Migratory Bird Hunting; Final Frameworks for Early-Season Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations

SUMMARY: This rule prescribes final early-season frameworks which

States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands may select season dates,

limits, and other options for the 1998-99 migratory bird hunting

seasons. Early seasons are those which generally open prior to October

1, and include seasons in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin

Islands. The effect of this final rule is to facilitate the selection

of hunting seasons by the States and Territories to further the annual

establishment of the early-season migratory bird hunting regulations.

These selections will be published in the Federal Register as

amendments to Secs. 20.101 through 20.107, and Sec. 20.109 of title 50

CFR part 20.

DATES: This rule takes effect on August 28, 1998.

ADDRESSES: States and Territories should send their season selections

to: Chief, Office of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, Department of the Interior, ms 634-ARLSQ, 1849 C Street, NW.,

Washington, DC 20240. The public may inspect comments during normal

business hours in room 634, Arlington Square, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive,

Arlington, Virginia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul R. Schmidt, Chief, MBMO, U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, (703) 358-1714.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulations Schedule for 1998

On March 20, 1998, the Service published in the Federal Register

(63 FR 13748) a proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20. The proposal dealt

with the establishment of seasons, limits, and other regulations for

migratory game birds under Secs. 20.101 through 20.107, 20.109, and

20.110 of subpart K. On May 29, 1998, the Service published in the

Federal Register (63 FR 29518) a second document providing supplemental

proposals for early-and late-season migratory bird hunting regulations

frameworks and the proposed regulatory alternatives for the 1998-99

duck hunting season. The May 29 supplement also provided detailed

information on the 1998-99 regulatory schedule and announced the

Service Migratory Bird Regulations Committee and Flyway Council

meetings.

On June 25, 1998, the Service held a public hearing in Washington,

DC, as announced in the March 20 and May 29 Federal Registers to review

the status of migratory shore and upland game birds. The Service

discussed hunting regulations for these species and for other early

seasons. On July 17, 1998, the Service published in the Federal

Register (63 FR 38700) a third document specifically dealing with

proposed early-season frameworks for the 1998-99 season. This

rulemaking establishes final frameworks for early-season migratory bird

hunting regulations for the 1998-99 season.

Review of Flyway Council Recommendations, Public Comments and the

Service's Responses

The public comment period for early-season issues ended on July 31,

1998. The Service received recommendations from all four Flyway

Councils. Early-season comments are summarized and discussed in the

order used in the March 20 Federal Register. Only the numbered items

pertaining to early seasons for which comments were received are

included. Flyway Council recommendations shown below include only those

involving changes from the 1997-98 early-season frameworks. For those

topics where a Council recommendation is not shown, the Council

supported continuing the same frameworks as in 1997-98.

General

Written Comments: The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)

recommended all seasons open at noon, mid-week, to reduce the large

kills associated with the traditional Saturday openings. They also

recommend that hunting during the one-half hour before sunrise be

eliminated.

1. Ducks

The categories used to discuss issues related to duck harvest

management are as follows: (A) General Harvest Strategy, (B) Framework

Dates, (C) Season Length, (D) Closed Seasons, (E) Bag Limits, (F) Zones

and Split Seasons, and (G) Special Seasons/Species Management. Only

those categories containing substantial recommendations are included

below.

F. Zones and Split Seasons

Written Comments: The Ohio Division of Wildlife requested

elimination of the Pymatuning Waterfowl Hunting Zone in Ohio and

incorporation of the affected area into the North Zone beginning in the

1998-99 season.

Service Response: In the past, hunting seasons in that portion of

Ohio had to be the same as those selected by Pennsylvania for that

portion of Pennsylvania. Beginning this year, the Pymatuning Area will

no longer be included in the Federal waterfowl hunting frameworks as a

separate area, and will be considered part of Ohio's North Zone.

G. Special Seasons/Species Management

iii. September Teal Seasons

Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended

the establishment of an experimental September teal season option in

the Atlantic Flyway. States deriving more than 80 percent of their teal

harvest from the mid-continent regions (Delaware, Georgia, Florida,

Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and

West Virginia) could hold a 9-day season between September 1 and 30

with a daily bag limit of 4 teal.

The Central Flyway Council recommended an experimental September

teal season harvest strategy in the nonproduction States of the Central

Flyway based on the May breeding population index (BPI) of blue-winged

teal. When the BPI of blue-winged teal is 4.7 million or greater, the

Council's recommended harvest strategy would consist of an additional 7

days of hunting (for a total of 16 days). When the BPI of blue-winged

teal is below 4.7 million but remains at or above 3.3 million, the

Council's recommended harvest strategy would maintain the current 9-day

season. When the BPI of blue-winged teal is below 3.3 million, the

Council's recommended harvest strategy would consider closure of

September teal seasons.

Public Hearing Comments: Mr. Robert McDowell, representing the

Atlantic Flyway Council, expressed appreciation for authorizing a 9-day

September teal season in a portion of the Atlantic Flyway. However, he

asked the Service to reconsider a 16-day teal season.

Written Comments: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources was

disappointed in the proposal to offer additional days of teal hunting

to nonproduction States before addressing the equatability issue in

production States.

One individual from Wisconsin and 1 from Minnesota urged the

Service to consider a special teal season for the production States.

[[Page 46125]]

Service Response: The Service supports the Atlantic Flyway

Council's proposal for an experimental 9-day special September teal

season in those States that derive 80% of their teal harvest from the

mid-continent region (to include States from Pennsylvania and Delaware

southward). These States would be required to evaluate the impacts to

non-target waterfowl species by conducting hunter performance surveys.

The Service remains concerned with the definition of production and

non-production States but will work with the Flyway to establish

decision criteria based on historic harvests of non-target species in

other Flyways. The Service strongly encourages as many of the States as

possible to participate in the evaluation, as sampling requirements

will be based on the number of States involved. This season will be

experimental for a 3-year period but must include a pre-sunrise

evaluation in order to have shooting hours begin \1/2\-hour before

sunrise. The Service will develop and implement a Memorandum of

Agreement (MOA) between the Service and participating States to

stipulate the guidelines and implementation of this season. These MOAs

must be in place before the start of any season.

The Service also supports the Central Flyway Council's proposal for

a September-teal-season harvest strategy that would provide a 16-day

special season in those States that currently have operational special

September teal seasons when blue-winged teal populations are above 4.7

million. The evaluation plan submitted by the Council appears adequate

for annual monitoring and assessment of this expanded opportunity.

Although current changes in band-reporting rates make interpretation of

band-recovery data difficult, the Service believes that the 4.7 million

breeding population trigger is an adequate threshold for conducting

these expanded seasons. The expanded season also will be offered to

those States in the Mississippi Flyway that currently are offered a

special teal season, under the same stipulations given to the Central

Flyway. An annual evaluation of pertinent population, habitat, and

harvest information will be required, with a final report due after the

seasons have been conducted for 3 years. Continuation of the season is

conditional upon the completion of the annual and final reports.

The Service believes that a comprehensive review of blue-winged

teal biology, an assessment of the cumulative effects of all teal

harvest, and an evaluation of possible expansion of hunting opportunity

in production States is needed. In order to facilitate such an

evaluation, the Service proposes to host a meeting this fall. The

Service asks Flyway Councils to designate two representatives from each

of the three involved Flyways to meet with Office of Migratory Bird

Management staff to design a comprehensive evaluation of blue-winged

teal biology and harvest management.

iv. September Teal/Wood Duck Seasons

Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended

the continuation of the Florida September wood duck/teal season on an

operational basis.

The Lower-Region Regulations Committee of the Mississippi Flyway

Council recommended that the experimental September teal/wood duck

seasons in Kentucky and Tennessee be continued in 1998 with no changes

from the 1997 season. The Lower-Region Regulations Committee further

recommended that if such seasons are suspended, all non-production

States should be permitted to take up to 5 days of the regular season

in September.

Public Hearing Comments: Mr. Robert McDowell, representing the

Atlantic Flyway Council expressed appreciation for approving Florida's

September Duck Season.

Written Comments: Representatives John S. Tanner, John J. Duncan,

Harold Ford, Jr., William Jenkins, Van Hilleary, Zach Wamp, Ed Bryant,

Bob Clement, Bart Gordon, and Senators Fred Thompson and Bill Frist

from Tennessee requested that the Service not close Tennessee's early

wood duck season. The commenters state that a decision by the Service

to close the season would appear to be one based on administrative

rationale, rather than sound biology. Further, facts that support

continuation of the season are: (1) the season has been approved for 17

years; (2) the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has met its

preseason banding obligations; and (3) no downward trends in the wood

duck populations have been recorded in stream-float surveys, summer

bandings, or the Breeding Bird Survey. Finally, survival rates for

Tennessee wood ducks are similar to, or higher, than rates observed

prior to 1981. Roughly one third of Tennessee's waterfowlers

participate in the early wood duck season. The commenters believe that

closing the season would discourage their active involvement in wood

duck management.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (Tennessee) expressed

disappointment that the Service intended to suspend the September wood

duck season. They pointed out that Tennessee hunters have never

complained about decreased wood duck numbers, and that empirical

evidence demonstrates that the wood duck population is not experiencing

any long-term declines. Further, Tennessee stated that closing the

popular 5-day season would be hard to justify because the evaluation of

the season could not conclude whether the season is good or bad.

Tennessee mentioned that the high costs associated with regional wood

duck population monitoring will discourage most States from

participating in any monitoring programs beyond what is currently being

done. They pointed out that eliminating the September season without a

clearly stated harvest alternative would stymie any new data-collection

efforts. Thus, they requested that Tennessee's September wood duck

season be granted operational status and be grandfathered into the

existing frameworks.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (Kentucky)

also expressed disappointment that the Service would recommend

suspending the September wood duck season in Kentucky. They stated that

evaluation of the season indicated that it met the objective of

limiting harvest to local wood ducks without negatively impacting

southern wood duck populations. They recognized that the conclusions of

the evaluation were based on data where the level of precision was

questionable, but that the data were the best available and should not

be discarded. Kentucky emphasized that data collected by their agency

indicated no negative impacts on local wood duck populations and

therefore requested that Kentucky's September season be granted

operational status and grandfathered into the existing frameworks. In a

subsequent letter, they stated that the Service proposal to discontinue

the special season after September 2000 is premature; that such a

decision should not be made until a Flyway harvest strategy is

developed.

The Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission opposed suspension

of the September Wood Duck Seasons based on the Service's contention

that adequate population monitoring was lacking. They maintained that

their monitoring programs have not detected any undue negative effects

on local wood duck populations after 17 years. They believe that if the

Service is comfortable with the regular-season harvest pressure on wood

ducks caused by several changes in season lengths,

[[Page 46126]]

then concern over Florida's September season hardly seem warranted.

They believe the Service has continued to raise the standard for

evaluation long after these seasons were initiated and did not provide

specific criteria. They maintain that there is no evidence that

Florida's season is negatively influencing their local wood populations

and it appeared as though the reason for suspending the seasons was

unjustly based on administrative convenience rather than biological

concern.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources opposed hunting

opportunities that are not offered to hunters in all States within a

flyway. If the September wood duck seasons are suspended, they would

not support non-production States in the Lower Region taking up to 5

days from the regular season in September.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources concurred with the

Service's proposal to manage wood ducks on a Flyway basis but was

concerned with the decision to delay the elimination of the special

wood duck seasons for Tennessee, Kentucky, and Florida. Wisconsin

believed that elimination of these seasons this year seemed to be

consistent with Service policy.

The Alabama Waterfowl Association indicated that they do not see

any reason to suspend the early wood duck season and maintain that

southern States provide habitat enhancement projects and deserve to

have harvest opportunities on locally-reared wood ducks.

A petition letter signed by 110 individuals from Tennessee stress

the fact that to do away with the wood duck September season would

deplete a lot of interest among several organizations who get involved

with nest box programs and habitat improvement projects.

Thirty-three individuals from Tennessee, 14 from Florida, and 9

from Kentucky expressed support for continuing with the September wood

duck seasons to provide hunting opportunities and opposed any action by

the Service to discontinue these seasons.

Service Response: As indicated in the July 17 Federal Register,

after many years of trying to develop regional wood duck population-

monitoring programs, attempts to evaluate the experimental September

wood duck seasons have been unsuccessful. Without adequate regional

monitoring, special seasons that target regional wood duck populations

should be discontinued. Instead, wood duck harvest management should be

approached at the Flyway level during the regular season. The recently-

completed Wood Duck Population Monitoring Initiative showed that

managers have much of the capability needed to monitor wood ducks at

the Flyway level. The Service recognizes that improvements in the way

we develop regular-season approaches to wood duck harvest management

are possible. These improvements should incorporate information about

the status and dynamics of wood ducks. However, there is a need to

conduct additional technical assessments in order to develop flyway

harvest strategies. The Service will coordinate with Flyway Councils

and Technical Sections to develop such strategies.

During the interim period, the Service will allow Florida,

Kentucky, and Tennessee to hold September wood duck seasons for a

maximum of 3 more years. After September 2000, the seasons in Florida,

Kentucky, and Tennessee will be discontinued. Flyway harvest strategies

will then be implemented for the 2001/02 hunting season. Should the

technical assessment be completed sooner, and a Flyway strategy be

implemented, the September seasons would be suspended at that time.

v. Youth Hunt

Council Recommendations: The Upper-Region Regulations Committee of

the Mississippi Flyway Council recommended that a special one-day youth

waterfowl season include the harvesting of geese.

The Lower-Region Regulations Committee of the Mississippi Flyway

Council recommended that a special 2-day youth waterfowl season include

the harvesting of geese.

The Central Flyway Council recommended expansion of the special

youth waterfowl hunt to 2 consecutive days with a legal bag that

includes geese.

The Pacific Flyway Council recommended continuation of the one-day

youth hunt that allows States to select outside the general season and

frameworks. The Council further recommended the addition of 1 goose to

the bag limit.

Public Hearing Comments: Mr. Robert McDowell, representing the

Atlantic Flyway Council, thanked the Service for providing more hunting

opportunity during the youth hunt day by allowing geese to be included

in the bag limit.

Written Comments: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

supported continuation of the special youth waterfowl hunt day.

Senator John T. Traynor of the North Dakota Senate expressed his

support for the youth hunt and urged the Service to expand the special

season to 2 days and include geese in the bag limit.

The Delta Waterfowl Foundation supported the expansion of the

special youth hunt to 2 days and the inclusion of geese in the bag

limit.

Service Response: The Service appreciates the recommendations from

the Flyway Councils regarding the continuation of a youth waterfowl

hunting day. Upon establishment of the special youth hunting day, the

Service viewed it as a unique educational opportunity which would help

ensure safe, high-quality hunting for future generations of Americans.

The Service's intent was not to recruit youth hunters, but to provide

the best and safest learning environment for those of our youth who are

interested in hunting. Further, the Service believes that establishing

such a day was consistent with our responsibility to provide general

education and training in the wise use of our nation's valuable

wildlife resources. The Service believes the long-term conservation of

North America's migratory bird resources depends on the future

attitudes and actions of today's youth and that the special youth day

assists in the formation and development of a conservation ethic in

future generations. The Service's intent in establishing this special

day is to introduce youth to the concepts of ethical utilization and

stewardship of waterfowl and other natural resources, encourage

youngsters and adults to experience the outdoors together, and

contribute to the long-term conservation of the migratory bird

resource. With these intents in mind, there is not a compelling reason

to extend the opportunity an additional day.

Additionally, the Service has not conducted an evaluation of the

effects of the special youth hunt day to date, nor does the Service

plan to conduct such an evaluation due to cost/benefit considerations.

Because the special 1-day hunt is limited to youths, the Service

believes that waterfowl populations can support the limited additional

harvest. However, an additional day would potentially double the

effect, which would result in increased uncertainty.

With regard to geese, the Service supports the inclusion of the

regular-season daily bag limit for geese in the special youth-hunt bag

limit. However, there are two considerations that States must consider

regarding the inclusion of geese in the youth hunt: (1) In many cases,

States already use the legal limit

[[Page 46127]]

of 107 goose hunting days and the inclusion of geese in the youth day

bag will require a 1-day reduction in the regular season length, and

(2) all area/species restrictions would apply, thus complicating the

regulations in areas with species restrictions or area closures.

3. Sea Ducks

Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended

that the Service clarify regulatory language concerning bag limits for

sea ducks so that bag limits for these ducks during the regular season

cannot exceed bag limits established in the special sea duck season,

whether inside or outside the special sea duck area.

Public Hearing Comments: Mr. Robert McDowell, representing the

Atlantic Flyway Council, thanked the Service for agreeing to clarify

the sea duck bag limits.

Written Comments: The HSUS recommended the sea duck season either

be closed or severely restricted until more complete information on

biology and population status is available.

Service Response: The Service will continue to work with the

Atlantic Flyway Council as they prepare their management plan for

common eiders, and encourages the Flyway to develop management goals

for other populations of sea ducks. The Service believes that a

conservative approach to sea duck hunting is warranted, especially if

management plans or goals have not been adopted. The Service will

assess the appropriateness of current sea duck hunting regulations

after finalizing a report on the status of sea duck populations;

changes will be considered for the 1999 hunting season.

4. Canada Geese

A. Special Seasons

Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended

that the closing date of the September goose season around Montezuma

National Wildlife Refuge be extended from September 15 to 25.

The Lower-Region Regulations Committee of the Mississippi Flyway

Council recommended that the Service reevaluate criteria for special

Canada goose seasons (early and late), particularly as they relate to

the cumulative harvest of migrant Canada geese from populations of

special concern, to insure that the criteria are consistent with

management efforts to increase and/or maintain migrant populations of

special concern to/at planned objective levels.

Public Hearing Comments: Mr. Robert McDowell, representing the

Atlantic Flyway Council, asked the Service to reconsider New York's

proposal to expand their early Canada goose season in the Montezuma

area.

Written Comments: The New York State Department of Environmental

Conservation urged the Service to reconsider the extension of the

closing date around Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. New York

believed that the potential harvest of migrant geese in this small area

would be insignificant, and in accordance with the 10% criterion when

compared to the total September goose harvest statewide or locally. New

York further asked for the same opportunity to evaluate the season

extension on an experimental basis for the next 3 years.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources requested that the

regular Canada goose season be allowed to open as early as September 19

throughout the State in order to assist in reducing the harvest of

Mississippi Valley Population Canada geese while maintaining or

increasing the harvest of giant Canada geese.

Service Response: In accordance with the criteria established for

early seasons on resident Canada geese, the harvest of migrant geese

cannot exceed 10%. Collar observations provided by New York for 1995-97

exceed this level. Thus, the Service does not support this request. The

criteria only address the proportion of collar observations of migrant

geese without regard to the area size or number of collars or geese

observed. Based on the evidence provided by New York, the potential to

harvest AP geese increases substantially in late September. The Service

recognizes that in some cases a single observation of a potential

migrant may exceed the 10% criterion, but at this fine scale, it is

very difficult to fully assess the impacts of expanding the season to

September 25. The size of the hunt area under consideration is the

prerogative of the State and is not a specific condition of the

criteria to expand the special season on resident Canada geese. The

Service believes that the decision criteria agreed upon by the State

and the Atlantic Flyway Council are clear.

The criteria for special Canada goose seasons are designed to

provide additional harvest of locally-nesting Canada geese without

additional impact on migrant populations. The Service believes that to

date, this objective has been achieved; however, the Service will

continue to monitor harvest information with reference to the

provisions of the special-season criteria and objectives for migrant

Canada goose populations.

With regard to the request from Michigan, the Service concurs.

B. Regular Seasons

Council Recommendations: The Upper-Region Regulations Committee of

the Mississippi Flyway Council recommended that the 1998 regular goose

season opening date be as early as September 26 in Michigan's Upper

Peninsula and September 19 in Wisconsin.

Service Response: The Service concurs with the recommendation.

9. Sandhill Cranes

Council Recommendations: The Central and Pacific Flyway Councils

recommended that the Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) greater sandhill

crane hunt in Wyoming's Area 6 (Park and Bighorn Counties) become

operational in 1998. The Councils further recommended that the third

year of monitoring and data collection for the experimental hunt be

waived.

Written Comments: The HSUS recommends that all crane seasons be

closed. The HSUS believes that these seasons are held largely to

sustain hunter interest.

Service Response: The Service concurs with the Central and Pacific

Flyway Council recommendations for removal of experimental status of

the RMP greater sandhill crane hunt in Big Horn and Park Counties of

Wyoming. The third year of monitoring and data collection will be

waived.

Regarding HSUS's recommendations for closed seasons, available

information indicates that harvest pressure on cranes is commensurate

with the population status and the various crane management plans.

Crane harvest is closely monitored by the Service, the Flyway Councils,

and the States and there is no evidence to suggest the frameworks

provided are not appropriate.

12. Rails

Written Comments: The HSUS believes that the season length and bag

limits for rails are relatively long and high, respectively, despite

indications of declining populations or insufficient data.

Service Response: Available information indicates that harvest

pressure on rails is relatively light and there is no evidence to

suggest the frameworks provided are not appropriate.

[[Page 46128]]

13. Snipe

Written Comments: The HSUS believes that the season length and bag

limits for snipe are relatively long and high, respectively, despite

indications of declining populations or insufficient data.

Service Response: Available information indicates that harvest

pressure on snipe is relatively light and there is no evidence to

suggest the frameworks provided are not appropriate.

16. Mourning Doves

Written Comments: The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and

Fisheries requested an extension of the framework closing date from

January 15 to January 20.

The HSUS recommends reduced season lengths and bag limits for

mourning doves in the Eastern and Central Management Units, given the

long-term significant population declines.

Service Response: The Service does not support Louisiana's request

at this time and asks that the issue be incorporated into the mourning

dove management plan for the Eastern Management Unit, which is

currently being prepared.

Regarding HSUS's recommendations, available information indicates

that harvest pressure on doves is commensurate with the population

status and there is no evidence to suggest the frameworks provided are

not appropriate.

18. Alaska

Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended an

increase in Alaska's Canada goose daily bag and possession limit from 1

and 2 to 3 and 6, respectively, within overall dark goose bag and

possession limits of 4 and 8 in Alaska Game Management Subunit (GMU)

9(E) (Alaska Peninsula) and Unit 18 (Y-K Delta).

The Pacific Flyway Council recommended an archery-only Canada goose

hunt on Middleton Island, Alaska (GMU 6); by registration permit only,

with no more than 10 permits; mandatory goose identification class,

check-in, and check-out; season dates of September 28 to December 16;

bag and possession limit of 1; season to close if incidental harvest

includes 5 dusky Canada geese.

Written Comments: The HSUS recommended that the opening date for

all seasons in Alaska be delayed by 2 weeks so that young birds are

able to leave natal marshes before being subjected to hunting pressure.

Service Response: The Service supports the Council's recommendation

for increased Canada goose bag limits within the overall dark goose bag

limit and the limited season for Canada Geese on Middleton Island with

all of the conditions recommended by the Pacific Flyway Council, except

the limitation of the method of take to only archery. The Service has

received no rationale for limiting the method of take and believes to

do so without reason would establish an undesirable precedent.

Regarding the opening date for seasons in Alaska, the Service

reiterates previous responses that hunting pressure on migratory birds

is comparatively light. Many northern species migrate from the State

before seasons open there in September and there is no evidence to

indicate regulated hunting has adversely impacted local populations.

NEPA Consideration

NEPA considerations are covered by the programmatic document,

``Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement: Issuance of Annual

Regulations Permitting the Sport Hunting of Migratory Birds (FSES 88-

14),'' filed with EPA on June 9, 1988. The Service published a Notice

of Availability in the June 16, 1988, Federal Register (53 FR 22582).

The Service published its Record of Decision on August 18, 1988 (53 FR

31341). Copies of these documents are available from the Service at the

address indicated under the caption ADDRESSES.

Endangered Species Act Considerations

As in the past, the Service designs hunting regulations to remove

or alleviate chances of conflict between migratory game bird hunting

seasons and the protection and conservation of endangered and

threatened species. Consultations have been conducted to ensure that

actions resulting from these regulatory proposals will not likely

jeopardize the continued existence of endangered or threatened species

or result in the destruction or adverse modification of their critical

habitat. Findings from these consultations are included in a biological

opinion and may cause modification of some regulatory measures

previously proposed. The final frameworks reflect any modifications.

The Service's biological opinions resulting from its Section 7

consultation are public documents available for public inspection in

the Service's Division of Endangered Species and MBMO, at the address

indicated under the caption ADDRESSES.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

In the March 20, 1998, Federal Register, the Service reported

measures it took to comply with requirements of the Regulatory

Flexibility Act. One measure was to update the 1996 Small Entity

Flexibility Analysis (Analysis) documenting the significant beneficial

economic effect on a substantial number of small entities. The 1996

Analysis estimated that migratory bird hunters would spend between $254

and $592 million at small businesses. The Service has updated the 1996

Analysis with information from the 1996 National Hunting and Fishing

Survey. Nationwide, the Service now estimates that migratory bird

hunters will spend between $429 and $1,084 million at small businesses

in 1998. Copies of the 1998 Analysis are available upon request from

the Office of Migratory Bird Management.

Executive Order (E.O.) 12866

This rule is economically significant and was reviewed by the

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under E.O. 12866.

E.O. 12866 requires each agency to write regulations that are easy

to understand. The Service invites comments on how to make this rule

easier to understand, including answers to questions such as the

following: (1) Are the requirements in the rule clearly stated? (2)

Does the rule contain technical language or jargon that interferes with

its clarity? (3) Does the format of the rule (grouping and order of

sections, use of headings, paragraphing, etc.) aid or reduce its

clarity? (4) Would the rule be easier to understand if it were divided

into more (but shorter) sections? (5) Is the description of the rule in

the ``Supplementary Information'' section of the preamble helpful in

understanding the proposed rule? What else could the Service do to make

the rule easier to understand?

Send a copy of any comments that concern how this rule could be

made easier to understand to: Office of Regulatory Affairs, Department

of the Interior, Room 7229, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.

20240. Comments may also be e-mailed to: E[email protected].

Congressional Review

In accordance with Section 251 of the Small Business Regulatory

Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (5 U.S.C. 8), this rule has been

submitted to Congress and has been declared major. Because this rule

establishes hunting seasons, this rule qualifies for an exemption under

5

[[Page 46129]]

U.S.C. 808(1); therefore, the Department determines that this rule

shall take effect immediately.

Paperwork Reduction Act

The Service examined these regulations under the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995. The various recordkeeping and reporting

requirements imposed under regulations established in 50 CFR Part 20,

Subpart K, are utilized in the formulation of migratory game bird

hunting regulations. Specifically, the information collection

requirements of the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program have

been approved by OMB and assigned clearance number 1018-0015 (expires

08/31/1998). The renewal clearance packet was submitted to OMB July 22,

1998. This information is used to provide a sampling frame for

voluntary national surveys to improve Service harvest estimates for all

migratory game birds in order to better manage these populations. The

information collection requirements of the Sandhill Crane Harvest

Questionnaire have been approved by OMB and assigned clearance number

1018-0023 (expires 09/30/2000). The information from this survey is

used to estimate the magnitude, the geographical and temporal

distribution of harvest, and the portion it constitutes of the total

population. The Service may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not

required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a

currently valid OMB control number.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

The Service has determined and certifies in compliance with the

requirements of the Unfunded Mandates Act, 2 U.S.C. 1502 et seq., that

this rulemaking will not impose a cost of $100 million or more in any

given year on local or State government or private entities.

Civil Justice Reform--Executive Order 12988

The Department, in promulgating this rule, has determined that

these regulations meet the applicable standards provided in Sections

3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988.

Takings Implication Assessment

In accordance with Executive Order 12630, these rules, authorized

by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, do not have significant takings

implications and do not affect any constitutionally protected property

rights. These rules will not result in the physical occupancy of

property, the physical invasion of property, or the regulatory taking

of any property. In fact, these rules allow hunters to exercise

privileges that would be otherwise unavailable; and, therefore, reduce

restrictions on the use of private and public property.

Federalism Effects

Due to the migratory nature of certain species of birds, the

Federal government has been given responsibility over these species by

the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The Service annually prescribes

frameworks from which the States make selections and employs guidelines

to establish special regulations on Federal Indian reservations and

ceded lands. This process preserves the ability of the States and

Tribes to determine which seasons meet their individual needs. Any

State or Tribe may be more restrictive than the Federal frameworks at

any time. The frameworks are developed in a cooperative process with

the States and the Flyway Councils. This allows States to participate

in the development of frameworks from which they will make selections,

thereby having an influence on their own regulation. These rules do not

have a substantial direct effect on fiscal capacity, change the roles

or responsibilities of Federal or State governments, or intrude on

State policy or administration. Therefore, in accordance with Executive

Order 12612, these regulations do not have significant federalism

effects and do not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant

the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

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) and 512 DM 2, we have evaluated possible

effects on Federally recognized Indian tribes and have determined that

there are no effects.

Regulations Promulgation

The rulemaking process for migratory game bird hunting must, by its

nature, operate under severe time constraints. However, the Service

intends that the public be given the greatest possible opportunity to

comment on the regulations. Thus, when the preliminary proposed

rulemaking was published, the Service established what it believed were

the longest periods possible for public comment. In doing this, the

Service recognized that when the comment period closed, time would be

of the essence. That is, if there were a delay in the effective date of

these regulations after this final rulemaking, the States would have

insufficient time to select season dates and limits; to communicate

those selections to the Service; and to establish and publicize the

necessary regulations and procedures to implement their decisions.

Therefore, the Service, under authority of the Migratory Bird

Treaty Act (July 3, 1918), as amended, (16 U.S.C. 703-711), prescribes

final frameworks setting forth the species to be hunted, the daily bag

and possession limits, the shooting hours, the season lengths, the

earliest opening and latest closing season dates, and hunting areas,

from which State conservation agency officials will select hunting

season dates and other options. Upon receipt of season and option

selections from these officials, the Service will publish in the

Federal Register a final rulemaking amending 50 CFR part 20 to reflect

seasons, limits, and shooting hours for the conterminous United States

for the 1998-99 season.

The Service therefore finds that ``good cause'' exists, within the

terms of 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) of the Administrative Procedure Act, and

these alternatives will, therefore, take effect immediately upon

publication.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 20

Exports, Hunting, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements, Transportation, Wildlife.

The rules that eventually will be promulgated for the 1998-99

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

a-j.

Dated: August 14, 1998.

Stephen C. Saunders,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

Final Regulations Frameworks for 1998-99 Early Hunting Seasons on

Certain Migratory Game Birds

Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and delegated

authorities, the Department of the Interior approved the following

frameworks which prescribe season lengths, bag limits, shooting hours,

and outside dates within which States may select for certain migratory

game birds between September 1, 1998, and March 10, 1999.

General

Dates: All outside dates noted below are inclusive.

Shooting and Hawking (taking by falconry) Hours: Unless otherwise

specified, from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset daily.

[[Page 46130]]

Possession Limits: Unless otherwise specified, possession limits

are twice the daily bag limit.

Flyways and Management Units

Waterfowl Flyways

Atlantic Flyway--includes Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia,

Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,

North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont,

Virginia, and West Virginia.

Mississippi Flyway--includes Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana,

Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,

Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

Central Flyway--includes Colorado (east of the Continental Divide),

Kansas, Montana (Counties of Blaine, Carbon, Fergus, Judith Basin,

Stillwater, Sweetgrass, Wheatland, and all counties east thereof),

Nebraska, New Mexico (east of the Continental Divide except the

Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation), North Dakota, Oklahoma, South

Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming (east of the Continental Divide).

Pacific Flyway--includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho,

Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and those portions of Colorado,

Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming not included in the Central Flyway.

Management Units

Mourning Dove Management Units

Eastern Management Unit--All States east of the Mississippi River,

and Louisiana.

Central Management Unit--Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas,

Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota,

Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.

Western Management Unit--Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada,

Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

Woodcock Management Regions

Eastern Management Region--Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia,

Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,

North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont,

Virginia, and West Virginia.

Central Management Region--Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana,

Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi,

Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota,

Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Other geographic descriptions are contained in a later portion of

this document.

Compensatory Days in the Atlantic Flyway: In the Atlantic Flyway

States of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New

Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia,

where Sunday hunting is prohibited statewide by State law, all Sundays

are closed to all take of migratory waterfowl (including mergansers and

coots).

Special September Teal Season

Outside Dates: Between September 1 and September 30, an open season

on all species of teal may be selected by the following States in areas

delineated by State regulations:

Atlantic Flyway--Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina,

Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. All seasons

are experimental.

Mississippi Flyway--Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky,

Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee.

Central Flyway--Colorado (part), Kansas, New Mexico (part),

Oklahoma, and Texas.

Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 9 consecutive

days in the Atlantic Flyway and 16 consecutive days in the Mississippi

and Central Flyways. The daily bag limit is 4 teal.

Shooting Hours

Atlantic Flyway--One-half hour before sunrise to sunset, if

evaluated; otherwise sunrise to sunset.

Mississippi and Central Flyways--One-half hour before sunrise to

sunset, except in the States of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri,

and Ohio, where the hours are from sunrise to sunset.

Special September Duck Seasons

Florida: A 5-consecutive-day season may be selected in September.

The daily bag limit may not exceed 4 teal and wood ducks in the

aggregate.

Kentucky and Tennessee: In lieu of a special September teal season,

a 5-consecutive-day season may be selected in September. The daily bag

limit may not exceed 4 teal and wood ducks in the aggregate, of which

no more than 2 may be wood ducks.

Iowa: Iowa may hold up to 5 days of its regular duck hunting season

in September. All ducks which are legal during the regular duck season

may be taken during the September segment of the season. The September

season segment may commence no earlier than the Saturday nearest

September 20 (September 19). The daily bag and possession limits will

be the same as those in effect last year, but are subject to change

during the late-season regulations process. The remainder of the

regular duck season may not begin before October 10.

Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day

Outside Dates: States may select 1 day per duck-hunting zone,

designated as ``Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day,'' in addition to their

regular duck seasons. The day must be held outside any regular duck

season on a weekend, holiday, or other non-school day when youth

hunters would have the maximum opportunity to participate. The day 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 limit may include ducks, geese,

mergansers, coots, moorhens, and gallinules and would be the same as

that allowed in the regular season. Flyway species and area

restrictions would remain in effect.

Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Participation Restrictions: Youth hunters must be 15 years of age

or younger. In addition, an adult at least 18 years of age must

accompany the youth hunter into the field. This adult could not duck

hunt but may participate in other seasons that are open on the special

youth day.

Scoter, Eider, and Oldsquaw Ducks (Atlantic Flyway)

Outside Dates: Between September 15 and January 20.

Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 107 days, with

a daily bag limit of 7, singly or in the aggregate of the listed sea-

duck species, of which no more than 4 may be scoters.

Daily Bag Limits During the Regular Duck Season: Within the special

sea duck areas, during the regular duck season in the Atlantic Flyway,

States may choose to allow the above sea duck limits in addition to the

limits applying to other ducks during the regular duck season. In all

other areas, sea ducks may be taken only during the regular open season

for ducks and are part of the regular duck season daily bag (not to

exceed 4 scoters) and possession limits.

Areas: In all coastal waters and all waters of rivers and streams

seaward from the first upstream bridge in Maine, New Hampshire,

Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York; in any waters

of the Atlantic Ocean and in any tidal waters of any bay which are

separated by at least 1 mile of open water from any shore, island, and

emergent vegetation in New Jersey,

[[Page 46131]]

South Carolina, and Georgia; and in any waters of the Atlantic Ocean

and in any tidal waters of any bay which are separated by at least 800

yards of open water from any shore, island, and emergent vegetation in

Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia; and provided that any

such areas have been described, delineated, and designated as special

sea-duck hunting areas under the hunting regulations adopted by the

respective States.

Special Early Canada Goose Seasons

Atlantic Flyway

General Seasons

Canada goose seasons of up to 15 days during September 1-15 may be

selected for the Montezuma Region of New York; the Lake Champlain

Region of New York and Vermont; the Eastern Unit of Maryland; Delaware;

and Crawford County in Pennsylvania. Seasons not to exceed 20 days

during September 1-20 may be selected for the Northeast Hunt Unit of

North Carolina. Seasons may not exceed 25 days during September 1-25 in

the remainder of the Flyway, except Georgia and Florida, where the

season is closed. Areas open to the hunting of Canada geese must be

described, delineated, and designated as such in each State's hunting

regulations.

Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 5 Canada geese.

Experimental Seasons

Experimental Canada goose seasons of up to 30 days during September

1-30 may be selected by New Jersey, New York (Long Island Zone), North

Carolina (except in the Northeast Hunt Unit), and South Carolina.

Experimental Canada goose seasons of up to 25 days during September 1-

25 may be selected in Crawford County, Pennsylvania. Areas open to the

hunting of Canada geese must be described, delineated, and designated

as such in each State's hunting regulations.

Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 5 Canada geese.

Mississippi Flyway

General Seasons

Canada goose seasons of up to 15 days during September 1-15 may be

selected, except in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, where the season

may not extend beyond September 10, and in the Michigan Counties of

Huron, Saginaw and Tuscola, where no special season may be held. The

daily bag limit may not exceed 5 Canada geese. Areas open to the

hunting of Canada geese must be described, delineated, and designated

as such in each State's hunting regulations.

Central Flyway

General Seasons

Canada goose seasons of up to 15 days during September 1-15 may be

selected. The daily bag limit may not exceed 5 Canada geese. Areas open

to the hunting of Canada geese must be described, delineated, and

designated as such in each State's hunting regulations.

Pacific Flyway

General Seasons

Wyoming may select an 8-day season on Canada geese between

September 1-15. This season is subject to the following conditions:

1. Where applicable, the season must be concurrent with the

September portion of the sandhill crane season.

2. All participants must have a valid State permit for the special

season.

3. A daily bag limit of 2, with season and possession limits of 4

will apply to the special season.

Oregon may select a special Canada goose season of up to 15 days

during the period September 1-15. In addition, in the NW goose

management zone, a 15-day season may be selected during the period

September 1-20. Any portion of the season selected between September 16

and 20 will be considered experimental. Daily bag limits may not exceed

5 Canada geese. In the NW goose zone, at a minimum, Oregon must provide

an annual evaluation of the number of dusky Canada geese present in the

hunt zone during the period September 16-20 and agree to adjust seasons

as necessary to avoid any potential harvest of dusky Canada geese.

Washington may select a special Canada goose season of up to 15

days during the period September 1-15. Daily bag limits may not exceed

3 Canada geese.

Idaho may select a 15-day season in the special East Canada Goose

Zone, as described in State regulations, during the period September 1-

15. All participants must have a valid State permit and the total

number of permits issued is not to exceed 110 for this zone. The daily

bag limit is 2.

Idaho may select a 7-day Canada Goose Season during the period

September 1-15 in Nez Perce County, with a bag limit of 4.

California may select a 9-day season in Humboldt County during the

period September 1-15. The daily bag limit is 2.

Areas open to hunting of Canada geese in each State must be

described, delineated, and designated as such in each State's hunting

regulations.

Regular Goose Seasons

Regular goose seasons may open as early as September 19 in

Wisconsin and Michigan. In Wisconsin, and in Michigan for all geese

except Canada geese, season lengths and bag and possession limits will

be the same as those in effect last year, but are subject to change

during the late-season regulations process. In Michigan, for Canada

goose seasons opening September 19, the season may extend for 16 days.

The daily bag limit will be 2 Canada geese, except that in the South

Zone, during that portion of the season that overlaps the duck season,

the daily bag limit will be one Canada goose. Provision for seasons

opening October 3 or later will be contained in the late-season

frameworks.

Sandhill Cranes

Regular Seasons in the Central Flyway

Outside Dates: Between September 1 and February 28.

Hunting Seasons: Seasons not to exceed 58 consecutive days may be

selected in designated portions of the following States: Colorado,

Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Seasons not

to exceed 93 consecutive days may be selected in designated portions of

the following States: New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Daily Bag Limits: 3 sandhill cranes.

Permits: Each person participating in the regular sandhill crane

seasons must have a valid Federal sandhill crane hunting permit in

their possession while hunting.

Special Seasons in the Central and Pacific Flyways

Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming

may select seasons for hunting sandhill cranes within the range of the

Rocky Mountain Population subject to the following conditions:

Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 31.

Hunting Seasons: The season in any State or zone may not exceed 30

days.

Bag limits: Not to exceed 3 daily and 9 per season.

Permits: Participants must have a valid permit, issued by the

appropriate State, in their possession while hunting.

Other provisions: Numbers of permits, open areas, season dates,

protection plans for other species, and other provisions of seasons

must be consistent with the management plan and approved by the Central

and Pacific Flyway Councils. Seasons in Idaho are experimental.

[[Page 46132]]

Common Moorhens and Purple Gallinules

Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 20 in the Atlantic

Flyway, and between September 1 and the Sunday nearest January 20

(January 17) in the Mississippi and Central Flyways. States in the

Pacific Flyway have been allowed to select their hunting seasons

between the outside dates for the season on ducks; therefore, they are

late-season frameworks and no frameworks are provided in this document.

Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Seasons may not exceed 70

days in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways. Seasons may be

split into 2 segments. The daily bag limit is 15 common moorhens and

purple gallinules, singly or in the aggregate of the two species.

Rails

Outside Dates: States included herein may select seasons between

September 1 and January 20 on clapper, king, sora, and Virginia rails.

Hunting Seasons: The season may not exceed 70 days, and may be

split into 2 segments.

Daily Bag Limits

Clapper and King Rails--In Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey,

Delaware, and Maryland, 10, singly or in the aggregate of the two

species. In Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida,

South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, 15, singly or in the

aggregate of the two species.

Sora and Virginia Rails--In the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central

Flyways and the Pacific-Flyway portions of Colorado, Montana, New

Mexico, and Wyoming, 25 daily and 25 in possession, singly or in the

aggregate of the two species. The season is closed in the remainder of

the Pacific Flyway.

Common Snipe

Outside Dates: Between September 1 and February 28, except in

Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,

Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia,

where the season must end no later than January 31.

Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Seasons may not exceed 107

days and may be split into two segments. The daily bag limit is 8

snipe.

American Woodcock

Outside Dates: States in the Eastern Management Region may select

hunting seasons between October 6 and January 31. States in the Central

Management Region may select hunting seasons between the Saturday

nearest September 22 (September 19) and January 31.

Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Seasons may not exceed 30

days in the Atlantic Flyway and 45 days in the Central and Mississippi

Flyways. The daily bag limit is 3. Seasons may be split into two

segments.

Zoning: New Jersey may select seasons in each of two zones. The

season in each zone may not exceed 24 days.

Band-Tailed Pigeons

Pacific Coast States (California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada)

Outside Dates: Between September 15 and January 1.

Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 9 consecutive

days, with bag and possession limits of 2 and 2 band-tailed pigeons,

respectively.

Zoning: California may select hunting seasons not to exceed 9

consecutive days in each of two zones. The season in the North Zone

must close by October 7.

Four-Corners States (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah)

Outside Dates: Between September 1 and November 30.

Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 30 consecutive

days, with a daily bag limit of 5 band-tailed pigeons.

Zoning: New Mexico may select hunting seasons not to exceed 20

consecutive days in each of two zones. The season in the South Zone may

not open until October 1.

Mourning Doves

Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 15, except as

otherwise provided, States may select hunting seasons and daily bag

limits as follows:

Eastern Management Unit

Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 70 days with a

daily bag limit of 12, or not more than 60 days with a daily bag limit

of 15.

Zoning and Split Seasons: States may select hunting seasons in each

of two zones. The season within each zone may be split into not more

than three periods. The hunting seasons in the South Zones of Alabama,

Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi may commence no earlier

than September 20. Regulations for bag and possession limits, season

length, and shooting hours must be uniform within specific hunting

zones.

Central Management Unit

Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 70 days with a

daily bag limit of 12, or not more than 60 days with a daily bag limit

of 15.

Zoning and Split Seasons: States may select hunting seasons in each

of two zones. The season within each zone may be split into not more

than three periods. Texas may select hunting seasons for each of three

zones subject to the following conditions:

A. The hunting season may be split into not more than two periods,

except in that portion of Texas in which the special white-winged dove

season is allowed, where a limited mourning dove season may be held

concurrently with that special season (see white-winged dove

frameworks).

B. A season may be selected for the North and Central Zones between

September 1 and January 25; and for the South Zone between September 20

and January 25.

C. Each zone may have a daily bag limit of 12 doves (15 under the

alternative) in the aggregate, no more than 2 of which may be white-

tipped doves, except that during the special white-winged dove season,

the daily bag limit may not exceed 10 white-winged, mourning, and

white-tipped doves in the aggregate, of which no more than 5 may be

mourning doves and 2 may be white-tipped doves.

D. Except as noted above, regulations for bag and possession

limits, season length, and shooting hours must be uniform within each

hunting zone.

Western Management Unit

Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah,

and Washington--Not more than 30 consecutive days with a daily bag

limit of 10 mourning doves (in Nevada, the daily bag limit may not

exceed 10 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate).

Arizona and California--Not more than 60 days which may be split

between two periods, September 1-15 and November 1-January 15. In

Arizona, during the first segment of the season, the daily bag limit is

10 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate, of which no more

than 6 may be white-winged doves. During the remainder of the season,

the daily bag limit is restricted to 10 mourning doves. In California,

the daily bag limit may not exceed 10 mourning and white-winged doves

in the aggregate.

[[Page 46133]]

White-Winged and White-tipped Doves

Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits

Except as shown below, seasons in Arizona, California, Florida,

Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas must be concurrent with mourning dove

seasons.

Arizona may select a hunting season of not more than 30 consecutive

days, running concurrently with the first segment of the mourning dove

season. The daily bag limit may not exceed 10 mourning and white-winged

doves in the aggregate, of which no more than 6 may be white-winged

doves.

In Florida, the daily bag limit may not exceed 12 mourning and

white-winged doves (15 under the alternative) in the aggregate, of

which no more than 4 may be white-winged doves.

In the Nevada Counties of Clark and Nye, and in the California

Counties of Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino, the daily bag

limit may not exceed 10 mourning and white-winged doves in the

aggregate.

In New Mexico, the daily bag limit may not exceed 12 mourning and

white-winged doves (15 under the alternative) in the aggregate.

In Texas, the daily bag limit may not exceed 12 doves (15 under the

alternative) in the aggregate, of which not more than 2 may be white-

tipped doves.

In addition, Texas may also select a hunting season of not more

than 4 days for the special white-winged dove area of the South Zone

between September 1 and September 19. The daily bag limit may not

exceed 10 white-winged, mourning, and white-tipped doves in the

aggregate, of which no more than 5 may be mourning doves and 2 may be

white-tipped doves.

Alaska

Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 26.

Hunting Seasons: Alaska may select 107 consecutive days for

waterfowl, sandhill cranes, and common snipe in each of five zones. The

season may be split without penalty in the Kodiak Zone. The seasons in

each zone must be concurrent.

Closures: The season is closed on Canada geese from Unimak Pass

westward in the Aleutian Island chain. The hunting season is closed on

Aleutian Canada geese, emperor geese, spectacled eiders, and Steller's

eiders.

Daily Bag and Possession Limits

Ducks--Except as noted, a basic daily bag limit of 7 and a

possession limit of 21 ducks. Daily bag and possession limits in the

North Zone are 10 and 30, and in the Gulf Coast Zone they are 8 and 24,

respectively. The basic limits may include no more than 1 canvasback

daily and 3 in possession.

In addition to the basic limit, there is a daily bag limit of 15

and a possession limit of 30 scoter, common and king eiders, oldsquaw,

harlequin, and common and red-breasted mergansers, singly or in the

aggregate of these species.

Light Geese--A basic daily bag limit of 3 and a possession limit of

6.

Dark Geese--A basic daily bag limit of 4 and a possession limit of

8.

Dark-goose seasons are subject to the following exceptions:

1. In Units 9(e) and 18, the limits for dark geese are 3 daily and

6 in possession.

2. In Units 5 and 6, the taking of Canada geese is permitted from

September 28 through December 16. A special, permit only Canada goose

season may be offered on Middleton Island. No more than 10 permits can

be issued. A mandatory goose identification class is required. Hunters

must check-in and check-out. Bag limit of 1 daily and 1 in possession.

Season to close if incidental harvest includes 5 dusky Canada geese. A

dusky Canada goose is any dark-breasted Canada goose (Munsell 10 YR

color value five or less) with a bill length between 40 and 50

millimeters.

3. In Unit 10 (except Unimak Island), the taking of Canada geese is

prohibited.

4. In Unit 9(D) and the Unimak Island portion of Unit 10, the

limits for dark geese are 6 daily and 12 in possession.

Brant--A daily bag limit of 2.

Common snipe--A daily bag limit of 8.

Sandhill cranes--A daily bag limit of 3.

Tundra Swans--Open seasons for tundra swans may be selected subject

to the following conditions:

1. All seasons are by registration permit only.

2. All season framework dates are September 1--October 31.

3. In GMU 18, no more than 500 permits may be issued during the

operational season. No more than 3 tundra swans permits may be issued

per hunter and permits must be issued sequentially one at a time, upon

filing a harvest report.

4. In GMU 22, no more than 300 permits may be issued during the

operational season authorizing each permittee to take 1 tundra swan per

season.

5. In GMU 23, no more than 300 permits may be issued during the

experimental season. No more than 3 tundra swans permits may be issued

per hunter and permits must be issued sequentially, one at a time, upon

filing a harvest report. The experimental season evaluation must adhere

to the guidelines for experimental seasons as described in the Pacific

Flyway Management Plan for the Western Population of (Tundra) Swans.

Hawaii

Outside Dates: Between October 1 and January 31.

Hunting Seasons: Not more than 65 days (75 under the alternative)

for mourning doves.

Bag Limits: Not to exceed 15 (12 under the alternative) mourning

doves.

Note: Mourning doves may be taken in Hawaii in accordance with

shooting hours and other regulations set by the State of Hawaii, and

subject to the applicable provisions of 50 CFR part 20.

Puerto Rico

Doves and Pigeons

Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 15.

Hunting Seasons: Not more than 60 days.

Daily Bag and Possession Limits: Not to exceed 10 Zenaida,

mourning, and white-winged doves in the aggregate. Not to exceed 5

scaly-naped pigeons.

Closed Areas: There is no open season on doves or pigeons in the

following areas: Municipality of Culebra, Desecheo Island, Mona Island,

El Verde Closure Area, and Cidra Municipality and adjacent areas.

Ducks, Coots, Moorhens, Gallinules, and Snipe

Outside Dates: Between October 1 and January 31.

Hunting Seasons: Not more than 55 days may be selected for hunting

ducks, common moorhens, and common snipe. The season may be split into

two segments.

Daily Bag Limits

Ducks--Not to exceed 6.

Common moorhens--Not to exceed 6.

Common snipe--Not to exceed 8.

Closed Seasons: The season is closed on the ruddy duck, white-

cheeked pintail, West Indian whistling duck, fulvous whistling duck,

and masked duck, which are protected by the Commonwealth of Puerto

Rico. The season also is closed on the purple gallinule, American coot,

and Caribbean coot.

Closed Areas: There is no open season on ducks, common moorhens,

and common snipe in the Municipality of Culebra and on Desecheo Island.

[[Page 46134]]

Virgin Islands

Doves and Pigeons

Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 15.

Hunting Seasons: Not more than 60 days for Zenaida doves.

Daily Bag and Possession Limits: Not to exceed 10 Zenaida doves.

Closed Seasons: No open season is prescribed for ground or quail

doves, or pigeons in the Virgin Islands.

Closed Areas: There is no open season for migratory game birds on

Ruth Cay (just south of St. Croix).

Local Names for Certain Birds: Zenaida dove, also known as mountain

dove; bridled quail-dove, also known as Barbary dove or partridge;

Common ground-dove, also known as stone dove, tobacco dove, rola, or

tortolita; scaly-naped pigeon, also known as red-necked or scaled

pigeon.

Ducks

Outside Dates: Between December 1 and January 31.

Hunting Seasons: Not more than 55 consecutive days.

Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 6.

Closed Seasons: The season is closed on the ruddy duck, white-

cheeked pintail, West Indian whistling duck, fulvous whistling duck,

and masked duck.

Special Falconry Regulations

Falconry is a permitted means of taking migratory game birds in any

State meeting Federal falconry standards in 50 CFR 21.29(k). These

States may select an extended season for taking migratory game birds in

accordance with the following:

Extended Seasons: For all hunting methods combined, the combined

length of the extended season, regular season, and any special or

experimental seasons shall not exceed 107 days for any species or group

of species in a geographical area. Each extended season may be divided

into a maximum of 3 segments.

Framework Dates: Seasons must fall between September 1 and March

10.

Daily Bag and Possession Limits: Falconry daily bag and possession

limits for all permitted migratory game birds shall not exceed 3 and 6

birds, respectively, singly or in the aggregate, during extended

falconry seasons, any special or experimental seasons, and regular

hunting seasons in all States, including those that do not select an

extended falconry season.

Regular Seasons: General hunting regulations, including seasons and

hunting hours, apply to falconry in each State listed in 50 CFR

21.29(k). Regular-season bag and possession limits do not apply to

falconry. The falconry bag limit is not in addition to gun limits.

Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions

Mourning and White-winged Doves

Alabama

South Zone--Baldwin, Barbour, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Dale,

Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, and Mobile Counties.

North Zone--Remainder of the State.

California

White-winged Dove Open Areas--Imperial, Riverside, and San

Bernardino Counties.

Florida

Northwest Zone--The Counties of Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin,

Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton,

Washington, Leon (except that portion north of U.S. 27 and east of

State Road 155), Jefferson (south of U.S. 27, west of State Road 59 and

north of U.S. 98), and Wakulla (except that portion south of U.S. 98

and east of the St. Marks River).

South Zone--Remainder of State.

Georgia

Northern Zone--That portion of the State lying north of a line

running west to east along U.S. Highway 280 from Columbus to Wilcox

County, thence southward along the western border of Wilcox County;

thence east along the southern border of Wilcox County to the Ocmulgee

River, thence north along the Ocmulgee River to Highway 280, thence

east along Highway 280 to the Little Ocmulgee River; thence southward

along the Little Ocmulgee River to the Ocmulgee River; thence

southwesterly along the Ocmulgee River to the western border of the

Jeff Davis County; thence south along the western border of Jeff Davis

County; thence east along the southern border of Jeff Davis and Appling

Counties; thence north along the eastern border of Appling County, to

the Altamaha River; thence east to the eastern border of Tattnall

County; thence north along the eastern border of Tattnall County;

thence north along the western border of Evans to Candler County;

thence west along the southern border of Candler County to the Ohoopee

River; thence north along the western border of Candler County to

Bulloch County; thence north along the western border of Bulloch County

to U.S. Highway 301; thence northeast along U.S. Highway 301 to the

South Carolina line.

South Zone--Remainder of the State.

Louisiana

North Zone--That portion of the State north of Interstate Highway

10 from the Texas State line to Baton Rouge, Interstate Highway 12 from

Baton Rouge to Slidell and Interstate Highway 10 from Slidell to the

Mississippi State line.

South Zone--The remainder of the State.

Mississippi

South Zone--The Counties of Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock,

Harrison, Jackson, Lamar, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Stone, and

Walthall.

North Zone--The remainder of the State.

Nevada

White-winged Dove Open Areas--Clark and Nye Counties.

Texas

North Zone--That portion of the State north of a line beginning at

the International Bridge south of Fort Hancock; north along FM 1088 to

TX 20; west along TX 20 to TX 148; north along TX 148 to I-10 at Fort

Hancock; east along I-10 to I-20; northeast along I-20 to I-30 at Fort

Worth; northeast along I-30 to the Texas-Arkansas State line.

South Zone--That portion of the State south and west of a line

beginning at the International Bridge south of Del Rio, proceeding east

on U.S. 90 to San Antonio; then east on I-10 to Orange, Texas.

Special White-winged Dove Area in the South Zone--That portion of

the State south and west of a line beginning at the International

Bridge south of Del Rio, proceeding east on U.S. 90 to Uvalde; south on

U.S. 83 to TX 44; east along TX 44 to TX 16 at Freer; south along TX 16

to TX 285 at Hebbronville; east along TX 285 to FM 1017; southwest

along FM 1017 to TX 186 at Linn; east along TX 186 to the Mansfield

Channel at Port Mansfield; east along the Mansfield Channel to the Gulf

of Mexico.

Area with additional restrictions--Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and

Willacy Counties.

Central Zone--That portion of the State lying between the North and

South Zones.

Band-tailed Pigeons

California

North Zone--Alpine, Butte, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lassen,

Mendocino, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity

Counties.

South Zone--The remainder of the State.

[[Page 46135]]

New Mexico

North Zone--North of a line following U.S. 60 from the Arizona

State line east to I-25 at Socorro and then south along I-25 from

Socorro to the Texas State line.

South Zone--Remainder of the State.

Washington

Western Washington--The State of Washington excluding those

portions lying east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of the Big

White Salmon River in Klickitat County.

Woodcock

New Jersey

North Zone--That portion of the State north of NJ 70.

South Zone--The remainder of the State.

Special September Canada Goose Seasons

Atlantic Flyway

Connecticut

North Zone--That portion of the State north of I-95.

Maryland

Eastern Unit--Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles,

Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Annes, St. Marys, Somerset, Talbot,

Wicomico, and Worcester Counties, and those portions of Baltimore,

Howard, and Prince George's Counties east of I-95.

Western Unit--Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Montgomery,

and Washington Counties, and those portions of Baltimore, Howard, and

Prince George's Counties east of I-95.

Massachusetts

Western Zone--That portion of the State west of a line extending

south from the Vermont border 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

border.

Central Zone--That portion of the State east of the Berkshire Zone

and west of a line extending south from the New Hampshire border 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 border; except the waters, and the lands 150 yards

inland from the high-water mark, of the Assonet River upstream to the

MA 24 bridge, and the Taunton River upstream to the Center St.-Elm St.

bridge shall be in the Coastal Zone.

Coastal Zone--That portion of Massachusetts east and south of the

Central Zone.

New York

Lake Champlain Zone--The U.S. portion of Lake Champlain and that

area east and north of a line extending along NY 9B from the Canadian

border to U.S. 9, south along U.S. 9 to NY 22 south of Keesville; south

along NY 22 to the west shore of South Bay, along and around the

shoreline of South Bay to NY 22 on the east shore of South Bay;

southeast along NY 22 to U.S. 4, northeast along U.S. 4 to the Vermont

border.

Long Island Zone--That area consisting of Nassau County, Suffolk

County, that area of Westchester County southeast of I-95, and their

tidal waters.

Western Zone--That area west of a line extending from Lake Ontario

east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, and south along

I-81 to the Pennsylvania border, except for the Montezuma Zone.

Montezuma Zone--Those portions of Cayuga, Seneca, Ontario, Wayne,

and Oswego Counties north of U.S. Route 20, east of NYS Route 14, south

of NYS Route 104, and west of NYS Route 34.

Northeastern Zone--That area north of a line extending from Lake

Ontario east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, south

along I-81 to NY 49, east along NY 49 to NY 365, east along NY 365 to

NY 28, east along NY 28 to NY 29, east along NY 29 to I-87, north along

I-87 to U.S. 9 (at Exit 20), north along U.S. 9 to NY 149, east along

NY 149 to U.S. 4, north along U.S. 4 to the Vermont border, exclusive

of the Lake Champlain Zone.

Southeastern Zone--The remaining portion of New York.

North Carolina

Northeast Hunt Unit--Counties of Bertie, Camden, Chovan, Currituck,

Dare, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington.

South Carolina

Early-season Hunt Unit--Clarendon County and those portions of

Orangeburg County north of SC Highway 6 and Berkeley County north of SC

Highway 45 from the Orangeburg County line to the junction of SC

Highway 45 and State Road S-8-31 and west of the Santee Dam.

Vermont

Lake Champlain Zone: The U.S. portion of Lake Champlain and that

area north and west of a line extending from the New York border along

U.S. 4 to VT 22A at Fair Haven; VT 22A to U.S. 7 at Vergennes; U.S. 7

to the Canadian border.

Interior Zone: The remaining portion of Vermont.

Mississippi Flyway

Illinois

Northeast Canada Goose Zone--Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee,

Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties.

North Zone: That portion of the State outside the Northeast Canada

Goose Zone and north of a line extending east from the Iowa border

along Illinois Highway 92 to Interstate Highway 280, east along I-280

to I-80, then east along I-80 to the Indiana border.

Central Zone: That portion of the State outside the Northeast

Canada Goose Zone and south of the North Zone to a line extending east

from the Missouri border along the Modoc Ferry route to Modoc Ferry

Road, east along Modoc Ferry Road to Modoc Road, northeasterly along

Modoc Road and St. Leo's Road to Illinois Highway 3, north along

Illinois 3 to Illinois 159, north along Illinois 159 to Illinois 161,

east along Illinois 161 to Illinois 4, north along Illinois 4 to

Interstate Highway 70, east along I-70 to the Bond County line, north

and east along the Bond County line to Fayette County, north and east

along the Fayette County line to Effingham County, east and south along

the Effingham County line to I-70, then east along I-70 to the Indiana

border.

South Zone: The remainder of Illinois.

Iowa

North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending

east from the Nebraska border along State Highway 175 to State 37,

southeast along State 37 to U.S. Highway 59, south along U.S. 59 to

Interstate Highway 80, then east along I-80 to the Illinois border.

South Zone: The remainder of Iowa.

Michigan

North Zone: The Upper Peninsula.

Middle Zone: That portion of the Lower Peninsula north of a line

beginning at the Wisconsin border in Lake Michigan due west of the

mouth of Stony Creek in Oceana County; then due east to, and easterly

and southerly along the south shore of, Stony Creek to Scenic Drive,

easterly and southerly along Scenic Drive to Stony Lake Road, easterly

along Stony Lake and Garfield Roads to Michigan Highway 20, east along

Michigan 20 to U.S. Highway 10 Business Route (BR) in the city of

Midland, east along U.S. 10 BR to U.S. 10, east along U.S. 10 to

Interstate Highway 75/U.S. Highway 23, north along I-75/U.S. 23 to the

U.S. 23 exit at Standish, east along U.S. 23 to Shore Road in Arenac

County, east along Shore Road to the tip of Point Lookout, then on a

line directly east 10 miles into

[[Page 46136]]

Saginaw Bay, and from that point on a line directly northeast to the

Canada border.

South Zone: The remainder of Michigan.

Minnesota

Twin Cities Metropolitan Canada Goose Zone--

A. All of Hennepin and Ramsey Counties.

B. In Anoka County, all of Columbus Township lying south of County

State Aid Highway (CSAH) 18, Anoka County; all of the cities of Ramsey,

Andover, Anoka, Coon Rapids, Spring Lake Park, Fridley, Hilltop,

Columbia Heights, Blaine, Lexington, Circle Pines, Lino Lakes, and

Centerville; and all of the city of Ham Lake except that portion lying

north of CSAH 18 and east of U.S. Highway 65.

C. That part of Carver County lying north and east of the following

described line: Beginning at the northeast corner of San Francisco

Township; thence west along the north boundary of San Francisco

Township to the east boundary of Dahlgren Township; thence north along

the east boundary of Dahlgren Township to U.S. Highway 212; thence west

along U.S. Highway 212 to State Trunk Highway (STH) 284; thence north

on STH 284 to County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 10; thence north and west

on CSAH 10 to CSAH 30; thence north and west on CSAH 30 to STH 25;

thence east and north on STH 25 to CSAH 10; thence north on CSAH 10 to

the Carver County line.

D. In Scott County, all of the cities of Shakopee, Savage, Prior

Lake, and Jordan, and all of the Townships of Jackson, Louisville, St.

Lawrence, Sand Creek, Spring Lake, and Credit River.

E. In Dakota County, all of the cities of Burnsville, Eagan,

Mendota Heights, Mendota, Sunfish Lake, Inver Grove Heights, Apple

Valley, Lakeville, Rosemount, Farmington, Hastings, Lilydale, West St.

Paul, and South St. Paul, and all of the Township of Nininger.

F. That portion of Washington County lying south of the following

described line: Beginning at County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 2 on the

west boundary of the county; thence east on CSAH 2 to U.S. Highway 61;

thence south on U.S. Highway 61 to State Trunk Highway (STH) 97; thence

east on STH 97 to the intersection of STH 97 and STH 95; thence due

east to the east boundary of the State.

Northwest Goose Zone (included for reference only, not a special

September Goose Season Zone)--That portion of the State encompassed by

a line extending east from the North Dakota border along U.S. Highway 2

to State Trunk Highway (STH) 32, north along STH 32 to STH 92, east

along STH 92 to County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 2 in Polk County, north

along CSAH 2 to CSAH 27 in Pennington County, north along CSAH 27 to

STH 1, east along STH 1 to CSAH 28 in Pennington County, north along

CSAH 28 to CSAH 54 in Marshall County, north along CSAH 54 to CSAH 9 in

Roseau County, north along CSAH 9 to STH 11, west along STH 11 to STH

310, and north along STH 310 to the Manitoba border.

Two Goose Zone--That portion of the state lying east of Interstate

Highway 35 and south of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Canada Goose Zone.

Five Goose Zone--That portion of the state not included in the Twin

Cities Metropolitan Canada Goose Zone, the Northwest Goose Zone, or the

Two Goose Zone.

Tennessee

Middle Tennessee Zone--Those portions of Houston, Humphreys,

Montgomery, Perry, and Wayne Counties east of State Highway 13; and

Bedford, Cannon, Cheatham, Coffee, Davidson, Dickson, Franklin, Giles,

Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marshall, Maury, Moore,

Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, and Wilson

Counties.

East Tennessee Zone--Anderson, Bledsoe, Bradley, Blount, Campbell,

Carter, Claiborne, Clay, Cocke, Cumberland, Dekalb, Fentress, Grainger,

Greene, Grundy, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hawkins, Jackson,

Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Loudon, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe,

Morgan, Overton, Pickett, Polk, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sequatchie,

Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union, Van Buren, Warren, Washington, and

White Counties.

Wisconsin

Early-Season Subzone A--That portion of the State encompassed by a

line beginning at the Lake Michigan shore in Sheboygan, then west along

State Highway 23 to State 67, southerly along State 67 to County

Highway E in Sheboygan County, southerly along County E to State 28,

south and west along State 28 to U.S. Highway 41, southerly along U.S.

41 to State 33, westerly along State 33 to County Highway U in

Washington County, southerly along County U to County N, southeasterly

along County N to State 60, westerly along State 60 to County Highway P

in Dodge County, southerly along County P to County O, westerly along

County O to State 109, south and west along State 109 to State 26,

southerly along State 26 to U.S. 12, southerly along U.S. 12 to State

89, southerly along State 89 to U.S. 14, southerly along U.S. 14 to the

Illinois border, east along the Illinois border to the Michigan border

in Lake Michigan, north along the Michigan border in Lake Michigan to a

point directly east of State 23 in Sheboygan, then west along that line

to the point of beginning on the Lake Michigan shore in Sheboygan.

Early-Season Subzone B--That portion of the State between Early-

Season Subzone A and a line beginning at the intersection of U.S.

Highway 141 and the Michigan border near Niagara, then south along U.S.

141 to State Highway 22, west and southwest along State 22 to U.S. 45,

south along U.S. 45 to State 22, west and south along State 22 to State

110, south along State 110 to U.S. 10, south along U.S. 10 to State 49,

south along State 49 to State 23, west along State 23 to State 73,

south along State 73 to State 60, west along State 60 to State 23,

south along State 23 to State 11, east along State 11 to State 78, then

south along State 78 to the Illinois border.

Central Flyway

South Dakota

September Canada Goose Unit--Brookings, Clark, Codington, Day,

Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Kingsbury, Lake, McCook, Moody Counties, and

Miner County east of SD 25, and that portion of Minnehaha County north

and west of a line beginning at the junction of County 130 (Renner

Road) and the Minnesota border, then west on County 130 to I-29 and

along I-29 to the Lincoln County line.

Pacific Flyway

Idaho

East Zone--Bonneville, Caribou, Fremont and Teton Counties.

Oregon

Northwest Zone--Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Lane,

Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk, Multnomah, Tillamook, Washington, and

Yamhill Counties.

Southwest Zone--Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, and

Klamath Counties.

East Zone--Baker, Gilliam, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla,

Union and Wasco Counties.

Washington

Southwest Zone--Clark, Cowlitz, Pacific, and Wahkiakum Counties.

[[Page 46137]]

East Zone--Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Garfield, Klickitat, and

Whitman Counties.

Wyoming

Bear River Area--That portion of Lincoln County described in State

regulations.

Salt River Area--That portion of Lincoln County described in State

regulations.

Farson-Edon Area--Those portions of Sweetwater and Sublette

Counties described in State regulations.

Teton Area--Those portions of Teton County described in State

regulations.

Ducks

Atlantic Flyway

New York

Lake Champlain Zone: The U.S. portion of Lake Champlain and that

area east and north of a line extending along NY 9B from the Canadian

border to U.S. 9, south along U.S. 9 to NY 22 south of Keesville; south

along NY 22 to the west shore of South Bay, along and around the

shoreline of South Bay to NY 22 on the east shore of South Bay;

southeast along NY 22 to U.S. 4, northeast along U.S. 4 to the Vermont

border.

Long Island Zone: That area consisting of Nassau County, Suffolk

County, that area of Westchester County southeast of I-95, and their

tidal waters.

Western Zone: That area west of a line extending from Lake Ontario

east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, and south along

I-81 to the Pennsylvania border.

Northeastern Zone: That area north of a line extending from Lake

Ontario east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, south

along I-81 to NY 49, east along NY 49 to NY 365, east along NY 365 to

NY 28, east along NY 28 to NY 29, east along NY 29 to I-87, north along

I-87 to U.S. 9 (at Exit 20), north along U.S. 9 to NY 149, east along

NY 149 to U.S. 4, north along U.S. 4 to the Vermont border, exclusive

of the Lake Champlain Zone.

Southeastern Zone: The remaining portion of New York.

Mississippi Flyway

Indiana

North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending

east from the Illinois border along State Road 18 to U.S. Highway 31,

north along U.S. 31 to U.S. 24, east along U.S. 24 to Huntington, then

southeast along U.S. 224 to the Ohio border.

Ohio River Zone: That portion of the State south of a line

extending east from the Illinois border along Interstate Highway 64 to

New Albany, east along State Road 62 to State 56, east along State 56

to Vevay, east and north on State 156 along the Ohio River to North

Landing, north along State 56 to U.S. Highway 50, then northeast along

U.S. 50 to the Ohio border.

South Zone: That portion of the State between the North and Ohio

River Zone boundaries.

Iowa

North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending

east from the Nebraska border along State Highway 175 to State 37,

southeast along State 37 to U.S. Highway 59, south along U.S. 59 to

Interstate Highway 80, then east along I-80 to the Illinois border.

South Zone: The remainder of Iowa.

Central Flyway

Kansas

High Plains Zone: That portion of the State west of U.S. 283.

Low Plains Early Zone: That portion of the State east of the High

Plains Zone and west of a line extending south from the Nebraska border

along KS 28 to U.S. 36, east along U.S. 36 to KS 199, south along KS

199 to Republic County Road 563, south along Republic County Road 563

to KS 148, east along KS 148 to Republic County Road 138, south along

Republic County Road 138 to Cloud County Road 765, south along Cloud

County Road 765 to KS 9, west along KS 9 to U.S. 24, west along U.S 24

to U.S. 281, north along U.S. 281 to U.S. 36, west along U.S. 36 to

U.S. 183, south along U.S. 183 to U.S. 24, west along U.S. 24 to KS 18,

southeast along KS 18 to U.S. 183, south along U.S. 183 to KS 4, east

along KS 4 to I-135, south along I-135 to KS 61, southwest along KS 61

to KS 96, northwest on KS 96 to U.S. 56, west along U.S. 56 to U.S.

281, south along U.S. 281 to U.S. 54, then west along U.S. 54 to U.S.

283.

Low Plains Late Zone: The remainder of Kansas.

New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion)

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

South Zone: The remainder of New Mexico.

Pacific Flyway

California

Northeastern Zone: That portion of the State east and north of a

line beginning at the Oregon border; south and west along the Klamath

River to the mouth of Shovel Creek; south along Shovel Creek to Forest

Service Road 46N10; south and east along FS 46N10 to FS 45N22; west and

south along FS 45N22 to U.S. 97 at Grass Lake Summit; south and west

along U.S. 97 to I-5 at the town of Weed; south along I-5 to CA 89;

east and south along CA 89 to the junction with CA 49; east and north

on CA 49 to CA 70; east on CA 70 to U.S. 395; south and east on U.S.

395 to the Nevada border.

Colorado River Zone: Those portions of San Bernardino, Riverside,

and Imperial Counties east of a line extending from the Nevada border

south along U.S. 95 to Vidal Junction; south on a road known as

``Aqueduct Road'' in San Bernardino County through the town of Rice to

the San Bernardino-Riverside County line; south on a road known in

Riverside County as the ``Desert Center to Rice Road'' to the town of

Desert Center; east 31 miles on I-10 to the Wiley Well Road; south on

this road to Wiley Well; southeast along the Army-Milpitas Road to the

Blythe, Brawley, Davis Lake intersections; south on the Blythe-Brawley

paved road to the Ogilby and Tumco Mine Road; south on this road to

U.S. 80; east seven miles on U.S. 80 to the Andrade-Algodones Road;

south on this paved road to the Mexican border at Algodones, Mexico.

Southern Zone: That portion of southern California (but excluding

the Colorado River Zone) south and east of a line extending from the

Pacific Ocean east along the Santa Maria River to CA 166 near the City

of Santa Maria; east on CA 166 to CA 99; south on CA 99 to the crest of

the Tehachapi Mountains at Tejon Pass; east and north along the crest

of the Tehachapi Mountains to CA 178 at Walker Pass; east on CA 178 to

U.S. 395 at the town of Inyokern; south on U.S. 395 to CA 58; east on

CA 58 to I-15; east on I-15 to CA 127; north on CA 127 to the Nevada

border.

Southern San Joaquin Valley Temporary Zone: All of Kings and Tulare

Counties and that portion of Kern County north of the Southern Zone.

Balance-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of California not included

in the Northeastern, Southern, and Colorado River Zones, and the

Southern San Joaquin Valley Temporary Zone.

Canada Geese

Michigan

North Zone: The Upper Peninsula.

Middle Zone: That portion of the Lower Peninsula north of a line

beginning at the Wisconsin border in Lake Michigan due west of the

mouth of Stony Creek in Oceana County; then due east to, and easterly

and southerly along the south shore of, Stony Creek to Scenic Drive,

easterly and southerly along Scenic Drive to Stony Lake Road,

[[Page 46138]]

easterly along Stony Lake and Garfield Roads to Michigan Highway 20,

east along Michigan 20 to U.S. Highway 10 Business Route (BR) in the

city of Midland, east along U.S. 10 BR to U.S. 10, east along U.S. 10

to Interstate Highway 75/U.S. Highway 23, north along I-75/U.S. 23 to

the U.S. 23 exit at Standish, east along U.S. 23 to Shore Road in

Arenac County, east along Shore Road to the tip of Point Lookout, then

on a line directly east 10 miles into Saginaw Bay, and from that point

on a line directly northeast to the Canada border.

South Zone: The remainder of Michigan.

Sandhill Cranes

Central Flyway

Colorado

Regular-Season Open Area--The Central Flyway portion of the State

except the San Luis Valley (Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Hinsdale,

Mineral, Rio Grande and Saguache Counties east of the Continental

Divide) and North Park (Jackson County).

Kansas

Regular Season Open Area--That portion of the State west of a line

beginning at the Oklahoma border, north on I-35 to Wichita, north on I-

135 to Salina, and north on U.S. 81 to the Nebraska border.

New Mexico

Regular-Season Open Area--Chaves, Curry, De Baca, Eddy, Lea, Quay,

and Roosevelt Counties.

Middle Rio Grande Valley Area--The Central Flyway portion of New

Mexico in Socorro and Valencia Counties.

Southwest Zone--Sierra, Luna, and Dona Ana Counties.

Oklahoma

Regular-Season Open Area--That portion of the State west of I-35.

Texas

Regular-Season Open Area--That portion of the State west of a line

from the International Toll Bridge at Brownsville along U.S. 77 to

Victoria; U.S. 87 to Placedo; Farm Road 616 to Blessing; State 35 to

Alvin; State 6 to U.S. 290; U.S. 290 to Austin; I-35 to the Texas-

Oklahoma border.

North Dakota

Regular-Season Open Area--That portion of the State west of U.S.

281.

South Dakota

Regular-Season Open Area--That portion of the State west of U.S.

281.

Montana

Regular-Season Open Area--The Central Flyway portion of the State

except that area south of I-90 and west of the Bighorn River.

Wyoming

Regular-Season Open Area--Campbell, Converse, Crook, Goshen,

Laramie, Niobrara, Platte, and Weston Counties.

Riverton-Boysen Unit--Portions of Fremont County.

Park and Bighorn County Unit--Portions of Park and Bighorn

Counties.

Pacific Flyway

Arizona

Special-Season Area--Game Management Units 30A, 30B, 31, and 32.

Montana

Special-Season Area--See State regulations.

Utah

Special-Season Area--Rich County.

Wyoming

Bear River Area--That portion of Lincoln County described in State

regulations.

Salt River Area--That portion of Lincoln County described in State

regulations.

Eden-Farson Area--Those portions of Sweetwater and Sublette

Counties described in State regulations.

All Migratory Game Birds in Alaska

North Zone--State Game Management Units 11-13 and 17-26.

Gulf Coast Zone--State Game Management Units 5-7, 9, 14-16, and

10--Unimak Island only.

Southeast Zone--State Game Management Units 1-4.

Pribilof and Aleutian Islands Zone--State Game Management Unit 10--

except Unimak Island.

Kodiak Zone--State Game Management Unit 8.

All Migratory Birds in the Virgin Islands

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

Croix.

All Migratory Birds in Puerto Rico

Municipality of Culebra Closure Area--All of the municipality of

Culebra.

Desecheo Island Closure Area--All of Desecheo Island.

Mona Island Closure Area--All of Mona Island.

El Verde Closure Area--Those areas of the municipalities of Rio

Grande and Loiza delineated as follows: (1) All lands between Routes

956 on the west and 186 on the east, from Route 3 on the north to the

juncture of Routes 956 and 186 (Km 13.2) in the south; (2) all lands

between Routes 186 and 966 from the juncture of 186 and 966 on the

north, to the Caribbean National Forest Boundary on the south; (3) all

lands lying west of Route 186 for one kilometer from the juncture of

Routes 186 and 956 south to Km 6 on Route 186; (4) all lands within Km

14 and Km 6 on the west and the Caribbean National Forest Boundary on

the east; and (5) all lands within the Caribbean National Forest

Boundary whether private or public.

Cidra Municipality and adjacent areas--All of Cidra Municipality

and portions of Aguas, Buenas, Caguas, Cayer, and Comerio

Municipalities as encompassed within the following boundary: beginning

on Highway 172 as it leaves the municipality of Cidra on the west edge,

north to Highway 156, east on Highway 156 to Highway 1, south on

Highway 1 to Highway 765, south on Highway 765 to Highway 763, south on

Highway 763 to the Rio Guavate, west along Rio Guavate to Highway 1,

southwest on Highway 1 to Highway 14, west on Highway 14 to Highway

729, north on Highway 729 to Cidra Municipality boundary to the point

of beginning.

[FR Doc. 98-23266 Filed 8-27-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-P