80_FR_43405 80 FR 43266 - Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed Frameworks for Early-Season Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations; Notice of Meetings

80 FR 43266 - Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed Frameworks for Early-Season Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations; Notice of Meetings

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 139 (July 21, 2015)

Page Range43266-43290
FR Document2015-17718

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter Service or we) is proposing to establish the 2015-16 early-season hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds. We annually prescribe frameworks, or outer limits, for dates and times when hunting may occur and the maximum number of birds that may be taken and possessed in early seasons. Early seasons may open as early as September 1, and include seasons in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These frameworks are necessary to allow State selections of specific final seasons and limits and to allow recreational harvest at levels compatible with population status and habitat conditions. This proposed rule also provides the regulatory alternatives for the 2015-16 duck hunting seasons.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 139 (Tuesday, July 21, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 139 (Tuesday, July 21, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43266-43290]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17718]



[[Page 43265]]

Vol. 80

Tuesday,

No. 139

July 21, 2015

Part IV





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 Early-Season Migratory 
Bird Hunting Regulations; Notice of Meetings; Proposed Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 80 , No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 43266]]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 20

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2014-0064; FF09M21200-156-FXMB1231099BPP0]
RIN 1018-BA67


Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed Frameworks for Early-Season 
Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations; Notice of Meetings

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 2015-16 early-season hunting regulations 
for certain migratory game birds. We annually prescribe frameworks, or 
outer limits, for dates and times when hunting may occur and the 
maximum number of birds that may be taken and possessed in early 
seasons. Early seasons may open as early as September 1, and include 
seasons in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 
These frameworks are necessary to allow State selections of specific 
final seasons and limits and to allow recreational harvest at levels 
compatible with population status and habitat conditions. This proposed 
rule also provides the regulatory alternatives for the 2015-16 duck 
hunting seasons.

DATES: Comments: You must submit comments on the proposed early-season 
frameworks by July 31, 2015.
    Meetings: The Service Migratory Bird Regulations Committee (SRC) 
will meet to consider and develop proposed regulations for late-season 
migratory bird hunting and the 2016 spring/summer migratory bird 
subsistence seasons in Alaska on July 29-30, 2015. All meetings will 
commence at approximately 8:30 a.m.

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-2014-0064.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: FWS-HQ-MB-2014-0064; Division of Policy, Performance, and 
Management Programs; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: BPHC; 5275 
Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041.
    We will not accept emailed or faxed comments. We will post all 
comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that your 
entire submission--including any personal identifying information--will 
be posted on the Web site. See the Public Comments section, below, for 
more information.
    Meetings: The Service Migratory Bird Regulations Committee will 
meet at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls 
Church, Virginia.

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: 

Regulations Schedule for 2015

    On April 13, 2015, we published in the Federal Register (80 FR 
19852) a proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20. The proposal provided a 
background and overview of the migratory bird hunting regulations 
process, and addressed the establishment of seasons, limits, and other 
regulations for hunting migratory game birds under Sec. Sec.  20.101 
through 20.107, 20.109, and 20.110 of subpart K. Major steps in the 
2015-16 regulatory cycle relating to open public meetings and Federal 
Register notifications were also identified in the April 13 proposed 
rule.
    Further, we explained that all sections of subsequent documents 
outlining hunting frameworks and guidelines were organized under 
numbered headings. Those headings are:

1. Ducks
    A. General Harvest Strategy
    B. Regulatory Alternatives
    C. Zones and Split Seasons
    D. Special Seasons/Species Management
    i. September Teal Seasons
    ii. September Teal/Wood Duck Seasons
    iii. Black ducks
    iv. Canvasbacks
    v. Pintails
    vi. Scaup
    vii. Mottled ducks
    viii. Wood ducks
    ix. Youth Hunt
    x. Mallard Management Units
    xi. Other
2. Sea Ducks
3. Mergansers
4. Canada Geese
    A. Special Seasons
    B. Regular Seasons
    C. Special Late Seasons
5. White-fronted Geese
6. Brant
7. Snow and Ross's (Light) Geese
8. Swans
9. Sandhill Cranes
10. Coots
11. Moorhens and Gallinules
12. Rails
13. Snipe
14. Woodcock
15. Band-tailed Pigeons
16. Doves
17. Alaska
18. Hawaii
19. Puerto Rico
20. Virgin Islands
21. Falconry
22. Other

    Subsequent documents will refer only to numbered items requiring 
attention. Therefore, it is important to note that we will omit those 
items requiring no attention, and remaining numbered items will be 
discontinuous and appear incomplete.
    On June 11, 2015, we published in the Federal Register (80 FR 
33223) a second document providing supplemental proposals for early- 
and late-season migratory bird hunting regulations. The June 11 
supplement also provided detailed information on the 2015-16 regulatory 
schedule and announced the SRC and Flyway Council meetings.
    This document, the third in a series of proposed, supplemental, and 
final rulemaking documents for migratory bird hunting regulations, 
deals specifically with proposed frameworks for early-season 
regulations and the regulatory alternatives for the 2015-16 duck 
hunting seasons. It will lead to final frameworks from which States may 
select season dates, shooting hours, and daily bag and possession 
limits for the 2015-16 season.
    We have considered all pertinent comments received through June 26, 
2015, on the April 13 and June 11, 2015, rulemaking documents in 
developing this proposed rule. In addition, new proposals for certain 
early-season regulations are provided for public comment. Comment 
periods are specified above under DATES. We will publish final 
regulatory frameworks for early seasons in the Federal Register on or 
about August 16, 2015.

Service Migratory Bird Regulations Committee Meetings

    Participants at the June 24-25, 2015, meetings reviewed information 
on the current status of migratory shore and upland game birds and 
developed 2015-16 migratory game bird regulations recommendations for 
these species plus regulations for migratory game birds in Alaska, 
Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands; special September waterfowl 
seasons in designated States; special sea duck seasons in the Atlantic 
Flyway; and extended falconry seasons. In addition, we reviewed and 
discussed preliminary information on the status of waterfowl.
    Participants at the previously announced July 29-30, 2015, meetings 
will review information on the current

[[Page 43267]]

status of waterfowl and develop recommendations for the 2015-16 
regulations pertaining to regular waterfowl seasons and other species 
and seasons not previously discussed at the early-season meetings. In 
accordance with Department of the Interior policy, these meetings are 
open to public observation and you may submit comments on the matters 
discussed.

Population Status and Harvest

    The following paragraphs provide preliminary information on the 
status of waterfowl and information on the status and harvest of 
migratory shore and upland game birds excerpted from various reports. 
For more detailed information on methodologies and results, you may 
obtain complete copies of the various reports at the address indicated 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or from our Web site at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewsPublicationsReports.html.

Waterfowl Breeding and Habitat Survey

    Federal, provincial, and State agencies conduct surveys each spring 
to estimate the size of waterfowl breeding populations and to evaluate 
the conditions of the habitats. These surveys are conducted using 
fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and ground crews and encompass 
principal breeding areas of North America, covering an area over 2.0 
million square miles. The traditional survey area comprises Alaska, 
Canada, and the northcentral United States, and includes approximately 
1.3 million square miles. The eastern survey area includes parts of 
Ontario, Quebec, Labrador, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward 
Island, New Brunswick, New York, and Maine, an area of approximately 
0.7 million square miles.
    Despite an early spring over most of the survey area, habitat 
conditions were similar to or poorer than last year. In many areas, the 
decline in habitat conditions was due to average to below-average 
annual precipitation, with the exception of portions of southern 
Saskatchewan and central latitudes of eastern Canada. The total pond 
estimate (Prairie Canada and United States combined) was 6.3  0.2 million, which was 12 percent below the 2014 estimate of 7.2 
 0.2 million and 21 percent above the long-term average of 
5.2  0.03 million.
Traditional Survey Area (U.S. and Canadian Prairies and Parklands)
    Spring came early across the traditional survey area, particularly 
in relation to 2013 and 2014. Much of the Canadian prairies had average 
to below-average winter precipitation and above-average temperatures. 
Best moisture conditions were centered in southern Saskatchewan, but 
nearly all of prairie Canada experienced below-normal spring 
precipitation. The 2015 estimate of ponds in Prairie Canada was 4.2 
 0.1 million. This estimate was 10 percent below the 2014 
estimate of 4.6  0.2 million and 19 percent above the long-
term average (3.5  0.02 million). Annual winter 
precipitation was lower in the northern part of the survey area; the 
Parklands, however, continue to benefit from hold-over water. The 
boreal region and Alaska exhibited drier conditions, but an early 
spring and no flooding should aid waterfowl production. Most of the 
Canadian portion of the traditional survey area was rated as fair or 
good this year with areas of excellent conditions that received greater 
annual precipitation.
    Following a relatively mild winter, the U.S. prairies also recorded 
an early spring, although precipitation since last summer was average 
to mostly below average. Habitat conditions declined from 2014 in 
Montana and the Dakotas despite significant rainfall in May, which came 
too late to benefit most nesting waterfowl. The 2015 pond estimate for 
the northcentral United States was 2.2  0.09 million which 
was 16 percent below the 2014 estimate of 2.6  0.1 million 
and 28 percent above the long-term average (1.7  0.02 
million).
Eastern Survey Area
    Winter and spring temperatures in the eastern survey area were 
again well below normal. February was the coldest on record in Maine 
and the State had near-record snowfall. Average to above-average winter 
and spring precipitation was confined to central latitudes of Ontario 
and Quebec and the Maritimes whereas far western and southeastern 
Ontario and northern and extreme southern Quebec received well below-
average precipitation. Even with an early spring in the survey area, a 
protracted thaw produced little flooding in areas that had received 
above-average precipitation, therefore assisting waterfowl production.

Status of Teal

    The estimate of blue-winged teal from the traditional survey area 
is 8.5 million. This count was similar to 2014, and is 73 percent above 
the 1955-2014 average.

Sandhill Cranes

    The annual indices to abundance of the Mid-Continent Population 
(MCP) of sandhill cranes have been relatively stable since 1982, but 
over the past few years the trend is slightly increasing. The 
preliminary spring 2015 index for sandhill cranes in the Central Platte 
River Valley (CPRV), Nebraska, uncorrected for visibility bias, was 
325,956 birds. This estimate is 4 percent lower than the long-term 
average for the ocular estimate. The 3-year average for photo-corrected 
counts (which are more accurate than ocular estimates because they 
account for birds present but not seen by aerial crews) for 2012-14 was 
620,841, which is above the established population-objective range of 
349,000- 472,000 cranes. All Central Flyway States, except Nebraska, 
allowed crane hunting in portions of their States during 2014-15. An 
estimated 7,825 Central Flyway hunters participated in these seasons, 
which was 24 percent lower than the number that participated in the 
previous season. Hunters harvested 15,776 MCP cranes in the U.S. 
portion of the Central Flyway during the 2014-15 seasons, which was 27 
percent lower than the harvest for the previous year but 6 percent 
higher than the long-term average. The retrieved harvest of MCP cranes 
in hunt areas outside of the Central Flyway (Arizona, Pacific Flyway 
portion of New Mexico, Minnesota, Alaska, Canada, and Mexico combined) 
was 13,221 during 2014-15. The preliminary estimate for the North 
American MCP sport harvest, including crippling losses, was 32,666 
birds, which was a 19 percent decrease from the previous year's 
estimate. The long-term (1982-2012) trends for the MCP indicate that 
harvest has been increasing at a higher rate than population growth.
    The fall 2014 pre-migration survey for the Rocky Mountain 
Population (RMP) resulted in a count of 19,668 cranes. The 3-year 
average was 18,482 sandhill cranes, which is within the established 
population objective of 17,000-21,000 for the RMP. Hunting seasons 
during 2014-15 in portions of Arizona, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, 
Utah, and Wyoming resulted in a harvest of 624 RMP cranes, an 8 percent 
decrease from the previous year's harvest.
    The Lower Colorado River Valley Population (LCRVP) survey results 
indicate a 24 percent decrease from 3,353 birds in 2014 to 2,536 birds 
in 2015. The 3-year average is 2,989 LCRVP cranes, which is above the 
population objective of 2,500.
    The Eastern Population (EP) sandhill crane fall survey index 
(83,479) increased by 30 percent in 2014, and a combined total of 401 
cranes were harvested in Kentucky's fourth hunting season and 
Tennessee's second season.

[[Page 43268]]

Woodcock

    The American woodcock (Scolopax minor) is managed as two management 
regions, the Eastern and the Central. Singing Ground and Wing-
collection Surveys are conducted to assess population status. The 
Singing Ground Survey is intended to measure long-term changes in 
woodcock population levels. Singing Ground Survey data for 2015 
indicate that the number of singing male woodcock per route in the 
Eastern and Central Management Regions was unchanged from 2014. There 
was a statistically significant, declining 10-year trend in woodcock 
heard for the Eastern Management Region during 2005-15, while the 10-
year trend in the Central Management Region was not significant. This 
marks the second year in a row that the 10-year trend in the Eastern 
Management Region has shown a decline. Both management regions have a 
long-term (1968-2015) declining trend (-1.1 percent per year in the 
Eastern Management Region and -0.7 percent per year in the Central 
Management Region).
    The Wing-collection Survey provides an index to recruitment. Wing-
collection Survey data indicate that the 2014 recruitment index for the 
U.S. portion of the Eastern Region (1.49 immatures per adult female) 
was 6.9 percent less than the 2013 index, and 8.9 percent less than the 
long-term (1963-2013) average. The recruitment index for the U.S. 
portion of the Central Region (1.39 immatures per adult female) was 9.7 
percent less than the 2013 index and 10.6 percent less than the long-
term (1963-2013) average.
    During last year's seasons, hunters in the Eastern Region harvested 
58,600 birds, which was 6.2 percent below the number for the previous 
season and 31.4 percent below the long-term (1999-2013) average. In the 
Central Region, 141,500 woodcock were harvested, 21.4 percent less than 
in 2013 and 36.5 percent less than the long-term average.

Band-Tailed Pigeons

    Two subspecies of band-tailed pigeon occur north of Mexico, and are 
managed as two separate populations: Interior and Pacific Coast. 
Information on the abundance and harvest of band-tailed pigeons is 
collected annually in the United States and British Columbia. Abundance 
information comes from the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and the Mineral 
Site Survey (MSS, specific to the Pacific Coast Population). Harvest 
and hunter participation are estimated from the Migratory Bird Harvest 
Information Program (HIP). The BBS provided evidence that the abundance 
of Pacific Coast band-tailed pigeons decreased (-1.8 percent per year) 
over the long term (1968-2014). No trends in abundance were evident 
during the recent 10- and 5-year periods for both the BBS and MSS. 
Harvest estimates indicate that 2,900 active hunters took 12,000 
pigeons and spent 8,800 days afield in 2014. Composition of harvest was 
25 percent hatching-year pigeons.
    For Interior band-tailed pigeons, the BBS provided evidence that 
abundance decreased (-5.5 percent per year) over the long term (1968-
2014). Similar to Pacific Coast birds, no trends in abundance were 
evident during the recent 10- and 5-year periods. An estimated 1,500 
hunters harvested 1,500 pigeons and spent 3,300 days afield in 2014.

Mourning Doves

    Doves in the United States are managed in three management units, 
Eastern (EMU), Central (CMU), and Western (WMU). We annually summarize 
information collected in the United States on survival, recruitment, 
abundance, and harvest of mourning doves. We report on trends in the 
number of doves heard and seen per route from the all-bird BBS, and 
provide absolute abundance estimates based on band recovery and harvest 
data. Harvest and hunter participation are estimated from the HIP.
    BBS data suggested that the abundance of mourning doves over the 
last 49 years increased in the Eastern Management Unit (EMU) and 
decreased in the Central (CMU) and Western (WMU) Management Units. 
Estimates of absolute abundance are available only since 2003 and 
indicate that there are about 274 million doves in the United States. 
In 2014, abundance varied among the management units with 68.2 million 
in the EMU, 161.6 million in the CMU, and 43.6 million in the WMU.
    Current (2014) HIP estimates for mourning dove total harvest, 
active hunters, and total days afield in the United States were 
13,809,500 birds, 839,600 hunters, and 2,386,700 days afield. Harvest 
and hunter participation at the unit level were: EMU, 4,889,800 birds, 
310,200 hunters, and 791,300 days afield; CMU, 7,654,700 birds, 427,100 
hunters, and 1,333,600 days afield; and WMU, 1,265,000 birds, 102,300 
hunters, and 261,800 days afield.

Review of Public Comments

    The preliminary proposed rulemaking (April 13, 2015; 80 FR 19852) 
opened the public comment period for migratory game bird hunting 
regulations and announced the proposed regulatory alternatives for the 
2015-16 duck hunting season. Comments concerning early-season issues 
and the proposed alternatives are summarized below and numbered in the 
order used in the April 13, 2015, Federal Register document. Only the 
numbered items pertaining to early-season issues and the proposed 
regulatory alternatives for which we received written comments are 
included. Consequently, the issues do not follow in consecutive 
numerical or alphabetical order.
    We received recommendations from all four Flyway Councils. Some 
recommendations supported continuation of last year's frameworks. Due 
to the comprehensive nature of the annual review of the frameworks 
performed by the Councils, support for continuation of last year's 
frameworks is assumed for items for which no recommendations were 
received. Council recommendations for changes in the frameworks are 
summarized below.
    We seek additional information and comments on the recommendations 
in this supplemental proposed rule. New proposals and modifications to 
previously described proposals are discussed below. Wherever possible, 
they are discussed under headings corresponding to the numbered items 
in the April 13. 2015, Federal Register document.

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. We believe that the Flyway-Council system 
of migratory bird management has been a longstanding, successful 
example of State-Federal cooperative management since its establishment 
in 1952. However, as

[[Page 43269]]

always, we continue to seek new ways to streamline and improve the 
process.

1. Ducks

    Categories used to discuss issues related to duck harvest 
management are: (A) General Harvest Strategy; (B) Regulatory 
Alternatives, including specification of framework dates, season 
lengths, and bag limits; (C) Zones and Split Seasons; and (D) Special 
Seasons/Species Management. The categories correspond to previously 
published issues/discussions, and only those containing substantial 
recommendations are discussed below.

A. General Harvest Strategy

    Council Recommendations: The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended 
that regulations changes be restricted to one step per year, both when 
restricting as well as liberalizing hunting regulations.
    The Pacific Flyway Council recommended removing the objective 
constraint for the western mallard Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM) 
protocol.
    Service Response: As we stated in the April 13, 2015, proposed 
rule, we intend to continue use of AHM to help determine appropriate 
duck-hunting regulations for the 2015-16 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. The current AHM protocol is used to evaluate four 
alternative regulatory levels based on the population status of 
mallards and their breeding habitat (i.e., abundance of ponds). Special 
hunting restrictions are enacted for certain species, such as 
canvasbacks, black ducks, scaup, and pintails.
    Regarding the Mississippi Flyway Council recommendation to limit 
regulatory changes to one step per year, we recognize the long-standing 
interest by the Council to impose a one-step constraint on regulatory 
changes. In the past, we have not endorsed this recommendation due to 
the pending completion of the Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (SEIS) on migratory bird hunting. With the recently completed 
SEIS, we are now transitioning to a new regulatory process. At the same 
time, the Central and Mississippi Flyways have begun a new effort to 
re-visit the AHM protocol for managing harvest of mid-continent 
mallards (i.e., ``double-looping''). This effort will include a 
discussion of appropriate management objectives, regulatory packages, 
and management of non-mallard stocks. We believe that these discussions 
would be 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 such a measure. We 
look forward to working with the Flyway Councils on this issue.
    In 2008, we described and adopted a protocol for regulatory 
decision-making for the newly defined stock of western mallards (73 FR 
43290; July 24, 2008). We continue to believe that the prescribed 
regulatory choice for the Pacific Flyway should be based on the status 
of this western mallard breeding stock. However, as we previously 
discussed in the April 13, 2015, proposed rule, the current early and 
late-season regulatory actions will be combined into a new single 
process beginning with the 2016-17 seasons. Migratory bird hunting 
regulations will be based on predictions from models derived from long-
term biological information and established harvest strategies. 
Adjustment to western mallard AHM for the new regulatory process was 
straightforward, except for the implementation of the objective 
function constraint that has been in use since 2008. Efforts to 
implement this constraint with new optimization methods were 
unsuccessful, and assessment results suggest that the objective 
function constraint used in western mallard AHM may not be necessary or 
performing as previously envisioned. The Pacific Flyway Council has 
expressed interest in continued cooperation in working with the Service 
to clarify western mallard AHM objectives. During 2016, the technical 
representatives from the Pacific Flyway Council in conjunction with the 
Harvest Management Working Group will review harvest management 
objectives, incorporate additional mallard breeding stocks (i.e., those 
in Washington and British Columbia), and consider constraints to 
minimize large annual changes in regulation packages with relatively 
small changes in population size (e.g., moving from liberal to closed 
seasons in successive years with no moderate or restrictive 
intermediate steps).
    We will propose a specific regulatory alternative for each of the 
Flyways during the 2015-16 season after survey information becomes 
available later this summer. More information on AHM is located at 
http://www.fws.gov/birds/management/adaptive-harvest-management.php.
    As we stated above, for the 2016-17 season, the current early and 
late-season regulatory actions will be combined into a new single 
process. Migratory bird hunting regulations will be based on 
predictions from models derived from long-term biological information 
and established harvest strategies. Since 1995, the Service and Flyway 
Councils have applied the principles of adaptive management to inform 
harvest management decisions in the face of uncertainty while trying to 
learn about system (bird populations) responses to harvest regulations 
and environmental changes. Prior to the timing and process changes 
necessary for implementation of SEIS 2013, the annual AHM process began 
with the observation of the system state each spring followed by an 
updating of model weights and the derivation of an optimal harvest 
policy that was then used to make a state-dependent decision (i.e., 
breeding population estimates were used with a policy matrix to inform 
harvest regulatory decisions). The system state then evolves over time 
in response to the decision and natural variation in population 
dynamics. The following spring, the monitoring programs observe the 
state of the system and the iterative decision-making process continues 
forward in time. However, with the changes in decision timing specified 
by the SEIS, the post-survey AHM process will not be possible because 
monitoring information describing the system state will not be 
available at the time the decision must be made. As a result, the 
optimization framework used to derive the current harvest policy can no 
longer calculate current and future harvest values as a function of the 
current system and model states. To address this issue, we adjusted the 
optimization procedures to calculate harvest values conditional on the 
last observed system state and regulatory decision.
    Results and analysis of our work is contained in a technical report 
that provides a summary of revised methods and assessment results based 
on updated AHM protocols developed in response to the preferred 
alternative specified in the SEIS. The report describes necessary 
changes to optimization procedures and decision processes for the 
implementation of AHM for midcontinent, eastern and

[[Page 43270]]

western mallards, northern pintails, and scaup decision frameworks.
    Results indicate that the necessary adjustments to the optimization 
procedures and AHM protocols to account for changes in decision timing 
are not expected to result in major changes to expected management 
performance for mallard, pintail, and scaup AHM. In general, pre-survey 
(or pre-SEIS necessary changes) harvest policies were similar to 
harvest policies based on new post-survey (or post-SEIS necessary 
changes) AHM protocols. We found some subtle differences in the degree 
to which strategies exhibited knife-edged regulatory changes in the 
pre-survey policies with a reduction in the number of cells indicating 
moderate regulations. In addition, pre-survey policies became more 
liberal when conditioning on previous regulatory decisions that were 
more conservative. These patterns were consistent for each AHM 
decision-making framework. Overall, a comparison of simulation results 
of the pre- and post-survey protocols did not suggest substantive 
changes in the frequency of regulations or in the expected average 
population size. These results suggest that the additional form of 
uncertainty that the change in decision timing introduces is not 
expected to limit our expected harvest management performance with the 
adoption of the pre-survey AHM protocols.
    A complete copy of the AHM report can be found on 
www.regulations.gov or at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/management/AHM/SEIS&AHMReportFinal.pdf.

B. Regulatory Alternatives

    Council Recommendations: The Mississippi and Central Flyway 
Councils recommended that regulatory alternatives for duck hunting 
seasons remain the same as those used in 2014-15.
    Service Response: The regulatory alternatives proposed in the April 
13, 2015, Federal Register will be used for the 2015-16 hunting season 
(see accompanying table at the end of this proposed rule for 
specifics). In 2005, the AHM regulatory alternatives were modified to 
consist only of the maximum season lengths, framework dates, and bag 
limits for total ducks and mallards. Restrictions for certain species 
within these frameworks that are not covered by existing harvest 
strategies will be addressed during the late-season regulations 
process. For those species with specific harvest strategies 
(canvasbacks, pintails, black ducks, and scaup), those strategies will 
again be used for the 2015-16 hunting season.

C. Zones and Split Seasons

    Council Recommendations: The Mississippi and Central Flyway 
Councils recommended no changes to the existing zone and split season 
guidelines. However, they further recommended that States be provided 
the option of changing duck zones and split arrangements in either the 
2016-17 or 2017-18 seasons, with the next open season in 2021 for the 
2021-25 period.
    Service Response: Zones and split seasons are ``special 
regulations'' designed to distribute hunting opportunities and harvests 
according to temporal, geographic, and demographic variability in 
waterfowl and other migratory game bird populations. For ducks, States 
have been allowed the option of dividing their allotted hunting days 
into two (or in some cases three) segments to take advantage of 
species-specific peaks of abundance or to satisfy hunters in different 
areas who want to hunt during the peak of waterfowl abundance in their 
area. However, the split-season option does not fully satisfy many 
States that wish to provide a more equitable distribution of harvest 
opportunities. Therefore, we also have allowed the establishment of 
independent seasons in up to four zones within States for the purpose 
of providing more equitable distribution of harvest opportunity for 
hunters throughout the State.
    In 1978, we prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the use of 
zones to set duck hunting regulations. A primary tenet of the 1978 EA 
was that zoning would be for the primary purpose of providing equitable 
distribution of duck hunting opportunities within a State or region and 
not for the purpose of increasing total annual waterfowl harvest in the 
zoned areas. In fact, target harvest levels were to be adjusted 
downward if they exceeded traditional levels as a result of zoning. 
Subsequent to the 1978 EA, we conducted a review of the use of zones 
and split seasons in 1990. In 2011, we prepared a new EA analyzing some 
specific proposed changes to the zone and split season guidelines. The 
current guidelines were then finalized in 2011 (76 FR 53536; August 26, 
2011).
    Currently, every 5 years, States are afforded the opportunity to 
change the zoning and split season configuration within which they set 
their annual duck hunting regulations. The next regularly scheduled 
open season for changes to zone and split season configurations is in 
2016, for use during the 2016-20 period. However, as we discussed in 
the September 23, 2014, Federal Register (79 FR 56864), and the April 
13, 2015, Federal Register (80 FR 19852), we are implementing 
significant changes to the annual regulatory process as outlined in the 
2013 SEIS. As such, the previously identified May 1, 2016, due date for 
zone and split season configuration changes that was developed under 
the current regulatory process, is too late for those States wishing to 
change zone and split season configurations for implementation in the 
2016-17 season. Under the new regulatory schedule, we anticipate 
publishing the proposed rule for all 2016-17 migratory bird seasons 
sometime this fall--approximately 30 days after the SRC meeting (which 
is scheduled for October 28-29, 2015). A final rule tentatively would 
be published 75 days after the proposed rule (no later than April 1). 
This schedule would preclude inclusion of new zone descriptions in the 
proposed rule as had been done in past open seasons and would not be 
appropriate because it would preclude the ability for the public to 
comment on these new individual State zone descriptions. Therefore, we 
need to include any new proposed 2016-20 zone descriptions in the 2016-
17 hunting seasons proposed rule document that will be published later 
this year.
    Considering all of the above, we agree with the Mississippi and 
Central Flyway Councils and have decided that a two-phase approach is 
appropriate. For those States wishing to change zone and split season 
configurations in time for the 2016-17 season, we will need to receive 
new configuration and zone descriptions by December 1, 2015. States 
that do not send in new zone and split season configuration changes 
until the previously identified May 1, 2016, deadline will have those 
changes implemented in the 2017-18 hunting season. The next scheduled 
open season would remain in 2021 for the 2021-25 seasons.
    For the current open season, the guidelines for duck zone and split 
season configurations will be as follows:
Guidelines for Duck Zones and Split Seasons
    The following zone and split-season guidelines apply only for the 
regular duck season:
    (1) A zone is a geographic area or portion of a State, with a 
contiguous boundary, for which independent dates may be selected for 
the regular duck season.
    (2) Consideration of changes for management-unit boundaries is not 
subject to the guidelines and provisions governing the use of zones and 
split seasons for ducks.

[[Page 43271]]

    (3) Only minor (less than a county in size) boundary changes will 
be allowed for any grandfathered arrangement, and changes are limited 
to the open season.
    (4) Once a zone and split option is selected during an open season, 
it must remain in place for the following 5 years.
    Any State may continue the configuration used in the previous 5-
year period. If changes are made, the zone and split-season 
configuration must conform to one of the following options:
    (1) No more than four zones with no splits,
    (2) Split seasons (no more than 3 segments) with no zones, or
    (3) No more than three zones with the option for 2-way (2-segment) 
split seasons in one, two, or all zones.
Grandfathered Zone and Split Arrangements
    When we first implemented the zone and split guidelines in 1991, 
several States had completed experiments with zone and split 
arrangements different from our original options. We offered those 
States a one-time opportunity to continue (``grandfather'') those 
arrangements, with the stipulation that only minor changes could be 
made to zone boundaries. If any of those States now wish to change 
their zone and split arrangement:
    (1) The new arrangement must conform to one of the 3 options 
identified above; and
    (2) The State cannot go back to the grandfathered arrangement that 
it previously had in place.
Management Units
    We will continue to utilize the specific limitations previously 
established regarding the use of zones and split seasons in special 
management units, including the High Plains Mallard Management Unit. We 
note that the original justification and objectives established for the 
High Plains Mallard Management Unit provided for additional days of 
hunting opportunity at the end of the regular duck season. In order to 
maintain the integrity of the management unit, current guidelines 
prohibit simultaneous zoning and/or 3-way split seasons within a 
management unit and the remainder of the State. Removal of this 
limitation would allow additional proliferation of zone and split 
configurations and compromise the original objectives of the management 
unit.

D. Special Seasons/Species Management

i. September Teal Seasons
    Utilizing the criteria developed for the teal season harvest 
strategy, this year's estimate of 8.3 million blue-winged teal from the 
traditional survey area indicates that a 16-day September teal season 
in the Atlantic, Central, and Mississippi Flyways is appropriate for 
2015.

4. Canada Geese

A. Special Seasons

    Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended 
increasing season length from 7 to 15 days and the daily bag limit from 
2 to 5 for Canada geese in Idaho.
    Service Response: We agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's 
request to increase the Canada goose season length and daily bag limit 
in Idaho. The special early Canada goose hunting season is generally 
designed to reduce or control overabundant resident Canada goose 
populations. Increasing the season length from 7 to 15 days and the 
daily bag limit from 2 to 5 geese in Idaho may help reduce or control 
the abundance of resident Canada geese.

B. Regular Seasons

    Council Recommendations: The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended 
that the framework opening date for all species of geese for the 
regular goose seasons in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and Wisconsin 
be September 16, 2015, and in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan be 
September 11, 2015.
    Service Response: We concur with recommended framework opening 
dates. Michigan, beginning in 1998, and Wisconsin, beginning in 1989, 
have opened their regular Canada goose seasons prior to the Flyway-wide 
framework opening date to address resident goose management concerns in 
these States. As we have previously stated (73 FR 50678, August 27, 
2008), we agree with the objective to increase harvest pressure on 
resident Canada geese in the Mississippi Flyway and will continue to 
consider the opening dates in both States as exceptions to the general 
Flyway opening date, to be reconsidered annually. The framework closing 
date for the early goose season in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is 
September 10. By changing the framework opening date for the regular 
season to September 11 in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan there will be 
no need to close goose hunting in that area for 5 days and thus lose 
the ability to maintain harvest pressure on resident Canada geese. We 
note that the most recent resident Canada goose estimate for the 
Mississippi Flyway was 1,461,000 geese during the spring of 2014, above 
the Flyway's population goal of 1.18 to 1.40 million birds.

6. Brant

    As we discussed in the June 11, 2015, Federal Register (80 FR 
33223), for the 2015-16 Atlantic brant season, we will continue to use 
the existing Flyway Cooperative Management Plan for this species to 
determine the appropriate hunting regulations. However, as we discuss 
below, the process for determining regulations for the 2016-17 season 
will need to be modified. In the April 30, 2014 (79 FR 24512), and the 
April 13, 2015 (80 FR 19852), Federal Registers, we discussed how, 
under the new regulatory process, the current early- and late-season 
regulatory actions will be combined into a new single process beginning 
with the 2016-17 seasons. Regulatory proposals will be developed using 
biological data from the preceding year(s), model predictions, and/or 
most recently accumulated data that are available at the time the 
proposals are being formulated. Individual harvest strategies will be 
modified using data from the previous year(s) because the current 
year's data would not be available for many of the strategies.
    Further, we stated that during this transition period, harvest 
strategies and prescriptions would be modified to fit into the new 
regulatory schedule. Atlantic brant is one such species that will 
require some modifications to the regulatory process that we have 
largely used since 1992 to establish the annual frameworks.
    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 Mid-winter Waterfowl Survey (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 existing regulatory alternatives for Atlantic brant 
were developed by factoring together long-term productivity rates 
(observed during November and December productivity surveys) with 
estimated

[[Page 43272]]

observed harvest under different framework regulations, the primary 
decision-making criterion for selecting the annual frameworks was the 
MWS count.
    In the April 13, 2015, Federal Register (80 FR 19852), we presented 
the major steps in the 2016-17 regulatory cycle relating to biological 
information availability, open public meetings, and Federal Register 
notifications. Under the new regulatory schedule due to be implemented 
this fall and winter for the 2016-17 migratory bird hunting 
regulations, neither the expected 2016 brant production information 
(available summer 2016) nor the 2016 MWS count (conducted in January 
2016) will be available this October, when the decisions on proposed 
Atlantic brant frameworks for the 2016-17 seasons must be made. 
However, the 2016 MWS will be completed and winter brant data will be 
available by the expected publication of the final frameworks (late 
February 2016). Therefore, we are proposing frameworks for Atlantic 
brant in 2016-17 using the process laid out below, with the final 
decision to be determined by the 2016 MWS count:
    If the MWS count is <100,000 Atlantic brant, the season will be 
closed.
    If the MWS count is between 100,000 and 125,000 brant, States may 
select a 30-day season between the Saturday nearest September 24 and 
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. States may split their 
seasons into 2 segments.
    If the MWS count is between 125,000 and 150,000 brant, States may 
select a 50-day season between the Saturday nearest September 24 and 
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. States may split their 
seasons into 2 segments.
    If the MWS count is between 150,000 and 200,000 brant, States may 
select a 60-day season between the Saturday nearest September 24 and 
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. States may split their 
seasons into 2 segments.
    If the MWS count is >200,000 brant, States may select a 60-day 
season between the Saturday nearest September 24 and January 31, with a 
3-bird daily bag limit. States may split their seasons into 2 segments.
    We note that the proposed prescriptive regulatory frameworks listed 
above are identical to those contained in the Atlantic Flyway Council's 
current Atlantic brant hunt plan (2011), with the exception of 
considering expected brant production. However, at this time our new 
regulatory schedule will likely preclude any formal consideration of 
the brant population's expected productivity in the summer. While our 
proposed process would be a slight change to the existing mechanics of 
the Atlantic brant hunt plan, we believe it would have no significant 
effects on the long-term conservation of the Atlantic brant resource.
    For a more detailed discussion of the various technical aspects of 
the new regulatory process, we refer the reader to the 2013 SEIS on our 
Web site at http://www.fws.gov/birds/index.php.

8. Swans

    Council Recommendations: In March the Atlantic, Mississippi, and 
Central Flyway Councils recommended increasing tundra swan permit 
numbers by 25 percent (2,400 permits) for the 2015-16 season, if the 
final 3-year running average mid-winter count exceeds 110,000 Eastern 
Population tundra swans, in accordance with the Eastern Population 
tundra swan management plan.
    Service Response: At the June 24-25 SRC meeting, the Atlantic, 
Mississippi, and Central Flyway Councils withdrew their recommendations 
to increase tundra swan permit numbers because the final 3-year running 
average mid-winter count did not exceed 110,000 Eastern Population 
tundra swans.

9. Sandhill Cranes

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway 
Councils recommended that Kentucky be granted an operational sandhill 
crane hunting season beginning in 2015 following the guidelines 
established in the Eastern Population of Sandhill Cranes Management 
Plan (EP Management Plan). Kentucky's operational season would consist 
of a maximum season length of 60 days (with no splits) to be held 
between September 1 and January 31, with a daily bag limit of 2 birds, 
and a season limit of 3 birds. Hunting would occur between sunrise and 
sunset. Per the guidelines set forth in the EP Management Plan, and 
based on the State's 5-year peak average of 12,072 birds, Kentucky 
would be allowed to issue a maximum of 1,207 tags during the 2015-16 
season. These permits would be divided among 400 permitted hunters. 
Hunters would be required to take mandatory whooping crane 
identification training, utilize Service-approved nontoxic shot shells, 
tag birds, report harvest daily via Kentucky's reporting system, and 
complete a post-season survey.
    The Central and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended using the Rocky 
Mountain Population (RMP) sandhill crane harvest allocation of 938 
birds as proposed in the allocation formula using the 3-year running 
population average for 2012-14. The Councils also recommended that, 
under the new annual regulatory process beginning with the 2016-17 
season, the harvest strategy described in the Pacific and Central 
Flyway Management Plan for RMP sandhill cranes be published in the 
proposed season frameworks and be used to determine allowable harvest. 
They recommended that the final allowable harvest each year be included 
in the final season frameworks published in February.
    The Pacific Flyway Council recommended some minor changes to the 
hunt area boundaries in Idaho to simplify and clarify hunt area 
descriptions. More specifically, Area 5 would now include all of 
Franklin County, and Area 1 would include all of Caribou County except 
that portion lying within the Grays Lake Basin. The Pacific Flyway 
Council also recommended eliminating the Lower Colorado River Valley 
Population (LCRVP) experimental season.
    Service Response: We agree with the recommendation to grant 
operational status to Kentucky's sandhill crane hunting season. 
Kentucky held an experimental sandhill crane season during 2011-13 and 
was granted an additional year in order to finalize analysis of the 
first 3 years of data collected during the experiment. The structure of 
the experimental seasons conformed to the frameworks outlined in the 
Eastern Population of Sandhill Cranes Management Plan. Harvest of 
sandhill cranes in Kentucky during 2011-13 ranged from 59 to 96 birds 
per year. This level of annual harvest was well below the allowable 
annual harvest of 1,174 birds determined by the permit allocation 
system outlined in the management plan. Therefore, we believe that 
Kentucky's crane season should continue on an operational basis, and 
that seasons should conform to the frameworks and permit guidelines 
outlined in the Eastern Population of Sandhill Cranes Management Plan.
    We also agree with the Central and Pacific Flyway Councils' 
recommendations on the RMP sandhill crane harvest allocation of 938 
cranes for the 2015-16 season, as outlined in the RMP sandhill crane 
management plan's hunting area requirements and harvest allocation 
formula. The objective for RMP sandhill cranes is to manage for a 
stable population index of 17,000-21,000 cranes determined by an 
average of the three most recent, reliable September (fall pre-
migration) surveys. Additionally, the RMP management plan allows for 
the regulated harvest of cranes when the 3-year average of the

[[Page 43273]]

population indices exceeds 15,000 cranes. The most recent 3-year 
average for the RMP sandhill crane fall index is 18,482 birds, a slight 
increase from the previous 3-year average of 17,757 cranes.
    Regarding the RMP crane harvest and the new regulatory process, 
this issue is very similar to the Atlantic brant issue discussed above 
under 6. Brant. Currently, results of the fall survey of RMP sandhill 
cranes, upon which the annual allowable harvest is based, will continue 
to be released between December 15 and January 31 each year, which is 
after the date for which proposed frameworks will be formulated in the 
new regulatory process. If the usual procedures for determining 
allowable harvest were used, data 2-4 years old would be used to 
determine the annual allocation for RMP sandhill cranes. Due to the 
variability in fall survey counts and recruitment for this population, 
and their impact on the annual harvest allocations, we agree that 
relying on data that is 2-4 years old is not ideal. Thus, we agree that 
the formula to determine the annual allowable harvest for RMP sandhill 
cranes should be used under the new regulatory schedule and propose to 
utilize it as such. That formula uses information on abundance and 
recruitment collected annually through operational monitoring programs, 
as well as constant values based on past research or monitoring for 
survival of fledglings to breeding age and harvest retrieval rate. The 
formula is:

H = C x P x R x L x f

where:

H = total annual allowable harvest;
C = the average of the three most recent, reliable fall population 
indices;
P = the average proportion of fledged chicks in the fall population 
in the San Luis Valley during the most recent 3 years for which data 
are available;
R = estimated recruitment of fledged chicks to breeding age (current 
estimate is 0.5);
L = retrieval rate of 0.80 (allowance for an estimated 20 percent 
crippling loss based on hunter interviews); and
f = (C/16,000) (a variable factor used to adjust the total harvest 
to achieve a desired effect on the entire population)

    A final estimate for the allowable harvest would be available to 
publish in the final rule, allowing us to use data that is 1-3 years 
old as is currently practiced. We look forward to continuing 
discussions and work on the RMP crane issue with the Central and 
Pacific Flyway Councils this summer in preparation for the 2016-17 
season.
    We also agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation for 
minor changes to the existing RMP sandhill crane hunting area 
boundaries in Idaho. The boundary adjustments are intended to simplify 
and clarify existing hunting area boundary descriptions, and are 
consistent with the Pacific and Central Flyway Council's RMP sandhill 
crane management plan hunting area requirements.
    Finally, we also agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's 
recommendation to eliminate the LCRVP sandhill crane experimental 
hunting season. As requested by the Pacific Flyway Council in 2006 (71 
FR 51407, August 29, 2006), we authorized in 2007 a carefully 
controlled, very limited experimental season for LCRVP sandhill cranes 
in Arizona based on our final environmental assessment (72 FR 49624, 
August 28, 2007). In 2009, the Pacific Flyway Council recommended 
extending the experimental season for LCRVP sandhill cranes in Arizona 
for an additional 3 years (74 FR 43009, August 25, 2009). The extension 
was necessary due to implementation difficulties that prohibited 
initiating the new hunt. We continued to support the establishment of 
the 3-year experimental framework for this hunt, conditional on 
successful monitoring being conducted as called for in the Flyway 
hunting plan for this population. Subsequently, the only hunting season 
successfully implemented in Arizona for this population was in 2010 
where 5 youth participated and no cranes were harvested. The Pacific 
Flyway Council has indicated in their recent recommendation that there 
are no plans to hunt this population in the near future.

11. Moorhens and Gallinules

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 
allowing the hunting of purple swamphens (Porphyrio porphyria) in 
Florida beginning in 2015. They recommended that hunting be allowed 
during any open waterfowl season and that all regulations in 50 CFR 20 
subparts C and D would apply. Further, they recommended a daily bag 
limit of 25 birds, with a possession limit of 75. They also recommended 
that we exclude this species from monitoring programs.
    Service Response: Purple swamphens are a species native to the U.S. 
Territories of American Samoa, Baker and Howland Islands, and Guam, and 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and as such are protected 
under 50 CFR 10.13. In Florida, purple swamphens are an introduced 
species that likely resulted from escapees. Available data indicate 
that the population may be expanding and competing with native species. 
As such, in 2010, we established a Control Order in 50 CFR 21.53 in 
order to control possible expansion of the species (75 FR 9314, March 
1, 2010). However, there has never been a sport hunting season 
established in the United States for purple swamphens. Consequently, we 
believe a new hunting season for purple swamphens would require 
appropriate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) coverage. Since a 
NEPA analysis of this proposal has not yet been conducted, we do not 
support the Council's recommendation at this time. We will reconsider 
it after appropriate NEPA analysis has been completed.

14. Woodcock

    In 2011, we implemented an interim harvest strategy for woodcock 
for a period of 5 years (2011-15) (76 FR 19876, April 8, 2011). The 
interim harvest strategy provides a transparent framework for making 
regulatory decisions for woodcock season length and bag limit while we 
work to improve monitoring and assessment protocols for this species. 
Utilizing the criteria developed for the interim 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 2015-16 woodcock hunting season is 
appropriate. Specifics of the interim harvest strategy can be found at 
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewsPublicationsReports.html.

15. Band-Tailed Pigeons

    Council Recommendations: The Central and Pacific Flyway Councils 
recommended decreasing the season length from 30 days to 14 days, and 
decreasing the daily bag limit from 5 to 2 for the Interior Population 
of band-tailed pigeons.
    Service Response: We agree with the Central and Pacific Flyway 
Councils' recommendations to decrease season length from 30 to 14 days 
and daily bag limit from 5 to 2 birds for Interior band-tailed pigeons. 
Last year (79 FR 51405, August 28, 2014), we recommended that the 
Councils work together and with the Service's Division of Migratory 
Bird Management to review available information and conduct an 
assessment of the harvest potential of this population. We also 
requested they advise us of the results of this assessment and develop 
a regulatory recommendation using this information at our June 2015 
regulatory meeting.

[[Page 43274]]

Technical representatives from the Central and Pacific Flyway Councils 
and the Service's Division of Migratory Bird Management met in Denver 
on October 23-24, 2014, to discuss an approach to assessing harvest 
potential and review available demographic data for interior band-
tailed pigeons. At the meeting in Denver, participants agreed on using 
the Potential Take Level framework (PTL) for the harvest potential 
assessment. The objective of this PTL assessment was to derive an 
estimate of allowable harvest to compare with the best estimate of 
observed harvest after accounting for uncertainty of demographic 
parameters (i.e., survival, reproduction, and population size). The 
assessment used all available demographic information for this species, 
albeit limited, but the information is dated and may not adequately 
represent extant conditions. Also, current abundance is largely 
unknown, and estimated hunter harvest is highly imprecise and may be 
biased high relative to the true value. Considering all the data, their 
precision, and potential biases, the assessment suggested that a 
conservative approach to harvest management for this population is 
warranted. Results were consistent with those of earlier investigators 
(1992) that reported low harvest potential for the Pacific Coast band-
tailed pigeon. Results of the assessment provide a transparent approach 
to help inform the regulatory decision-making process for this 
population until additional information becomes available or a formal 
harvest strategy is developed. The PTL assessment could be updated if 
improved information on estimated hunter harvest and population size 
becomes available.

16. Mourning Doves

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway 
Councils recommended use of the ``standard'' season framework 
comprising 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 15-bird daily bag limit and a 70-
day season for the 2015-16 mourning dove season in the States within 
the Central Management Unit.
    The Pacific Flyway Council recommended use of the ``standard'' 
season framework for States in the Western Management Unit (WMU) 
population of mourning doves. In Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and 
Washington, the season length would be no more than 60 consecutive days 
with a daily bag limit of 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the 
aggregate. In Arizona and California, the season length would be no 
more than 60 consecutive days, which could be split between two 
periods, September 1-15 and November 1-January 15. In Arizona, during 
the first segment of the season, the daily bag limit would be 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 would be 15 mourning doves. In California, the daily 
bag limit would be 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate, 
of which no more than 10 could be white-winged doves.
    The Central Flyway Council also recommended that the Service, 
beginning with the 2016-17 hunting season, adopt a new ``standard'' 
season package framework comprised of a 90-day season and 15-bird daily 
bag limit for States within the Central 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 2015-16 seasons.
    We do not support the recommendation by the Central Flyway to 
increase the length of the dove season to 90 days for the 2016-17 
season at this time. We understand that the Central Flyway will 
continue to work with the Mississippi Flyway in the coming months to 
develop a joint recommendation to increase the season length, and we 
would consider such a recommendation at that time.
    Lastly, as we discussed in the April 13, 2015, Federal Register (80 
FR 19852), 2016 is the next open season for changes to dove zone and 
split configurations for the 2016-20 period. The current guidelines 
were approved in 2006 (see July 28, 2006, Federal Register, 71 FR 
43008), for the use of zones and split seasons for doves with 
implementation beginning in the 2007-08 season. While the initial 
period was for 4 years (2007-10), we further stated that, beginning in 
2011, zoning would conform to a 5-year period.
    As discussed above under C. Zones and Split Seasons for ducks, 
because of unintentional and unanticipated issues with changing the 
regulatory schedule for the 2016-17 season, we have decided that a two-
phase approach is appropriate. For those States wishing to change zone 
and split season configurations in time for the 2016-17 season, we will 
need to receive that new configuration and zone descriptions by 
December 1, 2015. For those States that do not send in zone and split 
season configuration changes until the previously identified May 1, 
2016, deadline, we will implement those changes in the 2017-18 hunting 
season. The next normally scheduled open season will be in 2021 for the 
2021-25 seasons.
    For the current open season, the guidelines for dove zone and split 
season configurations will be as follows:
Guidelines for Dove Zones and Split Seasons in the Eastern and Central 
Mourning Dove Management Units
    (1) A zone is a geographic area or portion of a State, with a 
contiguous boundary, for which independent seasons may be selected for 
dove hunting.
    (2) States may select a zone and split option during an open 
season. The option must remain in place for the following 5 years 
except that States may make a one-time change and revert to their 
previous zone and split configuration in any year of the 5-year period. 
Formal approval will not be required, but States must notify the 
Service before making the change.
    (3) Zoning periods for dove hunting will conform to those years 
used for ducks, e.g., 2016-20.
    (4) The zone and split configuration consists of two zones with the 
option for 3-way (3-segment) split seasons in one or both zones. As a 
grandfathered arrangement, Texas will have three zones with the option 
for 2-way (2-segment) split seasons in one, two, or all three zones.
    (5) States that do not wish to zone for dove hunting may split 
their seasons into no more than 3 segments.
    For the 2016-20 period, any State may continue the configuration 
used in 2011-15. If changes are made, the zone and split-season 
configuration must conform to one of the options listed above. If Texas 
uses a new configuration for the entirety of the 5-year period, it 
cannot go back to the grandfathered arrangement that it previously had 
in place.

18. Alaska

    Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended two 
changes in the Alaska early-season frameworks. Specifically, they 
recommended:

[[Page 43275]]

    1. For white-fronted geese in Unit 18 (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta), 
increasing the daily bag limit from 8 to 10.
    2. For Canada geese in Units 6-B, 6-C, and on Hinchinbrook and 
Hawkins Islands in Unit 6-D, increasing the possession limit from two 
times to three times the daily bag limit.
    Service Response: We agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's 
recommendation to increase the daily bag limit from 8 to 10 white-
fronted geese in Unit 18. The recent 3-year (2012-14) average fall 
population of Pacific white-fronted geese was 627,108 geese, and is 
well above the population objective of 300,000 geese as identified in 
the Pacific Flyway Council's management plan for this population. The 
Yukon-Kuskowim Delta (Unit 18) supports more than 95 percent of the 
breeding population of Pacific white-fronted geese.
    We also agree with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation to 
increase the possession limit for Canada geese from two times to three 
times the daily bag limit in Units 6-B, 6-C, and on Hinchinbrook and 
Hawkins Islands in Unit 6-D. The recent 3-year (2011-14, no estimate 
was available in 2013) average breeding population of dusky Canada 
geese was 13,678 geese, and is the highest 3-year average since 1995. 
The dusky Canada goose annual population index has increased steadily 
since 2009, and 2014 (15,574) is the highest value since 2005. The 
status of dusky Canada geese continues to be of concern, and harvest 
restrictions have been and remain in place to protect these geese 
throughout their range since the 1970s. We continue to support the 
harvest strategy described in the Pacific Flyway Council's management 
plan for this population.

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 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, VA 22041-3803.
    For each series of proposed rulemakings, we will establish specific 
comment periods. We will consider, but possibly may not respond in 
detail to, each comment. As in the past, we will summarize all comments 
we receive during the comment period and respond to them after the 
closing date in the preambles of any final rules.

Required Determinations

    Based on our most current data, we are affirming our required 
determinations made in the April 13, 2015, proposed rule (80 FR 19852); 
see that document, for descriptions of our actions to ensure compliance 
with the following statutes and Executive Orders:
     National Environmental Policy Act;
     Endangered Species Act;
     Regulatory Planning and Review;
     Regulatory Flexibility Act;
     Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act;
     Paperwork Reduction Act;
     Unfunded Mandates Reform Act;
     Executive Orders 12630, 12988, 13175, 13132, and 13211.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 20

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

    These rules that are proposed to be promulgated for the 2015-16 
hunting season are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 703-712 and 16 U.S.C. 742 
a-j.

    Dated: July 9, 2015.
Michael J. Bean,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

Proposed Regulations Frameworks for 2015-16 Early Hunting Seasons on 
Certain Migratory Game Birds

    Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and delegated 
authorities, the Department of the Interior approved the following 
proposed frameworks, which prescribe season lengths, bag limits, 
shooting hours, and outside dates within which States may select 
hunting seasons for certain migratory game birds between September 1, 
2015, and March 10, 2016. 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.

[[Page 43276]]

Flyways and Management Units

Waterfowl Flyways

    Atlantic Flyway--includes Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, 
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 
North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, 
Virginia, and West Virginia.
    Mississippi Flyway--includes Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, 
Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, 
Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
    Central Flyway--includes Colorado (east of the Continental Divide), 
Kansas, Montana (Counties of Blaine, Carbon, Fergus, Judith Basin, 
Stillwater, Sweetgrass, Wheatland, and all Counties east thereof), 
Nebraska, New Mexico (east of the Continental Divide except the 
Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation), North Dakota, Oklahoma, South 
Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming (east of the Continental Divide).
    Pacific Flyway--includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, 
Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and those portions of Colorado, 
Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming not included in the Central Flyway.

Management Units

Mourning Dove Management Units

    Eastern Management Unit--All States east of the Mississippi River, 
and Louisiana.
    Central Management Unit--Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, 
Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, 
Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.
    Western Management Unit--Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, 
Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

Woodcock Management Regions

    Eastern Management Region--Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, 
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 
North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, 
Virginia, and West Virginia.
    Central Management Region--Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, 
Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, 
Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, 
Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.
    Other geographic descriptions are contained in a later portion of 
this document.

Definitions

    Dark geese: Canada geese, white-fronted geese, brant (except in 
Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington, and the Atlantic Flyway), and 
all other goose species, except light geese.
    Light geese: Snow (including blue) geese and Ross's geese.

Waterfowl 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 all take of migratory waterfowl (including mergansers and 
coots).

Special September Teal Season

    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and September 30, an open season 
on all species of teal may be selected by the following States in areas 
delineated by State regulations:
    Atlantic Flyway--Delaware, 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. The seasons in Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin are 
experimental.
    Central Flyway--Colorado (part), Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico 
(part), Oklahoma, and Texas. The season in the northern portion of 
Nebraska is experimental.
    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 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 experimental 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.
    Iowa: In lieu of an experimental special September teal season, 
Iowa may hold up to 5 days of its regular duck hunting season in 
September. All ducks that are legal during the regular duck season may 
be taken during the September segment of the season. The September 
season segment may commence no earlier than the Saturday nearest 
September 20 (September 19). The daily bag and possession limits will 
be the same as those in effect last year but are subject to change 
during the late-season regulations process. The remainder of the 
regular duck season may not begin before October 10.

Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days

    Outside Dates: States may select 2 days per duck-hunting zone, 
designated as ``Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days,'' in addition to their 
regular duck seasons. The days must be held outside any regular duck 
season on a weekend, holidays, or other non-school days when youth 
hunters would have the maximum opportunity to participate. The days may 
be held up to 14 days before or after any regular duck-season 
frameworks or within any split of a regular duck season, or within any 
other open season on migratory birds.
    Daily Bag Limits: The daily bag limits may include ducks, geese, 
mergansers, coots, and gallinules and will be the same as those allowed 
in the regular season. Flyway species and area restrictions will remain 
in effect.
    Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
    Participation Restrictions: Youth hunters must be 15 years of age 
or younger. In addition, an adult at least 18 years of age must 
accompany the youth hunter into the field. This adult may not duck 
hunt, but may participate in other seasons that are open on the special 
youth day.

Scoters, Eiders, and Long-Tailed Ducks (Atlantic Flyway)

    Outside Dates: Between September 15 and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 107 days, with 
a daily bag limit of 7, singly or in the aggregate, of the listed sea 
duck species, of which no more than 4 may be scoters.
    Daily Bag Limits During the Regular Duck Season: Within the special 
sea duck areas, during the regular duck season in the Atlantic Flyway, 
States may choose to allow the above sea duck limits in addition to the 
limits applying to other ducks during the regular duck season. In all 
other areas, sea ducks may be taken only during the regular open

[[Page 43277]]

season for ducks and are part of the regular duck season daily bag (not 
to exceed 4 scoters) and possession limits.
    Areas: In all coastal waters and all waters of rivers and streams 
seaward from the first upstream bridge in Maine, New Hampshire, 
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York; in any waters 
of the Atlantic Ocean and in any tidal waters of any bay which are 
separated by at least 1 mile of open water from any shore, island, and 
emergent vegetation in New Jersey, South Carolina, and Georgia; and in 
any waters of the Atlantic Ocean and in any tidal waters of any bay 
which are separated by at least 800 yards of open water from any shore, 
island, and emergent vegetation in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, 
and Virginia; and provided that any such areas have been described, 
delineated, and designated as special sea duck hunting areas under the 
hunting regulations adopted by the respective States.

Special Early Canada Goose Seasons

Atlantic Flyway

General Seasons
    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 general season, shooting hours may extend to one-half hour 
after sunset if all other waterfowl seasons are closed in the specific 
applicable area.

Mississippi Flyway

General Seasons
    Canada goose seasons of up to 15 days during September 1-15 may be 
selected, except in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, where the season 
may not extend beyond September 10, and in Minnesota, where a season of 
up to 22 days during September 1-22 may be selected. The daily bag 
limit may not exceed 5 Canada geese, except in designated areas of 
Minnesota where the daily bag limit may not exceed 10 Canada geese. 
Areas open to the hunting of Canada geese must be described, 
delineated, and designated as such in each State's hunting regulations.
    A Canada goose season of up to 10 consecutive days during September 
1-10 may be selected by Michigan for Huron, Saginaw, and Tuscola 
Counties, except that the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, 
Shiawassee River State Game Area Refuge, and the Fish Point Wildlife 
Area Refuge will remain closed. The daily bag limit may not exceed 5 
Canada 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 if all other waterfowl and crane seasons are closed in the 
specific applicable area.

Central Flyway

General 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, North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming, Canada 
goose seasons of up to 15 days during September 1-15 may be selected. 
The daily bag limit may not exceed 5 Canada geese, 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.

Pacific Flyway

General Seasons
    California may select a 9-day season in Humboldt County during 
September 1-15. The daily bag limit is 2.
    Colorado may select a 9-day season during September 1-15. The daily 
bag limit is 4.
    Oregon may select a 15-day season during September 1-15, except 
that in the Northwest Zone the season may be during September 1-20. The 
daily bag limit is 5.
    Idaho may select a 15-day season during September 1-15. The daily 
bag limit is 5.
    Washington may select a 15-day season during September 1-15. The 
daily bag limit is 5, except in Pacific County where the daily bag 
limit is 15.
    Wyoming may select an 8-day season during September 1-15. The daily 
bag limit is 3.
    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

Mississippi Flyway

    Regular goose seasons may open as early as September 11 in the 
Upper Peninsula of Michigan and September 16 in Wisconsin and the Lower 
Peninsula of Michigan. Season lengths, bag and possession limits, and 
other provisions will be established during the late-season regulations 
process.

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 Kentucky.
    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 Kentucky.
    Daily Bag Limit: 2 sandhill cranes. In Kentucky 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.
    Experimental Season in the Mississippi Flyway:
    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons: A season not to exceed 60 consecutive days may be 
selected in Tennessee.
    Bag Limit: Not to exceed 3 daily and 3 per season in Tennessee.
    Permits: Each person participating in the regular sandhill crane 
season must have a valid Federal or State sandhill crane hunting 
permit.
    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 
Mississippi Flyway Council.

[[Page 43278]]

    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) subject to the following conditions:
    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons: The season in any State or zone may not exceed 30 
consecutive days.
    Bag limits: Not to exceed 3 daily and 9 per season.
    Permits: Participants must have a valid permit, issued by the 
appropriate State, in their possession while hunting.
    Other Provisions: Numbers of permits, open areas, season dates, 
protection plans for other species, and other provisions of seasons 
must be consistent with the management plan and approved by the Central 
and Pacific Flyway Councils, with the following exceptions:
    A. In Utah, 100 percent of the harvest will be assigned to the RMP 
quota;
    B. In Arizona, monitoring the racial composition of the harvest 
must be conducted at 3-year intervals;
    C. In Idaho, 100 percent of the harvest will be assigned to the RMP 
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 quota.

Common Moorhens and Purple Gallinules

    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and the last Sunday in January 
(January 31) in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways. States 
in the Pacific Flyway have been allowed to select their hunting seasons 
between the outside dates for the season on ducks; therefore, they are 
late-season frameworks, and no frameworks are provided in this 
document.
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Seasons may not exceed 70 
days in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways. Seasons may be 
split into 2 segments. The daily bag limit is 15 common moorhens and 
purple gallinules, singly or in the aggregate of the two species.
    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 31) 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 two 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 19) and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Seasons may not exceed 45 
days in the Eastern Region and 45 days in the Central Region. The daily 
bag limit is 3. Seasons may be split into two segments.
    Zoning: New Jersey may select seasons in each of two zones. The 
season in each zone may not exceed 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 two 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 two zones. The season in the South Zone may 
not open until October 1.

Doves

    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 15, except as 
otherwise provided, States may select hunting seasons and daily bag 
limits as follows:

Eastern Management Unit

    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 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 two zones. The season within each zone may be split into not more 
than three periods. 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 70 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 two zones. The season within each zone may

[[Page 43279]]

be split into not more than three periods.
    Texas:
    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag Limits: Not more than 70 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 three zones subject to the following conditions:
    A. The hunting season may be split into not more than two periods, 
except in that portion of Texas in which the special white-winged dove 
season is allowed, where a limited take of mourning and white-tipped 
doves may also occur during that special season (see Special White-
winged Dove Area).
    B. A season may be selected for the North and Central Zones between 
September 1 and January 25; and for the South Zone between the Friday 
nearest September 20 (September 18), but not earlier than September 17, 
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 
consecutive days, with a daily bag limit of 15 mourning and white-
winged doves in the aggregate.
    Arizona and California--Not more than 60 days, which may be split 
between two periods, September 1-15 and November 1-January 15. In 
Arizona, during the first segment of the season, the daily bag limit is 
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, sandhill cranes, and common snipe in each of 5 zones. The 
season may be split without penalty in the Kodiak Zone. The seasons in 
each zone must be concurrent.
    Closures: The hunting season is closed on emperor geese, 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 1 canvasback 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 4.
    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 five or less) with a 
bill length between 40 and 50 millimeters.
    D. 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.
    Brant--The daily bag limit is 2.
    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 registration 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 
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,

[[Page 43280]]

common moorhens, and common snipe. The season may be split into two 
segments.
    Daily Bag Limits:
    Ducks--Not to exceed 6.
    Common moorhens--Not to exceed 6.
    Common snipe--Not to exceed 8.
    Closed Seasons: The season is closed on the ruddy duck, white-
cheeked pintail, West Indian whistling duck, fulvous whistling duck, 
and masked duck, which are protected by the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico. The season also is closed on the purple gallinule, American coot, 
and Caribbean coot.
    Closed Areas: There is no open season on ducks, common moorhens, 
and common snipe in the Municipality of Culebra and on Desecheo Island.

Virgin Islands

    Doves and Pigeons
    Outside Dates: Between September 1 and January 15.
    Hunting Seasons: Not more than 60 days for Zenaida doves.
    Daily Bag and Possession Limits: Not to exceed 10 Zenaida doves.
    Closed Seasons: No open season is prescribed for ground or quail 
doves or pigeons.
    Closed Areas: There is no open season for migratory game birds on 
Ruth Cay (just south of St. Croix).
    Local Names for Certain Birds: Zenaida dove, also known as mountain 
dove; bridled quail-dove, also known as Barbary dove or partridge; 
common ground-dove, also known as stone dove, tobacco dove, rola, or 
tortolita; scaly-naped pigeon, also known as red-necked or scaled 
pigeon.

Ducks

    Outside Dates: Between December 1 and January 31.
    Hunting Seasons: Not more than 55 consecutive days.
    Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 6.
    Closed Seasons: The season is closed on the ruddy duck, white-
cheeked pintail, West Indian whistling duck, fulvous whistling duck, 
and masked duck.

Special Falconry Regulations

    Falconry is a permitted means of taking migratory game birds in any 
State meeting Federal falconry standards in 50 CFR 21.29. These States 
may select an extended season for taking migratory game birds in 
accordance with the following:
    Extended Seasons: For all hunting methods combined, the combined 
length of the extended season, regular season, and any special or 
experimental seasons 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 in each State listed in 50 CFR 21.29. 
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

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--Remainder of 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.
    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 Interstate Highway 10 east of San Antonio; 
then east on I-10 to Orange, Texas.
    Special White-winged Dove Area in the South Zone--That portion of 
the State south and west of a line beginning at the International Toll 
Bridge in Del Rio; then northeast along U.S. Highway 277 Spur to U.S. 
Highway 90 in Del Rio; then east along U.S. Highway 90 to State Loop 
1604; then along Loop 1604 south and east to Interstate Highway 37; 
then south along Interstate Highway 37 to U.S. Highway 181 in Corpus 
Christi; then north and east along U.S. 181 to the Corpus Christi Ship 
Channel, then eastwards along the south shore of the Corpus Christi 
Ship Channel to the Gulf of Mexico.
    Central Zone--That portion of the State lying between the North and 
South Zones.

Band-tailed Pigeons

California

    North Zone--Alpine, Butte, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lassen, 
Mendocino, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity 
Counties.
    South Zone--The remainder of the State.

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.

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.

[[Page 43281]]

    South Zone--The remainder of the State.

Special Early Canada Goose Seasons

Atlantic Flyway

Connecticut

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

Maryland

    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.

Massachusetts

    Western Zone--That portion of the State west of a line extending 
south from the Vermont border on I-91 to MA 9, west on MA 9 to MA 10, 
south on MA 10 to U.S. 202, south on U.S. 202 to the Connecticut 
border.
    Central Zone--That portion of the State east of the Berkshire Zone 
and west of a line extending south from the New Hampshire border on I-
95 to U.S. 1, south on U.S. 1 to I-93, south on I-93 to MA 3, south on 
MA 3 to U.S. 6, west on U.S. 6 to MA 28, west on MA 28 to I-195, west 
to the Rhode Island border; except the waters, and the lands 150 yards 
inland from the high-water mark, of the Assonet River upstream to the 
MA 24 bridge, and the Taunton River upstream to the Center St.-Elm St. 
bridge will be in the Coastal Zone.
    Coastal Zone--That portion of Massachusetts east and south of the 
Central Zone.

New York

    Lake Champlain Goose Area--The same as the Lake Champlain Waterfowl 
Hunting Zone, which is that area of New York State lying east and north 
of a continuous line extending along Route 11 from the New York-Canada 
International boundary south to Route 9B, south along Route 9B to Route 
9, south along Route 9 to Route 22 south of Keeseville, south along 
Route 22 to the west shore of South Bay along and around the shoreline 
of South Bay to Route 22 on the east shore of South Bay, southeast 
along Route 22 to Route 4, northeast along Route 4 to the New York-
Vermont boundary.
    Northeast Goose Area--The same as the Northeastern Waterfowl 
Hunting Zone, which is that area of New York State lying north of a 
continuous line extending from Lake Ontario east along the north shore 
of the Salmon River to Interstate 81, south along Interstate Route 81 
to Route 31, east along Route 31 to Route 13, north along Route 13 to 
Route 49, east along Route 49 to Route 365, east along Route 365 to 
Route 28, east along Route 28 to Route 29, east along Route 29 to Route 
22 at Greenwich Junction, north along Route 22 to Washington County 
Route 153, east along CR 153 to the New York-Vermont boundary, 
exclusive of the Lake Champlain Zone.
    East Central Goose Area--That area of New York State lying inside 
of a continuous line extending from Interstate Route 81 in Cicero, east 
along Route 31 to Route 13, north along Route 13 to Route 49, east 
along Route 49 to Route 365, east along Route 365 to Route 28, east 
along Route 28 to Route 29, east along Route 29 to Route 147 at Kimball 
Corners, south along Route 147 to Schenectady County Route 40 (West 
Glenville Road), west along Route 40 to Touareuna Road, south along 
Touareuna Road to Schenectady County Route 59, south along Route 59 to 
State Route 5, east along Route 5 to the Lock 9 bridge, southwest along 
the Lock 9 bridge to Route 5S, southeast along Route 5S to Schenectady 
County Route 58, southwest along Route 58 to the NYS Thruway, south 
along the Thruway to Route 7, southwest along Route 7 to Schenectady 
County Route 103, south along Route 103 to Route 406, east along Route 
406 to Schenectady County Route 99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route 
99 to Dunnsville Road, south along Dunnsville Road to Route 397, 
southwest along Route 397 to Route 146 at Altamont, west along Route 
146 to Albany County Route 252, northwest along Route 252 to 
Schenectady County Route 131, north along Route 131 to Route 7, west 
along Route 7 to Route 10 at Richmondville, south on Route 10 to Route 
23 at Stamford, west along Route 23 to Route 7 in Oneonta, southwest 
along Route 7 to Route 79 to Interstate Route 88 near Harpursville, 
west along Route 88 to Interstate Route 81, north along Route 81 to the 
point of beginning.
    West Central Goose Area--That area of New York State lying within a 
continuous line beginning at the point where the northerly extension of 
Route 269 (County Line Road on the Niagara-Orleans County boundary) 
meets the International boundary with Canada, south to the shore of 
Lake Ontario at the eastern boundary of Golden Hill State Park, south 
along the extension of Route 269 and Route 269 to Route 104 at Jeddo, 
west along Route 104 to Niagara County Route 271, south along Route 271 
to Route 31E at Middleport, south along Route 31E to Route 31, west 
along Route 31 to Griswold Street, south along Griswold Street to Ditch 
Road, south along Ditch Road to Foot Road, south along Foot Road to the 
north bank of Tonawanda Creek, west along the north bank of Tonawanda 
Creek to Route 93, south along Route 93 to Route 5, east along Route 5 
to Crittenden-Murrays Corners Road, south on Crittenden-Murrays Corners 
Road to the NYS Thruway, east along the Thruway 90 to Route 98 (at 
Thruway Exit 48) in Batavia, south along Route 98 to Route 20, east 
along Route 20 to Route 19 in Pavilion Center, south along Route 19 to 
Route 63, southeast along Route 63 to Route 246, south along Route 246 
to Route 39 in Perry, northeast along Route 39 to Route 20A, northeast 
along Route 20A to Route 20, east along Route 20 to Route 364 (near 
Canandaigua), south and east along Route 364 to Yates County Route 18 
(Italy Valley Road), southwest along Route 18 to Yates County Route 34, 
east along Route 34 to Yates County Route 32, south along Route 32 to 
Steuben County Route 122, south along Route 122 to Route 53, south 
along Route 53 to Steuben County Route 74, east along Route 74 to Route 
54A (near Pulteney), south along Route 54A to Steuben County Route 87, 
east along Route 87 to Steuben County Route 96, east along Route 96 to 
Steuben County Route 114, east along Route 114 to Schuyler County Route 
23, east and southeast along Route 23 to Schuyler County Route 28, 
southeast along Route 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.

[[Page 43282]]

    Hudson Valley Goose Area--That area of New York State lying within 
a continuous line extending from Route 4 at the New York-Vermont 
boundary, west and south along Route 4 to Route 149 at Fort Ann, west 
on Route 149 to Route 9, south along Route 9 to Interstate Route 87 (at 
Exit 20 in Glens Falls), south along Route 87 to Route 29, west along 
Route 29 to Route 147 at Kimball Corners, south along Route 147 to 
Schenectady County Route 40 (West Glenville Road), west along Route 40 
to Touareuna Road, south along Touareuna Road to Schenectady County 
Route 59, south along Route 59 to State Route 5, east along Route 5 to 
the Lock 9 bridge, southwest along the Lock 9 bridge to Route 5S, 
southeast along Route 5S to Schenectady County Route 58, southwest 
along Route 58 to the NYS Thruway, south along the Thruway to Route 7, 
southwest along Route 7 to Schenectady County Route 103, south along 
Route 103 to Route 406, east along Route 406 to Schenectady County 
Route 99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route 99 to Dunnsville Road, 
south along Dunnsville Road to Route 397, southwest along Route 397 to 
Route 146 at Altamont, southeast along Route 146 to Main Street in 
Altamont, west along Main Street to Route 156, southeast along Route 
156 to Albany County Route 307, southeast along Route 307 to Route 85A, 
southwest along Route 85A to Route 85, south along Route 85 to Route 
443, southeast along Route 443 to Albany County Route 301 at 
Clarksville, southeast along Route 301 to Route 32, south along Route 
32 to Route 23 at Cairo, west along Route 23 to Joseph Chadderdon Road, 
southeast along Joseph Chadderdon Road to Hearts Content Road (Greene 
County Route 31), southeast along Route 31 to Route 32, south along 
Route 32 to Greene County Route 23A, east along Route 23A to Interstate 
Route 87 (the NYS Thruway), south along Route 87 to Route 28 (Exit 19) 
near Kingston, northwest on Route 28 to Route 209, southwest on Route 
209 to the New York-Pennsylvania boundary, southeast along the New 
York-Pennsylvania boundary to the New York-New Jersey boundary, 
southeast along the New York-New Jersey boundary to Route 210 near 
Greenwood Lake, northeast along Route 210 to Orange County Route 5, 
northeast along Orange County Route 5 to Route 105 in the Village of 
Monroe, east and north along Route 105 to Route 32, northeast along 
Route 32 to Orange County Route 107 (Quaker Avenue), east along Route 
107 to Route 9W, north along Route 9W to the south bank of Moodna 
Creek, southeast along the south bank of Moodna Creek to the New 
Windsor-Cornwall town boundary, northeast along the New Windsor-
Cornwall town boundary to the Orange-Dutchess County boundary (middle 
of the Hudson River), north along the county boundary to Interstate 
Route 84, east along Route 84 to the Dutchess-Putnam County boundary, 
east along the county boundary to the New York-Connecticut boundary, 
north along the New York-Connecticut boundary to the New York-
Massachusetts boundary, north along the New York-Massachusetts boundary 
to the New York-Vermont boundary, north to the point of beginning.
    Eastern Long Island Goose Area (NAP High Harvest Area)--That area 
of Suffolk County lying east of a continuous line extending due south 
from the New York-Connecticut boundary to the northernmost end of 
Roanoke Avenue in the Town of Riverhead; then south on Roanoke Avenue 
(which becomes County Route 73) to State Route 25; then west on Route 
25 to Peconic Avenue; then south on Peconic Avenue to County Route (CR) 
104 (Riverleigh Avenue); then south on CR 104 to CR 31 (Old Riverhead 
Road); then south on CR 31 to Oak Street; then south on Oak Street to 
Potunk Lane; then west on Stevens Lane; then south on Jessup Avenue (in 
Westhampton Beach) to Dune Road (CR 89); then due south to 
international waters.
    Western Long Island Goose Area (RP Area)--That area of Westchester 
County and its tidal waters southeast of Interstate Route 95 and that 
area of Nassau and Suffolk Counties lying west of a continuous line 
extending due south from the New York-Connecticut boundary to the 
northernmost end of the Sunken Meadow State Parkway; then south on the 
Sunken Meadow Parkway to the Sagtikos State Parkway; then south on the 
Sagtikos Parkway to the Robert Moses State Parkway; then south on the 
Robert Moses Parkway to its southernmost end; then due south to 
international waters.
    Central Long Island Goose Area (NAP Low Harvest Area)--That area of 
Suffolk County lying between the Western and Eastern Long Island Goose 
Areas, as defined above.
    South Goose Area--The remainder of New York State, excluding New 
York City.

Pennsylvania

    Southern James Bay Population (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).

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 US 2; east along US 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

Arkansas

    Early Canada Goose Area--Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clark, 
Conway, Crawford, Faulkner, Franklin, Garland, Hempstead, Hot Springs, 
Howard, Johnson, Lafayette, Little River, Logan, Madison, Marion, 
Miller, Montgomery, Newton, Perry, Pike, Polk, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, 
Searcy, Sebastian, Sevier, Scott, Van Buren, Washington, and Yell 
Counties.

Illinois

    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

[[Page 43283]]

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 Zone and the North border 
of the South Zone

Iowa

    North Zone--That portion of the State north of U.S. Highway 20.
    South Zone--The remainder of Iowa.
    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.

Michigan

    North Zone--Same as North duck zone.
    Middle Zone--Same as Middle duck zone.
    South Zone--Same as South duck zone.

Minnesota

    Northwest Goose 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.
    Intensive Harvest Zone--That portion of the State encompassed by a 
line extending east from the junction of US 2 and the North Dakota 
border, US 2 east to MN 32 N, MN 32 N to MN 92 S, MN 92 S to MN 200 E, 
MN 200 E to US 71 S, US 71 S to US 10 E, US 10 E to MN 101 S, MN 101 S 
to Interstate 94 E, Interstate 94 E to US 494 S, US 494 S to US 212 W, 
US 212 W to MN 23 S, MN 23 S to US 14 W, US 14 W to the South Dakota 
border, South Dakota Border north to the North Dakota border, North 
Dakota border north to US 2 E.
    Rest of State: Remainder of Minnesota.

Wisconsin

    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 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

[[Page 43284]]

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.

Central Flyway

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 north on Mercer County Rd. 21 to the 
section line between sections 8 and 9 (T146N-R87W); then north on that 
section line to the southern shoreline to Lake Sakakawea; then east 
along the southern shoreline (including Mallard Island) of Lake 
Sakakawea to US Hwy 83; then south on US Hwy 83 to ND Hwy 200; then 
east on ND Hwy 200 to ND Hwy 41; then south on ND Hwy 41 to US Hwy 83; 
then south on US Hwy 83 to I-94; then east on I-94 to US Hwy 83; then 
south on US Hwy 83 to the South Dakota border; then west along the 
South Dakota border to ND Hwy 6.
    Rest of State--Remainder of North Dakota.

South Dakota

    Special Early Canada Goose Unit--The Counties of Campbell, 
Marshall, Roberts, Day, Clark, Codington, Grant, Hamlin, Deuel, 
Walworth; that portion of 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 the 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; 
McPherson, Edmunds, Kingsbury, Brookings, Lake, Moody, Miner, Faulk, 
Hand, Jerauld, Douglas, Hutchinson, Turner, Union, Clay, Yankton, 
Aurora, Beadle, Davison, Hanson, Sanborn, Spink, Brown, Harding, Butte, 
Lawrence, Meade, Shannon, Jackson, Mellette, Todd, Jones, Haakon, 
Corson, Ziebach, and McCook Counties; and those portions of 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).

Texas

    Eastern Goose Zone--East of a line from the International Toll 
Bridge at Laredo, north following IH-35 and 35W to Fort Worth, 
northwest along U.S. Hwy. 81 and 287 to Bowie, north along U.S. Hwy. 81 
to the Texas-Oklahoma State line.

Pacific Flyway

Oregon

    Northwest Zone--Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Lane, 
Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk, Multnomah, Tillamook, Washington, and 
Yamhill Counties.
    Southwest Zone--Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, and 
Klamath Counties.
    East Zone--Baker, Gilliam, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, 
Union, and Wasco Counties.

Washington

    Area 1--Skagit, Island, and Snohomish Counties.
    Area 2A (SW Permit Zone)--Clark County, except portions south of 
the Washougal River; Cowlitz County; and Wahkiakum County.
    Area 2B (SW Permit Zone)--Pacific County.
    Area 3--All areas west of the Pacific Crest Trail and west of the 
Big White Salmon River that are not included in Areas 1, 2A, and 2B.
    Area 4--Adams, Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, 
Lincoln, Okanogan, Spokane, and Walla Walla Counties.
    Area 5--All areas east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of the 
Big White Salmon River that are not included in Area 4.

Wyoming

    Teton County Zone--All of Teton County.
    Balance of State Zone--Remainder of the State.

Ducks

Atlantic Flyway

New York

    Lake Champlain Zone--The U.S. portion of Lake Champlain and that 
area east and north of a line extending along NY 9B from the Canadian 
border to U.S. 9, south along U.S. 9 to NY 22 south of Keesville; south 
along NY 22 to the west shore of South Bay, along and around the 
shoreline of South Bay to NY 22 on the east shore of South Bay; 
southeast along NY 22 to U.S. 4, northeast along U.S. 4 to the Vermont 
border.
    Long Island Zone--That area consisting of Nassau County, Suffolk 
County, that area of Westchester County southeast of I-95, and their 
tidal waters.
    Western Zone--That area west of a line extending from Lake Ontario 
east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, and south along 
I-81 to the Pennsylvania border.
    Northeastern Zone--That area north of a line extending from Lake 
Ontario east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, south 
along I-81 to NY 49, east along NY 49 to NY 365, east along NY 365 to 
NY 28, east along NY 28 to NY 29, east along NY 29 to I-87, north along 
I-87 to U.S. 9 (at Exit 20), north along U.S. 9 to NY 149, east along 
NY 149 to U.S. 4, north along U.S. 4 to the Vermont border, exclusive 
of the Lake Champlain Zone.
    Southeastern Zone--The remaining portion of New York.

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 Georges 
County east of Route 3 and Route 301; and that part of Charles County 
east of Route 301 to the Virginia State Line.

Mississippi Flyway

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

[[Page 43285]]

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 U.S. 40; 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.

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.

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

    Special Teal Season Area--Lake and Chaffee Counties and that 
portion of the State east of Interstate Highway 25.

Kansas

    High Plains Zone--That portion of the State west of U.S. 283.
    Early Zone--That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the 
Nebraska-Kansas State line south on K-128 to its junction with U.S.-36, 
then east on U.S.-36 to its junction with K-199, then south on K-199 to 
its junction with Republic County 30 Rd, then south on Republic County 
30 Rd to its junction with K-148, then east on K-148 to its junction 
with Republic County 50 Rd, then south on Republic County 50 Rd to its 
junction with Cloud County 40th Rd, then south on Cloud County 40th Rd 
to its junction with K-9, then west on K-9 to its junction with U.S.-
24, then west on U.S.-24 to its junction with U.S.-281, then north on 
U.S.-281 to its junction with U.S.-36, then west on U.S.-36 to its 
junction with U.S.-183, then south on U.S.-183 to its junction with 
U.S.-24, then west on U.S.-24 to its junction with K-18, then southeast 
on K-18 to its junction with U.S.-183, then south on U.S.-183 to its 
junction with K-4, then east on K-4 to its junction with I-135, then 
south on I-135 to its junction with K-61, then southwest on K-61 to 
McPherson County 14th Avenue, then south on McPherson County 14th 
Avenue to its junction with Arapaho Rd, then west on Arapaho Rd to its 
junction with K-61, then southwest on K-61 to its junction with K-96, 
then northwest on K-96 to its junction with U.S.-56, then southwest on 
U.S.-56 to its junction with K-19, then east on K-19 to its junction 
with U.S.-281, then south on U.S.-281 to its junction with U.S.-54, 
then west on U.S.-54 to its junction with U.S.-183, then north on U.S.-
183 to its junction with U.S.-56, then southwest on U.S.-56 to its 
junction with Ford County Rd 126, then south on Ford County Rd 126 to 
its junction with U.S.-400, then northwest on U.S.-400 to its junction 
with U.S.-283, then north on U.S.-283 to its junction with the 
Nebraska-Kansas State line, then east along the Nebraska-Kansas State 
line to its junction with K-128.
    Late Zone--That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the Nebraska-
Kansas State line south on K-128 to its junction with U.S.-36, then 
east on U.S.-36 to its junction with K-199, then south on K-199 to its 
junction with Republic County 30 Rd, then south on Republic County 30 
Rd to its junction with K-148, then east on K-148 to its junction with 
Republic County 50 Rd, then south on Republic County 50 Rd to its 
junction with Cloud County 40th Rd, then south on Cloud County 40th Rd 
to its junction with K-9, then west on K-9 to its junction with U.S.-
24, then west on U.S.-24 to its junction with U.S.-281, then north on 
U.S.-281 to its junction with U.S.-36, then west on U.S.-36 to its 
junction with U.S.-183, then south on U.S.-183 to its junction with 
U.S.-24, then west on U.S.-24 to its junction with K-18, then southeast 
on K-18 to its junction with U.S.-183, then south on U.S.-183 to its 
junction with K-4, then east on K-4 to its junction with I-135, then 
south on I-135 to its junction with K-61, then southwest on K-61 to 
14th Avenue, then south on 14th Avenue to its junction with Arapaho Rd, 
then west on Arapaho Rd to its junction with K-61, then southwest on K-
61 to its junction with K-96, then northwest on K-96 to its junction 
with U.S.-56, then southwest on U.S.-56 to its junction with K-19, then 
east on K-19 to its junction with U.S.-281, then south on U.S.-281 to 
its junction with U.S.-54, then west on U.S.-54 to its junction with 
U.S.-183, then north on U.S.-183 to its junction with U.S.-56, then 
southwest on U.S.-56 to its junction with Ford County Rd 126, then 
south on Ford County Rd 126 to its junction with U.S.-400, then 
northwest on U.S.-400 to its junction with U.S.-283, then south on 
U.S.-283 to its junction with the Oklahoma-Kansas State line, then east 
along the Oklahoma-Kansas State line to its junction with U.S.-77, then 
north on U.S.-77 to its junction with Butler County, NE 150th Street, 
then east on Butler County, NE 150th Street to its junction with U.S.-
35, then northeast on U.S.-35 to its junction with K-68,

[[Page 43286]]

then east on K-68 to the Kansas-Missouri State line, then north along 
the Kansas-Missouri State line to its junction with the Nebraska State 
line, then west along the Kansas-Nebraska State line to its junction 
with K-128.
    Southeast Zone--That part of Kansas bounded by a line from the 
Missouri-Kansas State line west on K-68 to its junction with U.S.-35, 
then southwest on U.S.-35 to its junction with Butler County, NE 150th 
Street, then west on NE 150th Street until its junction with K-77, then 
south on K-77 to the Oklahoma-Kansas State line, then east along the 
Kansas-Oklahoma State line to its junction with the Missouri State 
line, then north along the Kansas--Missouri State line to its junction 
with K-68.

Nebraska

    Special Teal Season Area (south)--That portion of the State south 
of a line beginning at the Wyoming State line; east along U.S. 26 to 
Nebraska Highway L62A east to U.S. 385; south to U.S. 26; east to NE 
92; east along NE 92 to NE 61; south along NE 61 to U.S. 30; east along 
U.S. 30 to the Iowa border.
    Special Teal Season Area (north)--The remainder of the State.
    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 Country 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 
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 Sargent Rd; west to Milburn Rd; north to Blaine County Line; 
east to Loup County Line; north to NE Hwy. 91; west to North Loup Spur 
Rd; north to North Loup 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 the Trace; north along the Trace/Burlington 
Northern Railroad right-of-way to NE Hwy. 2; west to U.S. Hwy. 75; 
north to NE Hwy. 2; west to NE Hwy. 43; north to U.S. Hwy. 34; east to 
NE Hwy. 63; north 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 J; 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 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 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.

Pacific Flyway

California

    Northeastern Zone--In that portion of California lying east and 
north of a line beginning at the intersection of Interstate 5 with the 
California-Oregon line; south along Interstate 5 to its junction with 
Walters Lane south of the town of Yreka; west along Walters Lane to its 
junction with Easy Street; south along Easy Street to the junction with 
Old Highway 99; south along Old Highway 99 to the point of intersection 
with Interstate 5 north of the town of Weed; south along Interstate 5 
to its junction with Highway 89; east and south along Highway 89 to 
Main Street Greenville; north and east to its junction with North 
Valley Road; south to its junction of Diamond Mountain Road; north and 
east to its junction with North Arm Road; south and west to the 
junction of North Valley Road; south to the junction with Arlington 
Road (A22); west to the junction of Highway 89; south and west to the 
junction of Highway 70; east on Highway 70 to Highway 395; south and 
east on

[[Page 43287]]

Highway 395 to the point of intersection with the California-Nevada 
State line; north along the California-Nevada State line to the 
junction of the California-Nevada-Oregon State lines west along the 
California-Oregon State line to the point of origin.
    Colorado River Zone--Those portions of San Bernardino, Riverside, 
and Imperial Counties east of a line extending from the Nevada border 
south along U.S. 95 to Vidal Junction; south on a road known as 
``Aqueduct Road'' in San Bernardino County through the town of Rice to 
the San Bernardino--Riverside County line; south on a road known in 
Riverside County as the ``Desert Center to Rice Road'' to the town of 
Desert Center; east 31 miles on I-10 to the Wiley Well Road; south on 
this road to Wiley Well; southeast along the Army-Milpitas Road to the 
Blythe, Brawley, Davis Lake intersections; south on the Blythe-Brawley 
paved road to the Ogilby and Tumco Mine Road; south on this road to 
U.S. 80; east 7 miles on U.S. 80 to the Andrade-Algodones Road; south 
on this paved road to the Mexican border at Algodones, Mexico.
    Southern Zone--That portion of southern California (but excluding 
the Colorado River Zone) south and east of a line extending from the 
Pacific Ocean east along the Santa Maria River to CA 166 near the City 
of Santa Maria; east on CA 166 to CA 99; south on CA 99 to the crest of 
the Tehachapi Mountains at Tejon Pass; east and north along the crest 
of the Tehachapi Mountains to CA 178 at Walker Pass; east on CA 178 to 
U.S. 395 at the town of Inyokern; south on U.S. 395 to CA 58; east on 
CA 58 to I-15; east on I-15 to CA 127; north on CA 127 to the Nevada 
border.
    Southern San Joaquin Valley Temporary Zone--All of Kings and Tulare 
Counties and that portion of Kern County north of the Southern Zone.
    Balance-of-the-State Zone--The remainder of California not included 
in the Northeastern, Southern, and Colorado River Zones, and the 
Southern San Joaquin Valley Temporary Zone.

Canada Geese

Michigan

    North Zone--Same as North duck zone.
    Middle Zone--Same as Middle duck zone.
    South Zone--Same as South duck zone.
    Tuscola/Huron Goose Management Unit (GMU)--Those portions of 
Tuscola and Huron Counties bounded on the south by Michigan Highway 138 
and Bay City Road, on the east by Colwood and Bay Port Roads, on the 
north by Kilmanagh Road and a line extending directly west off the end 
of Kilmanagh Road into Saginaw Bay to the west boundary, and on the 
west by the Tuscola-Bay County line and a line extending directly north 
off the end of the Tuscola-Bay County line into Saginaw Bay to the 
north boundary.
    Allegan County GMU--That area encompassed by a line beginning at 
the junction of 136th Avenue and Interstate Highway 196 in Lake Town 
Township and extending easterly along 136th Avenue to Michigan Highway 
40, southerly along Michigan 40 through the city of Allegan to 108th 
Avenue in Trowbridge Township, westerly along 108th Avenue to 46th 
Street, northerly along 46th Street to 109th Avenue, westerly along 
109th Avenue to I-196 in Casco Township, then northerly along I-196 to 
the point of beginning.
    Saginaw County GMU--That portion of Saginaw County bounded by 
Michigan Highway 46 on the north; Michigan 52 on the west; Michigan 57 
on the south; and Michigan 13 on the east.
    Muskegon Wastewater GMU--That portion of Muskegon County within the 
boundaries of the Muskegon County wastewater system, east of the 
Muskegon State Game Area, in sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 
30, and 32, T10N R14W, and sections 1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 24, and 
25, T10N R15W, as posted.

Wisconsin

    Same zones as for ducks but in addition:
    Horicon Zone--That area encompassed by a line beginning at the 
intersection of State 21 and the Fox River in Winnebago County and 
extending westerly along State 21 to the west boundary of Winnebago 
County, southerly along the west boundary of Winnebago County to the 
north boundary of Green Lake County, westerly along the north 
boundaries of Green Lake and Marquette Counties to State 22, southerly 
along State 22 to State 33, westerly along State 33 to I-39, southerly 
along I-39 to I-90/94, southerly along I-90/94 to State 60, easterly 
along State 60 to State 83, northerly along State 83 to State 175, 
northerly along State 175 to State 33, easterly along State 33 to U.S. 
45, northerly along U.S. 45 to the east shore of the Fond Du Lac River, 
northerly along the east shore of the Fond Du Lac River to Lake 
Winnebago, northerly along the western shoreline of Lake Winnebago to 
the Fox River, then westerly along the Fox River to State 21.
    Exterior Zone--That portion of the State not included in the 
Horicon Zone.
    Mississippi River Subzone--That area encompassed by a line 
beginning at the intersection of the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe 
Railway and the Illinois State line in Grant County and extending 
northerly along the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway to the city 
limit of Prescott in Pierce County, then west along the Prescott city 
limit to the Minnesota State line.
    Brown County Subzone--That area encompassed by a line beginning at 
the intersection of the Fox River with Green Bay in Brown County and 
extending southerly along the Fox River to State 29, northwesterly 
along State 29 to the Brown County line, south, east, and north along 
the Brown County line to Green Bay, due west to the midpoint of the 
Green Bay Ship Channel, then southwesterly along the Green Bay Ship 
Channel to the Fox River.

Sandhill Cranes

Mississippi Flyway

Minnesota

    Northwest Goose 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

    Hunt Zone--That portion of the State south of Interstate 40 and 
east of State Highway 56.
    Closed Zone--Remainder of the State.

Central Flyway

    Colorado--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--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--The Central Flyway portion of the State except for that 
area

[[Page 43288]]

south and west of Interstate 90, which is closed to sandhill crane 
hunting.

New Mexico

    Regular-Season Open Area--Chaves, Curry, De Baca, Eddy, Lea, Quay, 
and Roosevelt Counties.
    Middle Rio Grande Valley Area--The Central Flyway portion of New 
Mexico in Socorro and Valencia Counties.
    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 
N.M. 26, east to N.M. 27, north to N.M. 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--That portion of the State west of I-35.
    South Dakota--That portion of the State west of U.S. 281.

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 Interstate Highway 35W in Fort 
Worth, then southwest along Interstate Highway 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.
    (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

    Regular Season Open Area--Campbell, Converse, Crook, Goshen, 
Laramie, Niobrara, Platte, and Weston Counties.
    Riverton-Boysen Unit--Portions of Fremont County.
    Park and Big Horn County Unit--All of Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park 
and Washakie Counties.

Pacific Flyway

Arizona

    Special Season Area--Game Management Units 28, 30A, 30B, 31, and 
32.

Idaho

    Area 1--All of Bear Lake County and all of Caribou County except 
that portion downstream from the dam at Alexander Reservoir south of 
U.S. Highway 30, and 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 Franklin County west of U.S. Highway 91 from the 
Utah State line north to the junction of State Highway 34 in Preston 
and everything west of state Highway 34 north to the Franklin County-
Caribou County line.

Montana

    Zone 1 (Warm Springs Portion of Deer Lodge County)--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 
Lake, 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 (Ovando-Helmville Area)--That portion of the Pacific Flyway, 
located in Powell County lying within the following described boundary: 
beginning at the junction of State Routes

[[Page 43289]]

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 (Dillon/Twin Bridges/Cardwell Areas)--That portion of 
Beaverhead, Madison and Jefferson counties lying within the following 
described boundaries: Beginning at Dillon, then northerly along US Hwy 
91 to its intersection with the Big Hole River at Brown's Bridge north 
of Glen, then southeasterly and northeasterly along the Big Hole River 
to High Road, then east along High Road to State Highway 41, then east 
along said highway to the Beaverhead River, then north along said river 
to the Jefferson River and north along the Jefferson River to the 
Ironrod Bridge, then northeasterly along State Highway 41 to the 
junction with State Highway 55, then northeasterly along said highway 
to the junction with I-90, then east along I-90 to Cardwell and Route 
359 then south along Route 359 to the Parrot Hill/Cedar Hill Road then 
southwesterly along said road and the Cemetery Hill Road to the Parrot 
Ditch road to the Point of Rocks Road to Carney Lane to the Bench Road 
to the Waterloo Road and Bayers Lanes, to State Highway 41, then east 
along State Highway 41 to the Beaverhead River, then south along the 
Beaverhead River to the mouth of the Ruby River, then southeasterly 
along the Ruby River to the East Bench Road, then southwesterly along 
the East Bench Road to the East Bench Canal, then southwesterly along 
said canal to the Sweetwater Road, then west along Sweetwater Road to 
Dillon, the point of beginning, plus the remainder of Madison County 
and all of Gallatin County.
    Zone 4 (Broadwater County)--All of Broadwater County.

Utah

    Cache County--All of 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--All of Rich County.
    Uintah County--All of Uintah County.

Wyoming

    Area 1 (Bear River)--All of the Bear River and Ham's Fork River 
drainages in Lincoln County.
    Area 2 (Salt River Area)--All of the Salt River drainage in Lincoln 
County south of the McCoy Creek Road.
    Area 3 (Eden Valley Area)--All lands within the Bureau of 
Reclamation's Eden Project in Sweetwater County.
    Area 5 (Uintah County Area)--All of 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.

[[Page 43290]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP21JY15.001

[FR Doc. 2015-17718 Filed 7-20-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P



                                                      43266                    Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                      DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                               on http://www.regulations.gov. This                   15. Band-tailed Pigeons
                                                                                                               generally means that your entire                      16. Doves
                                                      Fish and Wildlife Service                                submission—including any personal                     17. Alaska
                                                                                                               identifying information—will be posted                18. Hawaii
                                                      50 CFR Part 20                                                                                                 19. Puerto Rico
                                                                                                               on the Web site. See the Public                       20. Virgin Islands
                                                      [Docket No. FWS–HQ–MB–2014–0064;                         Comments section, below, for more                     21. Falconry
                                                      FF09M21200–156–FXMB1231099BPP0]                          information.                                          22. Other
                                                                                                                 Meetings: The Service Migratory Bird
                                                      RIN 1018–BA67                                            Regulations Committee will meet at the                   Subsequent documents will refer only
                                                                                                               U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275                  to numbered items requiring attention.
                                                      Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed                                                                               Therefore, it is important to note that we
                                                                                                               Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia.
                                                      Frameworks for Early-Season                                                                                    will omit those items requiring no
                                                                                                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron
                                                      Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations;                                                                            attention, and remaining numbered
                                                      Notice of Meetings                                       W. Kokel, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
                                                                                                                                                                     items will be discontinuous and appear
                                                                                                               Service, Department of the Interior, MS:
                                                                                                                                                                     incomplete.
                                                      AGENCY:   Fish and Wildlife Service,                     MB, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church,                    On June 11, 2015, we published in the
                                                      Interior.                                                VA 22041–3803; (703) 358–1967.                        Federal Register (80 FR 33223) a second
                                                      ACTION: Proposed rule; supplemental.                     SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            document providing supplemental
                                                      SUMMARY:    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife                   Regulations Schedule for 2015                         proposals for early- and late-season
                                                      Service (hereinafter Service or we) is                                                                         migratory bird hunting regulations. The
                                                                                                                 On April 13, 2015, we published in                  June 11 supplement also provided
                                                      proposing to establish the 2015–16                       the Federal Register (80 FR 19852) a
                                                      early-season hunting regulations for                                                                           detailed information on the 2015–16
                                                                                                               proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20. The                 regulatory schedule and announced the
                                                      certain migratory game birds. We                         proposal provided a background and
                                                      annually prescribe frameworks, or outer                                                                        SRC and Flyway Council meetings.
                                                                                                               overview of the migratory bird hunting                   This document, the third in a series
                                                      limits, for dates and times when hunting                 regulations process, and addressed the                of proposed, supplemental, and final
                                                      may occur and the maximum number of                      establishment of seasons, limits, and                 rulemaking documents for migratory
                                                      birds that may be taken and possessed                    other regulations for hunting migratory               bird hunting regulations, deals
                                                      in early seasons. Early seasons may                      game birds under §§ 20.101 through                    specifically with proposed frameworks
                                                      open as early as September 1, and                        20.107, 20.109, and 20.110 of subpart K.              for early-season regulations and the
                                                      include seasons in Alaska, Hawaii,                       Major steps in the 2015–16 regulatory                 regulatory alternatives for the 2015–16
                                                      Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.                cycle relating to open public meetings                duck hunting seasons. It will lead to
                                                      These frameworks are necessary to                        and Federal Register notifications were               final frameworks from which States may
                                                      allow State selections of specific final                 also identified in the April 13 proposed              select season dates, shooting hours, and
                                                      seasons and limits and to allow                          rule.                                                 daily bag and possession limits for the
                                                      recreational harvest at levels compatible                  Further, we explained that all sections             2015–16 season.
                                                      with population status and habitat                       of subsequent documents outlining                        We have considered all pertinent
                                                      conditions. This proposed rule also                      hunting frameworks and guidelines                     comments received through June 26,
                                                      provides the regulatory alternatives for                 were organized under numbered                         2015, on the April 13 and June 11, 2015,
                                                      the 2015–16 duck hunting seasons.                        headings. Those headings are:                         rulemaking documents in developing
                                                      DATES: Comments: You must submit                         1. Ducks                                              this proposed rule. In addition, new
                                                      comments on the proposed early-season                       A. General Harvest Strategy                        proposals for certain early-season
                                                      frameworks by July 31, 2015.                                B. Regulatory Alternatives                         regulations are provided for public
                                                         Meetings: The Service Migratory Bird                     C. Zones and Split Seasons                         comment. Comment periods are
                                                      Regulations Committee (SRC) will meet                       D. Special Seasons/Species Management
                                                                                                                  i. September Teal Seasons
                                                                                                                                                                     specified above under DATES. We will
                                                      to consider and develop proposed                                                                               publish final regulatory frameworks for
                                                      regulations for late-season migratory                       ii. September Teal/Wood Duck Seasons
                                                                                                                  iii. Black ducks                                   early seasons in the Federal Register on
                                                      bird hunting and the 2016 spring/                           iv. Canvasbacks                                    or about August 16, 2015.
                                                      summer migratory bird subsistence                           v. Pintails
                                                      seasons in Alaska on July 29–30, 2015.                      vi. Scaup                                          Service Migratory Bird Regulations
                                                      All meetings will commence at                               vii. Mottled ducks                                 Committee Meetings
                                                      approximately 8:30 a.m.                                     viii. Wood ducks                                      Participants at the June 24–25, 2015,
                                                      ADDRESSES: Comments: You may submit                         ix. Youth Hunt                                     meetings reviewed information on the
                                                      comments on the proposals by one of                         x. Mallard Management Units                        current status of migratory shore and
                                                                                                                  xi. Other
                                                      the following methods:                                                                                         upland game birds and developed 2015–
                                                                                                               2. Sea Ducks
                                                         • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://                 3. Mergansers                                         16 migratory game bird regulations
                                                      www.regulations.gov. Follow the                          4. Canada Geese                                       recommendations for these species plus
                                                      instructions for submitting comments                        A. Special Seasons                                 regulations for migratory game birds in
                                                      on Docket No. FWS–HQ–MB–2014–                               B. Regular Seasons                                 Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin
                                                      0064.                                                       C. Special Late Seasons                            Islands; special September waterfowl
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                         • U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public                  5. White-fronted Geese                                seasons in designated States; special sea
                                                      Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–HQ–                       6. Brant                                              duck seasons in the Atlantic Flyway;
                                                      MB–2014–0064; Division of Policy,                        7. Snow and Ross’s (Light) Geese                      and extended falconry seasons. In
                                                                                                               8. Swans
                                                      Performance, and Management                                                                                    addition, we reviewed and discussed
                                                                                                               9. Sandhill Cranes
                                                      Programs; U.S. Fish and Wildlife                         10. Coots                                             preliminary information on the status of
                                                      Service, MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike,                   11. Moorhens and Gallinules                           waterfowl.
                                                      Falls Church, VA 22041.                                  12. Rails                                                Participants at the previously
                                                         We will not accept emailed or faxed                   13. Snipe                                             announced July 29–30, 2015, meetings
                                                      comments. We will post all comments                      14. Woodcock                                          will review information on the current


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                          43267

                                                      status of waterfowl and develop                          average winter precipitation and above-               stable since 1982, but over the past few
                                                      recommendations for the 2015–16                          average temperatures. Best moisture                   years the trend is slightly increasing.
                                                      regulations pertaining to regular                        conditions were centered in southern                  The preliminary spring 2015 index for
                                                      waterfowl seasons and other species and                  Saskatchewan, but nearly all of prairie               sandhill cranes in the Central Platte
                                                      seasons not previously discussed at the                  Canada experienced below-normal                       River Valley (CPRV), Nebraska,
                                                      early-season meetings. In accordance                     spring precipitation. The 2015 estimate               uncorrected for visibility bias, was
                                                      with Department of the Interior policy,                  of ponds in Prairie Canada was 4.2 ± 0.1              325,956 birds. This estimate is 4 percent
                                                      these meetings are open to public                        million. This estimate was 10 percent                 lower than the long-term average for the
                                                      observation and you may submit                           below the 2014 estimate of 4.6 ± 0.2                  ocular estimate. The 3-year average for
                                                      comments on the matters discussed.                       million and 19 percent above the long-                photo-corrected counts (which are more
                                                                                                               term average (3.5 ± 0.02 million).                    accurate than ocular estimates because
                                                      Population Status and Harvest
                                                                                                               Annual winter precipitation was lower                 they account for birds present but not
                                                         The following paragraphs provide                      in the northern part of the survey area;              seen by aerial crews) for 2012–14 was
                                                      preliminary information on the status of                 the Parklands, however, continue to                   620,841, which is above the established
                                                      waterfowl and information on the status                  benefit from hold-over water. The boreal              population-objective range of 349,000–
                                                      and harvest of migratory shore and                       region and Alaska exhibited drier                     472,000 cranes. All Central Flyway
                                                      upland game birds excerpted from                         conditions, but an early spring and no                States, except Nebraska, allowed crane
                                                      various reports. For more detailed                       flooding should aid waterfowl                         hunting in portions of their States
                                                      information on methodologies and                         production. Most of the Canadian                      during 2014–15. An estimated 7,825
                                                      results, you may obtain complete copies                  portion of the traditional survey area                Central Flyway hunters participated in
                                                      of the various reports at the address                    was rated as fair or good this year with              these seasons, which was 24 percent
                                                      indicated under FOR FURTHER                              areas of excellent conditions that                    lower than the number that participated
                                                      INFORMATION CONTACT or from our Web                      received greater annual precipitation.                in the previous season. Hunters
                                                      site at http://www.fws.gov/                                 Following a relatively mild winter,                harvested 15,776 MCP cranes in the U.S.
                                                      migratorybirds/                                          the U.S. prairies also recorded an early              portion of the Central Flyway during the
                                                      NewsPublicationsReports.html.                            spring, although precipitation since last             2014–15 seasons, which was 27 percent
                                                      Waterfowl Breeding and Habitat Survey                    summer was average to mostly below                    lower than the harvest for the previous
                                                                                                               average. Habitat conditions declined                  year but 6 percent higher than the long-
                                                        Federal, provincial, and State                         from 2014 in Montana and the Dakotas
                                                      agencies conduct surveys each spring to                                                                        term average. The retrieved harvest of
                                                                                                               despite significant rainfall in May,                  MCP cranes in hunt areas outside of the
                                                      estimate the size of waterfowl breeding                  which came too late to benefit most
                                                      populations and to evaluate the                                                                                Central Flyway (Arizona, Pacific Flyway
                                                                                                               nesting waterfowl. The 2015 pond                      portion of New Mexico, Minnesota,
                                                      conditions of the habitats. These                        estimate for the northcentral United
                                                      surveys are conducted using fixed-wing                                                                         Alaska, Canada, and Mexico combined)
                                                                                                               States was 2.2 ± 0.09 million which was               was 13,221 during 2014–15. The
                                                      aircraft, helicopters, and ground crews                  16 percent below the 2014 estimate of
                                                      and encompass principal breeding areas                                                                         preliminary estimate for the North
                                                                                                               2.6 ± 0.1 million and 28 percent above                American MCP sport harvest, including
                                                      of North America, covering an area over                  the long-term average (1.7 ± 0.02
                                                      2.0 million square miles. The traditional                                                                      crippling losses, was 32,666 birds,
                                                                                                               million).                                             which was a 19 percent decrease from
                                                      survey area comprises Alaska, Canada,
                                                      and the northcentral United States, and                  Eastern Survey Area                                   the previous year’s estimate. The long-
                                                      includes approximately 1.3 million                         Winter and spring temperatures in the               term (1982–2012) trends for the MCP
                                                      square miles. The eastern survey area                    eastern survey area were again well                   indicate that harvest has been increasing
                                                      includes parts of Ontario, Quebec,                       below normal. February was the coldest                at a higher rate than population growth.
                                                      Labrador, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia,                     on record in Maine and the State had                     The fall 2014 pre-migration survey for
                                                      Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick,                     near-record snowfall. Average to above-               the Rocky Mountain Population (RMP)
                                                      New York, and Maine, an area of                          average winter and spring precipitation               resulted in a count of 19,668 cranes. The
                                                      approximately 0.7 million square miles.                  was confined to central latitudes of                  3-year average was 18,482 sandhill
                                                        Despite an early spring over most of                   Ontario and Quebec and the Maritimes                  cranes, which is within the established
                                                      the survey area, habitat conditions were                 whereas far western and southeastern                  population objective of 17,000–21,000
                                                      similar to or poorer than last year. In                  Ontario and northern and extreme                      for the RMP. Hunting seasons during
                                                      many areas, the decline in habitat                       southern Quebec received well below-                  2014–15 in portions of Arizona, Idaho,
                                                      conditions was due to average to below-                  average precipitation. Even with an                   Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and
                                                      average annual precipitation, with the                   early spring in the survey area, a                    Wyoming resulted in a harvest of 624
                                                      exception of portions of southern                        protracted thaw produced little flooding              RMP cranes, an 8 percent decrease from
                                                      Saskatchewan and central latitudes of                    in areas that had received above-average              the previous year’s harvest.
                                                      eastern Canada. The total pond estimate                  precipitation, therefore assisting                       The Lower Colorado River Valley
                                                      (Prairie Canada and United States                        waterfowl production.                                 Population (LCRVP) survey results
                                                      combined) was 6.3 ± 0.2 million, which
                                                                                                               Status of Teal                                        indicate a 24 percent decrease from
                                                      was 12 percent below the 2014 estimate
                                                                                                                                                                     3,353 birds in 2014 to 2,536 birds in
                                                      of 7.2 ± 0.2 million and 21 percent                        The estimate of blue-winged teal from
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                                                                                     2015. The 3-year average is 2,989
                                                      above the long-term average of 5.2 ±                     the traditional survey area is 8.5
                                                                                                                                                                     LCRVP cranes, which is above the
                                                      0.03 million.                                            million. This count was similar to 2014,
                                                                                                                                                                     population objective of 2,500.
                                                                                                               and is 73 percent above the 1955–2014
                                                      Traditional Survey Area (U.S. and                                                                                 The Eastern Population (EP) sandhill
                                                                                                               average.
                                                      Canadian Prairies and Parklands)                                                                               crane fall survey index (83,479)
                                                         Spring came early across the                          Sandhill Cranes                                       increased by 30 percent in 2014, and a
                                                      traditional survey area, particularly in                   The annual indices to abundance of                  combined total of 401 cranes were
                                                      relation to 2013 and 2014. Much of the                   the Mid-Continent Population (MCP) of                 harvested in Kentucky’s fourth hunting
                                                      Canadian prairies had average to below-                  sandhill cranes have been relatively                  season and Tennessee’s second season.


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                                                      43268                    Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                      Woodcock                                                 of Pacific Coast band-tailed pigeons                  alternatives for the 2015–16 duck
                                                         The American woodcock (Scolopax                       decreased (¥1.8 percent per year) over                hunting season. Comments concerning
                                                      minor) is managed as two management                      the long term (1968–2014). No trends in               early-season issues and the proposed
                                                      regions, the Eastern and the Central.                    abundance were evident during the                     alternatives are summarized below and
                                                      Singing Ground and Wing-collection                       recent 10- and 5-year periods for both                numbered in the order used in the April
                                                      Surveys are conducted to assess                          the BBS and MSS. Harvest estimates                    13, 2015, Federal Register document.
                                                      population status. The Singing Ground                    indicate that 2,900 active hunters took               Only the numbered items pertaining to
                                                                                                               12,000 pigeons and spent 8,800 days                   early-season issues and the proposed
                                                      Survey is intended to measure long-term
                                                                                                               afield in 2014. Composition of harvest                regulatory alternatives for which we
                                                      changes in woodcock population levels.
                                                                                                               was 25 percent hatching-year pigeons.                 received written comments are
                                                      Singing Ground Survey data for 2015
                                                                                                                  For Interior band-tailed pigeons, the              included. Consequently, the issues do
                                                      indicate that the number of singing male                 BBS provided evidence that abundance                  not follow in consecutive numerical or
                                                      woodcock per route in the Eastern and                    decreased (¥5.5 percent per year) over                alphabetical order.
                                                      Central Management Regions was                           the long term (1968–2014). Similar to                    We received recommendations from
                                                      unchanged from 2014. There was a                         Pacific Coast birds, no trends in                     all four Flyway Councils. Some
                                                      statistically significant, declining 10-                 abundance were evident during the                     recommendations supported
                                                      year trend in woodcock heard for the                     recent 10- and 5-year periods. An                     continuation of last year’s frameworks.
                                                      Eastern Management Region during                         estimated 1,500 hunters harvested 1,500               Due to the comprehensive nature of the
                                                      2005–15, while the 10-year trend in the                  pigeons and spent 3,300 days afield in                annual review of the frameworks
                                                      Central Management Region was not                        2014.                                                 performed by the Councils, support for
                                                      significant. This marks the second year                                                                        continuation of last year’s frameworks is
                                                      in a row that the 10-year trend in the                   Mourning Doves
                                                                                                                                                                     assumed for items for which no
                                                      Eastern Management Region has shown                         Doves in the United States are                     recommendations were received.
                                                      a decline. Both management regions                       managed in three management units,                    Council recommendations for changes
                                                      have a long-term (1968–2015) declining                   Eastern (EMU), Central (CMU), and                     in the frameworks are summarized
                                                      trend (¥1.1 percent per year in the                      Western (WMU). We annually                            below.
                                                      Eastern Management Region and ¥0.7                       summarize information collected in the                   We seek additional information and
                                                      percent per year in the Central                          United States on survival, recruitment,               comments on the recommendations in
                                                      Management Region).                                      abundance, and harvest of mourning                    this supplemental proposed rule. New
                                                         The Wing-collection Survey provides                   doves. We report on trends in the                     proposals and modifications to
                                                      an index to recruitment. Wing-                           number of doves heard and seen per                    previously described proposals are
                                                      collection Survey data indicate that the                 route from the all-bird BBS, and provide              discussed below. Wherever possible,
                                                      2014 recruitment index for the U.S.                      absolute abundance estimates based on                 they are discussed under headings
                                                      portion of the Eastern Region (1.49                      band recovery and harvest data. Harvest               corresponding to the numbered items in
                                                      immatures per adult female) was 6.9                      and hunter participation are estimated                the April 13. 2015, Federal Register
                                                      percent less than the 2013 index, and                    from the HIP.                                         document.
                                                      8.9 percent less than the long-term                         BBS data suggested that the
                                                      (1963–2013) average. The recruitment                                                                           General
                                                                                                               abundance of mourning doves over the
                                                      index for the U.S. portion of the Central                last 49 years increased in the Eastern                   Written Comments: A commenter
                                                      Region (1.39 immatures per adult                         Management Unit (EMU) and decreased                   protested the entire migratory bird
                                                      female) was 9.7 percent less than the                    in the Central (CMU) and Western                      hunting regulations process, the killing
                                                      2013 index and 10.6 percent less than                    (WMU) Management Units. Estimates of                  of all migratory birds, and status and
                                                      the long-term (1963–2013) average.                       absolute abundance are available only                 habitat data on which the migratory bird
                                                         During last year’s seasons, hunters in                since 2003 and indicate that there are                hunting regulations are based.
                                                      the Eastern Region harvested 58,600                      about 274 million doves in the United                    Service Response: Our long-term
                                                      birds, which was 6.2 percent below the                   States. In 2014, abundance varied                     objectives continue to include providing
                                                      number for the previous season and 31.4                  among the management units with 68.2                  opportunities to harvest portions of
                                                      percent below the long-term (1999–                       million in the EMU, 161.6 million in the              certain migratory game bird populations
                                                      2013) average. In the Central Region,                    CMU, and 43.6 million in the WMU.                     and to limit harvests to levels
                                                      141,500 woodcock were harvested, 21.4                       Current (2014) HIP estimates for                   compatible with each population’s
                                                      percent less than in 2013 and 36.5                       mourning dove total harvest, active                   ability to maintain healthy, viable
                                                      percent less than the long-term average.                 hunters, and total days afield in the                 numbers. Having taken into account the
                                                                                                               United States were 13,809,500 birds,                  zones of temperature and the
                                                      Band-Tailed Pigeons                                                                                            distribution, abundance, economic
                                                                                                               839,600 hunters, and 2,386,700 days
                                                         Two subspecies of band-tailed pigeon                  afield. Harvest and hunter participation              value, breeding habits, and times and
                                                      occur north of Mexico, and are managed                   at the unit level were: EMU, 4,889,800                lines of flight of migratory birds, we
                                                      as two separate populations: Interior                    birds, 310,200 hunters, and 791,300                   believe that the hunting seasons
                                                      and Pacific Coast. Information on the                    days afield; CMU, 7,654,700 birds,                    provided for herein are compatible with
                                                      abundance and harvest of band-tailed                     427,100 hunters, and 1,333,600 days                   the current status of migratory bird
                                                      pigeons is collected annually in the                     afield; and WMU, 1,265,000 birds,                     populations and long-term population
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                                                      United States and British Columbia.                      102,300 hunters, and 261,800 days                     goals. Additionally, we are obligated to,
                                                      Abundance information comes from the                     afield.                                               and do, give serious consideration to all
                                                      Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and the                                                                             information received as public
                                                      Mineral Site Survey (MSS, specific to                    Review of Public Comments                             comment. We believe that the Flyway-
                                                      the Pacific Coast Population). Harvest                     The preliminary proposed rulemaking                 Council system of migratory bird
                                                      and hunter participation are estimated                   (April 13, 2015; 80 FR 19852) opened                  management has been a longstanding,
                                                      from the Migratory Bird Harvest                          the public comment period for                         successful example of State-Federal
                                                      Information Program (HIP). The BBS                       migratory game bird hunting regulations               cooperative management since its
                                                      provided evidence that the abundance                     and announced the proposed regulatory                 establishment in 1952. However, as


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                          43269

                                                      always, we continue to seek new ways                     these discussions would be the                           We will propose a specific regulatory
                                                      to streamline and improve the process.                   appropriate venue to discuss what role,               alternative for each of the Flyways
                                                                                                               if any, a one-step constraint might play              during the 2015–16 season after survey
                                                      1. Ducks
                                                                                                               in management of waterfowl in the                     information becomes available later this
                                                         Categories used to discuss issues                     Central and Mississippi Flyways. Such                 summer. More information on AHM is
                                                      related to duck harvest management are:                  discussions should include the potential              located at http://www.fws.gov/birds/
                                                      (A) General Harvest Strategy; (B)                        impact of a one-step constraint on the                management/adaptive-harvest-
                                                      Regulatory Alternatives, including                       frequency of when the liberal, moderate,              management.php.
                                                      specification of framework dates, season                 and restrictive packages would be                        As we stated above, for the 2016–17
                                                      lengths, and bag limits; (C) Zones and                   recommended. On a final note, while                   season, the current early and late-season
                                                      Split Seasons; and (D) Special Seasons/                  we recognize the Council’s concern                    regulatory actions will be combined into
                                                      Species Management. The categories                       about potentially communicating a large               a new single process. Migratory bird
                                                      correspond to previously published                       regulatory change to hunters, we have                 hunting regulations will be based on
                                                      issues/discussions, and only those                       concerns about the appropriateness of a               predictions from models derived from
                                                      containing substantial recommendations                   one-step constraint in situations when                long-term biological information and
                                                      are discussed below.                                     the status of the waterfowl resource may              established harvest strategies. Since
                                                      A. General Harvest Strategy                              warrant such a measure. We look                       1995, the Service and Flyway Councils
                                                                                                               forward to working with the Flyway                    have applied the principles of adaptive
                                                         Council Recommendations: The
                                                                                                               Councils on this issue.                               management to inform harvest
                                                      Mississippi Flyway Council
                                                      recommended that regulations changes                        In 2008, we described and adopted a                management decisions in the face of
                                                      be restricted to one step per year, both                 protocol for regulatory decision-making               uncertainty while trying to learn about
                                                      when restricting as well as liberalizing                 for the newly defined stock of western                system (bird populations) responses to
                                                      hunting regulations.                                     mallards (73 FR 43290; July 24, 2008).                harvest regulations and environmental
                                                         The Pacific Flyway Council                            We continue to believe that the                       changes. Prior to the timing and process
                                                      recommended removing the objective                       prescribed regulatory choice for the                  changes necessary for implementation
                                                      constraint for the western mallard                       Pacific Flyway should be based on the                 of SEIS 2013, the annual AHM process
                                                      Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM)                        status of this western mallard breeding               began with the observation of the
                                                      protocol.                                                stock. However, as we previously                      system state each spring followed by an
                                                         Service Response: As we stated in the                 discussed in the April 13, 2015,                      updating of model weights and the
                                                      April 13, 2015, proposed rule, we                        proposed rule, the current early and                  derivation of an optimal harvest policy
                                                      intend to continue use of AHM to help                    late-season regulatory actions will be                that was then used to make a state-
                                                      determine appropriate duck-hunting                       combined into a new single process                    dependent decision (i.e., breeding
                                                      regulations for the 2015–16 season.                      beginning with the 2016–17 seasons.                   population estimates were used with a
                                                      AHM is a tool that permits sound                         Migratory bird hunting regulations will               policy matrix to inform harvest
                                                      resource decisions in the face of                        be based on predictions from models                   regulatory decisions). The system state
                                                      uncertain regulatory impacts, as well as                 derived from long-term biological                     then evolves over time in response to
                                                      providing a mechanism for reducing                       information and established harvest                   the decision and natural variation in
                                                      that uncertainty over time. The current                  strategies. Adjustment to western                     population dynamics. The following
                                                      AHM protocol is used to evaluate four                    mallard AHM for the new regulatory                    spring, the monitoring programs observe
                                                      alternative regulatory levels based on                   process was straightforward, except for               the state of the system and the iterative
                                                      the population status of mallards and                    the implementation of the objective                   decision-making process continues
                                                      their breeding habitat (i.e., abundance of               function constraint that has been in use              forward in time. However, with the
                                                      ponds). Special hunting restrictions are                 since 2008. Efforts to implement this                 changes in decision timing specified by
                                                      enacted for certain species, such as                     constraint with new optimization                      the SEIS, the post-survey AHM process
                                                      canvasbacks, black ducks, scaup, and                     methods were unsuccessful, and                        will not be possible because monitoring
                                                      pintails.                                                assessment results suggest that the                   information describing the system state
                                                         Regarding the Mississippi Flyway                      objective function constraint used in                 will not be available at the time the
                                                      Council recommendation to limit                          western mallard AHM may not be                        decision must be made. As a result, the
                                                      regulatory changes to one step per year,                 necessary or performing as previously                 optimization framework used to derive
                                                      we recognize the long-standing interest                  envisioned. The Pacific Flyway Council                the current harvest policy can no longer
                                                      by the Council to impose a one-step                      has expressed interest in continued                   calculate current and future harvest
                                                      constraint on regulatory changes. In the                 cooperation in working with the Service               values as a function of the current
                                                      past, we have not endorsed this                          to clarify western mallard AHM                        system and model states. To address
                                                      recommendation due to the pending                        objectives. During 2016, the technical                this issue, we adjusted the optimization
                                                      completion of the Supplemental                           representatives from the Pacific Flyway               procedures to calculate harvest values
                                                      Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS)                    Council in conjunction with the Harvest               conditional on the last observed system
                                                      on migratory bird hunting. With the                      Management Working Group will                         state and regulatory decision.
                                                      recently completed SEIS, we are now                      review harvest management objectives,                    Results and analysis of our work is
                                                      transitioning to a new regulatory                        incorporate additional mallard breeding               contained in a technical report that
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                                                      process. At the same time, the Central                   stocks (i.e., those in Washington and                 provides a summary of revised methods
                                                      and Mississippi Flyways have begun a                     British Columbia), and consider                       and assessment results based on
                                                      new effort to re-visit the AHM protocol                  constraints to minimize large annual                  updated AHM protocols developed in
                                                      for managing harvest of mid-continent                    changes in regulation packages with                   response to the preferred alternative
                                                      mallards (i.e., ‘‘double-looping’’). This                relatively small changes in population                specified in the SEIS. The report
                                                      effort will include a discussion of                      size (e.g., moving from liberal to closed             describes necessary changes to
                                                      appropriate management objectives,                       seasons in successive years with no                   optimization procedures and decision
                                                      regulatory packages, and management of                   moderate or restrictive intermediate                  processes for the implementation of
                                                      non-mallard stocks. We believe that                      steps).                                               AHM for midcontinent, eastern and


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                                                      43270                    Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                      western mallards, northern pintails, and                 C. Zones and Split Seasons                            Federal Register (80 FR 19852), we are
                                                      scaup decision frameworks.                                  Council Recommendations: The                       implementing significant changes to the
                                                         Results indicate that the necessary                   Mississippi and Central Flyway                        annual regulatory process as outlined in
                                                      adjustments to the optimization                          Councils recommended no changes to                    the 2013 SEIS. As such, the previously
                                                      procedures and AHM protocols to                                                                                identified May 1, 2016, due date for
                                                                                                               the existing zone and split season
                                                      account for changes in decision timing                                                                         zone and split season configuration
                                                                                                               guidelines. However, they further
                                                      are not expected to result in major                                                                            changes that was developed under the
                                                                                                               recommended that States be provided
                                                      changes to expected management                                                                                 current regulatory process, is too late for
                                                                                                               the option of changing duck zones and
                                                      performance for mallard, pintail, and                                                                          those States wishing to change zone and
                                                                                                               split arrangements in either the 2016–17
                                                      scaup AHM. In general, pre-survey (or                                                                          split season configurations for
                                                                                                               or 2017–18 seasons, with the next open
                                                      pre-SEIS necessary changes) harvest                                                                            implementation in the 2016–17 season.
                                                                                                               season in 2021 for the 2021–25 period.
                                                      policies were similar to harvest policies                                                                      Under the new regulatory schedule, we
                                                                                                                  Service Response: Zones and split
                                                      based on new post-survey (or post-SEIS                                                                         anticipate publishing the proposed rule
                                                                                                               seasons are ‘‘special regulations’’
                                                      necessary changes) AHM protocols. We                                                                           for all 2016–17 migratory bird seasons
                                                                                                               designed to distribute hunting
                                                      found some subtle differences in the                                                                           sometime this fall—approximately 30
                                                                                                               opportunities and harvests according to
                                                      degree to which strategies exhibited                                                                           days after the SRC meeting (which is
                                                                                                               temporal, geographic, and demographic
                                                      knife-edged regulatory changes in the                                                                          scheduled for October 28–29, 2015). A
                                                                                                               variability in waterfowl and other
                                                      pre-survey policies with a reduction in                                                                        final rule tentatively would be
                                                                                                               migratory game bird populations. For
                                                      the number of cells indicating moderate                                                                        published 75 days after the proposed
                                                      regulations. In addition, pre-survey                     ducks, States have been allowed the
                                                                                                               option of dividing their allotted hunting             rule (no later than April 1). This
                                                      policies became more liberal when                                                                              schedule would preclude inclusion of
                                                      conditioning on previous regulatory                      days into two (or in some cases three)
                                                                                                               segments to take advantage of species-                new zone descriptions in the proposed
                                                      decisions that were more conservative.                                                                         rule as had been done in past open
                                                      These patterns were consistent for each                  specific peaks of abundance or to satisfy
                                                                                                               hunters in different areas who want to                seasons and would not be appropriate
                                                      AHM decision-making framework.                                                                                 because it would preclude the ability for
                                                      Overall, a comparison of simulation                      hunt during the peak of waterfowl
                                                                                                               abundance in their area. However, the                 the public to comment on these new
                                                      results of the pre- and post-survey                                                                            individual State zone descriptions.
                                                      protocols did not suggest substantive                    split-season option does not fully satisfy
                                                                                                               many States that wish to provide a more               Therefore, we need to include any new
                                                      changes in the frequency of regulations                                                                        proposed 2016–20 zone descriptions in
                                                      or in the expected average population                    equitable distribution of harvest
                                                                                                               opportunities. Therefore, we also have                the 2016–17 hunting seasons proposed
                                                      size. These results suggest that the                                                                           rule document that will be published
                                                      additional form of uncertainty that the                  allowed the establishment of
                                                                                                               independent seasons in up to four zones               later this year.
                                                      change in decision timing introduces is                                                                           Considering all of the above, we agree
                                                      not expected to limit our expected                       within States for the purpose of
                                                                                                               providing more equitable distribution of              with the Mississippi and Central Flyway
                                                      harvest management performance with
                                                                                                               harvest opportunity for hunters                       Councils and have decided that a two-
                                                      the adoption of the pre-survey AHM
                                                                                                               throughout the State.                                 phase approach is appropriate. For
                                                      protocols.
                                                         A complete copy of the AHM report                        In 1978, we prepared an                            those States wishing to change zone and
                                                      can be found on www.regulations.gov or                   environmental assessment (EA) on the                  split season configurations in time for
                                                      at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/                    use of zones to set duck hunting                      the 2016–17 season, we will need to
                                                      pdf/management/AHM/                                      regulations. A primary tenet of the 1978              receive new configuration and zone
                                                      SEIS&AHMReportFinal.pdf.                                 EA was that zoning would be for the                   descriptions by December 1, 2015.
                                                                                                               primary purpose of providing equitable                States that do not send in new zone and
                                                      B. Regulatory Alternatives                               distribution of duck hunting                          split season configuration changes until
                                                         Council Recommendations: The                          opportunities within a State or region                the previously identified May 1, 2016,
                                                      Mississippi and Central Flyway                           and not for the purpose of increasing                 deadline will have those changes
                                                      Councils recommended that regulatory                     total annual waterfowl harvest in the                 implemented in the 2017–18 hunting
                                                      alternatives for duck hunting seasons                    zoned areas. In fact, target harvest levels           season. The next scheduled open season
                                                      remain the same as those used in 2014–                   were to be adjusted downward if they                  would remain in 2021 for the 2021–25
                                                      15.                                                      exceeded traditional levels as a result of            seasons.
                                                         Service Response: The regulatory                      zoning. Subsequent to the 1978 EA, we                    For the current open season, the
                                                      alternatives proposed in the April 13,                   conducted a review of the use of zones                guidelines for duck zone and split
                                                      2015, Federal Register will be used for                  and split seasons in 1990. In 2011, we                season configurations will be as follows:
                                                      the 2015–16 hunting season (see                          prepared a new EA analyzing some                      Guidelines for Duck Zones and Split
                                                      accompanying table at the end of this                    specific proposed changes to the zone                 Seasons
                                                      proposed rule for specifics). In 2005, the               and split season guidelines. The current
                                                      AHM regulatory alternatives were                         guidelines were then finalized in 2011                  The following zone and split-season
                                                      modified to consist only of the                          (76 FR 53536; August 26, 2011).                       guidelines apply only for the regular
                                                      maximum season lengths, framework                           Currently, every 5 years, States are               duck season:
                                                      dates, and bag limits for total ducks and                afforded the opportunity to change the                  (1) A zone is a geographic area or
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                                                      mallards. Restrictions for certain species               zoning and split season configuration                 portion of a State, with a contiguous
                                                      within these frameworks that are not                     within which they set their annual duck               boundary, for which independent dates
                                                      covered by existing harvest strategies                   hunting regulations. The next regularly               may be selected for the regular duck
                                                      will be addressed during the late-season                 scheduled open season for changes to                  season.
                                                      regulations process. For those species                   zone and split season configurations is                 (2) Consideration of changes for
                                                      with specific harvest strategies                         in 2016, for use during the 2016–20                   management-unit boundaries is not
                                                      (canvasbacks, pintails, black ducks, and                 period. However, as we discussed in the               subject to the guidelines and provisions
                                                      scaup), those strategies will again be                   September 23, 2014, Federal Register                  governing the use of zones and split
                                                      used for the 2015–16 hunting season.                     (79 FR 56864), and the April 13, 2015,                seasons for ducks.


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                           43271

                                                        (3) Only minor (less than a county in                  D. Special Seasons/Species                            maintain harvest pressure on resident
                                                      size) boundary changes will be allowed                   Management                                            Canada geese. We note that the most
                                                      for any grandfathered arrangement, and                                                                         recent resident Canada goose estimate
                                                                                                               i. September Teal Seasons
                                                      changes are limited to the open season.                                                                        for the Mississippi Flyway was
                                                                                                                 Utilizing the criteria developed for the            1,461,000 geese during the spring of
                                                        (4) Once a zone and split option is
                                                                                                               teal season harvest strategy, this year’s             2014, above the Flyway’s population
                                                      selected during an open season, it must
                                                                                                               estimate of 8.3 million blue-winged teal              goal of 1.18 to 1.40 million birds.
                                                      remain in place for the following 5
                                                                                                               from the traditional survey area
                                                      years.                                                                                                         6. Brant
                                                                                                               indicates that a 16-day September teal
                                                        Any State may continue the                             season in the Atlantic, Central, and                     As we discussed in the June 11, 2015,
                                                      configuration used in the previous 5-                    Mississippi Flyways is appropriate for                Federal Register (80 FR 33223), for the
                                                      year period. If changes are made, the                    2015.                                                 2015–16 Atlantic brant season, we will
                                                      zone and split-season configuration                                                                            continue to use the existing Flyway
                                                      must conform to one of the following                     4. Canada Geese                                       Cooperative Management Plan for this
                                                      options:                                                 A. Special Seasons                                    species to determine the appropriate
                                                        (1) No more than four zones with no                                                                          hunting regulations. However, as we
                                                                                                                  Council Recommendations: The                       discuss below, the process for
                                                      splits,                                                  Pacific Flyway Council recommended                    determining regulations for the 2016–17
                                                        (2) Split seasons (no more than 3                      increasing season length from 7 to 15                 season will need to be modified. In the
                                                      segments) with no zones, or                              days and the daily bag limit from 2 to                April 30, 2014 (79 FR 24512), and the
                                                        (3) No more than three zones with the                  5 for Canada geese in Idaho.                          April 13, 2015 (80 FR 19852), Federal
                                                      option for 2-way (2-segment) split                          Service Response: We agree with the                Registers, we discussed how, under the
                                                                                                               Pacific Flyway Council’s request to                   new regulatory process, the current
                                                      seasons in one, two, or all zones.
                                                                                                               increase the Canada goose season length               early- and late-season regulatory actions
                                                      Grandfathered Zone and Split                             and daily bag limit in Idaho. The special             will be combined into a new single
                                                      Arrangements                                             early Canada goose hunting season is                  process beginning with the 2016–17
                                                                                                               generally designed to reduce or control               seasons. Regulatory proposals will be
                                                         When we first implemented the zone                    overabundant resident Canada goose                    developed using biological data from
                                                      and split guidelines in 1991, several                    populations. Increasing the season                    the preceding year(s), model
                                                      States had completed experiments with                    length from 7 to 15 days and the daily                predictions, and/or most recently
                                                      zone and split arrangements different                    bag limit from 2 to 5 geese in Idaho may              accumulated data that are available at
                                                      from our original options. We offered                    help reduce or control the abundance of               the time the proposals are being
                                                      those States a one-time opportunity to                   resident Canada geese.                                formulated. Individual harvest strategies
                                                      continue (‘‘grandfather’’) those                                                                               will be modified using data from the
                                                      arrangements, with the stipulation that                  B. Regular Seasons
                                                                                                                                                                     previous year(s) because the current
                                                      only minor changes could be made to                         Council Recommendations: The                       year’s data would not be available for
                                                      zone boundaries. If any of those States                  Mississippi Flyway Council                            many of the strategies.
                                                      now wish to change their zone and split                  recommended that the framework                           Further, we stated that during this
                                                      arrangement:                                             opening date for all species of geese for             transition period, harvest strategies and
                                                         (1) The new arrangement must                          the regular goose seasons in the Lower                prescriptions would be modified to fit
                                                      conform to one of the 3 options                          Peninsula of Michigan and Wisconsin                   into the new regulatory schedule.
                                                      identified above; and                                    be September 16, 2015, and in the                     Atlantic brant is one such species that
                                                                                                               Upper Peninsula of Michigan be                        will require some modifications to the
                                                         (2) The State cannot go back to the                   September 11, 2015.                                   regulatory process that we have largely
                                                      grandfathered arrangement that it                           Service Response: We concur with                   used since 1992 to establish the annual
                                                      previously had in place.                                 recommended framework opening                         frameworks.
                                                      Management Units                                         dates. Michigan, beginning in 1998, and                  In developing the annual proposed
                                                                                                               Wisconsin, beginning in 1989, have                    frameworks for Atlantic brant in the
                                                         We will continue to utilize the                       opened their regular Canada goose                     past, the Atlantic Flyway Council and
                                                      specific limitations previously                          seasons prior to the Flyway-wide                      the Service used the number of brant
                                                      established regarding the use of zones                   framework opening date to address                     counted during the Mid-winter
                                                      and split seasons in special management                  resident goose management concerns in                 Waterfowl Survey (MWS) in the
                                                      units, including the High Plains Mallard                 these States. As we have previously                   Atlantic Flyway, and took into
                                                      Management Unit. We note that the                        stated (73 FR 50678, August 27, 2008),                consideration the brant population’s
                                                      original justification and objectives                    we agree with the objective to increase               expected productivity that summer. The
                                                      established for the High Plains Mallard                  harvest pressure on resident Canada                   MWS is conducted each January, and
                                                      Management Unit provided for                             geese in the Mississippi Flyway and                   expected brant productivity is based on
                                                      additional days of hunting opportunity                   will continue to consider the opening                 early-summer observations of breeding
                                                      at the end of the regular duck season. In                dates in both States as exceptions to the             habitat conditions and nesting effort in
                                                      order to maintain the integrity of the                   general Flyway opening date, to be                    important brant nesting areas. Thus, the
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      management unit, current guidelines                      reconsidered annually. The framework                  data under consideration were available
                                                      prohibit simultaneous zoning and/or 3-                   closing date for the early goose season               before the annual Flyway and SRC
                                                      way split seasons within a management                    in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is                 decision-making meetings took place in
                                                      unit and the remainder of the State.                     September 10. By changing the                         late July. Although the existing
                                                      Removal of this limitation would allow                   framework opening date for the regular                regulatory alternatives for Atlantic brant
                                                      additional proliferation of zone and                     season to September 11 in the Upper                   were developed by factoring together
                                                      split configurations and compromise the                  Peninsula of Michigan there will be no                long-term productivity rates (observed
                                                      original objectives of the management                    need to close goose hunting in that area              during November and December
                                                      unit.                                                    for 5 days and thus lose the ability to               productivity surveys) with estimated


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                                                      43272                    Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                      observed harvest under different                         process would be a slight change to the               using the 3-year running population
                                                      framework regulations, the primary                       existing mechanics of the Atlantic brant              average for 2012–14. The Councils also
                                                      decision-making criterion for selecting                  hunt plan, we believe it would have no                recommended that, under the new
                                                      the annual frameworks was the MWS                        significant effects on the long-term                  annual regulatory process beginning
                                                      count.                                                   conservation of the Atlantic brant                    with the 2016–17 season, the harvest
                                                         In the April 13, 2015, Federal                        resource.                                             strategy described in the Pacific and
                                                      Register (80 FR 19852), we presented                       For a more detailed discussion of the               Central Flyway Management Plan for
                                                      the major steps in the 2016–17                           various technical aspects of the new                  RMP sandhill cranes be published in the
                                                      regulatory cycle relating to biological                  regulatory process, we refer the reader               proposed season frameworks and be
                                                      information availability, open public                    to the 2013 SEIS on our Web site at                   used to determine allowable harvest.
                                                      meetings, and Federal Register                           http://www.fws.gov/birds/index.php.                   They recommended that the final
                                                      notifications. Under the new regulatory                                                                        allowable harvest each year be included
                                                                                                               8. Swans
                                                      schedule due to be implemented this                                                                            in the final season frameworks
                                                      fall and winter for the 2016–17                             Council Recommendations: In March                  published in February.
                                                      migratory bird hunting regulations,                      the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central                   The Pacific Flyway Council
                                                      neither the expected 2016 brant                          Flyway Councils recommended                           recommended some minor changes to
                                                      production information (available                        increasing tundra swan permit numbers                 the hunt area boundaries in Idaho to
                                                      summer 2016) nor the 2016 MWS count                      by 25 percent (2,400 permits) for the                 simplify and clarify hunt area
                                                      (conducted in January 2016) will be                      2015–16 season, if the final 3-year                   descriptions. More specifically, Area 5
                                                      available this October, when the                         running average mid-winter count                      would now include all of Franklin
                                                      decisions on proposed Atlantic brant                     exceeds 110,000 Eastern Population                    County, and Area 1 would include all of
                                                      frameworks for the 2016–17 seasons                       tundra swans, in accordance with the                  Caribou County except that portion
                                                      must be made. However, the 2016 MWS                      Eastern Population tundra swan                        lying within the Grays Lake Basin. The
                                                      will be completed and winter brant data                  management plan.                                      Pacific Flyway Council also
                                                      will be available by the expected                           Service Response: At the June 24–25                recommended eliminating the Lower
                                                      publication of the final frameworks (late                SRC meeting, the Atlantic, Mississippi,               Colorado River Valley Population
                                                      February 2016). Therefore, we are                        and Central Flyway Councils withdrew                  (LCRVP) experimental season.
                                                      proposing frameworks for Atlantic brant                  their recommendations to increase                        Service Response: We agree with the
                                                      in 2016–17 using the process laid out                    tundra swan permit numbers because                    recommendation to grant operational
                                                      below, with the final decision to be                     the final 3-year running average mid-                 status to Kentucky’s sandhill crane
                                                      determined by the 2016 MWS count:                        winter count did not exceed 110,000                   hunting season. Kentucky held an
                                                         If the MWS count is <100,000 Atlantic                 Eastern Population tundra swans.                      experimental sandhill crane season
                                                      brant, the season will be closed.                        9. Sandhill Cranes                                    during 2011–13 and was granted an
                                                         If the MWS count is between 100,000                                                                         additional year in order to finalize
                                                      and 125,000 brant, States may select a                      Council Recommendations: The                       analysis of the first 3 years of data
                                                      30-day season between the Saturday                       Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway                       collected during the experiment. The
                                                      nearest September 24 and January 31,                     Councils recommended that Kentucky                    structure of the experimental seasons
                                                      with a 2-bird daily bag limit. States may                be granted an operational sandhill crane              conformed to the frameworks outlined
                                                      split their seasons into 2 segments.                     hunting season beginning in 2015                      in the Eastern Population of Sandhill
                                                         If the MWS count is between 125,000                   following the guidelines established in               Cranes Management Plan. Harvest of
                                                      and 150,000 brant, States may select a                   the Eastern Population of Sandhill                    sandhill cranes in Kentucky during
                                                      50-day season between the Saturday                       Cranes Management Plan (EP                            2011–13 ranged from 59 to 96 birds per
                                                      nearest September 24 and January 31,                     Management Plan). Kentucky’s                          year. This level of annual harvest was
                                                      with a 2-bird daily bag limit. States may                operational season would consist of a                 well below the allowable annual harvest
                                                      split their seasons into 2 segments.                     maximum season length of 60 days                      of 1,174 birds determined by the permit
                                                         If the MWS count is between 150,000                   (with no splits) to be held between                   allocation system outlined in the
                                                      and 200,000 brant, States may select a                   September 1 and January 31, with a                    management plan. Therefore, we believe
                                                      60-day season between the Saturday                       daily bag limit of 2 birds, and a season              that Kentucky’s crane season should
                                                      nearest September 24 and January 31,                     limit of 3 birds. Hunting would occur                 continue on an operational basis, and
                                                      with a 2-bird daily bag limit. States may                between sunrise and sunset. Per the                   that seasons should conform to the
                                                      split their seasons into 2 segments.                     guidelines set forth in the EP                        frameworks and permit guidelines
                                                         If the MWS count is >200,000 brant,                   Management Plan, and based on the                     outlined in the Eastern Population of
                                                      States may select a 60-day season                        State’s 5-year peak average of 12,072                 Sandhill Cranes Management Plan.
                                                      between the Saturday nearest September                   birds, Kentucky would be allowed to                      We also agree with the Central and
                                                      24 and January 31, with a 3-bird daily                   issue a maximum of 1,207 tags during                  Pacific Flyway Councils’
                                                      bag limit. States may split their seasons                the 2015–16 season. These permits                     recommendations on the RMP sandhill
                                                      into 2 segments.                                         would be divided among 400 permitted                  crane harvest allocation of 938 cranes
                                                         We note that the proposed                             hunters. Hunters would be required to                 for the 2015–16 season, as outlined in
                                                      prescriptive regulatory frameworks                       take mandatory whooping crane                         the RMP sandhill crane management
                                                      listed above are identical to those                      identification training, utilize Service-             plan’s hunting area requirements and
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                                                      contained in the Atlantic Flyway                         approved nontoxic shot shells, tag birds,             harvest allocation formula. The
                                                      Council’s current Atlantic brant hunt                    report harvest daily via Kentucky’s                   objective for RMP sandhill cranes is to
                                                      plan (2011), with the exception of                       reporting system, and complete a post-                manage for a stable population index of
                                                      considering expected brant production.                   season survey.                                        17,000–21,000 cranes determined by an
                                                      However, at this time our new                               The Central and Pacific Flyway                     average of the three most recent, reliable
                                                      regulatory schedule will likely preclude                 Councils recommended using the Rocky                  September (fall pre-migration) surveys.
                                                      any formal consideration of the brant                    Mountain Population (RMP) sandhill                    Additionally, the RMP management
                                                      population’s expected productivity in                    crane harvest allocation of 938 birds as              plan allows for the regulated harvest of
                                                      the summer. While our proposed                           proposed in the allocation formula                    cranes when the 3-year average of the


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                           43273

                                                      population indices exceeds 15,000                        changes to the existing RMP sandhill                  population may be expanding and
                                                      cranes. The most recent 3-year average                   crane hunting area boundaries in Idaho.               competing with native species. As such,
                                                      for the RMP sandhill crane fall index is                 The boundary adjustments are intended                 in 2010, we established a Control Order
                                                      18,482 birds, a slight increase from the                 to simplify and clarify existing hunting              in 50 CFR 21.53 in order to control
                                                      previous 3-year average of 17,757                        area boundary descriptions, and are                   possible expansion of the species (75 FR
                                                      cranes.                                                  consistent with the Pacific and Central               9314, March 1, 2010). However, there
                                                         Regarding the RMP crane harvest and                   Flyway Council’s RMP sandhill crane                   has never been a sport hunting season
                                                      the new regulatory process, this issue is                management plan hunting area                          established in the United States for
                                                      very similar to the Atlantic brant issue                 requirements.                                         purple swamphens. Consequently, we
                                                      discussed above under 6. Brant.                             Finally, we also agree with the Pacific            believe a new hunting season for purple
                                                      Currently, results of the fall survey of                 Flyway Council’s recommendation to                    swamphens would require appropriate
                                                      RMP sandhill cranes, upon which the                      eliminate the LCRVP sandhill crane                    National Environmental Policy Act
                                                      annual allowable harvest is based, will                  experimental hunting season. As                       (NEPA) coverage. Since a NEPA analysis
                                                      continue to be released between                          requested by the Pacific Flyway Council               of this proposal has not yet been
                                                      December 15 and January 31 each year,                    in 2006 (71 FR 51407, August 29, 2006),               conducted, we do not support the
                                                      which is after the date for which                        we authorized in 2007 a carefully                     Council’s recommendation at this time.
                                                      proposed frameworks will be                              controlled, very limited experimental                 We will reconsider it after appropriate
                                                      formulated in the new regulatory                         season for LCRVP sandhill cranes in                   NEPA analysis has been completed.
                                                      process. If the usual procedures for                     Arizona based on our final
                                                                                                               environmental assessment (72 FR                       14. Woodcock
                                                      determining allowable harvest were
                                                      used, data 2–4 years old would be used                   49624, August 28, 2007). In 2009, the                    In 2011, we implemented an interim
                                                      to determine the annual allocation for                   Pacific Flyway Council recommended                    harvest strategy for woodcock for a
                                                      RMP sandhill cranes. Due to the                          extending the experimental season for                 period of 5 years (2011–15) (76 FR
                                                      variability in fall survey counts and                    LCRVP sandhill cranes in Arizona for an               19876, April 8, 2011). The interim
                                                      recruitment for this population, and                     additional 3 years (74 FR 43009, August               harvest strategy provides a transparent
                                                      their impact on the annual harvest                       25, 2009). The extension was necessary                framework for making regulatory
                                                      allocations, we agree that relying on                    due to implementation difficulties that               decisions for woodcock season length
                                                      data that is 2–4 years old is not ideal.                 prohibited initiating the new hunt. We                and bag limit while we work to improve
                                                      Thus, we agree that the formula to                       continued to support the establishment                monitoring and assessment protocols for
                                                      determine the annual allowable harvest                   of the 3-year experimental framework                  this species. Utilizing the criteria
                                                      for RMP sandhill cranes should be used                   for this hunt, conditional on successful              developed for the interim strategy, the
                                                      under the new regulatory schedule and                    monitoring being conducted as called                  3-year average for the Singing Ground
                                                      propose to utilize it as such. That                      for in the Flyway hunting plan for this               Survey indices and associated
                                                      formula uses information on abundance                    population. Subsequently, the only                    confidence intervals fall within the
                                                      and recruitment collected annually                       hunting season successfully                           ‘‘moderate package’’ for both the Eastern
                                                      through operational monitoring                           implemented in Arizona for this                       and Central Management Regions. As
                                                      programs, as well as constant values                     population was in 2010 where 5 youth                  such, a ‘‘moderate season’’ for both
                                                      based on past research or monitoring for                 participated and no cranes were                       management regions for the 2015–16
                                                      survival of fledglings to breeding age                   harvested. The Pacific Flyway Council                 woodcock hunting season is
                                                      and harvest retrieval rate. The formula                  has indicated in their recent                         appropriate. Specifics of the interim
                                                      is:                                                      recommendation that there are no plans                harvest strategy can be found at http://
                                                                                                               to hunt this population in the near                   www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/
                                                      H=C×P×R×L×f                                                                                                    NewsPublicationsReports.html.
                                                                                                               future.
                                                      where:
                                                                                                               11. Moorhens and Gallinules                           15. Band-Tailed Pigeons
                                                      H = total annual allowable harvest;
                                                      C = the average of the three most recent,                   Council Recommendations: The                          Council Recommendations: The
                                                           reliable fall population indices;                   Atlantic Flyway Council recommended                   Central and Pacific Flyway Councils
                                                      P = the average proportion of fledged chicks             allowing the hunting of purple                        recommended decreasing the season
                                                           in the fall population in the San Luis              swamphens (Porphyrio porphyria) in                    length from 30 days to 14 days, and
                                                           Valley during the most recent 3 years for
                                                                                                               Florida beginning in 2015. They                       decreasing the daily bag limit from 5 to
                                                           which data are available;
                                                      R = estimated recruitment of fledged chicks              recommended that hunting be allowed                   2 for the Interior Population of band-
                                                           to breeding age (current estimate is 0.5);          during any open waterfowl season and                  tailed pigeons.
                                                      L = retrieval rate of 0.80 (allowance for an             that all regulations in 50 CFR 20                        Service Response: We agree with the
                                                           estimated 20 percent crippling loss based           subparts C and D would apply. Further,                Central and Pacific Flyway Councils’
                                                           on hunter interviews); and                          they recommended a daily bag limit of                 recommendations to decrease season
                                                      f = (C/16,000) (a variable factor used to adjust         25 birds, with a possession limit of 75.              length from 30 to 14 days and daily bag
                                                           the total harvest to achieve a desired              They also recommended that we                         limit from 5 to 2 birds for Interior band-
                                                           effect on the entire population)                    exclude this species from monitoring                  tailed pigeons. Last year (79 FR 51405,
                                                        A final estimate for the allowable                     programs.                                             August 28, 2014), we recommended that
                                                      harvest would be available to publish in                    Service Response: Purple swamphens                 the Councils work together and with the
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                                                      the final rule, allowing us to use data                  are a species native to the U.S.                      Service’s Division of Migratory Bird
                                                      that is 1–3 years old as is currently                    Territories of American Samoa, Baker                  Management to review available
                                                      practiced. We look forward to                            and Howland Islands, and Guam, and                    information and conduct an assessment
                                                      continuing discussions and work on the                   Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana                  of the harvest potential of this
                                                      RMP crane issue with the Central and                     Islands and as such are protected under               population. We also requested they
                                                      Pacific Flyway Councils this summer in                   50 CFR 10.13. In Florida, purple                      advise us of the results of this
                                                      preparation for the 2016–17 season.                      swamphens are an introduced species                   assessment and develop a regulatory
                                                        We also agree with the Pacific Flyway                  that likely resulted from escapees.                   recommendation using this information
                                                      Council’s recommendation for minor                       Available data indicate that the                      at our June 2015 regulatory meeting.


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                                                      43274                    Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                      Technical representatives from the                       population of mourning doves. In Idaho,               decided that a two-phase approach is
                                                      Central and Pacific Flyway Councils                      Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington,                 appropriate. For those States wishing to
                                                      and the Service’s Division of Migratory                  the season length would be no more                    change zone and split season
                                                      Bird Management met in Denver on                         than 60 consecutive days with a daily                 configurations in time for the 2016–17
                                                      October 23–24, 2014, to discuss an                       bag limit of 15 mourning and white-                   season, we will need to receive that new
                                                      approach to assessing harvest potential                  winged doves in the aggregate. In                     configuration and zone descriptions by
                                                      and review available demographic data                    Arizona and California, the season                    December 1, 2015. For those States that
                                                      for interior band-tailed pigeons. At the                 length would be no more than 60                       do not send in zone and split season
                                                      meeting in Denver, participants agreed                   consecutive days, which could be split                configuration changes until the
                                                      on using the Potential Take Level                        between two periods, September 1–15                   previously identified May 1, 2016,
                                                      framework (PTL) for the harvest                          and November 1–January 15. In                         deadline, we will implement those
                                                      potential assessment. The objective of                   Arizona, during the first segment of the              changes in the 2017–18 hunting season.
                                                      this PTL assessment was to derive an                     season, the daily bag limit would be 15               The next normally scheduled open
                                                      estimate of allowable harvest to                         mourning and white-winged doves in                    season will be in 2021 for the 2021–25
                                                      compare with the best estimate of                        the aggregate, of which no more than 10               seasons.
                                                      observed harvest after accounting for                    could be white-winged doves. During                     For the current open season, the
                                                      uncertainty of demographic parameters                    the remainder of the season, the daily                guidelines for dove zone and split
                                                      (i.e., survival, reproduction, and                       bag limit would be 15 mourning doves.                 season configurations will be as follows:
                                                      population size). The assessment used                    In California, the daily bag limit would
                                                      all available demographic information                    be 15 mourning and white-winged                       Guidelines for Dove Zones and Split
                                                      for this species, albeit limited, but the                doves in the aggregate, of which no                   Seasons in the Eastern and Central
                                                      information is dated and may not                         more than 10 could be white-winged                    Mourning Dove Management Units
                                                      adequately represent extant conditions.                  doves.                                                  (1) A zone is a geographic area or
                                                      Also, current abundance is largely                          The Central Flyway Council also                    portion of a State, with a contiguous
                                                      unknown, and estimated hunter harvest                    recommended that the Service,                         boundary, for which independent
                                                      is highly imprecise and may be biased                    beginning with the 2016–17 hunting                    seasons may be selected for dove
                                                      high relative to the true value.                         season, adopt a new ‘‘standard’’ season               hunting.
                                                      Considering all the data, their precision,               package framework comprised of a 90-                    (2) States may select a zone and split
                                                      and potential biases, the assessment                     day season and 15-bird daily bag limit                option during an open season. The
                                                      suggested that a conservative approach                   for States within the Central                         option must remain in place for the
                                                      to harvest management for this                           Management Unit.                                      following 5 years except that States may
                                                      population is warranted. Results were                       Service Response: Based on the
                                                                                                                                                                     make a one-time change and revert to
                                                      consistent with those of earlier                         harvest strategies and current
                                                                                                                                                                     their previous zone and split
                                                      investigators (1992) that reported low                   population status, we agree with the
                                                                                                                                                                     configuration in any year of the 5-year
                                                      harvest potential for the Pacific Coast                  recommended selection of the
                                                                                                                                                                     period. Formal approval will not be
                                                      band-tailed pigeon. Results of the                       ‘‘standard’’ season frameworks for doves
                                                                                                                                                                     required, but States must notify the
                                                      assessment provide a transparent                         in the Eastern, Central, and Western
                                                                                                               Management Units for the 2015–16                      Service before making the change.
                                                      approach to help inform the regulatory
                                                                                                               seasons.                                                (3) Zoning periods for dove hunting
                                                      decision-making process for this
                                                                                                                  We do not support the                              will conform to those years used for
                                                      population until additional information
                                                                                                               recommendation by the Central Flyway                  ducks, e.g., 2016–20.
                                                      becomes available or a formal harvest
                                                      strategy is developed. The PTL                           to increase the length of the dove season                (4) The zone and split configuration
                                                      assessment could be updated if                           to 90 days for the 2016–17 season at this             consists of two zones with the option for
                                                      improved information on estimated                        time. We understand that the Central                  3-way (3-segment) split seasons in one
                                                      hunter harvest and population size                       Flyway will continue to work with the                 or both zones. As a grandfathered
                                                      becomes available.                                       Mississippi Flyway in the coming                      arrangement, Texas will have three
                                                                                                               months to develop a joint                             zones with the option for 2-way
                                                      16. Mourning Doves                                       recommendation to increase the season                 (2-segment) split seasons in one, two, or
                                                         Council Recommendations: The                          length, and we would consider such a                  all three zones.
                                                      Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway                          recommendation at that time.                             (5) States that do not wish to zone for
                                                      Councils recommended use of the                             Lastly, as we discussed in the April               dove hunting may split their seasons
                                                      ‘‘standard’’ season framework                            13, 2015, Federal Register (80 FR                     into no more than 3 segments.
                                                      comprising a 90-day season and 15-bird                   19852), 2016 is the next open season for                 For the 2016–20 period, any State
                                                      daily bag limit for States within the                    changes to dove zone and split                        may continue the configuration used in
                                                      Eastern Management Unit. The daily bag                   configurations for the 2016–20 period.                2011–15. If changes are made, the zone
                                                      limit could be composed of mourning                      The current guidelines were approved                  and split-season configuration must
                                                      doves and white-winged doves, singly                     in 2006 (see July 28, 2006, Federal                   conform to one of the options listed
                                                      or in combination.                                       Register, 71 FR 43008), for the use of                above. If Texas uses a new configuration
                                                         The Mississippi and Central Flyway                    zones and split seasons for doves with                for the entirety of the 5-year period, it
                                                      Councils recommended the use of the                      implementation beginning in the 2007–                 cannot go back to the grandfathered
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                                                      ‘‘standard’’ season package of a 15-bird                 08 season. While the initial period was               arrangement that it previously had in
                                                      daily bag limit and a 70-day season for                  for 4 years (2007–10), we further stated              place.
                                                      the 2015–16 mourning dove season in                      that, beginning in 2011, zoning would
                                                                                                                                                                     18. Alaska
                                                      the States within the Central                            conform to a 5-year period.
                                                      Management Unit.                                            As discussed above under C. Zones                     Council Recommendations: The
                                                         The Pacific Flyway Council                            and Split Seasons for ducks, because of               Pacific Flyway Council recommended
                                                      recommended use of the ‘‘standard’’                      unintentional and unanticipated issues                two changes in the Alaska early-season
                                                      season framework for States in the                       with changing the regulatory schedule                 frameworks. Specifically, they
                                                      Western Management Unit (WMU)                            for the 2016–17 season, we have                       recommended:


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                              43275

                                                         1. For white-fronted geese in Unit 18                 comments that are not postmarked, by                    Dated: July 9, 2015.
                                                      (Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta), increasing                      the date specified in DATES.                          Michael J. Bean,
                                                      the daily bag limit from 8 to 10.                          We will post all comments in their                  Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish
                                                         2. For Canada geese in Units 6–B, 6–                  entirety—including your personal                      and Wildlife and Parks.
                                                      C, and on Hinchinbrook and Hawkins                       identifying information—on http://
                                                      Islands in Unit 6–D, increasing the                                                                            Proposed Regulations Frameworks for
                                                                                                               www.regulations.gov. Before including
                                                      possession limit from two times to three                 your address, phone number, email                     2015–16 Early Hunting Seasons on
                                                      times the daily bag limit.                               address, or other personal identifying                Certain Migratory Game Birds
                                                         Service Response: We agree with the
                                                                                                               information in your comment, you                        Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty
                                                      Pacific Flyway Council’s
                                                                                                               should be aware that your entire                      Act and delegated authorities, the
                                                      recommendation to increase the daily
                                                                                                               comment—including your personal                       Department of the Interior approved the
                                                      bag limit from 8 to 10 white-fronted
                                                                                                               identifying information—may be made                   following proposed frameworks, which
                                                      geese in Unit 18. The recent 3-year
                                                                                                               publicly available at any time. While                 prescribe season lengths, bag limits,
                                                      (2012–14) average fall population of
                                                                                                               you can ask us in your comment to
                                                      Pacific white-fronted geese was 627,108                                                                        shooting hours, and outside dates
                                                                                                               withhold your personal identifying
                                                      geese, and is well above the population                                                                        within which States may select hunting
                                                                                                               information from public review, we
                                                      objective of 300,000 geese as identified                                                                       seasons for certain migratory game birds
                                                                                                               cannot guarantee that we will be able to
                                                      in the Pacific Flyway Council’s                                                                                between September 1, 2015, and March
                                                                                                               do so.
                                                      management plan for this population.                                                                           10, 2016. These frameworks are
                                                      The Yukon-Kuskowim Delta (Unit 18)                         Comments and materials we receive,                  summarized below.
                                                      supports more than 95 percent of the                     as well as supporting documentation we
                                                      breeding population of Pacific white-                    used in preparing this proposed rule,                 General
                                                      fronted geese.                                           will be available for public inspection
                                                         We also agree with the Pacific Flyway                 on http://www.regulations.gov, or by                     Dates: All outside dates noted below
                                                      Council’s recommendation to increase                     appointment, during normal business                   are inclusive.
                                                      the possession limit for Canada geese                    hours, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife                     Shooting and Hawking (taking by
                                                      from two times to three times the daily                  Service, Division of Migratory Bird                   falconry) Hours: Unless otherwise
                                                      bag limit in Units 6–B, 6–C, and on                      Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls                 specified, from one-half hour before
                                                      Hinchinbrook and Hawkins Islands in                      Church, VA 22041–3803.                                sunrise to sunset daily.
                                                      Unit 6–D. The recent 3-year (2011–14,                      For each series of proposed                            Possession Limits: Unless otherwise
                                                      no estimate was available in 2013)                       rulemakings, we will establish specific               specified, possession limits are three
                                                      average breeding population of dusky                     comment periods. We will consider, but                times the daily bag limit.
                                                      Canada geese was 13,678 geese, and is                    possibly may not respond in detail to,
                                                      the highest 3-year average since 1995.                                                                            Permits: For some species of
                                                                                                               each comment. As in the past, we will
                                                      The dusky Canada goose annual                                                                                  migratory birds, the Service authorizes
                                                                                                               summarize all comments we receive
                                                      population index has increased steadily                  during the comment period and respond                 the use of permits to regulate harvest or
                                                      since 2009, and 2014 (15,574) is the                     to them after the closing date in the                 monitor their take by sport hunters, or
                                                      highest value since 2005. The status of                  preambles of any final rules.                         both. In many cases (e.g., tundra swans,
                                                      dusky Canada geese continues to be of                                                                          some sandhill crane populations), the
                                                      concern, and harvest restrictions have                   Required Determinations                               Service determines the amount of
                                                      been and remain in place to protect                                                                            harvest that may be taken during
                                                                                                                 Based on our most current data, we
                                                      these geese throughout their range since                 are affirming our required                            hunting seasons during its formal
                                                      the 1970s. We continue to support the                    determinations made in the April 13,                  regulations-setting process, and the
                                                      harvest strategy described in the Pacific                2015, proposed rule (80 FR 19852); see                States then issue permits to hunters at
                                                      Flyway Council’s management plan for                     that document, for descriptions of our                levels predicted to result in the amount
                                                      this population.                                         actions to ensure compliance with the                 of take authorized by the Service. Thus,
                                                                                                               following statutes and Executive Orders:              although issued by States, the permits
                                                      Public Comments
                                                                                                                                                                     would not be valid unless the Service
                                                        The Department of the Interior’s                         • National Environmental Policy Act;
                                                                                                                                                                     approved such take in its regulations.
                                                      policy is, whenever possible, to afford                    • Endangered Species Act;
                                                                                                                                                                        These Federally authorized, State-
                                                      the public an opportunity to participate                   • Regulatory Planning and Review;                   issued permits are issued to individuals,
                                                      in the rulemaking process. Accordingly,
                                                                                                                 • Regulatory Flexibility Act;                       and only the individual whose name
                                                      we invite interested persons to submit
                                                      written comments, suggestions, or                          • Small Business Regulatory                         and address appears on the permit at the
                                                      recommendations regarding the                            Enforcement Fairness Act;                             time of issuance is authorized to take
                                                      proposed regulations. Before                               • Paperwork Reduction Act;                          migratory birds at levels specified in the
                                                                                                                                                                     permit, in accordance with provisions of
                                                      promulgating final migratory game bird                     • Unfunded Mandates Reform Act;
                                                      hunting regulations, we will consider all                                                                      both Federal and State regulations
                                                                                                                 • Executive Orders 12630, 12988,                    governing the hunting season. The
                                                      comments we receive. These comments,                     13175, 13132, and 13211.
                                                      and any additional information we                                                                              permit must be carried by the permittee
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      receive, may lead to final regulations                   List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 20                    when exercising its provisions and must
                                                      that differ from these proposals.                                                                              be presented to any law enforcement
                                                        You may submit your comments and                         Exports, Hunting, Imports, Reporting                officer upon request. The permit is not
                                                      materials concerning this proposed rule                  and recordkeeping requirements,                       transferrable or assignable to another
                                                      by one of the methods listed in                          Transportation, Wildlife.                             individual, and may not be sold,
                                                      ADDRESSES. We will not accept                              These rules that are proposed to be                 bartered, traded, or otherwise provided
                                                      comments sent by email or fax. We will                   promulgated for the 2015–16 hunting                   to another person. If the permit is
                                                      not consider hand-delivered comments                     season are authorized under 16 U.S.C.                 altered or defaced in any way, the
                                                      that we do not receive, or mailed                        703–712 and 16 U.S.C. 742 a–j.                        permit becomes invalid.


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                                                      43276                    Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                      Flyways and Management Units                             California, Oregon, Washington, and the               teal/wood duck season. The daily bag
                                                      Waterfowl Flyways                                        Atlantic Flyway), and all other goose                 limit is 6 teal.
                                                                                                               species, except light geese.                            Iowa: In lieu of an experimental
                                                         Atlantic Flyway—includes                                Light geese: Snow (including blue)                  special September teal season, Iowa may
                                                      Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia,                 geese and Ross’s geese.                               hold up to 5 days of its regular duck
                                                      Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New                                                                            hunting season in September. All ducks
                                                      Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,                         Waterfowl Seasons in the Atlantic                     that are legal during the regular duck
                                                      North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode                      Flyway                                                season may be taken during the
                                                      Island, South Carolina, Vermont,                            In the Atlantic Flyway States of                   September segment of the season. The
                                                      Virginia, and West Virginia.                             Connecticut, Delaware, Maine,                         September season segment may
                                                         Mississippi Flyway—includes                           Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey,                  commence no earlier than the Saturday
                                                      Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana,                    North Carolina, and Pennsylvania,                     nearest September 20 (September 19).
                                                      Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan,                     where Sunday hunting is prohibited                    The daily bag and possession limits will
                                                      Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio,                  Statewide by State law, all Sundays are               be the same as those in effect last year
                                                      Tennessee, and Wisconsin.                                closed to all take of migratory waterfowl             but are subject to change during the late-
                                                         Central Flyway—includes Colorado                      (including mergansers and coots).                     season regulations process. The
                                                      (east of the Continental Divide), Kansas,                                                                      remainder of the regular duck season
                                                      Montana (Counties of Blaine, Carbon,                     Special September Teal Season                         may not begin before October 10.
                                                      Fergus, Judith Basin, Stillwater,                           Outside Dates: Between September 1
                                                      Sweetgrass, Wheatland, and all Counties                                                                        Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days
                                                                                                               and September 30, an open season on
                                                      east thereof), Nebraska, New Mexico                      all species of teal may be selected by the               Outside Dates: States may select 2
                                                      (east of the Continental Divide except                   following States in areas delineated by               days per duck-hunting zone, designated
                                                      the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation),                State regulations:                                    as ‘‘Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days,’’ in
                                                      North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota,                       Atlantic Flyway—Delaware, Florida,                 addition to their regular duck seasons.
                                                      Texas, and Wyoming (east of the                          Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina,                    The days must be held outside any
                                                      Continental Divide).                                     South Carolina, and Virginia.                         regular duck season on a weekend,
                                                         Pacific Flyway—includes Alaska,                                                                             holidays, or other non-school days
                                                                                                                  Mississippi Flyway—Alabama,
                                                      Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada,                                                                            when youth hunters would have the
                                                                                                               Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
                                                      Oregon, Utah, Washington, and those                                                                            maximum opportunity to participate.
                                                                                                               Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan,
                                                      portions of Colorado, Montana, New                                                                             The days may be held up to 14 days
                                                                                                               Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee,
                                                      Mexico, and Wyoming not included in                                                                            before or after any regular duck-season
                                                                                                               and Wisconsin. The seasons in Iowa,
                                                      the Central Flyway.                                                                                            frameworks or within any split of a
                                                                                                               Michigan, and Wisconsin are
                                                      Management Units                                         experimental.                                         regular duck season, or within any other
                                                                                                                  Central Flyway—Colorado (part),                    open season on migratory birds.
                                                      Mourning Dove Management Units                                                                                    Daily Bag Limits: The daily bag limits
                                                                                                               Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico (part),
                                                        Eastern Management Unit—All States                     Oklahoma, and Texas. The season in the                may include ducks, geese, mergansers,
                                                      east of the Mississippi River, and                       northern portion of Nebraska is                       coots, and gallinules and will be the
                                                      Louisiana.                                               experimental.                                         same as those allowed in the regular
                                                        Central Management Unit—Arkansas,                                                                            season. Flyway species and area
                                                                                                                  Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag
                                                      Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota,                                                                             restrictions will remain in effect.
                                                                                                               Limits: Not to exceed 16 consecutive                     Shooting Hours: One-half hour before
                                                      Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New                         hunting days in the Atlantic,
                                                      Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South                                                                          sunrise to sunset.
                                                                                                               Mississippi, and Central Flyways. The                    Participation Restrictions: Youth
                                                      Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.                              daily bag limit is 6 teal.
                                                        Western Management Unit—Arizona,                                                                             hunters must be 15 years of age or
                                                                                                                  Shooting Hours:                                    younger. In addition, an adult at least 18
                                                      California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah,
                                                      and Washington.                                             Atlantic Flyway—One-half hour                      years of age must accompany the youth
                                                                                                               before sunrise to sunset, except in South             hunter into the field. This adult may not
                                                      Woodcock Management Regions                              Carolina, where the hours are from                    duck hunt, but may participate in other
                                                         Eastern Management Region—                            sunrise to sunset.                                    seasons that are open on the special
                                                      Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia,                    Mississippi and Central Flyways—                   youth day.
                                                      Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New                      One-half hour before sunrise to sunset,
                                                                                                               except in the States of Arkansas,                     Scoters, Eiders, and Long-Tailed Ducks
                                                      Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
                                                                                                               Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan,                    (Atlantic Flyway)
                                                      North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode
                                                      Island, South Carolina, Vermont,                         Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and                          Outside Dates: Between September 15
                                                      Virginia, and West Virginia.                             Wisconsin, where the hours are from                   and January 31.
                                                         Central Management Region—                            sunrise to sunset.                                      Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag
                                                      Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana,                                                                          Limits: Not to exceed 107 days, with a
                                                                                                               Special September Duck Seasons
                                                      Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,                                                                             daily bag limit of 7, singly or in the
                                                      Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi,                           Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee: In                aggregate, of the listed sea duck species,
                                                      Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio,                  lieu of a special September teal season,              of which no more than 4 may be scoters.
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee,                       a 5-consecutive-day season may be                       Daily Bag Limits During the Regular
                                                      Texas, and Wisconsin.                                    selected in September. The daily bag                  Duck Season: Within the special sea
                                                         Other geographic descriptions are                     limit may not exceed 6 teal and wood                  duck areas, during the regular duck
                                                      contained in a later portion of this                     ducks in the aggregate, of which no                   season in the Atlantic Flyway, States
                                                      document.                                                more than 2 may be wood ducks. In                     may choose to allow the above sea duck
                                                                                                               addition, a 4-consecutive-day                         limits in addition to the limits applying
                                                      Definitions                                              experimental season may be selected in                to other ducks during the regular duck
                                                         Dark geese: Canada geese, white-                      September either immediately before or                season. In all other areas, sea ducks may
                                                      fronted geese, brant (except in Alaska,                  immediately after the 5-consecutive day               be taken only during the regular open


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                         43277

                                                      season for ducks and are part of the                     of Canada geese must be described,                    daily bag limit is 5, except in Pacific
                                                      regular duck season daily bag (not to                    delineated, and designated as such in                 County where the daily bag limit is 15.
                                                      exceed 4 scoters) and possession limits.                 each State’s hunting regulations.                       Wyoming may select an 8-day season
                                                         Areas: In all coastal waters and all                     A Canada goose season of up to 10                  during September 1–15. The daily bag
                                                      waters of rivers and streams seaward                     consecutive days during September 1–                  limit is 3.
                                                      from the first upstream bridge in Maine,                 10 may be selected by Michigan for                      Areas open to hunting of Canada
                                                      New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode                      Huron, Saginaw, and Tuscola Counties,                 geese in each State must be described,
                                                      Island, Connecticut, and New York; in                    except that the Shiawassee National                   delineated, and designated as such in
                                                      any waters of the Atlantic Ocean and in                  Wildlife Refuge, Shiawassee River State               each State’s hunting regulations.
                                                      any tidal waters of any bay which are                    Game Area Refuge, and the Fish Point                  Regular Goose Seasons
                                                      separated by at least 1 mile of open                     Wildlife Area Refuge will remain
                                                      water from any shore, island, and                        closed. The daily bag limit may not                   Mississippi Flyway
                                                      emergent vegetation in New Jersey,                       exceed 5 Canada geese.                                  Regular goose seasons may open as
                                                      South Carolina, and Georgia; and in any                     Shooting Hours: One-half hour before               early as September 11 in the Upper
                                                      waters of the Atlantic Ocean and in any                  sunrise to sunset, except that during                 Peninsula of Michigan and September
                                                      tidal waters of any bay which are                        September 1–15 shooting hours may                     16 in Wisconsin and the Lower
                                                      separated by at least 800 yards of open                  extend to one-half hour after sunset if               Peninsula of Michigan. Season lengths,
                                                      water from any shore, island, and                        all other waterfowl and crane seasons                 bag and possession limits, and other
                                                      emergent vegetation in Delaware,                         are closed in the specific applicable                 provisions will be established during
                                                      Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia;                  area.                                                 the late-season regulations process.
                                                      and provided that any such areas have
                                                      been described, delineated, and                          Central Flyway                                        Sandhill Cranes
                                                      designated as special sea duck hunting                   General Seasons                                         Regular Seasons in the Mississippi
                                                      areas under the hunting regulations                                                                            Flyway:
                                                                                                                  In Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma,
                                                      adopted by the respective States.                                                                                Outside Dates: Between September 1
                                                                                                               South Dakota, and Texas, Canada goose
                                                      Special Early Canada Goose Seasons                       seasons of up to 30 days during                       and February 28 in Minnesota and
                                                                                                               September 1–30 may be selected. In                    between September 1 and January 31 in
                                                      Atlantic Flyway                                                                                                Kentucky.
                                                                                                               Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota,
                                                      General Seasons                                          Montana, and Wyoming, Canada goose                      Hunting Seasons: A season not to
                                                                                                               seasons of up to 15 days during                       exceed 37 consecutive days may be
                                                         A Canada goose season of up to 15                                                                           selected in the designated portion of
                                                      days during September 1–15 may be                        September 1–15 may be selected. The
                                                                                                               daily bag limit may not exceed 5 Canada               northwestern Minnesota (Northwest
                                                      selected for the Eastern Unit of                                                                               Goose Zone) and a season not to exceed
                                                      Maryland. Seasons not to exceed 30                       geese, except in Kansas, Nebraska, and
                                                                                                               Oklahoma, where the daily bag limit                   60 consecutive days in Kentucky.
                                                      days during September 1–30 may be                                                                                Daily Bag Limit: 2 sandhill cranes. In
                                                      selected for Connecticut, Florida,                       may not exceed 8 Canada geese and in
                                                                                                               North Dakota and South Dakota, where                  Kentucky the seasonal bag limit is 3
                                                      Georgia, New Jersey, New York (Long                                                                            sandhill cranes.
                                                      Island Zone only), North Carolina,                       the daily bag limit may not exceed 15
                                                                                                               Canada geese. Areas open to the hunting                 Permits: Each person participating in
                                                      Rhode Island, and South Carolina.                                                                              the regular sandhill crane seasons must
                                                      Seasons may not exceed 25 days during                    of Canada geese must be described,
                                                                                                               delineated, and designated as such in                 have a valid Federal or State sandhill
                                                      September 1–25 in the remainder of the                                                                         crane hunting permit.
                                                      Flyway. Areas open to the hunting of                     each State’s hunting regulations.
                                                                                                                  Shooting Hours: One-half hour before                 Other Provisions: The number of
                                                      Canada geese must be described,                                                                                permits (where applicable), open areas,
                                                      delineated, and designated as such in                    sunrise to sunset, except that during
                                                                                                               September 1–15 shooting hours may                     season dates, protection plans for other
                                                      each State’s hunting regulations.                                                                              species, and other provisions of seasons
                                                         Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 15                    extend to one-half hour after sunset if
                                                                                                               all other waterfowl and crane seasons                 must be consistent with the
                                                      Canada geese.                                                                                                  management plans and approved by the
                                                         Shooting Hours: One-half hour before                  are closed in the specific applicable
                                                                                                               area.                                                 Mississippi Flyway Council.
                                                      sunrise to sunset, except that during any                                                                        Experimental Season in the
                                                      general season, shooting hours may                       Pacific Flyway                                        Mississippi Flyway:
                                                      extend to one-half hour after sunset if                                                                          Outside Dates: Between September 1
                                                      all other waterfowl seasons are closed in                General Seasons
                                                                                                                                                                     and January 31.
                                                      the specific applicable area.                              California may select a 9-day season                  Hunting Seasons: A season not to
                                                      Mississippi Flyway                                       in Humboldt County during September                   exceed 60 consecutive days may be
                                                                                                               1–15. The daily bag limit is 2.                       selected in Tennessee.
                                                      General Seasons                                            Colorado may select a 9-day season                    Bag Limit: Not to exceed 3 daily and
                                                        Canada goose seasons of up to 15 days                  during September 1–15. The daily bag                  3 per season in Tennessee.
                                                      during September 1–15 may be selected,                   limit is 4.                                             Permits: Each person participating in
                                                      except in the Upper Peninsula in                           Oregon may select a 15-day season                   the regular sandhill crane season must
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      Michigan, where the season may not                       during September 1–15, except that in                 have a valid Federal or State sandhill
                                                      extend beyond September 10, and in                       the Northwest Zone the season may be                  crane hunting permit.
                                                      Minnesota, where a season of up to 22                    during September 1–20. The daily bag                    Other Provisions: Numbers of permits,
                                                      days during September 1–22 may be                        limit is 5.                                           open areas, season dates, protection
                                                      selected. The daily bag limit may not                      Idaho may select a 15-day season                    plans for other species, and other
                                                      exceed 5 Canada geese, except in                         during September 1–15. The daily bag                  provisions of seasons must be consistent
                                                      designated areas of Minnesota where the                  limit is 5.                                           with the management plan and
                                                      daily bag limit may not exceed 10                          Washington may select a 15-day                      approved by the Mississippi Flyway
                                                      Canada geese. Areas open to the hunting                  season during September 1–15. The                     Council.


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                                                      43278                    Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                        Regular Seasons in the Central                         31) in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and                 between the Saturday nearest September
                                                      Flyway:                                                  Central Flyways. States in the Pacific                22 (September 19) and January 31.
                                                        Outside Dates: Between September 1                     Flyway have been allowed to select                      Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag
                                                      and February 28.                                         their hunting seasons between the                     Limits: Seasons may not exceed 45 days
                                                        Hunting Seasons: Seasons not to                        outside dates for the season on ducks;                in the Eastern Region and 45 days in the
                                                      exceed 37 consecutive days may be                        therefore, they are late-season                       Central Region. The daily bag limit is 3.
                                                      selected in designated portions of Texas                 frameworks, and no frameworks are                     Seasons may be split into two segments.
                                                      (Area 2). Seasons not to exceed 58                       provided in this document.                              Zoning: New Jersey may select
                                                      consecutive days may be selected in                         Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag                      seasons in each of two zones. The
                                                      designated portions of the following                     Limits: Seasons may not exceed 70 days                season in each zone may not exceed 36
                                                      States: Colorado, Kansas, Montana,                       in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central             days.
                                                      North Dakota, South Dakota, and                          Flyways. Seasons may be split into 2
                                                      Wyoming. Seasons not to exceed 93                                                                              Band-Tailed Pigeons
                                                                                                               segments. The daily bag limit is 15
                                                      consecutive days may be selected in                      common moorhens and purple                            Pacific Coast States (California, Oregon,
                                                      designated portions of the following                     gallinules, singly or in the aggregate of             Washington, and Nevada)
                                                      States: New Mexico, Oklahoma, and                        the two species.                                         Outside Dates: Between September 15
                                                      Texas.                                                      Zoning: Seasons may be selected by                 and January 1.
                                                        Daily Bag Limits: 3 sandhill cranes,                   zones established for duck hunting.                      Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag
                                                      except 2 sandhill cranes in designated
                                                                                                               Rails                                                 Limits: Not more than 9 consecutive
                                                      portions of North Dakota (Area 2) and
                                                                                                                                                                     days, with a daily bag limit of 2.
                                                      Texas (Area 2).                                             Outside Dates: States included herein
                                                        Permits: Each person participating in                                                                           Zoning: California may select hunting
                                                                                                               may select seasons between September                  seasons not to exceed 9 consecutive
                                                      the regular sandhill crane season must                   1 and the last Sunday in January
                                                      have a valid Federal or State sandhill                                                                         days in each of two zones. The season
                                                                                                               (January 31) on clapper, king, sora, and              in the North Zone must close by October
                                                      crane hunting permit.                                    Virginia rails.
                                                        Special Seasons in the Central and                                                                           3.
                                                                                                                  Hunting Seasons: Seasons may not
                                                      Pacific Flyways:                                         exceed 70 days, and may be split into                 Four-Corners States (Arizona,
                                                        Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana,                     2 segments.                                           Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah)
                                                      New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming may                           Daily Bag Limits:
                                                      select seasons for hunting sandhill                                                                              Outside Dates: Between September 1
                                                                                                                  Clapper and King Rails—In                          and November 30.
                                                      cranes within the range of the Rocky
                                                                                                               Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New                    Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag
                                                      Mountain Population (RMP) subject to
                                                                                                               Jersey, and Rhode Island, 10, singly or               Limits: Not more than 14 consecutive
                                                      the following conditions:
                                                                                                               in the aggregate of the two species. In               days, with a daily bag limit of 2.
                                                        Outside Dates: Between September 1
                                                                                                               Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana,                   Zoning: New Mexico may select
                                                      and January 31.
                                                        Hunting Seasons: The season in any                     Mississippi, North Carolina, South                    hunting seasons not to exceed 14
                                                      State or zone may not exceed 30                          Carolina, Texas, and Virginia, 15, singly             consecutive days in each of two zones.
                                                      consecutive days.                                        or in the aggregate of the two species.               The season in the South Zone may not
                                                        Bag limits: Not to exceed 3 daily and                     Sora and Virginia Rails—In the                     open until October 1.
                                                      9 per season.                                            Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central
                                                                                                               Flyways and the Pacific Flyway                        Doves
                                                        Permits: Participants must have a
                                                      valid permit, issued by the appropriate                  portions of Colorado, Montana, New                      Outside Dates: Between September 1
                                                      State, in their possession while hunting.                Mexico, and Wyoming, 25 rails, singly                 and January 15, except as otherwise
                                                        Other Provisions: Numbers of permits,                  or in the aggregate of the two species.               provided, States may select hunting
                                                      open areas, season dates, protection                     The season is closed in the remainder of              seasons and daily bag limits as follows:
                                                      plans for other species, and other                       the Pacific Flyway.
                                                                                                                                                                     Eastern Management Unit
                                                      provisions of seasons must be consistent                 Snipe
                                                      with the management plan and                                                                                     Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag
                                                      approved by the Central and Pacific                        Outside Dates: Between September 1                  Limits: Not more than 90 days, with a
                                                      Flyway Councils, with the following                      and February 28, except in Connecticut,               daily bag limit of 15 mourning and
                                                      exceptions:                                              Delaware, Maine, Maryland,                            white-winged doves in the aggregate.
                                                        A. In Utah, 100 percent of the harvest                 Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New                       Zoning and Split Seasons: States may
                                                      will be assigned to the RMP quota;                       Jersey, New York, Rhode Island,                       select hunting seasons in each of two
                                                        B. In Arizona, monitoring the racial                   Vermont, and Virginia, where the                      zones. The season within each zone may
                                                      composition of the harvest must be                       season must end no later than January                 be split into not more than three
                                                      conducted at 3-year intervals;                           31.                                                   periods. Regulations for bag and
                                                        C. In Idaho, 100 percent of the harvest                  Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag                       possession limits, season length, and
                                                      will be assigned to the RMP quota; and                   Limits: Seasons may not exceed 107                    shooting hours must be uniform within
                                                        D. In New Mexico, the season in the                    days and may be split into two                        specific hunting zones.
                                                      Estancia Valley is experimental, with a                  segments. The daily bag limit is 8 snipe.
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                                                                                     Central Management Unit
                                                      requirement to monitor the level and                       Zoning: Seasons may be selected by
                                                      racial composition of the harvest;                       zones established for duck hunting.                     For all States except Texas:
                                                      greater sandhill cranes in the harvest                                                                           Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag
                                                                                                               American Woodcock                                     Limits: Not more than 70 days, with a
                                                      will be assigned to the RMP quota.
                                                                                                                 Outside Dates: States in the Eastern                daily bag limit of 15 mourning and
                                                      Common Moorhens and Purple                               Management Region may select hunting                  white-winged doves in the aggregate.
                                                      Gallinules                                               seasons between October 1 and January                   Zoning and Split Seasons: States may
                                                        Outside Dates: Between September 1                     31. States in the Central Management                  select hunting seasons in each of two
                                                      and the last Sunday in January (January                  Region may select hunting seasons                     zones. The season within each zone may


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                         43279

                                                      be split into not more than three                        Alaska                                                   B. All season framework dates are
                                                      periods.                                                    Outside Dates: Between September 1                 September 1–October 31.
                                                         Texas:                                                and January 26.                                          C. In Unit 17, no more than 200
                                                         Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag                            Hunting Seasons: Alaska may select                 permits may be issued during this
                                                      Limits: Not more than 70 days, with a                    107 consecutive days for waterfowl,                   operational season. No more than 3
                                                      daily bag limit of 15 mourning, white-                   sandhill cranes, and common snipe in                  tundra swans may be authorized per
                                                      winged, and white-tipped doves in the                    each of 5 zones. The season may be split              permit, with no more than 1 permit
                                                      aggregate, of which no more than 2 may                   without penalty in the Kodiak Zone.                   issued per hunter per season.
                                                      be white-tipped doves.                                   The seasons in each zone must be                         D. In Unit 18, no more than 500
                                                         Zoning and Split Seasons: Texas may                   concurrent.                                           permits may be issued during the
                                                      select hunting seasons for each of three                    Closures: The hunting season is                    operational season. No more than 3
                                                      zones subject to the following                           closed on emperor geese, spectacled                   tundra swans may be authorized per
                                                      conditions:                                              eiders, and Steller’s eiders.                         permit. No more than 1 permit may be
                                                         A. The hunting season may be split                       Daily Bag and Possession Limits:                   issued per hunter per season.
                                                      into not more than two periods, except                      Ducks—Except as noted, a basic daily                  E. In Unit 22, no more than 300
                                                      in that portion of Texas in which the                    bag limit of 7 ducks. Daily bag limits in             permits may be issued during the
                                                      special white-winged dove season is                      the North Zone are 10, and in the Gulf                operational season. No more than 3
                                                      allowed, where a limited take of                         Coast Zone, they are 8. The basic limits              tundra swans may be authorized per
                                                      mourning and white-tipped doves may                      may include no more than 1 canvasback                 permit. No more than 1 permit may be
                                                      also occur during that special season                    daily and may not include sea ducks.                  issued per hunter per season.
                                                      (see Special White-winged Dove Area).                       In addition to the basic duck limits,                 F. In Unit 23, no more than 300
                                                         B. A season may be selected for the                   Alaska may select sea duck limits of 10               permits may be issued during the
                                                      North and Central Zones between                          daily, singly or in the aggregate,                    operational season. No more than 3
                                                      September 1 and January 25; and for the                  including no more than 6 each of either               tundra swans may be authorized per
                                                      South Zone between the Friday nearest                    harlequin or long-tailed ducks. Sea                   permit. No more than 1 permit may be
                                                      September 20 (September 18), but not                     ducks include scoters, common and                     issued per hunter per season.
                                                      earlier than September 17, and January                   king eiders, harlequin ducks, long-tailed             Hawaii
                                                      25.                                                      ducks, and common and red-breasted
                                                                                                               mergansers.                                             Outside Dates: Between October 1 and
                                                         C. Except as noted above, regulations
                                                                                                                  Light Geese—The daily bag limit is 4.              January 31.
                                                      for bag and possession limits, season
                                                                                                                  Canada Geese—The daily bag limit is                  Hunting Seasons: Not more than 65
                                                      length, and shooting hours must be
                                                                                                               4 with the following exceptions:                      days (75 under the alternative) for
                                                      uniform within each hunting zone.
                                                                                                                  A. In Units 5 and 6, the taking of                 mourning doves.
                                                         Special White-winged Dove Area in                                                                             Bag Limits: Not to exceed 15 (12
                                                      Texas:                                                   Canada geese is permitted from
                                                                                                               September 28 through December 16.                     under the alternative) mourning doves.
                                                         In addition, Texas may select a                                                                               Note: Mourning doves may be taken
                                                                                                                  B. On Middleton Island in Unit 6, a
                                                      hunting season of not more than 4 days                                                                         in Hawaii in accordance with shooting
                                                                                                               special, permit-only Canada goose
                                                      for the Special White-winged Dove Area                                                                         hours and other regulations set by the
                                                                                                               season may be offered. A mandatory
                                                      of the South Zone between September 1                                                                          State of Hawaii, and subject to the
                                                                                                               goose identification class is required.
                                                      and September 19. The daily bag limit                                                                          applicable provisions of 50 CFR part 20.
                                                                                                               Hunters must check in and check out.
                                                      may not exceed 15 white-winged,
                                                                                                               The bag limit is 1 daily and 1 in                     Puerto Rico
                                                      mourning, and white-tipped doves in
                                                                                                               possession. The season will close if
                                                      the aggregate, of which no more than 2                                                                           Doves and Pigeons
                                                                                                               incidental harvest includes 5 dusky
                                                      may be mourning doves and no more                                                                                Outside Dates: Between September 1
                                                                                                               Canada geese. A dusky Canada goose is
                                                      than 2 may be white-tipped doves.                                                                              and January 15.
                                                                                                               any dark-breasted Canada goose
                                                      Western Management Unit                                  (Munsell 10 YR color value five or less)                Hunting Seasons: Not more than 60
                                                                                                               with a bill length between 40 and 50                  days.
                                                        Hunting Seasons and Daily Bag                                                                                  Daily Bag and Possession Limits: Not
                                                      Limits:                                                  millimeters.
                                                                                                                  D. In Units 9, 10, 17, and 18, the daily           to exceed 20 Zenaida, mourning, and
                                                        Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and                                                                             white-winged doves in the aggregate, of
                                                                                                               bag limit is 6 Canada geese.
                                                      Washington—Not more than 60                                 White-fronted Geese—The daily bag                  which not more than 10 may be Zenaida
                                                      consecutive days, with a daily bag limit                 limit is 4 with the following exceptions:             doves and 3 may be mourning doves.
                                                      of 15 mourning and white-winged doves                       A. In Units 9, 10, and 17, the daily bag           Not to exceed 5 scaly-naped pigeons.
                                                      in the aggregate.                                        limit is 6 white-fronted geese.                         Closed Seasons: The season is closed
                                                        Arizona and California—Not more                           B. In Unit 18, the daily bag limit is 10           on the white-crowned pigeon and the
                                                      than 60 days, which may be split                         white-fronted geese.                                  plain pigeon, which are protected by the
                                                      between two periods, September 1–15                         Brant—The daily bag limit is 2.                    Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
                                                      and November 1–January 15. In                               Snipe—The daily bag limit is 8.                      Closed Areas: There is no open season
                                                      Arizona, during the first segment of the                    Sandhill cranes—The daily bag limit                on doves or pigeons in the following
                                                      season, the daily bag limit is 15                        is 2 in the Southeast, Gulf Coast,                    areas: Municipality of Culebra,
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                                                      mourning and white-winged doves in                       Kodiak, and Aleutian Zones, and Unit                  Desecheo Island, Mona Island, El Verde
                                                      the aggregate, of which no more than 10                  17 in the North Zone. In the remainder                Closure Area, and Cidra Municipality
                                                      could be white-winged doves. During                      of the North Zone (outside Unit 17), the              and adjacent areas.
                                                      the remainder of the season, the daily                   daily bag limit is 3.                                   Ducks, Coots, Moorhens, Gallinules,
                                                      bag limit is 15 mourning doves. In                          Tundra Swans—Open seasons for                      and Snipe
                                                      California, the daily bag limit is 15                    tundra swans may be selected subject to                 Outside Dates: Between October 1 and
                                                      mourning and white-winged doves in                       the following conditions:                             January 31.
                                                      the aggregate, of which no more than 10                     A. All seasons are by registration                   Hunting Seasons: Not more than 55
                                                      could be white-winged doves.                             permit only.                                          days may be selected for hunting ducks,


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                                                      43280                    Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                      common moorhens, and common snipe.                       any species or group of species in a                  Texas
                                                      The season may be split into two                         geographical area. Each extended season                  North Zone—That portion of the State
                                                      segments.                                                may be divided into a maximum of 3                    north of a line beginning at the
                                                        Daily Bag Limits:                                      segments.                                             International Bridge south of Fort
                                                        Ducks—Not to exceed 6.                                    Framework Dates: Seasons must fall                 Hancock; north along FM 1088 to TX 20;
                                                        Common moorhens—Not to exceed 6.                       between September 1 and March 10.                     west along TX 20 to TX 148; north along
                                                        Common snipe—Not to exceed 8.
                                                                                                                  Daily Bag Limits: Falconry daily bag               TX 148 to I–10 at Fort Hancock; east
                                                        Closed Seasons: The season is closed
                                                                                                               limits for all permitted migratory game               along I–10 to I–20; northeast along I–20
                                                      on the ruddy duck, white-cheeked
                                                                                                               birds must not exceed 3 birds, singly or              to I–30 at Fort Worth; northeast along I–
                                                      pintail, West Indian whistling duck,
                                                                                                               in the aggregate, during extended                     30 to the Texas-Arkansas State line.
                                                      fulvous whistling duck, and masked                                                                                South Zone—That portion of the State
                                                                                                               falconry seasons, any special or
                                                      duck, which are protected by the                                                                               south and west of a line beginning at the
                                                                                                               experimental seasons, and regular
                                                      Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The                                                                               International Bridge south of Del Rio,
                                                                                                               hunting seasons in all States, including
                                                      season also is closed on the purple                                                                            proceeding east on U.S. 90 to State Loop
                                                                                                               those that do not select an extended
                                                      gallinule, American coot, and Caribbean                                                                        1604 west of San Antonio; then south,
                                                                                                               falconry season.
                                                      coot.                                                                                                          east, and north along Loop 1604 to
                                                        Closed Areas: There is no open season                     Regular Seasons: General hunting
                                                                                                               regulations, including seasons and                    Interstate Highway 10 east of San
                                                      on ducks, common moorhens, and
                                                                                                               hunting hours, apply to falconry in each              Antonio; then east on I–10 to Orange,
                                                      common snipe in the Municipality of
                                                                                                               State listed in 50 CFR 21.29. Regular                 Texas.
                                                      Culebra and on Desecheo Island.                                                                                   Special White-winged Dove Area in
                                                                                                               season bag limits do not apply to
                                                      Virgin Islands                                           falconry. The falconry bag limit is not in            the South Zone—That portion of the
                                                                                                               addition to gun limits.                               State south and west of a line beginning
                                                         Doves and Pigeons
                                                         Outside Dates: Between September 1                                                                          at the International Toll Bridge in Del
                                                                                                               Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions                     Rio; then northeast along U.S. Highway
                                                      and January 15.
                                                         Hunting Seasons: Not more than 60                     Doves                                                 277 Spur to U.S. Highway 90 in Del Rio;
                                                      days for Zenaida doves.                                                                                        then east along U.S. Highway 90 to State
                                                                                                               Alabama                                               Loop 1604; then along Loop 1604 south
                                                         Daily Bag and Possession Limits: Not
                                                      to exceed 10 Zenaida doves.                                South Zone—Baldwin, Barbour,                        and east to Interstate Highway 37; then
                                                         Closed Seasons: No open season is                     Coffee, Covington, Dale, Escambia,                    south along Interstate Highway 37 to
                                                      prescribed for ground or quail doves or                  Geneva, Henry, Houston, and Mobile                    U.S. Highway 181 in Corpus Christi;
                                                      pigeons.                                                 Counties.                                             then north and east along U.S. 181 to
                                                         Closed Areas: There is no open season                   North Zone—Remainder of the State.                  the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, then
                                                      for migratory game birds on Ruth Cay                                                                           eastwards along the south shore of the
                                                                                                               Florida                                               Corpus Christi Ship Channel to the Gulf
                                                      (just south of St. Croix).
                                                         Local Names for Certain Birds:                          Northwest Zone—The Counties of                      of Mexico.
                                                      Zenaida dove, also known as mountain                     Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin,                        Central Zone—That portion of the
                                                      dove; bridled quail-dove, also known as                  Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson,                       State lying between the North and South
                                                      Barbary dove or partridge; common                        Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton,                Zones.
                                                      ground-dove, also known as stone dove,                   Washington, Leon (except that portion                 Band-tailed Pigeons
                                                      tobacco dove, rola, or tortolita; scaly-                 north of U.S. 27 and east of State Road
                                                                                                                                                                     California
                                                      naped pigeon, also known as red-necked                   155), Jefferson (south of U.S. 27, west of
                                                      or scaled pigeon.                                        State Road 59 and north of U.S. 98), and                North Zone—Alpine, Butte, Del Norte,
                                                                                                               Wakulla (except that portion south of                 Glenn, Humboldt, Lassen, Mendocino,
                                                      Ducks                                                                                                          Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra,
                                                                                                               U.S. 98 and east of the St. Marks River).
                                                        Outside Dates: Between December 1                        South Zone—Remainder of State.                      Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity Counties.
                                                      and January 31.                                                                                                  South Zone—The remainder of the
                                                        Hunting Seasons: Not more than 55                      Louisiana                                             State.
                                                      consecutive days.                                          North Zone—That portion of the State                New Mexico
                                                        Daily Bag Limits: Not to exceed 6.
                                                                                                               north of a line extending east from the                  North Zone—North of a line following
                                                        Closed Seasons: The season is closed
                                                                                                               Texas border along State Highway 12 to                U.S. 60 from the Arizona State line east
                                                      on the ruddy duck, white-cheeked
                                                                                                               U.S. Highway 190, east along U.S. 190                 to I–25 at Socorro and then south along
                                                      pintail, West Indian whistling duck,
                                                                                                               to Interstate Highway 12, east along                  I–25 from Socorro to the Texas State
                                                      fulvous whistling duck, and masked
                                                                                                               Interstate Highway 12 to Interstate                   line.
                                                      duck.
                                                                                                               Highway 10, then east along Interstate                   South Zone—The remainder of the
                                                      Special Falconry Regulations                             Highway 10 to the Mississippi border.                 State.
                                                        Falconry is a permitted means of                         South Zone—The remainder of the
                                                                                                               State.                                                Washington
                                                      taking migratory game birds in any State
                                                      meeting Federal falconry standards in                                                                            Western Washington—The State of
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                               Mississippi
                                                      50 CFR 21.29. These States may select                                                                          Washington excluding those portions
                                                      an extended season for taking migratory                    North Zone—That portion of the State                lying east of the Pacific Crest Trail and
                                                      game birds in accordance with the                        north and west of a line extending west               east of the Big White Salmon River in
                                                      following:                                               from the Alabama State line along U.S.                Klickitat County.
                                                        Extended Seasons: For all hunting                      Highway 84 to its junction with State                 Woodcock
                                                      methods combined, the combined                           Highway 35, then south along State
                                                      length of the extended season, regular                   Highway 35 to the Louisiana State line.               New Jersey
                                                      season, and any special or experimental                    South Zone—The remainder of                           North Zone—That portion of the State
                                                      seasons must not exceed 107 days for                     Mississippi.                                          north of NJ 70.


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                          43281

                                                        South Zone—The remainder of the                        the west shore of South Bay along and                 where the northerly extension of Route
                                                      State.                                                   around the shoreline of South Bay to                  269 (County Line Road on the Niagara–
                                                                                                               Route 22 on the east shore of South Bay,              Orleans County boundary) meets the
                                                      Special Early Canada Goose Seasons
                                                                                                               southeast along Route 22 to Route 4,                  International boundary with Canada,
                                                      Atlantic Flyway                                          northeast along Route 4 to the New                    south to the shore of Lake Ontario at the
                                                      Connecticut                                              York-Vermont boundary.                                eastern boundary of Golden Hill State
                                                                                                                  Northeast Goose Area—The same as                   Park, south along the extension of Route
                                                        North Zone—That portion of the State                   the Northeastern Waterfowl Hunting                    269 and Route 269 to Route 104 at
                                                      north of I–95.                                           Zone, which is that area of New York                  Jeddo, west along Route 104 to Niagara
                                                        South Zone—The remainder of the                        State lying north of a continuous line                County Route 271, south along Route
                                                      State.                                                   extending from Lake Ontario east along                271 to Route 31E at Middleport, south
                                                      Maryland                                                 the north shore of the Salmon River to                along Route 31E to Route 31, west along
                                                                                                               Interstate 81, south along Interstate                 Route 31 to Griswold Street, south along
                                                         Eastern Unit—Calvert, Caroline, Cecil,                Route 81 to Route 31, east along Route
                                                      Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen                                                                               Griswold Street to Ditch Road, south
                                                                                                               31 to Route 13, north along Route 13 to
                                                      Anne’s, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Talbot,                                                                          along Ditch Road to Foot Road, south
                                                                                                               Route 49, east along Route 49 to Route
                                                      Wicomico, and Worcester Counties; and                                                                          along Foot Road to the north bank of
                                                                                                               365, east along Route 365 to Route 28,
                                                      that part of Anne Arundel County east                    east along Route 28 to Route 29, east                 Tonawanda Creek, west along the north
                                                      of Interstate 895, Interstate 97 and Route               along Route 29 to Route 22 at                         bank of Tonawanda Creek to Route 93,
                                                      3; that part of Prince George’s County                   Greenwich Junction, north along Route                 south along Route 93 to Route 5, east
                                                      east of Route 3 and Route 301; and that                  22 to Washington County Route 153,                    along Route 5 to Crittenden-Murrays
                                                      part of Charles County east of Route 301                 east along CR 153 to the New York-                    Corners Road, south on Crittenden-
                                                      to the Virginia State line.                              Vermont boundary, exclusive of the                    Murrays Corners Road to the NYS
                                                         Western Unit—Allegany, Baltimore,                     Lake Champlain Zone.                                  Thruway, east along the Thruway 90 to
                                                      Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard,                        East Central Goose Area—That area of               Route 98 (at Thruway Exit 48) in
                                                      Montgomery, and Washington Counties                      New York State lying inside of a                      Batavia, south along Route 98 to Route
                                                      and that part of Anne Arundel County                     continuous line extending from                        20, east along Route 20 to Route 19 in
                                                      west of Interstate 895, Interstate 97 and                Interstate Route 81 in Cicero, east along             Pavilion Center, south along Route 19 to
                                                      Route 3; that part of Prince George’s                    Route 31 to Route 13, north along Route               Route 63, southeast along Route 63 to
                                                      County west of Route 3 and Route 301;                    13 to Route 49, east along Route 49 to                Route 246, south along Route 246 to
                                                      and that part of Charles County west of                  Route 365, east along Route 365 to                    Route 39 in Perry, northeast along Route
                                                      Route 301 to the Virginia State line.                    Route 28, east along Route 28 to Route                39 to Route 20A, northeast along Route
                                                      Massachusetts                                            29, east along Route 29 to Route 147 at               20A to Route 20, east along Route 20 to
                                                                                                               Kimball Corners, south along Route 147                Route 364 (near Canandaigua), south
                                                         Western Zone—That portion of the                      to Schenectady County Route 40 (West                  and east along Route 364 to Yates
                                                      State west of a line extending south                     Glenville Road), west along Route 40 to               County Route 18 (Italy Valley Road),
                                                      from the Vermont border on I–91 to MA                    Touareuna Road, south along Touareuna                 southwest along Route 18 to Yates
                                                      9, west on MA 9 to MA 10, south on MA                    Road to Schenectady County Route 59,                  County Route 34, east along Route 34 to
                                                      10 to U.S. 202, south on U.S. 202 to the                 south along Route 59 to State Route 5,                Yates County Route 32, south along
                                                      Connecticut border.                                      east along Route 5 to the Lock 9 bridge,              Route 32 to Steuben County Route 122,
                                                         Central Zone—That portion of the                      southwest along the Lock 9 bridge to                  south along Route 122 to Route 53,
                                                      State east of the Berkshire Zone and                     Route 5S, southeast along Route 5S to                 south along Route 53 to Steuben County
                                                      west of a line extending south from the                  Schenectady County Route 58,                          Route 74, east along Route 74 to Route
                                                      New Hampshire border on I–95 to U.S.                     southwest along Route 58 to the NYS                   54A (near Pulteney), south along Route
                                                      1, south on U.S. 1 to I–93, south on I–                  Thruway, south along the Thruway to                   54A to Steuben County Route 87, east
                                                      93 to MA 3, south on MA 3 to U.S. 6,                     Route 7, southwest along Route 7 to
                                                                                                                                                                     along Route 87 to Steuben County Route
                                                      west on U.S. 6 to MA 28, west on MA                      Schenectady County Route 103, south
                                                                                                                                                                     96, east along Route 96 to Steuben
                                                      28 to I–195, west to the Rhode Island                    along Route 103 to Route 406, east along
                                                      border; except the waters, and the lands                                                                       County Route 114, east along Route 114
                                                                                                               Route 406 to Schenectady County Route
                                                      150 yards inland from the high-water                     99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route               to Schuyler County Route 23, east and
                                                      mark, of the Assonet River upstream to                   99 to Dunnsville Road, south along                    southeast along Route 23 to Schuyler
                                                      the MA 24 bridge, and the Taunton                        Dunnsville Road to Route 397,                         County Route 28, southeast along Route
                                                      River upstream to the Center St.-Elm St.                 southwest along Route 397 to Route 146                28 to Route 409 at Watkins Glen, south
                                                      bridge will be in the Coastal Zone.                      at Altamont, west along Route 146 to                  along Route 409 to Route 14, south
                                                         Coastal Zone—That portion of                          Albany County Route 252, northwest                    along Route 14 to Route 224 at Montour
                                                      Massachusetts east and south of the                      along Route 252 to Schenectady County                 Falls, east along Route 224 to Route 228
                                                      Central Zone.                                            Route 131, north along Route 131 to                   in Odessa, north along Route 228 to
                                                                                                               Route 7, west along Route 7 to Route 10               Route 79 in Mecklenburg, east along
                                                      New York                                                                                                       Route 79 to Route 366 in Ithaca,
                                                                                                               at Richmondville, south on Route 10 to
                                                        Lake Champlain Goose Area—The                          Route 23 at Stamford, west along Route                northeast along Route 366 to Route 13,
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                                                      same as the Lake Champlain Waterfowl                     23 to Route 7 in Oneonta, southwest                   northeast along Route 13 to Interstate
                                                      Hunting Zone, which is that area of New                  along Route 7 to Route 79 to Interstate               Route 81 in Cortland, north along Route
                                                      York State lying east and north of a                     Route 88 near Harpursville, west along                81 to the north shore of the Salmon
                                                      continuous line extending along Route                    Route 88 to Interstate Route 81, north                River to shore of Lake Ontario,
                                                      11 from the New York-Canada                              along Route 81 to the point of                        extending generally northwest in a
                                                      International boundary south to Route                    beginning.                                            straight line to the nearest point of the
                                                      9B, south along Route 9B to Route 9,                        West Central Goose Area—That area                  International boundary with Canada,
                                                      south along Route 9 to Route 22 south                    of New York State lying within a                      south and west along the International
                                                      of Keeseville, south along Route 22 to                   continuous line beginning at the point                boundary to the point of beginning.


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                                                      43282                    Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                         Hudson Valley Goose Area—That area                    south bank of Moodna Creek to the New                 (Lake Erie, Presque Isle, and the area
                                                      of New York State lying within a                         Windsor–Cornwall town boundary,                       within 150 yards of the Lake Erie
                                                      continuous line extending from Route 4                   northeast along the New Windsor–                      Shoreline).
                                                      at the New York–Vermont boundary,                        Cornwall town boundary to the Orange–
                                                                                                                                                                     Vermont
                                                      west and south along Route 4 to Route                    Dutchess County boundary (middle of
                                                      149 at Fort Ann, west on Route 149 to                    the Hudson River), north along the                       Lake Champlain Zone—The U.S.
                                                      Route 9, south along Route 9 to                          county boundary to Interstate Route 84,               portion of Lake Champlain and that area
                                                      Interstate Route 87 (at Exit 20 in Glens                 east along Route 84 to the Dutchess–                  north and west of the line extending
                                                      Falls), south along Route 87 to Route 29,                Putnam County boundary, east along the                from the New York border along U.S. 4
                                                      west along Route 29 to Route 147 at                      county boundary to the New York–                      to VT 22A at Fair Haven; VT 22A to U.S.
                                                      Kimball Corners, south along Route 147                   Connecticut boundary, north along the                 7 at Vergennes; U.S. 7 to VT 78 at
                                                      to Schenectady County Route 40 (West                     New York–Connecticut boundary to the                  Swanton; VT 78 to VT 36; VT 36 to
                                                      Glenville Road), west along Route 40 to                  New York–Massachusetts boundary,                      Maquam Bay on Lake Champlain; along
                                                      Touareuna Road, south along Touareuna                    north along the New York–                             and around the shoreline of Maquam
                                                                                                               Massachusetts boundary to the New                     Bay and Hog Island to VT 78 at the West
                                                      Road to Schenectady County Route 59,
                                                                                                               York–Vermont boundary, north to the                   Swanton Bridge; VT 78 to VT 2 in
                                                      south along Route 59 to State Route 5,
                                                                                                               point of beginning.                                   Alburg; VT 2 to the Richelieu River in
                                                      east along Route 5 to the Lock 9 bridge,
                                                                                                                 Eastern Long Island Goose Area (NAP                 Alburg; along the east shore of the
                                                      southwest along the Lock 9 bridge to
                                                                                                               High Harvest Area)—That area of                       Richelieu River to the Canadian border.
                                                      Route 5S, southeast along Route 5S to                                                                             Interior Zone—That portion of
                                                                                                               Suffolk County lying east of a
                                                      Schenectady County Route 58,                                                                                   Vermont east of the Lake Champlain
                                                                                                               continuous line extending due south
                                                      southwest along Route 58 to the NYS                                                                            Zone and west of a line extending from
                                                                                                               from the New York–Connecticut
                                                      Thruway, south along the Thruway to                                                                            the Massachusetts border at Interstate
                                                                                                               boundary to the northernmost end of
                                                      Route 7, southwest along Route 7 to                                                                            91; north along Interstate 91 to US 2;
                                                                                                               Roanoke Avenue in the Town of
                                                      Schenectady County Route 103, south                                                                            east along US 2 to VT 102; north along
                                                                                                               Riverhead; then south on Roanoke
                                                      along Route 103 to Route 406, east along                                                                       VT 102 to VT 253; north along VT 253
                                                                                                               Avenue (which becomes County Route
                                                      Route 406 to Schenectady County Route                                                                          to the Canadian border.
                                                                                                               73) to State Route 25; then west on
                                                      99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route                                                                           Connecticut River Zone—The
                                                                                                               Route 25 to Peconic Avenue; then south
                                                      99 to Dunnsville Road, south along                       on Peconic Avenue to County Route                     remaining portion of Vermont east of
                                                      Dunnsville Road to Route 397,                            (CR) 104 (Riverleigh Avenue); then                    the Interior Zone.
                                                      southwest along Route 397 to Route 146                   south on CR 104 to CR 31 (Old
                                                      at Altamont, southeast along Route 146                                                                         Mississippi Flyway
                                                                                                               Riverhead Road); then south on CR 31
                                                      to Main Street in Altamont, west along                   to Oak Street; then south on Oak Street               Arkansas
                                                      Main Street to Route 156, southeast                      to Potunk Lane; then west on Stevens                    Early Canada Goose Area—Baxter,
                                                      along Route 156 to Albany County                         Lane; then south on Jessup Avenue (in                 Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clark, Conway,
                                                      Route 307, southeast along Route 307 to                  Westhampton Beach) to Dune Road (CR                   Crawford, Faulkner, Franklin, Garland,
                                                      Route 85A, southwest along Route 85A                     89); then due south to international                  Hempstead, Hot Springs, Howard,
                                                      to Route 85, south along Route 85 to                     waters.                                               Johnson, Lafayette, Little River, Logan,
                                                      Route 443, southeast along Route 443 to                    Western Long Island Goose Area (RP                  Madison, Marion, Miller, Montgomery,
                                                      Albany County Route 301 at Clarksville,                  Area)—That area of Westchester County                 Newton, Perry, Pike, Polk, Pope,
                                                      southeast along Route 301 to Route 32,                   and its tidal waters southeast of                     Pulaski, Saline, Searcy, Sebastian,
                                                      south along Route 32 to Route 23 at                      Interstate Route 95 and that area of                  Sevier, Scott, Van Buren, Washington,
                                                      Cairo, west along Route 23 to Joseph                     Nassau and Suffolk Counties lying west                and Yell Counties.
                                                      Chadderdon Road, southeast along                         of a continuous line extending due
                                                      Joseph Chadderdon Road to Hearts                                                                               Illinois
                                                                                                               south from the New York–Connecticut
                                                      Content Road (Greene County Route 31),                   boundary to the northernmost end of the                  North September Canada Goose
                                                      southeast along Route 31 to Route 32,                    Sunken Meadow State Parkway; then                     Zone—That portion of the State north of
                                                      south along Route 32 to Greene County                    south on the Sunken Meadow Parkway                    a line extending west from the Indiana
                                                      Route 23A, east along Route 23A to                       to the Sagtikos State Parkway; then                   border along Interstate 80 to I–39, south
                                                      Interstate Route 87 (the NYS Thruway),                   south on the Sagtikos Parkway to the                  along I–39 to Illinois Route 18, west
                                                      south along Route 87 to Route 28 (Exit                   Robert Moses State Parkway; then south                along Illinois Route 18 to Illinois Route
                                                      19) near Kingston, northwest on Route                    on the Robert Moses Parkway to its                    29, south along Illinois Route 29 to
                                                      28 to Route 209, southwest on Route                      southernmost end; then due south to                   Illinois Route 17, west along Illinois
                                                      209 to the New York–Pennsylvania                         international waters.                                 Route 17 to the Mississippi River, and
                                                      boundary, southeast along the New                          Central Long Island Goose Area (NAP                 due south across the Mississippi River
                                                      York–Pennsylvania boundary to the                        Low Harvest Area)—That area of Suffolk                to the Iowa border.
                                                      New York–New Jersey boundary,                            County lying between the Western and                     Central September Canada Goose
                                                      southeast along the New York–New                         Eastern Long Island Goose Areas, as                   Zone—That portion of the State south of
                                                      Jersey boundary to Route 210 near                        defined above.                                        the North September Canada Goose
                                                      Greenwood Lake, northeast along Route                      South Goose Area—The remainder of                   Zone line to a line extending west from
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      210 to Orange County Route 5, northeast                  New York State, excluding New York                    the Indiana border along I–70 to Illinois
                                                      along Orange County Route 5 to Route                     City.                                                 Route 4, south along Illinois Route 4 to
                                                      105 in the Village of Monroe, east and                                                                         Illinois Route 161, west along Illinois
                                                      north along Route 105 to Route 32,                       Pennsylvania                                          Route 161 to Illinois Route 158, south
                                                      northeast along Route 32 to Orange                         Southern James Bay Population (SJBP)                and west along Illinois Route 158 to
                                                      County Route 107 (Quaker Avenue), east                   Zone—The area north of I–80 and west                  Illinois Route 159, south along Illinois
                                                      along Route 107 to Route 9W, north                       of I–79, including in the city of Erie                Route 159 to Illinois Route 3, south
                                                      along Route 9W to the south bank of                      west of Bay Front Parkway to and                      along Illinois Route 3 to St. Leo’s Road,
                                                      Moodna Creek, southeast along the                        including the Lake Erie Duck Zone                     south along St. Leo’s road to Modoc


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                           43283

                                                      Road, west along Modoc Road to Modoc                     along Ivy Avenue to 340th Street; then                to Grundy Road, then north along
                                                      Ferry Road, southwest along Modoc                        west along 340th Street to Half Moon                  Grundy Road to County Road D19, then
                                                      Ferry Road to Levee Road, southeast                      Avenue; then north along Half Moon                    west along County Road D19 to Butler
                                                      along Levee Road to County Route 12                      Avenue to Highway 6; then west along                  Road, then north along Butler Road to
                                                      (Modoc Ferry entrance Road), south                       Highway 6 to Echo Avenue; then north                  County Road C57, then north and east
                                                      along County Route 12 to the Modoc                       along Echo Avenue to 250th Street; then               along County Road C57 to U.S. Highway
                                                      Ferry route and southwest on the Modoc                   east on 250th Street to Green Castle                  63, then south along U.S. Highway 63 to
                                                      Ferry route across the Mississippi River                 Avenue; then north along Green Castle                 County Road C66, then east along
                                                      to the Missouri border.                                  Avenue to County Road F12; then west                  County Road C66 to the point of
                                                         South September Canada Goose                          along County Road F12 to County Road                  beginning.
                                                      Zone—That portion of the State south                     W30; then north along County Road
                                                      and east of a line extending west from                   W30 to Highway 151; then north along                  Michigan
                                                      the Indiana border along Interstate 70,                  the Linn–Benton County line to the                      North Zone—Same as North duck
                                                      south along U.S. Highway 45, to Illinois                 point of beginning.                                   zone.
                                                      Route 13, west along Illinois Route 13                      Des Moines Goose Zone—Includes                       Middle Zone—Same as Middle duck
                                                      to Greenbriar Road, north on Greenbriar                  those portions of Polk, Warren, Madison               zone.
                                                      Road to Sycamore Road, west on                           and Dallas Counties bounded as follows:                 South Zone—Same as South duck
                                                      Sycamore Road to N. Reed Station Road,                   Beginning at the intersection of                      zone.
                                                      south on N. Reed Station Road to                         Northwest 158th Avenue and County                     Minnesota
                                                      Illinois Route 13, west along Illinois                   Road R38 in Polk County; then south
                                                      Route 13 to Illinois Route 127, south                    along R38 to Northwest 142nd Avenue;                    Northwest Goose Zone—That portion
                                                      along Illinois Route 127 to State Forest                 then east along Northwest 142nd                       of the State encompassed by a line
                                                      Road (1025 N), west along State Forest                   Avenue to Northeast 126th Avenue;                     extending east from the North Dakota
                                                      Road to Illinois Route 3, north along                    then east along Northeast 126th Avenue                border along U.S. Highway 2 to State
                                                      Illinois Route 3 to the south bank of the                to Northeast 46th Street; then south                  Trunk Highway (STH) 32, north along
                                                      Big Muddy River, west along the south                    along Northeast 46th Street to Highway                STH 32 to STH 92, east along STH 92
                                                      bank of the Big Muddy River to the                       931; then east along Highway 931 to                   to County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 2
                                                      Mississippi River, west across the                       Northeast 80th Street; then south along               in Polk County, north along CSAH 2 to
                                                      Mississippi River to the Missouri                        Northeast 80th Street to Southeast 6th                CSAH 27 in Pennington County, north
                                                      border.                                                  Avenue; then west along Southeast 6th                 along CSAH 27 to STH 1, east along
                                                         South Central September Canada                        Avenue to Highway 65; then south and                  STH 1 to CSAH 28 in Pennington
                                                      Goose Zone—The remainder of the State                    west along Highway 65 to Highway 69                   County, north along CSAH 28 to CSAH
                                                      between the south border of the Central                  in Warren County; then south along                    54 in Marshall County, north along
                                                      Zone and the North border of the South                   Highway 69 to County Road G24; then                   CSAH 54 to CSAH 9 in Roseau County,
                                                      Zone                                                     west along County Road G24 to                         north along CSAH 9 to STH 11, west
                                                                                                               Highway 28; then southwest along                      along STH 11 to STH 310, and north
                                                      Iowa
                                                                                                               Highway 28 to 43rd Avenue; then north                 along STH 310 to the Manitoba border.
                                                         North Zone—That portion of the State                  along 43rd Avenue to Ford Street; then                  Intensive Harvest Zone—That portion
                                                      north of U.S. Highway 20.                                west along Ford Street to Filmore Street;             of the State encompassed by a line
                                                         South Zone—The remainder of Iowa.                     then west along Filmore Street to 10th                extending east from the junction of US
                                                         Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Goose Zone—                    Avenue; then south along 10th Avenue                  2 and the North Dakota border, US 2
                                                      Includes portions of Linn and Johnson                    to 155th Street in Madison County; then               east to MN 32 N, MN 32 N to MN 92
                                                      Counties bounded as follows: Beginning                   west along 155th Street to Cumming                    S, MN 92 S to MN 200 E, MN 200 E to
                                                      at the intersection of the west border of                Road; then north along Cumming Road                   US 71 S, US 71 S to US 10 E, US 10
                                                      Linn County and Linn County Road                         to Badger Creek Avenue; then north                    E to MN 101 S, MN 101 S to Interstate
                                                      E2W; then south and east along County                    along Badger Creek Avenue to County                   94 E, Interstate 94 E to US 494 S, US 494
                                                      Road E2W to Highway 920; then north                      Road F90 in Dallas County; then east                  S to US 212 W, US 212 W to MN 23 S,
                                                      along Highway 920 to County Road E16;                    along County Road F90 to County Road                  MN 23 S to US 14 W, US 14 W to the
                                                      then east along County Road E16 to                       R22; then north along County Road R22                 South Dakota border, South Dakota
                                                      County Road W58; then south along                        to Highway 44; then east along Highway                Border north to the North Dakota
                                                      County Road W58 to County Road E34;                      44 to County Road R30; then north                     border, North Dakota border north to US
                                                      then east along County Road E34 to                       along County Road R30 to County Road                  2 E.
                                                      Highway 13; then south along Highway                     F31; then east along County Road F31                    Rest of State: Remainder of
                                                      13 to Highway 30; then east along                        to Highway 17; then north along                       Minnesota.
                                                      Highway 30 to Highway 1; then south                      Highway 17 to Highway 415 in Polk
                                                      along Highway 1 to Morse Road in                                                                               Wisconsin
                                                                                                               County; then east along Highway 415 to
                                                      Johnson County; then east along Morse                    Northwest 158th Avenue; then east                        Early-Season Subzone A—That
                                                      Road to Wapsi Avenue; then south                         along Northwest 158th Avenue to the                   portion of the State encompassed by a
                                                      along Wapsi Avenue to Lower West                         point of beginning.                                   line beginning at the intersection of U.S.
                                                      Branch Road; then west along Lower                          Cedar Falls/Waterloo Goose Zone—                   Highway 141 and the Michigan border
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      West Branch Road to Taft Avenue; then                    Includes those portions of Black Hawk                 near Niagara, then south along U.S. 141
                                                      south along Taft Avenue to County Road                   County bounded as follows: Beginning                  to State Highway 22, west and
                                                      F62; then west along County Road F62                     at the intersection of County Roads C66               southwest along State 22 to U.S. 45,
                                                      to Kansas Avenue; then north along                       and V49 in Black Hawk County, then                    south along U.S. 45 to State 22, west
                                                      Kansas Avenue to Black Diamond Road;                     south along County Road V49 to County                 and south along State 22 to State 110,
                                                      then west on Black Diamond Road to                       Road D38, then west along County Road                 south along State 110 to U.S. 10, south
                                                      Jasper Avenue; then north along Jasper                   D38 to State Highway 21, then south                   along U.S. 10 to State 49, south along
                                                      Avenue to Rohert Road; then west along                   along State Highway 21 to County Road                 State 49 to State 23, west along State 23
                                                      Rohert Road to Ivy Avenue; then north                    D35, then west along County Road D35                  to State 73, south along State 73 to State


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                                                      43284                    Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                      60, west along State 60 to State 23,                     Harding, Butte, Lawrence, Meade,                      Salmon River that are not included in
                                                      south along State 23 to State 11, east                   Shannon, Jackson, Mellette, Todd,                     Area 4.
                                                      along State 11 to State 78, then south                   Jones, Haakon, Corson, Ziebach, and
                                                                                                                                                                     Wyoming
                                                      along State 78 to the Illinois border.                   McCook Counties; and those portions of
                                                        Early-Season Subzone B—The                             Minnehaha and Lincoln counties                          Teton County Zone—All of Teton
                                                      remainder of the State.                                  outside of an area bounded by a line                  County.
                                                                                                               beginning at the junction of the South                  Balance of State Zone—Remainder of
                                                      Central Flyway                                                                                                 the State.
                                                                                                               Dakota-Minnesota state line and
                                                      North Dakota                                             Minnehaha County Highway 122 (254th                   Ducks
                                                        Missouri River Canada Goose Zone—                      Street) west to its junction with
                                                                                                               Minnehaha County Highway 149 (464th                   Atlantic Flyway
                                                      The area within and bounded by a line
                                                      starting where ND Hwy 6 crosses the                      Avenue), south on Minnehaha County                    New York
                                                      South Dakota border; then north on ND                    Highway 149 (464th Avenue) to                            Lake Champlain Zone—The U.S.
                                                      Hwy 6 to I–94; then west on I–94 to ND                   Hartford, then south on Minnehaha                     portion of Lake Champlain and that area
                                                      Hwy 49; then north on ND Hwy 49 to                       County Highway 151 (463rd Avenue) to                  east and north of a line extending along
                                                      ND Hwy 200; then north on Mercer                         State Highway 42, east on State                       NY 9B from the Canadian border to U.S.
                                                      County Rd. 21 to the section line                        Highway 42 to State Highway 17, south                 9, south along U.S. 9 to NY 22 south of
                                                      between sections 8 and 9 (T146N–                         on State Highway 17 to its junction with              Keesville; south along NY 22 to the west
                                                      R87W); then north on that section line                   Lincoln County Highway 116 (Klondike                  shore of South Bay, along and around
                                                      to the southern shoreline to Lake                        Road), and east on Lincoln County                     the shoreline of South Bay to NY 22 on
                                                      Sakakawea; then east along the southern                  Highway 116 (Klondike Road) to the                    the east shore of South Bay; southeast
                                                      shoreline (including Mallard Island) of                  South Dakota–Iowa State line, then                    along NY 22 to U.S. 4, northeast along
                                                      Lake Sakakawea to US Hwy 83; then                        north along the South Dakota–Iowa and                 U.S. 4 to the Vermont border.
                                                      south on US Hwy 83 to ND Hwy 200;                        South Dakota–Minnesota border to the                     Long Island Zone—That area
                                                      then east on ND Hwy 200 to ND Hwy                        junction of the South Dakota–Minnesota                consisting of Nassau County, Suffolk
                                                      41; then south on ND Hwy 41 to US                        State line and Minnehaha County                       County, that area of Westchester County
                                                      Hwy 83; then south on US Hwy 83 to                       Highway 122 (254th Street).                           southeast of I–95, and their tidal waters.
                                                      I–94; then east on I–94 to US Hwy 83;                    Texas                                                    Western Zone—That area west of a
                                                      then south on US Hwy 83 to the South                                                                           line extending from Lake Ontario east
                                                                                                                 Eastern Goose Zone—East of a line
                                                      Dakota border; then west along the                                                                             along the north shore of the Salmon
                                                                                                               from the International Toll Bridge at
                                                      South Dakota border to ND Hwy 6.                                                                               River to I–81, and south along I–81 to
                                                                                                               Laredo, north following IH–35 and 35W
                                                        Rest of State—Remainder of North                                                                             the Pennsylvania border.
                                                                                                               to Fort Worth, northwest along U.S.                      Northeastern Zone—That area north
                                                      Dakota.
                                                                                                               Hwy. 81 and 287 to Bowie, north along                 of a line extending from Lake Ontario
                                                      South Dakota                                             U.S. Hwy. 81 to the Texas–Oklahoma                    east along the north shore of the Salmon
                                                         Special Early Canada Goose Unit—                      State line.                                           River to I–81, south along I–81 to NY 49,
                                                      The Counties of Campbell, Marshall,                      Pacific Flyway                                        east along NY 49 to NY 365, east along
                                                      Roberts, Day, Clark, Codington, Grant,                                                                         NY 365 to NY 28, east along NY 28 to
                                                                                                               Oregon
                                                      Hamlin, Deuel, Walworth; that portion                                                                          NY 29, east along NY 29 to I–87, north
                                                      of of Perkins County west of State                         Northwest Zone—Benton, Clackamas,                   along I–87 to U.S. 9 (at Exit 20), north
                                                      Highway 75 and south of State Highway                    Clatsop, Columbia, Lane, Lincoln, Linn,               along U.S. 9 to NY 149, east along NY
                                                      20; that portion of Dewey County north                   Marion, Polk, Multnomah, Tillamook,                   149 to U.S. 4, north along U.S. 4 to the
                                                      of Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 8,                      Washington, and Yamhill Counties.                     Vermont border, exclusive of the Lake
                                                      Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 9, and the                   Southwest Zone—Coos, Curry,                         Champlain Zone.
                                                      section of U.S. Highway 212 east of the                  Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, and                         Southeastern Zone—The remaining
                                                      Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 8                          Klamath Counties.                                     portion of New York.
                                                      junction; that portion of Potter County                    East Zone—Baker, Gilliam, Malheur,
                                                                                                               Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, and                 Maryland
                                                      east of U.S. Highway 83; that portion of
                                                      Sully County east of U.S. Highway 83;                    Wasco Counties.                                         Special Teal Season Area— Calvert,
                                                      portions of Hyde, Buffalo, Brule, and                    Washington                                            Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford,
                                                      Charles Mix counties north and east of                                                                         Kent, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s,
                                                                                                                 Area 1—Skagit, Island, and                          Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and
                                                      a line beginning at the Hughes-Hyde                      Snohomish Counties.
                                                      County line on State Highway 34, east                                                                          Worcester Counties; that part of Anne
                                                                                                                 Area 2A (SW Permit Zone)—Clark                      Arundel County east of Interstate 895,
                                                      to Lees Boulevard, southeast to the State                County, except portions south of the
                                                      Highway 34, east 7 miles to 350th                                                                              Interstate 97, and Route 3; that part of
                                                                                                               Washougal River; Cowlitz County; and                  Prince Georges County east of Route 3
                                                      Avenue, south to Interstate 90 on 350th                  Wahkiakum County.
                                                      Avenue, south and east on State                                                                                and Route 301; and that part of Charles
                                                                                                                 Area 2B (SW Permit Zone)—Pacific
                                                      Highway 50 to Geddes, east on 285th                                                                            County east of Route 301 to the Virginia
                                                                                                               County.
                                                      Street to U.S. Highway 281, and north                      Area 3—All areas west of the Pacific                State Line.
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      on U.S. Highway 281 to the Charles                       Crest Trail and west of the Big White                 Mississippi Flyway
                                                      Mix-Douglas County boundary; that                        Salmon River that are not included in
                                                      portion of Bon Homme County north of                                                                           Indiana
                                                                                                               Areas 1, 2A, and 2B.
                                                      State Highway 50; McPherson,                               Area 4—Adams, Benton, Chelan,                          North Zone—That part of Indiana
                                                      Edmunds, Kingsbury, Brookings, Lake,                     Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas,                   north of a line extending east from the
                                                      Moody, Miner, Faulk, Hand, Jerauld,                      Lincoln, Okanogan, Spokane, and Walla                 Illinois border along State Road 18 to
                                                      Douglas, Hutchinson, Turner, Union,                      Walla Counties.                                       U.S. 31; north along U.S. 31 to U.S. 24;
                                                      Clay, Yankton, Aurora, Beadle, Davison,                    Area 5—All areas east of the Pacific                east along U.S. 24 to Huntington;
                                                      Hanson, Sanborn, Spink, Brown,                           Crest Trail and east of the Big White                 southeast along U.S. 224; south along


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                          43285

                                                      State Road 5; and east along State Road                  Highway 10 into Portage County to                     U.S.–281 to its junction with U.S.–54,
                                                      124 to the Ohio border.                                  County Highway HH, east on County                     then west on U.S.–54 to its junction
                                                         Central Zone—That part of Indiana                     Highway HH to State Highway 66 and                    with U.S.–183, then north on U.S.–183
                                                      south of the North Zone boundary and                     then east on State Highway 66 to U.S.                 to its junction with U.S.–56, then
                                                      north of the South Zone boundary.                        Highway 10, continuing east on U.S.                   southwest on U.S.–56 to its junction
                                                         South Zone—That part of Indiana                       Highway 10 to U.S. Highway 41, then                   with Ford County Rd 126, then south on
                                                      south of a line extending east from the                  north on U.S. Highway 41 to the                       Ford County Rd 126 to its junction with
                                                      Illinois border along U.S. 40; south                     Michigan State line.                                  U.S.–400, then northwest on U.S.–400
                                                      along U.S. 41; east along State Road 58;                    Mississippi River Zone—That area                   to its junction with U.S.–283, then north
                                                      south along State Road 37 to Bedford;                    encompassed by a line beginning at the                on U.S.–283 to its junction with the
                                                      and east along U.S. 50 to the Ohio                       intersection of the Burlington Northern               Nebraska–Kansas State line, then east
                                                      border.                                                  & Santa Fe Railway and the Illinois                   along the Nebraska–Kansas State line to
                                                      Iowa                                                     State line in Grant County and                        its junction with K–128.
                                                                                                               extending northerly along the                            Late Zone—That part of Kansas
                                                        North Zone—That portion of Iowa                        Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway                bounded by a line from the Nebraska–
                                                      north of a line beginning on the South                   to the city limit of Prescott in Pierce               Kansas State line south on K–128 to its
                                                      Dakota–Iowa border at Interstate 29,                     County, then west along the Prescott                  junction with U.S.–36, then east on
                                                      southeast along Interstate 29 to State                   city limit to the Minnesota State line.               U.S.–36 to its junction with K–199, then
                                                      Highway 175, east along State Highway                       South Zone—The remainder of                        south on K–199 to its junction with
                                                      175 to State Highway 37, southeast                       Wisconsin.                                            Republic County 30 Rd, then south on
                                                      along State Highway 37 to State
                                                                                                               Central Flyway                                        Republic County 30 Rd to its junction
                                                      Highway 183, northeast along State
                                                                                                                                                                     with K–148, then east on K–148 to its
                                                      Highway 183 to State Highway 141, east                   Colorado                                              junction with Republic County 50 Rd,
                                                      along State Highway 141 to U.S.
                                                                                                                 Special Teal Season Area—Lake and                   then south on Republic County 50 Rd to
                                                      Highway 30, and along U.S. Highway 30
                                                                                                               Chaffee Counties and that portion of the              its junction with Cloud County 40th Rd,
                                                      to the Illinois border.
                                                                                                               State east of Interstate Highway 25.                  then south on Cloud County 40th Rd to
                                                        Missouri River Zone—That portion of
                                                                                                                                                                     its junction with K–9, then west on K–
                                                      Iowa west of a line beginning on the                     Kansas                                                9 to its junction with U.S.–24, then west
                                                      South Dakota–Iowa border at Interstate
                                                                                                                  High Plains Zone—That portion of the               on U.S.–24 to its junction with U.S.–
                                                      29, southeast along Interstate 29 to State
                                                                                                               State west of U.S. 283.                               281, then north on U.S.–281 to its
                                                      Highway 175, and west along State
                                                                                                                  Early Zone—That part of Kansas                     junction with U.S.–36, then west on
                                                      Highway 175 to the Iowa–Nebraska
                                                                                                               bounded by a line from the Nebraska–                  U.S.–36 to its junction with U.S.–183,
                                                      border.
                                                        South Zone—The remainder of Iowa.                      Kansas State line south on K–128 to its               then south on U.S.–183 to its junction
                                                                                                               junction with U.S.–36, then east on                   with U.S.–24, then west on U.S.–24 to
                                                      Michigan                                                 U.S.–36 to its junction with K–199, then              its junction with K–18, then southeast
                                                        North Zone: The Upper Peninsula.                       south on K–199 to its junction with                   on K–18 to its junction with U.S.–183,
                                                        Middle Zone—That portion of the                        Republic County 30 Rd, then south on                  then south on U.S.–183 to its junction
                                                      Lower Peninsula north of a line                          Republic County 30 Rd to its junction                 with K–4, then east on K–4 to its
                                                      beginning at the Wisconsin State line in                 with K–148, then east on K–148 to its                 junction with I–135, then south on I–
                                                      Lake Michigan due west of the mouth of                   junction with Republic County 50 Rd,                  135 to its junction with K–61, then
                                                      Stony Creek in Oceana County; then due                   then south on Republic County 50 Rd to                southwest on K–61 to 14th Avenue,
                                                      east to, and easterly and southerly along                its junction with Cloud County 40th Rd,               then south on 14th Avenue to its
                                                      the south shore of Stony Creek to Scenic                 then south on Cloud County 40th Rd to                 junction with Arapaho Rd, then west on
                                                      Drive, easterly and southerly along                      its junction with K–9, then west on K–                Arapaho Rd to its junction with K–61,
                                                      Scenic Drive to Stony Lake Road,                         9 to its junction with U.S.–24, then west             then southwest on K–61 to its junction
                                                      easterly along Stony Lake and Garfield                   on U.S.–24 to its junction with U.S.–                 with K–96, then northwest on K–96 to
                                                      Roads to Michigan Highway 20, east                       281, then north on U.S.–281 to its                    its junction with U.S.–56, then
                                                      along Michigan 20 to U.S. Highway 10                     junction with U.S.–36, then west on                   southwest on U.S.–56 to its junction
                                                      Business Route (BR) in the city of                       U.S.–36 to its junction with U.S.–183,                with K–19, then east on K–19 to its
                                                      Midland, easterly along U.S. 10 BR to                    then south on U.S.–183 to its junction                junction with U.S.–281, then south on
                                                      U.S. 10, easterly along U.S. 10 to                       with U.S.–24, then west on U.S.–24 to                 U.S.–281 to its junction with U.S.–54,
                                                      Interstate Highway 75/U.S. Highway 23,                   its junction with K–18, then southeast                then west on U.S.–54 to its junction
                                                      northerly along I–75/U.S. 23 to the U.S.                 on K–18 to its junction with U.S.–183,                with U.S.–183, then north on U.S.–183
                                                      23 exit at Standish, easterly along U.S.                 then south on U.S.–183 to its junction                to its junction with U.S.–56, then
                                                      23 to the centerline of the Au Gres                      with K–4, then east on K–4 to its                     southwest on U.S.–56 to its junction
                                                      River, then southerly along the                          junction with I–135, then south on I–                 with Ford County Rd 126, then south on
                                                      centerline of the Au Gres River to                       135 to its junction with K–61, then                   Ford County Rd 126 to its junction with
                                                      Saginaw Bay, then on a line directly east                southwest on K–61 to McPherson                        U.S.–400, then northwest on U.S.–400
                                                      10 miles into Saginaw Bay, and from                      County 14th Avenue, then south on                     to its junction with U.S.–283, then south
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      that point on a line directly northeast to               McPherson County 14th Avenue to its                   on U.S.–283 to its junction with the
                                                      the Canadian border.                                     junction with Arapaho Rd, then west on                Oklahoma–Kansas State line, then east
                                                        South Zone—The remainder of                            Arapaho Rd to its junction with K–61,                 along the Oklahoma–Kansas State line
                                                      Michigan.                                                then southwest on K–61 to its junction                to its junction with U.S.–77, then north
                                                                                                               with K–96, then northwest on K–96 to                  on U.S.–77 to its junction with Butler
                                                      Wisconsin                                                its junction with U.S.–56, then                       County, NE 150th Street, then east on
                                                        North Zone—That portion of the State                   southwest on U.S.–56 to its junction                  Butler County, NE 150th Street to its
                                                      north of a line extending east from the                  with K–19, then east on K–19 to its                   junction with U.S.–35, then northeast
                                                      Minnesota State line along U.S.                          junction with U.S.–281, then south on                 on U.S.–35 to its junction with K–68,


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                                                      43286                    Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                      then east on K–68 to the Kansas–                         Morrill County Rd 94; east to County Rd               south to Butler County Rd 30; east to
                                                      Missouri State line, then north along the                135; south to County Rd 88; southeast                 County Rd X; south to County Rd 27;
                                                      Kansas–Missouri State line to its                        to County Rd 151; south to County Rd                  west to County Rd W; south to County
                                                      junction with the Nebraska State line,                   80; east to County Rd 161; south to                   Rd 26; east to County Rd X; south to
                                                      then west along the Kansas–Nebraska                      County Rd 76; east to County Rd 165;                  County Rd 21 (Seward County Line);
                                                      State line to its junction with K–128.                   south to Country Rd 167; south to U.S.                west to NE Hwy. 15; north to County Rd
                                                         Southeast Zone—That part of Kansas                    Hwy. 26; east to County Rd 171; north                 34; west to County Rd J; south to NE
                                                      bounded by a line from the Missouri–                     to County Rd 68; east to County Rd 183;               Hwy. 92; west to U.S. Hwy. 81; south to
                                                      Kansas State line west on K–68 to its                    south to County Rd 64; east to County                 NE Hwy. 66; west to Polk County Rd C;
                                                      junction with U.S.–35, then southwest                    Rd 189; north to County Rd 70; east to                north to NE Hwy. 92; west to U.S. Hwy.
                                                      on U.S.–35 to its junction with Butler                   County Rd 201; south to County Rd                     30; west to Merrick County Rd 17; south
                                                      County, NE 150th Street, then west on                    60A; east to County Rd 203; south to                  to Hordlake Road; southeast to Prairie
                                                      NE 150th Street until its junction with                  County Rd 52; east to Keith County                    Island Road; southeast to Hamilton
                                                      K–77, then south on K–77 to the                          Line; east along the northern boundaries              County Rd T; south to NE Hwy. 66; west
                                                      Oklahoma–Kansas State line, then east                    of Keith and Lincoln Counties to NE                   to NE Hwy. 14; south to County Rd 22;
                                                      along the Kansas–Oklahoma State line                     Hwy. 97; south to U.S. Hwy 83; south                  west to County Rd M; south to County
                                                      to its junction with the Missouri State                  to E Hall School Rd; east to N Airport                Rd 21; west to County Rd K; south to
                                                      line, then north along the Kansas—                       Road; south to U.S. Hwy. 30; east to                  U.S. Hwy. 34; west to NE Hwy. 2; south
                                                      Missouri State line to its junction with                 Merrick County Rd 13; north to County                 to U.S. Hwy. I–80; west to Gunbarrel Rd
                                                      K–68.                                                    Rd O; east to NE Hwy. 14; north to NE                 (Hall/Hamilton county line); south to
                                                      Nebraska                                                 Hwy. 52; west and north to NE Hwy. 91;                Giltner Rd; west to U.S. Hwy. 281; south
                                                                                                               west to U.S. Hwy. 281; south to NE                    to U.S. Hwy. 34; west to NE Hwy. 10;
                                                         Special Teal Season Area (south)—                     Hwy. 22; west to NE Hwy. 11; northwest                north to Kearney County Rd R and
                                                      That portion of the State south of a line                to NE Hwy. 91; west to U.S. Hwy. 183;                 Phelps County Rd 742; west to U.S.
                                                      beginning at the Wyoming State line;                     south to Round Valley Rd; west to                     Hwy. 283; south to U.S. Hwy 34; east to
                                                      east along U.S. 26 to Nebraska Highway                   Sargent River Rd; west to Sargent Rd;                 U.S. Hwy. 136; east to U.S. Hwy. 183;
                                                      L62A east to U.S. 385; south to U.S. 26;                 west to Milburn Rd; north to Blaine                   north to NE Hwy. 4; east to NE Hwy. 10;
                                                      east to NE 92; east along NE 92 to NE                    County Line; east to Loup County Line;                south to U.S. Hwy. 136; east to NE Hwy.
                                                      61; south along NE 61 to U.S. 30; east                   north to NE Hwy. 91; west to North                    14; south to NE Hwy. 8; east to U.S.
                                                      along U.S. 30 to the Iowa border.                        Loup Spur Rd; north to North Loup                     Hwy. 81; north to NE Hwy. 4; east to NE
                                                         Special Teal Season Area (north)—
                                                                                                               River Rd; east to Pleasant Valley/Worth               Hwy. 15; south to U.S. Hwy. 136; east
                                                      The remainder of the State.
                                                                                                               Rd; east to Loup County Line; north to                to NE Hwy. 103; south to NE Hwy. 8;
                                                         High Plains—That portion of
                                                                                                               Loup-Brown county line; east along                    east to U.S. Hwy. 75.
                                                      Nebraska lying west of a line beginning
                                                      at the South Dakota-Nebraska border on                   northern boundaries of Loup and
                                                                                                                                                                     New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion)
                                                      U.S. Hwy. 183; south on U.S. Hwy. 183                    Garfield Counties to Cedar River Rd;
                                                                                                               south to NE Hwy. 70; east to U.S. Hwy.                  North Zone—That portion of the State
                                                      to U.S. Hwy. 20; west on U.S. Hwy. 20                                                                          north of I–40 and U.S. 54.
                                                      to NE Hwy. 7; south on NE Hwy. 7 to                      281; north to NE Hwy. 70; east to NE
                                                                                                               Hwy. 14; south to NE Hwy. 39;                           South Zone—The remainder of New
                                                      NE Hwy. 91; southwest on NE Hwy. 91                                                                            Mexico.
                                                      to NE Hwy. 2; southeast on NE Hwy. 2                     southeast to NE Hwy. 22; east to U.S.
                                                      to NE Hwy. 92; west on NE Hwy. 92 to                     Hwy. 81; southeast to U.S. Hwy. 30; east              Pacific Flyway
                                                      NE Hwy. 40; south on NE Hwy. 40 to                       to U.S. Hwy. 75; north to the
                                                                                                               Washington County line; east to the                   California
                                                      NE Hwy. 47; south on NE Hwy. 47 to
                                                      NE Hwy. 23; east on NE Hwy. 23 to U.S.                   Iowa-Nebraska border; south to the                       Northeastern Zone—In that portion of
                                                      Hwy. 283; and south on U.S. Hwy. 283                     Missouri-Nebraska border; south to                    California lying east and north of a line
                                                      to the Kansas—Nebraska border.                           Kansas-Nebraska border; west along                    beginning at the intersection of
                                                         Zone 1—Area bounded by designated                     Kansas-Nebraska border to Colorado-                   Interstate 5 with the California-Oregon
                                                      Federal and State highways and                           Nebraska border; north and west to                    line; south along Interstate 5 to its
                                                      political boundaries beginning at the                    Wyoming-Nebraska border; north to                     junction with Walters Lane south of the
                                                      South Dakota-Nebraska border west of                     intersection of Interstate Canal; and                 town of Yreka; west along Walters Lane
                                                      NE Hwy. 26E Spur and north of NE                         excluding that area in Zone 4.                        to its junction with Easy Street; south
                                                      Hwy. 12; those portions of Dixon, Cedar                    Zone 4—Area encompassed by                          along Easy Street to the junction with
                                                      and Knox Counties north of NE Hwy.                       designated Federal and State highways                 Old Highway 99; south along Old
                                                      12; that portion of Keya Paha County                     and County Roads beginning at the                     Highway 99 to the point of intersection
                                                      east of U.S. Hwy. 183; and all of Boyd                   intersection of NE Hwy. 8 and U.S.                    with Interstate 5 north of the town of
                                                      County. Both banks of the Niobrara                       Hwy. 75; north to U.S. Hwy. 136; east                 Weed; south along Interstate 5 to its
                                                      River in Keya Paha and Boyd counties                     to the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 136 and              junction with Highway 89; east and
                                                      east of U.S. Hwy. 183 shall be included                  the Steamboat Trace (Trace); north along              south along Highway 89 to Main Street
                                                      in Zone 1.                                               the Trace to the intersection with                    Greenville; north and east to its junction
                                                         Zone 2—The area south of Zone 1 and                   Federal Levee R–562; north along                      with North Valley Road; south to its
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      north of Zone 3.                                         Federal Levee R–562 to the intersection               junction of Diamond Mountain Road;
                                                         Zone 3—Area bounded by designated                     with the Trace; north along the Trace/                north and east to its junction with North
                                                      Federal and State highways, County                       Burlington Northern Railroad right-of-                Arm Road; south and west to the
                                                      Roads, and political boundaries                          way to NE Hwy. 2; west to U.S. Hwy.                   junction of North Valley Road; south to
                                                      beginning at the Wyoming-Nebraska                        75; north to NE Hwy. 2; west to NE                    the junction with Arlington Road (A22);
                                                      border at the intersection of the                        Hwy. 43; north to U.S. Hwy. 34; east to               west to the junction of Highway 89;
                                                      Interstate Canal; east along northern                    NE Hwy. 63; north to NE Hwy. 66; north                south and west to the junction of
                                                      borders of Scotts Bluff and Morrill                      and west to U.S. Hwy. 77; north to NE                 Highway 70; east on Highway 70 to
                                                      Counties to Broadwater Road; south to                    Hwy. 92; west to NE Hwy. Spur 12F;                    Highway 395; south and east on


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                          43287

                                                      Highway 395 to the point of intersection                 and Bay Port Roads, on the north by                      Exterior Zone—That portion of the
                                                      with the California-Nevada State line;                   Kilmanagh Road and a line extending                   State not included in the Horicon Zone.
                                                      north along the California-Nevada State                  directly west off the end of Kilmanagh                   Mississippi River Subzone—That area
                                                      line to the junction of the California-                  Road into Saginaw Bay to the west                     encompassed by a line beginning at the
                                                      Nevada-Oregon State lines west along                     boundary, and on the west by the                      intersection of the Burlington Northern
                                                      the California-Oregon State line to the                  Tuscola-Bay County line and a line                    & Santa Fe Railway and the Illinois
                                                      point of origin.                                         extending directly north off the end of               State line in Grant County and
                                                         Colorado River Zone—Those portions                    the Tuscola-Bay County line into                      extending northerly along the
                                                      of San Bernardino, Riverside, and                        Saginaw Bay to the north boundary.                    Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway
                                                      Imperial Counties east of a line                            Allegan County GMU—That area                       to the city limit of Prescott in Pierce
                                                      extending from the Nevada border south                   encompassed by a line beginning at the                County, then west along the Prescott
                                                      along U.S. 95 to Vidal Junction; south                   junction of 136th Avenue and Interstate               city limit to the Minnesota State line.
                                                      on a road known as ‘‘Aqueduct Road’’                     Highway 196 in Lake Town Township                        Brown County Subzone—That area
                                                      in San Bernardino County through the                     and extending easterly along 136th                    encompassed by a line beginning at the
                                                      town of Rice to the San Bernardino—                      Avenue to Michigan Highway 40,                        intersection of the Fox River with Green
                                                      Riverside County line; south on a road                   southerly along Michigan 40 through                   Bay in Brown County and extending
                                                      known in Riverside County as the                         the city of Allegan to 108th Avenue in                southerly along the Fox River to State
                                                      ‘‘Desert Center to Rice Road’’ to the                    Trowbridge Township, westerly along                   29, northwesterly along State 29 to the
                                                      town of Desert Center; east 31 miles on                  108th Avenue to 46th Street, northerly                Brown County line, south, east, and
                                                      I–10 to the Wiley Well Road; south on                    along 46th Street to 109th Avenue,                    north along the Brown County line to
                                                      this road to Wiley Well; southeast along                 westerly along 109th Avenue to I–196 in               Green Bay, due west to the midpoint of
                                                      the Army-Milpitas Road to the Blythe,                    Casco Township, then northerly along                  the Green Bay Ship Channel, then
                                                      Brawley, Davis Lake intersections; south                 I–196 to the point of beginning.                      southwesterly along the Green Bay Ship
                                                      on the Blythe-Brawley paved road to the                     Saginaw County GMU—That portion                    Channel to the Fox River.
                                                      Ogilby and Tumco Mine Road; south on                     of Saginaw County bounded by
                                                      this road to U.S. 80; east 7 miles on U.S.               Michigan Highway 46 on the north;                     Sandhill Cranes
                                                      80 to the Andrade-Algodones Road;                        Michigan 52 on the west; Michigan 57                  Mississippi Flyway
                                                      south on this paved road to the Mexican                  on the south; and Michigan 13 on the                  Minnesota
                                                      border at Algodones, Mexico.                             east.
                                                         Southern Zone—That portion of                            Muskegon Wastewater GMU—That                         Northwest Goose Zone—That portion
                                                      southern California (but excluding the                   portion of Muskegon County within the                 of the State encompassed by a line
                                                      Colorado River Zone) south and east of                   boundaries of the Muskegon County                     extending east from the North Dakota
                                                      a line extending from the Pacific Ocean                  wastewater system, east of the                        border along U.S. Highway 2 to State
                                                      east along the Santa Maria River to CA                   Muskegon State Game Area, in sections                 Trunk Highway (STH) 32, north along
                                                      166 near the City of Santa Maria; east on                5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30, and 32,           STH 32 to STH 92, east along STH 92
                                                      CA 166 to CA 99; south on CA 99 to the                   T10N R14W, and sections 1, 2, 10, 11,                 to County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 2
                                                      crest of the Tehachapi Mountains at                      12, 13, 14, 24, and 25, T10N R15W, as                 in Polk County, north along CSAH 2 to
                                                      Tejon Pass; east and north along the                     posted.                                               CSAH 27 in Pennington County, north
                                                      crest of the Tehachapi Mountains to CA                                                                         along CSAH 27 to STH 1, east along
                                                      178 at Walker Pass; east on CA 178 to                    Wisconsin                                             STH 1 to CSAH 28 in Pennington
                                                      U.S. 395 at the town of Inyokern; south                    Same zones as for ducks but in                      County, north along CSAH 28 to CSAH
                                                      on U.S. 395 to CA 58; east on CA 58 to                   addition:                                             54 in Marshall County, north along
                                                      I–15; east on I–15 to CA 127; north on                     Horicon Zone—That area                              CSAH 54 to CSAH 9 in Roseau County,
                                                      CA 127 to the Nevada border.                             encompassed by a line beginning at the                north along CSAH 9 to STH 11, west
                                                         Southern San Joaquin Valley                           intersection of State 21 and the Fox                  along STH 11 to STH 310, and north
                                                      Temporary Zone—All of Kings and                          River in Winnebago County and                         along STH 310 to the Manitoba border.
                                                      Tulare Counties and that portion of                      extending westerly along State 21 to the              Tennessee
                                                      Kern County north of the Southern                        west boundary of Winnebago County,
                                                      Zone.                                                    southerly along the west boundary of                    Hunt Zone—That portion of the State
                                                         Balance-of-the-State Zone—The                         Winnebago County to the north                         south of Interstate 40 and east of State
                                                      remainder of California not included in                  boundary of Green Lake County,                        Highway 56.
                                                      the Northeastern, Southern, and                          westerly along the north boundaries of                  Closed Zone—Remainder of the State.
                                                      Colorado River Zones, and the Southern                   Green Lake and Marquette Counties to
                                                      San Joaquin Valley Temporary Zone.                                                                             Central Flyway
                                                                                                               State 22, southerly along State 22 to
                                                      Canada Geese                                             State 33, westerly along State 33 to I–                  Colorado—The Central Flyway
                                                                                                               39, southerly along I–39 to I–90/94,                  portion of the State except the San Luis
                                                      Michigan                                                 southerly along I–90/94 to State 60,                  Valley (Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla,
                                                        North Zone—Same as North duck                          easterly along State 60 to State 83,                  Hinsdale, Mineral, Rio Grande, and
                                                      zone.                                                    northerly along State 83 to State 175,                Saguache Counties east of the
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                        Middle Zone—Same as Middle duck                        northerly along State 175 to State 33,                Continental Divide) and North Park
                                                      zone.                                                    easterly along State 33 to U.S. 45,                   (Jackson County).
                                                        South Zone—Same as South duck                          northerly along U.S. 45 to the east shore                Kansas—That portion of the State
                                                      zone.                                                    of the Fond Du Lac River, northerly                   west of a line beginning at the
                                                        Tuscola/Huron Goose Management                         along the east shore of the Fond Du Lac               Oklahoma border, north on I–35 to
                                                      Unit (GMU)—Those portions of Tuscola                     River to Lake Winnebago, northerly                    Wichita, north on I–135 to Salina, and
                                                      and Huron Counties bounded on the                        along the western shoreline of Lake                   north on U.S. 81 to the Nebraska border.
                                                      south by Michigan Highway 138 and                        Winnebago to the Fox River, then                         Montana—The Central Flyway
                                                      Bay City Road, on the east by Colwood                    westerly along the Fox River to State 21.             portion of the State except for that area


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                                                      43288                    Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                      south and west of Interstate 90, which                   Interstate Highway 10 in San Antonio,                 the shore of the Gulf of Mexico to the
                                                      is closed to sandhill crane hunting.                     then northwest along Interstate Highway               Kleberg-Nueces County line.
                                                                                                               10 to its junction with U.S. Highway 83
                                                      New Mexico                                                                                                     Wyoming
                                                                                                               in the town of Junction, then north
                                                         Regular-Season Open Area—Chaves,                      along U.S. Highway 83 to its junction                   Regular Season Open Area—
                                                      Curry, De Baca, Eddy, Lea, Quay, and                     with U.S. Highway 62, 16 miles north of               Campbell, Converse, Crook, Goshen,
                                                      Roosevelt Counties.                                      Childress, then east along U.S. Highway               Laramie, Niobrara, Platte, and Weston
                                                         Middle Rio Grande Valley Area—The                     62 to the Texas-Oklahoma State line,                  Counties.
                                                      Central Flyway portion of New Mexico                     then south along the Texas-Oklahoma                     Riverton-Boysen Unit—Portions of
                                                      in Socorro and Valencia Counties.                        State line to the south bank of the Red               Fremont County.
                                                         Estancia Valley Area—Those portions                   River, then eastward along the                          Park and Big Horn County Unit—All
                                                      of Santa Fe, Torrance and Bernallilo                     vegetation line on the south bank of the              of Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park and
                                                      Counties within an area bounded on the                   Red River to U.S. Highway 81.                         Washakie Counties.
                                                      west by New Mexico Highway 55                               Zone C—The remainder of the State,                 Pacific Flyway
                                                      beginning at Mountainair north to NM                     except for the closed areas.
                                                      337, north to NM 14, north to I–25; on                                                                         Arizona
                                                                                                                  Closed areas—(A) That portion of the
                                                      the north by I–25 east to U.S. 285; on                   State lying east and north of a line                    Special Season Area—Game
                                                      the east by U.S. 285 south to U.S. 60;                   beginning at the junction of U.S.                     Management Units 28, 30A, 30B, 31,
                                                      and on the south by U.S. 60 from U.S.                    Highway 81 and the Texas–Oklahoma                     and 32.
                                                      285 west to NM 55 in Mountainair.                        State line, then southeast along U.S.
                                                         Southwest Zone—Area bounded on                                                                              Idaho
                                                                                                               Highway 81 to its junction with U.S.
                                                      the south by the New Mexico/Mexico                       Highway 287 in Montague County, then                     Area 1—All of Bear Lake County and
                                                      border; on the west by the New Mexico/                   southeast along U.S. Highway 287 to its               all of Caribou County except that
                                                      Arizona border north to Interstate 10; on                junction with Interstate Highway 35W                  portion downstream from the dam at
                                                      the north by Interstate 10 east to U.S.                  in Fort Worth, then southwest along                   Alexander Reservoir south of U.S.
                                                      180, north to N.M. 26, east to N.M. 27,                  Interstate Highway 35 to its junction                 Highway 30, and that portion lying
                                                      north to N.M. 152, and east to Interstate                with U.S. Highway 290 East in Austin,                 within the Grays Lake Basin.
                                                      25; on the east by Interstate 25 south to                                                                         Area 2—All of Teton County except
                                                                                                               then east along U.S. Highway 290 to its
                                                      Interstate 10, west to the Luna county                                                                         that portion lying west of state Highway
                                                                                                               junction with Interstate Loop 610 in
                                                      line, and south to the New Mexico/                                                                             33 and south of Packsaddle Road (West
                                                                                                               Harris County, then south and east
                                                      Mexico border.                                                                                                 400 North) and north of the North
                                                                                                               along Interstate Loop 610 to its junction
                                                                                                                                                                     Cedron Road (West 600 South) and east
                                                      North Dakota                                             with Interstate Highway 45 in Houston,
                                                                                                                                                                     of the west bank of the Teton River.
                                                        Area 1—That portion of the State west                  then south on Interstate Highway 45 to                   Area 3—All of Fremont County except
                                                      of U.S. 281.                                             State Highway 342, then to the shore of               the Chester Wetlands Wildlife
                                                        Area 2—That portion of the State east                  the Gulf of Mexico, and then north and                Management Area.
                                                      of U.S. 281.                                             east along the shore of the Gulf of                      Area 4—All of Jefferson County.
                                                        Oklahoma—That portion of the State                     Mexico to the Texas-Louisiana State                      Area 5—All of Bannock County east
                                                      west of I–35.                                            line.                                                 of Interstate 15 and south of U.S.
                                                        South Dakota—That portion of the                          (B) That portion of the State lying                Highway 30; and Franklin County west
                                                      State west of U.S. 281.                                  within the boundaries of a line                       of U.S. Highway 91 from the Utah State
                                                                                                               beginning at the Kleberg–Nueces County                line north to the junction of State
                                                      Texas                                                    line and the shore of the Gulf of Mexico,             Highway 34 in Preston and everything
                                                         Zone A—That portion of Texas lying                    then west along the County line to Park               west of state Highway 34 north to the
                                                      west of a line beginning at the                          Road 22 in Nueces County, then north                  Franklin County-Caribou County line.
                                                      international toll bridge at Laredo, then                and west along Park Road 22 to its
                                                      northeast along U.S. Highway 81 to its                   junction with State Highway 358 in                    Montana
                                                      junction with Interstate Highway 35 in                   Corpus Christi, then west and north                      Zone 1 (Warm Springs Portion of Deer
                                                      Laredo, then north along Interstate                      along State Highway 358 to its junction               Lodge County)—Those portions of Deer
                                                      Highway 35 to its junction with                          with State Highway 286, then north                    Lodge County lying within the
                                                      Interstate Highway 10 in San Antonio,                    along State Highway 286 to its junction               following described boundary:
                                                      then northwest along Interstate Highway                  with Interstate Highway 37, then east                 Beginning at the intersection of I–90 and
                                                      10 to its junction with U.S. Highway 83                  along Interstate Highway 37 to its                    Highway 273, then westerly along
                                                      at Junction, then north along U.S.                       junction with U.S. Highway 181, then                  Highway 273 to the junction of Highway
                                                      Highway 83 to its junction with U.S.                     north and west along U.S. Highway 181                 1, then southeast along said highway to
                                                      Highway 62, 16 miles north of                            to its junction with U.S. Highway 77 in               Highway 275 at Opportunity, then east
                                                      Childress, then east along U.S. Highway                  Sinton, then north and east along U.S.                along said highway to East Side County
                                                      62 to the Texas-Oklahoma State line.                     Highway 77 to its junction with U.S.                  road, then north along said road to
                                                         Zone B—That portion of Texas lying                    Highway 87 in Victoria, then south and                Perkins Lake, then west on said lane to
                                                      within boundaries beginning at the                       east along U.S. Highway 87 to its                     I–90, then north on said interstate to the
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      junction of U.S. Highway 81 and the                      junction with State Highway 35 at Port                junction of Highway 273, the point of
                                                      Texas–Oklahoma State line, then                          Lavaca, then north and east along State               beginning. Except for sections 13 and
                                                      southeast along U.S. Highway 81 to its                   Highway 35 to the south end of the                    24, T5N, R10W; and Warm Springs
                                                      junction with U.S. Highway 287 in                        Lavaca Bay Causeway, then south and                   Pond number 3.
                                                      Montague County, then southeast along                    east along the shore of Lavaca Bay to its                Zone 2 (Ovando-Helmville Area)—
                                                      U.S. Highway 287 to its junction with                    junction with the Port Lavaca Ship                    That portion of the Pacific Flyway,
                                                      Interstate Highway 35W in Fort Worth,                    Channel, then south and east along the                located in Powell County lying within
                                                      then southwest along Interstate                          Lavaca Bay Ship Channel to the Gulf of                the following described boundary:
                                                      Highway 35 to its junction with                          Mexico, and then south and west along                 beginning at the junction of State Routes


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                          43289

                                                      141 and 200, then west along Route 200                   Madison County and all of Gallatin                    All Migratory Game Birds in the Virgin
                                                      to its intersection with the Blackfoot                   County.                                               Islands
                                                      River at Russell Gates Fishing Access                      Zone 4 (Broadwater County)—All of
                                                      Site (Powell—Missoula County line),                      Broadwater County.                                      Ruth Cay Closure Area—The island of
                                                                                                                                                                     Ruth Cay, just south of St. Croix.
                                                      then southeast along said river to its                   Utah
                                                      intersection with the Ovando—                                                                                  All Migratory Game Birds in Puerto
                                                      Helmville Road (County Road 104) at                         Cache County—All of Cache County.                  Rico
                                                                                                                  East Box Elder County—That portion
                                                      Cedar Meadows Fishing Access Site,
                                                                                                               of Box Elder County beginning on the                     Municipality of Culebra Closure
                                                      then south and east along said road to
                                                                                                               Utah-Idaho State line at the Box Elder-               Area—All of the municipality of
                                                      its junction with State Route 141, then
                                                                                                               Cache County line; west on the State                  Culebra.
                                                      north along said route to its junction
                                                                                                               line to the Pocatello Valley County                      Desecheo Island Closure Area—All of
                                                      with State Route 200, the point of
                                                                                                               Road; south on the Pocatello Valley                   Desecheo Island.
                                                      beginning.
                                                                                                               County Road to I–15; southeast on I–15
                                                         Zone 3 (Dillon/Twin Bridges/                                                                                   Mona Island Closure Area—All of
                                                                                                               to SR–83; south on SR–83 to Lamp
                                                      Cardwell Areas)—That portion of                                                                                Mona Island.
                                                                                                               Junction; west and south on the
                                                      Beaverhead, Madison and Jefferson                        Promontory Point County Road to the                      El Verde Closure Area—Those areas
                                                      counties lying within the following                      tip of Promontory Point; south from                   of the municipalities of Rio Grande and
                                                      described boundaries: Beginning at                       Promontory Point to the Box Elder-                    Loiza delineated as follows: (1) All
                                                      Dillon, then northerly along US Hwy 91                   Weber County line; east on the Box                    lands between Routes 956 on the west
                                                      to its intersection with the Big Hole                    Elder-Weber County line to the Box                    and 186 on the east, from Route 3 on the
                                                      River at Brown’s Bridge north of Glen,                   Elder-Cache County line; north on the                 north to the juncture of Routes 956 and
                                                      then southeasterly and northeasterly                     Box Elder-Cache County line to the                    186 (Km 13.2) in the south; (2) all lands
                                                      along the Big Hole River to High Road,                   Utah-Idaho State line.                                between Routes 186 and 966 from the
                                                      then east along High Road to State                          Rich County—All of Rich County.                    juncture of 186 and 966 on the north, to
                                                      Highway 41, then east along said                            Uintah County—All of Uintah                        the Caribbean National Forest Boundary
                                                      highway to the Beaverhead River, then                    County.                                               on the south; (3) all lands lying west of
                                                      north along said river to the Jefferson                                                                        Route 186 for 1 kilometer from the
                                                                                                               Wyoming                                               juncture of Routes 186 and 956 south to
                                                      River and north along the Jefferson
                                                      River to the Ironrod Bridge, then                          Area 1 (Bear River)—All of the Bear                 Km 6 on Route 186; (4) all lands within
                                                      northeasterly along State Highway 41 to                  River and Ham’s Fork River drainages in               Km 14 and Km 6 on the west and the
                                                      the junction with State Highway 55,                      Lincoln County.                                       Caribbean National Forest Boundary on
                                                      then northeasterly along said highway                      Area 2 (Salt River Area)—All of the                 the east; and (5) all lands within the
                                                      to the junction with I–90, then east                     Salt River drainage in Lincoln County                 Caribbean National Forest Boundary
                                                      along I–90 to Cardwell and Route 359                     south of the McCoy Creek Road.                        whether private or public.
                                                      then south along Route 359 to the Parrot                   Area 3 (Eden Valley Area)—All lands                    Cidra Municipality and adjacent
                                                      Hill/Cedar Hill Road then southwesterly                  within the Bureau of Reclamation’s                    areas—All of Cidra Municipality and
                                                      along said road and the Cemetery Hill                    Eden Project in Sweetwater County.                    portions of Aguas Buenas, Caguas,
                                                                                                                 Area 5 (Uintah County Area)—All of
                                                      Road to the Parrot Ditch road to the                                                                           Cayey, and Comerio Municipalities as
                                                                                                               Uinta County.
                                                      Point of Rocks Road to Carney Lane to                                                                          encompassed within the following
                                                      the Bench Road to the Waterloo Road                      All Migratory Game Birds in Alaska                    boundary: Beginning on Highway 172 as
                                                      and Bayers Lanes, to State Highway 41,                     North Zone—State Game Management                    it leaves the municipality of Cidra on
                                                      then east along State Highway 41 to the                  Units 11–13 and 17–26.                                the west edge, north to Highway 156,
                                                      Beaverhead River, then south along the                     Gulf Coast Zone—State Game                          east on Highway 156 to Highway 1,
                                                      Beaverhead River to the mouth of the                     Management Units 5–7, 9, 14–16, and                   south on Highway 1 to Highway 765,
                                                      Ruby River, then southeasterly along the                 10 (Unimak Island only).                              south on Highway 765 to Highway 763,
                                                      Ruby River to the East Bench Road, then                    Southeast Zone—State Game                           south on Highway 763 to the Rio
                                                      southwesterly along the East Bench                       Management Units 1–4.                                 Guavate, west along Rio Guavate to
                                                      Road to the East Bench Canal, then                         Pribilof and Aleutian Islands Zone—                 Highway 1, southwest on Highway 1 to
                                                      southwesterly along said canal to the                    State Game Management Unit 10 (except                 Highway 14, west on Highway 14 to
                                                      Sweetwater Road, then west along                         Unimak Island).                                       Highway 729, north on Highway 729 to
                                                      Sweetwater Road to Dillon, the point of                    Kodiak Zone—State Game                              Cidra Municipality boundary to the
                                                      beginning, plus the remainder of                         Management Unit 8.                                    point of the beginning.
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   19:44 Jul 20, 2015   Jkt 235001   PO 00000   Frm 00025   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\21JYP2.SGM   21JYP2


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
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                      BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
                                               [FR Doc. 2015–17718 Filed 7–20–15; 8:45 am]




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              43290
19:44 Jul 20, 2015




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules
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                                                                                             REGULATORY ALTERNATIVES FOR DUCK HUNTING DURING THE 2015-16 SEASON
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                                                                                                                                      ATLANTIC FLYWAY                            MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY                           CENTRAL FLYWAY (a)                        PACIFIC FLYWAY (b)(c)
                                                                                                                             RES            MOD             LIB            RES          MOD         LIB                 RES         MOD          LIB                 RES        MOD           LIB

                                                                                                   Beginning                1/2 hr.        1/2 hr.        1/2 hr.         1/2 hr.       1/2 hr.         1/2 hr.        1/2 hr.       1/2 hr.         1/2 hr.        1/2 hr.       1/2 hr.         1/2 hr.
                                                                                                    Shooting                before         before         before          before        before          before         before        before          before         before        before          before
Frm 00026




                                                                                                     Time                   sunrise        sunrise        sunrise        sunrise        sunrise        sunrise        sunrise        sunrise        sunrise         sunrise       sunrise        sunrise
                                                                                                    Ending
                                                                                                   Shooting                 Sunset         Sunset         Sunset          Sunset        Sunset         Sunset          Sunset        Sunset          Sunset         Sunset        Sunset          Sunset
                                                                                                     Time
Fmt 4701




                                                                                                   Opening                  Oct.1        Sat. nearest   Sat. nearest   Sat. nearest   Sat. nearest   Sat. nearest   Sat. nearest   Sat. nearest   Sat. nearest   Sat. nearest   Sat. nearest   Sat. nearest
                                                                                                    Date                                  Sept. 24       Sept. 24         Oct.1        Sept. 24       Sept. 24        Oct.1         Sept. 24       Sept. 24         Oct.1        Sept. 24       Sept. 24
                                                                                                    Closing                 Jan. 20      Last Sunday    Last Sunday    Sun. nearest Last Sunday      Last Sunday    Sun. nearest Last Sunday      Last Sunday    Sun. nearest Last Sunday      Last Sunday
                                                                                                     Date                                  in Jan.        in Jan.         Jan. 20      in Jan.          in Jan.        Jan. 20      in Jan.          in Jan.        Jan. 20      in Jan.          in Jan.
Sfmt 9990




                                                                                                    Season                    30             45             60              30            45              60             39            60              74             60            86             107
                                                                                              Length (in days)
                                                                                                   Daily Bag/                  3              6              6              3              6              6              3              6              6              4              7              7
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                                                                                              Species/Sex Limits within the Overall Daily Bag Limit

                                                                                               Mallard (Total/Female)         3/1            412            412            2/1            4/1            412            3/1            5/1            5/2             3/1           5/2            712


                                                                                             (a) In the High Plains Mallard Management Unit, all regulations would be the same as the remainder of the Central Flyway, with the exception of season length. Additional days would
                                                                                                  be allowed under the various alternatives as follows: restrictive- 12, moderate and liberal- 23. Under all alternatives, additional days rnust be on or after the Saturday nearest
                                                                                                  December 10.
                                                                                             (b) In the Columbia Basin Mallard Management Unit, all regulations would be the same as the remainder of the Pacific Flyway, with the exception of season length. Under all alternatives
21JYP2




                                                                                                  except the liberal alternative, an additional 7 days would be allowed.
                                                                                             (c) In Alaska, framework dates, bag limits, and season length would be different from the remainder of the Pacific Flyway. The bag limit would be 5-8 under the restrictive alternative,
                                                                                                  and 7-10 under the moderate and liberal alternatives. Under all alternatives, season length would be 107 days and framework dates would be Sep. 1 - Jan. 26.




EP21JY15.001</GPH>



Document Created: 2018-02-23 09:23:07
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 09:23:07
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule; supplemental.
DatesComments: You must submit comments on the proposed early-season frameworks by July 31, 2015.
ContactRon 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.
FR Citation80 FR 43266 
RIN Number1018-BA67
CFR AssociatedExports; Hunting; Imports; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Transportation and Wildlife

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