[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 27, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-23945]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: September 27, 1994]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part III
Department of the Interior
_______________________________________________________________________
Fish and Wildlife Service
_______________________________________________________________________
50 CFR Part 20
Migratory Bird Hunting; Final Frameworks for Late-Season Migratory Bird
Hunting Regulations; Final Rule
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 20
RIN 1018-AA24
Migratory Bird Hunting; Final Frameworks for Late-Season
Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This rule prescribes final late-season frameworks from which
States may select season dates, limits, and other options for the 1994-
95 migratory bird hunting season. These late seasons include most
waterfowl seasons, the earliest of which generally commence on or about
October 1, 1994. The effects of this final rule are to facilitate the
selection of hunting seasons by the States to further the annual
establishment of the late-season migratory bird hunting regulations.
State selections will be published in the Federal Register as
amendments to Secs. 20.104 through 20.107 and Sec. 20.109 of title 50
CFR part 20.
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 27, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Season selections from States are to be mailed to: Chief,
Office of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Department of the Interior, ms 634--ARLSQ, 1849 C Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20240. Comments received are available for public
inspection during normal business hours in room 634, Arlington Square
Building, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul R. Schmidt, Chief, Office of
Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department
of the Interior, ms 634--ARLSQ, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC
20240, (703) 358-1714.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulations Schedule for 1994
On April 7, 1994, the Service published for public comment in the
Federal Register (59 FR 16762) a proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20, with
comment periods ending July 21 for early-season proposals and September
2 for late-season proposals. The deadline for late-season proposals was
subsequently extended to September 9 in the September 7 Federal
Register (58 FR 46320). These regulations would be proposed for certain
designated members of the avian families Anatidae (ducks, geese, and
swans); Columbidae (doves and pigeons), Gruidae (cranes); Rallidae
(rails, coots, moorhens, and gallinules); and Scolopacidae (woodcock
and snipe). These species are designated as ``migratory game birds'' in
conventions between the United States and several foreign nations for
the protection and management of these birds. All other birds
designated as migratory (under 10.13 of Subpart B of 50 CFR Part 10) in
the aforementioned conventions may not be hunted. On June 8, 1994, the
Service published for public comment a second document (59 FR 29700)
which provided supplemental proposals for early- and late-season
migratory bird hunting regulations frameworks. On June 23, 1994, a
public hearing was held in Washington, DC, as announced in the April 7
and June 8 Federal Registers, to review the status of migratory shore
and upland game birds. Proposed hunting regulations were discussed for
these species and for other early seasons. On July 12, 1993, the
Service published in the Federal Register (59 FR 35566) a third
document in the series of proposed, supplemental, and final rulemaking
documents which dealt specifically with proposed early-season
frameworks for the 1994-95 season. On August 4, 1994, a public hearing
was held in Washington, DC, as announced in the April 7, June 8, and
July 12 Federal Registers, to review the status of waterfowl. Proposed
hunting regulations were discussed for these late seasons. On August
17, 1994, the Service published a fourth document (59 FR 42474)
containing final frameworks for early migratory bird hunting seasons
from which wildlife conservation agency officials from the States,
Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands selected early-season hunting
dates, hours, areas, and limits for 1994-95. The fifth document in the
series, published August 24, 1994 (59 FR 43684), dealt specifically
with proposed frameworks for the 1994-95 late-season migratory bird
hunting regulations. On September 1, 1994, the Service published in the
Federal Register a sixth document consisting of a final rule amending
subpart K of title 50 CFR part 20 to set hunting seasons, hours, areas,
and limits for early seasons. On September 7, 1994, the Service
published in the Federal Register a seventh document announcing an
extension of the closing date for the comment period on late-season
regulations from September 2 to September 9. This document, which
establishes final frameworks for late-season migratory bird hunting
regulations for the 1994-95 season, is the eighth in the series.
Review of Comments and the Service's Response
Public-hearing and written comments received through September 9,
1994, relating to proposed late-season frameworks are discussed and
addressed here. Ten individuals presented statements at the August 4,
1994, public hearing. Individuals and the organizations represented
were: Dr. Rollin Sparrowe, Wildlife Management Institute; Walter Sikes,
California Waterfowl Association; Brian Cavey, Office of Senator Max
Baucus; Bruce Barbour, National Audubon Society; K.L. Cool, Central
Flyway Council; Scott Sutherland, Ducks Unlimited; Congressman Jay
Dickey, 4th Congressional District in Arkansas; Congressman Tim Petrie,
6th Congressional District in Wisconsin; Dr. Gary Will, Pacific Flyway
Council; and Congressman Steve Gunderson, 3rd Congressional District in
Wisconsin. The Service received 504 written comments that specifically
addressed late-season issues. These late-season comments are summarized
and discussed in the subject order used in the April 7, 1994, Federal
Register. Only the numbered items pertaining to late seasons for which
comments were received are included. Flyway Council recommendations
shown below include only those involving changes from the 1993-94 late-
season frameworks. For those topics where a Council recommendation is
not shown, the Council supported continuing the same frameworks as in
1993-94.
General
Public-Hearing Comments: Dr. Rollin Sparrowe, Mr. Brian Cavey, Mr.
Bruce Barbour, Mr. K. L. Cool, and Mr. Scott Sutherland expressed
optimism for the recovery of duck populations this year due to the
return of good water and improved upland habitat conditions. They noted
that a variety of circumstances likely contributed to this improvement
but praised the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the cooperative
efforts of private landowners, State and Federal wildlife agencies, and
conservation organizations for having played a significant role.
However, Mr. Sutherland stated that several species, including the
mallard, black duck, pintail, American wigeon, blue-winged teal,
canvasback, and scaup are still below the North American Waterfowl
Management Plan goals. He stressed the need to expand and improve
population surveys and banding program databases which would allow the
development of refined regional and flyway management plans.
Written Comments: The California Waterfowl Association urged the
Service to consider the link between hunting opportunities and hunter
support of habitat programs when formulating regulations. They believe
that the current sizes of waterfowl populations justify a relaxation of
restrictions.
An individual from California requested that waterfowl harvests be
managed on a flyway basis.
Dr. Robert McLandress, Director of the Waterfowl and Wetland
Program of the California Waterfowl Association, expressed his concern
for the 65 percent decrease in California waterfowl hunters during the
past two decades and the impact of such losses on wetland habitat
preservation and maintenance. He noted that the number of California
waterfowl hunters was more highly correlated with pintail harvests and
pintail breeding populations than with harvests and populations of
other ducks.
Mr. Walter R. Sikes, representing the California Waterfowl
Association, noted that 1994 would be the second year of good
production for Pacific Flyway duck populations which should provide
relief to the existing regulations restrictions. He commented that
reduced waterfowl populations and hunting opportunities had discouraged
support for habitat restoration efforts in California; but nonetheless,
California waterfowlers have spent millions of dollars on waterfowl
habitat improvement programs in that State. He further indicated that
historical data supported relaxation of regulations, noting that during
years with similar duck populations, seasons were 31 percent longer,
bag limits were 75 percent higher, and hunter numbers were at least 35
percent greater than in 1993.
Two local sportsmen's organizations from Massachusetts requested
threshold figures for all species of waterfowl defining when seasons
shall be opened or closed.
The Fund for Animals expressed concern that many States are
establishing late-season migratory bird hunting dates prior to the
publication of the final frameworks by the Service. They contend that
such premature action by State agencies, regardless of the time
constraint the agencies may face, conflict with the notice and comment
requirements of the Administrative Procedures Act. The purpose of
publishing the Federal Register proposed rulemaking document and
allowing a subsequent comment period is to provide opportunity for
interested parties to submit data and facts and to present their views.
They maintain that this scenario places the Service in a difficult
situation and compromises its ability to make changes. As a result,
they believe that the Service does not seriously consider comments
received and thus does not involve the public in the decision-making
process.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
expressed concern regarding the timing of the process required to
establish final frameworks for setting migratory game bird regulations
and asked that the Service modify the administrative process. They
suggested that regulations should be finalized a month earlier in order
to establish season dates and provide information to hunters in an
orderly and timely manner.
The Humane Society of the United States (hereinafter the Humane
Society) expressed concern that the public was not well represented in
the regulations-establishment process. They requested establishment of
a system directly involving the non-hunting public. They also requested
that the Service undertake efforts to obtain population estimates for
all hunted species.
Service Response: When the preliminary proposed rulemaking document
was published in the Federal Register on April 7, 1994, the Service
announced the comment periods for the early-season and late-season
proposals and gave notice that the process of promulgating hunting
regulations ``must, by its nature, operate under time constraints''.
Ample time must be given to gather and interpret survey data, consider
recommendations and develop proposals, and to receive public comment.
Scheduled dates are set to give the greatest possible opportunity for
public input. If States do take action to establish their seasons prior
to the final decisions on the frameworks, they risk having to withdraw
and modify those actions. The Service is obligated to, and does, give
serious consideration to all information received as public comment.
The Service has long recognized the problems associated with the length
of time necessary to establish the final frameworks, and in conjunction
with States, Flyway Councils, and the public, continues to seek new
ways to streamline and improve the regulatory process.
Regarding population estimates, the long-term objectives of the
Service 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. Annually, the status of populations are evaluated and the
potential impacts of hunting are considered. The Service believes that
hunting seasons are consistent with the current status of waterfowl
populations and long-term population goals.
1. Ducks
A. General Harvest Strategy
Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended
seasons and limits similar to those in effect during 1985-87 (with the
exception of pintail), when significant reductions in bag and season
length were imposed to protect certain declining duck populations. The
Council presented information on duck populations, hunter numbers, and
duck harvest in support of their recommendations.
Public-Hearing Comments: Dr. Rollin Sparrowe indicated that while a
recovery of duck populations appears to be underway, a single year does
not represent an upward trend. He noted that some liberalization may be
warranted this year, but added that the major question was how much and
how fast should these liberalizations be implemented. Mr. Bruce Barbour
advised a cautious restraint and suggested that our goal should be to
return as many breeding pairs as possible next spring to take full
advantage of the likely excellent nesting conditions. Mr. Walter Sikes
and Mr. Brian Cavey commented that with the increased breeding
populations and improved fall flight of ducks, some liberalization in
the hunting regulations was justified this year. Tim Petrie believed
that Wisconsin hunters were deserving of additional hunting
opportunities because of their support and participation in habitat
programs. Mr. Walter Sikes accused the Service of imposing restrictions
based on a trend towards continental waterfowl management and a desire
to simplify regulations. He believed such restrictions were unnecessary
on healthy populations and inconsistent with the status of populations
and habitat conditions within a flyway.
Written Comments: The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries expressed their dissatisfaction with the decision by the
Service to offer an option package on duck seasons this year. They
indicated that most optional regulations regarding waterfowl hunting
were abandoned years ago.
The Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission commented that
regulations changes should ideally result in measurable responses to
those changes and that ``tinkering'' should be avoided. They maintained
that the hybrid option proposed by the Service this year will further
complicate evaluations and impede our capabilities to learn about the
effects of those regulation changes.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission asked the Service to explain
the basis of information used to change the proposed frameworks from
those presented at the public hearing on August 4, 1994, to those
published in the Federal Register on August 24, 1994. Further, they
indicated that they were unaware of the opportunity to provide comments
regarding the regulations frameworks prior to the publication of the
proposed late-season rulemaking document in the Federal Register.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department was critical of the
regulations-development process this year and questioned the
partnership between the Service, States, and Flyway Councils. They
indicated that certain perceptions or politics were driving the
decision process rather than constructive compromise based on sound
biology. They advocated the need for greater focus on population
biology, current and projected habitat conditions, and concerns of
those who still hunt ducks. They believe this will build the base of
knowledge on which sound decisions should be made.
The Central Flyway Council commented that the Service's proposal of
one additional bird or 10 additional days was overly conservative,
penalized hunters, and was inconsistent with our biological knowledge.
They stated that it appeared as if biologically-based action had been
overridden by risk-aversive conservatism and clearly amounted to
``tinkering'', which would impede learning.
The Delta Waterfowl Foundation expressed concern that the increase
in the spring population survey represented a redistribution of ducks
from unsurveyed areas, and raised concerns about the reliability of
short-term population projections in justifying significant changes in
harvest strategies. Given the fact that 1994 was only the first year of
good production and considering the uncertain variability in the fall-
flight index, they maintained that a conservative framework was
justified. They further recommended allowing populations to rebuild
during these potentially short-lived years of good cover and water
conditions.
The Federation of State Waterfowl Associations expressed concern
that the Service was moving towards a continental waterfowl-management
approach and a simplification of regulations rather than using the
flyway concept to tailor regulations to specific populations and to
promote habitat management.
Two individuals asked that shooting hours be returned to sunrise
rather than one-half hour before sunrise to reduce crippling loss and
aid in species identification and management.
Service Response: During most of the past decade, drought
conditions on the principal duck breeding grounds have resulted in
depressed duck populations, with numbers of some species reaching all-
time lows. This situation necessitated restrictions in hunting
regulations to reduce harvest rates commensurate with the status of
ducks. This year, habitat conditions were much improved and breeding-
population indices for many duck species and fall-flight indices for
both mallards and all ducks combined increased substantially. Further,
the continuation of good habitat conditions into mid-summer this year
increases the likelihood that breeding habitat conditions may again be
favorable for good production in 1995.
As a result of the increases observed in breeding-population and
production surveys this year, the Service believed that some relaxation
of the harvest restrictions that have been in place in recent years was
warranted. The question was how much relaxation should occur in this
first year of improvement. Several alternatives were available,
including: (1) to continue harvest restraints one more year by making
little or no change in regulations in an attempt to provide maximum
population growth and potentially be in a better position to
capitalize, in terms of duck production, on the prospects for good
habitat conditions next year, or (2) to increase harvest opportunity to
a greater extent this year and have a lesser chance for continued
growth in duck populations. The Service felt that the first alternative
offered the greatest opportunity for long-term benefit for both duck
populations and harvest opportunity.
Flyway Councils felt that more liberalization in the hunting
regulations was justified and recommended increases in both season
length and bag limits for the duck season. In the Service's view, these
changes would significantly increase harvests and were more in line
with the second alternative identified above. Consequently, the Service
opted for increases in bag limits similar to those recommended by the
Councils, but preferred to retain last year's season lengths. The
Service felt that this approach would provide additional harvest
opportunity for hunters but would have a lesser impact on overall
harvest than longer seasons.
At the public hearing for late-season regulations on August 4,
1994, in Washington, DC, the Service proposed duck-season frameworks
consisting of the same season length as last year and an increase of
one bird in the overall daily bag limit. In response to numerous
comments received after the public hearing, the proposed frameworks
published in the Federal Register on August 24, 1994, were changed to
include an option for States to select either the same season length as
last year with a larger bag limit or a season length 10 days longer
than last year with essentially the same bag limit.
The Service recognizes the wide divergence of views concerning an
appropriate harvest strategy for ducks during this first year of
significant improvement in the status of ducks. However, 1 year of
significant growth does not constitute a full recovery and several
years of growth are needed to rebuild the principal stocks in the
surveyed area that were depressed during the 1980s. The Service remains
committed to this goal and believes that in order to reach these
desired population levels, we must take full advantage of the much-
improved habitat conditions and prudently manage harvest rates. The
Service welcomes this challenge and asks that States, Flyway Councils,
hunters and the general public join in this effort.
In regard to shooting hours, the Service has received considerable
support for the proposed shooting hours. The Service has compiled
information which demonstrates that shooting hours beginning at one-
half hour before sunrise do not contribute significantly to the harvest
of nontarget species. Consistent with the Service's long-term strategy
for shooting hours, published in the September 21, 1990, Federal
Register (55 FR 38898), the frameworks herein provide for shooting
hours of one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, unless otherwise
specified.
B. Framework Dates
Council Recommendations: The Central Flyway Council recommended
that the hunting-season frameworks for ducks, coots, and mergansers
begin on the Saturday nearest October 1 (October 1, 1994) and extend
until the Sunday nearest January 20 (January 22, 1995).
The Upper-Region and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the
Mississippi Flyway Council recommended framework opening and closing
dates of the Saturday nearest October 1 to January 20. The Lower-Region
Regulations Committee also recommended that opening and closing dates
be established as a basic regulation and not fluctuate annually.
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended outside season dates of the
Saturday nearest October 1 to the Sunday nearest January 20. Floating
framework dates are recommended because (1) the flyway has
traditionally been offered Saturday openings and Sunday closing for
most migratory game birds, (2) fixed calendar dates will further
restrict hunting opportunity in those States that traditionally open
hunting on Saturday and close on Sunday, (3) departure from this
traditional format will be confusing and unnecessarily restrictive, (4)
there are no biological consequences to floating frameworks since we
are dealing with only plus or minus 3 days in opening and closing
dates, (5) a Saturday opening allows participation by school-age
hunters and those that have a traditional work week, (6) there are no
biological or political justifications which warrant a change from
previous outside framework dates.
Written Comments: The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission requested
the Service to consider the use of floating framework dates, rather
than the proposed fixed dates.
The Humane Society recommends that all seasons open on Wednesday in
order to reduce the high level of harvest associated with traditional
Saturday season openings.
Service Response: The use of floating framework dates automatically
allows earliest opening and latest closing dates to vary by almost a
full week over a period of years. These kinds of annual variations tend
to confound assessment of the impact of hunting regulations on duck
populations. As the Service has previously stated in the Federal
Register (58 FR 50190), a State may choose to delay its opening date to
correspond with a particular day of the week or to close earlier to
maximize the number of weekends that hunting is allowed. Regarding the
consideration of framework dates as ``basic'' rather than ``annual''
regulations, the Service has previously stated its policy to retain the
use of framework dates as a harvest-management tool.
C. Season Lengths
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council and the Upper-
Region and Lower- Region Regulations Committees of the Mississippi
Flyway Council recommended a 40-day duck season.
The Central Flyway Council recommended that the season length in
the High Plains Mallard Management Unit be 69 days, 16 of which must
begin no earlier than the Saturday nearest December 10 (December 10,
1994). For the remainder of the Flyway, the Council recommended a
season length of 53 days.
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended a season length of 79 days,
with 7 additional days in the Columbia Basin Mallard Management Unit.
Public-Hearing Comments: Mr. Walter Sikes, Mr. Brian Cavey, Mr. K.
L. Cool, and Mr. Scott Sutherland supported the Flyway Councils'
recommendations to expand season lengths and allow hunters to have more
opportunity. Mr. Jay Dickey supported a 10-day season extension in
Arkansas to allow families additional time to spend together.
Congressman Steve Gunderson (Wisconsin) commented on the inequity of an
additional 9-day teal season in ``non-production'' States without
making some additional duck harvest opportunity available to
``production'' States.
Written Comments: The Federation of State Waterfowl Associations
supported the adoption of recommendations by the Flyway Councils. They
believe that the recommendations provide an incentive to duck hunters
to maintain and enhance waterfowl habitat under their control.
An individual from California asked that the Service consider
allowing 86 days of duck hunting in the Pacific Flyway.
The Nebraska Low Plains Waterfowlers' Association urged the Service
to allow 46 days of duck hunting in the Low Plains portion of the
Central Flyway.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources endorsed the
recommendations of the Mississippi Flyway Council's Upper-Region
Regulations Committee and requested that the Service reconsider its
proposal for a 30-day duck season with a 4-bird daily bag limit. They
suggested that if the Service feels a more conservative season is
necessary this year, a 40-day season with a 3-bird daily bag limit
would be more acceptable. They also expressed concern that ``non-
production'' States are offered a 9-day special teal season while
production States are not offered some type of compensatory
opportunity.
Two local sportsmen's organizations in Massachusetts requested a
35-day season for duck hunting in the Atlantic Flyway.
The Illinois Department of Conservation urged the Service to
consider a 40-day season framework with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
Congressman Steve Gunderson of Wisconsin expressed concern about
the Service's proposal to allow a 30-day season and asked that
consideration be given to a 40-day season with a 3-bird daily bag limit
to provide more recreational opportunity for hunters.
Both the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation and the Wisconsin
Conservation Congress asked the Service to consider a 40-day season
with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources expressed concern that
the Service did not support the Mississippi Flyway Council proposal for
a 40-day season with a 4-bird daily bag limit and suggested that if
further protection was warranted, they would prefer a 40-day season
with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources disagreed with the
Service's proposal and asked for reconsideration of a 40-day season
with a 4-bird daily bag limit, but they indicated they would accept a
3-bird daily bag limit and a 40-day season, if necessary.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources indicated
preference for an increase in the season length rather than an increase
in the daily-bag limit, but stated that they may support the decisions
of the Service, if conservative measures were necessary, based on
additional information.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources asked for a season of 40
days with a 4-bird bag limit, but if not acceptable to the Service,
they would opt for a longer season over an expanded bag limit.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources felt that input
from the States was being disregarded and that the Service's
restrictive proposal did not show support for hunting and would be
difficult to explain to sportsmen.
The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife recommended a
35-day to 40-day season in the Atlantic Flyway with a 3-bird daily bag
limit, stating that an additional 5 to 10 days of hunting is an
appropriate response to the improved situation of the past 3 years.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources supported a 40-day
season with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the Florida Game and Fresh Water
Fish Commission, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries,
the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Mississippi
Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, the Missouri Department
of Conservation, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation,
the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, the Ohio Department
of Natural Resources, the South Carolina Department of Natural
Resources, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency supported the
recommendations of the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway Councils for a
40-day season and a 4-bird daily bag limit.
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation stated that a
40-day season with a 4 bird daily bag limit would help biologists
evaluate harvest under regulations comparable to 1985-87. Further, they
would support implementation of these recommendations in 1995 to help
future evaluations.
The Missouri Department of Conservation expressed concern that the
frameworks did not adequately reflect the substantial input from the
Flyway Councils. Further, they stated that the recommendation to return
to hunting seasons similar to those in 1985-87 was justified when
considered in the context of existing management plans, the current and
expected improvement in breeding populations, and the status of
breeding habitat.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency believed the recommendation
of the Mississippi Flyway Council was biologically justified.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries stated that the
breeding-pair and production survey information clearly supported
reasonable upward adjustments in the bag limit and season length for
the Mississippi Flyway.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
commented that they see no biological reason why the season should not
be 40 days and the requested increase was modest at best. However, they
stated that if 10 additional days is deemed to be inappropriate, 7
additional days would be acceptable.
The Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission commented that a
40-day season and a 4-bird daily bag limit represented a reasonable
response to improved duck population status.
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, while
supporting the Flyway's recommendation, believed that there was
abundant information to support a 40-day season and a 5-bird daily bag
limit.
Senators David Pryor and Dale Bumpers of Arkansas expressed support
for the recommendations of the Mississippi Flyway Council for a 40-day
season and a 4-bird daily bag limit. Senator Bumpers commented that it
appears that the scientific recommendations of the Mississippi Flyway
Council were ignored.
The Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, composed of over 180 House
Members and 35 Senators, supported the recommendations of the Flyway
Councils for expanded seasons and bag limits and felt that maintaining
a 30-day season with a daily bag limit of 3 birds sets a dangerous
precedent of ignoring sound scientific information in making management
decisions.
Congressman G.V. Montgomery and Congresswoman Blanche Lambert of
Arkansas; Congressmen Don Sundquist, John Tanner, James Quillen, Jim
Cooper, Bart Gordon, Bob Clement, and John Duncan, Congresswoman
Marilyn Lloyd, and Senators Jim Sasser and Harlan Matthews of
Tennessee; and Senators J. Bennett Johnston and John Breaux,
Congressmen Robert Livingston, W.J. Tauzin, Jimmy Hayes, William
Jefferson, Richard Baker, Jim McCrery, and Cleo Fields of Louisiana
supported the recommendations of the Mississippi Flyway Council for a
40-day season with a daily bag limit of 4 birds.
Congressman John Dingell of Michigan expressed support for the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources' recommendation for a 40-day
season with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
Governor Jim Guy Tucker of Arkansas, State Senators James Scott and
Jay Bradford of Arkansas, and State Senator Joe McPherson of Louisiana
expressed support for a 40-day season and a 4-bird daily bag limit.
Other organizations supporting Flyway Council recommendations for a
40-day season and a 4-bird daily bag limit included the North Carolina
Wildlife Federation, Arkansas Ducks Unlimited, the North Carolina
Wildlife Habitat Foundation, the Alliance for Wetlands, the Southern
Illinois Quotazone Waterfowl Association, the South Shore Waterfowlers
Association of New York, the Sabine Chapter (Texas) of Ducks Unlimited,
Migratory Waterfowl Hunters, Inc. of Illinois, and the Illinois
Federation of Outdoor Resources.
The Delta Waterfowl Foundation supported the proposal for a 30-day
season and stated that they did not believe this was the time to
liberalize duck hunting regulations. Stating that now was the time for
patience and to build for the future, they further commented that
limiting the liberalization to the increase in bag limits and not days
was appropriate and should be the final decision for the late-season
frameworks.
The National Wildlife Federation concurred with the Service's
proposal of either a 10-day increase in the season or an additional
bird, but not both. They commented that it was critical to err on the
side of conservation in the interest of ensuring the long-term well-
being of waterfowl populations.
One hundred and eighty individuals in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia,
Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New
York, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin expressed support for a 40-day
season with a 4-bird daily bag limit.
One hundred and forty-nine individuals from Arkansas, Florida,
Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri,
Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin expressed support for a 40-day
season with a 3-bird daily bag limit.
Three hundred and thirty-one individuals, including one petition
containing 237 names, from Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois,
Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Tennessee requested
a 40-day season.
Thirteen individuals from Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida,
Minnesota, South Carolina, and Texas expressed support for a daily bag
limit of 4 birds and a 30-day season.
Twelve individuals from Illinois, Minnesota, Texas, and Wisconsin
supported the rejection of a 40-day season.
Twenty-three individuals from Arkansas, Iowa, Florida, Minnesota,
Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin were opposed to any increase in either
the daily bag limit or season length.
The Central Flyway Council urged the Service to reconsider and
grant the original Central Flyway proposal for a modest liberalization
in the 1994 season.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department supported the
recommendations of the Central Flyway Council for a 49-day season with
a daily bag limit of 4 birds. They believed these proposals were
warranted and would not jeopardize continued expansion of the duck
population.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks urged support for a 53-
day season and a daily bag limit of 4 birds, stating that this
expansion would not threaten the continued recovery of our duck
resources.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation urged the Service
to reconsider additional hunting days in all Flyways with an additional
10-14 days provided in the Central Flyway. They further pointed out
that in mid-latitude States, additional season length is very
important, since duck availability can be very variable.
The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks encouraged the
Service to consider adopting regulations more typical of those in the
early 1980s. They stated that their information supported modest
increases in both bag and season length and would not jeopardize
continued increases in duck populations from habitat areas on the
northern plains.
Congressman Martin Frost of Texas supported the Flyway Council's
recommendation to expand the season length and bag limits in the
Central Flyway.
The Wetland Habitat Alliance of Texas supported a 5-bird daily bag
limit and 49-day season.
The Sportsmen Conservationists of Texas, the Texas Handicapped
Sportsman, and Hunt County (Texas) Ducks Unlimited expressed support
for a 49-day season and a 4-bird daily bag limit.
Thirty individuals from Texas expressed support for the
recommendations of the Central Flyway Council for an extended season
and a larger daily bag limit.
In the Pacific Flyway, the California Department of Fish and Game
and the Nevada Division of Wildlife supported the recommendations of
the Pacific Flyway Council. As an alternative to the proposed
framework, the California Department of Fish and Game requested that an
additional 8 days of hunting be considered. Both the California
Department of Fish and Game and the Nevada Division of Wildlife
believed that the 1994 duck population status justifies the seasons and
bag limits proposed by the Pacific Flyway Council.
Congressmen Calvin Dooley, Vic Fazio, Richard Lehman, Robert
Matsui, and George Miller of California, the California Waterfowl
Association, and the California Rice Industry Association also
expressed their support for the recommendations of the Pacific Flyway
Council and for the California Department of Fish and Game's request
for an additional 8 days of hunting.
The Westside Associated Duck Clubs and Wildlife Refuge of Utah
urged the addition of more hunting days.
Southern California Ducks and twelve individuals from Utah and
California supported the recommendations of the Pacific Flyway Council.
Seven individuals from Utah and California and the Grassland Water
District of California expressed support for the California Department
of Fish and Game recommendation for an additional 8 days of hunting.
An individual from Utah urged that the season be lengthened at the
expense of the additional bird in the daily bag limit.
The Nebraska Low Plains Waterfowlers' Association requested
liberalizations in duck hunting frameworks this year. They requested
that, if both season length and bag limits cannot be increased, season
length alone should be liberalized. They believe it is time to reward
sportsmen for their support of waterfowl management.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources urged the Service to
liberalize season length rather than bag limits if both could not be
liberalized this year.
Service Response: At the public hearing for late-season regulations
on August 4, 1994, in Washington, DC, the Service proposed duck-season
frameworks consisting of the same season length as last year and an
increase of 1 bird in the daily bag limit. In response to numerous
comments received after the public hearing, the proposed frameworks
published in the Federal Register on August 24, 1994, included an
option for States to select either the same season length as last year
with a larger daily bag limit or a season length 10 days longer than
last year with essentially the same bag limits as last year.
Recommendations from Flyway Councils and numerous comments included
increases in both season length and daily bag limits; however, the
Service believes that increasing both season length and daily bag
limits for ducks is not appropriate this first year of substantial
improvement in the status of ducks. Therefore, the frameworks herein
contain the same options as those in the proposed frameworks. Regarding
comments on the inequity of the special teal seasons in ``non-
production States,'' the Service previously responded to this issue in
the August 17, 1994, Federal Register (59 FR 42474).
E. Bag Limits
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended a
4-bird daily bag limit for the regular duck season, which would include
no more than 1 canvasback, 1 black duck, 1 pintail; 2 wood ducks, 2
redheads; and 3 mallards (of which only 1 could be a hen).
The Central Flyway Council requested that the Service review its
policy for the use of the point-system bag-limit option that requires
that it be no more liberal than the conventional bag limit.
The Central Flyway Council recommended that with respect to duck,
coot and merganser hunting regulations, States selecting the High
Plains Mallard Management Unit season option of additional late hunting
opportunity may select either the point system or the conventional bag
limit for establishing daily possession limits in the entire State.
The Central Flyway Council recommended that for those States where
the daily bag and possession limits are established by the conventional
bag limit, the daily bag would be 4 birds with species and sex
restrictions as follows: hen mallard, pintail, redhead, mottled duck,
and canvasback, 1 bird; wood duck, 2 birds; all other species and sexes
not mentioned above, 4 birds. The possession limit would be twice the
daily bag limit.
The Central Flyway Council recommended that for those States where
the daily bag and possession limits are established by the point-system
bag limit, point values for species and sexes would be as follows:
redhead, canvasback, hen mallard, pintail, hooded merganser and mottled
duck, 100 points each; wood duck, 50 points each; mallard drake,
gadwall, wigeon, green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, cinnamon teal,
shoveler, whistling duck, common and red-breasted merganser, 20 points
each; all other species and sexes of ducks, 35 points each. The
possession limit under the point system would be the maximum number of
birds that legally could be taken in 2 days.
The Lower-Region Regulations Committee of the Mississippi Flyway
Council recommended a point-system bag-limit option that would provide,
for several species, 1 more bird in the daily bag limit than the
conventional bag limit.
The Upper-Region and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the
Mississippi Flyway Council requested that the Service review its
current point-system bag-limit policy. They feel that at least 1 more
bird should be allowed in the point system than in the conventional bag
limit.
The Upper-Region and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the
Mississippi Flyway Council recommended that the overall duck bag limit
be increased from 3 to 4, that the number of male mallards allowed be
increased from 2 to 3, and that 1 canvasback be allowed daily. The
Lower-Region Regulations Committee also recommended a restriction of 3
mottled ducks in the 4-bird daily limit. Other species/sex restrictions
would be the same as last year.
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended that the Service: (1) review
its current point-system policy, (2) work with both Pacific and Central
Flyway Technical Committees to interpret available data, and (3)
consider all available new information and evaluate the point system
against other bag-limit systems. The Council also recommended a daily
bag limit of 5 ducks, including no more than 4 mallards (only 1 of
which may be a hen), 2 pintails (only 1 of which may be a hen), 2
redheads, and 1 canvasback.
Public-Hearing Comments: Mr. K. L. Cool stated that he could not
support the elimination of the point system because of its success in
directing harvest pressure toward abundant species and away from
species and sexes of concern. Dr. Gary Wills argued that an increase in
the pintail bag limit was biologically sound and would not greatly
increase harvest pressure from its current low level.
Written Comments: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
supported the Mississippi Flyway Council's Upper-Region Regulations
Committee recommendation for a daily bag limit of 4 ducks.
An individual from California requested that the Service consider
increasing the total-duck daily bag limit to 5, the mallard limit to 5,
and the pintail limit to 2 in the Pacific Flyway.
The Nebraska Low Plains Waterfowlers' Association urged the Service
to allow a daily bag limit of 3 mallards in the Low Plains portion of
the Central Flyway.
An individual from California requested that the duck daily bag
limit be increased to 6, with a daily bag limit of 1 or 2 for mallards,
or no mallards at all as an acceptable alternative. He also requested
increasing the daily bag limit of pintails to 2.
Dr. Robert McLandress presented historical information on
regulations and harvests of pintails and believed that an increase in
the pintail daily bag limit to at least 3 birds was warranted and would
provide much-needed encouragement for hunters and habitat management in
California. He believed bag-limit restrictions for mallards in
California were inappropriate given evidence of a preponderance of
California-produced mallards in the harvest, consistently high nesting
success and good brood survival. He believed the breeding population
decline in California in 1994 was caused by the elimination of set-
aside rice lands, favored by nesting mallards; however, there were
significant increases elsewhere in the State. In addition to increased
limits of mallards and pintails, he recommended an addition of 1 duck
to the daily bag limit and 8 additional days.
Senator Lauch Faircloth of North Carolina commented that in light
of the favorable data this year on duck populations, the Service should
raise the limit to promote reasonable hunting privileges.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation requested that the
Service work with the Flyway Councils to cooperatively review its
policy on the use of the point system for determining daily bag limits
for ducks. It was pointed out that the Central Flyway Council believes
that the 1990 point-system review contained misinterpretations and
omissions that should be cooperatively resolved prior to any decision
on the use of this important harvest-management tool. Further, they
stated that the process used for the handling of the updated review of
the point system appeared to be a breach of the cooperative spirit and
partnership approach to migratory bird management programs in the
Central Flyway.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife questioned the objectivity of the
Service's review and analysis of the point system. They stated that
illogical conclusions were drawn from inconsistent reasoning. They also
criticized the Service for failing to work cooperatively with States on
the point-system issue.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department urged the Service and
Flyway Councils to develop a cooperative approach to review the point
system and strengthen Federal/State partnerships.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission expressed concern about the
elimination of the point system without thorough consultation with the
Flyway Councils and asked that it be offered to States as a bag-limit
option.
An individual from Georgia requested that the point system be
revisited to reward knowledgeable hunters and to penalize those hunters
who shoot group limits.
An individual from Wyoming commented on the value of the point
system to protect hen mallards and asked the Service to reconsider the
point system for the 1995 hunting season.
The Humane Society expressed support for abandoning the point
system as a bag-limit option. They cited strong evidence that many
hunters are reordering their bag limits to achieve higher harvests and
many are unable to distinguish ducks by species. As a regulatory tool,
they claim that the point system is highly vulnerable to abuse.
Further, they supported no increase in daily bag limits from the 1993-
94 season.
The California Department of Fish and Game asked that the Service
consider adding a second pintail, of which no more than one could be a
hen, to the daily bag limit in the Pacific Flyway.
The Idaho Fish and Game Department and the Nevada Division of
Wildlife expressed support for California's request to add a second
pintail to the daily bag limit.
Congressmen Calvin Dooley, Vic Fazio, Richard Lehman, Robert
Matsui, and George Miller of California recommended adding a second
pintail (no more than 1 hen) to the daily bag limit of 5 ducks in the
Pacific Flyway.
Several individuals from California asked that the Service support
the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation for a second pintail in the
daily bag limit.
Several individuals from California requested that the daily bag
limit on hen mallards be increased to 2, as many hens are being thrown
away in the field.
An individual from Illinois requested a 4-bird daily bag limit
including 2 drake mallards, allowing no hens, and a 2-scaup bag limit.
Service Response: The Service, with input from the Flyway Councils,
completed a comprehensive review of the point system in 1990, and
established a policy that the point system should be restricted to a
maximum daily bag no greater than that allowed under the conventional
daily bag limit. In 1994, the Flyway Councils asked the Service to
review this policy. The Service's review was completed in July 1994 and
sent to all Flyway Councils. The 1990 review indicated that (1) there
was little evidence that the point system was more effective than the
conventional bag at redirecting harvest (2) major problems remained
with determining appropriate species- and sex-specific point values (3)
species closures eliminated the bird-in-hand identification advantage
of the point system (4) reordering of point values in the field was an
incentive under the point system and enforceability remained a major
concern and (5) most problems with the point system were in application
and not concept.
In the 1994 review, the Service considered additional information
that has been gathered since the 1990 review, and concluded that the
point-system alternative to the conventional bag limit should be
discontinued. Over the years, the Flyway Councils and States have had
substantial opportunity to provide input into the review of scientific
studies and analysis of this information. The completion of the 1990
and 1994 reviews and the decision to discontinue the point system have
considered input from all entities. The Service has worked with the
Flyway Councils on this issue several times in an effort to resolve
differences.
Three of the four Flyway Councils recommended retaining the 1-
pintail limit. Pintail breeding populations have not increased above
levels of the mid-1980s, when major restrictions were first
implemented, and winter population indices for the pintail in the
Pacific Flyway remain at record low levels. While the production
outlook has improved over the last 2 nesting seasons, the Service
believes that, until more evidence of a sustained recovery is
available, additional liberalization of the pintail in the daily bag
limit is not warranted.
F. Zones and Splits
Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council recommended
continuation of the Southern San Joaquin Valley Waterfowl Zone in
California in 1994 and that this zone be made permanent. About 3,500
acres of Tulare Basin wetlands are managed as duck clubs, compared to
about 5,000 acres of managed wetlands in 1971. About 200 additional
acres of wetlands had been flooded for waterfowl and other wetland-
dependent wildlife in response to the creation of the zone. During
1991-93, this zone has allowed for a month delay in the opening date
from the surrounding Balance-of-the-State and Southern California
zones. This delay allows private wetland owners to take advantage of
reduced electric pumping rates which become effective November 1, as
well as reduced evapotranspiration rates which occur as temperatures
decline. This results in an approximate 20 percent reduction in the
cost of flooding. Any reductions in water cost provide an incentive for
the continued flooding of private wetlands. The situation is not
relieved by improvements in rainfall, because although surface water
availability improves somewhat, ground water pumping costs are still
high.
Establishment of the zone has not affected harvest. Estimated
harvest of ducks from Kern, Kings and Tulare Counties constituted
between 3.0 and 5.6 percent of the Statewide harvest in the periods
1961-1990. Since implementation of the zone in 1991, 2.5 percent of the
State duck harvest has occurred in the zone. Pintail harvest in the
zone declined from a high of 4.5 percent of the State harvest to 2.5
percent.
Written Comments: Two local sportsmen's organizations from
Massachusetts requested continuation of zoning for their State.
Two individuals from Texas requested a third zone in Texas between
the Mallard High Plains Management Area and the Eastern Zone, due to
the size of the State.
The Humane Society urges the Service to discontinue all split and
special seasons and recommends that any State establishing such seasons
reduce the total number of hunting days by a minimum of 10 days.
Mr. Boyd Gibbons, Director, California Department of Fish and Game,
provided information on wetland habitat and waterfowl harvests in the
Southern San Joaquin Valley Duck Zone and requested that the temporary
zone be made permanent. Twenty percent of the remaining Tulare Basin
wetlands are managed as private clubs, with most relying on costly,
pumped groundwater. Allowing this zone to set a late, straight season
which typically differs from adjacent zones would allow clubs to flood
later when evaporative rates were lower and pumping costs significantly
reduced. Estimated harvests of pintails and total ducks during 2 years
with the zone (1991-92) were 16 percent less and 5 percent more,
respectively, than during the 2 years prior (1989-90).
An individual from Minnesota expressed support for a straight (non-
split) season due to cold weather onset at the first of November in the
extreme northern portions of the State.
Service Response: The Service acknowledges that the Southern San
Joaquin Valley Zone in California appears to provide economic
incentives for maintaining privately-managed wetlands, especially
during recent years when season lengths have been relatively short. The
Service will allow this zone to continue on a temporary basis for this
year. With longer seasons, such as currently offered as an option to
larger limits, the necessity and advantages for such a zone diminish.
Regarding comments about zoning in Massachusetts and Texas, current
zoning arrangements will continue until 1996, at which time States will
have the opportunity to modify zone configurations in accordance with
Service guidelines previously established. In reference to split
seasons in Minnesota, the State has the option to change from 3-way
splits to continuous seasons or 2-way splits if it wishes to do so.
G. Special Seasons/Species Management
i. Canvasback
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended
that an open season for canvasbacks be allowed with a 1-bird daily bag
limit throughout the length of the 1994 season in the Atlantic Flyway.
The Central Flyway Council recommended that the Service adopt the
alternative canvasback harvest-management strategy developed by State
representatives on the Adaptive Harvest Management Working Group from
all four Flyways.
The Central Flyway Council recommended that an open season for
canvasbacks throughout the regular duck season be allowed for all four
Flyways with a 1-bird daily bag limit beginning in 1994, contingent
upon breeding population and habitat conditions.
The Upper-Region and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the
Mississippi Flyway Council recommended that an open season for
canvasbacks be allowed in the Mississippi Flyway with a 1-bird daily
bag limit throughout the regular duck season.
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended adoption of an interim
canvasback strategy that would allow harvest of that species throughout
the regular duck season in all four Flyways, with a daily bag limit of
1 canvasback (either sex), when the 3-year running average of the
estimated May breeding population is at or above 480,000 birds. No
season should be allowed when the average index is below that level.
Public-Hearing Comments: Mr. Bruce Barbour expressed support for
the Service's proposed canvasback harvest strategy but cautioned that
the Service should consider the use of closures in specific areas where
canvasback concentrate and may be especially vulnerable. Congressman
Steve Gunderson supported the opening of the canvasback season Flyway-
wide with certain restrictions recommended by the Upper-Region
Regulations Committee of the Mississippi Flyway Council.
Written Comments: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources
supported the Service's strategy for canvasback harvest management.
They recommended allowing a canvasback season in 1994 and continuing
the season for at least 3 years.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources opposed the
reestablishment of closed areas for canvasback hunting, preferring
instead that the season be open Flyway-wide.
The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife recommended
that 1 canvasback be allowed in the daily bag limit and the New York
Department of Environmental Conservation supported the canvasback daily
bag limit of 1 bird throughout the duck season.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources commented that if
canvasback numbers were a concern, they would not oppose removing
canvasbacks from the daily bag limit.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the Florida Game and Fresh
Water Fish Commission supported the opening of canvasback season.
The National Wildlife Federation agreed with the Service proposal
to open the canvasback season nationwide and restrict the daily bag
limit to 1 bird.
The Sportsmen Conservationists of Texas supported the allowance of
1 canvasback per day in the daily bag limit.
An individual from Wisconsin opposed the opening of a season for
canvasbacks, stating that the population is still rebuilding. If,
however, the season were to be opened, options considered should be 1)
a drake-only season, 2) issuance of 1 to 2 tags per hunter, and 3) only
a 1 to 2-week season.
Several individuals from Wisconsin and Minnesota disagreed with the
proposal to open the canvasback season and allow 1 canvasback in the
daily bag limit.
An individual from Minnesota supported the addition of a canvasback
in the daily bag limit.
Service Response: The Service concurs with recommendations to open
the hunting season on canvasbacks during the 1994-95 season. Based on
current population levels, expected production, and projected harvest
estimates, the Service believes that a season in all Flyways with a 1-
bird daily bag limit is warranted. Area closures designed to protect
key migrational and wintering concentrations from heavy harvest
pressure and to reduce enforcement problems are not being considered at
this time, but, some States may opt to close local areas that are
problematic. The Service is aware of the high harvest potential for
this species and will closely monitor this season's canvasback harvest
and the population status next spring. As an interim strategy, the
Service will annually assess several population parameters to manage
future harvests of canvasbacks.
3. Mergansers
Council Recommendations: The Central Flyway Council recommended
point-value changes under the point-system bag-limit option that
involve mergansers. See item 1. Ducks, E. Bag Limits.
Service Response: No point-system option is provided in the 1994-95
frameworks. See item 1. Ducks, E. Bag Limits.
4. Canada Geese
A. Special Seasons
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended
that the Service amend the criteria for late special Canada goose
seasons to require a 2-year data-collection period for proposal
submission. They also recommended a 3-year late experimental season in
northeastern New Jersey for 1995-97. The Council also requested that
the late special Canada goose season in Long Island, New York, be
discontinued.
Written Comments: The South Carolina Department of Natural
Resources requested that the frameworks for their resident Canada goose
season be expanded to 8 days, occurring between December 1 and February
15.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources asked that the
Criteria for Special Canada Goose Seasons be modified to allow harvest
of both resident and migrant birds in metropolitan areas where their
occurrence causes problems and should be discouraged. Further, they
believe it is unreasonable and an unnecessary burden to require the
experimental period to continue for 3 more years in order to evaluate
the impacts of adding 2 hunting days beyond September 10.
Service Response: The Service concurs with the expanded season
frameworks on resident geese in South Carolina, the addition of an
experimental season in New Jersey, and discontinuing the season in Long
Island. The Service asks that evaluations of these seasons continue in
accordance with the criteria that have been established. These criteria
are subject to periodic review and may be modified upon agreement and
consensus of the Service and Flyway Councils. The Service will request
input from the other Flyways regarding expanding from 1 to 2 years the
data-collection period required prior to proposal submission for a late
special season. The Service requests that Minnesota provide a
biological rational for their contention that migrant geese harvested
in metropolitan areas during special goose season not be subject to the
special Canada goose season criteria. The Service also notes that
Minnesota has the option of not extending their special season 2 days
and thus avoiding further evaluation if, in their judgement, such an
extension does not warrant the additional evaluation costs.
B. Regular Seasons
Council Recommendations: The Central Flyway Council recommended
that the dark goose hunting regulations in the east-tier States
(Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas
[Eastern Goose Zone]) be 86 days with a bag limit of 2 in North Dakota
and 2 with no more than 1 white-fronted goose in Kansas, Nebraska,
Oklahoma, South Dakota and the eastern goose zone of Texas. The white-
fronted goose season in Texas should not exceed 72 days, and during the
remaining 14 days of the season, the bag limit will be no more than 2
Canada geese.
The Upper-Region and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the
Mississippi Flyway Council recommended several changes in Canada goose
quotas, season lengths, etc., based on population status and population
management plans and programs. The Upper-Region Regulations Committee
also recommended that the Service allow seasons for geese to be split
into 3 segments.
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended allowing cackling Canada
geese to be taken outside their normal range in California, Oregon, and
Washington as part of the prevailing limit on Canada geese. Within
their normal range, the Council recommended that the bag limit include
not more than 1 cackling Canada goose. The 1-cackler limit would apply
to the Southwestern Washington Goose Quota Area, all of Oregon, and a
majority of California where the season would be concurrent with the
restricted white-fronted goose season.
The Pacific Flyway Council also recommended that for Oregon, the
Malheur County Zone be incorporated into a Harney, Klamath, Lake, and
Malheur Counties Zone, thereby allowing the season on dark geese to end
on the Saturday nearest January 20 instead of the first Sunday in
January. The dark goose limit would be increased from 3 to 4, including
not more than 2 whitefronts. The adjacent Southwestern Zone in Idaho
would be permitted frameworks similar to those recommended for Malheur
County.
The Pacific Flyway Council sought a limited resumption of cackling
Canada goose hunting throughout the population's range and recommended
that the Service provide an expedited Section 7 Consultation review of
their recommended changes in cackling Canada goose regulations for
possible impacts on Aleutian Canada geese.
Public-Hearing Comments: Congressman Steve Gunderson of Wisconsin
endorsed a procedure recommended by the Mississippi Flyway Council to
manage Canada goose harvest in the Mississippi River Subzone in
southwest Wisconsin.
Written Comments: The Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife
requested that the Service review the Federal frameworks for hunting
Canada geese on the DelMarva Peninsula. They believe that the existing
frameworks are more liberal than can be justified based on the size of
the population. They maintained that high harvest rates on adult birds
are suppressing the population and preventing a recovery. During the
1993-94 hunting season, Delaware voluntarily restricted their seasons,
but because these Canada goose populations move about the Peninsula,
they believe that harvest pressure should be reviewed in parts of
Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia and appropriate action taken to reduce
harvest and protect these migrant Canada geese.
Congressman Steve Gunderson (Wisconsin) requested that the
Mississippi River Subzone in Wisconsin be declared a giant Canada goose
harvest area and removed from Canada goose harvest-quota considerations
for the State.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources requested a change in
the boundary of their West-Central Goose Zone, as required by State
legislation. They indicated that they had requested endorsement of the
proposed change by the Upper-Region Regulations Committee of the
Mississippi Flyway Council; however, the Committee did not endorse it.
An individual from Wisconsin commented that Wisconsin's goose
harvest quota should be more than the allotted 60,000 geese since the
Mississippi Valley Population has increased from 1993.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Sportsmen
Conservationists of Texas, and the Wetland Habitat Alliance of Texas
expressed their support for the Service's proposal to extend the
framework for dark geese to 86 days with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
Service Response: The Service generally concurs with
recommendations from the Flyway Councils for the 1994-95 frameworks.
However, the Service does not endorse 3-way splits for Canada goose
seasons at this time. The use of 3-way splits as a harvest-management
tool may have merit, but a more detailed proposal, including plans for
a Flyway-wide evaluation and projections of potential impacts, should
be prepared prior to implementing such a change. The Service is willing
to work with the Mississippi Flyway Council to investigate the
desirability of this option during the coming year.
Regarding the Mississippi River Subzone in southwest Wisconsin, the
Service concurs with the Mississippi Flyway Council recommendation to
assign a reasonable portion of the State's Canada goose quota to the
Subzone and remove the monitoring requirement.
In reference to season frameworks for the Delmarva Peninsula, the
Service believes that a departure from the Flyway Council's recommended
3-year harvest strategy is not warranted at this time, since this is
the third year of that period. The Service suggests that Delaware work
with other concerned Flyway States during the coming year to develop
appropriate harvest strategies for this important wintering area of the
Atlantic Flyway Population of Canada geese.
Regarding the recommendation by Minnesota for a boundary change in
the West-Central Goose Zone, the Service believes that such changes
should be made in cooperation with other Flyway States involved in the
management of the Eastern Prairie Canada Goose Population. Since the
Upper-Region Regulations Committee of the Mississippi Flyway Council
did not endorse the Minnesota proposal, the Service does not concur
with the recommended change.
Concerning Canada goose harvest quotas in Wisconsin,
recommendations for the annual allocation of allowable harvests among
harvest areas are developed cooperatively by Flyway States involved in
the management of the various Canada goose populations. The Service
endorses this procedure, and notes that the Wisconsin quota provided in
the following frameworks is larger than 60,000.
5. White-fronted Geese
Council Recommendations: The Central Flyway Council recommendations
regarding dark geese involve white-fronted geese. See item 4. Canada
Geese.
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended that: for Washington, the
special bag-limit restriction on white-fronted geese be removed,
allowing them to be included in the overall 4-dark-goose limit; for
Oregon, the season on white-fronted geese would open at the same time
as the dark-goose season, approximately 1 week earlier than currently
allowed; and for California, the white-fronted goose season would be
extended by 2 weeks within the Sacramento Valley special goose-closure
portion of the ``Balance-of-the-State'' Zone.
Public-Hearing Comments: Dr. Gary Will recommended allowing modest
liberalization of the take of white-fronted geese in California,
Oregon, and Washington, which would still allow a 5-10 percent increase
in annual growth. He indicated that the population would likely be at
the objective level this fall and that the Service's request for a
long-term harvest strategy would be completed.
Written Comments: The Association of Village Council Presidents,
representing Native American interests in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta
area of Alaska, supported modest liberalizations of white-fronted goose
seasons in Alaska and Washington. However, they did not support further
liberalizations in Oregon or California, noting that liberalizations
occurred during each of the preceding years and that it was difficult
to measure the effects of these incremental changes.
Service Response: The Service concurs with the Flyway Council
recommendations for season frameworks, except the changes recommended
by the Pacific Flyway Council for Washington, Oregon, and California.
Although the Flyway's population of white-fronted geese is increasing,
it remains below the management objective endorsed by the Council. The
Flyway harvest strategy for this population of geese has not been
completed, and some members of the Native American Community in Alaska
have not endorsed portions of this recommendation. Further, changes in
white-fronted seasons made last year have not yet been fully evaluated.
For these reasons, the Service believes the recommended changes are not
warranted at this time.
6. Brant
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended a
2-bird daily bag limit and a 50-day season length for brant.
The Central Flyway Council recommendations regarding dark geese
involve brant. See item 4. Canada Geese.
The Upper-Region Regulations Committee of the Mississippi Flyway
Council recommended that the daily bag limit for brant be reduced to 2
birds to better conform with limits in other Flyways.
Written Comments: The New York Department of Environmental
Conservation supported the increase in season length to 50 days in the
Atlantic Flyway.
Service Response: The Service concurs with the recommendations
regarding Brant seasons.
7. Snow and Ross' (Light) Geese
Council Recommendations: The Central Flyway Council recommended
that the framework dates for light geese be from the Saturday nearest
October 1 (October 1, 1994) through the Sunday nearest February 15
(February 12, 1995), except in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma,
and Kansas where the closing framework date would be extended to
February 28, 1995. The Council also recommended that the State of
Kansas be allowed to modify its boundary for Zone 1 (light goose) to
include that portion of Kansas east of the Kansas Highway 99, and Zone
2 include the remainder of the State west of Highway 99.
The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended that the season length
for light geese be increased from 80 to 107 days.
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended a season framework
adjustment to extend the light-goose closing date for Malheur County of
Oregon and southwest Idaho from the first Sunday in January to the
Sunday nearest January 20. Malheur County would become part of a
Harney, Klamath, Lake, and Malheur Counties Zone. This adjustment
aligns the framework of the affected area with the remainder of the
Flyway.
Written Comments: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department supported
a change in the Federal frameworks that would extend the framework
closing date for light geese until February 28. This change would allow
for increased harvest of the Mid-continent Population of lesser snow
geese which are at record-high levels and, because of these levels, may
be threatening their own breeding habitat.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Sportsmen
Conservationists of Texas, and the Wetland Habitat Alliance of Texas
agreed with the Service's proposal to extend the framework for light
geese to February 28.
Service Response: The Service concurs with the above
recommendations.
8. Tundra swans
Council Recommendations: The Central Flyway Council recommended
that the experimental tundra swan season in North Dakota be granted an
additional year of experimental status with a final report due on June
1, 1995.
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended that the number of permits
in Utah authorizing the take of 1 tundra swan per season be increased
from 2,500 to 2,800 to compensate for lost hunting opportunity from a
State-imposed early season closure. As an informational item, the
Council recommended that Montana, Nevada, and Utah implement a
monitoring program to assess the number of trumpeter swans, if any,
taken accidentally during the tundra swan season. The Council also
recommended that Utah be more restrictive than the Federal frameworks
by ending its season on or before December 15 and closing the Green
River Area to swan hunting. The 3-year-average midwinter population
index of 79,406 tundra swans is well above the Flyway objective level
of 38,000. Proposed frameworks will result in harvest levels within
those prescribed in the 1989 Tundra Swan Hunt Plan endorsed by the
Pacific Flyway Council. The changes are premised on the implementation
of the State-Federal cooperative program for hazing trumpeter swans
from winter concentration areas near Harriman State Park in Idaho to
more favorable sites.
Public-Hearing Comments: Dr. Gary Will reemphasized the Council's
support for restrictions on tundra swan hunting in portions of the
Pacific Flyway to minimize the accidental take of trumpeter swans and
encouraged the Service to continue to cooperate with the Council and
participating States in the management of the Rocky Mountain Population
(RMP) of trumpeter swans. He recommended that a reasonable harvest of
tundra swans be continued while also accommodating the range expansion
of trumpeter swans to resolve winter bottleneck problems in
southeastern Idaho.
Written Comments: Mr. D. C. Carlton, representing the Biodiversity
Legal Foundation (Foundation), commented on the management of the RMP
of trumpeter swans. He detailed the status and perceived threats to
these swans, reviewed past and current management actions, and
concluded that leadership, actions, and funding by the Service are
inadequate to assure the population's recovery and believes they
warrant listing under the Endangered Species Act. Among many
recommendations directed at improving the effectiveness of range-
expansion efforts directed at benefiting these swans, those germane to
hunting regulations included: (1) not allowing either a permitted or
incidental take of trumpeter swans during a tundra swan season, (2)
having no open seasons for hunting tundra swans in the most critical
trumpeter swan range-expansion areas, including all of Utah and Nevada,
(3) modifying hunting regulations on National Wildlife Refuges in
Montana, Utah, and Nevada to provide sanctuary for resting,
reproduction, and rearing of cygnets, and (4) ending waterfowl hunting
after October 20 at two sites on the Snake River in Idaho, at a site on
the Green River, including Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge in
Wyoming, and in unspecified areas within the Tristate Yellowstone
region.
Ms. Heidi Prescott, on behalf of The Fund for Animals, Inc.,
highlighted recent survey reports, reviewed portions of the Pacific
Flyway Council's management plan and a report by Ms. Ruth Shea, a
Service employee, and presented the group's views regarding management
action pertaining to RMP trumpeter swans. The Fund for Animals, Inc.,
concurred with the recommendations of the Foundation pertaining to
migratory game bird hunting contained in the aforementioned letter from
Mr. D. C. Carlton of the Foundation.
Mr. D. J. Schubert, also on behalf of the Fund for Animals, Inc.,
reiterated certain concerns and needed actions deemed necessary for
successful range expansion of RMP trumpeter swans. He believed that a
mandatory check of swans taken by hunters in Utah and Nevada is
necessary to measure the level of accidental take. While the purposeful
hazing of trumpeter swans to more favorable winter sites has merit, it
put more trumpeter swans at risk in tundra swan hunt areas; and he
therefore recommended a new management strategy. The Fund for Animals
believes there are two possible management strategy changes that would
minimize excessive killing of trumpeter swans and still be consistent
with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act: (1) prohibit hunting of tundra
swans in Utah and Nevada; or, although less preferred, (2) prohibit
hunting in certain critical areas in Utah. Under both options, security
areas should be established in Idaho, and recreational activities such
as waterfowl hunting and boating should be evaluated for possible
negative impacts on trumpeter swan behavior and habitat use. Should
intensive hazing be pursued to disperse birds to more favorable
wintering sites, and if law enforcement policy is to be changed to
facilitate the collection of information on the accidental take of
trumpeter swans during the tundra swan season, the Fund for Animals
recommended that: (1) both Idaho and Wyoming Game and Fish Departments
provide sanctuaries in designated areas; (2) the Utah Division of
Wildlife Resources, at the maximum, not allow swan hunting or, at the
minimum, not allow swan hunting in Box Elder, Cache, and Rich Counties;
(3) the Nevada Division of Wildlife close Stillwater Wildlife
Management Area to swan hunting; (4) the Service close all National
Wildlife Refuges in Utah and Nevada to the hunting of tundra swans; and
(5) should the aforenamed States not exercise the recommended action,
the Service should do so. Additionally, all States should enhance their
hunter-education programs to emphasize proper identification of swans
and waterfowl to minimize the accidental take of trumpeter swans as a
result of other hunting seasons.
Mr. D. J. Schubert, in comments representing both The Fund for
Animals, Inc., and the Foundation, reiterated and elaborated upon
previous recommendations from those two organizations for curtailing
tundra swan hunting and waterfowl hunting to enhance RMP trumpeter swan
winter-range expansion (see above and 59 FR 43691-43692) and made
specific comments on the proposed frameworks. At a minimum, Mr.
Schubert recommends prohibiting tundra swan hunting and restricting
waterfowl hunting on all Federal lands in south-central Montana,
southern Idaho, western Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada. He believes that the
Service is negligent in not using to the fullest extent various
management provisions afforded and mandated by the Migratory Bird
Treaty Act of 1918, the National Wildlife Refuge Administration Act,
and the Refuge Recreation Act to protect RMP trumpeter swans. He
described the historic RMP trumpeter swan populations, probable causes
for their current restricted winter distribution, and past and current
management efforts aimed at restoring the population; he offered
management solutions to restore the population; and he argued in
support of a petition for listing the RMP trumpeter as a threatened
species which had been dismissed by the Service. He insists that the
Service is obligated by law to restore the trumpeter swan to its native
range. He contends that the Service is operating under an unpublished
policy of nonenforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act with respect
to tundra swan hunters who might accidentally shoot a trumpeter swan.
He recanted his previous recommendation for measuring the level of
accidental take, by saying that there was sufficient information to
know that it occurred.
Mr. Michael Roy, on behalf of the National Wildlife Federation,
expressed concern about the successful continuation of the RMP
trumpeter swan range-expansion program, in part because of a perceived
ineffective and confusing management structure that is not adequately
represented by all interested parties, and in part by accidental take
of trumpeter swans during tundra swan seasons in Utah. He believes
certain recommendations provided by Ms. Ruth Shea, a Service employee,
were reasoned and practical and, if implemented, would enhance range-
expansion efforts. Premised on Ms. Shea's recommendations, he
recommended that tundra swan hunting in Utah be discontinued from the
southern boundary of the Bear River National Wildlife Refuge north and
east to the Idaho and Wyoming borders for an initial 5-year period.
This closure would be intended to minimize the accidental take of
trumpeter swans during translocation activities and, hopefully, tundra
swan hunting could be reinstated afterwards.
Ms. Louisa Willcox, representing the Greater Yellowstone Coalition,
raised questions regarding the Service's role in managing RMP trumpeter
swans and funding efforts to increase their numbers and expand their
distribution. She asked how the Service will monitor the accidental
take of trumpeter swans during tundra swan hunting seasons in Montana,
Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah and what measures will be
taken to minimize the potential losses. She also asked why the Service
has not sought establishment of trumpeter swan wintering sites outside
the Montana-Idaho-Wyoming region. She requested that the Service
develop a long-term strategy to prevent wintering waterfowl, including
trumpeter swans, from damaging vegetation and fish habitat at Harriman
State Park in Idaho.
The Humane Society recommended that all tundra swan seasons be
closed.
Service Response: The Service concurs with the recommendation to
extend the experimental tundra swan season in North Dakota one
additional year, with a final report due by June 1, 1995.
In conjunction with a larger Federal-State-Flyway effort to enhance
and monitor both winter and summer distribution of RMP trumpeter swans,
the Service believes that modification of tundra swan hunting seasons
in the Pacific Flyway portion of Montana, in Utah, and in Nevada is
warranted to minimize the accidental killing of trumpeter swans by
tundra swan hunters. Accordingly, final frameworks require: (1) States
to collect and report information on the accidental take of trumpeter
swans in conjunction with tundra swan seasons, and (2) in Utah, the
season must end on or before December 15 and four counties would be
closed to swan hunting. The Pacific Flyway Council's request for
additional permits to compensate for lost hunting opportunities in Utah
is not without merit from the standpoint of tundra swan management;
however, the Service denied the Council's request and believes a
conservative approach is warranted because of the possibility of
trumpeter swans moving into the general hunting area. Further, there
has been no change in either policy or law regarding enforcement of
migratory game bird hunting regulations as they apply to the illegal
take of trumpeter swans. Monitoring of the winter distribution of
trumpeter swans will provide the Service with additional opportunities
to further modify hunt programs if warranted.
Trumpeter swans are expected to number about 17,000-20,000
individuals during the next range-wide survey scheduled for 1995 and
have been increasing at about 6 percent per year during 1968-90 (1990
was the last year in which a range-wide survey was conducted).
Populations such as the RMP warrant additional attention, which the
Service continues to give with considerable assistance from State and
other Federal agencies and moral, if not financial, support from
several non-governmental organizations.
Regarding closure of all tundra swan seasons, the Service believes
that the status of tundra swan populations does not warrant such
closures.
23. Other
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended
that the Service provide compensatory days for State-imposed Sunday-
hunting prohibitions.
Written Comments: Two local sportsmen's organizations from
Massachusetts suggested compensatory days for those days lost due to
State-imposed Sunday-hunting prohibitions.
The Humane Society supported the closure of hunting on Sundays.
Service Response: The Service is not aware of any biological basis
for prohibiting hunting on Sundays and therefore neither promotes nor
condones prohibition of Sunday hunting. Sunday-hunting closures are
established by State or local law. The Service has stated previously in
the September 24, 1993, Federal Register (58 FR 50188) that it believes
this problem is an individual State issue and can best be resolved by
each State removing its self-imposed restrictions.
NEPA Consideration
NEPA considerations are covered by the programmatic document,
``Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement: Issuance of Annual
Regulations Permitting the Sport Hunting of Migratory Birds (FSES 88-
14),'' filed with EPA on June 9, 1988. Notice of Availability was
published in the Federal Register on June 16, 1988 (53 FR 22582). The
Service's Record of Decision was published on August 18, 1988 (53 FR
31341). However, this programmatic document does not prescribe year-
specific regulations; those are developed annually. The annual
regulations and options are being considered in the Environmental
Assessment, ``Waterfowl Hunting Regulations for 1994,'' which is
available upon request.
Endangered Species Act Consideration
In August 1994, the Division of Endangered Species concluded that
the proposed action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence
of listed species or result in the destruction or adverse modification
of their critical habitats. Hunting regulations are designed, among
other things, to remove or alleviate chances of conflict between
seasons for migratory game birds and the protection and conservation of
endangered and threatened species and their habitats. The Service's
biological opinions resulting from its consultation under Section 7 are
considered public documents and are available for inspection in the
Division of Endangered Species and the Office of Migratory Bird
Management.
Regulatory Flexibility Act; Executive Order 12866; and the
Paperwork Reduction Act
In the Federal Register dated April 7, 1994 (59 FR 16762), the
Service reported measures it had undertaken to comply with requirements
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act and the Executive Order. These
included preparing an Analysis of Regulatory Effects and an updated
Final Regulatory Impact Analysis, under the Regulatory Flexibility Act
(5 U.S.C. 601 et seq), and publication of a summary of the latter. This
information is included in the present document by reference. This
action was not subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget
under E.O. 12866. This rule does not contain any information collection
requiring approval by the Office of Management and Budget under 44
U.S.C. 3504.
Authorship
The primary author of this proposed rule is Robert J. Blohm, Office
of Migratory Bird Management.
Regulations Promulgation
The rulemaking process for migratory game bird hunting must, by its
nature, operate under severe time constraints. However, the Service
intends that the public be given the greatest possible opportunity to
comment on the regulations. Thus, when the preliminary proposed
rulemaking was published, the Service established what it believed were
the longest periods possible for public comment. In doing this, the
Service recognized that when the comment period closed, time would be
of the essence. That is, if there were a delay in the effective date of
these regulations after this final rulemaking, the States would have
insufficient time to select season dates and limits; to communicate
those selections to the Service; and to establish and publicize the
necessary regulations and procedures to implement their decisions.
Therefore, the Service, under authority of the Migratory Bird
Treaty Act (July 3, 1918), as amended, (16 U.S.C. 703-711), prescribes
final frameworks setting forth the species to be hunted, the daily bag
and possession limits, the shooting hours, the season lengths, the
earliest opening and latest closing season dates, and hunting areas,
from which State conservation agency officials may select hunting
season dates and other options. Upon receipt of season and option
selections from these officials, the Service will publish in the
Federal Register a final rulemaking amending 50 CFR part 20 to reflect
seasons, limits, and shooting hours for the conterminous United States
for the 1994-95 season.
The Service therefore finds that ``good cause'' exists, within the
terms of 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) of the Administrative Procedure Act, and
these frameworks will, therefore, take effect immediately upon
publication.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 20
Exports, Hunting, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Transportation, Wildlife.
The rules that eventually will be promulgated for the 1994-95
hunting season are authorized under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (July
3, 1918), as amended, (16 U.S.C. 703-711); the Fish and Wildlife
Improvement Act of 1978 (November 8, 1978), as amended, (16 U.S.C.
712); and the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (August 8, 1956), as
amended, (16 U.S.C. 742 a--d and e--j).
Dated: September 22, 1994.
Robert P. Davison,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
Final Regulations Frameworks for 1994-95 Late Hunting Seasons on
Certain Migratory Game Birds
Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and delegated
authorities, the Director has approved frameworks for season lengths,
shooting hours, bag and possession limits, and outside dates within
which States may select seasons for hunting waterfowl and coots between
the dates of September 1, 1994, and March 10, 1995.
General
Dates: All outside dates noted below are inclusive.
Shooting and Hawking (taking by falconry) Hours: Unless otherwise
specified, from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset daily.
Possession Limits: Unless otherwise specified, possession limits
are twice the daily bag limit.
Definitions: For the purpose of hunting regulations listed below,
the collective terms ``dark'' and ``light'' geese include the following
species:
Dark geese - Canada geese, white-fronted geese, and brant.
Light geese - lesser snow (including blue) geese, greater snow
geese, and Ross' geese.
Area, Zone, and Unit Descriptions: Geographic descriptions are
contained in a later portion of this document.
Area-Specific Provisions: Frameworks for open seasons, season
lengths, bag and possession limits, and other special provisions are
listed below by flyway.
Atlantic Flyway
The 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.
Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots
Outside Dates: Between October 1 and January 20.
Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: Either (a) 30 days and daily bag
limit of 4 ducks, including no more than 3 mallards (no more than 1 of
which may be a female), 2 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 1 canvasback, 1 black
duck, 1 mottled duck, 1 pintail, and 1 fulvous whistling duck or (b) 40
days and daily bag limit of 3 ducks, and the other restrictions shown
above.
Closures: The season on harlequin ducks is closed.
Sea Ducks: In all areas outside of special sea duck areas, sea
ducks are included in the regular duck daily bag and possession limits.
However, during the regular duck season within the special sea duck
areas, the sea duck daily bag and possession limits may be in addition
to the regular duck daily bag and possession limits.
Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit of mergansers is 5, only 1 of
which may be a hooded merganser.
Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
Lake Champlain Zone, New York: The waterfowl seasons, limits, and
shooting hours shall be the same as those selected for the Lake
Champlain Zone of Vermont.
Zoning and Split Seasons: Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Rhode
Island, and Virginia may split their seasons into three segments;
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Vermont, and West Virginia may select hunting seasons by
zones and may split their seasons into two segments in each zone; while
Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina may split their Statewide seasons
into two segments.
Canada Geese
Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: Unless specified
otherwise, seasons may be split into two segments. Seasons in States,
and in independently described goose management units within States,
may be as follows:
Connecticut: 70 days between October 1 and January 31, with 1 goose
per day through October 15; 2 geese per day through December 31; and 3
geese per day thereafter; 1 goose per day for the first 8 days after
the opening. In addition, a special experimental season may be held in
the South Zone between January 15 and February 15, with 5 geese per
day.
Delaware: 60 days between November 16 and January 20, with 1 goose
per day for the first 20 days; 2 geese per day thereafter.
Florida: Closed season.
Georgia: In specific areas, an 8-day experimental season may be
held between November 15 and February 5, with a limit of 5 Canada geese
per day.
Maine: 70 days between October 1 and January 31, with 1 goose per
day through October 15; 2 geese per day through December 31; and 3
geese per day thereafter; 1 goose per day for the first 8 days after
the opening.
Maryland: 60 days between November 16 and January 20, with 1 goose
per day for the first 20 days and 2 geese per day thereafter.
Massachusetts: 70 days between October 1 and January 31, with 1
goose per day through October 15; 2 geese per day through December 31;
and 3 geese per day thereafter; 1 goose per day for the first 8 days
after the opening. In addition, a special 16-day season for resident
Canada geese may be held in the Coastal and Central Zones during
January 21 to February 5, with 5 geese per day.
New Hampshire: 70 days between October 1 and January 31, with 1
goose per day through October 15; 2 geese per day through December 31;
and 3 geese per day thereafter; 1 goose per day for the first 8 days
after the opening.
New Jersey: 70 days between October 15 and January 31, with 1 goose
per day through November 15; 2 geese per day through December 31; 3
geese per day thereafter; 1 goose per day for the first 8 days after
the opening; no more than 15 days before November 16. In addition, an
experimental special season may be held in a designated area of
Northeastern New Jersey from January 28 to February 11, 1995, with 5
geese per day.
New York:
Northeastern Zone - 70 days between October 1 and January 31, with
1 goose per day through October 15; 2 geese per day through December
31; and 3 geese per day thereafter; 1 goose per day for the first 8
days after the opening.
Remainder of State - 70 days between October 15 and January 31,
with 1 goose per day through November 15; 2 geese per day through
December 31; 3 geese per day thereafter; 1 goose per day for the first
8 days after the opening; no more than 15 days before November 16.
North Carolina:
East Zone - Suspended.
West Zone - Suspended.
Pennsylvania:
South Zone - 70 days between October 15 and January 31, with 1
goose per day through November 15; 2 geese per day through December 31;
3 geese per day thereafter; 1 goose per day for the first 8 days after
the opening; no more than 15 days before November 16. In addition, an
experimental season may be held in the Susquehanna/Juniata Zones from
January 20 to February 5 with 5 geese per day.
Erie, Mercer, and Butler Counties - 70 days between October 1 and
January 31, with 1 goose per day through October 15; 2 geese per day
thereafter; 1 goose per day for the first 8 days after the opening.
Crawford County - 35 days between October 1 and January 20; with 1
goose per day.
Remainder of State - 70 days between October 1 and January 31, with
1 goose per day through October 15; 2 geese per day through December
31; and 3 geese per day thereafter; 1 goose per day for the first 8
days after the opening.
Rhode Island: 70 days between October 1 and January 31, with 1
goose per day through October 15; 2 geese per day through December 31;
and 3 geese per day thereafter; 1 goose per day for the first 8 days
after the opening.
South Carolina: Suspended regular season. An 8-day special season
may be held in the Central Piedmont, Western Piedmont, and Mountain
Hunt Units during December 1 to February 15, with a daily bag limit of
5 Canada geese per day.
Vermont: 70 days between October 1 and January 31, with 1 goose per
day through October 15; 2 geese per day through December 31; and 3
geese per day thereafter; 1 goose per day for the first 8 days after
the opening.
Virginia:
Back Bay - Suspended.
Remainder - 60 days between November 16 and January 20, with 1
goose per day for the first 20 days; 2 geese per day thereafter.
West Virginia: 70 days between October 1 and January 20, with 3
geese per day.
Light Geese
Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: States may select a 107-
day season between October 1 and February 10, with 5 geese per day.
States may split their seasons into two segments.
Brant
Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: States may select a 50-
day season between October 1 and January 20, with 2 brant per day.
Mississippi Flyway
The Mississippi Flyway includes Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi,
Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots
Outside Dates: Between October 1 and January 20.
Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: Either (a) 30 days and daily bag
limit of 4 ducks, including no more than 3 mallards (no more than 1 of
which may be a female), 3 mottled ducks, 1 black duck, 1 pintail, 2
wood ducks, 1 canvasback, and 1 redhead or (b) 40 days and daily bag
limit of 3 ducks, including no more than 2 mallards (no more than 1 of
which may be a female), and the other restrictions shown above.
Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit is 5, only 1 of which may be
a hooded merganser.
Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
Zoning and Split Seasons: Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin
may select hunting seasons by zones.
In Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio,
Tennessee, and Wisconsin, the season may be split into two segments in
each zone.
In Mississippi, the season may be split into two segments.
In Arkansas and Minnesota, the season may be split into three
segments.
Pymatuning Reservoir Area, Ohio: The seasons, limits, and shooting
hours shall be the same as those selected in the adjacent portion of
Pennsylvania (Northwest Zone).
Geese
Split Seasons: Seasons for geese may be split into two segments.
Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: States may select
seasons for geese not to exceed 70 days for dark geese between the
Saturday nearest October 1 (October 1) and January 31, and 107 days for
light geese between the Saturday nearest October 1 (October 1), and
February 14. The daily bag limit is 7 geese, to include no more than 2
Canada geese, 2 white-fronted geese, and 2 brant. Specific regulations
for Canada geese and exceptions to the above general provisions are
shown below by State.
Alabama: In the SJBP Goose Zone, the season for Canada geese may
not exceed 35 days. Elsewhere, the season for Canada geese may extend
for 70 days in the respective duck-hunting zones. The daily bag limit
is 2 Canada geese.
Arkansas: The season for Canada geese may extend for 23 days in the
East Zone. In the West Zone, an experimental season for Canada geese of
up to 14 days may be selected. In both zones, the season may extend to
February 15. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese. In the remainder of
the State, the season for Canada geese is closed.
Illinois: The total harvest of Canada geese in the State will be
limited to 109,600 birds.
(a) Southern Illinois Quota Zone - The season for Canada geese will
close after 51 days or when 39,800 birds have been harvested, whichever
occurs first. Limits are 2 Canada geese daily and 10 in possession. All
harvested Canada geese in excess of twice the daily bag limit that are
transported outside the zone must be tagged with tags containing the
name and signature of the hunter and the date and location where the
birds were taken. If any of the following conditions exist after
December 20, the State, after consultation with the Service, will close
the season by emergency order with 48 hours notice:
1. 10 consecutive days of snow cover, 3 inches or more in depth.
2. 10 consecutive days of daily high temperatures less than 20
degrees F.
3. Average body weights of adult female geese less than 3,200
grams as measured from a weekly sample of a minimum of 50 geese.
4. Starvation or a major disease outbreak resulting in observed
mortality exceeding 5,000 birds in 10 days, or a total mortality
exceeding 10,000 birds.
(b) Rend Lake Quota Zone - The season for Canada geese will close
after 51 days or when 11,400 birds have been harvested, whichever
occurs first. Limits are 2 Canada geese daily and 10 in possession. All
harvested Canada geese in excess of twice the daily bag limit that are
transported outside the zone must be tagged with tags containing the
name and signature of the hunter and the date and location where the
birds were taken.
(c) Northern Illinois Quota Zone - The season for Canada geese will
close after 51 days or when 13,000 birds have been harvested, whichever
occurs first. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(d) Central Illinois Quota Zone - The season for Canada geese will
close after 51 days or when 22,400 birds have been harvested, whichever
occurs first. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(e) Remainder of the State - The season for Canada geese may extend
for 51 days in the respective goose zones. The daily bag limit is 2
Canada geese.
Indiana: The total harvest of Canada geese in the State will be
limited to 61,900 birds.
(a) Posey County - The season for Canada geese will close after 53
days or when 4,550 birds have been harvested, whichever occurs first.
The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(b) Remainder of the State - The season for Canada geese may extend
for 70 days in the respective duck-hunting zones, except in the SJBP
Zone, where the season may not exceed 35 days. The daily bag limit is 2
Canada geese.
Iowa: The season may extend for 55 days in the respective duck-
hunting zones and may open no earlier than October 8. The daily bag
limit is 2 Canada geese.
Kentucky:
(a) Western Zone - The season for Canada geese may extend for 53
days (66 days in Fulton County), and the harvest will be limited to
21,900 birds. Of the 21,900-bird quota, 14,300 birds will be allocated
to the Ballard Reporting Area and 4,200 birds will be allocated to the
Henderson/Union Reporting Area. If the quota in either reporting area
is reached prior to completion of the 53-day season, the season in that
reporting area will be closed. If this occurs, the season in those
counties and portions of counties outside of, but associated with, the
respective subzone (listed in State regulations) may continue for an
additional 7 days, not to exceed a total of 53 days (66 days in Fulton
County). The season in Fulton County may extend to February 13. The
daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(b) Pennyroyal/Coalfield Zone - The season may extend for 35 days.
The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(c) Remainder of the State - The season may extend for 50 days. The
daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
Louisiana: Louisiana may hold 107-day seasons for light geese and
70-day seasons for white-fronted geese and brant between the Saturday
nearest October 1 (October 1) and February 14 in the respective duck-
hunting zones. The daily bag limit is 7 geese, to include no more than
2 white-fronted geese and 2 brant, except as noted below. In the
Southwest Zone, a 9-day season for Canada geese may be held. During the
Canada goose season, the daily bag limit for Canada and white-fronted
geese in the Southwest Zone is 2, no more than 1 of which may be a
Canada goose. Hunters participating in the Canada goose season must
possess a special permit issued by the State.
Michigan: The total harvest of Canada geese in the State will be
limited to 63,100 birds.
(a) North Zone - The framework opening date for all geese is
September 24 and the season for Canada geese may extend for 23 days.
The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(b) Middle Zone - The season for Canada geese may extend for 23
days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(c) South Zone
(1) Allegan County GMU - The season for Canada geese will close
after 50 days or when 2,000 birds have been harvested, whichever
occurs first. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(2) Muskegon Wastewater GMU - The season for Canada geese will
close after 53 days or when 400 birds have been harvested, whichever
occurs first. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(3) Saginaw County GMU - The season for Canada geese will close
after 40 days or when 2,000 birds have been harvested, whichever
occurs first. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(4) Tuscola/Huron GMU - The season for Canada geese will close
after 40 days or when 750 birds have been harvested, whichever
occurs first. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(5) Remainder of South Zone - The season for Canada geese may
extend for 30 days. The daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose.
(d) Southern Michigan GMU - An experimental special Canada goose
season may be held between January 7 and February 5. The daily bag
limit is 2 Canada geese.
Minnesota:
(a) West Zone
(1) West Central Zone - The season for Canada geese may extend
for 30 days. In the Lac Qui Parle Zone the season will close after
30 days or when a harvest index of 4,000 birds has been reached,
whichever occurs first. Throughout the West Central Zone, the daily
bag limit is 1 Canada goose.
(2) Remainder of West Zone - The season for Canada geese may
extend for 40 days. The daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose.
(b) Northwest Zone - The season for Canada geese may extend for 40
days. The daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose.
(c) Southeast Zone - The season for Canada geese may extend for 70
days, except in the Twin Cities Metro Zone and Olmsted County, where
the season may not exceed 80 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada
geese.
(d) Remainder of the State - The season for Canada geese may extend
for 50 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(e) Fergus Falls/Alexandria Zone - An experimental special Canada
goose season of up to 10 days may be held in December. During the
special season, the daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
Mississippi: The season for Canada geese may extend for 70 days.
The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
Missouri:
(a) Swan Lake Zone - The season for Canada geese will close after
40 days or when 5,000 birds have been harvested, whichever occurs
first. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(b) Schell-Osage Zone - The season for Canada geese may extend for
40 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(c) Central Zone - The season for Canada geese may extend for 50
days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese. An experimental special
season of up to 10 consecutive days prior to October 15 may be selected
in addition to the regular season. During the special season, the daily
bag limit is 3 Canada geese.
(d) Remainder of the State - The season for Canada geese may extend
for 50 days in the respective duck-hunting zones. The daily bag limit
is 2 Canada geese.
Ohio: The season may extend for 70 days in the respective duck-
hunting zones, with a daily bag limit of 2 Canada geese, except in the
Lake Erie SJBP Zone, where the season may not exceed 30 days and the
daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose. In the Pymatuming Reservoir Area,
the seasons, limits, and shooting hours for all geese shall be the same
as those selected in the adjacent portion of Pennsylvania.
Tennessee:
(a) Northwest Zone - The season for Canada geese will close after
75 days or when 8,100 birds have been harvested, whichever occurs
first. The season may extend to February 15. All geese harvested must
be tagged. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(b) Southwest Zone - The season for Canada geese may extend for 59
days, and the harvest will be limited to 1,000 birds. The daily bag
limit is 2 Canada geese.
(c) Kentucky/Barkley Lakes Zone - The season for Canada geese will
close after 50 days or when 1,800 birds have been harvested, whichever
occurs first. All geese harvested must be tagged. The daily bag limit
is 2 Canada geese.
(d) Remainder of the State - The season for Canada geese may extend
for 70 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
Wisconsin: The total harvest of Canada geese in the State will be
limited to 76,800 birds.
(a) Horicon Zone - The framework opening date for all geese is
September 24. The harvest of Canada geese is limited to 41,000 birds.
The season may not exceed 80 days. All Canada geese harvested must be
tagged. The daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose and the season limit will
be the number of tags issued to each permittee.
(b) Collins Zone - The framework opening date for all geese is
September 24. The harvest of Canada geese is limited to 1,300 birds.
The season may not exceed 61 days. All Canada geese harvested must be
tagged. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese and the season limit will
be the number of tags issued to each permittee.
(c) Exterior Zone - The framework opening date for all geese is
October 1. The harvest of Canada geese is limited to 30,000 birds, with
500 birds allocated to the Mississippi River Subzone. The season may
not exceed 70 days and the daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose. In the
Mississippi River Subzone, the season for Canada geese may extend for
70 days in each duck zone. In that portion of the Exterior Zone outside
the Mississippi River Subzone, the progress of the harvest must be
monitored, and the season closed, if necessary, to ensure that the
harvest does not exceed 29,500 birds.
Additional Limits: In addition to the harvest limits stated for the
respective zones above, an additional 4,500 Canada geese may be taken
in the Horicon Zone under special agricultural permits.
Quota Zone Closures: When it has been determined that the quota of
Canada geese allotted to the Northern Illinois, Central Illinois,
Southern Illinois, and Rend Lake Quota Zones in Illinois, Posey County
in Indiana, the Ballard and Henderson-Union Subzones in Kentucky, the
Allegan County, Muskegon Wastewater, Saginaw County, and Tuscola/Huron
Goose Management Units in Michigan, the Lac Qui Parle Zone in
Minnesota, the Swan Lake Zone in Missouri, and the Northwest and
Kentucky/Barkley Lakes Zones in Tennessee will have been filled, the
season for taking Canada geese in the respective area will be closed by
either the Director upon giving public notice through local information
media at least 48 hours in advance of the time and date of closing, or
by the State through State regulations with such notice and time (not
less than 48 hours) as they deem necessary.
Central Flyway
The 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).
Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots
Outside Dates: October 1 through January 20.
Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits:
(1) High Plains Mallard Management Unit (roughly defined as that
portion of the Central Flyway which lies west of the 100th meridian):
Either (a) 51 days and daily bag limit of 4 ducks, including no more
than 1 of which may be a female mallard, 1 mottled duck, 1 pintail, 1
redhead, 1 canvasback and 2 wood ducks or (b) 61 days and daily bag
limit of 3, and the other restrictions shown above. Under both options,
the last 12 days may start no earlier than the Saturday nearest
December 10 (December 10).
(2) Remainder of the Central Flyway: Either (a) 39 days and daily
bag limit of 4 ducks, including no more than 1 female mallard, 1
mottled duck, 1 pintail, 1 redhead, 1 canvasback and 2 wood ducks or
(b) 49 days and daily bag limit of 3 ducks, and the other restrictions
shown above.
Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit of 5 mergansers may be taken,
only 1 of which may be a hooded merganser.
Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
Zoning and Split Seasons: Montana, Nebraska (Low Plains portion),
New Mexico, Oklahoma (Low Plains portion), and South Dakota (Low Plains
portion) may select hunting seasons by zones.
In Montana, Nebraska (Low and High Plains portions), New Mexico,
North Dakota (Low Plains portion), Oklahoma (Low and High Plains
portions), South Dakota (High Plains portion), and Texas (Low Plains
portion), the season may be split into two segments.
In Colorado, Kansas (Low and High Plains portions), North Dakota
(High Plains portion), and Wyoming, the season may be split into three
segments.
Geese
Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: Seasons may be split
into two segments. The Saturday nearest October 1 (October 1), through
January 31, for dark geese and the Saturday nearest October 1 (October
1), through the Sunday nearest February 15 (February 12), except in
Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, where the closing
date is February 28, for light geese. Seasons in States, and
independently in described goose management units within States, may be
as follows:
Colorado: No more than 107 days, with a daily bag limit of 5 light
and 3 dark geese.
Kansas: For dark geese, no more than 86 days, with a daily bag
limit of 2, including no more than 1 white-fronted goose.
For light geese, no more than 107 days, with a daily bag limit of
10.
Montana: No more than 107 days, with daily bag limits of 2 dark and
5 light geese in Sheridan County and 4 dark and 5 light geese in the
remainder of the Central Flyway portion.
Nebraska: For dark geese, no more than 86 days, with a daily bag
limit of not more than 2, which may include no more than 1 white-
fronted goose.
For light geese, no more than 107 days, with a daily bag limit of
10.
New Mexico: No more than 107 days, with a daily bag limit of 5
light and 3 dark geese, except in the Middle Rio Grande Valley where
the daily bag limit of light geese is 10.
North Dakota: For dark geese, no more than 86 days, with a daily
bag limit of 2.
For light geese, no more than 107 days, with a daily bag limit of
10.
Oklahoma: For dark geese, no more than 86 days, with a daily bag
limit of 2, including no more than 1 white-fronted goose.
For light geese, no more than 107 days, with a daily bag limit of
10.
South Dakota: For dark geese, no more than 86 days, with a daily
bag limit of not more than 2, including no more than 1 white-fronted
goose.
For light geese, no more than 107 days, with a daily bag limit of
10.
Texas: For the West Unit, no more than 107 days, with a daily bag
limit of 5 light and 3 dark geese.
For dark geese in the East Unit, no more than 86 days. The daily
bag limit is 2, including no more than 1 white-fronted goose during the
first 72 days; during the last 14 days, the season is closed on white-
fronted geese and the daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
For light geese in the East Unit, no more than 107 days, with a
daily bag limit of 10.
Wyoming: No more than 107 days, with a daily bag limit of 5 light
and 3 dark geese.
Pacific Flyway
Ducks, Mergansers, Coots, and Common Moorhens
Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: Either (a) Concurrent 59 days and
daily bag limit of 5 ducks, including no more than 4 mallards (no more
than 1 of which may be a female), 1 pintail, 2 redheads and 1
canvasback or (b) Concurrent 69 days and daily bag limit of 4 ducks,
including no more than 3 mallards, and the other restrictions shown
above.
In the Columbia Basin Mallard Management Unit, the seasons may be
an additional 7 days. The season on coots and common moorhens may be
between the outside dates for the season on ducks, but not to exceed 93
days.
Coot and Common Moorhen Limits: The daily bag and possession limits
of coots and common moorhens are 25, singly or in the aggregate.
Outside Dates: Between October 1 and January 20.
Zoning and Split Seasons: Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada,
Oregon, Utah, and Washington may select hunting seasons by zones.
Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington
may split their seasons into two segments either Statewide or in each
zone.
Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming may split their duck
seasons into three segments.
Colorado River Zone, California: Seasons and limits shall be the
same as seasons and limits selected in the adjacent portion of Arizona
(South Zone).
Geese
Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: Except as subsequently
noted, 100-day seasons may be selected, with outside dates between the
Saturday nearest October 1 (October 1), and the Sunday nearest January
20 (January 22), and the basic daily bag limits are 3 light geese and 3
dark geese, including no more than 2 white-fronted geese.
Brant Season - A 16-consecutive-day season may be selected in
Oregon and Washington, and a 30-consecutive day season may be selected
in California. In only California, Oregon, and Washington, the daily
bag limit is 2 brant and is additional to dark goose limits, and the
open season on brant in those States may differ from that for other
geese.
Closures: There will be no open season on Aleutian Canada geese in
the Pacific Flyway. The States of California, Oregon, and Washington
must include a statement on the closure for that subspecies in their
respective regulations leaflet. Emergency closures may be invoked for
all Canada geese should Aleutian Canada goose distribution patterns or
other circumstances justify such actions.
Arizona: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 2 geese.
California:
Northeastern Zone - White-fronted geese and cackling Canada geese
may be taken only during the first 23 days of the goose season. The
daily bag limit is 3 geese and may include no more than 2 dark geese;
including not more than 1 cackling Canada goose.
Colorado River Zone - The seasons and limits must be the same as
those selected in the adjacent portion of Arizona (South Zone).
Southern Zone - The daily bag and possession limits for dark geese
is 2 geese, including not more than 1 cackling Canada goose.
Balance-of-the-State Zone - A 79-day season may be selected, except
that white-fronted geese and cackling Canada geese may be taken during
only the first 65 days of such season. Limits may not include more than
3 geese per day and in possession, of which not more than 1 may be a
dark goose. The dark goose limits may be expanded to 2, provided that
they are Canada geese other than cackling Canada geese for which the
daily limit is 1.
Three areas in the Balance-of-the-State Zone are restricted in the
hunting of certain geese:
(1) In the Counties of Del Norte and Humboldt, there will be no
open season for Canada geese.
(2) In the Sacramento Valley Area, the season on white-fronted
geese and cackling Canada geese must end on or before November 30, and,
except in the Western Canada Goose Hunt Area, there will be no open
season for Canada geese.
(3) In the San Joaquin Valley Area, the hunting season for Canada
geese will close no later than November 23.
Colorado: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 2 geese.
Idaho:
Northern Unit - The daily bag limit is 4 geese, including 4 dark
geese, including not more than 2 white-fronted geese, and 3 light
geese.
Southwest Unit - The daily bag limit on dark geese is 4, including
not more than 2 white-fronted geese.
Southeastern Unit - The daily bag limit is 3 geese, including not
more than 2 white-fronted geese.
Montana:
West of Divide Zone - The daily bag limit on dark geese is 4,
including not more than 2 white-fronted geese.
Nevada:
Clark County Zone - The daily bag limit of dark geese is 2 geese.
New Mexico: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 2 geese.
Oregon: Except as subsequently noted, the dark goose limit is 4,
including not more than 2 white-fronted geese and 1 cackling Canada
goose.
Harney, Lake, Klamath, and Malheur Counties Zone - The season
length may be 100 days. White-fronted geese may not be taken before
October 17 during the regular goose season.
Western Zone - In the Special Canada Goose Management Area, except
for designated areas, there shall be no open season on Canada geese. In
the designated areas, individual quotas shall be established which
collectively shall not exceed 210 dusky Canada geese. See section on
quota zones. In those designated areas, the daily bag limit of dark
geese is 3, including not more than 2 white-fronted geese and 1
cackling Canada goose.
Utah: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 2 geese.
Washington: The daily bag limit is 4 geese, including 4 dark geese,
but not more than 2 white-fronted geese, and 3 light geese.
West Zone - In the Lower Columbia River Special Goose Management
Area, except for designated areas, there shall be no open season on
Canada geese. In the designated areas, individual quotas shall be
established which collectively shall not exceed 90 dusky Canada geese.
See section on quota zones.
Wyoming: In Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Sublette Counties, the
combined special September Canada goose seasons and the regular goose
season shall not exceed 100 days.
Quota Zones: Seasons on Canada geese must end upon attainment of
individual quotas of dusky Canada geese allotted to the designated
areas of Oregon and Washington. Hunting of Canada geese in those
designated areas shall only be by hunters possessing a State-issued
permit authorizing them to do so. In a Service-approved investigation,
the State must obtain quantitative information on hunter compliance of
those regulations aimed at reducing the take of dusky Canada geese and
eliminating the take of Aleutian Canada geese. The daily bag limit of
Canada geese may not include more than 1 cackling Canada goose.
Tundra Swans
In Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Utah, and Virginia, an open season for taking a limited number
of tundra swans may be selected. Permits will be issued by the States
and will authorize each permittee to take no more than 1 tundra swan
per season. The States must obtain harvest and hunter participation
data. These seasons will be subject to the following conditions:
In the Atlantic Flyway
--The season will be experimental.
--The season may be 90 days, must occur during the light goose
season, but may not extend beyond January 31.
--In New Jersey, no more than 200 permits may be issued.
--In North Carolina, no more than 6,000 permits may be issued.
--In Virginia, no more than 600 permits may be issued.
In the Central Flyway
--The season may be 107 days and must occur during the light goose
season.
--In the Central-Flyway portion of Montana, no more than 500
permits may be issued.
--In North Dakota, no more than 2,000 permits may be issued during
the experimental season.
--In South Dakota, no more than 1,500 permits may be issued during
the experimental season.
In the Pacific Flyway
--Except as subsequently noted, a 100-day season may be selected
between the Saturday nearest October 1 (October 1), and the Sunday
nearest January 20 (January 22). Seasons may be split into 2 segments.
The States of Montana, Nevada, and Utah must implement a harvest-
monitoring program to measure the extent of accidental harvest of
trumpeter swans.
--In Utah, no more than 2,500 permits may be issued. The season
must end on or before December 15.
--In Nevada, no more than 650 permits may be issued.
--In the Pacific-Flyway portion of Montana, no more than 500
permits may be issued.
Area, Unit and Zone Descriptions
Ducks (Including Mergansers) and Coots
Atlantic Flyway
Connecticut
North Zone: That portion of the State north of I-95.
South Zone: That portion of the State south of I-95.
Maine
North Zone: Game Management Zones 1 through 5.
South Zone: Game Management Zones 6 through 8.
Massachusetts
Western Zone: That portion of the State west of a line extending
south from the Vermont border on I-91 to MA 9, west on MA 9 to MA 10,
south on MA 10 to U.S. 202, south on U.S. 202 to the Connecticut
border.
Central Zone: That portion of the State east of the Berkshire Zone
and west of a line extending south from the New Hampshire border on I-
95 to U.S. 1, south on U.S. 1 to I-93, south on I-93 to MA 3, south on
MA 3 to U.S. 6, west on U.S. 6 to MA 28, west on MA 28 to I-195, west
to the Rhode Island border; except the waters, and the lands 150 yards
inland from the high-water mark, of the Assonet River upstream to the
MA 24 bridge, and the Taunton River upstream to the Center St.-Elm St.
bridge shall be in the Coastal Zone.
Coastal Zone: That portion of Massachusetts east and south of the
Central Zone.
New Hampshire
Coastal Zone: That portion of the State east of a line extending
west from Maine border in Rollinsford on NH 4 to the city of Dover,
south to NH 108, south along NH 108 through Madbury, Durham, and
Newmarket to NH 85 in Newfields, south to NH 101 in Exeter, east to NH
51 (Exeter-Hampton Expressway), east to I-95 (New Hampshire Turnpike)
in Hampton, and south along I-95 to the Massachusetts border.
Inland Zone: That portion of the State north and west of the above
boundary.
New Jersey
Coastal Zone: That portion of the State seaward of a line beginning
at the New York border in Raritan Bay and extending west along the New
York border to NJ 440 at Perth Amboy; west on NJ 440 to the Garden
State Parkway; south on the Garden State Parkway to the shoreline at
Cape May and continuing to the Delaware border in Delaware Bay.
North Zone: That portion of the State west of the Coastal Zone and
north of a line extending west from the Garden State Parkway on NJ 70
to the New Jersey Turnpike, north on the turnpike to U.S. 206, north on
U.S. 206 to U.S. 1 at Trenton, west on U.S. 1 to the Pennsylvania
border in the Delaware River.
South Zone: That portion of the State not within the North Zone or
the Coastal Zone.
New York
Lake Champlain Zone: 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.
Pennsylvania
Lake Erie Zone: The Lake Erie waters of Pennsylvania and a
shoreline margin along Lake Erie from New York on the east to Ohio on
the west extending 150 yards inland, but including all of Presque Isle
Peninsula.
Northwest Zone: The area bounded on the north by the Lake Erie Zone
and including all of Erie and Crawford Counties and those portions of
Mercer and Venango Counties north of I-80.
North Zone: That portion of the State east of the Northwest Zone
and north of a line extending east on I-80 to U.S. 220, Route 220 to I-
180, I-180 to I-80, and I-80 to the Delaware River.
South Zone: The remaining portion of Pennsylvania.
Vermont
Lake Champlain Zone: The U.S. portion of Lake Champlain and that
area north and west of the line extending from the New York border
along U.S. 4 to VT 22A at Fair Haven; VT 22A to U.S. 7 at Vergennes;
U.S. 7 to the Canadian border.
Interior Zone: The remaining portion of Vermont.
West Virginia
Zone 1 : That portion outside the boundaries in Zone 2.
Zone 2 (Allegheny Mountain Upland): That area bounded by a line
extending south along U.S. 220 through Keyser to U.S. 50; U.S. 50 to WV
93; WV 93 south to WV 42; WV 42 south to Petersburg; WV 28 south to
Minnehaha Springs; WV 39 west to U.S. 219; U.S. 219 south to I-64; I-64
west to U.S. 60; U.S. 60 west to U.S. 19; U.S. 19 north to I-79, I-79
north to U.S. 48; U.S. 48 east to the Maryland border; and along the
border to the point of beginning.
Mississippi Flyway
Alabama
South Zone: Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
North Zone: The remainder of Alabama.
Illinois
North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending
east from the Iowa border along Illinois Highway 92 to Interstate
Highway 280, east along I-280 to I-80, then east along I-80 to the
Indiana border.
Central Zone: That portion of the State between the North and South
Zone boundaries.
South Zone: That portion of the State south of a line extending
east from the Missouri border along the Modoc Ferry route to Randolph
County Highway 12, north along County 12 to Illinois Highway 3, north
along Illinois 3 to Illinois 159, north along Illinois 159 to Illinois
161, east along Illinois 161 to Illinois 4, north along Illinois 4 to
Interstate Highway 70, then east along I-70 to the Indiana border.
Indiana
North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending
east from the Illinois border along State Road 18 to U.S. Highway 31,
north along U.S. 31 to U.S. 24, east along U.S. 24 to Huntington, then
southeast along U.S. 224 to the Ohio border.
Ohio River Zone: That portion of the State south of a line
extending east from the Illinois border along Interstate Highway 64 to
New Albany, east along State Road 62 to State 56, east along State 56
to Vevay, east and north on State 156 along the Ohio River to North
Landing, north along State 56 to U.S. Highway 50, then northeast along
U.S. 50 to the Ohio border.
South Zone: That portion of the State between the North and Ohio
River Zone boundaries.
Southern Illinois Quota Zone: Alexander, Jackson, Union, and
Williamson Counties.
Rend Lake Quota Zone: Franklin and Jefferson Counties.
Iowa
North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending
east from the Nebraska border along State Highway 175 to State 37,
southeast along State 37 to U.S. Highway 59, south along U.S. 59 to
Interstate Highway 80, then east along I-80 to the Illinois border.
South Zone: The remainder of Iowa.
Kentucky
West Zone: That portion of the State west of a line extending north
from the Tennessee border along Interstate Highway 65 to Bowling Green,
northwest along the Green River Parkway to Owensboro, southwest along
U.S. Bypass 60 to U.S. Highway 231, then north along U.S. 231 to the
Indiana border.
East Zone: The remainder of Kentucky.
Louisiana
West Zone: That portion of the State west of a line extending south
from the Arkansas border along Louisiana Highway 3 to Bossier City,
east along Interstate Highway 20 to Minden, south along Louisiana 7 to
Ringgold, east along Louisiana 4 to Jonesboro, south along U.S. Highway
167 to Lafayette, southeast along U.S. 90 to Houma, then south along
the Houma Navigation Channel to the Gulf of Mexico through Cat Island
Pass.
East Zone: The remainder of Louisiana.
Catahoula Lake Area: All of Catahoula Lake, including those
portions known locally as Round Prairie, Catfish Prairie, and Frazier's
Arm. See State regulations for additional information.
Michigan
North Zone: The Upper Peninsula.
South Zone: That portion of the State south of a line beginning at
the Wisconsin border in Lake Michigan due west of the mouth of Stony
Creek in Oceana County; then due east to, and east and south along the
south shore of, Stony Creek to Webster Road, east and south on Webster
Road to Stony Lake Road, east on Stony Lake and Garfield Roads to
Michigan Highway 20, east on Michigan 20 to U.S. Highway 10B.R. in the
city of Midland, east on U.S. 10B.R. to U.S. 10, east on U.S. 10 and
Michigan 25 to the Saginaw River, downstream along the thread of the
Saginaw River to Saginaw Bay, then on a northeasterly line, passing
one-half mile north of the Corps of Engineers confined disposal island
offshore of the Carn Power Plant, to a point one mile north of the
Charity islands, then continuing northeasterly to the Ontario border in
Lake Huron.
Middle Zone: The remainder of Michigan.
Missouri
North Zone: That portion of Missouri north of a line running west
from the Illinois border along Interstate Highway 70 to U.S. Highway
54, south along U.S. 54 to U.S. 50, then west along U.S. 50 to the
Kansas border.
South Zone: That portion of Missouri south of a line running west
from the Illinois border along Missouri Highway 34 to Interstate
Highway 55; south along I-55 to U.S. Highway 62, west along U.S. 62 to
Missouri 53, north along Missouri 53 to Missouri 51, north along
Missouri 51 to U.S. 60, west along U.S. 60 to Missouri 21, north along
Missouri 21 to Missouri 72, west along Missouri 72 to Missouri 32, west
along Missouri 32 to U.S. 65, north along U.S. 65 to U.S. 54, west
along U.S. 54 to Missouri 32, south along Missouri 32 to Missouri 97,
south along Missouri 97 to Dade County NN, west along Dade County NN to
Missouri 37, west along Missouri 37 to Jasper County N, west along
Jasper County N to Jasper County M, west along Jasper County M to the
Kansas border.
Middle Zone: The remainder of Missouri.
Ohio
North Zone: The Counties of Darke, Miami, Clark, Champaign, Union,
Delaware, Licking (excluding the Buckeye Lake Area), Muskingum,
Guernsey, Harrison and Jefferson and all counties north thereof.
Pymatuning Area: Pymatuning Reservoir and that part of Ohio bounded
on the north by County Road 306 (known as Woodward Road), on the west
by Pymatuning Lake Road, and on the south by U.S. Highway 322.
Ohio River Zone: The Counties of Hamilton, Clermont, Brown, Adams,
Scioto, Lawrence, Gallia and Meigs.
South Zone: That portion of the State between the North and Ohio
River Zone boundaries, including the Buckeye Lake Area in Licking
County bounded on the west by State Highway 37, on the north by U.S.
Highway 40, and on the east by State 13.
Tennessee
Reelfoot Zone: All or portions of Lake and Obion Counties.
State Zone: The remainder of Tennessee.
Wisconsin
North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending
northerly from the Minnesota border along the center line of the
Chippewa River to State Highway 35, east along State 35 to State 25,
north along State 25 to U.S. Highway 10, east along U.S. 10 to its
junction with the Manitowoc Harbor in the city of Manitowoc, then
easterly to the eastern State boundary in Lake Michigan.
South Zone: The remainder of Wisconsin.
Central Flyway
Kansas
High Plains: That area west of U.S. 283.
Low Plains: That area east of U.S. 283.
Montana (Central Flyway Portion)
Zone 1: The Counties of Blaine, Carbon, Daniels, Fergus, Garfield,
Golden Valley, Judith Basin, McCone, Musselshell, Petroleum, Phillips,
Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan, Stillwater, Sweetgrass, Valley,
Wheatland, and Yellowstone.
Zone 2: The Counties of Big Horn, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon,
Powder River, Prairie, Rosebud, Treasure, and Wibaux.
Nebraska
High Plains: West of Highways U.S. 183 and U.S. 20 from the
northern State line to Ainsworth, NE 7 and NE 91 to Dunning, NE 2 to
Merna, NE 92 to Arnold, NE 40 and NE 47 through Gothenburg to NE 23, NE
23 to Elwood, and U.S. 283 to the southern State line.
Low Plains: East of the High Plains boundary.
Zone 1: Those portions of Burt, Dakota, and Thurston Counties north
and east of a line starting on NE 51 on the Iowa border to U.S. 75,
north on U.S. 75 to U.S. 20, west on U.S. 20 to NE 12; west on NE 12 to
the Boyd County line; to include those portions of Cedar, Dakota,
Dixon, and Knox Counties north of NE 12; all of Boyd County; Keya Paha
County east of U.S. 183. Where the Niobrara River forms the southern
boundary of Keya Paha and Boyd Counties, both banks of the river shall
be included in Zone 1.
Zone 2: The area bounded by designated highways and political
boundaries starting on NE 2 at the State line near Nebraska City; west
to U.S. 75; north to U.S. 34; west to NE 63; north and west to U.S. 77;
north to NE 92; west to U.S. 81; south to NE 66; west to NE 14; south
to U.S. 34; west to NE 2; south to I-80; west to U.S. 34; west to U.S.
136; east on U.S. 136 to NE 10; south to the State line; west to U.S.
283; north to NE 23; west to NE 47; north to U.S. 30; east to NE 14;
north to NE 52; northwesterly to NE 91; west to U.S. 281, north to NE
91 in Wheeler County; west to U.S. 183; north to northerly boundary of
Loup County; east along the north boundaries of Loup, Garfield, and
Wheeler Counties; south along the east Wheeler County line to NE 70;
east on NE 70 from Wheeler County to NE 14; south to NE 39; southeast
to NE 22; east to U.S. 81; southeast to U.S. 30; east to the State
line; and south and west along the State line to the point of
beginning.
Zone 3: The area, excluding Zone 1, north of Zone 2.
Zone 4: The area south of Zone 2.
New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion)
North Zone: The Central-Flyway portion of New Mexico north of I-40
and U.S. 54.
South Zone: The remainder of the Central-Flyway portion of New
Mexico.
North Dakota
High Plains: That portion of North Dakota west of a line extending
north from the South Dakota border on U.S. 83 and I-94 to ND 41, north
to ND 53, west to U.S. 83, north to ND 23, west to ND 8, north to U.S.
2, west to U.S. 85, north to the Canadian border.
Low Plains: The remainder of North Dakota.
Oklahoma
High Plains: Beaver, Cimarron, and Texas Counties.
Low Plains
Zone 1: That portion of northwestern Oklahoma, except the
Panhandle, bounded by the following highways: starting at the Texas
border, OK 33 to OK 47, OK 47 to U.S. 183, U.S. 183 to I-40, I-40 to
U.S. 177, U.S. 177 to OK 33, OK 33 to I-35, I-35 to U.S. 60, U.S. 60 to
U.S. 64, U.S. 64 to OK 132, and OK 132 to the Kansas border.
Zone 2: The remainder of the Low Plains portion of Oklahoma.
South Dakota
High Plains: West of highways and political boundaries starting at
the State line north of Herreid; U.S. 83 and U.S. 14 to Blunt, Blunt-
Canning Road to SD 34, a line across the Missouri River to the
northwestern corner of the Lower Brule Indian Reservation, the
Reservation Boundary and Lyman County Road through Presho to I-90, and
U.S. 183 to the southern State line.
Low Plains
North Zone: That portion of northeastern South Dakota bounded by
the following highways: starting at the North Dakota border, U.S. 83
south to U.S. 212, U.S. 212 east to I-29, I-29 north to SD 15, SD 15
east to Hartford Beach, due east of Hartford Beach to the Minnesota
border.
South Zone: Charles Mix County south of SD 44 to the Douglas County
line, south on SD 50 to Geddes, East on Geddes Highway to U.S. 281,
south on U.S. 281 and U.S. 18 to SD 50, south and east on SD 50 to the
Bon Homme County line, the Counties of Bon Homme, Yankton, and Clay
south of SD 50, and Union County south and west of SD 50 and I-29.
Middle Zone: The remainder of the Low Plains portion of South
Dakota.
Texas
High Plains: West of highways U.S. 183 from the northern State line
to Vernon, U.S. 283 to Albany, TX 6 and TX 351 to Abilene, U.S. 277 to
Del Rio, and the Del Rio International Toll Bridge access road.
Low Plains: The remainder of Texas.
Pacific Flyway
Arizona--Game Management Units (GMU) as follows:
South Zone: Those portions of GMUs 6 and 8 in Yavapai County, and
GMUs 11, 12B, 13B, and 14-45.
North Zone: GMUs 1-5, those portions of GMUs 6 and 8 within
Coconino County, and GMUs 7, 9, 10, 12A, and 13A.
California
Northeastern Zone: That portion of the State east and north of a
line beginning at the Oregon border; south and west along the Klamath
River to the mouth of Shovel Creek; south along Shovel Creek to Forest
Service Road 46N10; south and east along FS 46N10 to FS 45N22; west and
south along FS 45N22 to U.S. 97 at Grass Lake Summit; south and west
along U.S. 97 to I-5 at the town of Weed; south along I-5 to CA 89;
east and south along CA 89 to the junction with CA 49; east and north
on CA 49 to CA 70; east on CA 70 to U.S. 395; south and east on U.S.
395 to the Nevada border.
Colorado River Zone: Those portions of San Bernardino, Riverside,
and Imperial Counties east of a line extending from the Nevada border
south along U.S. 95 to Vidal Junction; south on a road known as
``Aqueduct Road'' in San Bernardino County through the town of Rice to
the San Bernardino-Riverside County line; south on a road known in
Riverside County as the ``Desert Center to Rice Road'' to the town of
Desert Center; east 31 miles on I-10 to the Wiley Well Road; south on
this road to Wiley Well; southeast along the Army-Milpitas Road to the
Blythe, Brawley, Davis Lake intersections; south on the Blythe-Brawley
paved road to the Ogilby and Tumco Mine Road; south on this road to
U.S. 80; east seven miles on U.S. 80 to the Andrade-Algodones Road;
south on this paved road to the Mexican border at Algodones, Mexico.
Southern Zone: That portion of southern California (but excluding
the Colorado River Zone) south and east of a line extending from the
Pacific Ocean east along the Santa Maria River to CA 166 near the City
of Santa Maria; east on CA 166 to CA 99; south on CA 99 to the crest of
the Tehachapi Mountains at Tejon Pass; east and north along the crest
of the Tehachapi Mountains to CA 178 at Walker Pass; east on CA 178 to
U.S. 395 at the town of Inyokern; south on U.S. 395 to CA 58; east on
CA 58 to I-15; east on I-15 to CA 127; north on CA 127 to the Nevada
border.
Southern San Joaquin Valley Temporary Zone: All of Kings and Tulare
Counties and that portion of Kern County north of the Southern Zone.
Balance-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of California not included
in the Northeastern, Southern, and Colorado River Zones, and the
Southern San Joaquin Valley Temporary Zone.
Idaho
Zone 1: Includes all lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian
Reservation, including private inholdings; Bannock County; Bingham
County, except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage;
and Power County east of ID 37 and ID 39.
Zone 2: Includes the following counties or portions of counties:
Adams; Bear Lake; Benewah; Bingham within the Blackfoot Reservoir
drainage; those portions of Blaine west of ID 75, south and east of
U.S. 93, and between ID 75 and U.S. 93 north of U.S. 20 outside the
Silver Creek drainage; Bonner; Bonneville; Boundary; Butte; Camas;
Caribou except the Fort Hall Indian Reservation; Cassia within the
Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge; Clark; Clearwater; Custer; Elmore
within the Camas Creek drainage; Franklin; Fremont; Idaho; Jefferson;
Kootenai; Latah; Lemhi; Lewis; Madison; Nez Perce; Oneida; Power within
the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge; Shoshone; Teton; and Valley
Counties.
Zone 3: Ada includes the Counties of; Blaine between ID 75 and U.S.
93 south of U.S. 20 and that additional area between ID 75 and U.S. 93
north of U.S. 20 within the Silver Creek drainage; Boise; Canyon;
Cassia except that portion within the Minidoka National Wildlife
Refuge; Elmore except the Camas Creek drainage; Gem; Gooding; Jerome;
Lincoln; Minidoka; Owyhee; Payette; Power west of ID 37 and ID 39
except that portion within the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge; Twin
Falls; and Washington Counties.
Nevada
Clark County Zone: All of Clark County.
Remainder-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of Nevada.
Oregon
Zone 1: Statewide, except Deschutes, Klamath, and Lake Counties.
Columbia Basin Mallard Management Unit: Gilliam, Morrow, and
Umatilla Counties.
Zone 2: Deschutes, Klamath, and Lake Counties.
Utah
Zone 1: All of Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Morgan, Rich, Salt Lake,
Summit, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber Counties and that part of Toole County
north of I-80.
Zone 2: The remainder of Utah.
Washington
East Zone: All areas east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of
the Big White Salmon River in Klickitat County.
Columbia Basin Mallard Management Unit: Same as East Zone.
West Zone: All areas to the west of the East Zone.
Geese
Atlantic Flyway
Connecticut
Same zones as for ducks.
Georgia
Special Area for Canada Geese: The Counties of Baldwin, Hancock,
Harris, Jones, McDuffie, Meriwether, Monroe, Richmond, Upson, Warren,
and all Counties north thereof; and Decatur and Seminole Counties and
all of Lake Seminole within the State of Georgia.
Massachusetts
Same zones as for ducks.
New Hampshire
Same zones as for ducks.
New Jersey
Special Area for Canada Geese: That portion of the State within a
continuous line that runs east along the New York State boundary line
to the Hudson River; then south along the New York State boundary to
its intersection with Route 440 at Perth Amboy; then west on Route 440
to its intersection with Route 287; then west along Route 287 to its
intersection with Route 206 in Bedminster (Exit 18); then north along
Route 206 to its intersection with the Pennsylvania State boundary;
then north along the Pennsylvania boundary in the Delaware River to its
intersection with the New York State boundary.
New York
Same zones as for ducks.
North Carolina
Canada Geese
East Zone: That portion of North Carolina east of I-95.
West Zone: That portion of North Carolina west of I-95.
Pennsylvania
Erie, Mercer, and Butler Counties: All of Erie, Mercer, and Butler
Counties.
North Zone: That portion of the State north of a line extending
east from the Ohio border along I-80 to U.S. 220, U.S. 220 to I-180, I-
180 to I-80, and I-80 to the Delaware River.
South Zone: The remaining portion of Pennsylvania.
Susquehanna/Juniata--See State regulations for detailed
description.
South Carolina
Canada Goose Area: The Central Piedmont, Western Piedmont, and
Mountain Hunt Units. These designated areas include: Abbeville,
Anderson, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville,
Greenwood, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry,
Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union, and York Counties.
Virginia
Back Bay Area
Defined for Canada geese as those portions of the cities of
Virginia Beach and Chesapeake east of U.S. 17 and I-64.
Defined for white geese as the waters of Back Bay and its
tributaries and the marshes adjacent thereto, and on the land and
marshes between Back Bay and the Atlantic Ocean from Sandbridge to the
North Carolina line, and on and along the shore of North Landing River
and the marshes adjacent thereto, and on and along the shores of Binson
Inlet Lake (formerly known as Lake Tecumseh) and Red Wing Lake and the
marshes adjacent thereto.
West Virginia
Same zones as for ducks.
Mississippi Flyway
Alabama
Same zones as for ducks, but in addition:
SJBP Zone: That portion of Morgan County east of U.S. Highway 31,
north of State Highway 36, and west of U.S. 231; that portion of
Limestone County south of U.S. 72; and that portion of Madison County
south of Swancott Road and west of Triana Road.
Arkansas
East Zone: Arkansas, Ashley, Chicot, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden,
Cross, Desha, Drew, Greene, Independence, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence,
Lee, Lincoln, Lonoke, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett, Prairie,
Pulaski, Randolph, St. Francis, White, and Woodruff Counties.
West Zone: Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Cleburne, Conway,
Crawford, Faulkner, Franklin, Fulton, Izard, Johnson, Madison, Marion,
Newton, Pope, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, Van Buren, and Washington Counties,
and those portions of Logan, Perry, Sebastian, and Yell Counties lying
north of a line extending east from the Oklahoma border along State
Highway 10 to Perry, south on State 9 to State 60, then east on State
60 to the Faulkner County line.
Illinois
North Goose Zone: Same as for ducks.
Northern Illinois Quota Zone: The Counties of McHenry, Lake,
Kane, DuPage, and those portions of LaSalle and Will Counties north
of Interstate Highway 80.
Central Goose Zone: That portion of the State between the North and
South Goose Zone boundaries.
Central Illinois Quota Zone: The Counties of Grundy, Woodford,
Peoria, Knox, Fulton, Tazewell, Mason, Cass, Morgan, Pike, Calhoun,
and Jersey, and those portions of LaSalle and Will Counties south of
Interstate Highway 80.
South Goose Zone: That portion of the State south of a line
extending east from the Missouri border along the Modoc Ferry route to
Randolph County Highway 12, north along County 12 to Illinois Highway
3, north along Illinois 3 to Illinois 159, north along Illinois 159 to
Illinois 161, east along Illinois 161 to Illinois 4, north along
Illinois 4 to Interstate Highway 70, east along I-70 to the Bond County
line, north and east along the Bond County line to Fayette County,
north and east along the Fayette County line to Effingham County, east
and south along the Effingham County line to I-70, then east along I-70
to the Indiana border.
Southern Illinois Quota Zone: Alexander, Jackson, Union, and
Williamson Counties.
Rend Lake Quota Zone: Franklin and Jefferson Counties.
Indiana
Same zones as for ducks, but in addition:
SJBP Zone: Jasper, LaGrange, Lake, LaPorte, Newton, Porter,
Pulaski, Starke, and Steuben Counties.
Iowa
Same zones as for ducks.
Kentucky
Western Zone: That portion of the state west of a line beginning at
the Tennessee border at Fulton and extending north along the Purchase
Parkway to Interstate Highway 24, east along I-24 to U.S. Highway 641,
north along U.S. 641 to U.S. 60, northeast along U.S. 60 to the
Henderson County line, then south, east, and northerly along the
Henderson County line to the Indiana border.
Ballard Reporting Area: That area encompassed by a line beginning
at the northwest city limits of Wickliffe in Ballard County and
extending westward to the middle of the Mississippi River, north along
the Mississippi River and along the low-water mark of the Ohio River on
the Illinois shore to the Ballard-McCracken County line, south along
the county line to Kentucky Highway 358, south along Kentucky 358 to
U.S. Highway 60 at LaCenter; then southwest along U.S. 60 to the
northeast city limits of Wickliffe.
Henderson-Union Reporting Area: Henderson County and that portion
of Union County within the Western Zone.
Pennyroyal/Coalfield Zone: That portion of the state between the
Western Zone and a line described as follows: From the Indiana border
south along U.S. Highway 231 to the Green River Parkway, southeast
along the Green River Parkway to Interstate Highway 65, then south
along I-65 to the Tennessee border.
Louisiana
Same zones as for ducks, but in addition:
Southwest Zone: That portion of the State encompassed by a line
extending east from the Texas border along Louisiana Highway 12 to
Ragley, east along U.S. Highway 190 to Interstate Highway 49 near
Opelousas, south along I-49 to U.S. 167 near Lafayette, south along
U.S. 167 to Louisiana 82 at Abbeville, south and west along Louisiana
82 to the Intercoastal Waterway at Forked Island, westerly along the
Intercoastal Waterway to the Calcasieu Ship Channel, south along the
west side of the Calcasieu Ship Channel to Louisiana 82 at Cameron,
westerly along Louisiana 82 to the Texas border. All open waters of
Lake Arthur and the Mermentau River from the Louisiana 14 bridge
southward are closed.
Michigan
Same zones as for ducks, but in addition:
South 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 Bayport 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 1/2 mile along 46th Street to 109th Avenue, westerly
along 109th Avenue to I-196 in Casco Township, then northerly along I-
196 to the point of beginning.
Saginaw County GMU: That portion of Saginaw County bounded by
Michigan Highway 46 on the north; Michigan 52 on the west; Michigan 57
on the south; and Michigan 13 on the east.
Muskegon Wastewater GMU: That portion of Muskegon County within the
boundaries of the Muskegon County wastewater system, east of the
Muskegon State Game Area, in sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29,
30, and 32, T10N R14W, and sections 1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 24, and
25, T10N R15W, as posted.
Special Canada Goose Seasons:
Michigan
Upper Peninsula Zone--That portion of the Upper Peninsula outside
the AuTrain Basin Waterfowl Project in Alger County (described below)
and east of a line described as follows: Beginning at the point where
the meridian line 87'30' intersects the United States-Canada border,
then south along the 87'30' meridian line to the 47'00' parallel, west
along the 47'00' parallel to a point directly north of County Road 550
in the village of Big Bay in Marquette County, southerly along this
line and County 550 through Big Bay to County 510, southerly along
County 510 to Michigan Highway 28/U.S. Highway 41, westerly along M-28/
U.S. 41 to M-35, southerly along M-35 to the Delta County line,
westerly and southerly along the Delta County line to the Lake Michigan
shoreline, then southeasterly along the Central-Eastern time zone
boundary to the Wisconsin border in Green Bay. The AuTrain Basin
Waterfowl Project is bounded on the north by M-94, on the south by
Trout Lake Road, on the east by County 509 (Rapid River Truck Trail),
and on the west by M-67.
Northern Lower Peninsula Zone--Bay, Isabella, Mecosta, Midland,
Newaygo, and Oceana Counties and all counties north thereof.
Southern Lower Peninsula Zone--The remainder of the Lower
Peninsula, excluding Huron, Saginaw, and Tuscola Counties.
Southern Michigan GMU: That portion of the State, including the
Great Lakes and interconnecting waterways and excluding the Allegan
County GMU, south of a line beginning at the Ontario border at the
Bluewater Bridge in the city of Port Huron and extending westerly and
southerly along Interstate Highway 94 to I-69, westerly along I-69 to
Michigan Highway 21, westerly along Michigan 21 to I-96, northerly
along I-96 to I-196, westerly along I-196 to Lake Michigan Drive (M-45)
in Grand Rapids, westerly along Lake Michigan Drive to the Lake
Michigan shore, then directly west from the end of Lake Michigan Drive
to the Wisconsin border.
Minnesota
West Zone: That portion of the state encompassed by a line
beginning at the junction of U.S. Highway 71 and the Iowa border, then
north along U.S. 71 to Interstate Highway 94, then north and west along
I-94 to the North Dakota border.
West Central Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at the
intersection of State Trunk Highway (STH) 29 and U.S. Highway 212 and
extending west along U.S. 212 to U.S. 59, south along U.S. 59 to STH
67, west along STH 67 to U.S. 75, north along U.S. 75 to County State
Aid Highway (CSAH) 30 in Lac qui Parle County, west along CSAH 30 to
County Road 70 in Lac qui Parle County, west along County 70 to the
western boundary of the State, north along the western boundary of the
State to a point due south of the intersection of STH 7 and CSAH 7 in
Big Stone County, and continuing due north to said intersection, then
north along CSAH 7 to CSAH 6 in Big Stone County, east along CSAH 6 to
CSAH 21 in Big Stone County, south along CSAH 21 to CSAH 10 in Big
Stone County, east along CSAH 10 to CSAH 22 in Swift County, east along
CSAH 22 to CSAH 5 in Swift County, south along CSAH 5 to U.S. 12, east
along U.S. 12 to CSAH 17 in Swift County, south along CSAH 17 to CSAH 9
in Chippewa County, south along CSAH 9 to STH 40, east along STH 40 to
STH 29, then south along STH 29 to the point of beginning.
Lac qui Parle Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at
the intersection of U.S. Highway 212 and County State Aid Highway
(CSAH) 27 in Lac qui Parle County and extending north along CSAH 27 to
CSAH 20 in Lac qui Parle County, west along CSAH 20 to State Trunk
Highway (STH) 40, north along STH 40 to STH 119, north along STH 119 to
CSAH 34 in Lac qui Parle County, west along CSAH 34 to CSAH 19 in Lac
qui Parle County, north and west along CSAH 19 to CSAH 38 in Lac qui
Parle County, west along CSAH 38 to U.S. 75, north along U.S. 75 to STH
7, east along STH 7 to CSAH 6 in Swift County, east along CSAH 6 to
County Road 65 in Swift County, south along County 65 to County 34 in
Chippewa County, south along County 34 to CSAH 12 in Chippewa County,
east along CSAH 12 to CSAH 9 in Chippewa County, south along CSAH 9 to
STH 7, southeast along STH 7 to Montevideo and along the municipal
boundary of Montevideo to U.S. 212; then west along U.S. 212 to the
point of beginning.
Northwest Zone: That portion of the state encompassed by a line
extending east from the North Dakota border along U.S. Highway 2 to
State Trunk Highway (STH) 32, north along STH 32 to STH 92, east along
STH 92 to County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 2 in Polk County, north along
CSAH 2 to CSAH 27 in Pennington County, north along CSAH 27 to STH 1,
east along STH 1 to CSAH 28 in Pennington County, north along CSAH 28
to CSAH 54 in Marshall County, north along CSAH 54 to CSAH 9 in Roseau
County, north along CSAH 9 to STH 11, west along STH 11 to STH 310, and
north along STH 310 to the Manitoba border.
Southeast Zone: The Counties of Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota,
Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Isanti, Mower,
Olmsted, Ramsey, Rice, Scott, Steele, Wabasha, Washington, and Winona.
Special Canada Goose Seasons
Fergus Falls/Alexandria Zone: That area encompassed by a line
beginning at the intersection of State Trunk Highway (STH) 55 and STH
28 and extending east along STH 28 to County State Aid Highway (CSAH)
33 in Pope County, north along CSAH 33 to CSAH 3 in Douglas County,
north along CSAH 3 to CSAH 69 in Otter Tail County, north along CSAH 69
to CSAH 46 in Otter Tail County, east along CSAH 46 to the eastern
boundary of Otter Tail County, north along the east boundary of Otter
Tail County to CSAH 40 in Otter Tail County, west along CSAH 40 to CSAH
75 in Otter Tail County, north along CSAH 75 to STH 210, west along STH
210 to STH 108, north along STH 108 to CSAH 1 in Otter Tail County,
west along CSAH 1 to CSAH 14 in Otter Tail County, north along CSAH 14
to CSAH 44 in Otter Tail County, west along CSAH 44 to CSAH 35 in Otter
Tail County, north along CSAH 35 to STH 108, west along STH 108 to CSAH
19 in Wilkin County, south along CSAH 19 to STH 55, then southeast
along STH 55 to the point of beginning.
Fergus Falls/Benson Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning
on State Trunk Highway (STH) 55 at the Minnesota border, then south
along the Minnesota border to a point due south of the intersection of
STH 7 and County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 7 in Big Stone County, north
to the STH 7/CSAH 7 intersection and continuing north along CSAH 7 to
CSAH 6 in Big Stone County, east along CSAH 6 to CSAH 21 in Big Stone
County, south along CSAH 21 to CSAH 10 in Big Stone County, east along
CSAH 10 to CSAH 22 in Swift County, east along CSAH 22 to CSAH 5 in
Swift County, south along CSAH 5 to U.S. Highway 12, east along U.S. 12
to CSAH 17 in Swift County, south along CSAH 17 to the Swift County
border, east along the south border of Swift County and north along the
east border of Swift County to the south border of Pope County, east
along the south border of Pope County and north along the east border
of Pope County to STH 28, west along STH 28 to CSAH 33 in Pope County,
north along CSAH 33 to CSAH 3 in Douglas County, north along CSAH 3 to
CSAH 69 in Otter Tail County, north along CSAH 69 to CSAH 46 in Otter
Tail County, east along CSAH 46 to the east border of Otter Tail
County, north along the east border of Otter Tail County to CSAH 40 in
Otter Tail County, west along CSAH 40 to CSAH 75 in Otter Tail County,
north along CSAH 75 to STH 210, west along STH 210 to STH 108, north
along STH 108 to CSAH 1 in Otter Tail County, west along CSAH 1 to CSAH
14 in Otter Tail County, north along CSAH 14 to CSAH 44 in Otter Tail
County, west along CSAH 44 to CSAH 35 in Otter Tail County, north along
CSAH 35 to STH 108, west along STH 108 to CSAH 19 in Wilkin County,
south along CSAH 19 to STH 55, then west along STH 55 to the point of
beginning.
Southwest Canada Goose Zone - All of Blue Earth, Cottonwood,
Faribault, Jackson, LeSueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Murray,
Nicollet, Nobles, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan Counties; that portion
of Brown County lying south and west of the following described line:
beginning at the junction of U.S. Highway 14, and the east of Brown
County line; thence west on U.S. Highway 14 to Cobden; thence due west
one mile on U.S. Highway 14 and the township road to the Brown County
line; thence due west 12 miles along the county line to the west Brown
County line; that portion of Renville County east of State Trunk
Highway 4 (STH); that portion of Meeker County south of U.S. Highway
12; in Scott County, the Townships of Belle Plaine, Blakeley, and
Helena, including the municipalities located therein; and that portion
of Carver County lying west, of the following described line: beginning
at the northeast corner of San Francisco Township, thence west along
the San Francisco Township line to the east boundary of Dahlgren
Township, thence north on the Dahlgren Township line to U.S. Highway
212, thence west on U.S. Highway 212 to STH 284, thence north on STH
284 to County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 10, thence north and west on
CSAH 10 to CSAH 30, thence north and west on CSAH 30 the STH 25, thence
east and north on STH 25 to CSAH 10, thence north on CSAH 10 to the
Carver County line.
Twin Cities Metro Zone: All of Hennepin and Ramsey Counties.
In Anoka County; the municipalities of Andover, Anoka, Blaine,
Centerville, Circle Pines, Columbia Heights, Coon Rapids, Fridley,
Hilltop, Lexington, Lino Lakes, Ramsey, and Spring Lake Park; that
portion of Columbus Township lying south of County State Aid Highway
(CSAH) 18; and all of the municipality of Ham Lake except that portion
described as follows:
Beginning at the intersection of CSAH 18 and U.S. Highway 65, then
east along CSAH 18 to the eastern boundary of Ham Lake, north along the
eastern boundary of Ham Lake to the north boundary of Ham Lake, west
along the north boundary of Ham Lake to U.S. 65, and south along U.S.
65 to the point of beginning.
In Carver County; the municipalities of Carver, Chanhassen, Chaska,
and Victoria; the Townships of Chaska and Laketown; and those portions
of the municipalities of Cologne, Mayer, Waconia, and Watertown and the
Townships of Benton, Dahlgren, Waconia, and Watertown lying north and
east of the following described line:
Beginning on U.S. 212 at the southwest corner of the municipality
of Chaska, then west along U.S. 212 to State Trunk Highway (STH) 284,
north along STH 284 to CSAH 10, north and west along CSAH 10 to CSAH
30, north and west along CSAH 30 to STH 25, west and north along STH 25
to CSAH 10, north along CSAH 10 to the Carver County Line, and east
along the Carver County Line to the Hennepin County Line.
In Dakota County; the municipalities of Apple Valley, Burnsville,
Eagan, Farmington, Hastings, Inver Grove Heights, Lakeville, Lilydale,
Mendota, Mendota Heights, Rosemont, South St. Paul, Sunfish Lake, and
West St. Paul; and the Township of Nininger.
In Scott County; the municipalities of Jordan, Prior Lake, Savage
and Shakopee; and the Townships of Credit River, Jackson, Louisville,
St. Lawrence, Sand Creek, and Spring Lake.
In Washington County; the municipalities of Afton, Bayport,
Birchwood, Cottage Grove, Dellwood, Forest Lake, Hastings, Hugo, Lake
Elmo, Lakeland, Lakeland Shores, Landfall, Mahtomedi, Marine, Newport,
Oakdale, Oak Park Heights, Pine Springs, St. Croix Beach, St. Mary's
Point, St. Paul Park, Stillwater, White Bear Lake, Willernie, and
Woodbury; the Townships of Baytown, Denmark, Grant, Gray Cloud Island,
May, Stillwater, and West Lakeland; that portion of Forest Lake
Township lying south of STH 97 and CSAH 2; and those portions of New
Scandia Township lying south of STH 97 and a line due east from the
intersection of STH 97 and STH 95 to the eastern border of the State.
Missouri
Same zones as for ducks but in addition:
North Zone
Swan Lake Zone: That area bounded by U.S. Highway 36 on the north,
Missouri Highway 5 on the east, Missouri 240 and U.S. 65 on the south,
and U.S. 65 on the west.
Central Zone: Boone County and that portion of Callaway County west
of U.S. Highway 54.
Middle Zone
Schell-Osage Zone: That portion of the State encompassed by a line
extending east from the Kansas border along U.S. Highway 54 to Missouri
Highway 13, north along Missouri 13 to Missouri 7, west along Missouri
7 to U.S. 71, north along U.S. 71 to Missouri 2, then west along
Missouri 2 to the Kansas border.
Ohio
Same zones as for ducks but in addition:
North Zone
Pymatuning Area: Pymatuning Reservoir and that part of Ohio bounded
on the north by County Road 306 (known as Woodward Road), on the west
by Pymatuning Lake Road, and on the south by U.S. Highway 322.
Lake Erie SJBP Zone: That portion of the state encompassed by a
line extending south from the Michigan border along Interstate Highway
75 to I-280, south along I-280 to I-80, and east along I-80 to the
Pennsylvania border.
Tennessee
Southwest Zone: That portion of the State south of State Highways
20 and 104, and west of U.S. Highways 45 and 45W.
Northwest Zone: Lake, Obion and Weakley Counties and those portions
of Gibson and Dyer Counties not included in the Southwest Tennessee
Zone.
Kentucky/Barkley Lakes Zone: That portion of the State bounded on
the west by the eastern boundaries of the Northwest and Southwest Zones
and on the east by State Highway 13 from the Alabama border to
Clarksville and U.S. Highway 79 from Clarksville to the Kentucky
border.
East Tennessee Zone--Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Knox,
Loudon, Monroe, Roane, and Union Counties and those portions of Meigs
and Rhea Counties north of Highway 68.
Wisconsin
Horicon Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at the
intersection of State Highway 21 and the Fox River in Winnebago County
and extending westerly along State 21 to the west boundary of Winnebago
County, southerly along the west boundary of Winnebago County to the
north boundary of Green Lake County, westerly along the north
boundaries of Green Lake and Marquette Counties to State 22, southerly
along State 22 to State 33, westerly along State 33 to U.S. Highway 16,
westerly along U.S. 16 to Weyh Road, southerly along Weyh Road to
County Highway O, southerly along County O to the west boundary of
Section 31, southerly along the west boundary of Section 31 to the
Sauk/Columbia County boundary, southerly along the Sauk/Columbia County
boundary to State 33, easterly along State 33 to Interstate Highway 90/
94, southerly along I-90/94 to State 60, easterly along State 60 to
State 83, northerly along State 83 to State 175, northerly along State
175 to State 33, easterly along State 33 to U.S. Highway 45, northerly
along U.S. 45 to the east shore of the Fond Du Lac River, northerly
along the east shore of the Fond Du Lac River to Lake Winnebago,
northerly along the western shoreline of Lake Winnebago to the Fox
River, then westerly along the Fox River to State 21.
Collins Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at the
intersection of Hilltop Road and Collins Marsh Road in Manitowoc County
and extending westerly along Hilltop Road to Humpty Dumpty Road,
southerly along Humpty Dumpty Road to Poplar Grove Road, easterly and
southerly along Poplar Grove Road to County Highway JJ, southeasterly
along County JJ to Collins Road, southerly along Collins Road to the
Manitowoc River, southeasterly along the Manitowoc River to Quarry
Road, northerly along Quarry Road to Einberger Road, northerly along
Einberger Road to Moschel Road, westerly along Moschel Road to Collins
Marsh Road, northerly along Collins Marsh Road to Hilltop Road.
Exterior Zone: That portion of the State not included in the
Horicon or Collins Zones.
Mississippi River Subzone: That area encompassed by a line
beginning at the intersection of the Burlington Northern Railway and
the Illinois border in Grant County and extending northerly along the
Burlington Northern Railway to the city limit of Prescott in Pierce
County, then west along the Prescott city limit to the Minnesota
border.
Rock Prairie Subzone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at
the intersection of the Illinois border and Interstate Highway 90 and
extending north along I-90 to County Highway A, east along County A to
U.S. Highway 12, southeast along U.S. 12 to State Highway 50, west
along State 50 to State 120, then south along 120 to the Illinois
border.
Early-Season Goose Subzone: That area encompassed by a line
beginning at Lake Michigan in Port Washington and extending west along
State Highway 33 to State 175, south along State 175 to State 83, south
along State 83 to State 36, southwest along State 36 to State 120,
south along State 120 to U.S. Highway 12, then southeast along U.S. 12
to the Illinois border.
Central Flyway
Colorado (Central Flyway Portion)
Northern Front Range Area: All lands in Adams, Boulder, Clear
Creek, Denver, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld Counties west of I-
25 from the Wyoming border south to I-70; west on I-70 to the
Continental Divide; north along the Continental Divide to the Jackson-
Larimer County Line to the Wyoming border.
South Park Area: Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, Lake, Park, and Teller
Counties.
San Luis Valley Area: Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, and Rio Grande
Counties and the portion of Saguache County east of the Continental
Divide.
North Park Area: Jackson County.
Arkansas Valley Area: Baca, Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero, and
Prowers Counties.
Remainder: Remainder of the Central-Flyway portion of Colorado.
Kansas
Light Geese
Unit 1: That portion of Kansas east of KS 99.
Unit 2: The remainder of Kansas.
Dark Geese
Marais des Cygne Valley Unit: The area is bounded by the Missouri
border to KS 68, KS 68 to U.S-169, U.S. 169 to KS 7, KS 7 to KS 31, KS
31 to U.S. 69, U.S. 69 to KS 239, KS 239 to the Missouri border.
South Flint Hills Unit: The area is bounded by Highways U.S. 50 to
KS 57, KS 57 to U.S. 75, U.S. 75 to KS 39, KS 39 to KS 96, KS 96 to
U.S. 77, U.S. 77 to U.S. 50.
Central Flint Hills Unit: That area southwest of Topeka bounded by
Highways U.S. 75 to I-35, I-35 to U.S. 50, U.S. 50 to U.S. 77, U.S. 77
to I-70, I-70 to U.S. 75.
Southeast Unit: That area of southeast Kansas bounded by the
Missouri border to U.S. 160, U.S. 160 to U.S. 69, U.S. 69 to KS 39, KS
39 to U.S. 169, U.S. 169 to the Oklahoma border, and the Oklahoma
border to the Missouri border.
Montana (Central Flyway Portion)
Sheridan County: Includes all of Sheridan County.
Remainder: Includes the remainder of the Central-Flyway portion of
Montana.
Nebraska
North Unit: Keya Paha County east of U.S. 183 and all of Boyd
County, including the boundary waters of the Niobrara River, all of
Knox County and that portion of Cedar County west of U.S. 81.
East Unit: The area east of a line beginning at U.S. 183 at the
northern State line; south to NE 2; east to U.S. 281; south to the
southern State line, excluding the North Unit.
West Unit: All of Nebraska west of the East Unit.
New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion)
Light Geese
Middle Rio Grande Valley Unit: The Central-Flyway portions of
Socorro and Valencia Counties.
Remainder: The remainder of the Central-Flyway portion of New
Mexico.
North Dakota
Dark Geese
Missouri River Zone: That area encompassed by a line extending from
the South Dakota border north on U.S. 83 and I-94 to ND 41, north to ND
53, west to U.S. 83, north to ND 23, west to ND 37, south to ND 1804,
south approximately 9 miles to Elbowoods Bay on Lake Sakakawea, south
and west across the lake to ND 8, south to ND 200, east to ND 31, south
to ND 25, south to I-94, east to ND 6, south to the South Dakota
border, and east to the point of origin.
Statewide: All of North Dakota.
South Dakota
Dark Geese
Missouri River Unit: The Counties of Bon Homme, Brule, Buffalo,
Campbell, Charles Mix, Corson (east of SD 65), Dewey, Gregory, Haakon
(north of Kirley Road and east of Plum Creek), Hughes, Hyde, Lyman
(north and east of I-90 and U.S. 183), Potter, Stanley, Sully, Tripp
(east of U.S. 183), Walworth, and Yankton (west of U.S. 81).
Remainder: The remainder of South Dakota.
Dark Geese
Texas
West Unit: That portion of the State lying west of a line from the
international toll bridge at Laredo; north along I-35 and I-35W to Fort
Worth; northwest along US 81 and US 287 to Bowie; and north along US 81
to the Oklahoma border.
East Unit: Remainder of State.
Wyoming (Central Flyway Portion)
Area 1: Albany, Campbell, Carbon, Crook, Johnson, Laramie,
Niobrara, Sheridan, and Weston Counties east of the Continental Divide.
Area 2: The Counties of Converse and Natrona.
Area 3: The Counties of Bighorn, Fremont, Hot Springs, Park, and
Washakie.
Area 4: Goshen County.
Area 5: Platte County.
Pacific Flyway
Arizona
GMU 22 and 23: Game Management Units 22 and 23.
Remainder of State: The remainder of Arizona.
California
Northeastern Zone: That portion of the State east and north of a
line beginning at the Oregon border; south and west along the Klamath
River to the mouth of Shovel Creek; south along Shovel Creek to Forest
Service Road 46N10; south and east along FS 46N10 to FS 45N22; west and
south along FS 45N22 to U.S. 97 at Grass Lake Summit; south and west
along U.S. 97 to I-5 at the town of Weed; south along I-5 to CA 89;
east and south along CA 89 to the junction with CA 49; east and north
on CA 49 to CA 70; east on CA 70 to U.S. 395; south and east on U.S.
395 to the Nevada border.
Colorado River Zone: Those portions of San Bernardino, Riverside,
and Imperial Counties east of a line extending from the Nevada border
south along U.S. 95 to Vidal Junction; south on a road known as
``Aqueduct Road'' in San Bernardino County through the town of Rice to
the San Bernardino-Riverside County line; south on a road known in
Riverside County as the ``Desert Center to Rice Road'' to the town of
Desert Center; east 31 miles on I-10 to the Wiley Well Road; south on
this road to Wiley Well; southeast along the Army-Milpitas Road to the
Blythe, Brawley, Davis Lake intersections; south on the Blythe-Brawley
paved road to the Ogilby and Tumco Mine Road; south on this road to
U.S. 80; east seven miles on U.S. 80 to the Andrade-Algodones Road;
south on this paved road to the Mexican border at Algodones, Mexico.
Southern Zone: That portion of southern California (but excluding
the Colorado River Zone) south and east of a line extending from the
Pacific Ocean east along the Santa Maria River to CA 166 near the City
of Santa Maria; east on CA 166 to CA 99; south on CA 99 to the crest of
the Tehachapi Mountains at Tejon Pass; east and north along the crest
of the Tehachapi Mountains to CA 178 at Walker Pass; east on CA 178 to
U.S. 395 at the town of Inyokern; south on U.S. 395 to CA 58; east on
CA 58 to I-15; east on I-15 to CA 127; north on CA 127 to the Nevada
border.
Balance-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of California not included
in the Northeastern, Southern, and the Colorado River Zones.
Del Norte and Humboldt Area: The Counties of Del Norte and
Humboldt.
Sacramento Valley Area: That area bounded by a line beginning at
Willows in Glenn County proceeding south on I-5 to Hahn Road north of
Arbuckle in Colusa County; easterly on Hahn Road and the Grimes
Arbuckle Road to Grimes on the Sacramento River; southerly on the
Sacramento River to the Tisdale Bypass to O'Banion Road; easterly on
O'Banion Road to CA 99; northerly on CA 99 to the Gridley-Colusa
Highway in Gridley in Butte County; westerly on the Gridley-Colusa
Highway to the River Road; northerly on the River Road to the Princeton
Ferry; westerly across the Sacramento River to CA 45; northerly on CA
45 to CA 162; northerly on CA 45-162 to Glenn; westerly on CA 162 to
the point of beginning in Willows.
Western Canada Goose Hunt Area: That portion of the above described
Sacramento Valley Area lying east of a line formed by Butte Creek from
the Gridley-Colusa Highway south to the Cherokee Canal; easterly along
the Cherokee Canal and North Butte Road to West Butte Road; southerly
on West Butte Road to Pass Road; easterly on Pass Road to West Butte
Road; southerly on West Butte Road to CA 20; and westerly along CA 20
to the Sacramento River.
San Joaquin Valley Area: That area bounded by a line beginning at
Modesto in Stanislaus County proceeding west on CA 132 to I-5;
southerly on I-5 to CA 152 in Merced County; easterly on CA 152 to CA
165; northerly on CA 165 to CA 99 at Merced; northerly and westerly on
CA 99 to the point of beginning.
Colorado (Pacific Flyway Portion)
Browns Park Area: The Browns Park portion of Moffatt County.
Delta/Montrose Area: All of Delta and Montrose Counties.
Gunnison/Saguache Area: Gunnison County and that portion of
Saguache County west of the Continental Divide.
Dolores/Montezuma Area: All of Dolores and Montezuma Counties.
State Area: The remainder of the Pacific-Flyway Portion of
Colorado.
Idaho
Zone 1: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai,
Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, and Shoshone Counties.
Zone 2: The Counties of Ada; Adams; Boise; Canyon; those portions
of Elmore north and east of I-84, and south and west of I-84, west of
ID 51, except the Camas Creek drainage; Gem; Owyhee west of ID 51;
Payette; Valley; and Washington.
Zone 3: The Counties of Blaine; Camas; Cassia; those portions of
Elmore south of I-84 east of ID 51, and within the Camas Creek
drainage; Gooding; Jerome; Lincoln; Minidoka; Owyhee east of ID 51;
Power within the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge; and Twin Falls.
Zone 4: The Counties of Bear Lake; Bingham within the Blackfoot
Reservoir drainage; Bonneville, Butte; Caribou except the Fort Hall
Indian Reservation; Clark; Custer; Franklin; Fremont; Jefferson; Lemhi;
Madison; Oneida; Power west of ID 37 and ID 39 except the Minidoka
National Wildlife Refuge; and Teton.
Zone 5: All lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian
Reservation, including private inholdings; Bannock County; Bingham
County, except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage;
and Power County east of ID 37 and ID 39.
In addition, goose frameworks are set by the following geographical
areas:
Northern Unit: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho,
Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, and Shoshone Counties.
Southwestern Unit: That area west of the line formed by U.S. 93
north from the Nevada border to Shoshone, northerly on ID 75 (formerly
U.S. 93) to Challis, northerly on U.S. 93 to the Montana border (except
the Northern Unit and except Custer and Lemhi Counties).
Southeastern Unit: That area east of the line formed by U.S. 93
north from the Nevada border to Shoshone, northerly on ID 75 (formerly
U.S. 93) to Challis, northerly on U.S. 93 to the Montana border,
including all of Custer and Lemhi Counties.
Montana (Pacific Flyway Portion)
East of the Divide Zone: The Pacific-Flyway portion of the State
located east of the Continental Divide.
West of the Divide Zone: The remainder of the Pacific-Flyway
portion of Montana.
Nevada
Clark County Zone: Clark County.
Remainder-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of Nevada.
New Mexico (Pacific Flyway Portion)
North Zone: The Pacific-Flyway portion of New Mexico located north
of I-40.
South Zone: The Pacific-Flyway portion of New Mexico located south
of I-40.
Oregon
Western Zone: All counties west of the summit of the Cascades,
excluding Klamath and Hood River Counties.
Special Canada Goose Management Area: Those portions of Coos,
Curry, Douglas, and Lane Counties west of U.S. 101; and that portion of
western Oregon west and north of a line starting at the Columbia River
at Portland, south on I-5 to OR 22 at Salem, east on OR 22 to the
Stayton Cutoff, south on the Stayton Cutoff to Stayton and straight
south to the Santiam River, west (downstream) along the north shore of
the Santiam River to I-5, south on I-5 to OR 126 at Eugene, west on OR
126 to OR 36, north on OR 36 to Forest Road 5070 at Brickerville, west
and south on Forest Road 5070 to OR 126, west on OR 126 to the Pacific
Coast.
Northwest Oregon Special Permit Goose Area: Includes Sauvie Island
Wildlife Area, only in designated areas but excluding North Unit and
Columbia River Beaches, private lands of Sauvie Island, and including
Scappoose Flat and Deer Island, lower Columbia River Area, Ankeny
National Wildlife Refuge, private lands adjacent to William L. Finley
National Wildlife Refuge, and private lands adjacent to Baskett Slough
National Wildlife Refuge.
Lower Columbia River Early-Season Canada Goose Zone: Those portions
of Clatsop, Columbia, and Multnomah Counties within the following
boundary: beginning at Portland, Oregon, at the south end of the
Interstate 5 Bridge; south on I-5 to Highway 30; west on Highway 30 to
the town of Svensen; south from Svensen to Youngs River Falls; due west
from Youngs River Falls to the Pacific Ocean coastline; north along the
coastline to a point where Clatsop Spit and the South Jetty meet; due
north to the Oregon-Washington border; east and south along the Oregon-
Washington border to the I-5 Bridge; south on the I-5 Bridge to the
point of beginning.
Northwest Oregon Early-Season Canada Goose Zone: All of Benton,
Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk,
Multnomah, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill Counties; except for the
Lower Columbia River Zone.
Eastern Zone: All counties east of the summit of the Cascades,
including all of Klamath and Hood River Counties.
Columbia Basin Goose Area: Gilliam, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla,
Union, Wallowa, and Wasco Counties.
Harney, Klamath, Lake and Malheur Counties Zone: All of Harney,
Klamath, Lake, and Malheur Counties.
Utah
Washington County Zone: All of Washington County.
Remainder-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of Utah.
Early-Season Canada Goose Area: Cache County.
Washington
East Zone: All areas east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of
the Big White Salmon River in Klickitat County.
Columbia Basin Goose Area: Adams, Benton, Douglas, Franklin, Grant,
Kittitas, Lincoln, Okanogan, Spokane, and Walla Counties and east of
Satus Pass (U.S. 97) in Klickitat County.
West Zone: All areas west of the East Zone.
Lower Columbia River Area: Clark, Cowlitz, Pacific and Wahkiakum
Counties.
Skagit Area: Island, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom Counties.
Lower Columbia River Early-Season Canada Goose Zone: Beginning at
the Washington-Oregon border on the I-5 Bridge near Vancouver,
Washington; north on I-5 to Kelso; west on Highway 4 from Kelso to
Highway 401; south and west on Highway 401 to Highway 101 at the
Astoria-Megler Bridge; west on Highway 101 to Gray Drive in the City of
Ilwaco; west on Gray Drive to Canby Road; southwest on Canby Road to
the North Jetty; southwest on the North Jetty to its end; southeast to
the Washington-Oregon border; upstream along the Washington-Oregon
border to the point of origin.
Wyoming (Pacific Flyway Portion): See State Regulations.
Bear River Area: That portion of Lincoln County described in State
regulations.
Salt River Area: That portion of Lincoln County described in State
regulations.
Eden-Farson Area: Those portions of Sweetwater and Sublette
Counties described in State regulations.
Swans
Central Flyway
South Dakota: Brown, Campbell, Clark, Codington, Deuel, Day,
Edmunds, Faulk, Grant, Hamlin, Marshall, McPherson, Potter, Roberts,
Spink, and Walworth.
Pacific Flyway
Montana (Pacific Flyway Portion)
Open Area: Cascade, Hill, Liberty, Pondera, Teton, and Toole
Counties.
Nevada
Open Area: Churchill, Lyon, and Pershing Counties.
Utah:
Open Area: Statewide, except Cache, Daggett, Rich and Uintah
Counties.
[FR Doc. 94-23945 Filed 9-26-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-F
