[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 166 (Friday, August 26, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53536-53561]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21484]
[[Page 53535]]
Vol. 76
Friday,
No. 166
August 26, 2011
Part II
Department of the Interior
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Fish and Wildlife Service
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50 CFR Part 20
Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed Frameworks for Late Season Migratory
Bird Hunting Regulations; Proposed Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 166 / Friday, August 26, 2011 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 53536]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 20
[Docket No. FWS-R9-MB-2011-0014; 91200-1231-9BPP-L2]
RIN 1018-AX34
Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed Frameworks for Late-Season
Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; supplemental.
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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter Service or we) is
proposing to establish the 2011-12 late-season hunting regulations for
certain migratory game birds. We annually prescribe frameworks, or
outer limits, for dates and times when hunting may occur and the number
of birds that may be taken and possessed in late seasons. These
frameworks are necessary to allow State selections of seasons and
limits and to allow recreational harvest at levels compatible with
population and habitat conditions.
DATES: You must submit comments on the proposed migratory bird hunting
late-season frameworks by September 6, 2011.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposals by one of the
following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-R9-
MB-2011-0014.
U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing,
Attn: FWS-R9-MB-2011-0014; Division of Policy and Directives
Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS
2042-PDM; Arlington, VA 22203.
We will not accept e-mailed or faxed comments. We will post all
comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we
will post any personal information you provide us (see the Public
Comments section below for more information).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron W. Kokel, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Department of the Interior, MS MBSP-4107-ARLSQ, 1849 C Street,
NW., Washington, DC 20240; (703) 358-1714.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulations Schedule for 2011
On April 8, 2011, we published in the Federal Register (76 FR
19876) a proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20. The proposal provided a
background and overview of the migratory bird hunting regulations
process, and addressed the establishment of seasons, limits, and other
regulations for hunting migratory game birds under Sec. Sec. 20.101
through 20.107, 20.109, and 20.110 of subpart K. Major steps in the
2011-12 regulatory cycle relating to open public meetings and Federal
Register notifications were also identified in the April 8 proposed
rule.
Further, we explained that all sections of subsequent documents
outlining hunting frameworks and guidelines were organized under
numbered headings. Those headings are:
1. Ducks
A. General Harvest Strategy
B. Regulatory Alternatives
C. Zones and Split Seasons
D. Special Seasons/Species Management
i. September Teal Seasons
ii. September Teal/Wood Duck Seasons
iii. Black Ducks
iv. Canvasbacks
v. Pintails
vi. Scaup
vii. Mottled Ducks
viii. Wood Ducks
ix. Youth Hunt
x. Mallard Management Units
xi. Other
2. Sea Ducks
3. Mergansers
4. Canada Geese
A. Special Seasons
B. Regular Seasons
C. Special Late Seasons
5. White-Fronted Geese
6. Brant
7. Snow and Ross's (Light) Geese
8. Swans
9. Sandhill Cranes
10. Coots
11. Moorhens and Gallinules
12. Rails
13. Snipe
14. Woodcock
15. Band-Tailed Pigeons
16. Doves
17. Alaska
18. Hawaii
19. Puerto Rico
20. Virgin Islands
21. Falconry
22. Other
Subsequent documents will refer only to numbered items requiring
attention. Therefore, it is important to note that we will omit those
items requiring no attention, and remaining numbered items will be
discontinuous and appear incomplete.
On June 22, 2011, we published in the Federal Register (76 FR
36508) a second document providing supplemental proposals for early-
and late-season migratory bird hunting regulations. The June 22
supplement also provided detailed information on the 2011-12 regulatory
schedule and announced the SRC and Flyway Council meetings.
On June 22 and 23, 2011, we held open meetings with the Flyway
Council Consultants at which the participants reviewed information on
the current status of migratory shore and upland game birds and
developed recommendations for the 2011-12 regulations for these species
plus regulations for migratory game birds in Alaska, Puerto Rico, and
the Virgin Islands; special September waterfowl seasons in designated
States; special sea duck seasons in the Atlantic Flyway; and extended
falconry seasons. In addition, we reviewed and discussed preliminary
information on the status of waterfowl as it relates to the development
and selection of the regulatory packages for the 2011-12 regular
waterfowl seasons. On July 26, 2011, we published in the Federal
Register (76 FR 44730) a third document specifically dealing with the
proposed frameworks for early-season regulations. In late August 2011,
we will publish a rulemaking establishing final frameworks for early-
season migratory bird hunting regulations for the 2011-12 season.
On July 27-28, 2011, we held open meetings with the Flyway Council
Consultants, at which the participants reviewed the status of waterfowl
and developed recommendations for the 2011-12 regulations for these
species. This document deals specifically with proposed frameworks for
the late-season migratory bird hunting regulations. It will lead to
final frameworks from which States may select season dates, shooting
hours, areas, and limits.
We have considered all pertinent comments received through July 29,
2011, on the April 8 and June 22, 2011, rulemaking documents in
developing this document. In addition, new proposals for certain late-
season regulations are provided for public comment. The comment period
is specified above under DATES. We will publish final regulatory
frameworks for late-season migratory game bird hunting in the Federal
Register on or around September 21, 2011.
Population Status and Harvest
The following paragraphs provide preliminary information on the
status of waterfowl and information on the status and harvest of
migratory shore and upland game birds excerpted from various reports.
For more detailed information on methodologies and results, you may
obtain complete copies of the various reports at the address indicated
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or from our Web
[[Page 53537]]
site at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewsPublicationsReports.html.
Waterfowl Breeding and Habitat Survey
Federal, provincial, and State agencies conduct surveys each spring
to estimate the size of breeding populations and to evaluate the
conditions of the habitats. These surveys are conducted using fixed-
wing aircraft, helicopters, and ground crews and encompass principal
breeding areas of North America, covering an area over 2.0 million
square miles. The traditional survey area comprises Alaska, Canada, and
the northcentral United States, and includes approximately 1.3 million
square miles. The eastern survey area includes parts of Ontario,
Quebec, Labrador, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New
Brunswick, New York, and Maine, an area of approximately 0.7 million
square miles.
Overall, habitat conditions during the 2011 Waterfowl Breeding
Population and Habitat Survey were characterized by average to above-
average moisture and a normal winter and spring across the traditional
and eastern survey areas. The exception was the west-central portion of
the traditional survey area that received below-average moisture. The
total pond estimate (Prairie Canada and United States combined) was 8.1
0.2 million. This was 22 percent above the 2010 estimate
and 62 percent above the long-term average (1974-2010) of 5.0 0.03 million ponds. The 2011 estimate of ponds in Prairie Canada
was 4.9 0.2 million. This was 31 percent above last year's
estimate (3.7 0.2 million) and 43 percent above the long-
term average (1961-2010; 3.4 0.03 million). The 2011 pond
estimate for the north-central United States was 3.2 0.1
million, which was similar to last year's estimate (2.9
0.1 million) and 102 percent above the long-term average (1974-2010;
1.6 0.02 million). Additional details of the 2011 Survey
were provided in the July 26 Federal Register and are available from
our Web site at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewsPublicationsReports.html.
Breeding Population Status
In the traditional survey area, which includes strata 1-18, 20-50,
and 75-77, the total duck population estimate was 45.6 0.8
[SE] million birds. This estimate represents an 11 percent increase
over last year's estimate of 40.9 0.7 million birds and
was 35 percent above the long-term average (1955-2010). Estimated
mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) abundance was 9.2 0.3 million
birds, which was 9 percent above the 2010 estimate of 8.4
0.3 million birds and 22 percent above the long-term average. Estimated
abundance of gadwall (A. strepera; 3.3 0.2 million) was
similar to the 2010 estimate and 80 percent above the long-term
average. Estimated abundance of American wigeon (A. americana; 2.1
0.1 million) was 14 percent below the 2010 estimate and 20
percent below the long-term average. The estimated abundance of green-
winged teal (A. crecca) was 2.9 0.2 million, which was 17
percent below the 2010 estimate and 47 percent above their long-term
average. The estimate of blue-winged teal abundance (A. discors) was
8.9 0.4 million, which was 41 percent above the 2010
estimate and 91 percent above their long-term average. The estimate for
northern pintails (A. acuta; 4.4 0.3 million) was 26
percent above the 2010 estimate, and similar to the long-term average.
The northern shoveler estimate (A. clypeata) was 4.6 0.2
million, which was 14 percent above the 2010 estimate and 98 percent
above the long-term average. Redhead abundance (Aythya americana; 1.4
0.1 million) was 27 percent above the 2010 estimate and
106 percent above the long-term average. The canvasback estimate (A.
valisineria; 0.7 0.05 million) was similar to the 2010
estimate and 21 percent above the long-term average. Estimated
abundance of scaup (A. affinis and A. marila combined; 4.3
0.3 million) was similar to that of 2010 and 15 percent below the long-
term average of 5.1 0.05 million.
The eastern survey area was restratified in 2005 and is now
composed of strata 51-72. Estimated abundance of mallards in the
eastern survey area was 0.4 0.1 million, which was similar
to the 2010 estimate and the long-term average (1990-2010). Abundance
estimates of green-winged teal, ring-necked duck (A. collaris),
goldeneyes (common [Bucephala clangula] and Barrow's [B. islandica]),
and mergansers (red-breasted [Mergus serrator], common [M. merganser],
and hooded [Lophodytes cucullatus]) were all similar to their 2010
estimates and long-term averages. The American black duck (Anas
rubripes) estimate was 0.55 0.04 million, which was
similar to the 2010 estimate and 13 percent below the long-term average
of 0.63 million.
Fall Flight Estimate
The mid-continent mallard population is composed of mallards from
the traditional survey area (revised in 2008 to exclude Alaska
mallards), Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and was estimated to be
11.9 1.1 million birds. This was similar to the 2010
estimate of 10.3 0.9 million in 2010.
See section 1.A. Harvest Strategy Considerations for further
discussion of the implications of this information for this year's
selection of the appropriate hunting regulations.
Status of Geese and Swans
We provide information on the population status and productivity of
North American Canada geese (Branta canadensis), brant (B. bernicla),
snow geese (Chen caerulescens), Ross's geese (C. rossii), emperor geese
(C. canagica), white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons), and tundra swans
(Cygnus columbianus). Production of arctic-nesting geese depends
heavily upon the timing of snow and ice melt, and on spring and early
summer temperatures. In 2011, snowmelt timing was average to slightly
below average throughout most of the important goose breeding areas,
and most of North America will see average, or slightly below-average,
fall flights of geese this year. Conditions in the central Arctic,
especially near Queen Maud Gulf, improved relative to last year's very
late spring, so improved production of snow and Ross's geese and mid-
continent white-fronted geese is expected. Gosling production of Canada
goose populations that migrate to the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways
should generally be good in 2011, with the possible exceptions of the
Eastern Prairie and Mississippi Valley populations. Conditions
throughout Alaska and northwestern Canada were very good. As a result,
Pacific Flyway white-fronted geese, brant, and most Canada geese
experienced average to above-average production. Indices of wetland
abundance in the Canadian and U.S. prairies in 2011 were generally
excellent, and were particularly improved relative to 2010 in Canada.
This likely improved nesting and brood rearing success of temperate-
nesting Canada geese this year. However, flooding along many river
systems may have destroyed some nests. Well-above or near-average
wetland abundance in the United States and Canadian prairie regions and
mild spring temperatures in many other temperate regions will likely
improve production of Canada geese that nest at southern latitudes.
Primary abundance indices decreased (>-10 percent) for 7 goose
populations and increased (<= 10 percent) for 10 goose populations from
2010 to 2011. Indices of 12 other populations remained similar among
these years. Primary abundance indices decreased for western tundra
swans and remained unchanged for eastern tundra swans. The following
populations displayed
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significant (P< 0.05) positive trends during the most recent 10-year
period: Mississippi Flyway Giant, Short Grass Prairie, and Hi-line
Canada geese; Western Arctic Wrangel Island and Western Central Flyway
light geese; Pacific white-fronted geese and Pacific brant. Only the
Atlantic Flyway Resident goose population showed a significant negative
10-year trend.
Waterfowl Harvest and Hunter Activity
National surveys of migratory bird hunters were conducted during
the 2009 and 2010 hunting seasons. About 1.1 million waterfowl hunters
harvested 13,139,800 ( 4 percent) ducks and 3,327,000
( 5 percent) geese in 2009, and about 1.1 million waterfowl
hunters harvested 14,796,700 ( 4 percent) ducks and
3,169,900 ( 5 percent) geese in 2010. Mallard, green-winged
teal, gadwall, blue-winged/cinnamon teal, and wood duck (Aix sponsa)
were the 5 most-harvested duck species in the United States, and Canada
goose was the predominant species in the goose harvest. Coot hunters
(about 31,100 in 2009 and 50,500 in 2010) harvested 219,000 ( 34 percent) coots in 2009 and 302,600 ( 50 percent)
in 2010.
Review of Public Comments and Flyway Council Recommendations
The preliminary proposed rulemaking, which appeared in the April 8,
2011 Federal Register, opened the public comment period for migratory
game bird hunting regulations. The supplemental proposed rule, which
appeared in the June 22, 2011 Federal Register, discussed the
regulatory alternatives for the 2011-12 duck hunting season. Late-
season comments are summarized below and numbered in the order used in
the April 8 and June 22 Federal Register documents. We have included
only the numbered items pertaining to late-season issues for which we
received written comments. Consequently, the issues do not follow in
successive numerical or alphabetical order.
We received recommendations from all four Flyway Councils. Some
recommendations supported continuation of last year's frameworks. Due
to the comprehensive nature of the annual review of the frameworks
performed by the Councils, support for continuation of last year's
frameworks is assumed for items for which no recommendations were
received. Council recommendations for changes in the frameworks are
summarized below.
We seek additional information and comments on the recommendations
in this supplemental proposed rule. New proposals and modifications to
previously described proposals are discussed below. Wherever possible,
they are discussed under headings corresponding to the numbered items
in the April 8 and June 22, 2011 Federal Register documents.
1. Ducks
Categories used to discuss issues related to duck harvest
management are: (A) Harvest Strategy Considerations, (B) Regulatory
Alternatives, (C) Zones and Split Seasons, and (D) Special Seasons/
Species Management. The categories correspond to previously published
issues/discussion, and only those containing substantial
recommendations are discussed below.
A. Harvest Strategy Considerations
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Flyway
Councils and the Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the
Mississippi Flyway Council recommended the adoption of the ``liberal''
regulatory alternative.
Service Response: We continue to use Adaptive Harvest Management
(AHM) protocols that allow hunting regulations to vary among Flyways in
a manner that recognizes each Flyway's unique breeding-ground
derivation of mallards. In 2008, we described and adopted a protocol
for regulatory decision-making for the newly defined stock of western
mallards (73 FR 43290; July 24, 2008). For the 2011 hunting season, we
continue to believe that the prescribed regulatory choice for the
Pacific Flyway should be based on the status of this western mallard
breeding stock, while the regulatory choice for the Mississippi and
Central Flyways should depend on the status of the recently redefined
mid-continent mallard stock. We also recommend that the regulatory
choice for the Atlantic Flyway continue to depend on the status of
eastern mallards.
For the 2011 hunting season, we are continuing to consider the same
regulatory alternatives as those used last year. The nature of the
``restrictive,'' ``moderate,'' and ``liberal'' alternatives has
remained essentially unchanged since 1997, except that extended
framework dates have been offered in the ``moderate'' and ``liberal''
regulatory alternatives since 2002. Also, in 2003, we agreed to place a
constraint on closed seasons in the Mississippi and Central Flyways
whenever the midcontinent mallard breeding-population size (as defined
prior to 2008; traditional survey area plus Minnesota, Michigan, and
Wisconsin) was > 5.5 million.
Optimal AHM strategies for the 2011-12 hunting season were
calculated using: (1) Harvest-management objectives specific to each
mallard stock; (2) the 2011 regulatory alternatives; and (3) current
population models and associated weights for midcontinent, western, and
eastern mallards. Based on this year's survey results of 9.46 million
midcontinent mallards (traditional survey area minus Alaska plus
Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan), 4.89 million ponds in Prairie
Canada, 798,413 western mallards (382,588 and 415,825 respectively in
California-Oregon and Alaska) and 746,000 eastern mallards (strata 51-
54, 56 and the northeastern United States), the prescribed regulatory
choice for all four Flyways is the ``liberal'' alternative.
Therefore, we concur with the recommendations of the Atlantic,
Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils regarding selection
of the ``liberal'' regulatory alternative and propose to adopt the
``liberal'' regulatory alternative, as described in the June 22, 2011,
Federal Register.
C. Zones and Split Seasons
In the August 25, 2010, proposed rule (75 FR 52398) and the
September 23, 2010, final rule (75 FR 58250), we announced our
intention to propose changes to the existing zone and split season
guidelines for possible implementation in 2011 for use in State
selections for the 2011-12 hunting seasons. In the April 8, 2011,
proposed rule (76 FR 19876) we provided specific details of the
previously announced proposed changes to the guidelines, announced the
availability of a draft environmental assessment (EA) we prepared on
the proposed changes to the guidelines, and provided a brief summary of
the anticipated impacts of the preferred alternative. In the June 22
and July 26, 2011, proposed rules (76 FR 36508 and 76 FR 44730,
respectively), we continued to discuss our April 8 proposal. This rule
for the 2011-12 hunting season continues that discussion and announces
our final decision on these guidelines.
Background
We annually issue regulations permitting the sport hunting of
migratory birds. Zones and split seasons are ``special regulations''
designed to distribute hunting opportunities and harvests according to
temporal, geographic, and demographic variability in waterfowl and
other migratory game bird populations. For ducks, States have been
allowed the option of dividing their allotted hunting days into two (or
in some cases, three) segments to take
[[Page 53539]]
advantage of species-specific peaks of abundance or to satisfy hunters
in different areas who want to hunt during the peak of waterfowl
abundance in their area. However, the split-season option does not
fully satisfy many States who wish to provide a more equitable
distribution of harvest opportunities. Therefore, we also have allowed
the establishment of independent seasons in two or more zones within
States for the purpose of providing more equitable distribution of
harvest opportunity for hunters throughout the State.
In 1978, we prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the use of
zones to set duck hunting regulations. A primary tenet of the 1978 EA
was that zoning would be for the primary purpose of providing equitable
distribution of duck hunting opportunities within a State or region and
not for the purpose of increasing total annual waterfowl harvest in the
zoned areas. In fact, target harvest levels were to be adjusted
downward if they exceeded traditional levels as a result of zoning.
Subsequently, we conducted a review of the use of zones and split
seasons in 1990.
Currently, every 5 years, States are afforded the opportunity to
change the zoning and split season configuration within which they set
their annual duck hunting regulations. While the schedule of ``open
seasons'' for making changes to splits and zones is being evaluated in
the recently released draft supplemental environmental impact statement
(SEIS) for the migratory bird hunting program (see NEPA Considerations
in the April 8, 2011, proposed rule (76 FR 19876) for further
information), the specific guidelines for choosing splits and zones are
not a part of that evaluation. The current guidelines have remained
unchanged since 1996.
Public Comments
The Flyway Council recommendations and public comments discussed
below include recommendations and comments from both the 2010-11
regulatory process and the current 2011-12 regulatory process.
Recommendations and comments from the 2010-11 regulatory process were
included in the August 25, 2010, proposed rule (75 FR 52398) and the
September 23, 2010, final rule (75 FR 58250).
Council Recommendations: Last year, the Atlantic, Central, and
Pacific Flyway Councils recommended that the Service allow 3 zones,
with 2-way splits in each zone, and 4 zones with no splits as
additional zone/split-season options for duck seasons during 2011-15.
The Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the Mississippi
Flyway Council recommended that the Service allow 3 zones with the
season split into 2 segments in each zone, 4 zones with no splits, and
2 zones with the season split into 3 segments in each zone as
additional zone/split-season options for duck seasons during 2011-15.
In addition, all four Flyway Councils recommended that States with
existing grandfathered status be allowed to retain that status.
This year, the Atlantic Flyway Council recommended allowing States
two periods for selecting their zone and split options: spring 2011 for
currently offered options, and spring 2012 for possible additional
available options. The Mississippi Flyway Council, while urging us to
provide new options for zones/split-season criteria for use during the
2011-12 regulations cycle season, noted, however, that some States may
not be able to use these new criteria even if they are approved this
spring because of their internal regulations-setting process. Thus,
they requested extending the open season for States to select zone/
split-season configurations through the 2012 regulations cycle. The
Central and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended extending the current
open season for States to select regular season zone/split
configurations for 2011-15 through June 2012.
Written Comments in 2010: The National Flyway Council requested
that the Service allow 3 zones, with 2-way splits in each zone, and 4
zones with no splits as additional zone/split-season options for duck
seasons during 2011-15.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources requested that the Service allow 3
zones, with 2-way splits in each zone, and 4 zones with no splits as
additional zone/split-season options for duck seasons during 2011-15.
The Delta Waterfowl Foundation, the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation,
the LaCrosse County Conservation Alliance, the Governor of Illinois,
and several individuals expressed support for the Flyway Councils'
recommended changes to the existing zone and split season guidelines.
Written Comments in 2011: The Mississippi and Central Flyway
Councils and the States of Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, New
York, Wisconsin and Wyoming expressed their support for our April 8
proposal to modify the zones and split season guidelines to allow up to
four zones (no splits) and up to three zones with two splits, including
all grandfathered arrangements. Both the Councils and States supported
the extension of the open season for State selections of zone and split
season configurations into the 2012-13 regulatory cycle. There was also
widespread support for the creation of a Human Dimensions Working Group
that is capable of advancing informed decision-making frameworks for
explicitly considering human dimensions aspects of waterfowl management
issues. The States appreciated our efforts to assess the potential
impacts of changes in the criteria on duck harvest, and believed that
such impacts would be minimal.
Six non-governmental organizations from Illinois and 106
individuals from Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin expressed support for
the Flyway Councils' recommended changes to the guidelines. Twenty
individuals did not support changing the guidelines, while four
individuals supported the abolishment of zone and split season criteria
all together.
Service Decision
In 1990, because of concerns about the proliferation of zones and
split seasons for duck hunting, we conducted a cooperative review and
evaluation of the historical use of zone/split options. This review did
not show that the proliferation of these options had increased harvest
pressure; however, the ability to detect the impact of zone/split
configurations was poor because of unreliable response variables, the
lack of statistical tests to differentiate between real and perceived
changes, and the absence of adequate experimental controls.
Consequently, we established guidelines to provide a framework for
controlling the proliferation of changes in zone/split options. The
guidelines identified a limited number of zone/split configurations
that could be used for duck hunting and restricted the frequency of
changes in these configurations to 5-year intervals.
In 1996, we revised the guidelines to provide States greater
flexibility in using their zone/split arrangements. In 2005, in further
response to recommendations from the Flyway Councils, we considered
changes to the zone/split guidelines. After our review, however, we
concluded that the current guidelines need not be changed. We further
stated that the guidelines would be used for future open seasons (70 FR
55667; September 22, 2005).
However, while we continue to support the use of guidelines for
providing a stable framework for controlling the number of changes to
zone/split options, last August (75 FR
[[Page 53540]]
52398; August 25, 2010) we noted the consensus position among all the
Flyway Councils on their proposal and expressed our sensitivity to the
States' desires for flexibility in addressing concerns of the hunting
public which, in part, provided the motivation for this recommendation.
Furthermore, we also expressed our continued support of the
recommendations from the 2008 Future of Waterfowl Management Workshop
that called for a greater emphasis on the effects of management actions
on the hunting public. Thus, we announced that we planned to propose
that two specific additional options be added to the existing zone and
split season criteria governing State selection of waterfowl zones and
splits. The additional options would include four zones with no splits
and three zones with the option for 2-way (2-segment) split seasons in
one, two, or all three zones. Otherwise, the criteria and rules
governing the application of those criteria would remain unchanged.
When we announced our intention to propose adding the Flyway
Councils' recommended two options to the existing zone and split season
guidelines, we also stated that we needed additional time to explore
all the possible implications and impacts of such changes in the zone
and split season guidelines in order to provide the public with all the
necessary information for their consideration and comment. We also
noted that existing human dimensions data on the relationship of
harvest regulations, and specifically zones and splits, to hunter
recruitment, retention, and/or satisfaction are equivocal or lacking.
In the face of uncertainty over the effects of management actions, the
waterfowl management community has broadly endorsed adaptive management
and the principles of informed decision-making as a means of accounting
for and reducing that uncertainty. The necessary elements of informed
decision-making include: clearly articulated objectives, explicit
measurable attributes for objectives, identification of a suite of
potential management actions, some means of predicting the consequences
of management actions with respect to stated objectives, and, finally,
a monitoring program to compare observations with predictions as a
basis for learning, policy adaptation, and more informed decision-
making. Currently, none of these elements are used to support decision-
making that involves human dimensions considerations. Because the
Flyways indicated that additional zone/split options were important for
addressing hunter recruitment, retention, and satisfaction issues, we
saw this proposed change as an opportunity to advance an informed
decision-making framework that explicitly considers human dimensions
issues.
To that end, we requested that the National Flyway Council marshal
the expertise and resources of the Human Dimensions Working Group to
develop explicit human dimensions objectives related to expanding zone
and split options and a study plan to evaluate the effect of the
proposed action in achieving those objectives. It was our hope that the
study plan would include hypotheses and specific predictions about the
effect of changing zone/split criteria on stated human dimensions
objectives, and monitoring and evaluation methods that would be used to
test those predictions. We stated that we believed that insights gained
through such an evaluation would be invaluable in furthering the
ongoing dialogue regarding fundamental objectives of waterfowl
management and an integrated and coherent decision framework for
advancing those objectives. We further stated that we would review the
objectives and study plan at our February 2011 SRC meeting and consider
this plan, along with public and Flyway comments on the proposed change
to the zones and splits criteria, along with any required National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) analysis, in
making a final decision on a course of action in 2011.
We reviewed the objectives and the study plan at our February 2011
SRC meeting and our June 22-23 SRC meeting and detailed our review in
the July 26 proposed rule. At that time, we stated that while we
remained supportive of the Flyway Councils' desire to expand the
existing zone and split season criteria, the adequacy of the National
Flyway Council's human dimensions study design that we required last
year (75 FR 58250; September 23, 2010) as part of our initial intent
and proposal still did not meet our expectations. Thus, the Councils
and the Service committed to form a smaller working group to help
resolve these differences, and that we would consider a revised study
proposal as soon as it was available. Further, assuming an acceptable
study plan could be agreed upon, we would consider offering the
expanded zone/split criteria to States in both the current year's
regulation cycle and again in the 2012-13 regulations cycle.
Consequently, since the June 22-23 SRC meeting, the four Flyway
Councils and the National Flyway Council submitted a revised study plan
to examine the human dimensions aspects of revisions to the zones and
split season criteria. This new study plan meets the original
objectives laid out in the August 25, 2010, and the September 23, 2010,
rules and we support the Flyway Councils' recommendation to expand the
criteria to allow two additional options that States may use to
configure duck zones and split seasons within their boundaries.
Further, we appreciate the efforts of the four Flyway Councils and the
National Flyway Council to revise the study plan to examine the human
dimensions aspects of this issue.
As we have previously stated, those States that are capable of
implementing these new guidelines this year may do so. However, for
those States not able to implement changes this year, we are committed
to extending the current open season into 2012, and we ask that States
provide us with any changes to their zone and split season
configuration by May 1, 2012, for use during the 2012-13 season. After
this open period, the next regularly-scheduled open season for changes
to zone and split season configurations will be in 2016, for use during
the 2016-20 period. In order to allow sufficient time for States to
solicit public input regarding their selections of zone and split
season configurations in 2016, we will reaffirm the criteria during the
2015 late-season regulations process. At that time we will notify
States that changes to zone and split season configurations should be
provided to the Service by May 1, 2016.
Guidelines for Duck Zones and Split Seasons
The following zone/split-season guidelines apply only for the
regular duck season:
(1) A zone is a geographic area or portion of a State, with a
contiguous boundary, for which independent dates may be selected for
the regular duck season.
(2) Consideration of changes for management-unit boundaries is not
subject to the guidelines and provisions governing the use of zones and
split seasons for ducks.
(3) Only minor (less than a county in size) boundary changes will
be allowed for any grandfathered arrangement, and changes are limited
to the open season.
(4) Once a zone/split option is selected during an open season, it
must remain in place for the following 5 years.
Any State may continue the configuration used in the previous
[[Page 53541]]
5-year period. If changes are made, the zone/split-season configuration
must conform to one of the following options:
(1) No more than four zones with no splits,
(2) Split seasons (no more than 3 segments) with no zones, or
(3) No more than three zones with the option for 2-way (2-segment)
split seasons in one, two, or all zones.
Grandfathered Zone/Split Arrangements
When we first implemented the zone/split guidelines in 1991,
several States had completed experiments with zone/split arrangements
different from our original options. We offered those States a one-time
opportunity to continue (``grandfather'') those arrangements, with the
stipulation that only minor changes could be made to zone boundaries.
If any of those States now wish to change their zone/split arrangement:
(1) The new arrangement must conform to one of the 3 options
identified above; and
(2) The State cannot go back to the grandfathered arrangement that
it previously had in place.
Management Units
We will continue to utilize the specific limitations previously
established regarding the use of zone and split seasons in special
management units, including the High Plains Mallard Management Unit. We
note that the original justification and objectives established for the
High Plains Mallard Management Unit provided for additional days of
hunting opportunity at the end of the regular duck season. In order to
maintain the integrity of the management unit, current guidelines
prohibit simultaneous zoning and/or 3-way split seasons within a
management unit and the remainder of the State. Removal of this
limitation would allow additional proliferation of zone/split
configurations and compromise the original objectives of the management
unit.
Impacts of Proposed Change
We prepared an EA on the proposed zone and split season guidelines
and provide a brief summary of the anticipated impacts of the preferred
alternative with regard to the guidelines. Specifics of each of the
four alternatives we analyzed can be found on our Web site at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds, or at http://www.regulations.gov.
In summary, we anticipate that the proposed changes to the
guidelines, specifically adopting the preferred alternative, would
result in an increase in the number of exposure days (days in which
ducks are exposed to hunting) throughout a hunting season, but would
vary by Flyway. Whereas the maximum potential impact on duck harvest
may be small in some Flyways (e.g., < 3 percent increase in the Pacific
Flyway), the impact in other Flyways may be much higher (e.g., up to 25
percent in the Mississippi Flyway). More specifically, regression
analysis of the number of duck exposure days and number of duck zones
within a State indicated that the addition of one zone in all States
(excluding grandfathered States) could result in up to a 17 percent
increase in the national duck harvest (or approximately 2.2 million
birds) above the ``no change'' alternative (13.8 million ducks). It is
important to note that this estimate is for total duck harvest
nationwide, and we would expect the potential percentage increases to
vary among Flyways, States, and species. Additionally, we recognize
that our analysis utilizes assumptions that may not be fully realized
during implementation of the new guidelines. For example, our analysis
assumes that all States that are eligible to make changes to their
zones-splits configurations will actually make such changes. However,
many States have indicated that they will not avail themselves of new
options available to them. This would lower the realized increase in
harvest in a particular Flyway; thus, the magnitude of any potential
increase in harvest would likely be lower than the estimated 17
percent.
Additionally, we annually prepare a biological opinion under
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.), prior to establishing annual hunting regulations for
migratory birds. Regulations promulgated as a result of this
consultation remove or alleviate chances of conflict between seasons
for migratory game birds and endangered and threatened species and
their critical habitats.
We also do not believe the preferred alternative would recruit new
hunters, and therefore hunter numbers would probably remain similar to
2008 levels, when the last economic analysis was conducted. However, if
increasing the possible number of zones and split season configurations
encourages current hunters to spend more days afield, we would expect a
slight increase in expenditures. Therefore, the national estimate of
the consumer surplus expected under this alternative may be slightly
higher than the estimate of $317 million annually (range of $274
million to $362 million [2007$]) that we would expect under the ``no
change'' alternative. In general, the non-hunting public has not
expressed an opinion about zoning and split seasons in the past. Within
this large group, individuals opposed to hunting will likely object to
increased zoning and/or split seasons if they believe it will enhance
or encourage hunting. Others generally favor more restrictive
regulations, and some further believe that all hunting should be
discontinued. We note that the four Flyway Councils support the
preferred alternative. Duck hunter numbers would likely be similar to
that of 2008, which would maintain the current level of revenues to the
States and Service through sales of waterfowl hunting licenses and duck
stamps. While this alternative potentially could increase hunter
expenditures above the current level of $1.2 billion (2007$), we have
no specific information available that would allow an accurate
estimation of this increase. However, we believe any potential increase
would likely be negligible.
The EA and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is available by
either writing to the address indicated under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT in the preamble of this proposed rule or by viewing on our Web
site at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds, or at http://www.regulations.gov.
Response to Other Comments
With regard to abolishing the zones and splits criteria, we
disagree. Implementation of the criteria for zones and splits was meant
to stem the increasing proliferation of zoning and split seasons, which
complicated the assessment of the impacts of harvest regulations on
duck populations. We believe the use of zoning criteria provides a
certain level of stability to duck regulations, which enhance the
assessment of the impacts of other regulations (e.g., season length and
bag limit) on duck populations.
D. Special Seasons/Species Management
iii. Black Ducks
In 2008, U.S. and Canadian waterfowl managers developed an interim
harvest strategy that will be employed by both countries until a formal
strategy based on the principles of AHM is completed. We detailed this
interim strategy in the July 24, 2008, Federal Register (73 FR 43290).
The interim harvest strategy is prescriptive, in that it calls for no
substantive changes in hunting regulations unless the black duck
breeding population, averaged over the most recent 3 years, exceeds or
falls
[[Page 53542]]
below the long-term average breeding population by 15 percent or more.
The strategy is designed to share the black duck harvest equally
between the two countries; however, recognizing incomplete control of
harvest through regulations, it will allow realized harvest in either
country to vary between 40 and 60 percent.
Each year in November, Canada publishes its proposed migratory bird
hunting regulations for the upcoming hunting season. Thus, last fall
the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) used the interim strategy to
establish its proposed black duck regulations for the 2011-12 season,
based on the most current data available at that time: breeding
population estimates for 2008, 2009, and 2010, and an assessment of
parity based on harvest estimates for the 2005-09 hunting seasons.
Although updates of both breeding population estimates and harvest
estimates are now available, the United States will base its 2011-12
black duck regulations on the same data CWS used, to ensure comparable
application of the strategy. The long-term (1998-2007) breeding
population mean estimate is 929,100, and the 2008-10, 3-year running
mean estimate is 858,300. From 2005-09, 45 percent of the black duck
harvest occurred in Canada and 55 percent in the United States; this
falls within the accepted parity bounds of 40 and 60 percent. Based on
these estimates, no restriction or liberalization of black duck harvest
is warranted.
iv. Canvasbacks
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Flyway
Councils and the Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the
Mississippi Flyway Council recommended a full season for canvasbacks
with a 1-bird daily bag limit. Season lengths would be 60 days in the
Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, 74 days in the Central Flyway, and
107 days in the Pacific Flyway.
Service Response: Since 1994, we have followed a canvasback harvest
strategy that if canvasback population status and production are
sufficient to permit a harvest of one canvasback per day nationwide for
the entire length of the regular duck season, while still attaining a
projected spring population objective of 500,000 birds, the season on
canvasbacks should be opened. A partial season would be permitted if
the estimated allowable harvest was within the projected harvest for a
shortened season. If neither of these conditions can be met, the
harvest strategy calls for a closed season on canvasbacks nationwide.
In 2008 (73 FR 43290; July 24, 2008), we announced our decision to
modify the Canvasback Harvest Strategy to incorporate the option for a
2-bird daily bag limit for canvasbacks when the predicted breeding
population the subsequent year exceeds 725,000 birds.
This year's spring survey resulted in an estimate of 692,000
canvasbacks. This was statistically similar to the 2010 estimate of
585,000 canvasbacks and 21 percent above the 1955-2010 average. The
estimate of ponds in Prairie Canada was 4.9 million, which was 31
percent above last year and 43 percent above the long-term average.
Based on updated harvest predictions using data from recent hunting
seasons, the canvasback harvest strategy predicts a 2012 canvasback
population of 756,000 birds under a liberal duck season with a 1-bird
daily bag limit and 697,000 with a 2-bird daily bag limit. Because the
predicted 2012 population under the 1-bird daily bag limit is greater
than 500,000, while the prediction under the 2-bird daily bag limit is
less than 725,000, the canvasback harvest strategy stipulates a full
canvasback season with a 1-bird daily bag limit for the upcoming
season.
v. Pintails
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Flyway
Councils and the Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the
Mississippi Flyway Council recommended a full season for pintails,
consisting of a 2-bird daily bag limit and a 60-day season in the
Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, a 74-day season in the Central
Flyway, and a 107-day season in the Pacific Flyway.
Service Response: The current derived pintail harvest strategy was
adopted by the Service and Flyway Councils in 2010 (75 FR 44856; July
29, 2010). For this year, optimal regulatory strategies were calculated
with: (1) An objective of maximizing long-term cumulative harvest,
including a closed-season constraint of 1.75 million birds, (2) the
regulatory alternatives and associated predicted harvest, and (3)
current population models and their relative weights. Based on this
year's survey results of 4.43 million pintails observed and a mean
latitude of 51.7, the optimal regulatory choice for all four Flyways is
the ``liberal'' alternative with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
vi. Scaup
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Flyway
Councils and the Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the
Mississippi Flyway Council recommended use of the ``moderate''
regulation package, consisting of a 60-day season with a 2-bird daily
bag in the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, a 74-day season with a 2-
bird daily bag limit in the Central Flyway, and an 86-day season with a
3-bird daily bag limit in the Pacific Flyway.
Service Response: In 2008, we adopted and implemented a new scaup
harvest strategy (73 FR 43290 on July 24, 2008, and 73 FR 51124 on
August 29, 2008) with initial ``restrictive,'' ``moderate,'' and
``liberal'' regulatory packages adopted for each Flyway. Further
opportunity to revise these packages was afforded prior to the 2009-10
season and modifications by the Mississippi and Central Flyway Councils
were endorsed by the Service in July 2009 (74 FR 36870; July 24, 2009).
These packages will remain in effect for at least 3 years prior to
their re-evaluation.
The 2011 breeding population estimate for scaup is 4.32 million, up
2 percent from, but statistically similar to, the 2010 estimate of 4.24
million. Total estimated scaup harvest for the 2010-11 season was
358,000 birds. Based on updated model parameter estimates, the optimal
regulatory choice for scaup is the ``moderate'' package in all four
Flyways.
vii. Mottled Ducks
Council Recommendations: The Central Flyway Council recommended
removal of the restriction in Texas requiring a 5-day delay in the
opening date of the mottled duck season from the opening of the general
duck season (i.e., must be closed the first 5 days of the duck season).
Service Response: We remain concerned about the status of mottled
ducks, particularly those in the Western Gulf Coast Population (WGCP).
In 2009, the Central and Mississippi Flyways implemented restrictions
in either bag limit or season length in an attempt to achieve harvest
reductions we believed were appropriate given the status of those
mottled ducks. In the Central Flyway, the restrictions included a delay
of 5 days in the opening date when dusky ducks (mottled duck, black
duck and their hybrids, or Mexican-like duck) may be taken in Texas.
Although the harvest estimates associated with those restrictions did
not achieve the targeted 30 percent reduction, the reduction approached
what we believed was appropriate for the current status of the WGCP.
Therefore, we do not support removal of this restriction and believe
that regulations in effect for the last two hunting seasons are
appropriate for the 2011-12 season, including the delay in
[[Page 53543]]
the opening date in which dusky ducks may be taken in Texas.
xii. Other
Council Recommendations: The Central Flyway Council and the Upper-
Region Regulations Committee of the Mississippi Flyway Council
recommended that the daily and possession bag limits for redheads
during the 2011-12 duck hunting season be 3 and 6, respectively.
Service Response: While we recognize the desire to provide
additional hunting opportunity for redheads, at this time we do not
support the recommendations to increase the daily bag limit of redheads
from 2 to 3 birds. As we have done with other species (such as
canvasbacks, pintails, etc.), we believe that changes to redhead daily
bag limits should only be considered with guidance from an agreed-upon
harvest strategy that is supported by all four Flyway Councils and the
Service. Thus, we suggest that the Flyways work collaboratively to
develop a redhead harvest strategy, which would include: (1) Clearly
defined and agreed-upon management objectives; (2) clearly defined
regulatory alternatives; and (3) a model that can be used to predict
population responses to harvest mortality. If the development of a
harvest strategy for redheads is a priority for the Flyways, a
conceptual framework for a redhead harvest strategy could be discussed
at the Harvest Management Working Group meeting in November 2011.
However, we note that if the Flyway Councils wish to implement a
redhead harvest strategy for the 2012-13 season, a draft strategy needs
to be available for review and discussion by the February 2012 Service
Regulations Committee (SRC) meeting, finalized by the Flyways Councils
at their March 2012 meetings, and forwarded as a recommendation for SRC
consideration at the early season SRC meeting (June 2012).
4. Canada Geese
B. Regular Seasons
Council Recommendations: The Central Flyway Council recommended
increasing the Canada goose daily bag limit from 3 to 5 geese in the
east-tier States.
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended several changes to dark
goose season frameworks. More specifically, they recommended:
1. Within the basic dark goose bag limit for California, Oregon,
and Washington: remove the dark goose bag limit exception for Oregon of
not more than one cackling Canada or Aleutian Canada geese per day.
2. Within the Northwest Special Permit Zone for Oregon: increase
the dark goose bag limit exception of not more than 2 cackling Canada
or Aleutian Canada geese per day to not more than 3 cackling Canada or
Aleutian Canada geese per day.
3. Within the Tillamook County Management Area of the Northwest
Special Permit Zone for Oregon: increase the dark goose bag limit from
not more than 3 per day, including not more than 2 cackling Canada or
Aleutian Canada geese, to not more than 4 per day, provided this total
include not more than 3 cackling Canada or Aleutian Canada geese.
4. Within the Northwest Zone for Oregon: restrict the bag limit for
cackling Canada and Aleutian Canada geese to not more than 3 cackling
Canada or Aleutian Canada geese per day within the overall daily dark
goose bag limit of not more than 4 per day.
5. Within the South Coast Zone for Oregon: remove the dark goose
bag limit exception, within the basic dark goose bag limit, of up to 4
cackling Canada and Aleutian Canada geese per day.
6. Within the Southwest Zone for Oregon: remove the dark goose bag
limit exception, within the basic dark goose bag limit, of up to 4
cackling Canada and Aleutian Canada geese per day.
7. In Washington's Areas 2A and 2B (Southwest Quota Zone): increase
the daily bag limit from 2 to 3 cackling geese.
8. In California's Northeastern Zone: remove the restrictions on
small Canada geese (Aleutian and cackling geese).
9. Increase the daily bag limit for Canada geese in the Pacific
Flyway portion of Colorado from 3 birds to 4 birds, and possession
limit from 6 to 8 birds.
10. In Idaho, consolidate the current goose zones to correspond
with duck hunting zones.
Service Response: We do not support the Central Flyway Council's
recommendation to increase the dark goose daily bag limit in the east-
tier States from 3 to 5 geese. While we agree that the Flyway's
proposed bag limit increase would likely result in an increased harvest
of resident Canada geese (Great Plains Population), there are other
Canada goose populations that would also be subjected to additional
harvest pressure, including the Tall Grass Prairie (TGP), Western
Prairie, and the Eastern Prairie populations. We recognize the
continuing problems posed by increasing numbers of resident Canada
geese and that migrant populations of Canada geese in the Central
Flyway are above objective levels. We also understand the Flyway's
desire to provide as much hunting opportunity on these geese as
possible, and we share the philosophy that hunting, not control
permits, should be the primary tool used to manage populations of game
birds. However, we also recognize that hunting is not necessarily the
most appropriate or effective tool to address these issues in all
areas. Although States have used some of the additional tools provided
to them through annual hunting regulations, Statewide Special Canada
goose permits, and implementation of the preferred alternative in the
Resident Canada Goose Environmental Impact Statement, we believe
several of these tools are not being used to the extent available.
Thus, we encourage the States to work with Service staff to better
identify the most appropriate tool, or tools, for the various
situations and conflicts in the affected States. Further, as we stated
last year (75 FR 58250; September 23, 2010), we believe that more
progress needs to be made regarding monitoring Canada goose populations
in east-tier States, as well as collaboration with the Mississippi
Flyway regarding impacts to shared goose resources, including progress
on a revision to the TGP Population Management Plan. We would consider
increasing bag limits in the future if progress is made on these
fronts, particularly on the management plan.
We support all of the Pacific Flyway goose recommendations.
Originally, Oregon's Tillamook County Management Area was established
to provide protection for Aleutian Canada geese originating from Semidi
Island, Alaska. Modification of the closure area, as proposed by the
Council, will reduce the closure area by approximately 22 percent.
However, the Council notes that the original closure area included non-
goose use areas and the refuge recommended reducing the closure area as
the Semidi Island birds do not use the entire closure area. Most of the
proposed newly open area constitutes agricultural lands, primarily
dairy pastures and hay fields, and opening these lands to goose hunting
is expected to help relieve depredations caused by wintering geese.
While we expect goose harvest in the Management Area to increase due to
this proposed change, harvest will continue to be monitored by check
station and goose distribution and collar surveys, focused on Semidi
birds.
The recommendations for removal of small Canada goose restrictions
in eastern Oregon and for 1-bird daily bag limit increases to address
agricultural
[[Page 53544]]
damage issues in Oregon and Washington are not expected to increase
harvest of these populations substantially. We believe these
populations are at levels that can sustain these minor increases in
harvest without jeopardy to their long-term sustainability. However, we
note that long-term solutions to agricultural depredation issues will
not be completely addressed through harvest regulations and encourage
the States of the Pacific Flyway to continue to work to implement the
other approaches detailed in the Flyway's Canada goose depredation
plan.
The proposed removal of within bag limit restrictions on small
Canada geese (Aleutian and cackling Canada geese) in California's
Northeastern Zone is intended to simplify goose hunting regulations and
we expect little or no increase in harvest. Few, if any, Aleutian geese
occur in that portion of California and despite restrictive daily bag
limits, the abundance of cackling geese in the Klamath Basin has
declined from the tens of thousands in the late 1990s to essentially
zero in recent years as cackling goose distribution has shifted
northward. However, since that time, the Aleutian Canada goose
population has grown from less than 1,000 birds in 1976 to over 110,000
in 2011.
Regarding the proposed increase in the daily bag limit in Colorado
from 3 to 4 Canada geese, we note that removal of this more restrictive
bag limit makes it consistent with most of the remainder of the flyway.
Further, population measurement data support an increase in the bag
limit as counts from both the spring breeding survey and post-hunting
indices have increased over the last 3 years.
In Idaho, the recommendation to consolidate the current goose zones
to correspond with duck hunting zones is intended to reduce regulatory
complexity in State and Federal regulations. We have no issue with this
recommendation.
C. Special Late Seasons
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended
changing Rhode Island's experimental late Canada goose season status to
operational.
Service Response: We agree with the Council's recommendation to
change the status of Rhode Island's late Canada goose season from
experimental to operational. Based on band recovery data submitted by
the Council, there were no direct recoveries of migrant geese and the
special late season meets the established criteria for special Canada
goose seasons of <20 percent migrant harvest. Further, between 1997-
2011, only 7 banded Canada geese recovered were migrants (all of which
were indirect recoveries).
5. White-Fronted Geese
Council Recommendations: The Mississippi and Central Flyway
Councils recommended that the white-fronted goose season option of a
72-day season be increased to 74 days and the 86-day season option be
increased to 88 days. Daily bag limits associated with each season
option would remain unchanged.
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended extending the latest closing
date for white-fronted geese in California's Sacramento Valley Special
Management Zone to December 28 and in California's Balance of State
Zone to March 10.
Service Response: We support the 2-day increase in the season
length in the Mississippi and Central Flyways. These increases are
consistent with the newly revised management plan for mid-continent
white-fronted geese.
We also support the Pacific Flyway Councils recommendations to
extend the framework closing dates in California's Balance of State
Zone and the Sacramento Valley Special Management Area (SMA). In the
Balance of State Zone, expanding the framework closing date to March 10
is intended to allow additional hunting opportunity and potentially
reduce goose crop depredation complaints. The Council notes that the
white-fronted goose population is currently about 700,000 birds and
above the population goal of 300,000 birds. In the SMA, extending the
closing date to December 28 is expected to increase the harvest of
Pacific white-fronted geese while still protecting the less numerous
Tule subspecies. Tule Greater white-fronted geese currently number
approximately 14,578 based on preliminary indirect population
estimates. However, over-lapping this relatively small number of Tule
geese are burgeoning populations of Pacific Greater white-fronted geese
within the SMA. The Council estimates that the harvest of Tule geese
are low, as determined by measurements of hunter-harvested white-
fronted geese at public hunting areas within the SMA; and the range of
hunter-harvested adult Tule geese at the public hunt areas in the SMA
since 1999 has ranged from a low of 13 (2005-06) to a high of 86 (2000-
01). We agree with the Council's assessment.
Public Comments
The Department of the Interior's policy is, whenever possible, to
afford the public an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking
process. Accordingly, we invite interested persons to submit written
comments, suggestions, or recommendations regarding the proposed
regulations. Before promulgating final migratory game bird hunting
regulations, we will consider all comments we receive. These comments,
and any additional information we receive, may lead to final
regulations that differ from these proposals. You may submit your
comments and materials concerning this proposed rule by one of the
methods listed in the ADDRESSES section. We will not accept comments
sent by e-mail or fax. We will not consider hand-delivered comments
that we do not receive, or mailed comments that are not postmarked, by
the date specified in the DATES section. We will post all comments in
their entirety--including your personal identifying information--on
http://www.regulations.gov. Before including your address, phone
number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available
at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting
documentation we used in preparing this proposed rule, will be
available for public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov, or by
appointment, during normal business hours, at the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory Bird Management, Room 4107,
4501 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203. For each series of
proposed rulemakings, we will establish specific comment periods. We
will consider, but possibly may not respond in detail to, each comment.
As in the past, we will summarize all comments we receive during the
comment period and respond to them after the closing date in the
preambles of any final rules.
Required Determinations
Based on our most current data, we are affirming our required
determinations made in the April 8 proposed rule; for descriptions of
our actions to ensure compliance with the following statutes and
Executive Orders,
[[Page 53545]]
see our April 8, 2011, proposed rule (76 FR 19876):
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Consideration;
Endangered Species Act Consideration;
Regulatory Flexibility Act;
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act;
Paperwork Reduction Act;
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act;
Executive Orders 12630, 12866, 12988, 13132, 13175, and
13211.
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 2011-12
hunting season are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 703-712 and 16 U.S.C. 742
a-j.
Dated: August 15, 2011.
Jane Lyder,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
Proposed Regulations Frameworks for 2011-12 Late Hunting Seasons on
Certain Migratory Game Birds
Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and delegated
authorities, the Department of the Interior approved the following
proposals for season lengths, shooting hours, bag and possession
limits, and outside dates within which States may select seasons for
hunting waterfowl and coots between the dates of September 1, 2011, and
March 10, 2012. These frameworks are summarized below.
General
Dates: All outside dates noted below are inclusive.
Shooting and Hawking (taking by falconry) Hours: Unless otherwise
specified, from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset daily.
Possession Limits: Unless otherwise specified, possession limits
are twice the daily bag limit.
Permits: For some species of migratory birds, the Service
authorizes the use of permits to regulate harvest or monitor their take
by sport hunters, or both. In many cases (e.g., tundra swans, some
sandhill crane populations), the Service determines the amount of
harvest that may be taken during hunting seasons during its formal
regulations-setting process, and the States then issue permits to
hunters at levels predicted to result in the amount of take authorized
by the Service. Thus, although issued by States, the permits would not
be valid unless the Service approved such take in its regulations.
These Federally authorized, State-issued permits are issued to
individuals, and only the individual whose name and address appears on
the permit at the time of issuance is authorized to take migratory
birds at levels specified in the permit, in accordance with provisions
of both Federal and State regulations governing the hunting season. The
permit must be carried by the permittee when exercising its provisions
and must be presented to any law enforcement officer upon request. The
permit is not transferrable or assignable to another individual, and
may not be sold, bartered, traded, or otherwise provided to another
person. If the permit is altered or defaced in any way, the permit
becomes invalid.
Flyways and Management Units
Waterfowl Flyways
Atlantic Flyway--includes Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia,
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont,
Virginia, and West Virginia.
Mississippi Flyway--includes Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,
Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
Central Flyway--includes Colorado (east of the Continental Divide),
Kansas, Montana (Counties of Blaine, Carbon, Fergus, Judith Basin,
Stillwater, Sweetgrass, Wheatland, and all counties east thereof),
Nebraska, New Mexico (east of the Continental Divide except the
Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation), North Dakota, Oklahoma, South
Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming (east of the Continental Divide).
Pacific Flyway--includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho,
Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and those portions of Colorado,
Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming not included in the Central Flyway.
Management Units
High Plains Mallard Management Unit--roughly defined as that
portion of the Central Flyway that lies west of the 100th meridian.
Definitions
For the purpose of hunting regulations listed below, the collective
terms ``dark'' and ``light'' geese include the following species:
Dark geese: Canada geese, white-fronted geese, brant (except in
California, Oregon, Washington, and the Atlantic Flyway), and all other
goose species except light geese.
Light geese: Snow (including blue) geese and Ross's geese.
Area, Zone, and Unit Descriptions: Geographic descriptions related
to late-season regulations are contained in a later portion of this
document.
Area-Specific Provisions: Frameworks for open seasons, season
lengths, bag and possession limits, and other special provisions are
listed below by Flyway.
Waterfowl Seasons in the Atlantic Flyway
In the Atlantic Flyway States of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and
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 Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days
Outside Dates: States may select 2 days per duck-hunting zone,
designated as ``Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days,'' in addition to their
regular duck seasons. The days must be held outside any regular duck
season on a weekend, holidays, or other non-school days when youth
hunters would have the maximum opportunity to participate. The days may
be held up to 14 days before or after any regular duck-season
frameworks or within any split of a regular duck season, or within any
other open season on migratory birds.
Daily Bag Limits: The daily bag limits may include ducks, geese,
tundra swans, mergansers, coots, moorhens, and gallinules and would be
the same as those allowed in the regular season. Flyway species and
area restrictions would remain in effect.
Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Participation Restrictions: 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 may not duck hunt
but may participate in other seasons that are open on the special youth
day. Tundra swans may only be taken by participants possessing
applicable tundra swan permits.
Atlantic Flyway
Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots
Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September
24) and the last Sunday in January (January 29).
Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: 60 days. The daily bag limit is 6
ducks, including no more than 4 mallards (2 hens), 1 black duck, 2
pintails, 1
[[Page 53546]]
mottled duck, 1 fulvous whistling duck, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2
scaup, 1 canvasback, and 4 scoters.
Closures: The season on harlequin ducks is closed.
Sea Ducks: Within the special sea duck areas, during the regular
duck season in the Atlantic Flyway, States may choose to allow the
above sea duck limits in addition to the limits applying to other ducks
during the regular 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.
Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit of mergansers is 5, only 2 of
which may be hooded mergansers. In States that include mergansers in
the duck bag limit, the daily limit is the same as the duck bag limit,
only two of which may be hooded mergansers.
Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
Lake Champlain Zone, New York: The waterfowl seasons, limits, and
shooting hours shall be the same as those selected for the Lake
Champlain Zone of Vermont.
Connecticut River Zone, Vermont: The waterfowl seasons, limits, and
shooting hours shall be the same as those selected for the Inland Zone
of New Hampshire.
Zoning and Split Seasons: Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland,
North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, and West
Virginia may split their seasons into three segments; Connecticut,
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, and Vermont may select hunting seasons by zones and may
split their seasons into two segments in each zone.
Canada Geese
Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: Specific regulations for
Canada geese are shown below by State. These seasons also include
white-fronted geese. Unless specified otherwise, seasons may be split
into two segments. In areas within States where the framework closing
date for Atlantic Population (AP) goose seasons overlaps with special
late-season frameworks for resident geese, the framework closing date
for AP goose seasons is January 14.
Connecticut:
North Atlantic Population (NAP) Zone: Between October 1 and January
31, a 60-day season may be held with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
Atlantic Population (AP) Zone: A 45-day season may be held between
the fourth Saturday in October (October 22) and January 31, with a 3-
bird daily bag limit.
South Zone: A special season may be held between January 15 and
February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
Resident Population (RP) Zone: An 80-day season may be held between
October 1 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season
may be split into 3 segments.
Delaware: A 45-day season may be held between November 15 and
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
Florida: An 80-day season may be held between November 15 and
February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split
into 3 segments.
Georgia: In specific areas, an 80-day season may be held between
November 15 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season
may be split into 3 segments.
Maine: A 60-day season may be held Statewide between October 1 and
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
Maryland:
RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between November 15 and March
10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3
segments.
AP Zone: A 45-day season may be held between November 15 and
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
Massachusetts:
NAP Zone: A 60-day season may be held between October 1 and January
31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. Additionally, a special season may
be held from January 15 to February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
AP Zone: A 45-day season may be held between October 20 and January
31, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
New Hampshire:
A 60-day season may be held statewide between October 1 and January
31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
New Jersey:
Statewide: A 45-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday
in October (October 22) and January 31, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
Special Late Goose Season Area: A special season may be held in
designated areas of North and South New Jersey from January 15 to
February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
New York:
NAP Zone: Between October 1 and January 31, a 60-day season may be
held, with a 2-bird daily bag limit in the High Harvest areas; and
between October 1 and February 15, a 70-day season may be held, with a
3-bird daily bag limit in the Low Harvest areas.
Special Late Goose Season Area: A special season may be held
between January 15 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit in
designated areas of Suffolk County.
AP Zone: A 45-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in
October (October 22), except in the Lake Champlain Area where the
opening date is October 20, and January 31, with a 3-bird daily bag
limit.
Western Long Island RP Zone: A 107-day season may be held between
the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24) and March 10, with an
8-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments.
Rest of State RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between the
fourth Saturday in October (October 22) and March 10, with a 5-bird
daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments.
North Carolina:
SJBP Zone: A 70-day season may be held between October 1 and
December 31, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and March
10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3
segments.
Northeast Hunt Unit: A 7-day season may be held between the
Saturday prior to December 25 (December 24) and January 31, with a 1-
bird daily bag limit.
Pennsylvania:
SJBP Zone: A 70-day season may be held between the second Saturday
in October (October 8) and February 15, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday
in October (October 22) and March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
The season may be split into 3 segments.
AP Zone: A 45-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in
October (October 22) and January 31, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
Rhode Island: A 60-day season may be held between October 1 and
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. A special late season may be
held in designated areas from January 15 to February 15, with a 5-bird
daily bag limit.
South Carolina: In designated areas, an 80-day season may be held
during November 15 to February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The
season may be split into 3 segments.
Vermont: A 45-day season may be held between October 20 and January
31 with a 3-bird daily bag limit in the Lake Champlain Zone and
Interior Zone. A 60-day season may be held in the Connecticut River
Zone between October 1 and January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
Virginia:
SJBP Zone: A 40-day season may be held between November 15 and
January
[[Page 53547]]
14, with a 3-bird daily bag limit. Additionally, a special late season
may be held between January 15 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag
limit.
AP Zone: A 45-day season may be held between November 15 and
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between November 15 and March
10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3
segments.
West Virginia: An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and
January 31, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into
2 segments in each zone.
Light Geese
Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: States may select a 107-
day season between October 1 and March 10, with a 25-bird daily bag
limit and no possession limit. States may split their seasons into
three segments.
Brant
Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: States may select a 50-
day season between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24) and
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. States may split their
seasons into two segments.
Mississippi Flyway
Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots
Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September
24) and the last Sunday in January (January 29).
Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: The season may not exceed 60 days,
with a daily bag limit of 6 ducks, including no more than 4 mallards
(no more than 2 of which may be females), 1 mottled duck, 1 black duck,
2 pintails, 3 wood ducks, 1 canvasback, 2 scaup, and 2 redheads.
Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit is 5, only 2 of which may be
hooded mergansers. In States that include mergansers in the duck bag
limit, the daily limit is the same as the duck bag limit, only 2 of
which may be hooded mergansers.
Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
Zoning and Split Seasons: Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee,
and Wisconsin may select hunting seasons by zones.
In Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, the season may be split into
two segments in each zone.
In Arkansas and Mississippi, the season may be split into three
segments.
Geese
Split Seasons: Seasons for geese may be split into three segments.
Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: States may select
seasons for light geese not to exceed 107 days, with 20 geese daily
between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24) and March 10;
for white-fronted geese not to exceed 74 days with 2 geese daily or 88
days with 1 goose daily between the Saturday nearest September 24
(September 24) and the Sunday nearest February 15 (February 12); and
for brant not to exceed 70 days, with 2 brant daily or 107 days with 1
brant daily between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24)
and January 31. There is no possession limit for light geese. Specific
regulations for Canada geese and exceptions to the above general
provisions are shown below by State. Except as noted below, the outside
dates for Canada geese are the Saturday nearest September 24 (September
24) and January 31.
Alabama: In the SJBP Goose Zone, the season for Canada geese may
not exceed 70 days. Elsewhere, the season for Canada geese may extend
for 70 days in the respective duck-hunting zones. The daily bag limit
is 2 Canada geese.
Arkansas: In the Northwest Zone, the season for Canada geese may
extend for 82 days. In the remainder of the State, the season may not
exceed 72 days. The season may extend to February 15. The daily bag
limit is 2 Canada geese.
Illinois: The season for Canada geese may extend for 85 days in the
North and Central Zones and 66 days in the South Central and South
Zones. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
Indiana: The season for Canada geese may extend for 74 days. The
daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
Late Canada Goose Season Areas:
(a) A special Canada goose season of up to 15 days may be held
during February 1-15 in the Late Canada Goose Season Zone. During this
special season the daily bag limit cannot exceed 5 Canada geese.
(b) An experimental special Canada goose season of up to 15 days
may be held during February 1-15 in the Experimental Late Canada Goose
Zone. During this special season the daily bag limit cannot exceed 5
Canada geese.
Iowa: The season for Canada geese may extend for 107 days. The
daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese.
Kentucky:
(a) Western Zone--The season for Canada geese may extend for 70
days (85 days in Fulton County). The season in Fulton County may extend
to February 15. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(b) Pennyroyal/Coalfield Zone--The season may extend for 70 days.
The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(c) Remainder of the State--The season may extend for 70 days. The
daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
Louisiana: The season for Canada geese may extend for 44 days. The
daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose.
Michigan:
(a) North Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is
September 16 and the season for Canada geese may extend for 45 days.
The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(b) Middle Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is
September 16 and the season for Canada geese may extend for 45 days.
The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(c) South Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is
September 16 and the season for Canada geese may extend for 45 days.
The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(1) Allegan County and Muskegon Wastewater GMU--The framework
opening date for all geese is September 16 and the season for Canada
geese may extend for 45 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(2) Saginaw County and Tuscola/Huron GMUs--The framework opening
date for all geese is September 16 and the season for Canada geese may
extend for 45 days through December 30 and an additional 30 days may be
held between December 31 and February 7. The daily bag limit is 2
Canada geese.
(d) Southern Michigan Late Season Canada Goose Zone--A 30-day
special Canada goose season may be held between December 31 and
February 7. The daily bag limit may not exceed 5 Canada geese.
Minnesota: The season for Canada geese may extend for 85 days. The
daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese.
Mississippi: The season for Canada geese may extend for 70 days.
The daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese.
Missouri: The season for Canada geese may extend for 85 days. The
daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese.
Ohio:
(a) Lake Erie Zone--The season may extend for 74 days. The daily
bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(b) North Zone--The season may extend for 74 days. The daily bag
limit is 2 Canada geese.
(c) South Zone--The season may extend for 74 days. The daily bag
limit is 2 Canada geese.
Tennessee:
(a) Northwest Zone--The season for Canada geese may not exceed 72
days,
[[Page 53548]]
and may extend to February 15. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(b) Southwest Zone--The season for Canada geese may extend for 72
days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(c) Kentucky/Barkley Lakes Zone--The season for Canada geese may
extend for 72 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(d) Remainder of the State--The season for Canada geese may extend
for 72 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
Wisconsin:
(a) Horicon Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is
September 16. The season may not exceed 92 days. All Canada geese
harvested must be tagged. The season limit will be 6 Canada geese per
permittee.
(b) Exterior Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is
September 16. The season may not exceed 85 days. The daily bag limit is
2 Canada geese.
Additional Limits: In addition to the harvest limits stated for the
respective zones above, an additional 4,500 Canada geese may be taken
in the Horicon Zone under special agricultural permits.
Central Flyway
Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots
Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September
24) and the last Sunday in January (January 29).
Hunting Seasons:
(1) High Plains Mallard Management Unit (roughly defined as that
portion of the Central Flyway which lies west of the 100th meridian):
97 days. The last 23 days must run consecutively and may start no
earlier than the Saturday nearest December 10 (December 10).
(2) Remainder of the Central Flyway: 74 days.
Bag Limits: The daily bag limit is 6 ducks, with species and sex
restrictions as follows: 5 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be
females), 2 redheads, 2 scaup, 3 wood ducks, 2 pintails, and 1
canvasback. In Texas, the daily bag limit on mottled ducks is 1, except
for the first 5 days of the season when it is closed.
Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit is 5 mergansers, only 2 of
which may be hooded mergansers. In States that include mergansers in
the duck daily bag limit, the daily limit may be the same as the duck
bag limit, only two of which may be hooded mergansers.
Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
Zoning and Split Seasons: Colorado, Kansas (Low Plains portion),
Montana, Nebraska (Low Plains portion), New Mexico, Oklahoma (Low
Plains portion), South Dakota (Low Plains portion), Texas (Low Plains
portion), and Wyoming may select hunting seasons by zones.
In Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota,
Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, the regular season may be
split into two segments.
Geese
Split Seasons: Seasons for geese may be split into three segments.
Three-way split seasons for Canada geese require Central Flyway Council
and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approval, and a 3-year evaluation by
each participating State.
Outside Dates: For dark geese, seasons may be selected between the
outside dates of the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 24) and
the Sunday nearest February 15 (February 12). For light geese, outside
dates for seasons may be selected between the Saturday nearest
September 24 (September 24) and March 10. In the Rainwater Basin Light
Goose Area (East and West) of Nebraska, temporal and spatial
restrictions that are consistent with the late-winter snow goose
hunting strategy cooperatively developed by the Central Flyway Council
and the Service are required.
Season Lengths and Limits:
Light Geese: States may select a light goose season not to exceed
107 days. The daily bag limit for light geese is 20 with no possession
limit.
Dark Geese: In Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South
Dakota, and the Eastern Goose Zone of Texas, States may select a season
for Canada geese (or any other dark goose species except white-fronted
geese) not to exceed 107 days with a daily bag limit of 3.
Additionally, in the Eastern Goose Zone of Texas, an alternative season
of 107 days with a daily bag limit of 1 Canada goose may be selected.
For white-fronted geese, these States may select either a season of 74
days with a bag limit of 2 or an 88-day season with a bag limit of 1.
In Colorado, Montana, New Mexico and Wyoming, States may select
seasons not to exceed 107 days. The daily bag limit for dark geese is 5
in the aggregate.
In the Western Goose Zone of Texas, the season may not exceed 95
days. The daily bag limit for Canada geese (or any other dark goose
species except white-fronted geese) is 5. The daily bag limit for
white-fronted geese is 1.
Pacific Flyway
Ducks, Mergansers, Coots, Common Moorhens, and Purple Gallinules
Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: Concurrent 107 days. The daily bag
limit is 7 ducks and mergansers, including no more than 2 female
mallards, 2 pintails, 3 scaup, 1 canvasback, and 2 redheads. For scaup,
the season length would be 86 days, which may be split according to
applicable zones/split duck hunting configurations approved for each
State.
The season on coots and common moorhens may be between the outside
dates for the season on ducks, but not to exceed 107 days.
Coot, Common Moorhen, and Purple Gallinule Limits: The daily bag
and possession limits of coots, common moorhens, and purple gallinules
are 25, singly or in the aggregate.
Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September
24) and the last Sunday in January (January 29).
Zoning and Split Seasons: Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada,
Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming may select hunting seasons by
zones. Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington,
and Wyoming may split their seasons into two segments.
Colorado, Montana, and New Mexico may split their seasons into
three segments.
Colorado River Zone, California: Seasons and limits shall be the
same as seasons and limits selected in the adjacent portion of Arizona
(South Zone).
Geese
Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits:
California, Oregon, and Washington:
Dark geese: Except as subsequently noted, 100-day seasons may be
selected, with outside dates between the Saturday nearest October 1
(October 1), and the last Sunday in January (January 29). The basic
daily bag limit is 4 dark geese, except the dark goose bag limit does
not include brant.
Light geese: Except as subsequently noted, 107-day seasons may be
selected, with outside dates between the Saturday nearest October 1
(October 1), and March 10. The daily bag limit is 6 light geese.
Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and
Wyoming:
Dark geese: Except as subsequently noted, 107-day seasons may be
selected, with outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24
(September 24), and the last Sunday in January (January
[[Page 53549]]
29). The basic daily bag limit is 4 dark geese.
Light geese: Except as subsequently noted, 107-day seasons may be
selected, with outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24
(September 24), and March 10. The basic daily bag limit is 10 light
geese.
Split Seasons: Unless otherwise specified, seasons for geese may be
split into up to 3 segments. Three-way split seasons for Canada geese
and white-fronted geese require Pacific Flyway Council and U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service approval and a 3-year evaluation by each
participating State.
Brant Season
Oregon may select a 16-day season, Washington a 16-day season, and
California a 30-day season. Days must be consecutive. Washington and
California may select hunting seasons by up to two zones. The daily bag
limit is 2 brant and is in addition to dark goose limits. In Oregon and
California, the brant season must end no later than December 15.
Arizona: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3.
California:
Northeastern Zone: The daily bag limit is 6 dark geese.
Balance-of-State Zone: A 107-day season may be selected with
outside dates between the Saturday nearest October 1 (October 1) and
March 10. Limits may not include more than 6 dark geese per day. In the
Sacramento Valley Special Management Area, the season on white-fronted
geese must end on or before December 28 and the daily bag limit shall
contain no more than 2 white-fronted geese. In the North Coast Special
Management Area, a 107-day season may be selected, with outside dates
between the Saturday nearest October 1 (October 1) and March 10.
Hunting days that occur after the last Sunday in January shall be
concurrent with Oregon's South Coast Zone.
Idaho:
Zone 3: Hunting days that occur after the last Sunday in January
shall be concurrent with Oregon's Malheur County Zone.
Nevada: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3.
New Mexico: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3.
Oregon:
Harney and Lake County Zone: For Lake County only, the daily dark
goose bag limit may not include more than 1 white-fronted goose.
Klamath County Zone: A 107-day season may be selected, with outside
dates between the Saturday nearest October 1 (October 1), and March 10.
A 3-way split season may be selected. For hunting days after the last
Sunday in January, the daily bag limit may not include Canada geese.
Malheur County Zone: The daily bag limit of light geese is 10.
Hunting days that occur after the last Sunday in January shall be
concurrent with Idaho's Zone 2.
Northwest Zone: The daily bag limit may not include more than 3
cackling or Aleutian geese.
Northwest Special Permit Zone: Outside dates are between the
Saturday nearest October 1 (October 1) and March 10. The daily bag
limit may not include more than 3 cackling or Aleutian geese and daily
bag limit of light geese is 4.
South Coast Zone: A 107-day season may be selected, with outside
dates between the Saturday nearest October 1 (October 1) and March 10.
Hunting days that occur after the last Sunday in January shall be
concurrent with California's North Coast Special Management Area. A 3-
way split season may be selected.
Utah: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3.
Washington: The daily bag limit is 4 geese.
Area 1: Outside dates are between the Saturday nearest October 1
(October 1), and the last Sunday in January (January 29).
Areas 2A and 2B (Southwest Quota Zone): Except for designated
areas, there will be no open season on Canada geese. See section on
quota zones. In this area, the daily bag limit may include 3 cackling
geese. In Southwest Quota Zone Area 2B (Pacific County), the daily bag
limit may include 1 Aleutian goose.
Areas 4 and 5: A 107-day season may be selected for dark geese.
Wyoming: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3.
Quota Zones
Seasons on geese must end upon attainment of individual quotas of
dusky geese allotted to the designated areas of Oregon (90) and
Washington (45). The September Canada goose season, the regular goose
season, any special late dark goose season, and any extended falconry
season, combined, must not exceed 107 days, and the established quota
of dusky geese must not be exceeded. Hunting of geese in those
designated areas will be only by hunters possessing a State-issued
permit authorizing them to do so. In a Service-approved investigation,
the State must obtain quantitative information on hunter compliance of
those regulations aimed at reducing the take of dusky geese. If the
monitoring program cannot be conducted, for any reason, the season must
immediately close. In the designated areas of the Washington Southwest
Quota Zone, a special late goose season may be held between the
Saturday following the close of the general goose season and March 10.
In the Northwest Special Permit Zone of Oregon, the framework closing
date is March 10. Regular goose seasons may be split into 3 segments
within the Oregon and Washington quota zones.
Swans
In portions of the Pacific Flyway (Montana, Nevada, and Utah), an
open season for taking a limited number of swans may be selected.
Permits will be issued by the State and will authorize each permittee
to take no more than 1 swan per season with each permit. Nevada may
issue up to 2 permits per hunter. Montana and Utah may only issue 1
permit per hunter. Each State's season may open no earlier than the
Saturday nearest October 1 (October 1). These seasons are also subject
to the following conditions:
Montana: No more than 500 permits may be issued. The season must
end no later than December 1. The State must implement a harvest-
monitoring program to measure the species composition of the swan
harvest and should use appropriate measures to maximize hunter
compliance in reporting bill measurement and color information.
Utah: No more than 2,000 permits may be issued. During the swan
season, no more than 10 trumpeter swans may be taken. The season must
end no later than the second Sunday in December (December 11) or upon
attainment of 10 trumpeter swans in the harvest, whichever occurs
earliest. The Utah season remains subject to the terms of the
Memorandum of Agreement entered into with the Service in August 2001,
regarding harvest monitoring, season closure procedures, and education
requirements to minimize the take of trumpeter swans during the swan
season.
Nevada: No more than 650 permits may be issued. During the swan
season, no more than 5 trumpeter swans may be taken. The season must
end no later than the Sunday following January 1 (January 8) or upon
attainment of 5 trumpeter swans in the harvest, whichever occurs
earliest.
In addition, the States of Utah and Nevada must implement a
harvest-monitoring program to measure the species composition of the
swan harvest. The harvest-monitoring program must require that all
harvested swans or their species-determinant parts be examined by
either State or Federal
[[Page 53550]]
biologists for the purpose of species classification. The States should
use appropriate measures to maximize hunter compliance in providing
bagged swans for examination. Further, the States of Montana, Nevada,
and Utah must achieve at least an 80-percent compliance rate, or
subsequent permits will be reduced by 10 percent. All three States must
provide to the Service by June 30, 2012, a report detailing harvest,
hunter participation, reporting compliance, and monitoring of swan
populations in the designated hunt areas.
Tundra Swans
In portions of the Atlantic Flyway (North Carolina and Virginia)
and the Central Flyway (North Dakota, South Dakota [east of the
Missouri River], and that portion of Montana in the Central Flyway), an
open season for taking a limited number of tundra swans may be
selected. Permits will be issued by the States that authorize the take
of no more than 1 tundra swan per permit. A second permit may be issued
to hunters from unused permits remaining after the first drawing. The
States must obtain harvest and hunter participation data. These seasons
are also subject to the following conditions:
In the Atlantic Flyway:
--The season may be 90 days, from October 1 to January 31.
--In North Carolina, no more than 5,000 permits may be issued.
--In Virginia, no more than 600 permits may be issued.
In the Central Flyway:
--The season may be 107 days, from the Saturday nearest October 1
(October 1) to January 31.
--In the Central Flyway portion of Montana, no more than 500 permits
may be issued.
--In North Dakota, no more than 2,200 permits may be issued.
--In South Dakota, no more than 1,300 permits may be issued.
Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions
Ducks (Including Mergansers) and Coots
Atlantic Flyway
Connecticut:
North Zone: That portion of the State north of I-95.
South Zone: Remainder of the State.
Maine:
North Zone: That portion north of the line extending from the
Maine-New Brunswick border in Baileyville, Maine west along Stony Brook
to Route 9 in Baileyville; west along Route 9 to Route 15 in Bangor;
west along Route 15 to I-95 in Bangor; southwest along I-95 to the
bridge across the Kennebec River in Fairfield; north/northwest along
the western shore of the Kennebec River to the bridge across the
Kennebec River in Anson; southwest along Route 148 in Anson to Route 43
in Industry; southwest along Route 43 to Route 4 in Farmington;
southwest along Route 4 to Route 140 in Jay; southwest along Route 140
to Route 108 in Canton; southeast along Route 108 to Route 4 in
Livermore; south along Route 4 to Route 11 in Auburn; southwest along
Route 11 to Route 110 in Newfield; and west along Route 110 to Maine-
New Hampshire border.
South Zone: Remainder of the State.
Massachusetts:
Western Zone: That portion of the State west of a line extending
south from the Vermont State line on I-91 to MA 9, west on MA 9 to MA
10, south on MA 10 to U.S. 202, south on U.S. 202 to the Connecticut
State line.
Central Zone: That portion of the State east of the Berkshire Zone
and west of a line extending south from the New Hampshire State line on
I-95 to U.S. 1, south on U.S. 1 to I-93, south on I-93 to MA 3, south
on MA 3 to U.S. 6, west on U.S. 6 to MA 28, west on MA 28 to I-195,
west to the Rhode Island State line; except the waters, and the lands
150 yards inland from the high-water mark, of the Assonet River
upstream to the MA 24 bridge, and the Taunton River upstream to the
Center St.- Elm St. bridge shall be in the Coastal Zone.
Coastal Zone: That portion of Massachusetts east and south of the
Central Zone.
New Hampshire:
Coastal Zone: That portion of the State east of a line extending
west from the Maine State line in Rollinsford on NH 4 to the city of
Dover, south to NH 108, south along NH 108 through Madbury, Durham, and
Newmarket to NH 85 in Newfields, south to NH 101 in Exeter, east to NH
51 (Exeter-Hampton Expressway), east to I-95 (New Hampshire Turnpike)
in Hampton, and south along I-95 to the Massachusetts State line.
Inland Zone: That portion of the State north and west of the above
boundary and along the Massachusetts State line crossing the
Connecticut River to Interstate 91 and northward in Vermont to Route 2,
east to 102, northward to the Canadian border.
New Jersey:
Coastal Zone: That portion of the State seaward of a line beginning
at the New York State line in Raritan Bay and extending west along the
New York State line to NJ 440 at Perth Amboy; west on NJ 440 to the
Garden State Parkway; south on the Garden State Parkway to the
shoreline at Cape May and continuing to the Delaware State line in
Delaware Bay.
North Zone: That portion of the State west of the Coastal Zone and
north of a line extending west from the Garden State Parkway on NJ 70
to the New Jersey Turnpike, north on the turnpike to U.S. 206, north on
U.S. 206 to U.S. 1 at Trenton, west on U.S. 1 to the Pennsylvania State
line in the Delaware River.
South Zone: That portion of the State not within the North Zone or
the Coastal Zone.
New York:
Lake Champlain Zone: That area east and north of a continuous line
extending along U.S. 11 from the New York-Canada International boundary
south to NY 9B, south along NY 9B to U.S. 9, south along U.S. 9 to NY
22 south of Keesville; south along NY 22 to the west shore of South
Bay, along and around the shoreline of South Bay to NY 22 on the east
shore of South Bay; southeast along NY 22 to U.S. 4, northeast along
U.S. 4 to the Vermont State line.
Long Island Zone: That area consisting of Nassau County, Suffolk
County, that area of Westchester County southeast of I-95, and their
tidal waters.
Western Zone: That area west of a line extending from Lake Ontario
east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, and south along
I-81 to the Pennsylvania State line.
Northeastern Zone: That area north of a continuous line extending
from Lake Ontario east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-
81, south along I-81 to NY 31, east along NY 31 to NY 13, north along
NY 13 to NY 49, east along NY 49 to NY 365, east along NY 365 to NY 28,
east along NY 28 to NY 29, east along NY 29 to NY 22, north along NY 22
to Washington County Route 153, east along CR 153 to the New York-
Vermont boundary, exclusive of the Lake Champlain Zone.
Southeastern Zone: The remaining portion of New York.
Pennsylvania:
Lake Erie Zone: The Lake Erie waters of Pennsylvania and a
shoreline margin along Lake Erie from New York on the east to Ohio on
the west extending 150 yards inland, but including all of Presque Isle
Peninsula.
Northwest Zone: The area bounded on the north by the Lake Erie Zone
and including all of Erie and Crawford Counties and those portions of
Mercer and Venango Counties north of I-80.
North Zone: That portion of the State east of the Northwest Zone
and north of a line extending east on I-80 to U.S.
[[Page 53551]]
220, Route 220 to I-180, I-180 to I-80, and I-80 to the Delaware River.
South Zone: The remaining portion of Pennsylvania.
Vermont:
Lake Champlain Zone: The U.S. portion of Lake Champlain and that
area north and west of the line extending from the New York border
along U.S. 4 to VT 22A at Fair Haven; VT 22A to U.S. 7 at Vergennes;
U.S. 7 to VT 78 at Swanton; VT 78 to VT 36; VT 36 to Maquam Bay on Lake
Champlain; along and around the shoreline of Maquam Bay and Hog Island
to VT 78 at the West Swanton Bridge; VT 78 to VT 2 in Alburg; VT 2 to
the Richelieu River in Alburg; along the east shore of the Richelieu
River to the Canadian border.
Interior Zone: That portion of Vermont east of the Lake Champlain
Zone and west of a line extending from the Massachusetts border at
Interstate 91; north along Interstate 91 to U.S. 2; east along U.S. 2
to VT 102; north along VT 102 to VT 253; north along VT 253 to the
Canadian border.
Connecticut River Zone: The remaining portion of Vermont east of
the Interior Zone.
Mississippi Flyway
Alabama:
South Zone: Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
North Zone: The remainder of Alabama.
Illinois:
North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending
west from the Indiana border along Peotone-Beecher Road to Illinois
Route 50, south along Illinois Route 50 to Wilmington-Peotone Road,
west along Wilmington-Peotone Road to Illinois Route 53, north along
Illinois Route 53 to New River Road, northwest along New River Road to
Interstate Highway 55, south along I-55 to Pine Bluff-Lorenzo Road,
west along Pine Bluff-Lorenzo Road to Illinois Route 47, north along
Illinois Route 47 to I-80, west along I-80 to I-39, south along I-39 to
Illinois Route 18, west along Illinois Route 18 to Illinois Route 29,
south along Illinois Route 29 to Illinois Route 17, west along Illinois
Route 17 to the Mississippi River, and due south across the Mississippi
River to the Iowa border.
Central Zone: That portion of the State south of the North Duck
Zone line to a line extending west from the Indiana border along I-70
to Illinois Route 4, south along Illinois Route 4 to Illinois Route
161, west along Illinois Route 161 to Illinois Route 158, south and
west along Illinois Route 158 to Illinois Route 159, south along
Illinois Route 159 to Illinois Route 3, south along Illinois Route 3 to
St. Leo's Road, south along St. Leo's road to Modoc Road, west along
Modoc Road to Modoc Ferry Road, southwest along Modoc Ferry Road to
Levee Road, southeast along Levee Road to County Route 12 (Modoc Ferry
entrance Road), south along County Route 12 to the Modoc Ferry route
and southwest on the Modoc Ferry route across the Mississippi River to
the Missouri border.
South Zone: That portion of the State south and east of a line
extending west from the Indiana border along Interstate 70, south along
U.S. Highway 45, to Illinois Route 13, west along Illinois Route 13 to
Greenbriar Road, north on Greenbriar Road to Sycamore Road, west on
Sycamore Road to N. Reed Station Road, south on N. Reed Station Road to
Illinois Route 13, west along Illinois Route 13 to Illinois Route 127,
south along Illinois Route 127 to State Forest Road (1025 N), west
along State Forest Road to Illinois Route 3, north along Illinois Route
3 to the south bank of the Big Muddy River, west along the south bank
of the Big Muddy River to the Mississippi River, west across the
Mississippi River to the Missouri border.
South Central Zone: The remainder of the State between the south
border of the Central Zone and the North border of the South Zone.
Indiana:
North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending
east from the Illinois State line 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 State line.
Ohio River Zone: That portion of the State south of a line
extending east from the Illinois State line along Interstate Highway 64
to New Albany, east along State Road 62 to State Road 56, east along
State Road 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 State line.
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 South Dakota-Iowa border along Interstate 29 southeast to
Woodbury County Road D38, east along Woodbury County Road D38 to
Woodbury County Road K45, southeast along Woodbury County Road K45 to
State Highway 175, east along State Highway 175 to State Highway 37,
southeast along State Highway 37 to State Highway 183, northeast along
State Highway 183 to State Highway 141, east along State Highway 141 to
U.S. Highway 30, and along U.S. Highway 30 to the Illinois border.
South Zone: The remainder of Iowa.
Kentucky:
West Zone: All counties west of and including Butler, Daviess,
Ohio, Simpson, and Warren Counties.
East Zone: The remainder of Kentucky.
Louisiana:
West Zone: That portion of the State west and south of a line
extending south from the Arkansas State line along Louisiana Highway 3
to Bossier City, east along Interstate Highway 20 to Minden, south
along Louisiana 7 to Ringgold, east along Louisiana 4 to Jonesboro,
south along U.S. Highway 167 to Lafayette, southeast along U.S. 90 to
the Mississippi State line.
East Zone: The remainder of Louisiana.
Michigan:
North Zone: The Upper Peninsula.
Middle Zone: That portion of the Lower Peninsula north of a line
beginning at the Wisconsin State line 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, easterly along U.S. 10 BR to U.S. 10, easterly along U.S. 10
to Interstate Highway 75/U.S. Highway 23, northerly along I-75/U.S. 23
to the U.S. 23 exit at Standish, easterly along U.S. 23 to the
centerline of the Au Gres River, then southerly along the centerline of
the Au Gres River to Saginaw Bay, then on a line directly east 10 miles
into Saginaw Bay, and from that point on a line directly northeast to
the Canadian border.
South Zone: The remainder of Michigan.
Minnesota:
North Duck Zone: That portion of the State north of a line
extending east from the North Dakota State line along State Highway 210
to State Highway 23, east along State Highway 23 to State Highway 39,
then east along State Highway 39 to the Wisconsin State line at the
Oliver Bridge.
South Duck Zone: The remainder of Minnesota.
Missouri:
North Zone: That portion of Missouri north of a line running west
from the Illinois border at Lock and Dam 25; west on Lincoln County
Hwy. N to Mo. Hwy.
[[Page 53552]]
79; south on Mo. Hwy. 79 to Mo. Hwy. 47; west on Mo. Hwy. 47 to I-70;
west on I-70 to the Kansas border.
Middle Zone: The remainder of Missouri not included in other zones.
South Zone: That portion of Missouri south of a line running west
from the Illinois border on Mo. Hwy. 74 to Mo. Hwy. 25; south on Mo.
Hwy 25. to U.S. Hwy. 62; west on U.S. Hwy. 62 to Mo. Hwy. 53; north on
Mo. Hwy. 53 to Mo. Hwy. 51; north on Mo. Hwy. 51 to U.S. Hwy. 60; west
on U.S. Hwy. 60 to Mo. Hwy. 21; north on Mo. Hwy. 21 to Mo. Hwy. 72;
west on Mo. Hwy. 72 to Mo. Hwy. 32; west on Mo. Hwy. 32 to U.S. Hwy.
65; north on U.S. Hwy. 65 to U.S. Hwy. 54; west on U.S. Hwy. 54 to U.S.
Hwy. 71; south on U.S. Hwy. 71 to Jasper County Hwy. M; west on Jasper
County Hwy. M to the Kansas border.
Ohio:
Lake Erie Marsh Zone: Includes all land and water within the
boundaries of the area bordered by Interstate 75 from the Ohio-Michigan
line to Interstate 280 to Interstate 80 to the Erie-Lorain County line
extending to a line measuring two hundred (200) yards from the
shoreline into the waters of Lake Erie and including the waters of
Sandusky Bay and Maumee Bay.
North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line beginning at
the Ohio-Indiana border and extending east along Interstate 70 to the
Ohio-West Virginia border.
South Zone: The remainder of Ohio.
Tennessee:
Reelfoot Zone: All or portions of Lake and Obion Counties.
State Zone: The remainder of Tennessee.
Wisconsin:
North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending
east from the Minnesota State line along U.S. Highway 10 into Portage
County to County Highway HH, east on County Highway HH to State Highway
66 and then east on State Highway 66 to U.S. Highway 10, continuing
east on U.S. Highway 10 to U.S. Highway 41, then north on U.S. Highway
41 to the Michigan State line.
One or both of the following two zones:
Mississippi River Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning
at the intersection of the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway and
the Illinois State line in Grant County and extending northerly along
the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway to the city limit of
Prescott in Pierce County, then west along the Prescott city limit to
the Minnesota State line.
South Zone: The remainder of Wisconsin.
Central Flyway
Colorado (Central Flyway Portion):
Northeast Zone: All areas east of Interstate 25 and north of
Interstate 70.
Southeast Zone: All areas east of Interstate 25 and south of
Interstate 70, and all of El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano, and Las Animas
counties.
Mountain/Foothills Zone: All areas west of Interstate 25 and east
of the Continental Divide, except El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano, and Las
Animas counties.
Kansas:
High Plains Zone: That portion of the State west of U.S. 283.
Early Zone: That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the
Nebraska-Kansas State line south on K-128 to its junction with US-36,
then east on US-36 to its junction with K-199, then south on K-199 to
its junction with Republic County 30 Rd, then south on Republic County
30 Rd to its junction with K-148, then east on K-148 to its junction
with Republic County 50 Rd, then south on Republic County 50 Rd to its
junction with Cloud County 40th Rd, then south on Cloud County 40th Rd
to its junction with K-9, then west on K-9 to its junction with US-24,
then west on US-24 to its junction with US-281, then north on US-281 to
its junction with US-36, then west on US-36 to its junction with US-
183, then south on US-183 to its junction with US-24, then west on US-
24 to its junction with K-18, then southeast on K-18 to its junction
with US-183, then south on US-183 to its junction with K-4, then east
on K-4 to its junction with I-135, then south on I-135 to its junction
with K-61, then southwest on K-61 to McPherson County 14th Avenue, then
south on McPherson County 14th Avenue to its junction with Arapaho Rd,
then west on Arapaho Rd to its junction with K-61, then southwest on K-
61 to its junction with K-96, then northwest on K-96 to its junction
with US-56, then southwest on US-56 to its junction with K-19, then
east on K-19 to its junction with US-281, then south on US-281 to its
junction with US-54, then west on US-54 to its junction with US-183,
then north on US-183 to its junction with US-56, then southwest on US-
56 to its junction with Ford County Rd 126, then south on Ford County
Rd 126 to its junction with US-400, then northwest on US-400 to its
junction with US-283, then north on US-283 to its junction with the
Nebraska-Kansas State line, then east along the Nebraska-Kansas State
line to its junction with K-128.
Late Zone: That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the Nebraska-
Kansas State line south on K-128 to its junction with US-36, then east
on US-36 to its junction with K-199, then south on K-199 to its
junction with Republic County 30 Rd, then south on Republic County 30
Rd to its junction with K-148, then east on K-148 to its junction with
Republic County 50 Rd, then south on Republic County 50 Rd to its
junction with Cloud County 40th Rd, then south on Cloud County 40th Rd
to its junction with K-9, then west on K-9 to its junction with US-24,
then west on US-24 to its junction with US-281, then north on US-281 to
its junction with US-36, then west on US-36 to its junction with US-
183, then south on US-183 to its junction with US-24, then west on US-
24 to its junction with K-18, then southeast on K-18 to its junction
with US-183, then south on US-183 to its junction with K-4, then east
on K-4 to its junction with I-135, then south on I-135 to its junction
with K-61, then southwest on K-61 to 14th Avenue, then south on 14th
Avenue to its junction with Arapaho Rd, then west on Arapaho Rd to its
junction with K-61, then southwest on K-61 to its junction with K-96,
then northwest on K-96 to its junction with US-56, then southwest on
US-56 to its junction with K-19, then east on K-19 to its junction with
US-281, then south on US-281 to its junction with US-54, then west on
US-54 to its junction with US-183, then north on US-183 to its junction
with US-56, then southwest on US-56 to its junction with Ford County Rd
126, then south on Ford County Rd 126 to its junction with US-400, then
northwest on US-400 to its junction with US-283, then south on US-283
to its junction with the Oklahoma-Kansas State line, then east along
the Oklahoma-Kansas State line to its junction with US-77, then north
on US-77 to its junction with Butler County, NE 150th Street, then east
on Butler County, NE 150th Street to its junction with US-35, then
northeast on US-35 to its junction with K-68, then east on K-68 to the
Kansas-Missouri State line, then north along the Kansas-Missouri State
line to its junction with the Nebraska State line, then west along the
Kansas-Nebraska State line to its junction with K-128.
Southeast Zone: That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the
Missouri-Kansas State line west on K-68 to its junction with US-35,
then southwest on US-35 to its junction with Butler County, NE 150th
Street, then west on NE 150th Street until its junction with K-77, then
south on K-77 to the Oklahoma-Kansas State line, then east along the
Kansas-Oklahoma State line to its junction with the Missouri State
line,
[[Page 53553]]
then north along the Kansas-Missouri State line to its junction with K-
68.
Montana (Central Flyway Portion):
Zone 1: The Counties of Blaine, Carbon, Carter, Daniels, Dawson,
Fallon, Fergus, Garfield, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, McCone,
Musselshell, Petroleum, Phillips, Powder River, Richland, Roosevelt,
Sheridan, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, and
Yellowstone.
Zone 2: The remainder of Montana.
Nebraska:
High Plains: That portion of Nebraska lying west of a line
beginning at the South Dakota-Nebraska border on U.S. Hwy. 183; south
on U.S. Hwy. 183 to U.S. Hwy. 20; west on U.S. Hwy. 20 to NE Hwy. 7;
south on NE Hwy. 7 to NE Hwy. 91; southwest on NE Hwy. 91 to NE Hwy. 2;
southeast on NE Hwy. 2 to NE Hwy. 92; west on NE Hwy. 92 to NE Hwy. 40;
south on NE Hwy. 40 to NE Hwy. 47; south on NE Hwy. 47 to NE Hwy. 23;
east on NE Hwy. 23 to U.S. Hwy. 283; and south on U.S. Hwy. 283 to the
Kansas-Nebraska border.
Low Plains Zone 1: That portion of Dixon County west of NE Hwy. 26E
Spur and north of NE Hwy. 12; those portions of Cedar and Knox Counties
north of NE Hwy. 12; that portion of Keya Paha County east of U.S. Hwy.
183; and all of Boyd County. Both banks of the Niobrara River in Keya
Paha and Boyd counties east of U.S. Hwy. 183 shall be included in Zone
1.
Low Plains Zone 2: Area bounded by designated Federal and State
highways and political boundaries beginning at the Kansas-Nebraska
border on U.S. Hwy. 75 to U.S. Hwy. 136; east to the intersection of
U.S. Hwy. 136 and the Steamboat Trace (Trace); north along the Trace to
the intersection with Federal Levee R-562; north along Federal Levee R-
562 to the intersection with the Trace; north along the Trace/
Burlington Northern Railroad right-of-way to NE Hwy. 2; west to U.S.
Hwy. 75; north to NE Hwy. 2; west to NE Hwy. 43; north to U.S. Hwy. 34;
east to NE Hwy. 63; north and west to U.S. Hwy. 77; north to NE Hwy.
92; west to County Rd X; south to County Rd 21 (Seward County Line);
west to NE Hwy. 15; north to County Rd 34; west to County Rd J; south
to NE Hwy. 92; west to U.S. 81; south to NE 66; west to County Rd C;
north to NE Hwy. 92; west to U.S. Hwy. 30; west to NE Hwy. 14; south to
County Rd 22 (Hamilton County); west to County Rd M; south to County Rd
21; west to County Rd K; south to U.S. Hwy. 34; west to NE Hwy. 2;
south to U.S. Hwy. I-80; west to Gunbarrel Rd (Hall/Hamilton county
line); south to Giltner Rd; west to U.S. Hwy. 281; south to U.S. Hwy.
34; west to NE Hwy. 10; north to County Rd ``R'' (Kearney County) and
County Rd 742 (Phelps County); west to County Rd 438
(Gosper County line); south along County Rd 438 (Gosper County
line) to County Rd 726 (Furnas County line); east to County Rd
438 (Harlan County line); south to U.S. Hwy. 34; south and
west to U.S. Hwy. 136; east to U.S. Hwy. 183; north to NE Hwy. 4; east
to NE Hwy. 10; south to U.S. Hwy 136; east to NE Hwy. 14; south to the
Kansas-Nebraska border; west to U.S. Hwy. 283; north to NE Hwy. 23;
west to NE Hwy. 47; north to U.S. Hwy. 30; east to County Rd 13; north
to County Rd O; east to NE Hwy. 14; north to NE Hwy. 52; west and north
to NE Hwy. 91; west to U.S. Hwy. 281; south to NE Hwy. 22; west to NE
Hwy. 11; northwest to NE Hwy. 91; west to U.S. Hwy. 183; south to Round
Valley Rd; west to Sargent River Rd; west to Sargent Rd; west to
Milburn Rd; north to Blaine County Line; east to Loup County Line;
north to NE Hwy. 91; west to North Loup Spur Rd; north to North Loup
Rd; east to Pleasant Valley/Worth Rd; east to Loup County Line; north
to Loup-Brown county line; east along northern boundaries of Loup,
Garfield and Wheeler counties; south on the Wheeler-Antelope county
line to NE Hwy. 70; east to NE Hwy. 14; south to NE Hwy. 39; southeast
to NE Hwy. 22; east to U.S. Hwy. 81; southeast to U.S. Hwy. 30; east to
U.S. Hwy. 75; north to the Washington County line; east to the Iowa-
Nebraska border; south along the Iowa-Nebraska border; to the beginning
at U.S. Hwy. 75 and the Kansas-Nebraska border.
Low Plains Zone 3: The area east of the High Plains Zone, excluding
Low Plains Zone 1, north of Low Plains Zone 2.
Low Plains Zone 4: The area east of the High Plains Zone and south
of Zone 2.
New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion):
North Zone: That portion of the State north of I-40 and U.S. 54.
South Zone: The remainder of New Mexico.
North Dakota:
High Plains Unit: That portion of the State south and west of a
line from the South Dakota State line along U.S. 83 and I-94 to ND 41,
north to U.S. 2, west to the Williams/Divide County line, then north
along the County line to the Canadian border.
Low Plains Unit: The remainder of North Dakota.
Oklahoma:
High Plains Zone: The Counties of Beaver, Cimarron, and Texas.
Low Plains Zone 1: That portion of the State east of the High
Plains Zone and north of a line extending east from the Texas State
line along OK 33 to OK 47, east along OK 47 to U.S. 183, south along
U.S. 183 to I-40, east along I-40 to U.S. 177, north along U.S. 177 to
OK 33, east along OK 33 to OK 18, north along OK 18 to OK 51, west
along OK 51 to I-35, north along I-35 to U.S. 412, west along U.S. 412
to OK 132, then north along OK 132 to the Kansas State line.
Low Plains Zone 2: The remainder of Oklahoma.
South Dakota:
High Plains Zone: That portion of the State west of a line
beginning at the North Dakota State line and extending south along U.S.
83 to U.S. 14, east on U.S. 14 to Blunt, south on the Blunt-Canning Rd
to SD 34, east and south on SD 34 to SD 50 at Lee's Corner, south on SD
50 to I-90, east on I-90 to SD 50, south on SD 50 to SD 44, west on SD
44 across the Platte-Winner bridge to SD 47, south on SD 47 to U.S. 18,
east on U.S. 18 to SD 47, south on SD 47 to the Nebraska State line.
North Zone: That portion of northeastern South Dakota east of the
High Plains Unit and north of a line extending east along U.S. 212 to
the Minnesota State line.
South Zone: That portion of Gregory County east of SD 47 and south
of SD 44; Charles Mix County south of SD 44 to the Douglas County line;
south on SD 50 to Geddes; east on the Geddes Highway to U.S. 281; south
on U.S. 281 and U.S. 18 to SD 50; south and east on SD 50 to the Bon
Homme County line; the Counties of Bon Homme, Yankton, and Clay south
of SD 50; and Union County south and west of SD 50 and I-29.
Middle Zone: The remainder of South Dakota.
Texas:
High Plains Zone: That portion of the State west of a line
extending south from the Oklahoma State line along U.S. 183 to Vernon,
south along U.S. 283 to Albany, south along TX 6 to TX 351 to Abilene,
south along U.S. 277 to Del Rio, then south along the Del Rio
International Toll Bridge access road to the Mexico border.
Low Plains North Zone: That portion of northeastern Texas east of
the High Plains Zone and north of a line beginning at the International
Toll Bridge south of Del Rio, then extending east on U.S. 90 to San
Antonio, then continuing east on I-10 to the Louisiana State line at
Orange, Texas.
Low Plains South Zone: The remainder of Texas.
Wyoming (Central Flyway portion):
Zone C1: The Counties of Converse, Goshen, Hot Springs, Natrona,
Platte, and Washakie; and the portion of Park
[[Page 53554]]
County east of the Shoshone National Forest boundary and south of a
line beginning where the Shoshone National Forest boundary meets Park
County Road 8VC, east along Park County Road 8VC to Park County Road
1AB, continuing east along Park County Road 1AB to Wyoming Highway 120,
north along WY Highway 120 to WY Highway 294, south along WY Highway
294 to Lane 9, east along Lane 9 to Powel and WY Highway 14A, and
finally east along WY Highway 14A to the Park County and Big Horn
County line.
Zone C2: The remainder of Wyoming.
Pacific Flyway
Arizona:
Game Management Units (GMU) as follows:
South Zone: Those portions of GMUs 6 and 8 in Yavapai County, and
GMUs 10 and 12B-45.
North Zone: GMUs 1-5, those portions of GMUs 6 and 8 within
Coconino County, and GMUs 7, 9, 12A.
California:
Northeastern Zone: In that portion of California lying east and
north of a line beginning at the intersection of Interstate 5 with the
California-Oregon line; south along Interstate 5 to its junction with
Walters Lane south of the town of Yreka; west along Walters Lane to its
junction with Easy Street; south along Easy Street to the junction with
Old Highway 99; south along Old Highway 99 to the point of intersection
with Interstate 5 north of the town of Weed; south along Interstate 5
to its junction with Highway 89; east and south along Highway 89 to
Main Street Greenville; north and east to its junction with North
Valley Road; south to its junction of Diamond Mountain Road; north and
east to its junction with North Arm Road; south and west to the
junction of North Valley Road; south to the junction with Arlington
Road (A22); west to the junction of Highway 89; south and west to the
junction of Highway 70; east on Highway 70 to Highway 395; south and
east on Highway 395 to the point of intersection with the California-
Nevada State line; north along the California-Nevada State line to the
junction of the California-Nevada-Oregon State lines; west along the
California-Oregon State line to the point of origin.
Colorado River Zone: Those portions of San Bernardino, Riverside,
and Imperial Counties east of a line extending from the Nevada State
line 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 7 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
State line.
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-State Zone: The remainder of California not included in
the Northeastern, Southern, and Colorado River Zones, and the Southern
San Joaquin Valley Temporary Zone.
Idaho:
Zone 1: All lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian
Reservation, including private inholdings; Bannock County; Bingham
County, except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage;
and Power County east of State Highway 37 and State Highway 39.
Zone 2: Adams, Bear Lake, Benewah, Bingham within the Blackfoot
Reservoir drainage, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, Boundary, Butte, Camas,
Caribou except the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, Clark, Clearwater,
Custer, Franklin, Fremont, Idaho, Jefferson, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi,
Lewis, Madison, Nez Perce, Oneida, Power County west of State Highway
37 and State Highway 39, Shoshone, Teton, and Valley Counties.
Zone 3: Ada, Boise, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome,
Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, and Washington
Counties.
Nevada:
Northeast Zone: All of Elko and White Pine Counties.
Northwest Zone: All of Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Esmeralda,
Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, and
Washoe Counties.
South Zone: All of Clark and Lincoln County.
Oregon:
Zone 1: Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Lane, Douglas, Coos, Curry,
Josephine, Jackson, Linn, Benton, Polk, Marion, Yamhill, Washington,
Columbia, Multnomah, Clackamas, Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Morrow and Umatilla Counties.
Columbia Basin Mallard Management Unit: Gilliam, Morrow, and
Umatilla Counties.
Zone 2: The remainder of the State.
Utah:
Zone 1: All of Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Morgan,
Rich, Salt Lake, Summit, Unitah, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber Counties, and
that part of Toole County north of I-80.
Zone 2: The remainder of Utah.
Washington:
East Zone: All areas east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of
the Big White Salmon River in Klickitat County.
Columbia Basin Mallard Management Unit: Same as East Zone.
West Zone: All areas to the west of the East Zone.
Wyoming:
Snake River Zone: Beginning at the south boundary of Yellowstone
National Park and the Continental Divide; south along the Continental
Divide to Union Pass and the Union Pass Road (U.S.F.S. Road 600); west
and south along the Union Pass Road to U.S.F.S. Road 605; south along
U.S.F.S. Road 605 to the Bridger-Teton National Forest boundary; along
the national forest boundary to the Idaho State line; north along the
Idaho State line to the south boundary of Yellowstone National Park;
east along the Yellowstone National Park boundary to the Continental
Divide.
Balance of State Zone: Balance of the Pacific Flyway in Wyoming
outside the Snake River Zone.
Geese
Atlantic Flyway
Connecticut:
AP Unit: Litchfield County and the portion of Hartford County west
of a line beginning at the Massachusetts border in Suffield and
extending south along Route 159 to its intersection with Route 91 in
Hartford, and then extending south along Route 91 to its intersection
with the Hartford/Middlesex County line.
AFRP Unit: Starting at the intersection of I-95 and the Quinnipiac
River, north on the Quinnipiac River to its intersection with I-91,
north on I-91 to I-691, west on I-691 to the Hartford County line, and
encompassing the rest of New Haven County and Fairfield County in its
entirety.
[[Page 53555]]
NAP H-Unit: All of the rest of the State not included in the AP or
AFRP descriptions above.
South Zone: Same as for ducks.
North Zone: Same as for ducks.
Maryland:
Resident Population (RP) Zone: Garrett, Allegany, Washington,
Frederick, and Montgomery Counties; that portion of Prince George's
County west of Route 3 and Route 301; that portion of Charles County
west of Route 301 to the Virginia State line; and that portion of
Carroll County west of Route 31 to the intersection of Route 97, and
west of Route 97 to the Pennsylvania line.
AP Zone: Remainder of the State.
Massachusetts:
NAP Zone: Central and Coastal Zones (see duck zones).
AP Zone: The Western Zone (see duck zones).
Special Late Season Area: The Central Zone and that portion of the
Coastal Zone (see duck zones) that lies north of the Cape Cod Canal,
north to the New Hampshire line.
New Hampshire:
Same zones as for ducks.
New Jersey:
North: That portion of the State within a continuous line that runs
east along the New York State boundary line to the Hudson River; then
south along the New York State boundary to its intersection with Route
440 at Perth Amboy; then west on Route 440 to its intersection with
Route 287; then west along Route 287 to its intersection with Route 206
in Bedminster (Exit 18); then north along Route 206 to its intersection
with Route 94: then west along Route 94 to the tollbridge in Columbia;
then north along the Pennsylvania State boundary in the Delaware River
to the beginning point.
South: That portion of the State within a continuous line that runs
west from the Atlantic Ocean at Ship Bottom along Route 72 to Route 70;
then west along Route 70 to Route 206; then south along Route 206 to
Route 536; then west along Route 536 to Route 322; then west along
Route 322 to Route 55; then south along Route 55 to Route 553 (Buck
Road); then south along Route 553 to Route 40; then east along Route 40
to route 55; then south along Route 55 to Route 552 (Sherman Avenue);
then west along Route 552 to Carmel Road; then south along Carmel Road
to Route 49; then east along Route 49 to Route 555; then south along
Route 555 to Route 553; then east along Route 553 to Route 649; then
north along Route 649 to Route 670; then east along Route 670 to Route
47; then north along Route 47 to Route 548; then east along Route 548
to Route 49; then east along Route 49 to Route 50; then south along
Route 50 to Route 9; then south along Route 9 to Route 625 (Sea Isle
City Boulevard); then east along Route 625 to the Atlantic Ocean; then
north to the beginning point.
New York:
Lake Champlain Goose Area: The same as the Lake Champlain Waterfowl
Hunting Zone, which is that area of New York State lying east and north
of a continuous line extending along Route 11 from the New York-Canada
International boundary south to Route 9B, south along Route 9B to Route
9, south along Route 9 to Route 22 south of Keeseville, south along
Route 22 to the west shore of South Bay along and around the shoreline
of South Bay to Route 22 on the east shore of South Bay, southeast
along Route 22 to Route 4, northeast along Route 4 to the New York-
Vermont boundary.
Northeast Goose Area: The same as the Northeastern Waterfowl
Hunting Zone, which is that area of New York State lying north of a
continuous line extending from Lake Ontario east along the north shore
of the Salmon River to Interstate 81, south along Interstate Route 81
to Route 31, east along Route 31 to Route 13, north along Route 13 to
Route 49, east along Route 49 to Route 365, east along Route 365 to
Route 28, east along Route 28 to Route 29, east along Route 29 to Route
22 at Greenwich Junction, north along Route 22 to Washington County
Route 153, east along CR 153 to the New York-Vermont boundary,
exclusive of the Lake Champlain Zone.
East Central Goose Area: That area of New York State lying inside
of a continuous line extending from Interstate Route 81 in Cicero, east
along Route 31 to Route 13, north along Route 13 to Route 49, east
along Route 49 to Route 365, east along Route 365 to Route 28, east
along Route 28 to Route 29, east along Route 29 to Route 147 at Kimball
Corners, south along Route 147 to Schenectady County Route 40 (West
Glenville Road), west along Route 40 to Touareuna Road, south along
Touareuna Road to Schenectady County Route 59, south along Route 59 to
State Route 5, east along Route 5 to the Lock 9 bridge, southwest along
the Lock 9 bridge to Route 5S, southeast along Route 5S to Schenectady
County Route 58, southwest along Route 58 to the NYS Thruway, south
along the Thruway to Route 7, southwest along Route 7 to Schenectady
County Route 103, south along Route 103 to Route 406, east along Route
406 to Schenectady County Route 99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route
99 to Dunnsville Road, south along Dunnsville Road to Route 397,
southwest along Route 397 to Route 146 at Altamont, west along Route
146 to Albany County Route 252, northwest along Route 252 to
Schenectady County Route 131, north along Route 131 to Route 7, west
along Route 7 to Route 10 at Richmondville, south on Route 10 to Route
23 at Stamford, west along Route 23 to Route 7 in Oneonta, southwest
along Route 7 to Route 79 to Interstate Route 88 near Harpursville,
west along Route 88 to Interstate Route 81, north along Route 81 to the
point of beginning.
West Central Goose Area: That area of New York State lying within a
continuous line beginning at the point where the northerly extension of
Route 269 (County Line Road on the Niagara-Orleans County boundary)
meets the International boundary with Canada, south to the shore of
Lake Ontario at the eastern boundary of Golden Hill State Park, south
along the extension of Route 269 and Route 269 to Route 104 at Jeddo,
west along Route 104 to Niagara County Route 271, south along Route 271
to Route 31E at Middleport, south along Route 31E to Route 31, west
along Route 31 to Griswold Street, south along Griswold Street to Ditch
Road, south along Ditch Road to Foot Road, south along Foot Road to the
north bank of Tonawanda Creek, west along the north bank of Tonawanda
Creek to Route 93, south along Route 93 to Route 5, east along Route 5
to Crittenden-Murrays Corners Road, south on Crittenden-Murrays Corners
Road to the NYS Thruway, east along the Thruway 90 to Route 98 (at
Thruway Exit 48) in Batavia, south along Route 98 to Route 20, east
along Route 20 to Route 19 in Pavilion Center, south along Route 19 to
Route 63, southeast along Route 63 to Route 246, south along Route 246
to Route 39 in Perry, northeast along Route 39 to Route 20A, northeast
along Route 20A to Route 20, east along Route 20 to Route 364 (near
Canandaigua), south and east along Route 364 to Yates County Route 18
(Italy Valley Road), southwest along Route 18 to Yates County Route 34,
east along Route 34 to Yates County Route 32, south along Route 32 to
Steuben County Route 122, south along Route 122 to Route 53, south
along Route 53 to Steuben County Route 74, east along Route 74 to Route
54A (near Pulteney), south along Route 54A to Steuben County Route 87,
east along Route 87 to Steuben County Route 96, east along Route 96 to
Steuben County Route 114, east along Route 114 to Schuyler County Route
23, east and southeast along Route 23 to Schuyler County Route 28,
southeast along Route
[[Page 53556]]
28 to Route 409 at Watkins Glen, south along Route 409 to Route 14,
south along Route 14 to Route 224 at Montour Falls, east along Route
224 to Route 228 in Odessa, north along Route 228 to Route 79 in
Mecklenburg, east along Route 79 to Route 366 in Ithaca, northeast
along Route 366 to Route 13, northeast along Route 13 to Interstate
Route 81 in Cortland, north along Route 81 to the north shore of the
Salmon River to shore of Lake Ontario, extending generally northwest in
a straight line to the nearest point of the International boundary with
Canada, south and west along the International boundary to the point of
beginning.
Hudson Valley Goose Area: That area of New York State lying within
a continuous line extending from Route 4 at the New York-Vermont
boundary, west and south along Route 4 to Route 149 at Fort Ann, west
on Route 149 to Route 9, south along Route 9 to Interstate Route 87 (at
Exit 20 in Glens Falls), south along Route 87 to Route 29, west along
Route 29 to Route 147 at Kimball Corners, south along Route 147 to
Schenectady County Route 40 (West Glenville Road), west along Route 40
to Touareuna Road, south along Touareuna Road to Schenectady County
Route 59, south along Route 59 to State Route 5, east along Route 5 to
the Lock 9 bridge, southwest along the Lock 9 bridge to Route 5S,
southeast along Route 5S to Schenectady County Route 58, southwest
along Route 58 to the NYS Thruway, south along the Thruway to Route 7,
southwest along Route 7 to Schenectady County Route 103, south along
Route 103 to Route 406, east along Route 406 to Schenectady County
Route 99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route 99 to Dunnsville Road,
south along Dunnsville Road to Route 397, southwest along Route 397 to
Route 146 at Altamont, southeast along Route 146 to Main Street in
Altamont, west along Main Street to Route 156, southeast along Route
156 to Albany County Route 307, southeast along Route 307 to Route 85A,
southwest along Route 85A to Route 85, south along Route 85 to Route
443, southeast along Route 443 to Albany County Route 301 at
Clarksville, southeast along Route 301 to Route 32, south along Route
32 to Route 23 at Cairo, west along Route 23 to Joseph Chadderdon Road,
southeast along Joseph Chadderdon Road to Hearts Content Road (Greene
County Route 31), southeast along Route 31 to Route 32, south along
Route 32 to Greene County Route 23A, east along Route 23A to Interstate
Route 87 (the NYS Thruway), south along Route 87 to Route 28 (Exit 19)
near Kingston, northwest on Route 28 to Route 209, southwest on Route
209 to the New York-Pennsylvania boundary, southeast along the New
York-Pennsylvania boundary to the New York-New Jersey boundary,
southeast along the New York-New Jersey boundary to Route 210 near
Greenwood Lake, northeast along Route 210 to Orange County Route 5,
northeast along Orange County Route 5 to Route 105 in the Village of
Monroe, east and north along Route 105 to Route 32, northeast along
Route 32 to Orange County Route 107 (Quaker Avenue), east along Route
107 to Route 9W, north along Route 9W to the south bank of Moodna
Creek, southeast along the south bank of Moodna Creek to the New
Windsor-Cornwall town boundary, northeast along the New Windsor-
Cornwall town boundary to the Orange-Dutchess County boundary (middle
of the Hudson River), north along the county boundary to Interstate
Route 84, east along Route 84 to the Dutchess-Putnam County boundary,
east along the county boundary to the New York-Connecticut boundary,
north along the New York-Connecticut boundary to the New York-
Massachusetts boundary, north along the New York-Massachusetts boundary
to the New York-Vermont boundary, north to the point of beginning.
Eastern Long Island Goose Area (NAP High Harvest Area): That area
of Suffolk County lying east of a continuous line extending due south
from the New York-Connecticut boundary to the northernmost end of
Roanoke Avenue in the Town of Riverhead; then south on Roanoke Avenue
(which becomes County Route 73) to State Route 25; then west on Route
25 to Peconic Avenue; then south on Peconic Avenue to County Route (CR)
104 (Riverleigh Avenue); then south on CR 104 to CR 31 (Old Riverhead
Road); then south on CR 31 to Oak Street; then south on Oak Street to
Potunk Lane; then west on Stevens Lane; then south on Jessup Avenue (in
Westhampton Beach) to Dune Road (CR 89); then due south to
international waters.
Western Long Island Goose Area (RP Area): That area of Westchester
County and its tidal waters southeast of Interstate Route 95 and that
area of Nassau and Suffolk Counties lying west of a continuous line
extending due south from the New York-Connecticut boundary to the
northernmost end of the Sunken Meadow State Parkway; then south on the
Sunken Meadow Parkway to the Sagtikos State Parkway; then south on the
Sagtikos Parkway to the Robert Moses State Parkway; then south on the
Robert Moses Parkway to its southernmost end; then due south to
international waters.
Central Long Island Goose Area (NAP Low Harvest Area): That area of
Suffolk County lying between the Western and Eastern Long Island Goose
Areas, as defined above.
South Goose Area: The remainder of New York State, excluding New
York City.
Special Late Canada Goose Area: That area of the Central Long
Island Goose Area lying north of State Route 25A and west of a
continuous line extending northward from State Route 25A along Randall
Road (near Shoreham) to North Country Road, then east to Sound Road and
then north to Long Island Sound and then due north to the New York-
Connecticut boundary.
North Carolina:
SJBP Hunt Zone: Includes the following Counties or portions of
Counties: Anson, Cabarrus, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Halifax (that
portion east of NC 903), Montgomery (that portion west of NC 109),
Northampton, Richmond (that portion south of NC 73 and west of US 220
and north of US 74), Rowan, Stanly, Union, and Wake.
RP Hunt Zone: Includes the following Counties or portions of
Counties: Alamance, Alleghany, Alexander, Ashe, Avery, Beaufort, Bertie
(that portion south and west of a line formed by NC 45 at the
Washington Co. line to US 17 in Midway, US 17 in Midway to US 13 in
Windsor, US 13 in Windsor to the Hertford Co. line), Bladen, Brunswick,
Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Carteret, Caswell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay,
Cleveland, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Davie, Duplin, Edgecombe,
Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Gates, Graham, Granville, Greene, Guilford,
Halifax (that portion west of NC 903), Harnett, Haywood, Henderson,
Hertford, Hoke, Iredell, Jackson, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir,
Lincoln, McDowell, Macon, Madison, Martin, Mecklenburg, Mitchell,
Montgomery (that portion that is east of NC 109), Moore, Nash, New
Hanover, Onslow, Orange, Pamlico, Pender, Person, Pitt, Polk, Randolph,
Richmond (all of the county with exception of that portion that is
south of NC 73 and west of US 220 and north of US 74), Robeson,
Rockingham, Rutherford, Sampson, Scotland, Stokes, Surry, Swain,
Transylvania, Vance, Warren, Watauga, Wayne, Wilkes, Wilson, Yadkin,
and Yancey.
Northeast Hunt Unit: Includes the following Counties or portions of
Counties: Bertie (that portion north and east of a line formed by NC 45
at the Washington County line to US 17 in Midway, US 17 in Midway to US
13 in Windsor, US 13 in Windsor to the Hertford Co. line), Camden,
Chowan,
[[Page 53557]]
Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington.
Pennsylvania:
Resident Canada Goose Zone: All of Pennsylvania except for SJBP
Zone and the area east of route SR 97 from the Maryland State Line to
the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of US Route
30, south of US Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, east of
SR 743 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of I-80,
and south of I-80 to the New Jersey State line.
SJBP Zone: The area north of I-80 and west of I-79 including in the
city of Erie west of Bay Front Parkway to and including the Lake Erie
Duck zone (Lake Erie, Presque Isle, and the area within 150 yards of
the Lake Erie Shoreline).
AP Zone: The area east of route SR 97 from Maryland State Line to
the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of US Route
30, south of US Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, east of
SR 743 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of I-80,
south of I-80 to New Jersey State line.
Rhode Island:
Special Area for Canada Geese: Kent and Providence Counties and
portions of the towns of Exeter and North Kingston within Washington
County (see State regulations for detailed descriptions).
South Carolina:
Canada Goose Area: Statewide except for Clarendon County, that
portion of Orangeburg County north of SC Highway 6, and that portion of
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 that portion
west of the Santee Dam.
Vermont:
Same zones as for ducks.
Virginia:
AP Zone: The area east and south of the following line--the
Stafford County line from the Potomac River west to Interstate 95 at
Fredericksburg, then south along Interstate 95 to Petersburg, then
Route 460 (SE) to City of Suffolk, then south along Route 32 to the
North Carolina line.
SJBP Zone: The area to the west of the AP Zone boundary and east of
the following line: the ``Blue Ridge'' (mountain spine) at the West
Virginia-Virginia Border (Loudoun County-Clarke County line) south to
Interstate 64 (the Blue Ridge line follows county borders along the
western edge of Loudoun-Fauquier-Rappahannock-Madison-Greene-Albemarle
and into Nelson Counties), then east along Interstate Rt. 64 to Route
15, then south along Rt. 15 to the North Carolina line.
RP Zone: The remainder of the State west of the SJBP Zone.
West Virginia:
Same zones as for ducks.
Mississippi Flyway
Alabama:
Same zones as for ducks, but in addition:
SJBP Zone: That portion of Morgan County east of U.S. Highway 31,
north of State Highway 36, and west of U.S. 231; that portion of
Limestone County south of U.S. 72; and that portion of Madison County
south of Swancott Road and west of Triana Road.
Arkansas:
Northwest Zone: Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Conway, Crawford,
Faulkner, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Madison, Marion, Newton, Perry,
Pope, Pulaski, Searcy, Sebastian, Scott, Van Buren, Washington, and
Yell Counties.
Illinois:
North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending
west from the Indiana border along Interstate 80 to I-39, south along
I-39 to Illinois Route 18, west along Illinois Route 18 to Illinois
Route 29, south along Illinois Route 29 to Illinois Route 17, west
along Illinois Route 17 to the Mississippi River, and due south across
the Mississippi River to the Iowa border.
Central Zone: That portion of the State south of the North Goose
Zone line to a line extending west from the Indiana border along I-70
to Illinois Route 4, south along Illinois Route 4 to Illinois Route
161, west along Illinois Route 161 to Illinois Route 158, south and
west along Illinois Route 158 to Illinois Route 159, south along
Illinois Route 159 to Illinois Route 3, south along Illinois Route 3 to
St. Leo's Road, south along St. Leo's road to Modoc Road, west along
Modoc Road to Modoc Ferry Road, southwest along Modoc Ferry Road to
Levee Road, southeast along Levee Road to County Route 12 (Modoc Ferry
entrance Road), south along County Route 12 to the Modoc Ferry route
and southwest on the Modoc Ferry route across the Mississippi River to
the Missouri border.
South Zone: Same zones as for ducks.
South Central Zone: Same zones as for ducks.
Indiana:
Same zones as for ducks but in addition:
Special Canada Goose Seasons
Late Canada Goose Season Zone: That part of the state encompassed
by the following Counties: Steuben, Lagrange, Elkhart, St. Joseph, La
Porte, Starke, Marshall, Kosciusko, Noble, De Kalb, Allen, Whitley,
Huntington, Wells, Adams, Boone, Hamilton, Madison, Hendricks, Marion,
Hancock, Morgan, Johnson, and Shelby.
Experimental Late Canada Goose Season Zone: That part of the state
encompassed by the following Counties: Vermillion, Parke, Vigo, Clay,
Sullivan, and Greene.
Iowa:
Same zones as for ducks.
Kentucky:
Western Zone: That portion of the State west of a line beginning at
the Tennessee State line at Fulton and extending north along the
Purchase Parkway to Interstate Highway 24, east along I-24 to U.S.
Highway 641, north along U.S. 641 to U.S. 60, northeast along U.S. 60
to the Henderson County line, then south, east, and northerly along the
Henderson County line to the Indiana State line.
Ballard Reporting Area: That area encompassed by a line beginning
at the northwest city limits of Wickliffe in Ballard County and
extending westward to the middle of the Mississippi River, north along
the Mississippi River and along the low-water mark of the Ohio River on
the Illinois shore to the Ballard-McCracken County line, south along
the county line to Kentucky Highway 358, south along Kentucky 358 to
U.S. Highway 60 at LaCenter, then southwest along U.S. 60 to the
northeast city limits of Wickliffe.
Henderson-Union Reporting Area: Henderson County and that portion
of Union County within the Western Zone.
Pennyroyal/Coalfield Zone: Butler, Daviess, Ohio, Simpson, and
Warren Counties and all counties lying west to the boundary of the
Western Goose Zone.
Louisiana:
Same zones as for ducks.
Michigan:
(a) North Zone--Same as North duck zone.
(b) Middle Zone--Same as Middle duck zone.
(c) South Zone--Same as South duck zone.
Tuscola/Huron Goose Management Unit (GMU): Those portions of
Tuscola and Huron Counties bounded on the south by Michigan Highway 138
and Bay City Road, on the east by Colwood and Bay Port Roads, on the
north by Kilmanagh Road and a line extending directly west off the end
of Kilmanagh Road into Saginaw Bay to the west boundary, and on the
west by the Tuscola-Bay County line and a line extending directly north
off the end of the Tuscola-Bay County line into Saginaw Bay to the
north boundary.
Allegan County GMU: That area encompassed by a line beginning at
the junction of 136th Avenue and Interstate
[[Page 53558]]
Highway 196 in Lake Town Township and extending easterly along 136th
Avenue to Michigan Highway 40, southerly along Michigan 40 through the
city of Allegan to 108th Avenue in Trowbridge Township, westerly along
108th Avenue to 46th Street, northerly along 46th Street to 109th
Avenue, westerly along 109th Avenue to I-196 in Casco Township, then
northerly along I-196 to the point of beginning.
Saginaw County GMU: That portion of Saginaw County bounded by
Michigan Highway 46 on the north; Michigan 52 on the west; Michigan 57
on the south; and Michigan 13 on the east. Muskegon Wastewater GMU:
That portion of Muskegon County within the boundaries of the Muskegon
County wastewater system, east of the Muskegon State Game Area, in
sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30, and 32, T10N R14W, and
sections 1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 24, and 25, T10N R15W, as posted.
Special Canada Goose Seasons:
Southern Michigan Late Season Canada Goose Zone: Same as the South
Duck Zone excluding Tuscola/Huron Goose Management Unit (GMU), Allegan
County GMU, Saginaw County GMU, and Muskegon Wastewater GMU.
Minnesota:
Rochester Goose Zone: That part of the State within the following
described boundary: Beginning at the intersection of State Trunk
Highway (STH) 247 and County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 4, Wabasha
County; thence along CSAH 4 to CSAH 10, Olmsted County; thence along
CSAH 10 to CSAH 9, Olmsted County; thence along CSAH 9 to CSAH 22,
Winona County; thence along CSAH 22 to STH 74; thence along STH 74 to
STH 30; thence along STH 30 to CSAH 13, Dodge County; thence along CSAH
13 to U.S. Highway 14; thence along U.S. Highway 14 to STH 57; thence
along STH 57 to CSAH 24, Dodge County; thence along CSAH 24 to CSAH 13,
Olmsted County; thence along CSAH 13 to U.S. Highway 52; thence along
U.S. Highway 52 to CSAH 12, Olmsted County; thence along CSAH 12 to STH
247; thence along STH 247 to the point of beginning.
Missouri:
Same zones as for ducks.
Ohio:
Lake Erie Goose Zone: That portion of Ohio north of a line
beginning at the Michigan border and extending south along Interstate
75 to Interstate 280, south on Interstate 280 to Interstate 80, and
east on Interstate 80 to the Pennsylvania border.
North Zone: That portion of Ohio north of a line beginning at the
Indiana border and extending east along Interstate 70 to the West
Virginia border excluding the portion of Ohio within the Lake Erie
Goose Zone.
South Zone: The remainder of Ohio
Tennessee:
Southwest Zone: That portion of the State south of State Highways
20 and 104, and west of U.S. Highways 45 and 45W.
Northwest Zone: Lake, Obion, and Weakley Counties and those
portions of Gibson and Dyer Counties not included in the Southwest
Tennessee Zone.
Kentucky/Barkley Lakes Zone: That portion of the State bounded on
the west by the eastern boundaries of the Northwest and Southwest Zones
and on the east by State Highway 13 from the Alabama State line to
Clarksville and U.S. Highway 79 from Clarksville to the Kentucky State
line.
Wisconsin:
Same zones as for ducks but in addition:
Horicon Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at the
intersection of State Highway 21 and the Fox River in Winnebago County
and extending westerly along State 21 to the west boundary of Winnebago
County, southerly along the west boundary of Winnebago County to the
north boundary of Green Lake County, westerly along the north
boundaries of Green Lake and Marquette Counties to State 22, southerly
along State 22 to State 33, westerly along State 33 to Interstate
Highway 39, southerly along Interstate Highway 39 to Interstate Highway
90/94, southerly along I-90/94 to State 60, easterly along State 60 to
State 83, northerly along State 83 to State 175, northerly along State
175 to State 33, easterly along State 33 to U.S. Highway 45, northerly
along U.S. 45 to the east shore of the Fond Du Lac River, northerly
along the east shore of the Fond Du Lac River to Lake Winnebago,
northerly along the western shoreline of Lake Winnebago to the Fox
River, then westerly along the Fox River to State 21.
Exterior Zone: That portion of the State not included in the
Horicon Zone.
Mississippi River Subzone: That area encompassed by a line
beginning at the intersection of the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe
Railway and the Illinois State line in Grant County and extending
northerly along the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway to the city
limit of Prescott in Pierce County, then west along the Prescott city
limit to the Minnesota State line.
Brown County Subzone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at
the intersection of the Fox River with Green Bay in Brown County and
extending southerly along the Fox River to State Highway 29,
northwesterly along State 29 to the Brown County line, south, east, and
north along the Brown County line to Green Bay, due west to the
midpoint of the Green Bay Ship Channel, then southwesterly along the
Green Bay Ship Channel to the Fox River.
Central Flyway
Colorado (Central Flyway Portion):
Northern Front Range Area: All areas in Boulder, Larimer and Weld
Counties from the Continental Divide east along the Wyoming border to
U.S. 85, south on U.S. 85 to the Adams County line, and all lands in
Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Gilpin, and
Jefferson Counties.
North Park Area: Jackson County.
South Park and San Luis Valley Area: All of Alamosa, Chaffee,
Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Fremont, Lake, Park, Rio Grande and Teller
Counties, and those portions of Saguache, Mineral and Hinsdale Counties
east of the Continental Divide.
Remainder: Remainder of the Central Flyway portion of Colorado.
Eastern Colorado Late Light Goose Area: That portion of the State
east of Interstate Highway 25.
Nebraska:
Dark Geese
Niobrara Unit: That area contained within and bounded by the
intersection of the South Dakota State line and the eastern Cherry
County line, south along the Cherry County line to the Niobrara River,
east to the Norden Road, south on the Norden Road to U.S. Hwy 20, east
along U.S. Hwy 20 to NE Hwy 14, north along NE Hwy 14 to NE Hwy 59 and
County Road 872, west along County Road 872 to the Knox County Line,
north along the Knox County Line to the South Dakota State line. Where
the Niobrara River forms the boundary, both banks of the river are
included in the Niobrara Unit.
East Unit: That area north and east of U.S. 81 at the Kansas-
Nebraska State line, north to NE Hwy 91, east to U.S. 275, south to
U.S. 77, south to NE 91, east to U.S. 30, east to Nebraska-Iowa State
line.
Platte River Unit: That area north and west of U.S. 81 at the
Kansas--Nebraska State line, north to NE Hwy 91, west along NE 91 to NE
11, north to the Holt County line, west along the northern border of
Garfield, Loup, Blaine and Thomas Counties to the Hooker County line,
south along the Thomas-Hooker County lines to the McPherson County
line, east along the south border of Thomas County to the western line
of Custer County, south along the Custer-Logan County line to NE 92,
west to U.S. 83, north to NE 92, west to NE 61,
[[Page 53559]]
south along NE 61 to NE 92, west along NE 92 to U.S. Hwy 26, south
along U.S. Hwy 26 to Keith County Line, south along Keith County Line
to the Colorado State line.
Panhandle Unit: That area north and west of Keith-Deuel County Line
at the Nebraska-Colorado State line, north along the Keith County Line
to U.S. Hwy 26, west to NE Hwy 92, east to NE Hwy 61, north along NE
Hwy 61 to NE Hwy 2, west along NE Hwy 2 to the corner formed by Garden-
Grant-Sheridan Counties, west along the north border of Garden,
Morrill, and Scotts Bluff Counties to the intersection of the
Interstate Canal, west to the Wyoming State line.
North-Central Unit: The remainder of the State.
Light Geese
Rainwater Basin Light Goose Area (West): The area bounded by the
junction of U.S. 283 and U.S. 30 at Lexington, east on U.S. 30 to U.S.
281, south on U.S. 281 to NE 4, west on NE 4 to U.S. 34, continue west
on U.S. 34 to U.S. 283, then north on U.S. 283 to the beginning.
Rainwater Basin Light Goose Area (East): The area bounded by the
junction of U.S. 281 and U.S. 30 at Grand Island, north and east on
U.S. 30 to NE 14, south to NE 66, east to US 81, north to NE 92, east
on NE 92 to NE 15, south on NE 15 to NE 4, west on NE 4 to U.S. 281,
north on U.S. 281 to the beginning.
Remainder of State: The remainder portion of Nebraska.
New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion):
Dark Geese
Middle Rio Grande Valley Unit: Sierra, Socorro, and Valencia
Counties.
Remainder: The remainder of the Central Flyway portion of New
Mexico.
North Dakota:
Missouri River Canada Goose Zone: The area within and bounded by a
line starting where ND Hwy 6 crosses the South Dakota border; thence
north on ND Hwy 6 to I-94; thence west on I-94 to ND Hwy 49; thence
north on ND Hwy 49 to ND Hwy 200; thence north on Mercer County Rd. 21
to the section line between sections 8 and 9 (T146N-R87W); thence north
on that section line to the southern shoreline to Lake Sakakawea;
thence east along the southern shoreline (including Mallard Island) of
Lake Sakakawea to US Hwy 83; thence south on US Hwy 83 to ND Hwy 200;
thence east on ND Hwy 200 to ND Hwy 41; thence south on ND Hwy 41 to US
Hwy 83; thence south on US Hwy 83 to I-94; thence east on I-94 to US
Hwy 83; thence south on US Hwy 83 to the South Dakota border; thence
west along the South Dakota border to ND Hwy 6.
Rest of State: Remainder of North Dakota.
South Dakota:
Canada Geese
Unit 1: Remainder of South Dakota.
Unit 2: Gregory, Hughes, Lyman, Perkins, and Stanley Counties; that
portion of Potter County west of US Highway 83; that portion of Sully
County west of US Highway 83; that portion of Bon Homme, Brule,
Buffalo, Charles Mix, and Hyde County south and west of a line
beginning at the Hughes-Hyde County line on SD Highway 34, east to Lees
Boulevard, southeast to SD 34, east 7 miles to 350th Avenue, south to
I-90, south and east on SD Highway 50 to Geddes, east on 285th Street
to US Highway 281, south on US Highway 281 to SD 50, east and south on
SD 50 to the Bon Homme-Yankton County boundary; that portion of Fall
River County east of SD Highway 71 and US Highway 385; that portion of
Custer County east of SD Highway 79 and south of French Creek; that
portion of Dewey County south of BIA Road 8, BIA Road 9, and the
section of US 212 east of BIA Road 8 junction.
Unit 3: Bennett County.
Texas:
Northeast Goose Zone: That portion of Texas lying east and north of
a line beginning at the Texas-Oklahoma border at U.S. 81, then
continuing south to Bowie and then southeasterly along U.S. 81 and U.S.
287 to I-35W and I-35 to the juncture with I-10 in San Antonio, then
east on I-10 to the Texas-Louisiana border.
Southeast Goose Zone: That portion of Texas lying east and south of
a line beginning at the International Toll Bridge at Laredo, then
continuing north following I-35 to the juncture with I-10 in San
Antonio, then easterly along I-10 to the Texas-Louisiana border.
West Goose Zone: The remainder of the State.
Wyoming (Central Flyway Portion):
Dark Geese
Zone C1: Converse, Hot Springs, Natrona, and Washakie Counties, and
the portion of Park County east of the Shoshone National Forest
boundary and south of a line beginning where the Shoshone National
Forest boundary crosses Park County Road 8VC, easterly along said road
to Park County Road 1AB, easterly along said road to Wyoming Highway
120, northerly along said highway to Wyoming Highway 294, southeasterly
along said highway to Lane 9, easterly along said lane to the town of
Powel and Wyoming Highway 14A, easterly along said highway to the Park
County and Big Horn County Line.
Zone C2: Albany, Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Laramie, Niobrara,
Sheridan, and Weston Counties, and that portion of Carbon County east
of the Continental Divide; that portion of Park County west of the
Shoshone National Forest boundary, and that portion of Park County
north of a line beginning where the Shoshone National Forest boundary
crosses Park County Road 8VC, easterly along said road to Park County
Road 1AB, easterly along said road to Wyoming Highway 120, northerly
along said highway to Wyoming Highway 294, southeasterly along said
highway to Lane 9, easterly along said lane to the town of Powel and
Wyoming Highway 14A, easterly along said highway to the Park County and
Big Horn County Line.
Pacific Flyway
Arizona:
North Zone: Game Management Units 1-5, those portions of Game
Management Units 6 and 8 within Coconino County, and Game Management
Units 7, 9, and 12A.
South Zone: Those portions of Game Management Units 6 and 8 in
Yavapai County, and Game Management Units 10 and 12B-45.
California:
Northeastern Zone: In that portion of California lying east and
north of a line beginning at the intersection of Interstate 5 with the
California-Oregon line; south along Interstate 5 to its junction with
Walters Lane south of the town of Yreka; west along Walters Lane to its
junction with Easy Street; south along Easy Street to the junction with
Old Highway 99; south along Old Highway 99 to the point of intersection
with Interstate 5 north of the town of Weed; south along Interstate 5
to its junction with Highway 89; east and south along Highway 89 to
main street Greenville; north and east to its junction with North
Valley Road; south to its junction with Diamond Mountain Road; north
and east to its junction with North Arm Road; south and west to the
junction of North Valley Road; south to the junction with Arlington
Road (A22); west to the junction of Highway 89; south and west to the
junction of Highway 70; east on Highway 70 to Highway 395; south and
east on Highway 395 to the point of intersection with the California-
Nevada State line; north along the California-Nevada State line to the
junction of the California-Nevada-Oregon State lines west along the
California-Oregon State line to the point of origin.
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''
[[Page 53560]]
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 7 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.
Imperial County Special Management Area: The area bounded by a line
beginning at Highway 86 and the Navy Test Base Road; south on Highway
86 to the town of Westmoreland; continue through the town of
Westmoreland to Route S26; east on Route S26 to Highway 115; north on
Highway 115 to Weist Rd.; north on Weist Rd. to Flowing Wells Rd.;
northeast on Flowing Wells Rd. to the Coachella Canal; northwest on the
Coachella Canal to Drop 18; a straight line from Drop 18 to Frink Rd.;
south on Frink Rd. to Highway 111; north on Highway 111 to Niland
Marina Rd.; southwest on Niland Marina Rd. to the old Imperial County
boat ramp and the water line of the Salton Sea; from the water line of
the Salton Sea, a straight line across the Salton Sea to the Salinity
Control Research Facility and the Navy Test Base Road; southwest on the
Navy Test Base Road to the point of beginning.
Balance-of-State Zone: The remainder of California not included in
the Northeastern, Southern, and the Colorado River Zones.
North Coast Special Management Area: The Counties of Del Norte and
Humboldt.
Sacramento Valley Special Management Area: That area bounded by a
line beginning at Willows south on I-5 to Hahn Road; easterly on Hahn
Road and the Grimes-Arbuckle Road to Grimes; northerly on CA 45 to the
junction with CA 162; northerly on CA 45/162 to Glenn; and westerly on
CA 162 to the point of beginning in Willows.
Colorado (Pacific Flyway Portion):
West Central Area: Archuleta, Delta, Dolores, Gunnison, LaPlata,
Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, and San Miguel Counties and those
portions of Hinsdale, Mineral, and Saguache Counties west of the
Continental Divide.
State Area: The remainder of the Pacific Flyway Portion of
Colorado.
Idaho:
Zone 1: All lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian
Reservation, including private inholdings; Bannock County; Bingham
County, except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage;
and Power County east of State Highway 37 and State Highway 39.
Zone 2: Adams, Bear Lake, Benewah, Bingham within the Blackfoot
Reservoir drainage, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, Boundary, Butte, Camas,
Caribou except the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, Clark, Clearwater,
Custer, Franklin, Fremont, Idaho, Jefferson, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi,
Lewis, Madison, Nez Perce, Oneida, Power County west of State Highway
37 and State Highway 39, Shoshone, Teton, and Valley Counties.
Zone 3: Ada, Boise, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome,
Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, and Washington
Counties.
Montana (Pacific Flyway Portion):
East of the Divide Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of the State
located east of the Continental Divide.
West of the Divide Zone: The remainder of the Pacific Flyway
portion of Montana.
Nevada:
Northeast Zone: All of Elko and White Pine Counties.
Northwest Zone: All of Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Esmeralda,
Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, and
Washoe Counties.
South Zone: All of Clark and Lincoln County.
New Mexico (Pacific Flyway Portion):
North Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of New Mexico located north
of I-40.
South Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of New Mexico located south
of I-40.
Oregon:
Southwest Zone: Those portions of Douglas, Coos, and Curry Counties
east of Highway 101, and Josephine and Jackson Counties.
South Coast Zone: Those portions of Douglas, Coos, and Curry
Counties west of Highway 101.
Northwest Special Permit Zone: That portion of western Oregon west
and north of a line running south from the Columbia River in Portland
along I-5 to OR 22 at Salem; then east on OR 22 to the Stayton Cutoff;
then south on the Stayton Cutoff to Stayton and due south to the
Santiam River; then west along the north shore of the Santiam River to
I-5; then south on I-5 to OR 126 at Eugene; then west on OR 126 to
Greenhill Road; then south on Greenhill Road to Crow Road; then west on
Crow Road to Territorial Hwy; then west on Territorial Hwy to OR 126;
then west on OR 126 to Milepost 19; then north to the intersection of
the Benton and Lincoln County line; then north along the western
boundary of Benton and Polk Counties to the southern boundary of
Tillamook County; then west along the Tillamook County boundary to the
Pacific Coast.
Lower Columbia/N. Willamette Valley Management Area: Those portions
of Clatsop, Columbia, Multnomah, and Washington Counties within the
Northwest Special Permit Zone.
Tillamook County Management Area: All of Tillamook County. The
following portion of the Tillamook County Management Area is closed to
goose hunting beginning at the point where Old Woods Rd crosses the
south shores of Horn Creek, north on Old Woods Rd to Sand Lake Rd at
Woods, north on Sand Lake Rd to the intersection with McPhillips Dr.,
due west (~200 yards) from the intersection to the Pacific coastline,
south on the Pacific coastline to Neskowin Creek, east along the north
shores of Neskowin Creek and then Hawk Creek to Salem Ave, east on
Salem Ave in Neskowin to Hawk Ave, east on Hawk Ave to Hwy 101, north
on Hwy 101 to Resort Dr., north on Resort Dr. to a point due west of
the south shores of Horn Creek at its confluence with the Nestucca
River, due east (~80 yards) across the Nestucca River to the south
shores of Horn Creek, east along the south shores of Horn Creek to the
point of beginning.
Northwest Zone: Those portions of Clackamas, Lane, Linn, Marion,
Multnomah, and Washington Counties outside of the Northwest Special
Permit Zone and all of Lincoln County.
Eastern Zone: Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow,
Umatilla, Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler, Grant, Baker, Union,
and Wallowa Counties.
Harney and Lake County Zone: All of Harney and Lake Counties.
Klamath County Zone: All of Klamath County.
Malheur County Zone: All of Malheur County.
Utah:
[[Page 53561]]
Northern Utah Zone: All of Cache and Rich Counties, and that
portion of Box Elder County beginning at I-15 and the Weber-Box Elder
County line; east and north along this line to the Weber-Cache County
line; east along this line to the Cache-Rich County line; east and
south along the Rich County line to the Utah-Wyoming State line; north
along this line to the Utah-Idaho State line; west on this line to
Stone, Idaho-Snowville, Utah road; southwest on this road to Locomotive
Springs Wildlife Management Area; east on the county road, past
Monument Point and across Salt Wells Flat, to the intersection with
Promontory Road; south on Promontory Road to a point directly west of
the northwest corner of the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge boundary;
east along an imaginary line to the northwest corner of the Refuge
boundary; south and east along the Refuge boundary to the southeast
corner of the boundary; northeast along the boundary to the Perry
access road; east on the Perry access road to I-15; south on I-15 to
the Weber-Box Elder County line.
Remainder-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of Utah.
Washington:
Area 1: Skagit, Island, and Snohomish Counties.
Area 2A (SW Quota Zone): Clark County, except portions south of the
Washougal River; Cowlitz County; and Wahkiakum County.
Area 2B (SW Quota Zone): Pacific County.
Area 3: All areas west of the Pacific Crest Trail and west of the
Big White Salmon River that are not included in Areas 1, 2A, and 2B.
Area 4: Adams, Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas,
Lincoln, Okanogan, Spokane, and Walla Walla Counties.
Area 5: All areas east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of the
Big White Salmon River that are not included in Area 4.
Brant
Pacific Flyway
California:
North Coast Zone: Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties.
South Coast Zone: Balance of the State.
Washington:
Puget Sound Zone: Skagit County.
Coastal Zone: Pacific County.
Swans
Central Flyway
South Dakota: Aurora, Beadle, Brookings, Brown, Brule, Buffalo,
Campbell, Clark, Codington, Davison, Deuel, Day, Edmunds, Faulk, Grant,
Hamlin, Hand, Hanson, Hughes, Hyde, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Lake, Marshall,
McCook, McPherson, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Potter, Roberts, Sanborn,
Spink, Sully, and Walworth Counties.
Pacific Flyway
Montana (Pacific Flyway Portion)
Open Area: Cascade, Chouteau, Hill, Liberty, and Toole Counties and
those portions of Pondera and Teton Counties lying east of U.S. 287-89.
Nevada
Open Area: Churchill, Lyon, and Pershing Counties.
Utah
Open Area: Those portions of Box Elder, Weber, Davis, Salt Lake,
and Toole Counties lying west of I-15, north of I-80, and south of a
line beginning from the Forest Street exit to the Bear River National
Wildlife Refuge boundary; then north and west along the Bear River
National Wildlife Refuge boundary to the farthest west boundary of the
Refuge; then west along a line to Promontory Road; then north on
Promontory Road to the intersection of SR 83; then north on SR 83 to I-
84; then north and west on I-84 to State Hwy 30; then west on State Hwy
30 to the Nevada-Utah State line; then south on the Nevada-Utah State
line to I-80.
[FR Doc. 2011-21484 Filed 8-25-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P