[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 74 (Wednesday, April 17, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16152-16186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07527]
[[Page 16151]]
Vol. 84
Wednesday,
No. 74
April 17, 2019
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 Migratory Bird Hunting
Regulations; Proposed Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 84 , No. 74 / Wednesday, April 17, 2019 /
Proposed Rules
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 20
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2018-0030; FF09M21200-189-FXMB1231099BPP0]
RIN 1018-BD10
Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed Frameworks for Migratory Bird
Hunting Regulations
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; supplemental.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter Service or we)
is proposing to establish the 2019-20 hunting regulations for certain
migratory game birds. We annually prescribe frameworks, or outer
limits, for dates and times when hunting may occur and the number of
birds that may be taken and possessed in hunting seasons. These
frameworks are necessary to allow State selections of seasons and
limits and to allow recreational harvest at levels compatible with
population and habitat conditions.
DATES: You must submit comments on the proposed migratory bird hunting
frameworks by May 17, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Comments: You may submit comments on the proposals by one of
the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-
MB-2018-0030.
U.S. mail or hand delivery: Public Comments Processing,
Attn: FWS-HQ-MB-2018-0030; Division of Policy, Performance, and
Management Programs; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; MS: BPHC; 5275
Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This
generally means that we will post any personal information you provide
us (see the Review of Public Comments and Flyway Council
Recommendations section, below, for more information).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron W. Kokel, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Department of the Interior, MS: MB, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls
Church, VA 22041-3803; (703) 358-1967.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
New Process for the Annual Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations
As part of the Department of the Interior's retrospective
regulatory review, 3 years ago we developed a schedule for migratory
game bird hunting regulations that is more efficient and provides
hunting season dates much earlier than was possible under the old
process. Under the new process, we develop proposed hunting season
frameworks for a given year in the fall of the prior year. We then
finalize those frameworks a few months later, thereby enabling the
State agencies to select and publish their season dates in early
summer. We provided a detailed overview of the new process in the
August 3, 2017, Federal Register (82 FR 36308). This proposed rule is
the third in a series of proposed and final rules for the establishment
of the 2019-20 hunting seasons.
Regulations Schedule for 2019
On June 14, 2018, we published a proposal to amend title 50 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at part 20 (83 FR 27836). 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. This document is the third in a series of proposed, supplemental,
and final rules for migratory game bird hunting regulations. We will
publish additional supplemental proposals for public comment in the
Federal Register as population, habitat, harvest, and other information
become available. Major steps in the 2019-20 regulatory cycle relating
to open public meetings and Federal Register notifications were
illustrated in the diagram at the end of the June 14, 2018, proposed
rule (83 FR 27836). Further, we explained that all sections of
subsequent documents outlining hunting frameworks and guidelines were
organized under numbered headings. Those headings are:
1. Ducks
A. General Harvest Strategy
B. Regulatory Alternatives
C. Zones and Split Seasons
D. Special Seasons/Species Management
i. September Teal Seasons
ii. September Teal/Wood Duck Seasons
iii. Black ducks
iv. Canvasbacks
v. Pintails
vi. Scaup
vii. Mottled ducks
viii. Wood ducks
ix. Youth Hunt
x. Mallard Management Units
xi. Other
2. Sea Ducks
3. Mergansers
4. Canada Geese
A. Special Early Seasons
B. Regular Seasons
C. Special Late Seasons
5. White-fronted Geese
6. Brant
7. Snow and Ross's (Light) Geese
8. Swans
9. Sandhill Cranes
10. Coots
11. Moorhens and Gallinules
12. Rails
13. Snipe
14. Woodcock
15. Band-tailed Pigeons
16. Doves
17. Alaska
18. Hawaii
19. Puerto Rico
20. Virgin Islands
21. Falconry
22. Other
Subsequent documents will refer only to numbered items requiring
attention. Therefore, it is important to note that we will omit those
items requiring no attention, and remaining numbered items will be
discontinuous and appear incomplete.
The June 14 proposed rule also provided detailed information on the
proposed 2019-20 regulatory schedule and announced the Service
Regulations Committee (SRC) and Flyway Council meetings. On September
21, 2018, we published in the Federal Register (83 FR 47868) a second
document providing supplemental proposals for migratory bird hunting
regulations. The September 21 supplement also provided detailed
information on the 2019-20 regulatory schedule and re-announced the SRC
and Flyway Council meetings. On October 16-17, 2018, we held open
meetings with the Flyway Council Consultants, at which the participants
reviewed information on the current status of migratory game birds and
developed recommendations for the 2019-20 regulations for these
species.
This document deals specifically with proposed frameworks for the
migratory bird hunting regulations. It will lead to final frameworks
from which States may select season dates, shooting hours, areas, and
limits. We have considered all pertinent comments received through
November 2018, which includes requests for comments in our June 14 and
September 21, 2018, proposed rulemaking documents, and comments from
the October SRC meeting. In addition, new proposals for certain
regulations are provided for public comment. The comment period is
specified above under DATES. We will publish final regulatory
frameworks for migratory game bird hunting in the Federal Register on
or around June 15, 2019.
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Population Status and Harvest
Each year we publish various species status reports that provide
detailed information on the status and harvest of migratory game birds,
including information on the methodologies and results. These reports
are available at the address indicated under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT or from our website at https://www.fws.gov/birds/surveys-and-data/reports-and-publications/population-status.php.
We used the following reports: Adaptive Harvest Management, 2019
Hunting Season (September 2018); American Woodcock Population Status,
2018 (August 2018); Band-tailed Pigeon Population Status, 2018 (August
2018); Migratory Bird Hunting Activity and Harvest During the 2016-17
and 2017-18 Hunting Seasons (August 2018); Mourning Dove Population
Status, 2018 (August 2018); Status and Harvests of Sandhill Cranes,
Mid-continent, Rocky Mountain, Lower Colorado River Valley and Eastern
Populations, 2018 (August 2018); and Waterfowl Population Status, 2018
(August 2018).
Review of Public Comments and Flyway Council Recommendations
The preliminary proposed rulemaking, which appeared in the June 14,
2018, Federal Register, opened the public comment period for migratory
game bird hunting regulations and discussed the regulatory alternatives
for the 2019-20 duck hunting season. Comments and recommendations are
summarized below and numbered in the order used in the June 14, 2018,
proposed rule.
We received recommendations from all four Flyway Councils. Some
recommendations supported continuation of last year's frameworks. Due
to the comprehensive nature of the annual review of the frameworks
performed by the Councils, support for continuation of last year's
frameworks is assumed for items for which no recommendations were
received. Council recommendations for changes in the frameworks are
summarized below. We have included only the numbered items pertaining
to issues for which we received recommendations. Consequently, the
issues do not follow in successive numerical order.
We seek additional information and comments on the recommendations
in this supplemental proposed rule. New proposals and modifications to
previously described proposals are discussed below. Wherever possible,
they are discussed under headings corresponding to the numbered items
in the June 14, 2018, proposed rule.
General
Written Comments: A commenter protested the entire migratory bird
hunting regulations process, the killing of all migratory birds, and
status and habitat data on which the migratory bird hunting regulations
are based.
Service Response: Our long-term objectives continue to include
providing opportunities to harvest portions of certain migratory game
bird populations and to limit harvests to levels compatible with each
population's ability to maintain healthy, viable numbers. Having taken
into account the zones of temperature and the distribution, abundance,
economic value, breeding habits, and times and lines of flight of
migratory birds, we believe that the hunting seasons provided for
herein are compatible with the current status of migratory bird
populations and long-term population goals. Additionally, we are
obligated to, and do, give serious consideration to all information
received as public comment. While there are problems inherent with any
type of representative management of public-trust resources, we believe
that the Flyway Council system of migratory bird management has been a
longstanding example of State-Federal cooperative management since its
establishment in 1952. However, as always, we continue to seek new ways
to streamline and improve the process.
1. Ducks
A. General Harvest Strategy
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and
Pacific Flyway Councils recommended the adoption of the ``liberal''
regulatory alternative.
The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended that regulation changes
be restricted to one step per year, both when restricting as well as
liberalizing hunting regulations.
Service Response: As we stated in the June 14, 2018, and September
21, 2018, proposed rules, we intend to continue use of adaptive harvest
management (AHM) to help determine appropriate duck-hunting regulations
for the 2019-20 season. AHM is a tool that permits sound resource
decisions in the face of uncertain regulatory impacts, as well as
providing a mechanism for reducing that uncertainty over time. We use
AHM to evaluate four alternative regulatory levels for duck hunting in
the Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyways based on the population
status of mallards (see below). We will use AHM based on the population
status of a suite of four species in the Atlantic Flyway (see below).
We have specific hunting strategies for species of special concern,
such as black ducks, scaup, and pintails.
Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyways
The prescribed regulatory alternative for the Mississippi, Central,
and Pacific Flyways is based on the status of mallard populations that
contribute primarily to each Flyway. In the Central and Mississippi
Flyways, we set hunting regulations based on the status and dynamics of
mid-continent mallards. Mid-continent mallards are those breeding in
central North America (Federal survey strata 13-18, 20-50, and 75-77,
and State surveys in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan). In the
Pacific Flyway, we set hunting regulations based on the status and
dynamics of western mallards. Western mallards are those breeding in
Alaska and the northern Yukon Territory (as based on Federal surveys in
strata 1-12), and in California, Oregon, Washington, and British
Columbia (as based on State- or Province-conducted surveys).
For the 2019-20 season, we will continue to use independent
optimization to determine the optimal regulatory choice for each
mallard stock. This means that we would develop regulations for mid-
continent mallards and western mallards independently, based upon the
breeding stock that contributes primarily to each Flyway. We detailed
implementation of this AHM decision framework for western and mid-
continent mallards in the July 24, 2008, Federal Register (73 FR
43290).
The optimal AHM strategies for mid-continent and western mallards
for the 2019-20 hunting season were calculated using: (1) Harvest-
management objectives specific to each mallard stock; (2) the 2019-20
regulatory alternatives; and (3) current population models and
associated weights. Based on ``liberal'' regulatory alternatives
selected for the 2018-19 hunting season, the 2018 Waterfowl Breeding
Population and Habitat Survey (WBPHS) results of 9.57 million mid-
continent mallards, 3.66 million ponds in Prairie Canada, 1.03 million
western mallards observed in Alaska (0.45 million) and the southern
Pacific Flyway (0.57 million), the optimal regulatory choice for the
three western Flyways is the ``liberal'' alternative. Therefore, we
concur with the recommendations of the Mississippi, Central, and
Pacific Flyway Councils regarding selection of the ``liberal''
regulatory alternative for the 2019-20 season and propose to adopt the
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``liberal'' regulatory alternative, as described in the September 21,
2018, Federal Register, with one exception (see B. Regulatory
Alternatives below).
Atlantic Flyway
Since 2000, the Service has used an AHM protocol based on the
status of eastern mallards to establish the annual framework
regulations for duck hunting seasons in the Atlantic Flyway. This
protocol assumes that the mallard is an appropriate surrogate for other
duck species in the Atlantic Flyway. However, following a review of
eastern mallard AHM conducted in 2013, the Atlantic Flyway Council
determined that eastern mallards do not adequately represent duck
harvest dynamics throughout the entire Flyway; they do not represent
the breeding ecology and habitat requirements of other important
Atlantic Flyway duck species because their breeding range does not
overlap with that of other ducks that breed in the flyway; and their
breeding and/or wintering habitat needs differ from many of the other
duck species in the Flyway. Thus, although mallards comprise nearly 20
percent of the Atlantic Flyway's duck harvest, the status of eastern
mallards does not necessarily reflect that of other Atlantic Flyway
duck species. For example, mallards in eastern North America have
declined at an average annual rate of 1 percent since 1998, whereas
over the same time period all other duck species in eastern North
America, for which robust population estimates are available, are
stable or increasing.
The Atlantic Flyway Council decided that a decision framework based
upon a suite of duck species that better represents the habitat needs
and harvest distribution of ducks in the Atlantic Flyway would be
superior to the current eastern mallard AHM framework, and we concur.
Accordingly, the Service and the Atlantic Flyway began working in 2013
to develop a multi-stock AHM protocol for setting annual duck hunting
season frameworks for the Atlantic Flyway.
The development of multi-stock protocols has now been completed,
and we adopted multi-stock AHM as a replacement for eastern mallard AHM
(September 21, 2018, Federal Register; 83 FR 47868). The protocols are
based on a suite of four species that represents the dynamics of duck
harvest in the Atlantic Flyway and the various habitat types used by
waterfowl throughout the Atlantic Flyway: Green-winged teal (Anas
crecca), common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), ring-necked duck
(Aythya collaris), and wood duck (Aix sponsa). These species comprise
more than 40 percent of the Atlantic Flyway's total duck harvest, and
they reflect regional variation in harvest composition. The selected
species represent upland nesters in boreal and southern Canada (green-
winged teal), over-water nesters in boreal Canada (ring-necked duck),
cavity nesters in the United States and southern Canada (wood duck),
and cavity nesters in boreal Canada (goldeneye). The most important
winter waterfowl habitats in the Atlantic Flyway (salt marsh,
freshwater marsh, tidal waters, freshwater ponds and lakes, rivers and
streams) are important to at least one of these four species.
Species selection was also influenced by our need for sufficient
time series of estimates of annual abundance and estimates of harvest
rate or annual harvest. The protocol has a harvest objective of no more
than 98 percent of maximum sustainable long-term yield for any of the
four species. Regulatory alternatives are the same as those used in the
eastern mallard AHM, except that the mallard bag limit is not
prescribed by the optimal regulatory alternative as determined by the
multi-stock AHM protocol. The mallard bag limit in the Atlantic Flyway
is now based on a separate assessment of the harvest potential of
eastern mallards (see xi. Other for further discussion on the mallard
bag limit in the Atlantic Flyway).
The optimal AHM strategies for the Atlantic Flyway for the 2019-20
hunting season were calculated using: (1) Harvest-management objectives
specific to each stock; (2) the 2019-20 regulatory alternatives; and
(3) current population models and associated weights. Based on the
``liberal'' regulatory alternative selected for the 2018-19 duck
hunting season, the 2018 WBPHS results of 0.35 million American green-
winged teal, 1.12 million wood ducks, 0.63 million ring-necked ducks,
and 0.49 million goldeneyes in the eastern survey area and Atlantic
Flyway, the optimal regulatory choice for the Atlantic Flyway is the
``liberal'' alternative. Therefore, we concur with the recommendation
of the Atlantic Flyway Council regarding selection of the ``liberal''
regulatory alternative for the 2019-20 season and propose to adopt the
``liberal'' regulatory alternative, as described in the September 21,
2018, Federal Register.
Further details on biological models used in the protocol, data
sources, optimization methods, and simulation results are available at
http://www.regulations.gov and on our website at https://www.fws.gov/birds/surveys-and-data/reports-and-publications.php.
Regarding the Mississippi Flyway Council recommendation to limit
regulatory changes to one step per year, we recognize the longstanding
interest by the Council to impose a one-step constraint on regulatory
changes. In the September 21, 2018, Federal Register, we noted that the
Central and Mississippi Flyways have worked with Service staff during
the past 3 years to revisit the AHM protocol for managing harvest of
mid-continent mallards. This effort has included a discussion of
appropriate management objectives, regulatory packages, and management
of non-mallard stocks. We continue to support that these discussions
are the appropriate venue to discuss what role, if any, a one-step
constraint might play in management of waterfowl in the Central and
Mississippi Flyways. Such discussions should include the potential
impact of a one-step constraint on the frequency of when the liberal,
moderate, and restrictive packages would be recommended. On a final
note, while we recognize the Council's concern about potentially
communicating a large regulatory change to hunters, we have concerns
about the appropriateness of a one-step constraint in situations when
the status of the waterfowl resource may warrant a regulatory change
larger than one step. Furthermore, it is unclear how the AHM protocol
can accommodate a one-step constraint in the Mississippi Flyway if the
same constraint is not imposed in the Central Flyway. Technical work on
the double-looping process tentatively should be completed by June
2019, with any potential changes to regulatory packages and the harvest
strategy approved in October 2019 for the 2021-22 season. We look
forward to continued work with the Flyway Councils on this issue.
B. Regulatory Alternatives
Council Recommendations: The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended
that the framework closing date be modified from the last Sunday in
January to January 31 for both the ``liberal'' and ``moderate'' AHM
packages.
Service Response: We support the Mississippi Flyway's
recommendation for a closing date of January 31 for the 2019-20
midcontinent duck seasons. Although we recognize that this issue is
currently being discussed as part of the AHM revision process, we
understand that there is agreement among the Mississippi and Central
Flyways and the Service's Migratory Bird Management staff that the new
forthcoming regulatory alternatives will
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contain an ending framework date of January 31 for at least the
``liberal'' regulatory alternative. Thus, we believe adopting the
Mississippi Flyway Council's proposed closing date for the 2019-20
seasons is acceptable at this time for both the Mississippi and Central
flyways. Further, the Atlantic Flyway currently also has a closing duck
framework date of January 31. Therefore, we propose a January 31
closing date for duck frameworks for all four flyways during the 2019-
20 hunting seasons. We believe the additional few days will have no
measurable impact on duck harvests, and satisfies the desires of the
Flyway Councils and hunters.
D. Special Seasons/Species Management
i. September Teal Seasons
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council requested that
Florida be allowed to hold an experimental September teal-only season
for an additional year (2019), to allow sufficient time to evaluate
impacts to non-target species.
Service Response: For the 2019-20 season, we will utilize the 2018
breeding population estimate of 6.45 million blue-winged teal from the
traditional survey area and the criteria developed for the teal season
guidelines. Thus, a 16-day September teal season in the Atlantic,
Central, and Mississippi Flyways is appropriate for the 2019-20 season.
We agree with the Atlantic Flyway Council's request to extend
Florida's experimental teal-only season through 2019. The additional
year will allow Florida to collect additional data to meet experimental
sample size criteria and study impacts to non-target species.
iii. Black Ducks
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway
Councils recommended that the Service continue to follow the
International Black Duck AHM Strategy for the 2019-20 season.
Service Response: In 2012, we adopted the International Black Duck
AHM Strategy (77 FR 49868; August 17, 2012). The formal strategy is the
result of 14 years of technical and policy decisions developed and
agreed upon by both Canadian and U.S. agencies and waterfowl managers.
The strategy clarifies what harvest levels each country will manage for
and reduces conflicts over country-specific regulatory policies.
Further, the strategy allows for attainment of fundamental objectives
of black duck management: Resource conservation; perpetuation of
hunting tradition; and equitable access to the black duck resource
between Canada and the United States while accommodating the
fundamental sources of uncertainty (partial controllability and partial
observability, structural uncertainty, and environmental variation).
The underlying model performance is assessed annually, with a
comprehensive evaluation of the entire strategy (objectives and model
set) planned after 6 years.
For the 2019-20 season, the optimal country-specific regulatory
strategies were calculated using: (1) The black duck harvest objective
(98 percent of long-term cumulative harvest); (2) 2019-20 country-
specific regulatory alternatives; (3) current parameter estimates for
mallard competition and additive mortality; and (4) 2018 survey results
of 0.53 million breeding black ducks and 0.40 million breeding mallards
in the core survey area. The optimal regulatory choices for the 2019-20
season are the ``liberal'' package in Canada and the ``moderate''
package in the United States.
iv. Canvasbacks
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and
Pacific Flyway Councils recommended a full season for canvasbacks with
a 2-bird daily bag limit. Season lengths would be 60 days in the
Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, 74 days in the Central Flyway, and
107 days in the Pacific Flyway.
Service Response: As we discussed in the March 28, 2016, final rule
(81 FR 17302), the canvasback harvest strategy that we had relied on
until 2015 was not viable under our new regulatory process because it
required biological information that was not yet available at the time
a decision on season structure needed to be made. We do not yet have a
new harvest strategy to propose for use in guiding canvasback harvest
management in the future. However, we have worked with technical staff
of the four Flyway Councils to develop a decision framework (hereafter,
decision support tool) that relies on the best biological information
available to develop recommendations for annual canvasback harvest
regulations. The decision support tool uses available information
(1994-2014) on canvasback population size, growth rate, survival, and
harvest and a discrete logistic growth model to derive an optimal
harvest policy with an objective of maximum sustained yield. The
decision support tool calls for a closed season when the observed
population is below 460,000, a 1-bird daily bag limit when the observed
breeding population is between 460,000 and 480,000, and a 2-bird daily
bag limit when the observed population is greater than 480,000. Given
that the 2018 canvasback breeding population estimate from the WBPHS
was 686,000 birds, we support the Flyway Councils' recommendations for
a 2-canvasback daily bag limit for the 2019-20 season.
v. Pintails
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and
Pacific Flyway Councils recommended a full season for pintails,
consisting of a 1-bird daily bag limit and a 60-day season in the
Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, a 74-day season in the Central
Flyway, and a 107-day season in the Pacific Flyway.
Service Response: The current derived pintail harvest strategy was
adopted by the Service and Flyway Councils in 2010 (75 FR 44856; July
29, 2010). For the 2019-20 season, an optimal regulatory strategy for
pintails was calculated with: (1) An objective of maximizing long-term
cumulative harvest, including a closed-season constraint of 1.75
million birds; (2) the regulatory alternatives and associated predicted
harvest; and (3) current population models and their relative weights.
Based on a ``liberal'' regulatory alternative with a 2-bird daily bag
limit for the 2018-19 season, and the 2018 WBPHS survey results of 2.37
million pintails observed at a mean latitude of 56.1 degrees, the
optimal regulatory choice for all four Flyways for the 2019-20 hunting
season is the ``liberal'' alternative with a 1-bird daily bag limit.
vi. Scaup
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and
Pacific Flyway Councils recommended use of the ``moderate'' regulation
package, consisting of a 60-day season with a 2-bird daily bag in the
Atlantic Flyway and a 3-bird daily bag in the Mississippi Flyway, a 74-
day season with a 3-bird daily bag limit in the Central Flyway, and an
86-day season with a 3-bird daily bag limit in the Pacific Flyway.
Service Response: In 2008, we adopted and implemented a new scaup
harvest strategy (73 FR 43290 on July 24, 2008, and 73 FR 51124 on
August 29, 2008) with initial ``restrictive,'' ``moderate,'' and
``liberal'' regulatory packages adopted for each Flyway.
For scaup, optimal regulatory strategies for the 2019-20 season
were calculated using: (1) An objective to achieve 95 percent of long-
term
[[Page 16156]]
cumulative harvest; (2) current scaup regulatory alternatives; and (3)
updated model parameters and weights. Based on a ``moderate''
regulatory alternative selected in 2018, and the 2018 WBPHS survey
results of 3.99 million scaup, the optimal regulatory choice for the
2019-20 season for all four Flyways is the ``moderate'' regulatory
alternative.
ix. Youth Hunt
Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended
replacing tundra swan with swan in the bag limits for the Special Youth
Waterfowl Hunting Days.
Service Response: We agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's
recommendation to replace tundra swan with swan in the bag limits for
the Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days. The change is intended to
allow the take of any swan species in the Pacific Flyway (currently
applicable to only Montana, Utah, and Nevada) consistent with the swan
hunting framework that has existed in the Pacific Flyway since 1995.
Swans may only be taken by participants possessing applicable swan
hunting permits. This will not change the number of swan hunting
permits available in any State, but will provide an opportunity for
youths with a swan hunting permit to hunt swans during the Special
Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days in addition to the regular swan season.
Youth hunters in other flyways with a tundra swan hunting permit would
continue to be able to hunt tundra swans during the Special Youth
Waterfowl Hunting Days. The expected additional harvest from this
change is negligible because we anticipate that few youths will apply
and successfully draw the limited number of swan hunting permits in the
Pacific Flyway, and any issued swan hunting permit may otherwise be
filled during the regular swan hunting season. Hunting during the
Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days in the Pacific Flyway is expected
to result in the same ratio of take between trumpeter and tundra swans
as occurs in the regular season.
xi. Other
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended
use of the Eastern Mallard Prescribed Take Level (PTL) analysis for
setting mallard bag limits at two (2) birds per day in the Atlantic
Flyway until a formal harvest strategy can be developed in conjunction
with the Service. Further, they recommended adopting a restriction of
no more than one (1) hen mallard per day in conjunction with reducing
the mallard bag limit for the 2019-20 hunting season.
Service Response: The Atlantic Flyway Council's multi-stock harvest
strategy (see above) did not specifically address bag limits for
mallards. The number of breeding mallards in northeastern United States
(about two-thirds of the eastern mallard population in 1998) has
decreased by about 38 percent since 1998, and the overall population
has declined by about 1 percent per year during that time period. This
has resulted in reduced harvest potential for that population. The
Service conducted a PTL analysis to estimate the allowable take (kill
rate) for eastern mallards, and compared that with the expected kill
rate under the most liberal season length (60 days) being considered as
part of the multi-stock framework's regulatory alternatives.
PTL requires an estimate of the maximum population growth rate
(rmax) in the absence of harvest and density dependence.
That estimate is then used to calculate the allowable rate of take as
(rmax/2)F, where F is a variable that reflects management
objectives. Using contemporary data and assuming a management objective
of maximum sustained yield, the PTL analysis estimated an allowable
take rate of 0.194-0.198. The expected take (kill) rate for eastern
mallards under a 60-day season and a 2-mallard daily bag limit in the
U.S. portion of the Atlantic Flyway was 0.193 (SE = 0.016), which is
slightly below (but not significantly different from) the point
estimate of allowable take (PTL) at maximum sustained yield. This
indicates that a 2-bird daily bag limit is sustainable at this time.
Thus, we agree with the Atlantic Flyway Council's recommendation of a
2-bird daily bag limit for mallards, of which only one may be a hen. We
expect that the hen restriction will help conserve the population's
breeding stock. Further details on the PTL analysis are available at
http://www.regulations.gov and on our website at https://www.fws.gov/birds/surveys-and-data/reports-and-publications.php.
4. Canada Geese
B. Regular Seasons
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council made several
recommendations concerning Canada goose regular seasons. Specifically,
they recommended:
Allow Maine to designate their Coastal Zone as a low
harvest North Atlantic Population (NAP) Zone for an experimental 3-year
period (2019-21);
Change to the ``restrictive'' season option (30-day season
with a daily bag limit of two (2) geese in the New England
[Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont] and Mid-Atlantic [New Jersey,
New York, and Pennsylvania] Regions and one (1) goose in the Chesapeake
Region [Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia]) for Atlantic Population (AP)
harvest areas in the Atlantic Flyway in 2019-20;
Allow Connecticut to modify the boundary between the
Atlantic Flyway Resident Population (AFRP) zone and NAP zone;
Allow New Jersey to change the designation of their
Coastal Zone from an AFRP to a NAP Canada goose high harvest area
beginning in 2019; and
Modify the New York AFRP Canada Goose Areas to no more
than 80 days, starting no earlier than the fourth Saturday in October
and ending no later than the last day of February.
Service Response: We agree with all of the Atlantic Flyway
Council's recommendations concerning Canada geese. First, allowing
Maine to change the designation of their Coastal Zone to a low harvest
NAP Zone for an experimental 3-year period (2019-21) should allow for
the harvest of more AFRP geese with the longer season length and higher
bag limit. While some additional harvest of NAP Canada geese may occur,
the Coastal Zone currently meets the criteria as a low harvest zone
under the current NAP harvest strategy.
Second, while we note that the current AP harvest strategy
indicates that a continuation of the ``moderate'' season may be
considered under the current population, moving to a ``restrictive''
season in the AP harvest strategy is the more prudent choice. The
breeding pair estimate (the primary metric used to inform AP harvest
management decisions) has declined sharply the past 2 years, and
although the 3-year running average of total indicated pairs (154,969)
remains above the harvest strategy threshold (150,000 pairs) for
consideration of a moderate season, the 2018 single-year estimate
(112,235 pairs) is 25 percent below that level. Further, the total
population index has declined by approximately one-third since 2009.
The Atlantic Flyway Council notes that this decline, which is only now
showing up in the breeding pair estimate, likely reflects an extended
period (2009-16) of average or below-average production years.
Additionally, gosling production, as indexed by age ratios at banding,
was virtually nonexistent in 2018. This is unprecedented in the 22
years this metric has been monitored. Lastly, given current population
trends and the poor
[[Page 16157]]
2018 production, the harvest strategy is highly likely to prescribe a
``restrictive'' season in 2020-21. The Atlantic Flyway Council notes
that reductions in harvest achieved by implementing a restrictive
season 1 year earlier should slow the rate of population decline, and
in turn reduce the likelihood of the population declining to a level
(60,000 pairs) at which a closed season would be prescribed.
Third, the recommended changes to zone boundaries (Connecticut),
zone designation (New Jersey), and framework dates (New York) are all
the result of a recent Atlantic Flyway Council assessment of migrant
Canada goose harvest in AFRP zones. The assessment indicated that
migrant Canada goose harvest in AFRP zones in those States exceeded the
level allowed by the Atlantic Flyway Council's established criteria.
The Council's recommended changes will reduce migrant Canada goose
harvest in AFRP zones in those States and bring them back into
compliance with AFRP zone criteria. Thus, we agree that all three
changes are appropriate, and we commend the Atlantic Flyway Council's
continuing commitment to sustainable harvest of migrant Canada geese.
6. Brant
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended
that the 2019-20 season for Atlantic brant follow the Atlantic Flyway
Council's brant harvest strategy pending the results of the 2019
Atlantic Flyway Mid-winter Waterfowl Survey (MWS). The Council also
recommended that if results of the 2019 MWS are not available, then
results of the most recent MWS should be used.
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended that the 2019-20 brant
season frameworks be determined based on the harvest strategy in the
Council's management plan for the Pacific population of brant pending
results of the 2019 Winter Brant Survey (WBS). If results of the 2019
WBS are not available, results of the most recent WBS should be used.
Service Response: As we discussed in the March 28, 2016, final rule
(81 FR 17302), the current harvest strategy used to determine the
Atlantic brant season frameworks does not fit well within the new
regulatory process, similar to the Rocky Mountain Population (RMP)
sandhill crane issue discussed below under 9. Sandhill Cranes. In
developing the annual proposed frameworks for Atlantic brant in the
past, the Atlantic Flyway Council and the Service used the number of
brant counted during the MWS in the Atlantic Flyway, and took into
consideration the brant population's expected productivity that summer.
The MWS is conducted each January, and expected brant productivity is
based on early-summer observations of breeding habitat conditions and
nesting effort in important brant nesting areas. Thus, the data under
consideration were available before the annual Flyway and SRC decision-
making meetings took place in late July. Although the former regulatory
alternatives for Atlantic brant were developed by factoring together
long-term productivity rates (observed during November and December
productivity surveys) with estimated observed harvest under different
framework regulations, the primary decision-making criterion for
selecting the annual frameworks was the MWS count.
Under the new regulatory schedule, neither the expected 2019 brant
production information (available summer 2019) nor the 2019 MWS count
(normally conducted in January 2019) is yet available. However, the
2019 MWS will be completed and winter brant data will be available by
the expected publication of the final frameworks (June 15, 2019).
Therefore, in the September 24, 2015, Federal Register (80 FR 57664),
we adopted the Atlantic Flyway Council's changes to the then-current
Atlantic brant hunt plan strategies. The current harvest strategy for
Atlantic brant is as follows:
If the MWS count is <100,000 Atlantic brant, the season
would be closed.
If the MWS count is between 100,000 and 115,000 brant,
States could select a 30-day season with a 1-bird daily bag limit.
If the MWS count is between 115,000 and 130,000 brant,
States could select a 30-day season with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
If the MWS count is between 130,000 and 150,000 brant,
States could select a 50-day season with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
If the MWS count is between 150,000 and 200,000 brant,
States could select a 60-day season with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
If the MWS count is >200,000 brant, States could select a
60-day season with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
Under all the above open-season alternatives, seasons would be
between the Saturday nearest September 24 and January 31. Further,
States could split their seasons into 2 segments.
When we acquire the 2019 MWS brant count from the recently
conducted survey, we will select the appropriate Atlantic brant hunting
season for 2019-20 from the above Atlantic brant hunt strategies and
publish the result in the final frameworks rule.
As with the case for Atlantic brant, we also agree with the Pacific
Flyway Council's recommendation that the 2019-20 Pacific brant season
frameworks be determined by the harvest strategy in the Council's
management plan for the Pacific population of brant pending results of
the 2019 WBS. Similarly, the harvest strategy used to determine the
Pacific brant season frameworks does not fit well within the new
regulatory process. In developing the annual proposed frameworks for
Pacific brant, the Pacific Flyway Council and the Service use the 3-
year average number of brant counted during the WBS in the Pacific
Flyway to determine annual allowable season length and daily bag
limits. The WBS is conducted each January in coastal areas of western
Mexico, the United States, and Canada, which is after the date proposed
frameworks are formulated in the regulatory process. However, the data
are typically available by the expected publication of final frameworks
(June 15). When we acquire the survey data from the recently conducted
survey, we will select the appropriate frameworks for the 2019-20
Pacific brant season according to the harvest strategy in the Pacific
Flyway Council's management plan for Pacific brant and publish the
result in the final frameworks rule. The current harvest strategy for
Pacific brant is as follows:
If the WBS index is <102,000 brant, then the brant season
is closed, and the season may not reopen until the 3-year average WBS
index exceeds 112,000 brant.
If the WBS index is between 102,000 and 122,000 brant,
then Alaska may select a 51-day season with a 2-bird daily bag limit,
and California, Oregon, and Washington may select a 16-day season with
a 2-bird daily bag limit.
If the WBS index is between 122,001 and 147,000 brant,
then Alaska may select a 107-day season with a 2-bird daily bag limit,
and California, Oregon, and Washington may select a 27-day season with
a 2-brant daily bag limit.
If the WBS index is greater than 147,000 brant, then
Alaska may select a 107-day season with a 4-bird daily bag limit, and
California, Oregon, and Washington may select a 37-day season with a 2-
bird daily bag limit.
Under all the above open-season alternatives, the outside framework
season dates are September 1 through January 26 in Alaska, the Saturday
closest to September 24 through December 15 in California and Oregon,
and the Saturday closest to September
[[Page 16158]]
24 through the last Sunday in January in Washington.
When we acquire the 2019 WBS in early 2019, we will select the
appropriate Pacific brant season frameworks for the 2019-20 season from
the above Pacific brant harvest strategy and publish the result in the
final frameworks rule.
8. Swans
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended
that the allocation of tundra swan hunt permits in the Atlantic Flyway
be based on the proportion of tundra swans counted on the Mid-Winter
Survey (MWS) in each State that hunts swans. Permit allocation would be
re-evaluated every 3 years based on the past 3-year MWS average in each
State that allows swan hunting. Permit allocation for the 2019-20
through the 2021-22 seasons will be North Carolina 6,115 permits,
Virginia 801 permits, and Delaware 84 permits (for a total of 7,000 in
the Atlantic Flyway). If the number of permits available to the
Atlantic Flyway should change or if additional States initiate tundra
swan hunting seasons, the Council recommends that permit allocation be
adjusted based on the proportion of tundra swans counted in each State.
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended several changes to the swan
season frameworks. Specifically, the Council recommended:
(1) Extending outside dates to the Saturday nearest September 24
(currently the Saturday nearest October 1) and closing consistent with
the duck season framework of January 31 (currently varies by State from
December 1 to the Sunday following January 1);
(2) Extending the maximum season length to 107 days (currently
varies by State from 64 to 100 days), subject to season closure rules
(see below);
(3) Allowing youths with a swan hunting permit to hunt swans during
federal Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days;
(4) Removing State requirements to monitor and report on swan
populations within designated hunt areas;
(5) Increasing the trumpeter swan quota from 5 to 10 in Nevada;
(6) Increasing the trumpeter swan quota from 10 to 20 in Utah;
(7) Increasing permits from 2,000 to 2,750 in Utah; and
(8) Increasing the hunt area for clarification of the boundary in
Utah.
Service Response: Recently, we supported the establishment of an
experimental tundra swan season in Delaware beginning with the 2019-20
season (83 FR 47868; September 21, 2018). The proposed hunting season
followed the guidelines provided in the Atlantic Flyway Council's
Eastern Population Tundra Swan Hunt Plan and is not expected to
increase the overall harvest of tundra swans. At that time, we stated
that the existing allowable harvest would be reallocated among the
States that hunt them. The Atlantic Flyway Council's recommendation
accomplishes that objective and does not affect permit allocation in
any other Flyway. Thus, we agree.
In the Pacific Flyway, we authorized an experimental general swan
hunting season (hereafter swan season) within the Pacific Flyway south
of Alaska (parts of Montana, Utah, and Nevada) in 1995, which became
operational in 2003. We addressed impacts of the swan season in a
sequence of environmental assessments and findings of no significant
impact (1995, 2000, 2001, 2003). Two native swan species occur in the
United States: Tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus) and trumpeter swan (C.
buccinator). Only the Western Population (WP) of tundra swans and Rocky
Mountain Population (RMP) of trumpeter swans are subjected to harvest
during the swan hunting season in the Pacific Flyway.
Regarding WP tundra swans, the recent 3-year (2016-2018) mean
abundance index during spring was 133,340 (95% CI = 83,962-182,719)
swans, and exceeded the Pacific Flyway Council's population objective
of 60,000 swans. Regarding RMP trumpeter swans, the recent (2015) fall
count was 11,271 white swans (i.e., adult and subadult birds), and
exceeded the Pacific Flyway Council's population objective of 10,000
white swans. The Council also has an objective for the U.S. breeding
segment of RMP trumpeter swans. The recent (2018) fall count was 810
white swans, and exceeded the Council's current population objective of
718 white swans. The recent 3-year (2016-2018) average count was 774
white swans.
The 2003 environmental assessment specified the swan season
framework cannot be more liberal until the 3-year average number of
trumpeter swans in the RMP U.S. breeding segment was >=90 percent of
the original (i.e., from an earlier management plan) goal of 614 white
swans (i.e., threshold of 553 white swans). This threshold was exceeded
in 2015, when the 3-year (2013-2015) average fall count was 563 white
swans.
Gower et al. (2018) wrote a white paper on the Pacific Flyway swan
season. The purpose was to review data (status, distribution, and
harvest) associated with the swan season framework since implementation
23 years ago, and to consider the success of the swan season framework
in reconciling two potentially conflicting swan management objectives:
Tundra swan hunting and trumpeter swan population restoration. The data
provide strong evidence the swan season framework in the Pacific Flyway
has been successful in the simultaneous achievement of initial
objectives for tundra swan hunting opportunity and trumpeter swan
population restoration. The white paper provides justification for the
Pacific Flyway Council's proposed changes to the swan season framework,
particularly the increase in trumpeter swan quotas to rebalance
tradeoffs between potentially conflicting swan management objectives.
The white paper is available at https://www.fws.gov/birds/surveys-and-data/reports-and-publications.php.
Regarding the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendations, we agree
with the recommendations for opening and closing dates, season length,
and youth waterfowl hunting days. These are all adjustments to realign
the swan season framework in the Pacific Flyway with changes to the
general duck and goose season frameworks that have occurred since 1995,
when the swan season framework was established. This will allow States
to simplify their waterfowl seasons by having one season for ducks,
geese, and swans, and allow youth hunters with a swan hunting permit to
hunt swans during the Federal youth waterfowl hunting days. Broadening
the opening and closing dates, extending the season length, and
allowing take of swans during the two youth waterfowl hunting days may
increase swan harvest, but not in significant numbers because few swans
are available to hunters outside of the swan winter migration period.
Most tundra and trumpeter swans migrate through Montana, Nevada, and
Utah from mid-October through the end of November. Also, there is
additional harvest opportunity for tundra swans because the population
is currently more than two times the Council's population objective.
Despite these liberalizations, adequate protection still exists for
trumpeter swans because trumpeter swan harvest is capped at the quota
for each State regardless of season length, and the swan season ends in
a State upon reaching the trumpeter swan quota in that State.
We also agree with the Council's recommendation to remove State
requirements to monitor and report on swan abundance within designated
hunting areas. This does not affect the requirement that each State
that allows
[[Page 16159]]
swan hunting must evaluate hunter participation, species-specific swan
harvest, and hunter compliance in complying with State hunter
participation and harvest monitoring programs. Each State has monitored
swan abundance during the swan hunting season since about 1995.
However, the monitoring that has been done is limited to counts of
swans with no distinction between tundra and trumpeter swans, and
therefore has limited usefulness for informing us about swan population
status. Further, swan migration routes and timing of swan migration
through each State are now well established, and both tundra swan and
trumpeter swan populations are monitored via cooperative State-Federal
surveys, which are better tools for assessing swan population status
than the aforementioned surveys.
We agree with the Council's recommendation to increase the
trumpeter swan quotas from 5 to 10 in Nevada and from 10 to 20 in Utah.
The swan hunting season must close in a State upon reaching the
trumpeter swan quota in that State regardless of the scheduled season
closing date. The quotas (5 and 10 swans) have not been reached in any
year since swan hunting was initiated in 1995, except that in Nevada in
2017, the 5-swan quota was reached on the last day of the swan season.
Trumpeter swans have increased in abundance since 1995; however, the
number allowed to be taken has not increased. The possibility of an
early swan-season closure has increased with trumpeter swan abundance
increasing at a higher rate than tundra swan abundance. The most recent
abundance estimates indicate RMP trumpeter swans have increased 644
percent (1,820 to 11,721 white swans) since 1995, and the U.S. breeding
segment has increased 241 percent (427 to 1,029 total swans). Tundra
swans have increased only 126 percent (120,528 to 152,099) since 1995.
The increased quotas in Nevada and Utah are commensurate with the
change in trumpeter swan population status since the quotas were
negotiated in 1995 and 2000 (i.e., increased 200 percent). Also, these
increases are consistent with an assessment of the harvest potential of
RMP trumpeter swans and U.S. breeding segment based on their observed
growth rates and a conservative recovery factor of 0.5 considering that
trumpeter swans are of management concern but neither endangered nor
threatened (see the swan hunting white paper for more assessment
details). Using a conservative maximum allowable take estimate of
trumpeter swans in Utah and Nevada of 30 swans combined and accounting
for population segment composition (6.1 percent U.S. breeding), the
expected harvest of trumpeter swans from the U.S. breeding segment,
which is of greater concern than the Canada breeding segment, should
not exceed about 2 swans (30 x 0.061), or about 0.2 percent (2 of 1,029
total swans) of the population segment annually.
We also agree with the Council's recommendation to increase the
number of hunting permits from 2,000 to 2,750 in Utah. Swan harvest
will likely increase with the increase in the number of swan hunting
permits, but is expected to be within allowable limits and consistent
with the Council's swan management objectives. Tundra swans are
currently more than 2 times the Council's population objective, and
trumpeter swan harvest is capped at the quota for each State. Since
2000, when about 2,000 swan hunting permits were issued per year, the
average estimated harvest was 734 swans. Thus, increasing the number of
hunting permits by 750 is estimated to increase the average harvest by
275 swans (to about 1,009 swans in total). Utah issued 2,750 permits
during 1995-2000, and at that time the average trumpeter swan harvest
was 1,444 swans per year. The number of permits was reduced in 2000 to
reduce the probability of trumpeter swan harvest. The harvest of
trumpeter swans is limited to a sustainable quota. However, the average
trumpeter swan harvest in Utah since 2000 has been 2.1 swans per year,
well below the quota. We estimate that increasing the tundra swan
permits by 750 will result in less than 1 additional trumpeter swan
harvested per year on average. Thus, the average trumpeter swan harvest
per year is expected to remain well below Utah's trumpeter swan quota.
We also agree with the Council's recommendation to increase the
hunting area in Utah. This involves a small change to help clarify the
hunting area boundary through the Bear River National Wildlife Refuge
and adjacent private lands currently along property- or imaginary-lines
that are not marked by roads or other well defined geographic features
or landmarks. This segment of the hunting area boundary will be moved
to the nearest road, which is north to State Route 83. The new boundary
will be more identifiable for hunters and law enforcement. The
additional area included in the hunting area boundary is 124 square
miles and represents an increase of 1.75 percent of the current hunting
area. The additional area is comprised of agriculture lands, wetlands,
and urban areas; approximately 30 percent is swan habitat. The swan
hunting boundary will continue to exclude areas where trumpeter swans
have been consistently observed for the last 5 years in Utah (northern
Box Elder County, Cache County, Rich County, Daggett County).
Finally, we recognize that there are a number of changes that could
cumulatively increase trumpeter swan harvest, but this would not exceed
the quotas established in Utah and Nevada. Tundra and trumpeter swan
populations will continue to be monitored via cooperative Federal-State
surveys, and States offering a swan season will continue to be required
to carefully monitor swan hunter participation and species-specific
swan harvest. Thus, the Service and States are committed to monitoring
population abundance and harvest, and any spike in trumpeter swan
harvest or decrease in swan abundance of concern will be reviewed and
adjustments made accordingly.
9. Sandhill Cranes
Council Recommendations: The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended
that Alabama be allowed a 3-year experimental sandhill crane hunting
season beginning in 2019, consistent with the guidelines in the Eastern
Population of Sandhill Cranes Management Plan (EP Plan). The
experimental season would include up to 60 days and 1,200 harvest tags.
The Central Flyway Council recommended the expansion of the areas
open to Mid-continent Population sandhill crane hunting in South
Dakota.
The Central and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended the
establishment of a new hunting area for Rocky Mountain Population (RMP)
sandhill cranes in Arizona beginning with the 2019-20 season, and that
allowable harvest of RMP cranes be determined based on the formula
described in the Pacific and Central Flyway Management Plan for RMP
cranes.
Service Response: We agree with the Mississippi Flyway Council's
recommendation to establish an experimental season in Alabama. A
management plan for the Eastern Population of sandhill cranes was
approved by the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway Councils in 2010. The
plan contained provisions and guidelines for establishing hunting
seasons in the Mississippi and Atlantic Flyway States if the fall
population was above a minimum threshold of 30,000 cranes. The
management plan also set an overall harvest objective of no more than
10 percent of the 5-year average peak population estimate for each
State. Alabama's 5-year average peak
[[Page 16160]]
population count is 14,104 cranes, setting the State's maximum
allowable harvest under the plan at 1,410 birds. Alabama's proposal for
an experimental season of 1,200 tags meets this provision. Further,
Alabama's experimental season would limit the number of crane hunters
to 400 (with each getting 3 harvest tags).
The Council further notes that the management plan has the
following thresholds for permit allocation among the States:
When the 3-year fall survey average is >=30,000, maximum
permit allocation will be 10 percent of the 3-year fall survey average;
and
When the 3-year fall survey average is >60,000, the
maximum permit allocation will be 12 percent of the 3-year fall survey
average.
The latest fall survey 3-year average the Eastern Population of
sandhill cranes is 91,250 cranes, which would allow a maximum harvest
of up to 10,950 cranes under the current management plan. Currently,
only Kentucky, Tennessee, and now Alabama have sandhill crane seasons.
Including this new proposal for Alabama, the combined number of allowed
harvest permits in the Flyway would be 5,424 permits, well below the
maximum allowed. Thus, we support the creation and implementation of an
experimental crane season in Alabama. Per all experimental seasons, we
will implement a memorandum of agreement with Alabama to cover the
experimental period.
The Service agrees with the Central Flyway Council's proposal to
modify the eastern boundary for Mid-continent Population sandhill crane
hunting in South Dakota. Information suggests few hunters will take
advantage of this change, and any increase in harvest will be small.
We also agree with the recommendation to create a new hunting area
for RMP cranes in Arizona. The new hunting area is consistent with the
hunting area requirements in the Pacific and Central Flyway Council's
RMP crane management plan.
Regarding RMP crane harvest, as we discussed in the March 28, 2016,
final rule (81 FR 17302), the current harvest strategy used to
calculate the allowable harvest of RMP cranes does not fit well within
the new regulatory process, similar to the brant issue discussed above
under 6. Brant. Results of the fall abundance and recruitment surveys
of RMP cranes, which are used in the calculation of the annual
allowable harvest, will continue to be released between December 1 and
January 31 each year, which is after the date proposed frameworks are
formulated in the new regulatory process. If we were to propose
regulations at this point in time, data 2 to 4 years old would be used
to determine the annual allowable harvest and State harvest allocations
for RMP cranes. We agree that relying on data that are 2 to 4 years old
is not ideal due to the variability in fall abundance and recruitment
for this population, and the significance of these data in determining
the annual harvest allocations. Thus, we agree that the formula to
determine the annual allowable harvest for RMP cranes published in the
March 28, 2016, final rule should be used under the new regulatory
schedule. We will produce a final estimate for the allowable harvest of
RMP cranes and publish it in the final frameworks rule, allowing us to
use data that are 1 to 3 years old, as is currently practiced.
14. Woodcock
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central
Flyway Councils recommended use of the ``moderate'' season framework
for the 2019-20 season.
The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended that the framework
opening date for the Central Management Region be changed from the
Saturday nearest September 22 to a fixed date of September 13.
Service Response: In 2011, we implemented a harvest strategy for
woodcock (76 FR 19876, April 8, 2011). The harvest strategy provides a
transparent framework for making regulatory decisions for woodcock
season length and bag limits while we work to improve monitoring and
assessment protocols for this species. Utilizing the criteria developed
for the strategy, the 3-year average for the Singing Ground Survey
indices and associated confidence intervals fall within the ``moderate
package'' for both the Eastern and Central Management Regions. As such,
a ``moderate season'' for both management regions for the 2019-20
season is appropriate.
However, we do not support the Mississippi Flyway Council's
recommendation to change the woodcock opening framework date to
September 13. As we stated earlier this year regarding the
recommendation to change the woodcock harvest threshold for the liberal
regulatory alternative and framework dates, we recommend that the
Woodcock Harvest Strategy Working Group be reconvened to discuss and
evaluate any proposed changes to the American Woodcock harvest
strategy. We understand that this group has already met and started
this important work.
16. Doves
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway
Councils recommended use of the ``standard'' season framework comprised
of a 90-day season and 15-bird daily bag limit for States within the
Eastern Management Unit. The daily bag limit could be composed of
mourning doves and white-winged doves, singly or in combination.
The Mississippi and Central Flyway Councils recommended the use of
the ``standard'' season package of a 90-day season and 15-bird daily
bag limit for States within the Central Management Unit.
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended use of the ``standard''
season framework with a 60-day season and 15-bird daily bag limit for
States in the Western Management Unit
Service Response: Based on the harvest strategies and current
population status, we agree with the recommended selection of the
``standard'' season frameworks for doves in the Eastern, Central, and
Western Management Units for the 2019-20 season.
Public Comments
The Department of the Interior's policy is, whenever possible, to
afford the public an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking
process. Accordingly, we invite interested persons to submit written
comments, suggestions, or recommendations regarding the proposed
regulations. Before promulgating final migratory game bird hunting
regulations, we will consider all comments we receive. These comments,
and any additional information we receive, may lead to final
regulations that differ from these proposals.
You may submit your comments and materials concerning this proposed
rule by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. We will not accept
comments sent by email or fax. We will not consider hand-delivered
comments that we do not receive, or mailed comments that are not
postmarked, by the date specified in DATES.
We will post all comments in their entirety--including your
personal identifying information--on http://www.regulations.gov. Before
including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be
made publicly available at any time. While
[[Page 16161]]
you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so. Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting
documentation we used in preparing this proposed rule, will be
available for public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov, or by
appointment, during normal business hours, at the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory Bird Management, 5275 Leesburg
Pike, Falls Church, Virginia. We will consider, but possibly may not
respond in detail to, each comment. As in the past, we will summarize
all comments we receive during the comment period and respond to them
after the closing date in the preambles of any final rules.
Required Determinations
Based on our most current data, we are affirming our required
determinations made in the June 14 and September 21 proposed rules; for
descriptions of our actions to ensure compliance with the following
statutes and Executive Orders, see our June 14, 2018, proposed rule (83
FR 27836):
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Consideration;
Endangered Species Act Consideration;
Regulatory Flexibility Act;
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act;
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995;
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act;
Executive Orders 12630, 12866, 12988, 13132, 13175, 13211,
13563, and 13771.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 20
Exports, Hunting, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Transportation, Wildlife.
The rules that eventually will be promulgated for the 2019-20
hunting season are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 703-712 and 16 U.S.C. 742
a-j.
Dated: March 18, 2019.
Andrea Travnicek,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks,
exercising the authority of the Assistant Secretary for Fish and
Wildlife and Parks.
Proposed Regulations Frameworks for 2019-20 Hunting Seasons on Certain
Migratory Game Birds
Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and delegated
authorities, the Department of the Interior is proposing the following
frameworks for season lengths, shooting hours, bag and possession
limits, and outside dates within which States may select seasons for
hunting migratory game birds between the dates of September 1, 2019,
and March 10, 2020. These frameworks are summarized below.
General
Dates: All outside dates noted below are inclusive.
Shooting and Hawking (taking by falconry) Hours: Unless otherwise
specified, from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset daily.
Possession Limits: Unless otherwise specified, possession limits
are three times the daily bag limit.
Permits: For some species of migratory birds, the Service
authorizes the use of permits to regulate harvest or monitor their take
by sport hunters, or both. In many cases (e.g., tundra swans, some
sandhill crane populations), the Service determines the amount of
harvest that may be taken during hunting seasons during its formal
regulations-setting process, and the States then issue permits to
hunters at levels predicted to result in the amount of take authorized
by the Service. Thus, although issued by States, the permits would not
be valid unless the Service approved such take in its regulations.
These Federally authorized, State-issued permits are issued to
individuals, and only the individual whose name and address appears on
the permit at the time of issuance is authorized to take migratory
birds at levels specified in the permit, in accordance with provisions
of both Federal and State regulations governing the hunting season. The
permit must be carried by the permittee when exercising its provisions
and must be presented to any law enforcement officer upon request. The
permit is not transferrable or assignable to another individual, and
may not be sold, bartered, traded, or otherwise provided to another
person. If the permit is altered or defaced in any way, the permit
becomes invalid.
Flyways and Management Units
Waterfowl Flyways
Atlantic Flyway: Includes Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia,
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont,
Virginia, and West Virginia.
Mississippi Flyway: Includes Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,
Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
Central Flyway: Includes Colorado (east of the Continental Divide),
Kansas, Montana (Counties of Blaine, Carbon, Fergus, Judith Basin,
Stillwater, Sweetgrass, Wheatland, and all counties east thereof),
Nebraska, New Mexico (east of the Continental Divide except the
Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation), North Dakota, Oklahoma, South
Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming (east of the Continental Divide).
Pacific Flyway: Includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho,
Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and those portions of Colorado,
Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming not included in the Central Flyway.
Duck Management Units
High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Roughly defined as that
portion of the Central Flyway that lies west of the 100th meridian. See
Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions, Ducks (Including Mergansers) and
Coots for specific boundaries in each State.
Columbia Basin Mallard Management Unit: In Washington, all areas
east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of the Big White Salmon River
in Klickitat County; and in Oregon, the counties of Gilliam, Morrow,
and Umatilla.
Mourning Dove Management Units
Eastern Management Unit: All States east of the Mississippi River,
and Louisiana.
Central Management Unit: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas,
Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota,
Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.
Western Management Unit: Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada,
Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
Woodcock Management Regions
Eastern Management Region: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia,
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont,
Virginia, and West Virginia.
Central Management Region: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi,
Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota,
Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.
Other geographic descriptions are contained in a later portion of
this document.
Definitions
For the purpose of the hunting regulations listed below, the
collective terms ``dark'' and ``light'' geese include the following
species:
Dark geese: Canada geese, white-fronted geese, brant (except in
Alaska,
[[Page 16162]]
California, Oregon, Washington, and the Atlantic Flyway), and all other
goose species except light geese.
Light geese: Snow (including blue) geese and Ross's geese.
Area, Zone, and Unit Descriptions: Geographic descriptions related
to regulations are contained in a later portion of this document.
Area-Specific Provisions: Frameworks for open seasons, season
lengths, bag and possession limits, and other special provisions are
listed below by Flyway.
Migratory Game Bird Seasons in the Atlantic Flyway
In the Atlantic Flyway States of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania,
where Sunday hunting is prohibited Statewide by State law, all Sundays
are closed to the take of all migratory game birds.
Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days
Outside Dates: States may select 2 days per duck-hunting zone,
designated as ``Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days,'' in addition to their
regular duck seasons. The days must be held outside any regular duck
season on weekends, holidays, or other non-school days when youth
hunters would have the maximum opportunity to participate. The days may
be held up to 14 days before or after any regular duck-season
frameworks or within any split of a regular duck season, or within any
other open season on migratory birds.
Daily Bag Limits: The daily bag limits may include ducks, geese,
swans, mergansers, coots, moorhens, and gallinules and would be the
same as those allowed in the regular season. Flyway species and area
restrictions would remain in effect.
Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Participation Restrictions: States may use their established
definition of age for youth hunters. However, youth hunters must be
under the age of 18. In addition, an adult at least 18 years of age
must accompany the youth hunter into the field. This adult may not duck
hunt but may participate in other seasons that are open on the special
youth day. Youth hunters 16 years of age and older must possess a
Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (also known as
Federal Duck Stamp). Swans may only be taken by participants possessing
applicable swan permits.
Special September Teal Season
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and September 30, an open season
on all species of teal may be selected by the following States in areas
delineated by State regulations:
Atlantic Flyway: Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North
Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Mississippi Flyway: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee,
and Wisconsin.
Central Flyway: Colorado (part), Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico
(part), Oklahoma, and Texas.
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 16 consecutive
hunting days in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways. The
daily bag limit is 6 teal.
Shooting Hours
Atlantic Flyway: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except in
South Carolina, where the hours are from sunrise to sunset.
Mississippi and Central Flyways: One-half hour before sunrise to
sunset, except in the States of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin, where the hours are
from sunrise to sunset.
Special September Duck Seasons
Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee: In lieu of a special September
teal season, a 5-consecutive-day teal/wood duck season may be selected
in September. The daily bag limit may not exceed 6 teal and wood ducks
in the aggregate, of which no more than 2 may be wood ducks. In
addition, a 4-consecutive-day teal-only season may be selected in
September either immediately before or immediately after the 5-
consecutive-day teal/wood duck season. The daily bag limit is 6 teal.
The teal-only season in Florida is experimental.
Waterfowl
Atlantic Flyway
Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots
Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September
21) and January 31.
Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: 60 days. The daily bag limit is 6
ducks, including no more than 2 mallards (no more than 1 of which can
be female), 2 black ducks, 1 pintail, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous
whistling duck, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 scaup, 2 canvasbacks, 4
scoters, 4 eiders, and 4 long-tailed ducks.
Closures: The season on harlequin ducks is closed.
Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit of mergansers is 5, only 2 of
which may be hooded mergansers. In States that include mergansers in
the duck bag limit, the daily limit is the same as the duck bag limit,
only 2 of which may be hooded mergansers.
Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
Lake Champlain Zone, New York: The waterfowl seasons, limits, and
shooting hours should be the same as those selected for the Lake
Champlain Zone of Vermont.
Connecticut River Zone, Vermont: The waterfowl seasons, limits, and
shooting hours should be the same as those selected for the Inland Zone
of New Hampshire.
Zoning and Split Seasons: Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland,
North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, and West
Virginia may split their seasons into 3 segments; Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and
Vermont may select hunting seasons by zones and may split their seasons
into two segments in each zone.
Scoters, Eiders, and Long-tailed Ducks
Special Sea Duck Seasons
Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South
Carolina, and Virginia may select a Special Sea Duck Season in
designated Special Sea Duck Areas. If a Special Sea Duck Season is
selected, scoters, eiders, and long-tailed ducks may be taken in the
designated Special Sea Duck Area(s) only during the Special Sea Duck
Season dates; scoters, eiders, and long-tailed ducks may be taken
outside of Special Sea Duck Area(s) during the regular duck season, in
accordance with the frameworks for ducks, mergansers, and coots
specified above.
Outside Dates: Between September 15 and January 31.
Special Sea Duck Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: 60 consecutive
hunting days, or 60 days that are concurrent with the regular duck
season, with a daily bag limit of 5, of the listed sea duck species,
including no more than 4 scoters, 4 eiders, and 4 long-tailed ducks.
Within the special sea duck areas, during the regular duck season in
the Atlantic Flyway, States may choose to allow the above sea duck
limits in addition to the limits applying to other ducks during the
regular season. In all other areas, sea ducks may be taken only during
the regular open season for ducks and are part of the regular duck
season daily bag (not to exceed 4 scoters, 4 eiders, and 4 long-tailed
ducks) and possession limits.
[[Page 16163]]
Special Sea Duck Areas: In all coastal waters and all waters of
rivers and streams seaward from the first upstream bridge in Maine, New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York; in
New Jersey, all coastal waters seaward from the International
Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) Demarcation
Lines shown on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Nautical Charts and further described in 33 CFR 80.165, 80.501, 80.502,
and 80.503; in any waters of the Atlantic Ocean and in any tidal waters
of any bay that are separated by at least 1 mile of open water from any
shore, island, and emergent vegetation in South Carolina and Georgia;
and in any waters of the Atlantic Ocean and in any tidal waters of any
bay that are separated by at least 800 yards of open water from any
shore, island, and emergent vegetation in Delaware, Maryland, North
Carolina, and Virginia; and provided that any such areas have been
described, delineated, and designated as special sea duck hunting areas
under the hunting regulations adopted by the respective States.
Canada Geese
Special Early Canada Goose Seasons
A Canada goose season of up to 15 days during September 1-15 may be
selected for the Eastern Unit of Maryland. Seasons not to exceed 30
days during September 1-30 may be selected for Connecticut, Florida,
Georgia, New Jersey, New York (Long Island Zone only), North Carolina,
Rhode Island, and South Carolina. Seasons may not exceed 25 days during
September 1-25 in the remainder of the Flyway. Areas open to the
hunting of Canada geese must be described, delineated, and designated
as such in each State's hunting regulations.
Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 15 Canada geese.
Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except that
during any special early Canada goose season, shooting hours may extend
to one-half hour after sunset if all other waterfowl seasons are closed
in the specific applicable area.
Regular Canada Goose Seasons
Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: Specific regulations for
Canada geese are shown below by State. These seasons may also include
white-fronted geese in an aggregate daily bag limit. Unless specified
otherwise, seasons may be split into two segments.
Connecticut
North Atlantic Population (NAP) Zone: Between October 1 and January
31, a 60-day season may be held with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
Atlantic Population (AP) Zone: A 30-day season may be held between
October 10 and February 5, with a 2-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 30-day season may be held between November 15 and February 5,
with a 1-bird daily bag limit.
Florida
An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and March 10, with a
5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments.
Georgia
An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and March 10, with a
5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments.
Maine
North and South NAP-H Zones: A 60-day season may be held between
October 1 and January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
Coastal NAP-L Zone: A 70-day season may be held between October 1
and February 15, with a 3-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 30-day season may be held between November 15 and
February 5, with a 1-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 30-day season may be held between October 10 and
February 5, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
New Hampshire
A 60-day season may be held Statewide between October 1 and January
31 with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
New Jersey
AP Zone: A 30-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in
October (October 26) and February 5, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
NAP Zone: A 60-day season may be held between October 1 and January
31, with a 2-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.
AP Zone: A 30-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in
October (October 26), except in the Lake Champlain Area where the
opening date is October 10, through February 5, with a 2-bird daily bag
limit.
Western Long Island RP Zone: A 107-day season may be held between
the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21) and the last day of
February, 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 26) and the last day of February,
with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments.
North Carolina
RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and March
10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3
segments.
Northeast Hunt Unit: A 14-day season may be held between the
Saturday prior to December 25 (December 21) and January 31, with a 1-
bird daily bag limit.
Pennsylvania
SJBP Zone: A 78-day season may be held between the first Saturday
in October (October 5) 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 26) and March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit.
The season may be split into 3 segments.
AP Zone: A 30-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in
October (October 26) and February 5, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
[[Page 16164]]
Rhode Island
A 60-day season may be held between October 1 and January 31, with
a 2-bird daily bag limit. A special late season may be held in
designated areas from January 15 to February 15, with a 5-bird daily
bag limit.
South Carolina
In designated areas, an 80-day season may be held between October 1
and March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split
into 3 segments.
Vermont
Lake Champlain Zone and Interior Zone: A 30-day season may be held
between October 10 and February 5, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
Connecticut River Zone: A 60-day season may be held between October
1 and January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
Virginia
SJBP Zone: A 40-day season may be held between November 15 and
January 14, with a 3-bird daily bag limit. Additionally, a special late
season may be held between January 15 and February 15, with a 5-bird
daily bag limit.
AP Zone: A 30-day season may be held between November 15 and
February 5, with a 1-bird daily bag limit.
RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between November 15 and March
10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3
segments.
West Virginia
An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and March 10, with a
5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 3 segments in each
zone.
Light Geese
Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: States may select a 107-
day season between October 1 and March 10, with a 25-bird daily bag
limit and no possession limit. States may split their seasons into 3
segments.
Brant
Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: States may select a
season between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21) and
January 31. States may split their seasons into two segments. The
season length and daily bag limit will be based on the upcoming Mid-
Winter Survey results and the Atlantic Flyway Council's Atlantic brant
harvest strategy.
Mississippi Flyway
Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots
Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September
21) and January 31.
Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: The season may not exceed 60 days,
with a daily bag limit of 6 ducks, including no more than 4 mallards
(no more than 2 of which may be females), 1 mottled duck, 2 black
ducks, 1 pintail, 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 3 scaup, and 2 redheads.
Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit is 5, only 2 of which may be
hooded mergansers. In States that include mergansers in the duck bag
limit, the daily limit is the same as the duck bag limit, only 2 of
which may be hooded mergansers.
Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
Zoning and Split Seasons: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and
Wisconsin may select hunting seasons by zones.
In Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota,
Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, the season may be split into
two segments in each zone.
In Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi, the season may be split into
3 segments.
Geese
Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits
Canada Geese: States may select seasons for Canada geese not to
exceed 107 days with a 5-bird daily bag limit during September 1-30,
and a 3-bird daily bag limit for the remainder of the season. Seasons
may be held between September 1 and February 15, and may be split into
4 segments.
White-fronted Geese and Brant: Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana,
Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, and Tennessee may select a season for
white-fronted geese not to exceed 74 days with 3 geese daily, or 88
days with 2 geese daily, or 107 days with 1 goose daily between
September 1 and February 15; Alabama, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin may select a season for white-fronted
geese not to exceed 107 days with 5 geese daily, in aggregate with dark
geese between September 1 and February 15. States may select a season
for brant not to exceed 70 days with 2 brant daily, or 107 days with 1
brant daily with outside dates the same as for Canada geese;
alternately, States may include brant in an aggregate goose bag limit
with either Canada geese, white-fronted geese, or dark geese.
Light Geese: States may select seasons for light geese not to
exceed 107 days, with 20 geese daily between September 1 and February
15. There is no possession limit for light geese.
Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except that
during September 1-15 shooting hours may extend to one-half hour after
sunset for Canada geese if all other waterfowl and crane seasons are
closed in the specific applicable area.
Split Seasons: Seasons for geese may be split into four segments
unless otherwise indicated.
Central Flyway
Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots
Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September
21) and January 31.
Hunting Seasons
High Plains Mallard Management Unit (roughly defined as that
portion of the Central Flyway that lies west of the 100th meridian): 97
days. The last 23 days must run consecutively and may start no earlier
than the Saturday nearest December 10 (December 7).
Remainder of the Central Flyway: 74 days.
Duck Limits: The daily bag limit is 6 ducks, with species and sex
restrictions as follows: 5 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be
females), 3 scaup, 2 redheads, 3 wood ducks, 1 pintail, and 2
canvasbacks. In Texas, the daily bag limit on mottled ducks is 1,
except that no mottled ducks may be taken during the first 5 days of
the season. In addition to the daily limits listed above, the States of
Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, in lieu of selecting
an experimental September teal season, may include an additional daily
bag and possession limit of 2 and 6 blue-winged teal, respectively,
during the first 16 days of the regular duck season in each respective
duck hunting zone. These extra limits are in addition to the regular
duck bag and possession limits.
Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit is 5 mergansers, only 2 of
which may be hooded mergansers. In States that include mergansers in
the duck daily bag limit, the daily limit may be the same as the duck
bag limit, only two of which may be hooded mergansers.
Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
Zoning and Split Seasons: Colorado, Kansas (Low Plains portion),
Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma (Low Plains portion), South
Dakota (Low
[[Page 16165]]
Plains portion), Texas (Low Plains portion), and Wyoming may select
hunting seasons by zones.
In Colorado, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma,
South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, the regular season may be split into
two segments.
Geese
Special Early Canada Goose Seasons: In Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma,
South Dakota, and Texas, Canada goose seasons of up to 30 days during
September 1-30 may be selected. In Colorado, New Mexico, Montana, and
Wyoming, Canada goose seasons of up to 15 days during September 1-15
may be selected. In North Dakota, Canada goose seasons of up to 22 days
during September 1-22 may be selected. The daily bag limit may not
exceed 5 Canada geese, except in Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, where
the daily bag limit may not exceed 8 Canada geese, and in North Dakota
and South Dakota, where the daily bag limit may not exceed 15 Canada
geese. Areas open to the hunting of Canada geese must be described,
delineated, and designated as such in each State's hunting regulations.
Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except that
during September 1-15 shooting hours may extend to one-half hour after
sunset if all other waterfowl and crane seasons are closed in the
specific applicable area.
Regular Goose Seasons
Split Seasons: Seasons for geese may be split into 3 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 21) and
the Sunday nearest February 15 (February 16). For light geese, outside
dates for seasons may be selected between the Saturday nearest
September 24 (September 21) and March 10. In the Rainwater Basin Light
Goose Area (East and West) of Nebraska, temporal and spatial
restrictions that are consistent with the late-winter snow goose
hunting strategy cooperatively developed by the Central Flyway Council
and the Service are required.
Season Lengths and Limits
Light Geese: States may select a light goose season not to exceed
107 days. The daily bag limit for light geese is 50 with no possession
limit.
Dark Geese: In Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South
Dakota, and the Eastern Goose Zone of Texas, States may select a season
for Canada geese (or any other dark goose species except white-fronted
geese) not to exceed 107 days with a daily bag limit of 8. For white-
fronted geese, these States may select either a season of 74 days with
a bag limit of 3, or an 88-day season with a bag limit of 2, or a
season of 107 days with a bag limit of 1.
In Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming, States may select
seasons not to exceed 107 days. The daily bag limit for dark geese is 5
in the aggregate.
In the Western Goose Zone of Texas, the season may not exceed 95
days. The daily bag limit for Canada geese (or any other dark goose
species except white-fronted geese) is 5. The daily bag limit for
white-fronted geese is 2.
Pacific Flyway
Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots
Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September
21) and January 31.
Hunting Seasons and Duck and Merganser Limits: 107 days. The daily
bag limit is 7 ducks and mergansers, including no more than 2 female
mallards, 1 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, 3 scaup, and 2 redheads. For scaup,
the season length is 86 days, which may be split according to
applicable zones and split duck hunting configurations approved for
each State.
Coot, Common Moorhen, and Purple Gallinule Limits: The daily bag
limit of coots, common moorhens, and purple gallinules is 25, singly or
in the aggregate.
Zoning and Split Seasons: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho,
Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming may select hunting
seasons by zones and may split their seasons into 2 segments.
Montana and New Mexico may split their seasons into 3 segments.
Colorado River Zone, California: Seasons and limits should be the
same as seasons and limits selected in the adjacent portion of Arizona
(South Zone).
Geese
Special Early Canada Goose Seasons
A Canada goose season of up to 15 days during September 1-20 may be
selected. The daily bag limit may not exceed 5 Canada geese, except in
Pacific County, Washington, where the daily bag limit may not exceed 15
Canada geese. Areas open to hunting of Canada geese in each State must
be described, delineated, and designated as such in each State's
hunting regulations.
Regular Goose Seasons
Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits
Canada Geese and Brant: Except as subsequently noted, 107-day
seasons may be selected with outside dates between the Saturday nearest
September 24 (September 21) and the last Sunday in January (January
26). In Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah,
and Wyoming, the daily bag limit is 4 Canada geese and brant in the
aggregate. In California, Oregon, and Washington, the daily bag limit
is 4 Canada geese. For brant, in California, Oregon and Washington, the
season lengths and daily bag limits will be based on the upcoming
Winter Brant Survey results and the Pacific brant harvest strategy.
Days must be consecutive. Washington and California may select hunting
seasons for up to 2 zones. The daily bag limit is 2 brant and is in
addition to other goose limits. In Oregon and California, the brant
season must end no later than December 15.
White-fronted Geese: Except as subsequently noted, 107-day seasons
may be selected with outside dates between the Saturday nearest
September 24 (September 21) and March 10. The daily bag limit is 10.
Light Geese: Except as subsequently noted, 107-day seasons may be
selected with outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24
(September 21) and March 10. The daily bag limit is 20.
Split Seasons: Unless otherwise specified, seasons for geese may be
split into up to 3 segments. Three-way split seasons for Canada geese
and white-fronted geese require Pacific Flyway Council and U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service approval and a 3-year evaluation by each
participating State.
California
The daily bag limit for Canada geese is 10.
Balance of State Zone: A Canada goose season may be selected with
outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21)
and March 10. In the Sacramento Valley Special Management Area, the
season on white-fronted geese must end on or before December 28, and
the daily bag limit is 3 white-fronted geese. In the North Coast
Special Management Area, hunting days that occur after the last Sunday
in January (January 26) should be concurrent with Oregon's South Coast
Zone.
Northeastern Zone: The white-fronted goose season may be split into
3 segments.
[[Page 16166]]
Oregon
The daily bag limit for light geese is 6 on or before the last
Sunday in January (January 26).
Harney and Lake County Zone: For Lake County only, the daily white-
fronted goose bag limit is 1.
Northwest Permit Zone: A Canada goose season may be selected with
outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21)
and March 10. Goose seasons may be split into 3 segments. The daily bag
limits of Canada geese and light geese are 6 each. In the Tillamook
County Management Area, the hunting season is closed on geese.
South Coast Zone: A Canada goose season may be selected with
outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 21)
and March 10. The daily bag limit of Canada geese is 6. Hunting days
that occur after the last Sunday in January (January 26) should be
concurrent with California's North Coast Special Management Area. Goose
seasons may be split into 3 segments.
Utah
A Canada goose and brant season may be selected in the Wasatch
Front Zone with outside dates between the Saturday nearest September 24
(September 21) and the first Sunday in February (February 2).
Washington
The daily bag limit for light geese is 6.
Areas 2 Inland and 2 Coastal (Southwest Permit Zone): A Canada
goose season may be selected with outside dates between the Saturday
nearest September 24 (September 21) and March 10. Goose seasons may be
split into 3 segments.
Area 4: Goose seasons may be split into 3 segments.
Permit Zones
In Oregon and Washington permit zones, the hunting season is closed
on dusky Canada geese. A dusky Canada goose is any dark-breasted Canada
goose (Munsell 10 YR color value 5 or less) with a bill length between
40 and 50 millimeters. Hunting of geese will only be by hunters
possessing a State-issued permit authorizing them to do so. Shooting
hours for geese may begin no earlier than sunrise. Regular Canada goose
seasons in the permit zones of Oregon and Washington remain subject to
the Memorandum of Understanding entered into with the Service regarding
monitoring the impacts of take during the regular Canada goose season
on the dusky Canada goose population.
Swans
In portions of the Pacific Flyway (Montana, Nevada, and Utah), an
open season for taking a limited number of swans may be selected. These
seasons are also subject to the following conditions:
Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September
21) and January 31.
Hunting Seasons: Seasons may not exceed 107 days in the designated
portions of Montana, Utah, and Nevada.
Permits: Swan hunting is by permit only. Permits will be issued by
the State and will authorize each permittee to take no more than 1 swan
per season with each permit. Only 1 permit may be issued per hunter in
Montana and Utah, 2 permits may be issued per hunter in Nevada. The
total number of permits issued may not exceed 500 in Montana, 2,750 in
Utah, and 650 in Nevada.
Quotas: The swan season in the respective State must end upon
attainment of the following reported harvest of trumpeter swans: 20 in
Utah and 10 in Nevada. There is no quota in Montana.
Monitoring: Each State must evaluate hunter participation, species-
specific swan harvest, and hunter compliance in providing either
species-determinant parts (at least the intact head) or bill
measurements (bill length from tip to posterior edge of the nares
opening, and presence or absence of yellow lore spots on the bill in
front of the eyes) of harvested swans for species identification. Each
State should use appropriate measures to maximize hunter compliance
with the State's program for swan harvest reporting. Each State must
achieve a hunter compliance of at least 80 percent in providing
species-determinant parts or bill measurements of harvested swans for
species identification or subsequent permits will be reduced by 10
percent in the respective State. Each State must provide to the Service
by June 30 following the swan season a report detailing hunter
participation, species-specific swan harvest, and hunter compliance in
reporting harvest. In Montana, all hunters that harvest a swan must
complete and submit a reporting card (bill card) with the bill
measurement and color information from the harvested swan within 72
hours of harvest for species determination. In Utah and Nevada, all
hunters that harvest a swan must have the swan or species-determinant
parts examined by a State or Federal biologist within 72 hours of
harvest for species determination.
Other Provisions: In Utah, the season is subject to the terms of
the Memorandum of Agreement entered into with the Service in January
2019 regarding harvest monitoring, season closure procedures, and
education requirements to minimize take of trumpeter swans during the
swan season.
Tundra Swans
In portions of the Atlantic Flyway (Delaware, North Carolina, and
Virginia) and the Central Flyway (North Dakota, South Dakota [east of
the Missouri River], and that portion of Montana in the Central
Flyway), an open season for taking a limited number of tundra swans may
be selected. Permits will be issued by the States that authorize the
take of no more than 1 tundra swan per permit. A second permit may be
issued to hunters from unused permits remaining after the first
drawing. The States must obtain harvest and hunter participation data.
These seasons are also subject to the following conditions:
In the Atlantic Flyway
--The season may be 90 days, between October 1 and January 31.
--In Delaware, no more than 84 permits may be issued. The season is
experimental.
--In North Carolina, no more than 6,115 permits may be issued.
--In Virginia, no more than 801 permits may be issued.
In the Central Flyway
--The season may be 107 days, between the Saturday nearest October 1
(September 28) and January 31.
--In the Central Flyway portion of Montana, no more than 625 permits
may be issued.
--In North Dakota, no more than 2,500 permits may be issued.
--In South Dakota, no more than 1,875 permits may be issued.
Sandhill Cranes
Regular Seasons in the Mississippi Flyway
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and February 28 in Minnesota,
and between September 1 and January 31 in Alabama, Kentucky and
Tennessee.
Hunting Seasons: A season not to exceed 37 consecutive days may be
selected in the designated portion of northwestern Minnesota (Northwest
Goose Zone), and a season not to exceed 60 consecutive days in Alabama,
Kentucky, and Tennessee. The season in Alabama is experimental.
Daily Bag Limit: 1 sandhill crane in Minnesota, 2 sandhill cranes
in Kentucky, and 3 sandhill cranes in
[[Page 16167]]
Alabama and Tennessee. In Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee, the
seasonal bag limit is 3 sandhill cranes.
Permits: Each person participating in the regular sandhill crane
seasons must have a valid Federal or State sandhill crane hunting
permit.
Other Provisions: The number of permits (where applicable), open
areas, season dates, protection plans for other species, and other
provisions of seasons must be consistent with the management plans and
approved by the Mississippi Flyway Council.
Regular Seasons in the Central Flyway
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and February 28.
Hunting Seasons: Seasons not to exceed 37 consecutive days may be
selected in designated portions of Texas (Area 2). Seasons not to
exceed 58 consecutive days may be selected in designated portions of
the following States: Colorado, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, South
Dakota, and Wyoming. Seasons not to exceed 93 consecutive days may be
selected in designated portions of the following States: New Mexico,
Oklahoma, and Texas.
Daily Bag Limits: 3 sandhill cranes, except 2 sandhill cranes in
designated portions of North Dakota (Area 2) and Texas (Area 2).
Permits: Each person participating in the regular sandhill crane
season must have a valid Federal or State sandhill crane hunting
permit.
Special Seasons in the Central and Pacific Flyways
Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming
may select seasons for hunting sandhill cranes within the range of the
Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) of sandhill cranes subject to the
following conditions:
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 31.
Hunting Seasons: The season in any State or zone may not exceed 60
days, and may be split into no more than 3 segments.
Bag Limits: Not to exceed 3 daily and 9 per season.
Permits: Participants must have a valid permit, issued by the
appropriate State, in their possession while hunting.
Other Provisions: Numbers of permits, open areas, season dates,
protection plans for other species, and other provisions of seasons
must be consistent with the management plan and approved by the Central
and Pacific Flyway Councils, with the following exceptions:
A. In Utah, 100 percent of the harvest will be assigned to the RMP
crane quota;
B. In Arizona, monitoring the racial composition of the harvest
must be conducted at 3-year intervals unless 100 percent of the harvest
will be assigned to the RMP crane quota;
C. In Idaho, 100 percent of the harvest will be assigned to the RMP
crane quota; and
D. In New Mexico, the season in the Estancia Valley is
experimental, with a requirement to monitor the level and racial
composition of the harvest; greater sandhill cranes in the harvest will
be assigned to the RMP crane quota.
Common Moorhens and Purple Gallinules
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and the last Sunday in January
(January 26) in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways. States
in the Pacific Flyway may select their hunting seasons between the
outside dates for the season on ducks, mergansers, and coots;
therefore, Pacific Flyway frameworks for common moorhens and purple
gallinules are included with the duck, merganser, and coot frameworks.
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Seasons may not exceed 70
days in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways. Seasons may be
split into 2 segments. The daily bag limit is 15 common moorhens and
purple gallinules, singly or in the aggregate of the two species.
Zoning: Seasons may be selected by zones established for duck
hunting.
Rails
Outside Dates: States included herein may select seasons between
September 1 and the last Sunday in January (January 26) on clapper,
king, sora, and Virginia rails.
Hunting Seasons: Seasons may not exceed 70 days, and may be split
into 2 segments.
Daily Bag Limits
Clapper and King Rails: In Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New
Jersey, and Rhode Island, 10, singly or in the aggregate of the two
species. In Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia, 15, singly or in the
aggregate of the two species.
Sora and Virginia Rails: In the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central
Flyways and the Pacific Flyway portions of Colorado, Montana, New
Mexico, and Wyoming, 25 rails, singly or in the aggregate of the two
species. The season is closed in the remainder of the Pacific Flyway.
Snipe
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and February 28, except in
Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia, where the
season must end no later than January 31.
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Seasons may not exceed 107
days and may be split into 2 segments. The daily bag limit is 8 snipe.
Zoning: Seasons may be selected by zones established for duck
hunting.
American Woodcock
Outside Dates: States in the Eastern Management Region may select
hunting seasons between October 1 and January 31. States in the Central
Management Region may select hunting seasons between the Saturday
nearest September 22 (September 21) and January 31.
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Seasons may not exceed 45
days in the Eastern and Central Regions. The daily bag limit is 3.
Seasons may be split into 2 segments.
Zoning: New Jersey may select seasons in each of two zones. The
season in each zone may not exceed 36 days.
Band-Tailed Pigeons
Pacific Coast States (California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada)
Outside Dates: Between September 15 and January 1.
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 9 consecutive
days, with a daily bag limit of 2.
Zoning: California may select hunting seasons not to exceed 9
consecutive days in each of 2 zones. The season in the North Zone must
close by October 3.
Four-Corners States (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah)
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and November 30.
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 14 consecutive
days, with a daily bag limit of 2.
Zoning: New Mexico may select hunting seasons not to exceed 14
consecutive days in each of 2 zones. The season in the South Zone may
not open until October 1.
Doves
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 31 in the Eastern
Management Unit, and between September 1 and January 15 in the Central
and Western Management Units, except as otherwise provided, States
[[Page 16168]]
may select hunting seasons and daily bag limits as follows:
Eastern Management Unit
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 90 days, with a
daily bag limit of 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate.
Zoning and Split Seasons: States may select hunting seasons in each
of 2 zones. The season within each zone may be split into not more than
3 segments. Regulations for bag and possession limits, season length,
and shooting hours must be uniform within specific hunting zones.
Central Management Unit
For all States Except Texas
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 90 days, with a
daily bag limit of 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate.
Zoning and Split Seasons: States may select hunting seasons in each
of 2 zones. The season within each zone may be split into not more than
3 segments.
Texas
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 90 days, with a
daily bag limit of 15 mourning, white-winged, and white-tipped doves in
the aggregate, of which no more than 2 may be white-tipped doves.
Zoning and Split Seasons: Texas may select hunting seasons for each
of 3 zones subject to the following conditions:
A. The hunting season may be split into not more than 2 segments,
except in that portion of Texas in which the special white-winged dove
season is allowed, where a limited take of mourning and white-tipped
doves may also occur during that special season (see Special White-
winged Dove Area in Texas).
B. A season may be selected for the North and Central Zones between
September 1 and January 25; and for the South Zone between September 14
and January 25.
C. Except as noted above, regulations for bag and possession
limits, season length, and shooting hours must be uniform within each
hunting zone.
Special White-Winged Dove Area in Texas
In addition, Texas may select a hunting season of not more than 4
days for the Special White-winged Dove Area of the South Zone between
September 1 and September 19. The daily bag limit may not exceed 15
white-winged, mourning, and white-tipped doves in the aggregate, of
which no more than 2 may be mourning doves and no more than 2 may be
white-tipped doves.
Western Management Unit
Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits
Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington: Not more than 60 days,
which may be split between 2 segments. The daily bag limit is 15
mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate.
Arizona and California: Not more than 60 days, which may be split
between 2 segments, September 1-15 and November 1-January 15. In
Arizona, during the first segment of the season, the daily bag limit is
15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate, of which no more
than 10 could be white-winged doves. During the remainder of the
season, the daily bag limit is 15 mourning doves. In California, the
daily bag limit is 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate,
of which no more than 10 could be white-winged doves.
Alaska
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 26.
Hunting Seasons: Alaska may select 107 consecutive days for
waterfowl (except brant), sandhill cranes, and common snipe concurrent
in each of 5 zones. The season length for brant will be determined
based on the upcoming brant winter survey results and the Pacific brant
harvest strategy. The season may be split without penalty in the Kodiak
Zone.
Closures: The hunting season is closed on spectacled eiders and
Steller's eiders.
Daily Bag and Possession Limits
Ducks: Except as noted, a basic daily bag limit of 7 ducks. Daily
bag limits in the North Zone are 10, and in the Gulf Coast Zone, they
are 8. The basic limits may include no more than 2 canvasbacks daily
and may not include sea ducks.
In addition to the basic duck limits, Alaska may select sea duck
limits of 10 daily, singly or in the aggregate, including no more than
6 each of either harlequin or long-tailed ducks. Sea ducks include
scoters, common and king eiders, harlequin ducks, long-tailed ducks,
and common and red-breasted mergansers.
Light Geese: The daily bag limit is 6.
Canada Geese: The daily bag limit is 4 with the following
exceptions:
A. In Units 5 and 6, the taking of Canada geese is permitted from
September 28 through December 16.
B. On Middleton Island in Unit 6, a special, permit-only Canada
goose season may be offered. A mandatory goose identification class is
required. Hunters must check in and check out. The bag limit is 1 daily
and 1 in possession. The season will close if incidental harvest
includes 5 dusky Canada geese. A dusky Canada goose is any dark-
breasted Canada goose (Munsell 10 YR color value 5 or less) with a bill
length between 40 and 50 millimeters.
C. In Units 9, 10, 17, and 18, the daily bag limit is 6 Canada
geese.
White-fronted Geese: The daily bag limit is 4 with the following
exceptions:
A. In Units 9, 10, and 17, the daily bag limit is 6 white-fronted
geese.
B. In Unit 18, the daily bag limit is 10 white-fronted geese.
Emperor Geese: Open seasons for emperor geese may be selected
subject to the following conditions:
A. All seasons are by permit only.
B. No more than 1 emperor goose may be harvested per hunter per
season.
C. Total harvest may not exceed 1,000 emperor geese.
D. In State Game Management Unit 8, the Kodiak Island Road Area is
closed to hunting. The Kodiak Island Road Area consists of all lands
and water (including exposed tidelands) east of a line extending from
Crag Point in the north to the west end of Saltery Cove in the south
and all lands and water south of a line extending from Termination
Point along the north side of Cascade Lake extending to Anton Larsen
Bay. Marine waters adjacent to the closed area are closed to harvest
within 500 feet from the water's edge. The offshore islands are open to
harvest, for example: Woody, Long, Gull, and Puffin islands.
Brant: The daily bag limit will be determined based on the upcoming
brant winter survey results and the Pacific brant harvest strategy.
Snipe: The daily bag limit is 8.
Sandhill Cranes: The daily bag limit is 2 in the Southeast, Gulf
Coast, Kodiak, and Aleutian Zones, and Unit 17 in the North Zone. In
the remainder of the North Zone (outside Unit 17), the daily bag limit
is 3.
Tundra Swans: Open seasons for tundra swans may be selected subject
to the following conditions:
A. All seasons are by permit only.
B. All season framework dates are September 1-October 31.
C. In Unit 17, no more than 200 permits may be issued during this
operational season. No more than 3 tundra swans may be authorized per
permit, with no more than 1 permit issued per hunter per season.
D. In Unit 18, no more than 500 permits may be issued during the
operational season. No more than 3 tundra swans may be authorized per
[[Page 16169]]
permit. No more than 1 permit may be issued per hunter per season.
E. In Unit 22, no more than 300 permits may be issued during the
operational season. No more than 3 tundra swans may be authorized per
permit. No more than 1 permit may be issued per hunter per season.
F. In Unit 23, no more than 300 permits may be issued during the
operational season. No more than 3 tundra swans may be authorized per
permit. No more than 1 permit may be issued per hunter per season.
Hawaii
Outside Dates: Between October 1 and January 31.
Hunting Seasons: Not more than 65 days (75 under the alternative)
for mourning doves.
Bag Limits: Not to exceed 15 (12 under the alternative) mourning
doves.
Note: Mourning doves may be taken in Hawaii in accordance with
shooting hours and other regulations set by the State of Hawaii, and
subject to the applicable provisions of 50 CFR part 20.
Puerto Rico
Doves and Pigeons
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 15.
Hunting Seasons: Not more than 60 days.
Daily Bag and Possession Limits: Not to exceed 20 Zenaida,
mourning, and white-winged doves in the aggregate, of which not more
than 10 may be Zenaida doves and 3 may be mourning doves. Not to exceed
5 scaly-naped pigeons.
Closed Seasons: The season is closed on the white-crowned pigeon
and the plain pigeon, which are protected by the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico.
Closed Areas: There is no open season on doves or pigeons in the
following areas: Municipality of Culebra, Desecheo Island, Mona Island,
El Verde Closure Area, and Cidra Municipality and adjacent areas.
Ducks, Coots, Moorhens, Gallinules, and Snipe
Outside Dates: Between October 1 and January 31.
Hunting Seasons: Not more than 55 days may be selected for hunting
ducks, common moorhens, and common snipe. The season may be split into
2 segments.
Daily Bag Limits
Ducks: Not to exceed 6 ducks.
Common Moorhens: Not to exceed 6 moorhens.
Common Snipe: Not to exceed 8 snipe.
Closed Seasons: The season is closed on the ruddy duck, white-
cheeked pintail, West Indian whistling duck, fulvous whistling duck,
and masked duck, which are protected by the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico. The season also is closed on the purple gallinule, American coot,
and Caribbean coot.
Closed Areas: There is no open season on ducks, common moorhens,
and common snipe in the Municipality of Culebra and on Desecheo Island.
Virgin Islands
Doves and Pigeons
Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 15.
Hunting Seasons: Not more than 60 consecutive days.
Daily Bag and Possession Limits: Not to exceed 10 Zenaida doves.
Closed Seasons: No open season is prescribed for ground or quail
doves or pigeons.
Closed Areas: There is no open season for migratory game birds on
Ruth Cay (just south of St. Croix).
Local Names for Certain Birds: Zenaida dove, also known as mountain
dove; bridled quail-dove, also known as Barbary dove or partridge;
common ground-dove, also known as stone dove, tobacco dove, rola, or
tortolita; scaly-naped pigeon, also known as red-necked or scaled
pigeon.
Ducks
Outside Dates: Between December 1 and January 31.
Hunting Seasons: Not more than 55 consecutive days.
Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 6 ducks.
Closed Seasons: The season is closed on the ruddy duck, white-
cheeked pintail, West Indian whistling duck, fulvous whistling duck,
and masked duck.
Special Falconry Regulations
In accordance with 50 CFR 21.29, falconry is a permitted means of
taking migratory game birds in any State except for Hawaii. States may
select an extended season for taking migratory game birds in accordance
with the following:
Extended Seasons: For all hunting methods combined, the combined
length of the extended season, regular season, and any special or
experimental seasons must not exceed 107 days for any species or group
of species in a geographical area. Each extended season may be divided
into a maximum of 3 segments.
Framework Dates: Seasons must fall between September 1 and March
10.
Daily Bag Limits: Falconry daily bag limits for all permitted
migratory game birds must not exceed 3 birds, singly or in the
aggregate, during extended falconry seasons, any special or
experimental seasons, and regular hunting seasons in all States,
including those that do not select an extended falconry season.
Regular Seasons: General hunting regulations, including seasons and
hunting hours, apply to falconry. Regular season bag limits do not
apply to falconry. The falconry bag limit is not in addition to gun
limits.
Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions
Ducks (Including Mergansers) and Coots
Atlantic Flyway
Connecticut
North Zone: That portion of the State north of I-95.
South Zone: Remainder of the State.
Maine
North Zone: That portion north of the line extending east along
Maine State Highway 110 from the New Hampshire-Maine State line to the
intersection of Maine State Highway 11 in Newfield; then north and east
along Route 11 to the intersection of U.S. Route 202 in Auburn; then
north and east on Route 202 to the intersection of I-95 in Augusta;
then north and east along I-95 to Route 15 in Bangor; then east along
Route 15 to Route 9; then east along Route 9 to Stony Brook in
Baileyville; then east along Stony Brook to the U.S. border.
Coastal Zone: That portion south of a line extending east from the
Maine-New Brunswick border in Calais at the Route 1 Bridge; then south
along Route 1 to the Maine-New Hampshire border in Kittery.
South Zone: Remainder of the State.
Maryland
Special Teal Season Area: Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester,
Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico,
and Worcester Counties; that part of Anne Arundel County east of
Interstate 895, Interstate 97, and Route 3; that part of Prince
George's County east of Route 3 and Route 301; and that part of Charles
County east of Route 301 to the Virginia State Line.
Massachusetts
Western Zone: That portion of the State west of a line extending
south from the Vermont State line on I-91 to MA 9, west on MA 9 to MA
10, south on MA 10 to U.S. 202, south on U.S. 202 to the Connecticut
State line.
Central Zone: That portion of the State east of the Berkshire Zone
and
[[Page 16170]]
west of a line extending south from the New Hampshire State line on I-
95 to U.S. 1, south on U.S. 1 to I-93, south on I-93 to MA 3, south on
MA 3 to U.S. 6, west on U.S. 6 to MA 28, west on MA 28 to I-195, west
to the Rhode Island State line; except the waters, and the lands 150
yards inland from the high-water mark, of the Assonet River upstream to
the MA 24 bridge, and the Taunton River upstream to the Center St.-Elm
St. bridge shall be in the Coastal Zone.
Coastal Zone: That portion of Massachusetts east and south of the
Central Zone.
New Hampshire
Northern Zone: That portion of the State east and north of the
Inland Zone beginning at the Jct. of Rte. 10 and Rte. 25-A in Orford,
east on Rte. 25-A to Rte. 25 in Wentworth, southeast on Rte. 25 to Exit
26 of Rte. I-93 in Plymouth, south on Rte. I-93 to Rte. 3 at Exit 24 of
Rte. I-93 in Ashland, northeast on Rte. 3 to Rte. 113 in Holderness,
north on Rte. 113 to Rte. 113-A in Sandwich, north on Rte. 113-A to
Rte. 113 in Tamworth, east on Rte. 113 to Rte. 16 in Chocorua, north on
Rte. 16 to Rte. 302 in Conway, east on Rte. 302 to the Maine-New
Hampshire border.
Inland Zone: That portion of the State south and west of the
Northern Zone, west of the Coastal Zone, and includes the area of
Vermont and New Hampshire as described for hunting reciprocity. A
person holding a New Hampshire hunting license that allows the taking
of migratory waterfowl or a person holding a Vermont resident hunting
license that allows the taking of migratory waterfowl may take
migratory waterfowl and coots from the following designated area of the
Inland Zone: the State of Vermont east of Rte. I-91 at the
Massachusetts border, north on Rte. I-91 to Rte. 2, north on Rte. 2 to
Rte. 102, north on Rte. 102 to Rte. 253, and north on Rte. 253 to the
border with Canada and the area of New Hampshire west of Rte. 63 at the
Massachusetts border, north on Rte. 63 to Rte. 12, north on Rte. 12 to
Rte. 12-A, north on Rte. 12-A to Rte 10, north on Rte. 10 to Rte. 135,
north on Rte. 135 to Rte. 3, north on Rte. 3 to the intersection with
the Connecticut River.
Coastal Zone: That portion of the State east of a line beginning at
the Maine-New Hampshire border in Rollinsford, then extending to Rte. 4
west to the city of Dover, south to the intersection of Rte. 108, south
along Rte. 108 through Madbury, Durham, and Newmarket to the junction
of Rte. 85 in Newfields, south to Rte. 101 in Exeter, east to
Interstate 95 (New Hampshire Turnpike) in Hampton, and south to the
Massachusetts border.
New Jersey
Coastal Zone: That portion of the State seaward of a line beginning
at the New York State line in Raritan Bay and extending west along the
New York State line to NJ 440 at Perth Amboy; west on NJ 440 to the
Garden State Parkway; south on the Garden State Parkway to NJ 109;
south on NJ 109 to Cape May County Route 633 (Lafayette Street); south
on Lafayette Street to Jackson Street; south on Jackson Street to the
shoreline at Cape May; west along the shoreline of Cape May beach to
COLREGS Demarcation Line 80.503 at Cape May Point; south along COLREGS
Demarcation Line 80.503 to the Delaware State line in Delaware Bay.
North Zone: That portion of the State west of the Coastal Zone and
north of a line extending west from the Garden State Parkway on NJ 70
to the New Jersey Turnpike, north on the turnpike to U.S. 206, north on
U.S. 206 to U.S. 1 at Trenton, west on U.S. 1 to the Pennsylvania State
line in the Delaware River.
South Zone: That portion of the State not within the North Zone or
the Coastal Zone.
New York
Lake Champlain Zone: That area east and north of a continuous line
extending along U.S. 11 from the New York-Canada International boundary
south to NY 9B, south along NY 9B to U.S. 9, south along U.S. 9 to NY
22 south of Keesville; south along NY 22 to the west shore of South
Bay, along and around the shoreline of South Bay to NY 22 on the east
shore of South Bay; southeast along NY 22 to U.S. 4, northeast along
U.S. 4 to the Vermont State line.
Long Island Zone: That area consisting of Nassau County, Suffolk
County, that area of Westchester County southeast of I-95, and their
tidal waters.
Western Zone: That area west of a line extending from Lake Ontario
east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, and south along
I-81 to the Pennsylvania State line.
Northeastern Zone: That area north of a continuous line extending
from Lake Ontario east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-
81, south along I-81 to NY 31, east along NY 31 to NY 13, north along
NY 13 to NY 49, east along NY 49 to NY 365, east along NY 365 to NY 28,
east along NY 28 to NY 29, east along NY 29 to NY 22, north along NY 22
to Washington County Route 153, east along CR 153 to the New York-
Vermont boundary, exclusive of the Lake Champlain Zone.
Southeastern Zone: The remaining portion of New York.
Pennsylvania
Lake Erie Zone: The Lake Erie waters of Pennsylvania and a
shoreline margin along Lake Erie from New York on the east to Ohio on
the west extending 150 yards inland, but including all of Presque Isle
Peninsula.
Northwest Zone: The area bounded on the north by the Lake Erie Zone
and including all of Erie and Crawford Counties and those portions of
Mercer and Venango Counties north of I-80.
North Zone: That portion of the State east of the Northwest Zone
and north of a line extending east on I-80 to U.S. 220, Route 220 to I-
180, I-180 to I-80, and I-80 to the Delaware River.
South Zone: The remaining portion of Pennsylvania.
Vermont
Lake Champlain Zone: The U.S. portion of Lake Champlain and that
area north and west of the line extending from the New York border
along U.S. 4 to VT 22A at Fair Haven; VT 22A to U.S. 7 at Vergennes;
U.S. 7 to VT 78 at Swanton; VT 78 to VT 36; VT 36 to Maquam Bay on Lake
Champlain; along and around the shoreline of Maquam Bay and Hog Island
to VT 78 at the West Swanton Bridge; VT 78 to VT 2 in Alburg; VT 2 to
the Richelieu River in Alburg; along the east shore of the Richelieu
River to the Canadian border.
Interior Zone: That portion of Vermont east of the Lake Champlain
Zone and west of a line extending from the Massachusetts border at
Interstate 91; north along Interstate 91 to U.S. 2; east along U.S. 2
to VT 102; north along VT 102 to VT 253; north along VT 253 to the
Canadian border.
Connecticut River Zone: The remaining portion of Vermont east of
the Interior Zone.
Mississippi Flyway
Illinois
North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending
west from the Indiana border along Peotone-Beecher Road to Illinois
Route 50, south along Illinois Route 50 to Wilmington-Peotone Road,
west along Wilmington-Peotone Road to Illinois Route 53, north along
Illinois Route 53 to New River Road, northwest along New River Road to
Interstate Highway 55, south along I-55 to Pine Bluff-Lorenzo Road,
west along Pine Bluff-Lorenzo Road to Illinois Route 47, north along
Illinois Route 47 to I-80, west along I-80 to I-39, south along I-39 to
Illinois Route 18, west
[[Page 16171]]
along Illinois Route 18 to Illinois Route 29, south along Illinois
Route 29 to Illinois Route 17, west along Illinois Route 17 to the
Mississippi River, and due south across the Mississippi River to the
Iowa border.
Central Zone: That portion of the State south of the North Duck
Zone line to a line extending west from the Indiana border along I-70
to Illinois Route 4, south along Illinois Route 4 to Illinois Route
161, west along Illinois Route 161 to Illinois Route 158, south and
west along Illinois Route 158 to Illinois Route 159, south along
Illinois Route 159 to Illinois Route 3, south along Illinois Route 3 to
St. Leo's Road, south along St. Leo's Road to Modoc Road, west along
Modoc Road to Modoc Ferry Road, southwest along Modoc Ferry Road to
Levee Road, southeast along Levee Road to County Route 12 (Modoc Ferry
entrance Road), south along County Route 12 to the Modoc Ferry route
and southwest on the Modoc Ferry route across the Mississippi River to
the Missouri border.
South Zone: That portion of the State south and east of a line
extending west from the Indiana border along Interstate 70, south along
U.S. Highway 45, to Illinois Route 13, west along Illinois Route 13 to
Greenbriar Road, north on Greenbriar Road to Sycamore Road, west on
Sycamore Road to N. Reed Station Road, south on N. Reed Station Road to
Illinois Route 13, west along Illinois Route 13 to Illinois Route 127,
south along Illinois Route 127 to State Forest Road (1025 N), west
along State Forest Road to Illinois Route 3, north along Illinois Route
3 to the south bank of the Big Muddy River, west along the south bank
of the Big Muddy River to the Mississippi River, west across the
Mississippi River to the Missouri border.
South Central Zone: The remainder of the State between the south
border of the Central Zone and the North border of the South Zone.
Indiana
North Zone: That part of Indiana north of a line extending east
from the Illinois border along State Road 18 to U.S. 31; north along
U.S. 31 to U.S. 24; east along U.S. 24 to Huntington; southeast along
U.S. 224; south along State Road 5; and east along State Road 124 to
the Ohio border.
Central Zone: That part of Indiana south of the North Zone boundary
and north of the South Zone boundary.
South Zone: That part of Indiana south of a line extending east
from the Illinois border along I-70; east along National Ave.; east
along U.S. 150; south along U.S. 41; east along State Road 58; south
along State Road 37 to Bedford; and east along U.S. 50 to the Ohio
border.
Iowa
North Zone: That portion of Iowa north of a line beginning on the
South Dakota-Iowa border at Interstate 29, southeast along Interstate
29 to State Highway 175, east along State Highway 175 to State Highway
37, southeast along State Highway 37 to State Highway 183, northeast
along State Highway 183 to State Highway 141, east along State Highway
141 to U.S. Highway 30, and along U.S. Highway 30 to the Illinois
border.
Missouri River Zone: That portion of Iowa west of a line beginning
on the South Dakota-Iowa border at Interstate 29, southeast along
Interstate 29 to State Highway 175, and west along State Highway 175 to
the Iowa-Nebraska border.
South Zone: The remainder of Iowa.
Kentucky
West Zone: All counties west of and including Butler, Daviess,
Ohio, Simpson, and Warren Counties.
East Zone: The remainder of Kentucky.
Louisiana
East Zone: That area of the State between the Mississippi State
line and a line going south on Highway (Hwy) 79 from the Arkansas
border to Homer, then south on Hwy 9 to Arcadia, then south on Hwy 147
to Hodge, then south on Hwy 167 to Turkey Creek, then south on Hwy 13
to Eunice, then west on Hwy 190 to Kinder, then south on Hwy 165 to
Iowa, then west on I-10 to its junction with Hwy 14 at Lake Charles,
then south and east on Hwy 14 to its junction with Hwy 90 in New
Iberia, then east on Hwy 90 to the Mississippi State line.
West Zone: That area between the Texas State line and a line going
east on I-10 from the Texas border to Hwy 165 at Iowa, then north on
Hwy 165 to Kinder, then east on Hwy 190 to Eunice, then north on Hwy 13
to Turkey Creek, then north on Hwy 167 to Hodge, then north on Hwy 147
to Arcadia, then north on Hwy 9 to Homer, then north on Hwy 79 to the
Arkansas border.
Coastal Zone: Remainder of the State.
Michigan
North Zone: The Upper Peninsula.
Middle Zone: That portion of the Lower Peninsula north of a line
beginning at the 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 and east to State Highway 39 and east to the
Wisconsin State line at the Oliver Bridge.
South Duck Zone: The portion of the State south of a line extending
east from the South Dakota State line along U.S. Highway 212 to
Interstate 494 and east to Interstate 94 and east to the Wisconsin
State line.
Central Duck Zone: The remainder of the State.
Missouri
North Zone: That portion of Missouri north of a line running west
from the Illinois border at Lock and Dam 25; west on Lincoln County Hwy
N to MO Hwy 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 (Base Line Blvd.); west on Jasper County Hwy M (Base Line
Blvd.) to CRD 40 (Base Line Blvd.); west on CRD 40 (Base Line Blvd.) to
the Kansas border.
[[Page 16172]]
Ohio
Lake Erie Marsh Zone: Includes all land and water within the
boundaries of the area bordered by a line beginning at the intersection
of Interstate 75 at the Ohio-Michigan State line and continuing south
to Interstate 280, then south on I-280 to the Ohio Turnpike (I-80/I-
90), then east on the Ohio Turnpike to the Erie-Lorain County line,
then north to Lake Erie, then following the Lake Erie shoreline at a
distance of 200 yards offshore, then following the shoreline west
toward and around the northern tip of Cedar Point Amusement Park, then
continuing from the westernmost point of Cedar Point toward the
southernmost tip of the sand bar at the mouth of Sandusky Bay and out
into Lake Erie at a distance of 200 yards offshore continuing parallel
to the Lake Erie shoreline north and west toward the northernmost tip
of Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge, then following a direct line
toward the southernmost tip of Wood Tick Peninsula in Michigan to a
point that intersects the Ohio-Michigan State line, then following the
State line back to the point of the beginning.
North Zone: That portion of the State, excluding the Lake Erie
Marsh Zone, north of a line extending east from the Indiana State line
along U.S. Highway (U.S.) 33 to State Route (SR) 127, then south along
SR 127 to SR 703, then south along SR 703 and including all lands
within the Mercer Wildlife Area to SR 219, then east along SR 219 to SR
364, then north along SR 364 and including all lands within the St.
Mary's Fish Hatchery to SR 703, then east along SR 703 to SR 66, then
north along SR 66 to U.S. 33, then east along U.S. 33 to SR 385, then
east along SR 385 to SR 117, then south along SR 117 to SR 273, then
east along SR 273 to SR 31, then south along SR 31 to SR 739, then east
along SR 739 to SR 4, then north along SR 4 to SR 95, then east along
SR 95 to SR 13, then southeast along SR 13 to SR 3, then northeast
along SR 3 to SR 60, then north along SR 60 to U.S. 30, then east along
U.S. 30 to SR 3, then south along SR 3 to SR 226, then south along SR
226 to SR 514, then southwest along SR 514 to SR 754, then south along
SR 754 to SR 39/60, then east along SR 39/60 to SR 241, then north
along SR 241 to U.S. 30, then east along U.S. 30 to SR 39, then east
along SR 39 to the Pennsylvania State line.
South Zone: The remainder of Ohio not included in the Lake Erie
Marsh Zone or the North Zone.
Tennessee
Reelfoot Zone: All or portions of Lake and Obion Counties.
Remainder of State: That portion of Tennessee outside of the
Reelfoot Zone.
Wisconsin
North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending
east from the Minnesota State line along U.S. Highway 10 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.
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)
Special Teal Season Area: Lake and Chaffee Counties and that
portion of the State east of Interstate Highway 25.
Northeast Zone: All areas east of Interstate 25 and north of
Interstate 70.
Southeast Zone: All areas east of Interstate 25 and south of
Interstate 70, and all of El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano, and Las Animas
Counties.
Mountain/Foothills Zone: All areas west of Interstate 25 and east
of the Continental Divide, except El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano, and Las
Animas Counties.
Kansas
High Plains Zone: That portion of the State west of U.S. 283.
Low Plains Early Zone: That part of Kansas bounded by a line from
the Federal highway U.S.-283 and State highway 96 junction, then east
on State highway 96 to its junction with Federal highway U.S.-183, then
north on Federal highway U.S.-183 to its junction with Federal highway
U.S.-24, then east on Federal highway U.S.-24 to its junction with
Federal highway U.S.-281, then north on Federal highway U.S.-281 to its
junction with Federal highway U.S.-36, then east on Federal highway
U.S.-36 to its junction with State highway K-199, then south on State
highway K-199 to its junction with Republic County 30th Road, then
south on Republic County 30th Road to its junction with State highway
K-148, then east on State highway K-148 to its junction with Republic
County 50th Road, then south on Republic County 50th Road to its
junction with Cloud County 40th Road, then south on Cloud County 40th
Road to its junction with State highway K-9, then west on State highway
K-9 to its junction with Federal highway U.S.-24, then west on Federal
highway U.S.-24 to its junction with Federal highway U.S.-181, then
south on Federal highway U.S.-181 to its junction with State highway K-
18, then west on State highway K-18 to its junction with Federal
highway U.S.-281, then south on Federal highway U.S.-281 to its
junction with State highway K-4, then east on State highway K-4 to its
junction with interstate highway I-135, then south on interstate
highway I-135 to its junction with State highway K-61, then southwest
on State highway K-61 to its junction with McPherson County 14th
Avenue, then south on McPherson County 14th Avenue to its junction with
McPherson County Arapaho Rd, then west on McPherson County Arapaho Rd
to its junction with State highway K-61, then southwest on State
highway K-61 to its junction with State highway K-96, then northwest on
State highway K-96 to its junction with Federal highway U.S.-56, then
southwest on Federal highway U.S.-56 to its junction with State highway
K-19, then east on State highway K-19 to its junction with Federal
highway U.S.-281, then south on Federal highway U.S.-281 to its
junction with Federal highway U.S.-54, then west on Federal highway
U.S.-54 to its junction with Federal highway U.S.-183, then north on
Federal highway U.S.-183 to its junction with Federal highway U.S.-56,
then southwest on Federal highway U.S.-56 to its junction with North
Main Street in Spearville, then south on North Main Street to Davis
Street, then east on Davis Street to Ford County Road 126 (South
Stafford Street), then south on Ford County Road 126 to Garnett Road,
then east on Garnett Road to Ford County Road 126, then south on Ford
County Road 126 to Ford Spearville Road, then west on Ford Spearville
Road to its junction with Federal highway U.S.-400, then northwest on
Federal highway U.S.-400 to its junction with Federal highway U.S.-283,
and then north on Federal highway U.S.-283 to its junction with Federal
highway U.S.-96.
Low Plains Late Zone: That part of Kansas bounded by a line from
the Federal highway U.S.-283 and State highway 96 junction, then north
on
[[Page 16173]]
Federal highway U.S.-283 to the Kansas-Nebraska State line, then east
along the Kansas-Nebraska State line to its junction with the Kansas-
Missouri State line, then southeast along the Kansas-Missouri State
line to its junction with State highway K-68, then west on State
highway K-68 to its junction with interstate highway I-35, then
southwest on interstate highway I-35 to its junction with Butler County
NE 150th Street, then west on Butler County NE 150th Street to its
junction with Federal highway U.S.-77, then south on Federal highway
U.S.-77 to its junction with the Kansas-Oklahoma State line, then west
along the Kansas-Oklahoma State line to its junction with Federal
highway U.S.-283, then north on Federal highway U.S.-283 to its
junction with Federal highway U.S.-400, then east on Federal highway
U.S.-400 to its junction with Ford Spearville Road, then east on Ford
Spearville Road to Ford County Road 126 (South Stafford Street), then
north on Ford County Road 126 to Garnett Road, then west on Garnett
Road to Ford County Road 126, then north on Ford County Road 126 to
Davis Street, then west on Davis Street to North Main Street, then
north on North Main Street to its junction with Federal highway U.S.-
56, then east on Federal highway U.S.-56 to its junction with Federal
highway U.S.-183, then south on Federal highway U.S.-183 to its
junction with Federal highway U.S.-54, then east on Federal highway
U.S.-54 to its junction with Federal highway U.S.-281, then north on
Federal highway U.S.-281 to its junction with State highway K-19, then
west on State highway K-19 to its junction with Federal highway U.S.-
56, then east on Federal highway U.S.-56 to its junction with State
highway K-96, then southeast on State highway K-96 to its junction with
State highway K-61, then northeast on State highway K-61 to its
junction with McPherson County Arapaho Road, then east on McPherson
County Arapaho Road to its junction with McPherson County 14th Avenue,
then north on McPherson County 14th Avenue to its junction with State
highway K-61, then east on State highway K-61 to its junction with
interstate highway I-135, then north on interstate highway I-135 to its
junction with State highway K-4, then west on State highway K-4 to its
junction with Federal highway U.S.-281, then north on Federal highway
U.S.-281 to its junction with State highway K-18, then east on State
highway K-18 to its junction with Federal highway U.S.-181, then north
on Federal highway U.S.-181 to its junction with Federal highway U.S.-
24, then east on Federal highway U.S.-24 to its junction with State
highway K-9, then east on State highway K-9 to its junction with Cloud
County 40th Road, then north on Cloud County 40th Road to its junction
with Republic County 50th Road, then north on Republic County 50th Road
to its junction with State highway K-148, then west on State highway K-
148 to its junction with Republic County 30th Road, then north on
Republic County 30th Road to its junction with State highway K-199,
then north on State highway K-199 to its junction with Federal highway
U.S.-36, then west on Federal highway U.S.-36 to its junction with
Federal highway U.S.-281, then south on Federal highway U.S.-281 to its
junction with Federal highway U.S.-24, then west on Federal highway
U.S.-24 to its junction with Federal highway U.S.-183, then south on
Federal highway U.S.-183 to its junction with Federal highway U.S.-96,
and then west on Federal highway U.S.-96 to its junction with Federal
highway U.S.-283.
Southeast Zone: That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the
Missouri-Kansas State line west on K-68 to its junction with I-35, then
southwest on I-35 to its junction with Butler County, NE 150th Street,
then west on NE 150th Street to its junction with Federal highway U.S.-
77, then south on Federal highway U.S.-77 to the Oklahoma-Kansas State
line, then east along the Kansas-Oklahoma State line to its junction
with the Kansas-Missouri State line, then north along the Kansas-
Missouri State line to its junction with State highway K-68.
Montana (Central Flyway Portion)
Zone 1: The Counties of Blaine, Carter, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon,
Fergus, Garfield, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, McCone, Musselshell,
Petroleum, Phillips, Powder River, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan,
Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Valley, Wheatland, and Wibaux.
Zone 2: The Counties of Big Horn, Carbon, Custer, Prairie, Rosebud,
Treasure, and Yellowstone.
Nebraska
High Plains: That portion of Nebraska lying west of a line
beginning at the South Dakota-Nebraska border on U.S. Hwy 183; south on
U.S. Hwy 183 to U.S. Hwy 20; west on U.S. Hwy 20 to NE Hwy 7; south on
NE Hwy 7 to NE Hwy 91; southwest on NE Hwy 91 to NE Hwy 2; southeast on
NE Hwy 2 to NE Hwy 92; west on NE Hwy 92 to NE Hwy 40; south on NE Hwy
40 to NE Hwy 47; south on NE Hwy 47 to NE Hwy 23; east on NE Hwy 23 to
U.S. Hwy 283; and south on U.S. Hwy 283 to the Kansas-Nebraska border.
Zone 1: Area bounded by designated Federal and State highways and
political boundaries beginning at the South Dakota-Nebraska border west
of NE Hwy 26E Spur and north of NE Hwy 12; those portions of Dixon,
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.
Zone 2: The area south of Zone 1 and north of Zone 3.
Zone 3: Area bounded by designated Federal and State highways,
County roads, and political boundaries beginning at the Wyoming-
Nebraska border at the intersection of the Interstate Canal; east along
northern borders of Scotts Bluff and Morrill Counties to Broadwater
Road; south to Morrill County Rd 94; east to County Rd 135; south to
County Rd 88; southeast to County Rd 151; south to County Rd 80; east
to County Rd 161; south to County Rd 76; east to County Rd 165; south
to County Rd 167; south to U.S. Hwy 26; east to County Rd 171; north to
County Rd 68; east to County Rd 183; south to County Rd 64; east to
County Rd 189; north to County Rd 70; east to County Rd 201; south to
County Rd 60A; east to County Rd 203; south to County Rd 52; east to
Keith County Line; east along the northern boundaries of Keith and
Lincoln Counties to NE Hwy 97; south to U.S. Hwy 83; south to E Hall
School Rd; east to N Airport Road; south to U.S. Hwy 30; east to NE Hwy
47; north to Dawson County Rd 769; east to County Rd 423; south to
County Rd 766; east to County Rd 428; south to County Rd 763; east to
NE Hwy 21 (Adams Street); south to County Rd 761; east to the Dawson
County Canal; south and east along the Dawson County Canal to County Rd
444; south to U.S. Hwy 30; east to U.S. Hwy 183; north to Buffalo
County Rd 100; east to 46th Avenue; north to NE Hwy 40; south and east
to NE Hwy 10; north to Buffalo County Rd 220 and Hall County Husker
Hwy; east to Hall County Rd 70; north to NE Hwy 2; east to U.S. Hwy
281; north to Chapman Rd; east to 7th Rd; south to U.S. Hwy 30; east to
Merrick 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 Drive
443; north to Sargent Rd; west to NE Hwy S21A; west to NE Hwy 2; west
and north to NE Hwy 91;
[[Page 16174]]
north and east to North Loup Spur Rd; north to North Loup River Rd;
east to Pleasant Valley/Worth Rd; east to Loup County line; north to
Loup-Brown County line; east along northern boundaries of Loup and
Garfield Counties to Cedar River Rd; south to NE Hwy 70; east to U.S.
Hwy 281; north to NE Hwy 70; east to NE Hwy 14; south to NE Hwy 39;
southeast to NE Hwy 22; east to U.S. Hwy 81; southeast to U.S. Hwy 30;
east to U.S. Hwy 75; north to the Washington County line; east to the
Iowa-Nebraska border; south to the Missouri-Nebraska border; south to
Kansas-Nebraska border; west along Kansas-Nebraska border to Colorado-
Nebraska border; north and west to Wyoming-Nebraska border; north to
intersection of Interstate Canal; and excluding that area in Zone 4.
Zone 4: Area encompassed by designated Federal and State highways
and County roads beginning at the intersection of NE Hwy 8 and U.S. Hwy
75; north to U.S. Hwy 136; east to the intersection of U.S. Hwy 136 and
the Steamboat Trace (Trace); north along the Trace to the intersection
with Federal Levee R-562; north along Federal Levee R-562 to the
intersection with Nemaha County Rd 643A; south to the Trace; north
along the Trace/Burlington Northern Railroad right-of-way to NE Hwy 2;
west to U.S. Hwy 75; north to NE Hwy 2; west to NE Hwy 50; north to
U.S. Hwy 34; west to NE Hwy 63; north to NE Hwy 66; north and west to
U.S. Hwy 77; north to NE Hwy 92; west to NE Hwy Spur 12F; south to
Butler County Rd 30; east to County Rd X; south to County Rd 27; west
to County Rd W; south to County Rd 26; east to County Rd X; south to
County Rd 21 (Seward County Line); west to NE Hwy 15; north to County
Rd 34; west to County Rd H; south to NE Hwy 92; west to U.S. Hwy 81;
south to NE Hwy 66; west to Polk County Rd C; north to NE Hwy 92; west
to U.S. Hwy 30; west to Merrick County Rd 17; south to Hordlake Road;
southeast to Prairie Island Road; southeast to Hamilton County Rd T;
south to NE Hwy 66; west to NE Hwy 14; south to County Rd 22; west to
County Rd M; south to County Rd 21; west to County Rd K; south to U.S.
Hwy 34; west to NE Hwy 2; south to U.S. Hwy I-80; west to Gunbarrel Rd
(Hall/Hamilton County line); south to Giltner Rd; west to U.S. Hwy 281;
south to Lochland Rd; west to Holstein Avenue; south to U.S. Hwy 34;
west to NE Hwy 10; north to Kearney County Rd R and Phelps County Rd
742; west to U.S. Hwy 283; south to U.S. Hwy 34; east 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 NE Hwy 8; east to U.S. Hwy
81; north to NE Hwy 4; east to NE Hwy 15; south to U.S. Hwy 136; east
to Jefferson County Rd 578 Avenue; south to PWF Rd; east to NE Hwy 103;
south to NE Hwy 8; east to U.S. Hwy 75.
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 beginning at the junction of U.S. Hwy 83 and the South Dakota
State line, then north along U.S. Hwy 83 and I-94 to ND Hwy 41, then
north on ND Hwy 41 to ND Hwy 53, then west on ND Hwy 53 to U.S. Hwy 83,
then north on U.S. Hwy 83 to U.S. Hwy 2, then west on U.S. Hwy 2 to the
Williams County line, then north and west along the Williams and Divide
County lines to the Canadian border.
Low Plains 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: Big Horn, Converse, Goshen, Hot Springs, Natrona, Park,
Platte, and Washakie Counties; and Fremont County excluding the
portions west or south of the Continental Divide.
Zone C2: Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Niobrara, Sheridan, and Weston
Counties.
Zone C3: Albany and Laramie Counties; and that portion of Carbon
County east of the Continental Divide.
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: 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
[[Page 16175]]
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 from the intersection of Highway
95 with the California-Nevada State line; south on Highway 95 through
the junction with Highway 40; south on Highway 95 to Vidal Junction;
south through the town of Rice to the San Bernardino-Riverside County
line on a road known as ``Aqueduct Road'' also known as Highway 62 in
San Bernardino County; southwest on Highway 62 to Desert Center Rice
Road; south on Desert Center Rice Road/Highway 177 to the town of
Desert Center; east 31 miles on Interstate 10 to its intersection with
Wiley Well Road; south on Wiley Well Road to Wiley Well; southeast on
Milpitas Wash Road to the Blythe, Brawley, Davis Lake intersections;
south on Blythe Ogilby Road also known as County Highway 34 to its
intersection with Ogilby Road; south on Ogilby Road to its intersection
with Interstate 8; east 7 miles on Interstate 8 to its intersection
with the Andrade-Algodones Road/Highway 186; south on Highway 186 to
its intersection with the U.S. Mexico border at Los Algodones, Mexico.
Southern Zone: That portion of southern California (but excluding
the Colorado River zone) south and east of a line beginning at the
mouth of the Santa Maria River at the Pacific Ocean; east along the
Santa Maria River to where it crosses Highway 101-166 near the City of
Santa Maria; north on Highway 101-166; east on Highway 166 to the
junction with Highway 99; south on Highway 99 to the junction of
Interstate 5; south on Interstate 5 to the crest of the Tehachapi
Mountains at Tejon Pass; east and north along the crest of the
Tehachapi Mountains to where it intersects Highway 178 at Walker Pass;
east on Highway 178 to the junction of Highway 395 at the town of
Inyokern; south on Highway 395 to the junction of Highway 58; east on
Highway 58 to the junction of Interstate 15; east on Interstate 15 to
the junction with Highway 127; north on Highway 127 to the point of
intersection with the California-Nevada State line.
Southern San Joaquin Valley 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, Colorado River, Southern, and the Southern San
Joaquin Valley Zones.
Colorado (Pacific Flyway Portion)
Eastern Zone: Routt, Grand, Summit, Eagle, and Pitkin Counties,
those portions of Saguache, San Juan, Hinsdale, and Mineral Counties
west of the Continental Divide, those portions of Gunnison County
except the North Fork of the Gunnison River Valley (Game Management
Units 521, 53, and 63), and that portion of Moffat County east of the
northern intersection of Moffat County Road 29 with the Moffat-Routt
County line, south along Moffat County Road 29 to the intersection of
Moffat County Road 29 with the Moffat-Routt County line (Elkhead
Reservoir State Park).
Western Zone: All areas west of the Continental Divide not included
in the Eastern Zone.
Idaho
Zone 1: All lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian
Reservation, including private in-holdings; Bannock County; Bingham
County except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage;
Caribou County within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation; and Power
County east of State Highway 37 and State Highway 39.
Zone 2: Bear Lake, Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson,
Madison, and Teton Counties; Bingham County within the Blackfoot
Reservoir drainage; and Caribou County except within the Fort Hall
Indian Reservation.
Zone 3: Ada, Adams, Benewah, Blaine, Boise, Bonner, Boundary,
Camas, Canyon, Cassia, Clearwater, Custer, Elmore, Franklin, Gem,
Gooding, Idaho, Jerome, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Lincoln,
Minidoka, Nez Perce, Oneida, Owyhee, Payette, Shoshone, Twin Falls, and
Washington Counties; and Power County west of State Highway 37 and
State Highway 39.
Zone 4: Valley County.
Nevada
Northeast Zone: Elko and White Pine Counties.
Northwest Zone: Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Esmeralda, Eureka,
Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, and Washoe
Counties.
South Zone: Clark and Lincoln Counties.
Moapa Valley Special Management Area: That portion of Clark County
including the Moapa Valley to the confluence of the Muddy and Virgin
Rivers.
Oregon
Zone 1: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas,
Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion,
Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Wasco,
Washington, and Yamhill, Counties.
Zone 2: The remainder of Oregon not included in Zone 1.
Utah
Zone 1: Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Morgan, Rich,
Salt Lake, Summit, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber Counties, and that
part of Toole County north of I-80.
Zone 2: The remainder of Utah not included in Zone 1.
Washington
East Zone: All areas east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of
the Big White Salmon River in Klickitat County.
West Zone: The remainder of Washington not included in the East
Zone.
Wyoming (Pacific Flyway Portion)
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: The remainder of the Pacific Flyway portion
of Wyoming not included in the Snake River Zone.
[[Page 16176]]
Geese
Atlantic Flyway
Connecticut
Early Canada Goose Seasons
South Zone: Same as for ducks.
North Zone: Same as for ducks.
Regular Seasons
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 I-91 in
Hartford, and then extending south along I-91 to its intersection with
the Hartford-Middlesex County line.
NAP H-Unit: That part of the state east of a line beginning at the
Massachusetts border in Suffield and extending south along Route 159 to
its intersection with I-91 in Hartford and then extending south along
I-91 to State Street in New Haven; then south on State Street to Route
34, west on Route 34 to Route 8, south along Route 8 to Route 110,
south along Route 110 to Route 15, north along Route 15 to the Milford
Parkway, south along the Milford Parkway to I-95, north along I-95 to
the intersection with the east shore of the Quinnipiac River, south to
the mouth of the Quinnipiac River and then south along the eastern
shore of New Haven Harbor to the Long Island Sound.
Atlantic Flyway Resident Population (AFRP) Unit: Remainder of the
State not included in AP and NAP Units.
South Zone: Same as for ducks.
Maine
North NAP-H Zone: Same as North Zone for ducks.
Coastal NAP-L Zone: Same as Coastal Zone for ducks.
South NAP-H Zone: Same as South Zone for ducks.
Maryland
Early Canada Goose Seasons
Eastern Unit: Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Kent,
Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester
Counties; and that part of Anne Arundel County east of Interstate 895,
Interstate 97, and Route 3; that part of Prince George's County east of
Route 3 and Route 301; and that part of Charles County east of Route
301 to the Virginia State line.
Western Unit: Allegany, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett,
Howard, Montgomery, and Washington Counties and that part of Anne
Arundel County west of Interstate 895, Interstate 97, and Route 3; that
part of Prince George's County west of Route 3 and Route 301; and that
part of Charles County west of Route 301 to the Virginia State line.
Regular Seasons
Resident Population (RP) Zone: Allegany, Frederick, Garrett,
Montgomery, and Washington 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 State 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 State line.
New Hampshire
Same zones as for ducks.
New Jersey
AP Zone: North and South Zones (see duck zones).
NAP Zone: The Coastal Zone (see duck zones).
Special Late Season Area: In northern New Jersey, 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 toll bridge in Columbia; then north along the
Pennsylvania State boundary in the Delaware River to the beginning
point. In southern New Jersey, 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 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
[[Page 16177]]
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 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 Sound Road (just east of Wading River Marsh); then
south on Sound Road to
[[Page 16178]]
North Country Road; then west on North Country Road to Randall Road;
then south on Randall Road to Route 25A, then west on Route 25A to 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.
North Carolina
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 U.S. 17 in Midway, U.S. 17 in Midway
to U.S. 13 in Windsor, U.S. 13 in Windsor to the Hertford County line),
Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell,
and Washington.
RP Hunt Zone: Remainder of the State.
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 U.S.
Route 30, south of U.S. 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 U.S.
Route 30, south of U.S. 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 the following area:
East of U.S. 301: That portion of Clarendon County bounded to the
North by S-14-25, to the East by Hwy 260, and to the South by the
markers delineating the channel of the Santee River.
West of U.S. 301: That portion of Clarendon County bounded on the
North by S-14-26 extending southward to that portion of Orangeburg
County bordered by Hwy 6.
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 Rte. 64 to Route
15, then south along Rte. 15 to the North Carolina line.
RP Zone: The remainder of the State west of the SJBP Zone.
Mississippi Flyway
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.
Remainder of State: That portion of the State outside of the
Northwest Zone.
Illinois
Early Canada Goose Seasons
North September Canada Goose 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 September Canada Goose Zone: That portion of the State
south of the North September Canada 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 September Canada Goose 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 September Canada Goose Zone: The remainder of the
State between the south border of the Central September Canada Goose
Zone and the north border of the South September Canada Goose Zone.
Regular Seasons
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
[[Page 16179]]
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 zone as for ducks.
South Central Zone: Same zone as for ducks.
Indiana
Same zones as for ducks.
Iowa
Early Canada Goose Seasons
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Goose Zone: Includes portions of Linn and
Johnson Counties bounded as follows: Beginning at the intersection of
the west border of Linn County and Linn County Road E2W; then south and
east along County Road E2W to Highway 920; then north along Highway 920
to County Road E16; then east along County Road E16 to County Road W58;
then south along County Road W58 to County Road E34; then east along
County Road E34 to Highway 13; then south along Highway 13 to Highway
30; then east along Highway 30 to Highway 1; then south along Highway 1
to Morse Road in Johnson County; then east along Morse Road to Wapsi
Avenue; then south along Wapsi Avenue to Lower West Branch Road; then
west along Lower West Branch Road to Taft Avenue; then south along Taft
Avenue to County Road F62; then west along County Road F62 to Kansas
Avenue; then north along Kansas Avenue to Black Diamond Road; then west
on Black Diamond Road to Jasper Avenue; then north along Jasper Avenue
to Rohert Road; then west along Rohert Road to Ivy Avenue; then north
along Ivy Avenue to 340th Street; then west along 340th Street to Half
Moon Avenue; then north along Half Moon Avenue to Highway 6; then west
along Highway 6 to Echo Avenue; then north along Echo Avenue to 250th
Street; then east on 250th Street to Green Castle Avenue; then north
along Green Castle Avenue to County Road F12; then west along County
Road F12 to County Road W30; then north along County Road W30 to
Highway 151; then north along the Linn-Benton County line to the point
of beginning.
Des Moines Goose Zone: Includes those portions of Polk, Warren,
Madison, and Dallas Counties bounded as follows: Beginning at the
intersection of Northwest 158th Avenue and County Road R38 in Polk
County; then south along R38 to Northwest 142nd Avenue; then east along
Northwest 142nd Avenue to Northeast 126th Avenue; then east along
Northeast 126th Avenue to Northeast 46th Street; then south along
Northeast 46th Street to Highway 931; then east along Highway 931 to
Northeast 80th Street; then south along Northeast 80th Street to
Southeast 6th Avenue; then west along Southeast 6th Avenue to Highway
65; then south and west along Highway 65 to Highway 69 in Warren
County; then south along Highway 69 to County Road G24; then west along
County Road G24 to Highway 28; then southwest along Highway 28 to 43rd
Avenue; then north along 43rd Avenue to Ford Street; then west along
Ford Street to Filmore Street; then west along Filmore Street to 10th
Avenue; then south along 10th Avenue to 155th Street in Madison County;
then west along 155th Street to Cumming Road; then north along Cumming
Road to Badger Creek Avenue; then north along Badger Creek Avenue to
County Road F90 in Dallas County; then east along County Road F90 to
County Road R22; then north along County Road R22 to Highway 44; then
east along Highway 44 to County Road R30; then north along County Road
R30 to County Road F31; then east along County Road F31 to Highway 17;
then north along Highway 17 to Highway 415 in Polk County; then east
along Highway 415 to Northwest 158th Avenue; then east along Northwest
158th Avenue to the point of beginning.
Cedar Falls/Waterloo Goose Zone: Includes those portions of Black
Hawk County bounded as follows: Beginning at the intersection of County
Roads C66 and V49 in Black Hawk County, then south along County Road
V49 to County Road D38, then west along County Road D38 to State
Highway 21, then south along State Highway 21 to County Road D35, then
west along County Road D35 to Grundy Road, then north along Grundy Road
to County Road D19, then west along County Road D19 to Butler Road,
then north along Butler Road to County Road C57, then north and east
along County Road C57 to U.S. Highway 63, then south along U.S. Highway
63 to County Road C66, then east along County Road C66 to the point of
beginning.
Regular Seasons
Same zones as for ducks.
Louisiana
North Zone: That portion of the State north of the line from the
Texas border at Hwy 190/12 east to Hwy 49, then south on Hwy 49 to I-
10, then east on I-10 to I-12, then east on I-12 to I-10, then east on
I-10 to the Mississippi State line.
South Zone: Remainder of the State.
Michigan
North Zone: Same as North duck zone.
Middle Zone: Same as Middle duck zone.
South Zone: Same as South duck zone.
Allegan County Game Management Unit (GMU): That area encompassed by
a line beginning at the junction of 136th Avenue and Interstate 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.
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.
Minnesota
Same zones as for ducks.
Missouri
Same zones as for ducks.
Ohio
Same zones as for ducks.
Tennessee
Reelfoot Zone: The lands and waters within the boundaries of
Reelfoot Lake WMA only.
Remainder of State: The remainder of the State.
Wisconsin
Early Canada Goose Seasons
Early-Season Subzone A: That portion of the State encompassed by a
line beginning at the intersection of U.S. Highway 141 and the Michigan
border near Niagara, then south along U.S. 141 to State Highway 22,
west and southwest along State 22 to U.S. 45, south along U.S. 45 to
State 22, west
[[Page 16180]]
and south along State 22 to State 110, south along State 110 to U.S.
10, south along U.S. 10 to State 49, south along State 49 to State 23,
west along State 23 to State 73, south along State 73 to State 60, west
along State 60 to State 23, south along State 23 to State 11, east
along State 11 to State 78, then south along State 78 to the Illinois
border.
Early-Season Subzone B: The remainder of the State.
Regular Seasons
Same zones as for ducks.
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 Area: Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, Lake, Park, and Teller
Counties.
San Luis Valley Area: All of Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, and Rio
Grande 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.
Montana (Central Flyway Portion)
Zone 1: Same as Zone 1 for ducks and coots.
Zone 2: Same as Zone 2 for ducks and coots.
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 the 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, 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 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: The area bounded by the junction
of NE Hwy 92 and NE Hwy 15, south along NE Hwy 15 to NE Hwy 4, west
along NE Hwy 4 to U.S. Hwy 34, west along U.S. Hwy 34 to U.S. Hwy 283,
north along U.S. Hwy 283 to U.S. Hwy 30, east along U.S. Hwy 30 to NE
Hwy 92, east along NE Hwy 92 to the beginning.
Remainder of State: The remainder 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; then
north on ND Hwy 6 to I-94; then west on I-94 to ND Hwy 49; then north
on ND Hwy 49 to ND Hwy 200; then west on ND Hwy 200; then north on ND
Hwy 8 to the Mercer/McLean County line; then east following the county
line until it turns south toward Garrison Dam; then east along a line
(including Mallard Island) of Lake Sakakawea to U.S. Hwy 83; then south
on U.S. Hwy 83 to ND Hwy 200; then east on ND Hwy 200 to ND Hwy 41;
then south on ND Hwy 41 to U.S. Hwy 83; then south on U.S. Hwy 83 to I-
94; then east on I-94 to U.S. Hwy 83; then south on U.S. Hwy 83 to the
South Dakota border; then west along the South Dakota border to ND Hwy
6.
Western North Dakota Canada Goose Zone: Same as the High Plains
Unit for ducks, mergansers and coots, excluding the Missouri River
Canada Goose Zone.
Rest of State: Remainder of North Dakota.
South Dakota
Early Canada Goose Seasons
Special Early Canada Goose Unit: The Counties of Campbell, Clark,
Codington, Day, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Marshall, Roberts, Walworth; that
portion of Perkins County west of State Highway 75 and south of State
Highway 20; that portion of Dewey County north of Bureau of Indian
Affairs Road 8, Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 9, and the section of
U.S. Highway 212 east of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 8 junction;
that portion of Potter County east of U.S. Highway 83; that portion of
Sully County east of U.S. Highway 83; portions of Hyde, Buffalo, Brule,
and Charles Mix Counties north and east of a line beginning at the
Hughes-Hyde County line on State Highway 34, east to Lees Boulevard,
southeast to State Highway 34, east 7 miles to 350th Avenue, south to
Interstate 90 on 350th Avenue, south and east on State Highway 50 to
Geddes, east on 285th Street to U.S. Highway 281, and north on U.S.
Highway 281 to the Charles Mix-Douglas County boundary; that portion of
Bon Homme County north of State Highway 50; those portions of Yankton
and Clay Counties north of a line beginning at the junction of State
Highway 50 and 306th Street/County Highway 585 in Bon Homme County,
east to U.S. Highway 81, then north on U.S. Highway 81 to 303rd Street,
then east on 303rd Street to 444th Avenue, then south on 444th Avenue
to 305th Street, then east on 305th Street/Bluff Road to State Highway
19, then south to State Highway 50 and east to the Clay/Union County
Line; Aurora, Beadle, Brookings, Brown, Butte, Corson, Davison,
Douglas, Edmunds, Faulk, Haakon, Hand, Hanson, Harding, Hutchinson,
Jackson, Jerauld, Jones, Kingsbury, Lake, McCook, McPherson, Meade,
Mellette, Miner, Moody, Oglala Lakota (formerly Shannon), Sanborn,
Spink, Todd, Turner, and Ziebach Counties; and those portions of
[[Page 16181]]
Minnehaha and Lincoln Counties outside of an area bounded by a line
beginning at the junction of the South Dakota-Minnesota State line and
Minnehaha County Highway 122 (254th Street) west to its junction with
Minnehaha County Highway 149 (464th Avenue), south on Minnehaha County
Highway 149 (464th Avenue) to Hartford, then south on Minnehaha County
Highway 151 (463rd Avenue) to State Highway 42, east on State Highway
42 to State Highway 17, south on State Highway 17 to its junction with
Lincoln County Highway 116 (Klondike Road), and east on Lincoln County
Highway 116 (Klondike Road) to the South Dakota-Iowa State line, then
north along the South Dakota-Iowa and South Dakota-Minnesota border to
the junction of the South Dakota-Minnesota State line and Minnehaha
County Highway 122 (254th Street).
Regular Seasons
Unit 1: Same as that for the September Canada goose season.
Unit 2: Remainder of South Dakota.
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 G1: Big Horn, Converse, Hot Springs, Natrona, Park, and
Washakie Counties.
Zone G1A: Goshen and Platte Counties.
Zone G2: Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Niobrara, Sheridan, and Weston
Counties.
Zone G3: Albany and Laramie Counties; and that portion of Carbon
County east of the Continental Divide.
Zone G4: Fremont County excluding those portions south or west of
the Continental Divide.
Pacific Flyway
Arizona
Same zones as for ducks.
California
Northeastern Zone: 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.
Klamath Basin Special Management Area: Beginning at the
intersection of Highway 161 and Highway 97; east on Highway 161 to Hill
Road; south on Hill Road to N Dike Road West Side; east on N Dike Road
West Side until the junction of the Lost River; north on N Dike Road
West Side until the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway; east on Volcanic
Legacy Scenic Byway until N Dike Road East Side; south on the N Dike
Road East Side; continue east on N Dike Road East Side to Highway 111;
south on Highway 111/Great Northern Road to Highway 120/Highway 124;
west on Highway 120/Highway 124 to Hill Road; south on Hill Road until
Lairds Camp Road; west on Lairds Camp Road until Willow Creek; west and
south on Willow Creek to Red Rock Road; west on Red Rock Road until
Meiss Lake Road/Old State Highway; north on Meiss Lake Road/Old State
Highway to Highway 97; north on Highway 97 to the point of origin.
Colorado River Zone: Those portions of San Bernardino, Riverside,
and Imperial Counties east of a line from the intersection of Highway
95 with the California-Nevada State line; south on Highway 95 through
the junction with Highway 40; south on Highway 95 to Vidal Junction;
south through the town of Rice to the San Bernardino-Riverside County
line on a road known as ``Aqueduct Road'' also known as Highway 62 in
San Bernardino County; southwest on Highway 62 to Desert Center Rice
Road; south on Desert Center Rice Road/Highway 177 to the town of
Desert Center; east 31 miles on Interstate 10 to its intersection with
Wiley Well Road; south on Wiley Well Road to Wiley Well; southeast on
Milpitas Wash Road to the Blythe, Brawley, Davis Lake intersections;
south on Blythe Ogilby Road also known as County Highway 34 to its
intersection with Ogilby Road; south on Ogilby Road to its intersection
with Interstate 8; east 7 miles on Interstate 8 to its intersection
with the Andrade-Algodones Road/Highway 186; south on Highway 186 to
its intersection with the U.S.-Mexico border at Los Algodones, Mexico.
Southern Zone: That portion of southern California (but excluding
the Colorado River zone) south and east of a line beginning at the
mouth of the Santa Maria River at the Pacific Ocean; east along the
Santa Maria River to where it crosses Highway 101-166 near the City of
Santa Maria; north on Highway 101-166; east on Highway 166 to the
junction with Highway 99; south on Highway 99 to the junction of
Interstate 5; south on Interstate 5 to the crest of the Tehachapi
Mountains at Tejon Pass; east and north along the crest of the
Tehachapi Mountains to where it intersects Highway 178 at Walker Pass;
east on Highway 178 to the junction of Highway 395 at the town of
Inyokern; south on Highway 395 to the junction of Highway 58; east on
Highway 58 to the junction of Interstate 15; east on Interstate 15 to
the junction with Highway 127; north on Highway 127 to the point of
intersection with the California-Nevada State line.
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 Road; north on Weist Road to Flowing Wells Road;
northeast on Flowing Wells Road to the Coachella Canal; northwest on
the Coachella Canal to Drop 18; a straight line from Drop 18 to Frink
Road; south on Frink Road to Highway 111; north on Highway 111 to
Niland Marina Road; southwest on Niland Marina Road to the old Imperial
County boat ramp and the water line of the Salton Sea; from the water
line of
[[Page 16182]]
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, Colorado River, and Southern Zones.
North Coast Special Management Area: Del Norte and Humboldt
Counties.
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)
Same zones as for ducks.
Idaho
Canada Geese and Brant
Zone 1: All lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian
Reservation, including private in-holdings; Bannock County; Bingham
County, except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage;
Caribou County within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation; and Power
County east of State Highway 37 and State Highway 39.
Zone 2: Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, and
Teton Counties.
Zone 3: Ada, Adams, Benewah, Blaine, Boise, Bonner, Boundary,
Camas, Canyon, Cassia, Clearwater, Custer, Elmore, Franklin, Gem,
Gooding, Idaho, Jerome, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Lincoln,
Minidoka, Nez Perce, Oneida, Owyhee, Payette, Shoshone, Twin Falls, and
Washington Counties; and Power County west of State Highway 37 and
State Highway 39.
Zone 4: Bear Lake County; Bingham County within the Blackfoot
Reservoir drainage; and Caribou County, except that portion within the
Fort Hall Indian Reservation.
Zone 5: Valley County.
White-Fronted Geese
Zone 1: All lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian
Reservation, including private in-holdings; Bannock County; Bingham
County except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage;
Caribou County within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation; and Power
County east of State Highway 37 and State Highway 39.
Zone 2: Bear Lake, Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson,
Madison, and Teton Counties; Bingham County within the Blackfoot
Reservoir drainage; and Caribou County except within the Fort Hall
Indian Reservation.
Zone 3: Adams, Benewah, Blaine, Bonner, Boundary, Camas,
Clearwater, Custer, Franklin, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Nez
Perce, Oneida, and Shoshone Counties; and Power County west of State
Highway 37 and State Highway 39.
Zone 4: Ada, Boise, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome,
Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, and Washington
Counties.
Zone 5: Valley County.
Light Geese
Zone 1: All lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian
Reservation, including private in-holdings; Bannock County; Bingham
County east of the west bank of the Snake River, west of the McTucker
boat ramp access road, and east of the American Falls Reservoir bluff,
except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; Caribou
County within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation; and Power County below
the American Falls Reservoir bluff, and within the Fort Hall Indian
Reservation.
Zone 2: Franklin and Oneida Counties; Bingham County west of the
west bank of the Snake River, east of the McTucker boat ramp access
road, and west of the American Falls Reservoir bluff; Power County,
except below the American Falls Reservoir bluff and those lands and
waters within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.
Zone 3: Ada, Boise, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome,
Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, and Washington
Counties.
Zone 4: Adams, Benewah, Blaine, Bonner, Boundary, Camas,
Clearwater, Custer, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Nez Perce,
and Shoshone Counties.
Zone 5: Bear Lake, Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson,
Madison, and Teton Counties; Bingham County within the Blackfoot
Reservoir drainage; and Caribou County except within the Fort Hall
Indian Reservation.
Zone 6: Valley County.
Nevada
Same zones as for ducks.
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
Northwest Permit Zone: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Lane,
Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and
Yamhill Counties.
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: That portion of Tillamook County
beginning at the point where Old Woods Road crosses the south shores of
Horn Creek, north on Old Woods Road to Sand Lake Road at Woods, north
on Sand Lake Road to the intersection with McPhillips Drive, due west
(~200 yards) from the intersection to the Pacific coastline, south
along the Pacific coastline to a point due west of the western end of
Pacific Avenue in Pacific City, east from this point (~250 yards) to
Pacific Avenue, east on Pacific Avenue to Brooten Road, south and then
east on Brooten Road to Highway 101, north on Highway 101 to Resort
Drive, north on Resort Drive 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.
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.
Eastern Zone: Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Gilliam, Grant, Hood River,
Jefferson, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and
Wheeler Counties.
Klamath County Zone: Klamath County.
Harney and Lake County Zone: Harney and Lake Counties.
Malheur County Zone: Malheur County.
Utah
East Box Elder County Zone: Boundary begins at the intersection of
the eastern boundary of Public Shooting Grounds Waterfowl Management
Area and SR-83 (Promontory Road); east along SR-83 to I-15; south on I-
15 to the Perry access road; southwest along this road to the Bear
River Bird Refuge boundary; west, north, and then east along the refuge
boundary until it intersects the Public Shooting Grounds Waterfowl
Management Area boundary; east and north along the Public Shooting
[[Page 16183]]
Grounds Waterfowl Management Area boundary to SR-83.
Wasatch Front Zone: Boundary begins at the Weber-Box Elder County
line at I-15; east along Weber County line to U.S.-89; south on U.S.-89
to I-84; east and south on I-84 to I-80; south on I-80 to U.S.-189;
south and west on U.S.-189 to the Utah County line; southeast and then
west along this line to the Tooele County line; north along the Tooele
County line to I-80; east on I-80 to Exit 99; north from Exit 99 along
a direct line to the southern tip of Promontory Point and Promontory
Road; east and north along this road to the causeway separating Bear
River Bay from Ogden Bay; east on this causeway to the southwest corner
of Great Salt Lake Mineral Corporations (GSLMC) west impoundment; north
and east along GSLMC's west impoundment to the northwest corner of the
impoundment; north from this point along a direct line to the southern
boundary of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge; east along this southern
boundary to the Perry access road; northeast along this road to I-15;
south along I-15 to the Weber-Box Elder County line.
Southern Zone: Boundary includes Beaver, Carbon, Emery, Garfield,
Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Piute, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier,
Washington, and Wayne Counties, and that part of Tooele County south of
I-80.
Northern Zone: The remainder of Utah not included in the East Box
Elder County, Wasatch Front, and Southern Zones.
Washington
Area 1: Skagit, Island, and Snohomish Counties.
Area 2 Inland (Southwest Permit Zone): Clark, Cowlitz, and
Wahkiakum Counties, and that portion of Grays Harbor County east of
Highway 101
Area 2 Coastal (Southwest Permit Zone): Pacific County and that
portion of Grays Harbor County west of Highway 101.
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
Northern Zone: Del Norte, Humboldt, and Mendocino Counties.
Balance of State Zone: The remainder of the State not included in
the Northern Zone.
Washington
Puget Sound Zone: Clallam, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties.
Coastal Zone: Pacific County.
Swans
Central Flyway
South Dakota: Aurora, Beadle, Brookings, Brown, Brule, Buffalo,
Campbell, Clark, Codington, Davison, Day, Deuel, 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.
Doves
Alabama
South Zone: Baldwin, Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Escambia,
Geneva, Henry, Houston, and Mobile Counties.
North Zone: Remainder of the State.
Florida
Northwest Zone: The Counties of Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin,
Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton,
Washington, Leon (except that portion north of U.S. 27 and east of
State Road 155), Jefferson (south of U.S. 27, west of State Road 59 and
north of U.S. 98), and Wakulla (except that portion south of U.S. 98
and east of the St. Marks River).
South Zone: The remainder of the State.
Louisiana
North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending
east from the Texas border along State Highway 12 to U.S. Highway 190,
east along U.S. 190 to Interstate Highway 12, east along Interstate
Highway 12 to Interstate Highway 10, then east along Interstate Highway
10 to the Mississippi border.
South Zone: The remainder of the State.
Mississippi
North Zone: That portion of the State north and west of a line
extending west from the Alabama State line along U.S. Highway 84 to its
junction with State Highway 35, then south along State Highway 35 to
the Louisiana State line.
South Zone: The remainder of Mississippi.
Texas
North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line beginning at
the International Bridge south of Fort Hancock; north along FM 1088 to
TX 20; west along TX 20 to TX 148; north along TX 148 to I-10 at Fort
Hancock; east along I-10 to I-20; northeast along I-20 to I-30 at Fort
Worth; northeast along I-30 to the Texas-Arkansas State line.
Central Zone: That portion of the State lying between the North and
South Zones.
South Zone: That portion of the State south and west of a line
beginning at the International Bridge south of Del Rio, proceeding east
on U.S. 90 to State Loop 1604 west of San Antonio; then south, east,
and north along Loop 1604 to I-10 east of San Antonio; then east on I-
10 to Orange, Texas.
Special White-winged Dove Area in the South Zone: Same as the South
Zone.
Band-Tailed Pigeons
California
North Zone: Alpine, Butte, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lassen,
Mendocino, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity
Counties.
South Zone: The remainder of the State not included in the North
Zone.
[[Page 16184]]
New Mexico
North Zone: North of a line following U.S. 60 from the Arizona
State line east to I-25 at Socorro and then south along I-25 from
Socorro to the Texas State line.
South Zone: The remainder of the State not included in the North
Zone.
Washington
Western Washington: The State of Washington excluding those
portions lying east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of the Big
White Salmon River in Klickitat County.
Woodcock
New Jersey
North Zone: That portion of the State north of NJ 70.
South Zone: The remainder of the State.
Sandhill Cranes
Mississippi Flyway
Alabama
Hunting Zone: That area north of Interstate 20 from the Georgia
State line to the interchange with Interstate 65, then east of
Interstate 65 to the interchange with Interstate 22, then north of
Interstate 22 to the Mississippi State line.
Non-Hunting Zone: Remainder of the State.
Minnesota
Northwest Zone: That portion of the State encompassed by a line
extending east from the North Dakota border along U.S. Highway 2 to
State Trunk Highway (STH) 32, north along STH 32 to STH 92, east along
STH 92 to County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 2 in Polk County, north along
CSAH 2 to CSAH 27 in Pennington County, north along CSAH 27 to STH 1,
east along STH 1 to CSAH 28 in Pennington County, north along CSAH 28
to CSAH 54 in Marshall County, north along CSAH 54 to CSAH 9 in Roseau
County, north along CSAH 9 to STH 11, west along STH 11 to STH 310, and
north along STH 310 to the Manitoba border.
Tennessee
Southeast Crane Zone: That portion of the State south of Interstate
40 and east of State Highway 56.
Remainder of State: That portion of Tennessee outside of the
Southeast Crane Zone.
Central Flyway
Colorado
Open Area: The Central Flyway portion of the State except the San
Luis Valley (Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Hinsdale, Mineral, Rio Grande,
and Saguache Counties east of the Continental Divide) and North Park
(Jackson County).
Kansas
Open Area: That portion of the State west of a line beginning at
the Oklahoma border, north on I-35 to Wichita, north on I-135 to
Salina, and north on U.S. 81 to the Nebraska border.
Montana
Regular Season Open Area: The Central Flyway portion of the State
except for that area south and west of Interstate 90, which is closed
to sandhill crane hunting.
Special Season Open Area: Carbon County.
New Mexico
Regular-Season Open Area: Chaves, Curry, De Baca, Eddy, Lea, Quay,
and Roosevelt Counties.
Special Season Open Areas
Middle Rio Grande Valley Area: The Central Flyway portion of New
Mexico in Socorro and Valencia Counties.
Estancia Valley Area: Those portions of Santa Fe, Torrance, and
Bernallilo Counties within an area bounded on the west by New Mexico
Highway 55 beginning at Mountainair north to NM 337, north to NM 14,
north to I-25; on the north by I-25 east to U.S. 285; on the east by
U.S. 285 south to U.S. 60; and on the south by U.S. 60 from U.S. 285
west to NM 55 in Mountainair.
Southwest Zone: Area bounded on the south by the New Mexico-Mexico
border; on the west by the New Mexico-Arizona border north to
Interstate 10; on the north by Interstate 10 east to U.S. 180, north to
NM 26, east to NM 27, north to NM 152, and east to Interstate 25; on
the east by Interstate 25 south to Interstate 10, west to the Luna
County line, and south to the New Mexico-Mexico border.
North Dakota
Area 1: That portion of the State west of U.S. 281.
Area 2: That portion of the State east of U.S. 281.
Oklahoma
Open Area: That portion of the State west of I-35.
South Dakota
Open Area: That portion of the State lying west of a line beginning
at the South Dakota-North Dakota border and State Highway 25, south on
State Highway 25 to its junction with State Highway 34, east on State
Highway 34 to its junction with U.S. Highway 81, then south on U.S.
Highway 81 to the South Dakota-Nebraska border.
Texas
Zone A: That portion of Texas lying west of a line beginning at the
international toll bridge at Laredo, then northeast along U.S. Highway
81 to its junction with Interstate Highway 35 in Laredo, then north
along Interstate Highway 35 to its junction with Interstate Highway 10
in San Antonio, then northwest along Interstate Highway 10 to its
junction with U.S. Highway 83 at Junction, then north along U.S.
Highway 83 to its junction with U.S. Highway 62, 16 miles north of
Childress, then east along U.S. Highway 62 to the Texas-Oklahoma State
line.
Zone B: That portion of Texas lying within boundaries beginning at
the junction of U.S. Highway 81 and the Texas-Oklahoma State line, then
southeast along U.S. Highway 81 to its junction with U.S. Highway 287
in Montague County, then southeast along U.S. Highway 287 to its
junction with Interstate Highway 35W in Fort Worth, then southwest
along Interstate Highway 35 to its junction with Interstate Highway 10
in San Antonio, then northwest along Interstate Highway 10 to its
junction with U.S. Highway 83 in the town of Junction, then north along
U.S. Highway 83 to its junction with U.S. Highway 62, 16 miles north of
Childress, then east along U.S. Highway 62 to the Texas-Oklahoma State
line, then south along the Texas-Oklahoma State line to the south bank
of the Red River, then eastward along the vegetation line on the south
bank of the Red River to U.S. Highway 81.
Zone C: The remainder of the State, except for the closed areas.
Closed areas:
A. That portion of the State lying east and north of a line
beginning at the junction of U.S. Highway 81 and the Texas-Oklahoma
State line, then southeast along U.S. Highway 81 to its junction with
U.S. Highway 287 in Montague County, then southeast along U.S. Highway
287 to its junction with I-35W in Fort Worth, then southwest along I-35
to its junction with U.S. Highway 290 East in Austin, then east along
U.S. Highway 290 to its junction with Interstate Loop 610 in Harris
County, then south and east along Interstate Loop 610 to its junction
with Interstate Highway 45 in Houston, then south on Interstate Highway
45 to State Highway 342, then to the shore of the Gulf of Mexico, and
then north and east along the shore of the Gulf of Mexico to the Texas-
Louisiana State line.
[[Page 16185]]
B. That portion of the State lying within the boundaries of a line
beginning at the Kleberg-Nueces County line and the shore of the Gulf
of Mexico, then west along the County line to Park Road 22 in Nueces
County, then north and west along Park Road 22 to its junction with
State Highway 358 in Corpus Christi, then west and north along State
Highway 358 to its junction with State Highway 286, then north along
State Highway 286 to its junction with Interstate Highway 37, then east
along Interstate Highway 37 to its junction with U.S. Highway 181, then
north and west along U.S. Highway 181 to its junction with U.S. Highway
77 in Sinton, then north and east along U.S. Highway 77 to its junction
with U.S. Highway 87 in Victoria, then south and east along U.S.
Highway 87 to its junction with State Highway 35 at Port Lavaca, then
north and east along State Highway 35 to the south end of the Lavaca
Bay Causeway, then south and east along the shore of Lavaca Bay to its
junction with the Port Lavaca Ship Channel, then south and east along
the Lavaca Bay Ship Channel to the Gulf of Mexico, and then south and
west along the shore of the Gulf of Mexico to the Kleberg-Nueces County
line.
Wyoming
Area 7: Campbell, Converse, Crook, Goshen, Laramie, Niobrara,
Platte, and Weston Counties.
Area 4: All lands within the Bureau of Reclamation's Riverton and
Boysen Unit boundaries; those lands within Boysen State Park south of
Cottonwood Creek, west of Boysen Reservoir, and south of U.S. Highway
20[hyphen]26; and all non[hyphen]Indian owned fee title lands within
the exterior boundaries of the Wind River Reservation, excluding those
lands within Hot Springs County.
Area 6: Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park, and Washakie Counties.
Area 8: Johnson, Natrona, and Sheridan Counties.
Pacific Flyway
Arizona
Zone 1: Beginning at the junction of the New Mexico State line and
U.S. Hwy 80; south along the State line to the U.S.-Mexico border; west
along the border to the San Pedro River; north along the San Pedro
River to the junction with Arizona Hwy 77; northerly along Arizona Hwy
77 to the Gila River; northeast along the Gila River to the San Carlos
Indian Reservation boundary; south then east and north along the
reservation boundary to U.S. Hwy 70; southeast on U.S. Hwy 70 to U.S.
Hwy 191; south on U.S. Hwy 191 to the 352 exit on I-10; east on I-10 to
Bowie-Apache Pass Road; southerly on the Bowie-Apache Pass Road to
Arizona Hwy 186; southeasterly on Arizona Hwy 186 to Arizona Hwy 181;
south on Arizona Hwy 181 to the West Turkey Creek-Kuykendall cutoff
road; southerly on the Kuykendall cutoff road to Rucker Canyon Road;
easterly on Rucker Canyon Road to the Tex Canyon Road; southerly on Tex
Canyon Road to U.S. Hwy 80; northeast on U.S. Hwy 80 to the New Mexico
State line.
Zone 2: Beginning at I-10 and the New Mexico State line; north
along the State line to Arizona Hwy 78; southwest on Arizona Hwy 78 to
U.S. Hwy 191; northwest on U.S. Hwy 191 to Clifton; westerly on the
Lower Eagle Creek Road (Pump Station Road) to Eagle Creek; northerly
along Eagle Creek to the San Carlos Indian Reservation boundary;
southerly and west along the reservation boundary to U.S. Hwy 70;
southeast on U.S. Hwy 70 to U.S. Hwy 191; south on U.S. Hwy 191 to I-
10; easterly on I-10 to the New Mexico State line.
Zone 3: Beginning on I-10 at the New Mexico State line; westerly on
I-10 to the Bowie-Apache Pass Road; southerly on the Bowie-Apache Pass
Road to AZ Hwy 186; southeast on AZ Hwy 186 to AZ Hwy 181; south on AZ
Hwy 181 to the West Turkey Creek-Kuykendall cutoff road; southerly on
the Kuykendall cutoff road to Rucker Canyon Road; easterly on the
Rucker Canyon Road to Tex Canyon Road; southerly on Tex Canyon Road to
U.S. Hwy 80; northeast on U.S. Hwy 80 to the New Mexico State line;
north along the State line to I-10.
Idaho
Area 1: All of Bear Lake County and all of Caribou County except
that portion lying within the Grays Lake Basin.
Area 2: All of Teton County except that portion lying west of State
Highway 33 and south of Packsaddle Road (West 400 North) and north of
the North Cedron Road (West 600 South) and east of the west bank of the
Teton River.
Area 3: All of Fremont County except the Chester Wetlands Wildlife
Management Area.
Area 4: All of Jefferson County.
Area 5: All of Bannock County east of Interstate 15 and south of
U.S. Highway 30; and all of Franklin County.
Area 6: That portion of Oneida County within the boundary beginning
at the intersection of the Idaho-Utah border and Old Highway 191, then
north on Old Highway 191 to 1500 S, then west on 1500 S to Highway 38,
then west on Highway 38 to 5400 W, then south on 5400 W to Pocatello
Valley Road, then west and south on Pocatello Valley Road to 10000 W,
then south on 10000 W to the Idaho-Utah border, then east along the
Idaho-Utah border to the beginning point.
Montana
Zone 1: Those portions of Deer Lodge County lying within the
following described boundary: Beginning at the intersection of I-90 and
Highway 273, then westerly along Highway 273 to the junction of Highway
1, then southeast along said highway to Highway 275 at Opportunity,
then east along said highway to East Side County road, then north along
said road to Perkins Lane, then west on said lane to I-90, then north
on said interstate to the junction of Highway 273, the point of
beginning. Except for sections 13 and 24, T5N, R10W; and Warm Springs
Pond number 3.
Zone 2: That portion of the Pacific Flyway, located in Powell
County lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the
junction of State Routes 141 and 200, then west along Route 200 to its
intersection with the Blackfoot River at Russell Gates Fishing Access
Site (Powell-Missoula County line), then southeast along said river to
its intersection with the Ovando-Helmville Road (County Road 104) at
Cedar Meadows Fishing Access Site, then south and east along said road
to its junction with State Route 141, then north along said route to
its junction with State Route 200, the point of beginning.
Zone 3: Beaverhead, Gallatin, Jefferson, and Madison Counties.
Zone 4: Broadwater County.
Utah
Cache County: Cache County.
East Box Elder County: That portion of Box Elder County beginning
on the Utah-Idaho State line at the Box Elder-Cache County line; west
on the State line to the Pocatello Valley County Road; south on the
Pocatello Valley County Road to I-15; southeast on I-15 to SR-83; south
on SR-83 to Lamp Junction; west and south on the Promontory Point
County Road to the tip of Promontory Point; south from Promontory Point
to the Box Elder-Weber County line; east on the Box Elder-Weber County
line to the Box Elder-Cache County line; north on the Box Elder-Cache
County line to the Utah-Idaho State line.
Rich County: Rich County.
Uintah County: Uintah County.
[[Page 16186]]
Wyoming
Area 1: All of the Bear River and Ham's Fork River drainages in
Lincoln County.
Area 2: All of the Salt River drainage in Lincoln County south of
the McCoy Creek Road.
Area 3: All lands within the Bureau of Reclamation's Eden Project
in Sweetwater County.
Area 5: Uinta County.
All Migratory Game Birds in Alaska
North Zone: State Game Management Units 11-13 and 17-26.
Gulf Coast Zone: State Game Management Units 5-7, 9, 14-16, and 10
(Unimak Island only).
Southeast Zone: State Game Management Units 1-4.
Pribilof and Aleutian Islands Zone: State Game Management Unit 10
(except Unimak Island).
Kodiak Zone: State Game Management Unit 8.
All Migratory Game Birds in the Virgin Islands
Ruth Cay Closure Area: The island of Ruth Cay, just south of St.
Croix.
All Migratory Game Birds in Puerto Rico
Municipality of Culebra Closure Area: All of the municipality of
Culebra.
Desecheo Island Closure Area: All of Desecheo Island.
Mona Island Closure Area: All of Mona Island.
El Verde Closure Area: Those areas of the municipalities of Rio
Grande and Loiza delineated as follows: (1) All lands between Routes
956 on the west and 186 on the east, from Route 3 on the north to the
juncture of Routes 956 and 186 (Km 13.2) in the south; (2) all lands
between Routes 186 and 966 from the juncture of 186 and 966 on the
north, to the Caribbean National Forest Boundary on the south; (3) all
lands lying west of Route 186 for 1 kilometer from the juncture of
Routes 186 and 956 south to Km 6 on Route 186; (4) all lands within Km
14 and Km 6 on the west and the Caribbean National Forest Boundary on
the east; and (5) all lands within the Caribbean National Forest
Boundary whether private or public.
Cidra Municipality and adjacent areas: All of Cidra Municipality
and portions of Aguas Buenas, Caguas, Cayey, and Comerio Municipalities
as encompassed within the following boundary: Beginning on Highway 172
as it leaves the municipality of Cidra on the west edge, north to
Highway 156, east on Highway 156 to Highway 1, south on Highway 1 to
Highway 765, south on Highway 765 to Highway 763, south on Highway 763
to the Rio Guavate, west along Rio Guavate to Highway 1, southwest on
Highway 1 to Highway 14, west on Highway 14 to Highway 729, north on
Highway 729 to Cidra Municipality boundary to the point of the
beginning.
[FR Doc. 2019-07527 Filed 4-16-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P