[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 27, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50042-50067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-23995]
[[Page 50041]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part IV
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
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 187 / Wednesday, September 27, 1995 /
Rules and Regulations
[[Page 50042]]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 20
RIN 1018-AC79
Migratory Bird Hunting; Final Frameworks for Late-Season
Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This rule prescribes final late-season frameworks from which
States may select season dates, limits, and other options for the 1995-
96 migratory bird hunting season. These late seasons include most
waterfowl seasons, the earliest of which generally commence on or about
October 1, 1995. 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, 1995.
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, (703) 358-
1714.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulations Schedule for 1995
On March 24, 1995, the Service published for public comment in the
Federal Register (60 FR 15642) a proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20, with
comment periods ending July 21 for early-season proposals and September
4 for late-season proposals. Due to some unforeseen and uncontrollable
publishing delays in the proposed early- and late-season regulations
frameworks, the Service extended the public comment period to July 31
for early seasons and September 7 for late seasons. These regulations
were 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 16, 1995, the Service published for public comment a
second document (60 FR 31890) which provided supplemental proposals for
early- and late-season migratory bird hunting regulations frameworks.
On June 22, 1995, a public hearing was held in Washington, DC, as
announced in the March 24 and June 16 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 21, 1995, the Service published in the Federal
Register (60 FR 37754) a third document in the series of proposed,
supplemental, and final rulemaking documents which dealt specifically
with proposed early-season frameworks for the 1995-96 season. On August
3, 1995, a public hearing was held in Washington, DC, as announced in
the March 24, June 16, and July 21 Federal Registers, to review the
status of waterfowl. Proposed hunting regulations were discussed for
these late seasons. On August 28, 1995, the Service published a fourth
document (60 FR 44463) which dealt specifically with proposed
frameworks for the 1995-96 late-season migratory bird hunting
regulations. The fifth document in the series, published August 29,
1995 (60 FR 45020), contained 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 1995-96. On August 31,
1995, the Service published in the Federal Register (60 FR 45628) 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. This document, which establishes final frameworks for
late-season migratory bird hunting regulations for the 1995-96 season,
is the seventh in the series.
Review of Comments and the Service's Response
Public-hearing and written comments received through September 7,
1995, relating to proposed late-season frameworks are discussed and
addressed here. Seven individuals presented statements at the August 3,
1995, public hearing. Individuals and the organizations represented
were: Lloyd Alexander, Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife; Bruce
Barbour, National Audubon Society; Richard Elden, Michigan Department
of Natural Resources; Mike Harris, Maryland Guide Association; Dr.
Rollin Sparrowe, Wildlife Management Institute and The Trumpeter Swan
Society; Scott Sutherland, Ducks Unlimited; and George Vandel, Central
Flyway Council. The Service received 105 written comments that
specifically addressed late-season issues. These late-season comments
are summarized and discussed in the subject order used in the March 24,
1995, 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 1994-95 late-season frameworks. For those topics where a Council
recommendation is not shown, the Council supported continuing the same
frameworks as in 1994-95.
General
Written Comments: The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and
Bear Arms requested that the Service give greater consideration to the
traditions and heritage of hunting when formulating the annual
regulations. Specifically, the Committee cited the costs of hunting,
the lack of standardized opening days, the lack of considerations for
youth, education of the public, and the financial rewarding of
landowners for their stewardship of public wildlife as areas where a
lack of concern has contributed to the erosion of hunting.
The Humane Society of the United States (Humane Society) expressed
concern that the public was not well represented in the regulations-
establishment process and requested establishment of a system directly
involving the non-hunting public. In addition, they recommended that
the Service undertake efforts to obtain population estimates for all
hunted species.
An individual from Wisconsin expressed support for the existing
shooting hours of one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. He also
opposed the requirement for steel shot and urged the development of
non-toxic alternatives. The Andover Sportsmen's Club and the Concerned
Coastal Sportsmen's Association, both of Massachusetts, also expressed
support for the existing
[[Page 50043]]
shooting hours. Further, the clubs requested that the Service initiate
regulations for waterfowl guides and provide more educational
information regarding safety, conservation, and regulations.
Service Response: The regulations-development process is a well-
established system directly involving the Flyway Councils, the States,
non-governmental organizations and the public. When the preliminary
proposed rulemaking document was published in the Federal Register on
March 24, 1995, the Service 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 and meetings were set to give
the greatest possible opportunity for public input to the process given
the time constraints. The Service is obligated to, and does, give
serious consideration to all information received as public comment.
Further, the Service believes that any party that wishes to become
directly involved in the current process can do so through any number
of available opportunities.
Regarding population estimates for hunted species, 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.
While the Service recognizes that some population estimates are better
than others, the Service has no reason to believe that the hunting
seasons provided herein are inconsistent with the current status of
waterfowl populations and long-term population goals.
1. Ducks
The categories used to discuss issues related to duck harvest
management are as follows: (A) General Harvest Strategy, (B) Framework
Dates, (C) Season Length and Bag Limits, (D) Zones and Split Seasons,
and (E) Special Seasons/Species Management. Only those categories
containing substantial recommendations are included below.
A. General Harvest Strategy
Public-Hearing Comments: Mr. Bruce Barbour supported the Adaptive
Harvest Management (AHM) process used in selecting this year's liberal
package and specified species restrictions. He indicated that increased
hunting opportunity will occur on all species under the liberal option,
and efforts should be initiated to cooperatively develop harvest
approaches for each of these species.
Dr. Rollin Sparrowe commended the Service and State cooperators for
their commitment toward implementing the AHM approach to duck hunting
and to distance the process from political influence. He supported
partial adoption of the AHM approach this year which recognized goals
established in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. He was
pleased that after years of concern about the status of ducks, more
liberal seasons could be offered.
Mr. Scott Sutherland also expressed support for AHM and the
regulatory matrix proposed by the Service this year which resulted in
the liberal package recommendation. Under full implementation of AHM,
however, Mr. Sutherland expressed a desire to modify the framework
packages allowing a consideration of longer seasons with smaller daily
bag limits.
Mr. George Vandel supported the proposed use of flexible framework
opening and closing dates for duck seasons in the Central Flyway, the
liberal regulatory package, and the AHM process that was used in this
interim year prior to its full implementation. He thanked the Service
for the assistance with communication efforts on behalf of AHM, but
pointed out that continuing efforts will be necessary for successful
implementation in future years. He then strongly suggested that the
Service work closely with the Flyway Councils in developing regulatory
packages for next year. He believed that this cooperation will be
especially crucial for further implementation by facilitating ownership
and support for full implementation of AHM in 1996.
Written Comments: The Pennsylvania Game Commission expressed
support for the proposed regulations strategy as an interim approach
for 1995 only. They continue to be concerned that the process relies on
mid-continent mallards as a basis for regulatory changes in the
Atlantic Flyway.
Likewise, the Delaware Department of Fish and Wildlife generally
endorsed the concept of regulatory packages but remained concerned that
the process was linked to the mid-continent populations of mallards and
prairie-wetland conditions.
The Illinois Department of Conservation also expressed support for
the AHM process but were concerned that there had been insufficient
time to properly educate the public. They also felt that the set of
regulatory options offered may be too limited, particularly with regard
to bag limits.
The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks expressed
support for AHM and the interim steps proposed for the 1995-95 hunting
season. Additionally, they supported the idea of expanding the status
of duck breeding populations and habitat used in AHM from mallards and
prairie-Canada ponds to include other duck species and ponds in the
Dakotas and Montana.
The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks expressed
support for the development and implementation of AHM. They continued
to stress, however, the need for additional communications efforts
relative to the status of duck populations and the implementation of
more liberal regulations. They also believed that failure to renew the
1995 Farm Bill poses one of the greatest threats to continued recovery
and maintenance of duck populations.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources commended the Service for
their efforts in the cooperative development of AHM and supported
implementation of this strategy in 1995 to the extent possible.
Although they see a need for further refinement of the regulatory
options, particularly for pintails, they supported the proposed option
for 1995.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department supported 1995-96 as the
transition year to full implementation of AHM for establishing duck
seasons and bag limits in 1996-97. Texas believed that the Service
Regulations Committee (SRC) must improve the input process for the four
Flyway Councils if AHM is to gain the understanding and support needed
to assure its longevity in setting duck seasons. In addition, Texas
states that the SRC and the Service Director should utilize Flyway
Consultants early in the 1996-97 regulations process to facilitate
communications between the Flyway Councils and the Service with
consultants functioning in a role similar to that played this year by
the AHM Task Force in working with the AHM Technical Working Group to
facilitate and strengthen Federal/Flyway communications in AHM
regulation package development. Texas believed that early involvement
by the Consultants would help assure improved coordination and
explanation of the various regulation packages with the States and
Flyway Councils before and during the March council meetings.
The National Rifle Association agreed that the approach to setting
duck hunting regulations is in need of
[[Page 50044]]
improvement and applauded the adoption of AHM for the 1995-96 season.
They are concerned, however, that management strategies for North
American duck populations would be implemented without species-specific
population information. In particular, they are concerned about how and
when the AHM process will be implemented for species other than
mallards.
The California Waterfowl Association commended the Service for
moving forward with AHM. They did express concern, however, for the
potential of a season closure in California, the AHM terminology
regarding regulations packages, and the use of only mid-continent
mallards and prairie-habitat conditions in the AHM process.
Individuals from Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Tennessee
expressed support for the AHM process and the Service's proposed
regulatory packages. However, one individual from Arkansas stated that
future AHM criteria should be adjusted to be more conservative. Another
individual from New York expressed dissatisfaction and strong concern
over the AHM regulatory packages citing the North American Waterfowl
Management Plan goal of 100 million birds in the fall flight, the use
of mid-continent population data, the appearance of moving too far too
fast, and the increased crippling rate associated with higher bag
limits. An individual from Illinois expressed concern that the proposed
liberalizations in duck hunting regulations were not consistent with
the goal of 100 million ducks in the fall flight.
Service Response: The Service appreciates the broad support
expressed for the concept of AHM, which is designed to increase
objectivity and efficiency in the setting of waterfowl hunting
regulations. Often in the past, the regulations-setting process was
characterized by a lack of agreement among managers on the best
approach to regulating harvest. The Service believes that this lack of
agreement was because: (1) harvest-management objectives were not
always clearly stated or agreed upon; (2) a large number of regulatory
options hindered assessment of their effects; and (3) there was
disagreement among technical experts on the degree to which hunting
affects duck populations. AHM improves upon the current approach using
clearly defined harvest-management objectives, a limited set of
regulatory options, and new data-assessment procedures to resolve
disagreement about the effects of hunting.
The decision criteria for the 1995-96 hunting season were based on
the status of mid-continent mallards and their breeding habitat, the
mallard population goal of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan
(i.e., 8.1 million mallards in the surveyed area), and 4 potential
regulatory options (i.e., closed, restrictive, moderate, and liberal).
The harvest ``prescriptions'' call for liberal duck-hunting regulations
if the mallard population is high (relative to the Plan goal),
breeding-habitat conditions are exceptionally good, or both.
Restrictive regulations or a closed season would be needed when
population status and habitat conditions are relatively poor. Moderate
regulations would be appropriate under intermediate population levels
and pond numbers. This year's estimates of 8.3 million mallards and 3.9
million ponds in Prairie Canada allow for the liberal option, which
contains season lengths and bag limits similar to those last used
during 1980-84. After information is available from population surveys
next spring, managers will evaluate what they have learned about the
effects of hunting. That information will then influence the harvest
prescriptions next year. This annual process of feedback is repeated
year after year, ensuring that managers improve their understanding of
the effects of regulations on waterfowl populations and make
adjustments to harvest strategies accordingly.
The Service recognizes that 1995 represents a transition year with
respect to implementation of AHM and that further refinement is needed.
In particular, the set of potential regulatory options will be reviewed
and necessary adjustments made based on the following criteria: (1)
options should differ sufficiently so that differences in harvest
levels and their impacts on duck populations can be detected with
current monitoring programs; (2) the set of options should produce
enough variation in harvest rates to permit identification of optimal
harvest strategies; and (3) regulatory options should reflect the needs
of law enforcement and the desires and abilities of hunters. The set of
options can be reduced or expanded as the need arises, but it is
important to use the same options long enough to identify patterns in
harvest rates under each regulatory option.
With respect to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan
(Plan), the Service appreciates support for linking the objectives of
harvest management with the population goals of the Plan. The Service
recognizes, however, that further consideration is needed regarding how
much emphasis to place on hunting opportunity when populations are
below Plan goals and how to best incorporate goals for species other
than mallards. There appears to be a misunderstanding about Plan goals.
The 100 million fall flight includes areas in Canada and the USA that
lie outside the annual survey area. If estimated duck abundance in
unsurveyed areas is included, the continental fall flight of ducks this
year should be well over 100 million.
The Service recognizes the limitations imposed by relying solely on
the status of mid-continent mallards for setting basic season lengths
and bag limits. It is important to note, however, that duck regulations
always have been based primarily on the status of mid-continent
mallards. This is because they are the most abundant duck in the
harvest and because mallards are good indicators of how many other
species are doing. For this year, the Service continues to make special
provisions within the basic frameworks for some species (e.g.,
pintails, black ducks, canvasbacks, wood ducks). During the next year,
the Service, in cooperation with the Flyway Councils and others,
intends to develop a conceptual framework and timetable for expanding
AHM to other populations of mallards and to other duck species.
The Service also recognizes that its prescription for closed
seasons under some combinations of population and pond numbers is a
source of concern. By law, however, the Service is mandated to consider
closed seasons (in fact, seasons remain closed unless action is taken
to open them). For the purpose of the 1995 regulations, only four
options (closed, restrictive, moderate, and liberal) were considered in
the assessment, with the recognition that closed or even restrictive
seasons likely would not be needed this year. Even if resource
conditions deteriorated dramatically, a closed season would not
necessarily be needed; the Service would first determine if more
restrictive regulations than those in the proposed restrictive option
would be compatible with resource status.
Though substantial progress has been made in communicating AHM to
the professional community, many conservation groups and the public-at-
large remain uninformed about the approach. Because AHM represents a
significant change in the approach to setting regulations, it is
important that this change be communicated to the public in a timely
fashion. Outreach efforts now are ongoing through the Service Public
Affairs Office, and State conservation agencies continue to play an
important role in educating non-governmental organizations and the
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media. Successful implementation of AHM will require continued
consensus building, not only among traditional decision-makers, but
also among the broader group of stakeholders who are concerned about
the conservation of waterfowl.
B. Framework Dates
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended
framework dates of October 1 to January 20.
The Upper-Region and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the
Mississippi Flyway Council recommended framework dates of September 28
to January 23.
The Central and Pacific Flyway Councils recommended framework dates
of the Saturday nearest October 1 (September 30) to the Sunday nearest
January 20 (January 21).
Written Comments: The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and
Parks opposed a fixed framework opening date, while an individual from
Mississippi expressed support for a January 31 framework closing date.
The Humane Society recommended that all seasons open at noon on
Wednesdays in order to reduce the high level of harvest associated with
traditional Saturday season openings. They further recommended that
season openings be delayed by two weeks in all breeding areas in order
to allow ducks time to leave natal marshes before being subjected to
hunting pressure.
Service Response: Traditional framework opening and closing dates
have been oriented to the period October 1 - January 20, either as
fixed calendar dates or ``floating'' dates, using as a guideline the
Saturday nearest October 1 and the Sunday nearest January 20 to select
opening and closing dates annually. In recent years, the Service has
established fixed calendar dates of October 1 - January 20 for all
Flyways. The fixed calendar dates of September 28 - January 23
recommended for the Mississippi Flyway this year would provide
consistently wider frameworks over the years than the fixed October 1 -
January 20 dates recommended for the Atlantic Flyway and the floating
dates recommended for the Central and Pacific Flyways. To maintain
consistency among Flyways in the procedures for selecting framework
dates, and because floating dates have been recommended annually for
the Mississippi Flyway in recent years, the Service proposes to return
to the traditional procedure using fixed calendar dates for the
Atlantic Flyway and floating dates for the Mississippi, Central, and
Pacific Flyways, all oriented to the October 1 - January 20 period.
However, the Service reiterates its previously stated policy to retain
the option of using framework dates as a harvest-management tool.
Regarding the Humane Society's recommendation for Wednesday season
openings, the Service notes that States have the option of adjusting
season opening and closing dates and shooting hours within the
framework limits to correspond with particular days and/or times.
C. Season Length and Bag Limits
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended a
50-day season with a 5-bird daily bag limit, including no more than 1
black duck, 1 hen mallard, 1 pintail, 1 canvasback, 2 wood ducks, 2
redheads, and no harlequin ducks. Further, the Council recommended that
States maintain a 40-percent reduction in the harvest of black ducks
from the 1977-81 base period.
The Upper-Region Regulations Committee of the Mississippi Flyway
Council recommended a 50-day season with a 5-bird daily bag limit,
including no more than 4 mallards (no more than 1 of which may be a
hen), 1 black duck, 1 pintail, 1 canvasback, 2 wood ducks, and 2
redheads.
The Lower-Region Regulations Committee of the Mississippi Flyway
Council recommended a 50-day season with a 5-bird daily bag limit,
including no more than 4 mallards (no more than 1 of which may be a
hen), 3 mottled ducks, 1 black duck, 1 pintail, 1 canvasback, 2 wood
ducks, and 2 redheads.
The Central Flyway Council recommended a 60-day season (83 days in
the High Plains Mallard Management Unit with the last 23 days of the
season taken no earlier than the Saturday closest to December 10) with
a 5-bird daily bag limit, including no more than 1 hen mallard, 1
mottled duck, 1 pintail, 1 canvasback, 2 wood ducks, and 1 redhead.
Furthermore, the Council recommended reinstating the point-system
option for establishing the daily bag limit for ducks in 1995. The
Council also would like to work with the Service in another cooperative
review of its point-system policy.
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended a 93-day season (100 days in
the Columbia Basin Management Unit) with a 6-bird daily bag limit,
including no more than 1 hen mallard, 2 pintails, 1 canvasback, and 2
redheads.
Written Comments: Two local organizations in Massachusetts and
individuals from Arkansas and Georgia expressed support for the
proposed 50-day season and 5-bird daily bag limit. Individuals from
Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Iowa and two people from Minnesota
expressed support for the proposed increase in season length but were
against the proposed bag limit increase. An individual from Wisconsin
expressed support for a 70-day season. Another individual from
Wisconsin and two people from Illinois supported a 50-day season and a
4-bird daily bag limit, while an individual from Tennessee supported a
40-day season and a 4-bird daily bag limit. One person from Virginia
requested a 73-day season.
An individual from Illinois expressed general concern over the
proposed regulatory package and a person from Michigan was against any
increase in the daily bag limit. Individuals from Louisiana and
Minnesota were opposed to a 50-day season and 5-bird daily bag limit
and a person from Iowa was opposed to a 40- to 50-day season with the
proposed 5-bird daily bag limit. Two people from Illinois and one
person from Minnesota recommended maintaining last year's regulations
of a 40-day season and a 3-bird daily bag limit, while another
individual from California expressed support for a 4-bird daily bag
limit. An individual from Illinois recommended a 30-day season and a 2-
bird daily bag limit. One individual from Kentucky expressed general
support for low limits, and an individual from Georgia was against any
lengthening of the season.
An individual from Minnesota stated that increasing the season
length and bag limits would encourage overharvest and wanton waste,
while a person from Illinois suggested keeping the bag limits low until
the populations were more secure and then gradually increasing both
season length and bag limits.
The National Wildlife Federation, in accordance with the
significantly increased duck populations, concurred with the Service's
proposal to expand duck hunting opportunities.
The Humane Society opposed the proposed liberalization of season
length and bag limits, believing that it was an unwarranted and unwise
action on the basis of only 2 years of good duck production.
Service Response: In reference to reinstating the point system, 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 limit no
greater than that allowed under the conventional daily bag limit. In
1994,
[[Page 50046]]
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
limit 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 had 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.
Regarding the recommendations for shorter seasons and smaller bag
limits, the Service has reviewed the current status of populations and
evaluated the potential impacts of the proposed frameworks. The Service
believes that the frameworks provided herein are consistent with the
improved status of ducks and long-term population goals.
D. Zones and Split Seasons
Written Comments: The Central Flyway Council and the Nebraska Game
and Parks Commission recommended that the Service eliminate its policy
that States may not zone and/or use a 3-way split season simultaneously
within a special management unit and the remainder of the State when
establishing duck hunting zones.
An individual from Virginia requested a continuous season with no
splits, while the Humane Society urged the Service to discontinue all
split and special seasons and recommended that any State establishing
such seasons reduce the total number of hunting days by a minimum of 10
days.
Service Response: The Service will continue to utilize the
guidelines that were established for the use of duck zone/split seasons
published in the September 21, 1990, Federal Register (55 FR 38898).
These guidelines contain specific limitations on special management
units, including the High Plains Mallard Management Unit in Nebraska.
The original justification and objectives established for the High
Plains Mallard Management Unit provided for additional days of hunting
opportunity at the end of the regular duck season. In order to maintain
the integrity of the management unit, current guidelines prohibit
simultaneous zoning and/or 3-way split seasons within a management unit
and the remainder of the State. Removal of this limitation would allow
additional proliferation of zone/split configurations and compromise
the original objectives of the management unit.
In regard to the recommendation that split and special seasons be
discontinued, the Service notes that States always have the option of
selecting a continuous season with no splits. Furthermore, the Service
is not aware of any information that split seasons are causing
detrimental impacts to populations.
The Service also reminds the Central Flyway Council that the report
on the High Plains Mallard Management Unit should be completed. The
Service did not receive the report by the Central Flyway Council's
target completion date of June 1995 and requests additional information
as to its status, including an updated target completion date.
G. Special Seasons/Species Management
i. Canvasbacks
Written Comments: An individual from Wisconsin supported the
proposed opening of the canvasback season.
Service Response: Results of the May Breeding Waterfowl and Habitat
Survey this year indicate that habitat conditions and the size of the
canvasback population are sufficient to open the season on canvasbacks.
Therefore, the Service is offering a bag limit of 1 canvasback per day
during the 1995-96 regular duck season.
ii. Redheads
Council Recommendations: The Mississippi Flyway Council recommended
a bag limit of 2 redheads per day, an increase from the bag limit of 1
redhead per day proposed by the Service.
Public-Hearing Comments: Mr. Richard Elden stated that, based on
the status of redheads this year, liberalization of the daily bag limit
for this species was warranted and biologically supported, and
requested that the Service reconsider its proposal and increase the
number of redheads in the daily bag limit from 1 to 2 birds in the
Mississippi Flyway.
Dr. Rollin Sparrowe questioned why the Service did not consider
adding an additional redhead to the bag limit in the Mississippi and
Central Flyways when populations seemed appropriate and urged the
Service to reexamine this aspect before frameworks were finalized.
Written Comments: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, in
letters dated June 6 and September 6, 1995, requested a bag limit of 2
redheads per day in the Central Flyway. They believe that a daily bag
limit of 2 redheads per day should have been part of both the moderate
and liberal packages for the 1995-96 hunting season based on the recent
increases in the breeding population. Further, they state that the
current population and harvest data substantiate the biological
justification for a daily bag limit of 2 redheads in both the Central
and Mississippi Flyways.
Service Response: The Service prefers that proposals for changes in
species- or population-specific regulations be based on more long-term
strategies rather than in response to short-term changes in population
estimates. The Service believes that such strategies should include the
following: (1) an assessment of how the population responds to harvest
and environmental conditions, (2) criteria that prescribe when
regulations should be changed (i.e., become more restrictive or more
liberal), (3) the range of regulatory options that will be considered
(e.g., ranges of season lengths and bag limits), and (4) considerations
for determining the efficacy of the harvest strategy. The proposals to
permit a bag limit of 2 redheads per day were received in late July,
and were based primarily in response to the estimated size of the
redhead population during spring 1995. Due to the timing of the
requests, analyses of biological data sufficient to address the four
criteria above could not be conducted. Further, additional harvest
opportunities on redheads in all Flyways will result from increases in
season lengths proposed for this year. The Service recommends that MBMO
and the Flyways cooperatively develop protocols and strategies for
addressing species- and population-specific limits within the context
of the AHM Initiative, and believes the AHM Working Group is the
appropriate forum for this endeavor.
4. Canada Geese
B. Regular Seasons
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended
that the regular season on the Atlantic
[[Page 50047]]
Population of Canada geese be suspended; except for West Virginia, the
Southern James Bay Population harvest areas of Pennsylvania, and a
newly created New England Zone [Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island,
Vermont (excluding the Lake Champlain Zone), Massachusetts (excluding
the Western Zone), and Connecticut (excluding Litchford and Hartford
Counties)]. In the New England Zone, the Council recommended a 30-day
season, with a framework of October 1 through November 30, with a 1-
bird daily bag limit. The Atlantic Flyway Council also recommended
that, in light of the decision to suspend the regular season on migrant
Canada geese flyway-wide, the Service should immediately begin a review
of framework dates for resident Canada goose seasons to determine
whether dates could be expanded to increase harvests.
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 Central Flyway Council recommended several changes for west-
tier dark geese: (1) an increase in the aggregate bag limit from 3 to 4
birds, (2) an extension of the framework closing date from January 31
to the Sunday nearest February 15 (February 18) for the Western Goose
Zone of Texas, and (3) an increase in the dark goose bag limit from 2
to 4 birds in Sheridan County, Montana.
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended that the bag limit for
Canada geese in central Montana, western Wyoming, and southeastern
Idaho be increased from 3 to 4 birds. The Council also recommended that
the daily bag limit for cackling Canada geese in the quota zones of
western Oregon and western Washington be increased from 1 to 2 birds.
Public-Hearing Comments: Mr. Lloyd Alexander supported the
Service's proposal to close the Canada goose season throughout the
Atlantic Flyway. He stated that existing data do not support a limited
season in the New England States and that survival rates on birds
migrating through the Maritime Provinces of Canada are actually lower
than those breeding in northern Quebec, to delineate this population,
he suggested that better data was needed. He also encouraged the
Service to contact the Canadian Wildlife Service and request that the
sport harvest on Atlantic Population Canada Geese be suspended in
Quebec and Ontario by emergency closure this year. Further, he asked
the Service to work with representatives of the native communities to
reduce subsistence harvest in northern Quebec and to ask the Canadian
Wildlife Service to review the harvest and consider restrictions on
Canada geese in the Maritime Provinces.
Mr. Bruce Barbour recommended that further restrictions on the
Atlantic and Southern James Bay Population of Canada geese and the
dusky subspecies should be sought for their recovery.
Mr. Mike Harris commented that Canada geese have changed their
movement patterns in recent years and no longer migrate north in the
spring, as they once did. Rather, he believes they remain as resident
birds and breed locally. He maintains that although these geese are in
good numbers, early seasons on these birds should not be allowed,
because it reduces the overall numbers of geese available during the
regular season. He claims that it is difficult to stay in business and
suggests that if the hunting season is closed on Canada geese, the
guides and outfitters should receive some financial assistance from the
Federal Government. He recommended that a 30-day season with a 1-bird
daily bag limit be offered until the changing patterns of resident
geese could be reviewed.
Dr. Rollin Sparrowe commended the Service and the Atlantic Flyway
Council for proposing the closure on Canada goose hunting in the
Atlantic Flyway, urged the Service to request the Canadian Wildlife
Service take similar action in Canada, and expressed support for
initiating research to better understand the problem.
Written Comments: The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and
Wildlife, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, the
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, and the Rhode
Island Division of Fish and Wildlife, expressed support for the
suspension of the 1995-96 regular Canada goose season throughout most
of the Atlantic Flyway, but opposed the Service's proposal to extend
the season closure into several New England States. They strongly urged
the Service to adopt the Atlantic Flyway Council's recommendation to
provide a reduced 30-day season, between October 1 and November 30,
with a 1-bird daily bag limit for States in the newly created New
England Zone. They argued that migrant Canada geese harvested in this
Zone are derived from Maritime Canada and believed that the status of
this group of geese is better than that of geese breeding in Northern
Quebec. Further, they believed a limited season is necessary to control
the rapidly growing resident population of Canada geese and to reduce
the number of nuisance complaints. The New York State Division of Fish
and Wildlife also requested that the western half of Long Island be
considered for inclusion into the New England Zone, based on band
recovery data, and be permitted a limited season as outlined above.
In Massachusetts, the Town of Yarmouth and two local sportsmen
organizations urged the Service to reconsider the Atlantic Flyway
Council's proposal for a 30-day season, 1-bird daily bag limit to
control numbers of non-migratory geese. Several individuals from
Massachusetts also complained about the growing public nuisance problem
with resident geese and stressed the need for an open regular season to
control their numbers. Special seasons on resident geese in September
and late January have not been an effective population-control
mechanism. Another individual from New York commented that resident
geese will explode as a result of the season closure on migrant Canada
geese and that farmers' fields will be eaten bare. He recommended a 30-
day season with a 2-bird daily bag limit, which would also increase the
income from Duck Stamp sales.
The Susquehanna River Waterfowler's Association of Pennsylvania
also requested that the Service consider a greatly reduced season of 30
days with a 1-bird daily bag limit rather than a complete closure. They
believe that once the season is closed, it will be difficult to reopen
because of opposition from anti-hunting groups. Another individual from
Maryland also worried that the season may not reopen when the goose
population rebuilds because of the strong anti-hunting forces. He
further objected to the late notice of the closure and stated that
hunting leases were, in many cases, already paid to the landowners.
Individuals from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New
York, and Pennsylvania expressed opposition to the season closure on
Canada geese, suggesting that migrant geese have changed their
migratory behavior and now breed locally. Thus, there are actually
great numbers of geese available to hunters. Individuals from
Pennsylvania and New York commented that local Cree Indians in Canada
were responsible for taking too many eggs and killing the birds on the
nests on the breeding ground in Canada. They suggested that the Service
consider the economic impacts of a closed goose season on farmers and
those sportsman who pay for leases.
[[Page 50048]]
They further requested that the Service should reimburse them for their
losses.
Several individuals from Connecticut supported the season closure
on Canada geese breeding in Northern Quebec, but commented that the
Maritime Canada goose population was stable. They believed that a
limited season in the New England area is justified because the hunting
season on the Maritime population in Canada was not closed. In
addition, five petitions containing 302 signatures were received from
residents of New York and Connecticut opposed to the closing of the
Canada goose season in New York and Connecticut. Another individual
from Massachusetts was critical of the Service and State wildlife
biologists for not making a bigger effort in previous years to reduce
the season length and bag limits.
Several individuals from Maine expressed their disappointment with
the season closure on Canada goose hunting and asked the Service to
reconsider a limited 26-day season with a 1-bird daily bag limit. This
would allow Maine hunters to hunt resident geese while having a
negligible effect on the migratory goose populations.
In Maryland, the Queen Anne's County Chamber of Commerce requested
that a moratorium on all Canada goose hunting be in effect during the
1995-96 season rather than allowing some seasons to occur on resident
geese. They added that these seasons have the potential of increasing
the harvests of migratory geese as well. Because of the traditional and
economic importance of goose hunting in their area, they maintain that
a total ban on Canada goose hunting would be the quickest way to
rebuild the population and reopen the hunting season.
Two individuals from Massachusetts, complained that migratory geese
have been declining for years due to over-harvesting, and as a result,
many were remaining to breed locally as resident geese. They were glad
that the Service finally recognized the problem, but felt that
jeopardizing the non-consumptive user because of benefits to hunters
was unconscionable.
The National Wildlife Federation expressed support for the
Service's proposal to suspend the Canada goose season throughout the
Atlantic Flyway for the 1995-96 hunting season. Furthermore, they urged
the Service to set goose hunting regulations that would increase the
harvest of nonmigratory resident geese in those few Atlantic Flyway
areas that would not be closed.
An individual from the Eastern Shore of Maryland expressed support
for the closure of the regular Canada goose season for as long as it
takes to rebuild the population to the levels of the mid-1980s. Other
individuals from Maine and New York supported the suspension of the
Canada goose season on the East Coast and one person from Maryland
requested a five-year moratorium on the hunting of migratory Canada
geese.
The Humane Society expressed support for the proposed closure on
Canada geese and further urged that the Service close the season on
Canada geese throughout the Atlantic Flyway with no exceptions.
An individual from Minnesota recommended a season opening no
earlier than October 7 and closing no earlier than November 20 for the
Lac Qui Parle Zone in Minnesota. He further recommended that the quota
be set at 7,500 Canada geese.
In the Pacific Flyway, an individual from Washington urged
additional protection for the dusky Canada goose population wintering
along the Chehalis River.
Service Response: Based on the continuing decline in the number of
breeding pairs of Atlantic Population (AP) Canada geese, the Service
endorses the Atlantic Flyway Council's recommendation to suspend the
1995-96 regular Canada goose season in the Chesapeake and Mid-Atlantic
regions of the Atlantic Flyway, with exceptions for West Virginia and a
portion of Pennsylvania. The substantial drop in numbers of AP Canada
geese (27 percent from 1994 and 75 percent from 1988) has continued
despite harvest restrictions imposed in 1992. However, the Service does
not support the recommendation to provide a 30-day season between
October 1 and November 30, with a 1-bird daily bag limit, for States in
the New England Zone. The AP Canada geese are currently managed under
an approved Flyway Management Plan as a single population unit,
including both Northern Quebec and Maritimes breeding areas. The
Service will continue to manage geese on a population basis, guided by
cooperatively developed management plans.
The information available to separate these populations into two
units, as the basis for the New England Zone, is currently very
limited. Survival rates, based on limited bandings, are actually lower
for the Maritimes component of the population than for geese in the
area where the Flyway Council recommended a complete season closure.
Also, productivity information, which would help assess the differences
in survival rates, is very limited. In addition, only 2 years of
population-survey data are available for Canada geese breeding in the
Maritimes, and these are too inconclusive to indicate whether numbers
of breeding pairs are stable or declining. The Service does not oppose
the delineation of a Maritime unit of AP Canada geese, if warranted,
but believes that more information is needed before beginning a harvest
strategy different from that for the component breeding in Quebec.
Therefore, the Service encourages the Flyway Council to work
cooperatively with the Canadian Provinces during the coming year to
gather more data, review the key population parameters involving the
Maritime component of AP Canada geese, update its AP Canada goose
management plan, and make recommendations regarding an appropriate
harvest strategy for this group of geese.
The Service recognizes the recreational and economic hardships to
hunters and the non-hunting public that will result from suspending the
regular hunting season on AP Canada geese this year in the Atlantic
Flyway. However, recent breeding pair surveys indicates that this
population has undergone a dramatic decline over the past few years and
the Service agrees with the Atlantic Flyway Council that very stringent
harvest control measures are needed to prevent further declines from
occurring. Also, regulatory restrictions taken in 1992 to reduce the
harvest were ineffectual and further declines in the population have
continued. Canada, in response to these dramatic declines, has joined
the Service in imposing season closures during the 1995-96 hunting
season. Thus, the Service wishes to minimize further risk to the
breeding population that would result from offering a limited hunting
season and to focus attention towards rebuilding the population. The
Service will continue to work closely with Canada, and the Atlantic
Flyway Council to closely monitor and annually reevaluate the
population status of AP Canada Geese.
Regarding special early-season framework dates, the Service concurs
with the Atlantic Flyway Council that the special circumstances
associated with the Flyway-wide closure of the regular Canada goose
season warrant a reevaluation of the special early Canada goose season
framework dates throughout the Atlantic Flyway. The Service agrees to
work with the Atlantic Flyway Council during the coming year to
determine if further changes to the special early-season framework
dates can be accommodated without adverse impacts to migratory Canada
geese in the Atlantic Flyway.
[[Page 50049]]
Regarding the Lac Qui Parle Zone in Minnesota, the Service only
establishes the frameworks, or outer limits, for dates and times when
hunting may occur and the number of birds that may be taken and
possessed. The State of Minnesota selects the actual season dates. This
year, Federal frameworks allow for a 30-day season, or when 16,000
birds have been harvested (whichever occurs first), between the
Saturday nearest October 1 and January 31. In addition, the State may
split the seasons into two segments.
Regarding the Central Flyway Council's request to increase the
dark-goose aggregate bag limit from 3 to 4 for the west-tier States,
the Service concurs with the requested increase for Canada geese.
Additionally, the Service is encouraged by the efforts of the Central
Flyway Council to begin the process of revising dark-goose management
plans with a target completion date in 1997. In the interim, current
Cooperative Management Plans would allow for the proposed increase in
Canada goose bag limits in the West-Tier States. Comments specific to
white-fronted geese are addressed under Item 5. White-fronted Geese.
Regarding the Pacific Flyway Council's request to increase bag
limits on Canada geese in portions of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, and
limits on cackling Canada geese in portions of Oregon and Washington,
the Service concurs.
C. Special Late Seasons
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended a
new experimental late season for resident Canada geese in New York, and
additional days and area modifications for existing seasons in New
Jersey, South Carolina, and Georgia. In addition, because of the high
harvest of migrant Canada geese, the Council recommended suspension of
the special late season in the Coastal Zone of Massachusetts.
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended revision of the Canada goose
season framework in Cowlitz County south of the Kalama River and Clark
County, Washington, to allow a special late season. The season would be
subject to the following conditions: (1) season dates would be February
5 through March 10, (2) bag limits and checking requirements would be
the same as the regular season, except that the season on cackling
Canada geese would be closed, (3) the season would end upon the
attainment of a quota of 5 dusky Canada geese (this quota would be
taken from the total of 90 allocated under the regular season), and (4)
fields selected for the season would not have more than 10 percent
duskys in the flocks using the fields. Additionally, the season would
be contingent upon an operational hazing program in place in the hunt
area, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal Damage
Control (ADC) in Washington. ADC would identify fields receiving
depredation and contact hunters from a list supplied by the Washington
Department of Fish and Game (WDFG). WDFG would evaluate season
effectiveness and estimate harvest, subspecies composition, hunter
participation, and report band recoveries.
Service Response: The Service concurs with the above
recommendations.
5. White-fronted Geese
Council Recommendations: The Central Flyway Council recommendations
regarding dark geese involve white-fronted geese. See item 4. Canada
Geese. Specifically pertaining to white-fronted geese, the Council
recommended an increase in the season length in the Eastern Goose Zone
of Texas from 72 to 86 days.
The Pacific Flyway Council recommended several changes to white-
fronted goose frameworks. The Council recommended that special bag-
limit restrictions on whitefronts be removed by placing them within the
overall dark goose limits except in the primary whitefront harvest
areas in Alaska; the Counties of Lake, Klamath, and Harney in Oregon;
and in the Northeastern and Balance-of-State Zones in California. In
Oregon, the Council recommended that all whitefront seasons be
concurrent with dark goose seasons. In California, the Council
recommended that the whitefront season be extended by two weeks in the
Sacramento Valley special goose closure portion of the Balance-of-State
Zone.
Written Comments: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
recommended that the Service's proposed bag limit of 5 dark geese,
which could contain no more than 1 white-fronted and 4 Canada geese, be
modified to allow no more than 2 white-fronted geese within a 4-dark
goose aggregate bag in the Western Goose Zone of Texas. Texas indicated
that a 2-bird daily bag limit on whitefronts would maintain harvests at
about current levels (3,500) in the Western Goose Zone of Texas.
An individual from Texas recommended maintaining the existing
white-fronted goose daily bag limit in the Western Goose Zone of Texas
at 3 birds. He further questioned the Service's mid-winter survey data
and argued that if the Service wanted to limit the harvest of
whitefronts until better data was available then the Service should
increase the dark-goose aggregate daily bag limit to 4 birds, of which
no more than 3 could be whitefronts.
Service Response: While the Service concurs with the Central Flyway
Council's request to increase the daily bag limit from 3 to 4 Canada
geese in the dark-goose aggregate bag limit for the West-Tier States
(see Item 4. Canada Geese), the Service believes that it is not
appropriate for white-fronted geese. Limits for white-fronted geese in
the aggregate bag limit have in the past been more liberal in the
western portion of the Central Flyway, which includes the West-Tier
States and the Western Goose Zone in Texas, because whitefronts were
relatively scarce and occurred almost incidentally in the harvest.
However, biologists have recently identified a large group of wintering
whitefronts in the Western Goose Zone in Texas, which are believed to
be part of the Western Segment of the Mid-Continent Population of
greater white-fronted geese. Further, the annual harvest of whitefronts
in the Western Goose Zone of Texas has averaged over 3,500 during the
past 3 years, which is substantially higher than that occurring in the
rest of the western portion of the Flyway. Because of the large number
of whitefronts now known to winter in the Western Goose Zone in Texas,
the Service believes that the whitefront limits should be more in line
with the remainder of those areas in the range of the Western Segment
Population of Mid-continent Population of greater white-fronted geese.
The Service also believes that the limits should be similar throughout
the western portion of the Flyway. Therefore, the frameworks that
follow include a daily bag limit of no more than 1 white-fronted goose
in the aggregate bag limit for the West-Tier States, including the
Western Goose Zone in Texas. The Service is encouraged by progress
initiated by the Central Flyway Council to revise dark-goose management
plans, including those for the Mid-Continent white-fronted goose
population. The target completion date, during 1997, should allow for
additional data-collection efforts on this group of whitefronts
wintering in the Western Goose Zone in Texas.
Regarding the Pacific Flyway Council's recommended changes in
frameworks governing the hunting of white-fronted geese, the Service
concurs and notes that the changes are in accordance with the harvest
strategy
[[Page 50050]]
developed by the Council, Native groups in Alaska, and the Service.
7. Snow and Ross's Geese
Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended
extending the framework closing date for snow geese to March 10.
The Upper-Region and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the
Mississippi Flyway Council recommended that the framework closing date
for light geese be extended to March 10 and the daily bag limit be
increased to 10 birds.
The Central Flyway Council recommended that the framework closing
date for east- and west-tier light geese be extended to March 10.
Public-Hearing Comment: Mr. Lloyd Alexander commended the Service
for extending the framework closing date on greater snow geese to March
10, but asked the Service to consider the option of allowing states to
split their seasons into 3 segments. He believed that the requested
option is needed to allow more flexibility in helping farmers deal with
crop-depredation problems.
Written Comments: The Pennsylvania Game Commission recommended that
the State of Pennsylvania be included in those wintering States offered
an extended framework closing date of March 10. They stated that
increasing the framework would allow farmers to deal with depredation
problems and provide additional hunting opportunity to Pennsylvania
hunters.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission requested that the 17
Rainwater-Basin counties proposed by the Service to be excluded from
the area where the framework closing date for snow goose hunting would
be extended to March 10 be included in the March 10 framework-closing-
date area. Further, they request that Burt, Washington, and Douglas
Counties north of Interstate 80 be added to the March 10 framework-
closing-date area. They also request that in lieu of Interstate 80, the
Platte and North Platte Rivers be the boundary separating the two areas
with different framework closing dates. They state that the reasons for
these recommendations are to increase the harvest of snow geese and the
primary concentration of late-winter snow geese in Nebraska is in the
Rainwater-Basin counties and along the Missouri River.
Service Response: The Service concurs with the requests to extend
the framework closing date for light geese to March 10 in the Atlantic,
Mississippi, and Central Flyways, but believes that this extension
should be limited to the primary wintering range of light geese in each
Flyway. For the 1995-96 hunting season, Interstate Highway 80 will be
the northern boundary of this extension in the Central and Mississippi
Flyways, with the exception of Nebraska. In Nebraska, the Platte River
will serve as the boundary. In the Atlantic Flyway, the extension will
be limited to the States of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Regarding Nebraska's recommendation to include the Rainwater-Basin
Counties and three counties north of the Platte River in the late-hunt
area, the Service does not agree with the recommendation. The Counties
north of the Platte River were not considered primary wintering areas
for light geese. The Rainwater Basin is an important spring staging
area for many species of migratory birds, and biologists believe that
hunting activities in March could be disruptive, increase potential for
disease outbreaks, and be incompatible with other uses.
The Service concurs with the recommendation to use the Platte River
as the boundary for the March 10 extension of the framework closing
date in Nebraska. If there is a need to refine this boundary, the
Service requests input from the two Flyway Councils to establish
biological criteria for such a refinement. These criteria should
include at a minimum the number of geese using an area and the
frequency among years an area is used for wintering. In the absence of
defined criteria, the Service will continue to use Interstate 80 and
the Platte River in Nebraska as the boundary in the Central and
Mississippi Flyways. The Service also reminds States that additional
areas proposed for inclusion in the late-hunt region should be
submitted to their respective Flyway Council for consideration. The
Service will work with the Flyway Councils to develop specific criteria
for use in the 1996-97 hunting season.
8. Swans
Council Recommendations: The Pacific Flyway Council reiterated its
recommendations for a swan season in portions of Montana, Utah, and
Nevada (see the June 16, 1995, Federal Register), except that the
period should be 3 years instead of 5 years and the trumpeter swan
quota allocation was made. Features of the Council's recommendation
include: (1) changing ending framework dates in all three States from
the Sunday closest to January 20 to December 1 for Montana, Sunday
closest to December 15 for Utah, and the Sunday following January 1 for
Nevada; (2) changing the hunt area in Montana by deleting those
portions of Pondera and Teton Counties west of U.S. Highways 287-89 but
including all of Chouteau County; (3) reduce Utah's statewide season to
just the Great Salt Lake Basin, defined as those portions of Box Elder,
Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, and Tooele counties lying south of State
Highway 30 and Interstate 80/84, west of Interstate 15, and north of
Interstate 80. Number of swan permits would remain unchanged for
Montana (500) and Nevada (650) but would be increased from 2,500 to
2,750 for Utah. A trumpeter swan quota of 20 birds would be allocated,
with 15 to Utah and 5 to Nevada, with the season being closed either by
the framework date or attainment of the quota, whichever occurs first.
All hunters in Utah and Nevada would be required to participate in a
mandatory parts check at designated sites within 72 hours of harvest
for species determination; and hunters in Montana would continue to
participate in a voluntary bill-measurement card program. The States
would continue to monitor harvest composition, swan population during
the hunt, and collect related harvest data. This information would be
reported to the Service in a preliminary report by March 31 and a final
report by June 30, 1996.
The Council offered the proposed frameworks in an attempt to
forward trumpeter swan range expansion efforts throughout the western
states and to cooperate with the Trumpeter Swan Society in their
efforts with this species. The quota on trumpeter swans is believed to
be biologically insignificant and estimated to be less than 1 percent
of the population. The combined sport and subsistence harvest of
Western Population tundra swans has averaged about 10 percent of the
midwinter index during the past 10 years without negative impact to
population status. In Utah, 26 percent of the swan harvest has occurred
after December 1 and 15 percent after December 15, with December
harvests as high as 57 percent in 1993. The Council believed that until
December hunts can be demonstrated to threaten trumpeter swans they
should be allowed to continue. Between 1962-94, upwards of 98 percent
of the Utah harvest occurred in the Great Salt Lake area; therefore,
closing of other areas will mainly remove local opportunity but not
have a great effect on the overall harvest. The 250 (10 percent)
increase in permits for Utah is requested to replace opportunity and
harvest lost through area and season closures. Nevada biologists have
no data suggesting that State's season is having any impact on
[[Page 50051]]
trumpeter migration between the Tristate area and wintering areas in
California. The Council offered these recommendations in an effort to
integrate Western Population tundra swan and Rocky Mountain Population
trumpeter swan management programs and to move ahead and evaluate
various aspects of both programs.
Public-Hearing Comment: Mr. Bruce Barbour indicated that both the
Eastern and Western Populations of tundra swans are stable and of no
management concern. The National Audubon Society supports efforts to
restore trumpeter swans throughout their former range, and believes
that issues related to the incidental take of trumpeter swans during
tundra swan seasons have been adequately addressed in this year's
proposal.
Dr. Rollin Sparrowe was supportive of the ongoing efforts to
restore and redistribute the Rocky Mountain Population of trumpeter
swans within the Tristate Area. He spoke of the conflict between range
expansion efforts and waterfowl hunting programs in the Pacific Flyway,
including tundra swan seasons in Montana, Utah, and Nevada. However,
The Trumpeter Swan Society was satisfied with the Service's proposal to
allow significantly modified swan seasons in those three States, which
should enhance the likelihood for successful range expansion by
trumpeter swans. He thanked the Pacific Flyway Council, the States of
Montana, Utah, Nevada, and Oregon, and the Service for successfully
developing a compromise that meets everyone's needs.
Written Comments: Ms. Ruth E. Shea, a wildlife biologist associated
with research and management of Rocky Mountain Population trumpeter
swans since 1976, by letter of July 29, 1995, described a proposal by
her and Dr. Rod Drewien which was the foundation of recommendations
from The Trumpeter Swan Society and the Pacific Flyway Council included
herein. The Shea-Drewien proposal incorporated two primary strategies:
(1) increasing protection of migrant trumpeter swans by tightly
focusing tundra swan hunts in time and place; and (2) authorizing a
small quota of trumpeter swans within each tundra swan hunt area in
order to eliminate the liability of the otherwise legitimate tundra
swan hunters who accidently shoot a trumpeter swan, with mandatory
check of birds to adequately implement a quota system. She attributes
the vulnerable status of this population to a diminished tendency to
migrate and to a winter distribution that is largely in overcrowded,
less favorable sites. She believes building a migration southward from
eastern Idaho, to the fall staging area of the Bear River Delta in Utah
would be an important step in restoring a secure winter distribution.
To enhance survival of those few trumpeters that currently migrate into
Utah and Nevada, Shea and Drewein proposed focusing tundra swan hunting
only in areas and at times where tundra swans are abundant and
trumpeters are less likely to be present or have access to suitable
security areas. She deemed an ending date of ``plus or minus'' December
1, in Utah to be the single most important feature of their proposal.
Rationale for using this date included: (1) in most years security
areas on the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge freeze around
Thanksgiving, potentially forcing swans to use non-secure habitats; and
(2) Service and Pacific Flyway efforts to assist in winter distribution
includes hazing swans from overcrowded areas, as early as practical in
November, which when coupled with shrinking habitat with the onset of
winter has potential for pushing swans into the Great Salt Lake Basin
by late November. She said that a December 1 closure would still give
Utah swan hunters about 45 days of opportunity and would provide future
opportunity to translocated trumpeters from Idaho to the Bear River
Migratory Bird Refuge vicinity during December. She believes trumpeter
swan restoration efforts have been stymied by real or perceived
conflicts with the swan hunt, but believes their recommended approach
would meet the very different management needs for two species of
swans.
The Trumpeter Swan Society (TTSS), again urged the Service to adopt
a closing date of December 1 (see the June 16, 1995, Federal Register)
or the first Sunday in December, if there is a tradition of ending
seasons on a Sunday, for the tundra swan hunting season in Utah to
provide additional protection for migrating Rocky Mountain Population
trumpeter swans. With the exception of the closing date in Utah, TTSS
is in agreement with the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendations as
reported in the Federal Register of June 16, 1995. Because these
trumpeter swans winter in marginal habitat in the Tristate region of
Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, and have a poor tradition for migrating
elsewhere, they will suffer a die-off in a severe winter. TTSS believes
a rapid redistribution to better winter habitat is critical to the
population's survival. TTSS had previously endorsed a 5-year
experimental plan proposed by Drewien and Shea [see comments from TTSS
and Shea elsewhere in this document]. Of the numerous recommended
changes, the most critical feature of the plan was modification of
hunting seasons in Utah to increase survival of migrating swans. The
Great Salt Lake Basin is in the most likely migration path for
trumpeters from the Tristate area. The December 1 date is favored
because: (1) it coincides with the average date for freezeup of many
lakes in the Tristate area which could force trumpeters south, (2) it
is about the time that many wetlands within Bear River Migratory Bird
Refuge would also freeze which could increase the vulnerability of
trumpeters that have migrated to the refuge, and (3) it anticipates
increased trumpeter migrations and not past accidental shootings. TTSS
does not object to a quota system that would allow a take of trumpeter
swans if other conditions of their proposal are met, including
modification of seasons and boundaries for swan hunting and of
management on the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. The quota system is
not intended to protect trumpeters but to protect hunters from
liability if they accidentally shoot a trumpeter. TTSS regrets the
potential loss of hunting opportunity that the December 1 closing date
would have on tundra swan hunters but believes it may be the only way
to provided adequate protection to migrating trumpeters.
The Humane Society requests that the Service close all swan hunting
seasons and contends that tundra swan hunting impedes, if not prevents,
winter range expansion and recovery of trumpeter swans. The Humane
Society says the Pacific Flyway Council's recommendation for increased
permits in Utah and a quota on trumpeter swans in exchange for season
modifications should be denied.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, did not support the
proposed frameworks for tundra swan hunting in Utah. They believed that
the proposed closing date of the first Sunday in December was
arbitrary, overly restrictive, likely without benefits to trumpeter
swans, and will inhibit the ability to learn and make informed
management decisions in the future. They contended that changing the
ending date from December 15 was a breach in understanding that changes
in frameworks would be driven by data gathered by the mandated State-
monitoring programs. Because no trumpeters were detected by Utah's
monitoring program, they questioned the validity of the proposed
changes and the utility of costly and burdensome monitoring programs if
the resulting information was not used. Additionally,
[[Page 50052]]
Utah believes that state-support for trumpeter range expansion within
the Pacific Flyway and other Flyways may wane if the tundra swan season
was not as recommended by the Pacific Flyway Council.
Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, was generally
supportive of the changes in swan hunting to further range expansion of
trumpeter swans but believed that the earlier season ending dates would
preclude learning of the effects, if any, of tundra swan hunting on
trumpeter swans. Montana supported continuation of Utah's season ending
date to December 15 and suggested that the 15-trumpeter quota allocated
to Utah be partitioned for the December period, with the season being
closed should more than 5 trumpeters be taken during the first 2 weeks
of December and the ending date adjusted the following year. Montana
questioned why the Service objects to Utah's use of ``collection
barrels'' as a means of obtaining parts for species classification of
the harvest.
Mr. William A. Molini, Chairman of the Pacific Flyway Council, said
that the Service's decision to further reduce season lengths was
contrary to the commitment toward AHM, that the Council's two swan
subcommittees and Study Committee had addressed identifiable
conflicting strategies, and that there was unanimous agreement among
biologists within those groups that further restrictions on tundra swan
hunting could not be justified. He recognized the Service's obligation
to consider concerns of non-hunting groups but that obligation should
be tempered by the best data available. Then, on behalf of the State of
Nevada, he supported Utah's request for a December 15 season closure,
as initially recommended by the Council, and asked that various
information be considered before finalizing the frameworks. He notes
that: of the more than 850 swans checked in Montana, Utah, and Nevada,
during the 1994 season, only 1 was a trumpeter and that was taken in
Montana during November; 50 percent of Utah swan hunters reported
hunting during that portion of the season that is proposed to be
closed; that RMP has displayed an average annual growth rate of 7
percent, notwithstanding 33 years of hunting tundra swans; the early
closure precludes data collection to determine if seasons dates are a
factor contributing to the incidental take of trumpeters; data review
is currently provided to adjust seasons as appropriate to afford extra
protection to trumpeter swans; the quota of less than 1 percent was
designed to provide adequate protection to migrating trumpeters; and in
certain years as much as 57 percent of Utah's harvest occurs after the
first of December.
Ms. Ruth E. Shea, letter of August 26, 1995, responding to comments
from Robert G. Valentine (above), said the rationale for the
recommended December 1 closure related to the average annual date of
freezing of security areas on Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and of
habitats in the Yellowstone region, and the resulting reduction of
secure habitat options for trumpeters. She reported that in the winter
of 1994-95 at least 46 trumpeters were in Utah, with 20 in the Bear
River Refuge. She also believed that some successful hunters observed
hunting at Bear River Refuge did not report their take, and observed 2
swans illegally taken. She believed those changes in management to
resolve the hunter liability issue while protecting migrant trumpeters
and increasing their numbers before the population experiences
significant winter losses was prudent. While she finds no merit in an
open season on trumpeter swans, she believes the trumpeter swan quota
was necessary to protect tundra swan hunters so that the Council's
subcommittee would then begin to take effective action to solve the
trumpeter swan range problems. She believes that the proposed changes
will result in public acceptance of swan hunting for more years than
otherwise would have been possible and that the proposed frameworks
both resolve a legal dilemma and provide a proactive stance toward
managing a rare look-a-like species while providing swan hunting
opportunity. Lastly, she urges the Pacific Flyway Council to
demonstrate its leadership and commitment to restoring RMP trumpeters
to a secure distribution.
The Fund for Animals Inc., objected to allowing tundra swan hunting
in Utah and Nevada because it adversely impacts trumpeter swans. They
referenced comments made to the Service by D. J. Schubert in 1994
regarding this same issue. The quota of 20 trumpeter swans, less than 1
percent of the population, is without analysis, unacceptable,
arbitrary, and capricious. They believe that use of a ``quota'' with a
potential loss of 20 or more trumpeter swans would cause severe adverse
impacts to range expansion and recovery efforts and provide no
additional protection to those swans that could die during the
experimental period. They noted that the proposed rule neither
distinguishes between accidental and incidental take nor limits the
take to incidental shooting. In Utah, it would have been more
appropriate to close counties in the Salt Lake City area than the areas
proposed for closure. An earlier season closing date is required to
allow necessary range expansion of trumpeters and protection in the
event of an early freeze in the Tristate area. They said that
authorizing the take of trumpeter swans is inconsistent with Migratory
Bird Treaty Act responsibilities to conserve that species.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department supported a later closing date
for Utah's swan season and believed that the Service's proposed earlier
date was contradictory to efforts related to implementing adaptive
harvest management and the Harvest Information Program. They believed
that the Council's overall proposal, including season closure should
the quota be attained, was reasonable and that the harvest monitoring
program would provide definitive data on trumpeter harvest during the
tundra swan season.
Service Response: The Service commends all parties, particularly
the Pacific Flyway Council, The Trumpeter Swan Society, and Ruth E.
Shea for seeking common ground for ways to enhance RMP trumpeter swan
range expansion while retaining most aspects of tundra swan hunting.
The various recommendations were not made without obvious sacrifices.
These recommendations and various reports by the affected states
provided the basis for the Service's Environmental Assessment (EA)
``Proposal to establish general swan hunting seasons in parts of the
Pacific Flyway for the 1995-99 seasons'' (August 1995) which compares
various alternative strategies for reconciling conflicting swan
management strategies.
With the exceptions of The Humane Society's and The Fund for
Animals Inc.'s recommendations for no swan hunting and the various
recommendations for the season closing date in Utah, the Service
believes most recommendations are similar. The Council, Utah, Nevada,
Montana, and Arizona recommend a closing date for Utah that would be
the Sunday closest to December 15, which would range between December
12 and 18; TTSS recommends a closing date of December 1, but believes
there could be latitude to accommodate Sunday closing as is traditional
in most Western states; Shea recommends a date of about December 1; and
The Fund for Animals Inc. recommended, should a season be allowed, some
unspecified earlier date than that proposed by the Service.
The Service supports the basic recommendations from both the
Council
[[Page 50053]]
and the TTSS regarding number of permits, areas open to hunting, and a
quota on trumpeter swans and these are reflected in the frameworks.
However, considering the significance of the general swan season, the
Service will establish a season ending date of the first Sunday in
December. This would allow the ending date to range between December 1
and 7, with the season ending on December 3 this year and, if changes
are not deemed essential, December 1 in 1997, etc.
There is nothing biologically or phenologically precise about a
swan season ending date of the ``first Sunday in December''; but the
same can be said for ending dates of ``Sunday closest to December 15'',
``the Saturday closest to January 20'', or ``the first Sunday in
January'' as Utah typically selected prior to 1994. The earlier closing
date is intended to minimize, not prevent, the likelihood of trumpeter
swans that might be forced because of freezing to move from closed
areas in Utah or from the Tristate area into areas where they could be
shot. Considering the vagaries of weather and habitat, it would be
impossible to pick a date that would for each year either optimize
hunting or avoid trumpeters moving into hunt areas. Rather than either
some earlier or later ending dates, the Service believes the ``first
Sunday in December'' provides a reasonable balance between safeguards
for the population of trumpeter swans and opportunity for hunters.
The changes in frameworks are not intended to keep swan hunting
opportunity and harvest success unchanged from that which occurred
prior to 1994. Opportunity as measured by ``hunter days'' may be
reduced, but some hunters will undoubtedly redirect their activity to
earlier in the season and, therefore, offset that reduction to some
unknown extent. Opportunity as measured by ``number of hunters'' will
increase in Utah with the 250 additional permits. Average success may
also increase over previous years because hunter effort will be focused
in the area and at the time of peak tundra swan abundance.
The potential loss of hunting opportunity resulting from the
changes in frameworks may not be as great as suggested by data on
harvest and effort occurring after November 30. For example, in Utah,
during the 1994 season when the season ended on December 15, which was
19 days earlier than the 1969-93 average ending date of January 3, when
4 counties had been closed to swan hunting, and when there was no
increase in number of permits issued, hunters killed an estimated 888
swans. This harvest was more than twice that of the preceding year, the
third highest harvest in 11 years, and only 7 percent below the average
harvest during 1969-93 when also only 2,500 permits were authorized.
Utah's hunter-days were unchanged between 1994 (9,948) and the 1969-93
average (9,958).
The Service believes the use of a season ending date and a quota
that limits potential take of trumpeter swans are complementary means
of providing adequate protection to the trumpeter population during
this trial period. Regarding the biological appropriateness of a ``1
percent'' quota on RMP trumpeter swans, experience with Arctic-nesting
tundra swans suggests that a harvest rate upwards of 10 percent for the
Western Population allows for a stable to slightly increasing
population while a harvest rate of about 3 percent for the Eastern
Population allows a growth averaging about 2-3 percent per year.
Timely classification of swans and a high degree of hunter
compliance are important if the trumpeter quota is to be used
effectively. Because in 1994, only about 63 and 87 percent,
respectively, of the estimated number of successful Utah and Nevada
swan hunters submitted birds for classification, the Service must
insist upon assurances from Utah and Nevada that swans or determinant
swan parts will be examined by biologists and that maximum compliance
with reporting be sought. Because each State differs in administering
controlled hunts and obtaining hunter compliance of hunt requirements,
the Service does not specify how this should be done. However, it seems
reasonable that speciation could be accomplished within 3 working days
of a swan being taken and the rate of compliance be at least as high as
that for controlled big-game hunts.
The need or lack of need for Montana to have a season without a
quota or to use a different method of reporting harvest will be
reviewed annually. Departure from the requirements in Utah and Nevada
will likely be contingent upon the continued healthy status of that
segment of the trumpeter swan population that has the most potential
for be impacted by the Montana season.
The ``adaptive management process'' was suggested as a means of
determining the effects of swan hunting, if any, on range expansion of
trumpeter swans within the traditionally longer and later-closing
tundra swan season. Those involved with the process for duck hunting
know that it has taken 3 years to get to where we are today, with
concerns remaining about managing various stocks of mallards much less
other species. Evaluation of a management action or ``data driven''
management is indeed a key aspect of the adaptive management process,
but the process entails more than simply ``learning by doing.'' The
adaptive management process among many things requires an explicit
statement of the objective, an effective means of measuring results of
the action, and consideration being given to ``risks'' and
``constraints.'' Adaptive management could include reducing risk of an
action on one resource while forgoing opportunity with another or
making self-imposed restrictions in order to limit fiscal costs to
monitoring programs. The States' comments suggest a strategy that
places a lopsided emphasis at minimizing the risk to swan hunting
rather than reducing the risk to trumpeter range expansion. The
frameworks reflect constraints that reduce the risk to late-winter,
pioneering swans which are valuable because of their potentially
learned trait of moving out of problem sites in the Tristate area and
the costs incurred by the Service and the States of Idaho, Wyoming, and
Oregon in the restoration efforts. If monitoring costs are prohibitive,
consideration should be given to either increasing permit fees or
having fewer hunt days in a week so as to reduce costs of operating
check stations as is commonly done in several States that conduct
controlled goose or crane hunts.
The Service acknowledges and appreciates the efforts of the
Council's Study Committee and several swan subcommittees in developing
species and population management plans and annually collecting,
reporting, and analyzing information on the status and harvest of swans
and commends them for it. Information that they and others provide will
be considered by the Service each year, with the possibility of season
modifications should circumstance warrant; however, the intent would be
to make few if any changes during the 5-year trial period.
Lastly, the Service encourages the Pacific Flyway Council and all
member States to actively participate in the cooperative efforts to
enhance the status and distribution of RMP trumpeter swans.
23. Other
Written Comments: The Andover Sportsmen's Club and the Concerned
Coastal Sportsmen's Association, both local organizations in
Massachusetts, requested compensatory days for those States that
prohibit Sunday hunting.
[[Page 50054]]
The Humane Society expressed support for Sunday hunting closures.
Service Response: As the Service has stated numerous times, there
is no biological basis for prohibiting hunting on Sundays; therefore,
the Service neither promotes nor condones prohibition of Sunday
hunting. Sunday-hunting closures are established by State or local law.
While the Service has previously stated 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, the Service has recently committed to
work with the Atlantic Flyway Council to review and better clarify the
issue of compensatory days for those States prohibiting Sunday hunting.
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 were considered in the Environmental
Assessment, ``Waterfowl Hunting Regulations for 1995,'' which is
available upon request. In addition, the Service prepared an
Environmental Assessment, ``Proposal to Establish General Swan Hunting
Seasons in Parts of the Pacific Flyway'' to reconcile conflicting
strategies for managing two swan species in the Pacific Flyway by
establishing for a trial period a general swan season in portions of
Montana, Nevada, and Utah. The Environmental Assessment is available
upon request.
Endangered Species Act Consideration
In August 1995, 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 (room 432) and the Office of Migratory
Bird Management (room 634), Arlington Square Building, 4401 N. Fairfax
Drive, Arlington, Virginia.
Regulatory Flexibility Act; Executive Order 12866; and the
Paperwork Reduction Act
In the Federal Register dated March 24, 1995 (60 FR 15642), 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 (FRIA), and publication of a summary
of the latter. Although a FRIA is no longer required, the economic
analysis contained in the FRIA was reviewed and the Service determined
that it met the requirements of E.O. 12866. In addition, the Service
prepared a Small Entity Flexibility Analysis, under the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq), which further documented the
significant beneficial economic effect on a substantial number of small
entities. This rule was reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) under E.O. 12866.
These final regulations contain no information collections subject
to OMB review under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.). However, the Service does utilize information acquired
through other various information collections in the formulation of
migratory game bird hunting regulations. These information collection
requirements have been approved by OMB and assigned clearance numbers
1018-0005, 1018-0006, 1018-0008, 1018-0009, 1018-0010, 1018-0015, 1018-
0019, and 1018-0023.
Authorship
The primary author of this final rule is Ron W. Kokel, 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 1995-96 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 1995-96
hunting season are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 703-711, 16 U.S.C. 712,
and 16 U.S.C. 742 a--j.
Dated: September 20, 1995.
George T. Frampton, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
Final Regulations Frameworks for 1995-96 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, 1995, and March 10, 1996.
General
Dates: All outside dates noted below are inclusive.
[[Page 50055]]
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, brant, and all
other goose species except light geese.
Light geese - snow (including blue) geese and Ross' geese.
Area, Zone, and Unit Descriptions: Geographic descriptions related
to late-season regulations are contained in a later portion of this
document.
Area-Specific Provisions: Frameworks for open seasons, season
lengths, bag and possession limits, and other special provisions are
listed below by flyway.
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: 50 days and daily bag limit of 5
ducks, including no more than 1 hen mallard, 1 black duck, 1 pintail, 1
mottled duck, 1 fulvous whistling duck, 2 wood ducks, 2 redheads, and 1
canvasback.
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: The canada goose season
is suspended throughout the Flyway except as noted below. Unless
specified otherwise, seasons may be split into two segments.
Connecticut: A special experimental season may be held in the South
Zone between January 15 and February 15, with 5 geese per day.
Georgia: In specific areas, a 15-day experimental season may be
held between November 15 and February 5, with a limit of 5 Canada geese
per day.
Massachusetts: In the Central Zone, a 16-day season for resident
Canada geese may be held during January 21 to February 5, with 5 geese
per day.
New Jersey: An experimental special season may be held in
designated areas of Northeast, Northwest, and Southeast New Jersey from
January 27 to February 10, with 5 geese per day.
New York: A special experimental season may be held between January
21 and February 15, with 5 geese daily in Westchester County and
portions of Nassau, Orange, Putnam, and Rockland Counties.
Pennsylvania: 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.
An experimental season may be held in the Susquehanna/Juniata Zones
from January 20 to February 5 with 5 geese per day.
South Carolina: A 12-day special season may be held in the Central
Piedmont, Western Piedmont, and Mountain Hunt Units during November 15
to February 15, with a daily bag limit of 5 Canada geese per day.
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,
except closing dates may be extended to March 10 in New Jersey,
Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and
Virginia. 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.
States may split their seasons into two segments.
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 the Saturday nearest October 1 (September
30) and the Sunday nearest January 20 (January 21).
Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: 50 days with a daily bag limit of
5 ducks, including no more than 4 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.
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 Minnesota and Mississippi, the season may be split into two
segments.
In Arkansas, 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 (September 30) and January 31, and 107 days
for light geese between the Saturday nearest October 1 (September 30)
and February 14, except in those States and portions of States south of
Interstate Highway 80 in Iowa,
[[Page 50056]]
Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, where seasons for light geese may extend
until March 10. The daily bag limit is 10 geese, to include no more
than 3 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 and 14 days in the West Zone. 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 172,600 birds. Limits are 3 Canada geese daily and 10 in
possession.
(a) North Goose Zone - The season for Canada geese will close after
93 days or when 22,014 birds have been harvested in the Northern
Illinois Quota Zone, whichever occurs first.
(b) Central Goose Zone - The season for Canada geese will close
after 93 days or when 35,168 birds have been harvested in the Central
Illinois Quota Zone, whichever occurs first.
(c) South Goose Zone - The harvest of Canada geese in the Southern
Illinois and Rend Lake Quota Zones will be limited to 62,691 and 17,830
birds, respectively. The season for Canada geese in each zone will
close after 89 days or when the harvest limit has been reached,
whichever occurs first. In the Southern Illinois Quota Zone, 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.
In the remainder of the South Goose Zone, the season may extend for
89 days or until both the Southern Illinois and Rend Lake Quota Zones
have been closed, whichever occurs first.
Indiana: The total harvest of Canada geese in the State will be
limited to 98,000 birds.
(a) Posey County - The season for Canada geese will close after
65 days or when 7,200 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 3 Canada geese, except in the SJBP Zone, where the
daily bag limit is 2.
Iowa: The season may extend for 70 days. The daily bag limit is 2
Canada geese.
Kentucky:
(a) Western Zone - The season for Canada geese may extend for 65
days (80 days in Fulton County), and the harvest will be limited to
34,500 birds. Of the 34,500-bird quota, 22,425 birds will be allocated
to the Ballard Reporting Area and 6,555 birds will be allocated to the
Henderson/Union Reporting Area. If the quota in either reporting area
is reached prior to completion of the 65-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 65 days (80 days in Fulton
County). The season in Fulton County may extend to February 15. The
daily bag limit is 3 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: The season for Canada geese may extend for 9 days.
During the season, the daily bag limit for Canada and white-fronted
geese 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 99,500 birds.
(a) North Zone - The framework opening date for all geese is
September 23 and the season for Canada geese may extend for 40 days.
The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(b) Middle Zone - The season for Canada geese may extend for 40
days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
(c) South Zone
(1) Allegan County GMU - The season for Canada geese will close
after 51 days or when 2,500 birds have been harvested, whichever occurs
first. The daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose.
(2) Muskegon Wastewater GMU - The season for Canada geese will
close after 54 days or when 700 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 51 days or when 2,000 birds have been harvested, whichever occurs
first. The daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose.
(4) Tuscola/Huron GMU - The season for Canada geese will close
after 51 days or when 750 birds have been harvested, whichever occurs
first. The daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose.
(5) Remainder of South Zone -
(i) East of U.S. Highway 27/127 - The season for Canada geese
may extend for 30 days. The daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose.
(ii) West of U.S. Highway 27/127 - The Season for Canada geese
may extend for 40 days. The daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose during
the first 30 days, and 2 Canada geese during the remaining 10 days,
which may begin no earlier than November 23.
(d) Southern Michigan GMU - An experimental special Canada goose
season may be held between January 6 and February 4. 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 16,000 birds have been harvested, 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 3 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.
[[Page 50057]]
(c) Central Zone - The season for Canada geese may extend for 70
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 70 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
76 days or when 12,900 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 3 Canada geese.
(b) Southwest Zone - The season for Canada geese may extend for 61
days, and the harvest will be limited to 1,500 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 118,400 birds.
(a) Horicon Zone - The framework opening date for all geese is
September 23. The harvest of Canada geese is limited to 71,700 birds.
The season may not exceed 80 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.
(b) Collins Zone - The framework opening date for all geese is
September 23. The harvest of Canada geese is limited to 1,900 birds.
The season may not exceed 65 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
September 23. The harvest of Canada geese is limited to 40,300 birds,
with 500 birds allocated to the Mississippi River Subzone. The season
may not exceed 86 days and the daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese. 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 39,800
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, the Northwest and Kentucky/
Barkley Lakes Zones in Tennessee, and the Exterior Zone in Wisconsin
will have been filled, the season for taking Canada geese in the
respective zone (and associated area, if applicable) 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: Between September 30 through January 21.
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):
83 days and a daily bag limit of 5 ducks, including no more than 1
female mallard, 1 mottled duck, 1 pintail, 1 redhead, 1 canvasback and
2 wood ducks. The last 23 days may start no earlier than the Saturday
nearest December 10 (December 9).
(2) Remainder of the Central Flyway: 60 days and a daily bag limit
of 5 ducks, including no more than 1 female mallard, 1 mottled duck, 1
pintail, 1 redhead, 1 canvasback, and 2 wood ducks.
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: States may select
seasons not to exceed 107 days; except for dark geese, which may not
exceed 86 days in Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South
Dakota, and the Eastern Goose Zone of Texas. For dark geese, outside
dates for seasons may be selected between the Saturday nearest October
1 (September 30) and January 31, except in the Western Goose Zone of
Texas, where the closing date is the Sunday nearest February 15
(February 18). For light geese, outside dates for seasons may be
selected between the Saturday nearest October 1 (September 30) and the
Sunday nearest February 15 (February 18), except in Colorado, Kansas,
Nebraska (south of, and including, the North Platte and Platte Rivers,
except for Adams, Butler, Clay, Fillmore, Franklin, Gosper, Hall,
Hamilton, Harland, Kearney, Nuckolls, Phelps, Polk, Saline, Seward,
Thayer, and York Counties) New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, and Wyoming
(south of I-80) where the closing date is March 10. Seasons may be
split into two segments.
Daily bag limits in States in goose management zones within States,
may be as follows:
Colorado: The daily bag limit is 5 light and 5 dark geese,
including no more than 1 white-fronted and 4 Canada geese.
[[Page 50058]]
Kansas: The daily bag limit is 10 light and 2 dark geese, including
no more than 1 white-fronted goose.
Montana: The daily bag limit is 5 light and 5 dark geese, including
no more than 1 white-fronted and 4 Canada geese.
Nebraska: The daily bag limit is 10 light and 2 dark geese,
including no more than 1 white-fronted goose.
New Mexico: For the Middle Rio Grande Valley Zone, the daily bag
limit is 10 light and 5 dark, including no more than 1 white-fronted
and 4 Canada geese.
For the remainder of the State, the daily bag limit is 5 light and
5 dark geese, including no more than 1 white-fronted and 4 Canada
geese.
North Dakota: The daily bag limit is 10 light and 2 dark geese.
Oklahoma: The daily bag limit is 10 light and 2 dark geese,
including no more than 1 white-fronted goose.
South Dakota: The daily bag limit is 10 light and 2 dark geese,
including no more than 1 white-fronted goose.
Texas: For the Western Goose Zone, the daily bag limit is 5 light
and 5 dark geese, including no more than 1 white-fronted and 4 Canada
geese.
For the Eastern Goose Zone, the daily bag limit is 10 light and 2
dark geese, including no more than 1 white-fronted goose.
Wyoming: The daily bag limit is 5 light and 5 dark, with no more
than 1 white-fronted and 4 Canada geese.
Pacific Flyway
Ducks, Mergansers, Coots, and Common Moorhens
Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: Concurrent 93 days and daily bag
limit of 6 ducks, including no more than 1 female mallard, 2 pintails,
2 redheads and 1 canvasback.
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 the Saturday nearest October 1 (September
30) and the Sunday nearest January 20 (January 21).
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 21), and the basic daily bag limits are 3 light geese and 3
dark 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 must end on or before December 14, 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, but not more than 3 light geese.
Southwest Unit and Southeastern Unit - The daily bag limit on dark
geese is 4.
Montana:
West of Divide Zone and East of Divide Zone - The daily bag limit
on dark geese is 4.
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 1 cackling Canada goose.
Harney, Lake, Klamath, and Malheur Counties Zone - The season
length may be 100 days. The dark goose limit is 4, including not more
than 2 white-fronted geese and 1 cackling Canada goose.
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 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 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: The daily bag limit is 4 dark geese. In Lincoln,
Sweetwater, and Sublette Counties, the combined special
[[Page 50059]]
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. The September Canada goose season, the
regular goose season, any special late Canada goose season, and any
extended falconry season, combined, must not exceed 107 days and the
established quota of dusky Canada geese must not be exceeded. 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 2 cackling Canada goose.
In the designated areas of the Washington Quota Zone, a special
late Canada goose may be held between February 5 and March 10. The
daily bag limit may not include either Aleutian or cackling Canada
geese.
Swans
In designated areas of Utah, Nevada, and the Pacific Flyway portion
of Montana, an open season for taking a limited number of swans may be
selected. Permits will be issued by States and will authorize each
permittee to take no more than 1 swan per season. The season may open
no earlier than the Saturday nearest October 1 (September 30). The
States must implement a harvest-monitoring program to measure the
species composition of the swan harvest. In Utah and Nevada, the
harvest-monitoring program must require that all harvested swans or
their specie-determinant parts be examined by either State or Federal
biologists for the purpose of species classification. All States should
use appropriate measures to maximize hunter compliance in providing
bagged swans for examination or, in the case of Montana, reporting
bill-measurement and color information. All States must provide to the
Service by June 30, 1996, a report covering harvest, hunter
participation, reporting compliance, and monitoring of swan populations
in the designated hunt areas. These seasons will be subject to the
following conditions:
In Utah, no more than 2,750 permits may be issued. The season must
end no later than the first Sunday in December (December 3) or upon
attainment of 15 trumpeter swans in the harvest, whichever occurs
earliest.
In Nevada, no more than 650 permits may be issued. The season must
end no later than the Sunday following January 1 (January 7) or upon
attainment of 5 trumpeter swans in the harvest, whichever occurs
earliest.
In Montana, no more than 500 permits may be issued. The season must
end no later than December 1.
Tundra Swans
In Central Flyway portion of Montana, and in New Jersey, North
Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, 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.
--In South Dakota, no more than 1,500 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
[[Page 50060]]
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
[[Page 50061]]
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
[[Page 50062]]
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, those portions 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: Statewide.
Massachusetts
Same zones as for ducks.
New Hampshire
Same zones as for ducks.
New Jersey
Special Area for Canada Geese
Northeast - 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.
Northwest - that portion of the State within a continuous line that
runs east from the Pennsylvania State boundary at the toll bridge in
Columbia to Route 94; then north along Route 94 to Route 206; then
north along Route 206 to the Pennsylvania State boundary in the
Delaware River to the beginning point. Hereafter this proposed
expansion of the hunt area will be referenced to as the northwestern
area.
Southeast - that portion of the State within a continuous line that
runs east from the Atlantic Ocean at Ship Bottom along Route 72 to the
Garden State Parkway; then south along the Garden State Parkway to
Route 9; then south along Route 9 to Route 542; then west along Rout
542 to the Mullica River; then north (upstream) on the Mullica River to
Route 206; then south on Route 206 to Route 536; then west on route 536
to Route 55; then south on Route 55 to Route 40; then east on Route 40
to Route 557; then south on Route 557 to Route 666; then south on Route
666 to Route 49; then east on Route 49 to route 50; then south on Route
50 to Route 631; then east on Route 631 to Route 623; then east on
Route 623 to the Atlantic Ocean, then north to the beginning point.
New York
Special Area for Canada Geese: Westchester County and portions of
Nassau, Orange, Putnam and Rockland Counties--See State regulations for
detailed description.
Pennsylvania
Erie, Mercer, and Butler Counties: All of Erie, Mercer, and Butler
Counties.
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: Counties of
Abbeville, Anderson, Berkeley (south of Highway 45 and east of State
Road 831), Cherokee, Chester, Dorchester,
[[Page 50063]]
Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Kershaw, Lancaster,
Laurens, Lee, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangebird (south
of Highway 6), Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Sumten, Union,
and York.
Virginia
Back Bay Area--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.
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:
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
[[Page 50064]]
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.
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.
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.
[[Page 50065]]
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.
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
Dark Geese
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.
Light Geese
North Unit: The area north of the waters of the North Platte River
from the Wyoming line to the confluence of the South Platte River near
North Platte, then eastward along the Platte River to the Iowa border.
South Unit: The area south of the North Unit, excluding the
Rainwater Basin Counties of Adams, Butler, Clay, Fillmore, Franklin,
Gosper, Hall, Hamilton, Harland, Kearney, Nuckolls, Phelps, Polk,
Saline, Seward, Thayer, and York Counties.
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.
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, Converse, Crook, Johnson, Laramie,
Natrona, Niobrara, Sheridan, and Weston Counties, and Carbon County
east of the Continental Divide.
Area 2: Platte County.
Area 3: Big Horn, Fremont, Hot Springs, Park, and Washakie
Counties.
Area 4: Goshen 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
[[Page 50066]]
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 Oregon: All counties west of the summit of the Cascades,
excluding Klamath and Hood River Counties.
Northwest Oregon General Zone: Those portions of Multnomah,
Clackamas, Marion, Linn, and Lane Counties outside the Northwest Oregon
Special Permit Zone; except that, that portion of Lane County west of
Highway 101 is closed to all Canada goose hunting.
Northwest Oregon Special Permit Zone: 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 Greenhill Rd, south on Greenhill Rd to Crow Rd, west on Crow Rd to
Territorial Hwy, north on Territorial Hwy to OR 126, 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 Early-Season Canada Goose Zone: All of Benton,
Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk,
Multnomah, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill Counties.
Southwest Oregon General Zone: Coos, Curry, Douglas, Joephine, and
Jackson Counties, except that those portions of Coos, Curr, and Douglas
Counties west of US 101 are closed to all Canada goose hunting.
Eastern Oregon: All counties east of the summit of the Cascades,
including all of Klamath and Hood River Counties.
[[Page 50067]]
Harney, Klamath, Lake and Malheur Counties Zone: All of Harney,
Klamath, Lake, and Malheur Counties.
Remainder of Eastern Oregon Counties Zone: Eastern Oregon,
excluding Harney, Klamath, Lake and Malheur Counties.
Utah
Washington County Zone: All of Washington County.
Remainder-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of Utah.
Washington
Eastern Washington: All areas east of the Pacific Crest Trail and
east of the Big White Salmon River in Klickitat County.
Area 1: Lincoln, Spokane, and Walla Walla Counties; that part of
Grant County east of a line beginning at the Douglas-Lincoln County
Line on WA 174, southwest on WA 174 to WA 155, south on WA 155 to US 2,
southwest on US 2 to Pinto Ridge Rd, south on Pinto Ridge Rd to WA 28,
east on WA 28 to the Stratford Rd, south on the Stratford Rd to WA 17,
south on WA 17 to the Grant-Adams county line; those parts of Adams
County east of State Highway 17; those parts of Franklin County east
and south of a line beginning at the Adams-Franklin County line on WA
17, south on WA 17 to US 395, south on US 395 to I-182, west o I-182 to
the Franklin-Benton county line; those parts of Benton County south of
I-182 and I-82; and those parts of Klickitat County east of U.S.
Highway 97.
Area 2: All of Okanongan, Douglas, and Kittitas counties and those
parts of Grant, Adams, Franklin, and Benton counties not included in
Eastern Washington Goose Management Area 1.
Area 3: All other parts of eastern Washington not included in
Eastern Washington Goose Management Areas 1 and 2.
Western Washington: All areas west of the East Zone.
Area 1: Skagit, Island, and Snohomish Counties.
Area 2: Clark, Cowlitz, Pacific, and Wahkiakum Counties.
Area 3: All parts of western Washington not included in Western
Washington Goose Management Areas 1 and 2.
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, Chouteau, Hill, Liberty, and Toole Counties and
those portions of Pondera and Teton Counties lying east of U.S. 287-89.
Nevada
Open Area: Churchill, Lyon, and Pershing Counties.
Utah
Open Area: Those portions of Box, Elder, Weber, Davis, Salt Lake,
and Toole Counties lying south of State Hwy 30, I-80/84, west of I-15,
and north of I-80.
[FR Doc. 95-23995 Filed 9-26-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-F
