' treaty rights to hunt waterfowl, and we have determined that there are de minimis effects on Indian Tribes for that aspect of their treaty rights. Through this process to establish annual hunting regulations, we regularly coordinate with Tribes that are affected by this proposed rulemaking action. This proposed rule will not have substantial direct effects on one or more Indian Tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian Tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian Tribes. This rule is general in nature and does not directly affect any specific Tribal lands, treaty rights, or Tribal trust resources. In addition, this proposed rule would not interfere with the ability of Tribes to manage themselves or their funds or to regulate migratory bird activities on Tribal lands. We recognize that, in certain cases, conflicts may arise between States and specific Tribes on aspects of other Tribal treaty rights. The Service actively supports the parties reaching a mutually agreeable solution to such conflicts. Therefore, we preliminarily conclude that this proposed rule does not have “Tribal implications” under section 1(a) of E.O. 13175 with respect to waterfowl treaty rights. Thus, formal government-to-government consultation is not required by E.O. 13175 and related policies of the Department of the Interior. We will continue to collaborate with Tribes on concerns related to migratory bird hunting regulations.

Federalism Effects—Executive Order 13132

Due to the migratory nature of certain species of birds, the Federal Government has been given responsibility over these species by the MBTA. 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. We recognize that, in certain cases, conflicts may arise between States and specific Tribes on aspects of other Tribal treaty rights. The Service actively supports the parties reaching a mutually agreeable solution to such conflicts.

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 will make selections, thereby having an influence on their own regulations. This proposed rule will not have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with E.O. 13132, these proposed regulations do not have federalism implications and do not warrant the preparation of a federalism summary impact statement.

Authority

The rules that eventually will be promulgated for the 2024-25 hunting season are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 703-712 and 16 U.S.C. 742 a-j.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 20

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

Proposed Regulatory Frameworks for 2024-25 Hunting Seasons on Certain Migratory Game Birds

Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and delegated authorities, the Department of the Interior is proposing 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, 2024, and March 10, 2025. These frameworks are summarized below.

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 into which 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.

Flyways and Management Units

We generally set migratory bird hunting frameworks for the conterminous United 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.

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.

Mallard Management Units

High Plains Management Unit:
Roughly defined as that portion of the Central Flyway that lies west of the 100th meridian. See Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions,
Ducks (Including Mergansers) and Coots,
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.

Mourning Dove Management Units

Eastern Management Unit:
All States east of the Mississippi River, and Louisiana.

Central Management Unit:
Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.

Western Management Unit:
Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

Woodcock Management Regions

Eastern Management Region:
Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Central Management Region:
Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Definitions

For the purpose of the hunting season frameworks 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.

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, if 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. For these States where Sunday hunting is prohibited statewide by State law or regulation, the State may extend their hunting season length beyond the framework season length for any migratory game bird by one day for each Sunday included in the State's regular hunting season. Total season days must be within the season framework outside dates; season days must be consecutive except as provided in framework split-season provisions; and total season length (including extended falconry and other special seasons) must not exceed 107 days.

Season Frameworks

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.

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.

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.

Duck, Merganser, Coot, and Goose Seasons

Atlantic Flyway

Duck, Merganser, and Coot Seasons

Outside Dates:
Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21)-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 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.

Other 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. In Virginia, the Sea Duck Area includes all ocean waters of Virginia, the tidal waters of Northampton and Accomack Counties up to the first highway bridge, and the Chesapeake Bay and each of its tributaries up to the first highway bridge; Back Bay and its tributaries are not included in the Sea Duck Area. The Sea Duck Area in each State must be described, delineated, and designated as special sea duck hunting areas under the hunting regulations adopted by the respective States.

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.

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

Daily
bag limit

Season
segments

Connecticut:

Atlantic Population (AP) Zone
Oct 10-Feb 5
30
3
2

AP Zone Late Season Area (Special season)
Dec 15-Feb 15
54
5
1

North Atlantic Population (NAP) Zone
Oct 1-Jan 31
60
2
2

NAP Late Season Area (Special season)
Jan 15-Feb 15
28
5
1

Resident Population (RP) Zone
Oct 1-Feb 15
80
5
3

Delaware

Nov 15-Feb 5
30
2
2

Florida

Oct 1-Mar 10
80
5
3

Georgia

Oct 1-Mar 10
80
5
3

Maine:

North NAP High Harvest Zone
Oct 1-Jan 31
60
2
2

South NAP High Harvest Zone
Oct 1-Jan 31
60
2
2

Coastal NAP Low Harvest Zone
Oct 1-Feb 15
70
3
2

Maryland:

AP Zone
Nov 15-Feb 5
30
2
2

RP Zone
Nov 15-Mar 10
80
5
3

Massachusetts:

AP Zone
Oct 10-Feb 5
30
3
2

AP Zone Late Season Area (Special season)
Dec 15-Feb 15
54
5
1

NAP Zone
Oct 1-Jan 31
60
2
2

NAP Late Season Area (Special season)
Jan 15-Feb 15
28
5
1

New Hampshire

Oct 1-Jan 31
60
2
2

New Jersey:

AP Zone
Fourth Saturday in Oct (26)-Feb 5
30
3
2

NAP Zone
Oct 1-Jan 31
60
2
2

Special Late Season Area (Special season)
Jan 15-Feb 15
28
5
1

New York:

AP Zone
Fourth Saturday in Oct (26)-Feb 5
30
3
2

AP (Lake Champlain) Zone
Oct 10-Feb 5
30
3
2

NAP High Harvest Zone
Oct 1-Jan 31
60
2
2

NAP Low Harvest Zone
Oct 1-Feb 15
70
3
2

Western Long Island RP Zone
Saturday nearest Sep 24 (21)-last day of Feb (28)
107
8
3

Remainder of RP Zone
Fourth Saturday in Oct (26)-last day of Feb (28)
80
5
3

AP (Lake Champlain) Zone Late Season (Special season)
Dec 1-Feb 15
77
5
1

North Carolina:

Northeast Zone
Saturday prior to Dec 25 (22)-Jan 31
30
1
1

RP Zone
Oct 1-Mar 10
80
5
3

Pennsylvania:

AP Zone
Fourth Saturday in Oct (26)-Feb 5
30
3
2

RP Zone
Fourth Saturday in Oct (26)-Mar 10
80
5
3

Rhode Island:

Statewide
Oct 1-Jan 31
60
2
2

Late Season Area (Special season)
Jan 15-Feb 15
32
5
2

South Carolina

Oct 1-Mar 10
80
5
3

Vermont:

Connecticut River Zone
Oct 1-Jan 31
60
2
2

Interior Zone
Oct 10-Feb 5
30
3
2

Lake Champlain Zone
Oct 10-Feb 5
30
3
2

Interior, and Lake Champlain Zones Late Season (Special Season)
Dec 1-Feb 15
77
5
1

Virginia:

AP Zone
Nov 15-Feb 5
30
2
2

RP Zone
Nov 15-Mar 10
80
5
3

West Virginia

Oct 1-Mar 10
80
5
3

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.

Brant Seasons

Outside Dates:
Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21)-January 31.

Season Lengths:
30 days. Seasons may be split into 2 segments.

Daily Bag Limits:
1 brant.

Mississippi Flyway

Duck, Merganser, and Coot Seasons

Outside Dates:
Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21)-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. In Louisiana (the only high-harvest State in the Mississippi Flyway for mottled ducks), the daily bag limit for mottled ducks is zero for the first 15 days. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Other 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.

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.

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.

Central Flyway

Ducks, Merganser, and Coot Seasons

Outside Dates:
Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21)-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 7). 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, 1 scaup, and 2 canvasbacks. In Texas, the daily bag limit on mottled ducks is 1, except that no mottled ducks may be taken during the first 5 days of the season. In addition to the daily limits listed above, the States of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, in lieu of selecting an experimental September teal season, may include an additional daily bag and possession limit of 2 and 6 blue-winged teal, respectively, during the first 16 days of the regular duck season in each respective duck hunting zone. These extra limits are in addition to the regular duck bag and possession limits.

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.

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.

Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, and Brant Seasons

Outside Dates:
Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21)-the Sunday nearest February 15 (February 16).

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.

White-Fronted Goose Seasons

Outside Dates:
Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21)-the Sunday nearest February 15 (February 16).

Season Length and Daily Bag Limits: East-tier States (Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas except for the Western Goose Zone):
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.

West-tier States (Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Wyoming, and the Western Goose Zone of Texas):
107 days, except 95 days in the Western Goose Zone of Texas. The daily bag limit is 5 dark geese in the aggregate.

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.

Light Goose Seasons

Outside Dates:
Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21)-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.

Other 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.

Pacific Flyway

a. Duck, Merganser, Coot, and Gallinule Seasons

Outside Dates:
Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21)-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.

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

Goose Seasons

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.

Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, and Brant Seasons

Outside Dates:
Except as subsequently provided, Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21)-February 15.

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.

Other provisions:

California:
In the Balance of State Zone, outside dates are Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21) and March 10. The season may be split into 3 segments. In the Balance of State Zone, North Coast Special Management Area, hunting days that occur after January 31 should be concurrent with Oregon's South Coast Zone.

Oregon:
In the Northwest Permit Zone, outside dates are the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21) and March 10. The daily bag limit is 3 geese in the aggregate. The season may be split into 3 segments. In the South Coast Zone, outside dates are the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21) and March 10. The daily bag limit is 6 geese in the aggregate. The season may be split into 3 segments. Hunting days that occur after January 31 should be concurrent with California's Balance of State Zone, North Coast Special Management Area.

Washington:
In Areas 2 Inland and 2 Coastal (Southwest Permit Zone), outside dates are the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21) and March 10. The daily bag limit is 3 geese in the aggregate. The season may be split into 3 segments. In Area 4, the season 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 is by State-issued permit only. 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.

Brant Seasons

Areas:
California, Oregon, and Washington.

Outside Dates:
Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21)-January 31.

Season Lengths and Daily Bag Limits:
Season lengths and daily bag limits will be determined based on the upcoming Winter Brant Survey results and the Pacific brant harvest strategy.

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

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

White-Fronted Goose Seasons

Outside Dates:
Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21)-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.

Other Provisions:

California:
In the Balance of State Zone, Sacramento Valley Special Management Area, the season must end on or before December 28, and the daily bag limit is 3 white-fronted geese. In the Balance of State Zone, North Coast Special Management Area, hunting days that occur after January 31 should be concurrent with Oregon's South Coast Zone. In the Northeastern Zone, the season may be split into 3 segments.

Oregon:
In the Eastern Zone, for Lake County only, the daily bag limit is 1 white-fronted goose. In the Northwest Permit Zone and South Coast Zone, the seasons may be split into 3 segments. Hunting days that occur after January 31 should be concurrent with California's Balance of State Zone, North Coast Special Management Area.

Washington:
In Areas 2 Inland and 2 Coastal (Southwest Permit Zone) and Area 4, seasons may be split into 3 segments.

Light Goose Seasons

Outside Dates:
Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21)-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 28).

Swan Seasons

Pacific Flyway

Areas:
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Utah.

Outside Dates:
Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21)-January 31.

Season Lengths:
107 days. Seasons may be split into 2 segments.

Permits:
Hunting is by State-issued permit only. The total number of permits issued may not exceed 50 in Idaho, 500 in Montana, 750 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 Idaho, 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 (September 28)-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.

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

Permits:
Hunting is by State-issued permit only.

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.

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:
Hunting is by permit only. Permits will be issued by the States.

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 State-issued permit only.

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 species 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, harvest and species composition must be monitored; greater sandhill cranes in the harvest will be assigned to the RMP crane quota.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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, which may be split into 3 segments, for the Special White-winged Dove Area between September 1 and 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:
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.

Alaska

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 goose 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 will be determined based on the upcoming Winter Brant Survey results and the Pacific brant harvest strategy.

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.

Tundra Swan Seasons

Outside Dates:
September 1-October 31.

Season Lengths:
61 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.

Hawaii

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.

Puerto Rico

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.

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.

Virgin Islands

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.

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.

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.

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

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A2024-09965. Public record. Not legal advice.