53536 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 166 / Friday, August 26, 2011 / Proposed Rules 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

50 CFR Part 20 

[Docket No. FWS–R9–MB–2011–0014; 

91200–1231–9BPP–L2] 

RIN 1018–AX34 

Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed 

Frameworks for Late-Season Migratory 

Bird Hunting Regulations 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Proposed rule; supplemental. 

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service 

(hereinafter Service or we) is proposing 

to establish the 2011–12 late-season 

hunting regulations for certain 

migratory game birds. We annually 

prescribe frameworks, or outer limits, 

for dates and times when hunting may 

occur and the number of birds that may 

be taken and possessed in late seasons. 

These frameworks are necessary to 

allow State selections of seasons and 

limits and to allow recreational harvest 

at levels compatible with population 

and habitat conditions. 

DATES: You must submit comments on 

the proposed migratory bird hunting 

late-season frameworks by September 6, 

2011. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

on the proposals by one of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments 

on Docket No. FWS–R9–MB–2011– 

0014. 

• U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public 

Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R9– 

MB–2011–0014; Division of Policy and 

Directives Management; U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, 

MS 2042–PDM; Arlington, VA 22203. 

We will not accept e-mailed or faxed 

comments. We will post all comments 

on http://www.regulations.gov. This 

generally means that we will post any 

personal information you provide us 

(see the Public Comments section below 

for more information). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron 

W. Kokel, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, Department of the Interior, MS 

MBSP–4107–ARLSQ, 1849 C Street, 

NW., Washington, DC 20240; (703) 358– 

1714. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Regulations Schedule for 2011 

On April 8, 2011, we published in the 

Federal Register (76 FR 19876) a 

proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20. The 

proposal provided a background and 

overview of the migratory bird hunting 

regulations process, and addressed the 

establishment of seasons, limits, and 

other regulations for hunting migratory 

game birds under §§ 20.101 through 

20.107, 20.109, and 20.110 of subpart K. 

Major steps in the 2011–12 regulatory 

cycle relating to open public meetings 

and Federal Register notifications were 

also identified in the April 8 proposed 

rule. 

Further, we explained that all sections 

of subsequent documents outlining 

hunting frameworks and guidelines 

were organized under numbered 

headings. Those headings are: 

1. Ducks 

A. General Harvest Strategy 

B. Regulatory Alternatives 

C. Zones and Split Seasons 

D. Special Seasons/Species Management 

i. September Teal Seasons 

ii. September Teal/Wood Duck Seasons 

iii. Black Ducks 

iv. Canvasbacks 

v. Pintails 

vi. Scaup 

vii. Mottled Ducks 

viii. Wood Ducks 

ix. Youth Hunt 

x. Mallard Management Units 

xi. Other 

2. Sea Ducks 

3. Mergansers 

4. Canada Geese 

A. Special Seasons 

B. Regular Seasons 

C. Special Late Seasons 

5. White-Fronted Geese 

6. Brant 

7. Snow and Ross’s (Light) Geese 

8. Swans 

9. Sandhill Cranes 

10. Coots 

11. Moorhens and Gallinules 

12. Rails 

13. Snipe 

14. Woodcock 

15. Band-Tailed Pigeons 

16. Doves 

17. Alaska 

18. Hawaii 

19. Puerto Rico 

20. Virgin Islands 

21. Falconry 

22. Other 

Subsequent documents will refer only 

to numbered items requiring attention. 

Therefore, it is important to note that we 

will omit those items requiring no 

attention, and remaining numbered 

items will be discontinuous and appear 

incomplete. 

On June 22, 2011, we published in the 

Federal Register (76 FR 36508) a second 

document providing supplemental 

proposals for early- and late-season 

migratory bird hunting regulations. The 

June 22 supplement also provided 

detailed information on the 2011–12 

regulatory schedule and announced the 

SRC and Flyway Council meetings. 

On June 22 and 23, 2011, we held 

open meetings with the Flyway Council 

Consultants at which the participants 

reviewed information on the current 

status of migratory shore and upland 

game birds and developed 

recommendations for the 2011–12 

regulations for these species plus 

regulations for migratory game birds in 

Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin 

Islands; special September waterfowl 

seasons in designated States; special sea 

duck seasons in the Atlantic Flyway; 

and extended falconry seasons. In 

addition, we reviewed and discussed 

preliminary information on the status of 

waterfowl as it relates to the 

development and selection of the 

regulatory packages for the 2011–12 

regular waterfowl seasons. On July 26, 

2011, we published in the Federal 

Register (76 FR 44730) a third document 

specifically dealing with the proposed 

frameworks for early-season regulations. 

In late August 2011, we will publish a 

rulemaking establishing final 

frameworks for early-season migratory 

bird hunting regulations for the 2011–12 

season. 

On July 27–28, 2011, we held open 

meetings with the Flyway Council 

Consultants, at which the participants 

reviewed the status of waterfowl and 

developed recommendations for the 

2011–12 regulations for these species. 

This document deals specifically with 

proposed frameworks for the late-season 

migratory bird hunting regulations. It 

will lead to final frameworks from 

which States may select season dates, 

shooting hours, areas, and limits. 

We have considered all pertinent 

comments received through July 29, 

2011, on the April 8 and June 22, 2011, 

rulemaking documents in developing 

this document. In addition, new 

proposals for certain late-season 

regulations are provided for public 

comment. The comment period is 

specified above under DATES. We will 

publish final regulatory frameworks for 

late-season migratory game bird hunting 

in the Federal Register on or around 

September 21, 2011. 

Population Status and Harvest 

The following paragraphs provide 

preliminary information on the status of 

waterfowl and information on the status 

and harvest of migratory shore and 

upland game birds excerpted from 

various reports. For more detailed 

information on methodologies and 

results, you may obtain complete copies 

of the various reports at the address 

indicated under FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT or from our Web 

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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 166 / Friday, August 26, 2011 / Proposed Rules 53537 

site at http://www.fws.gov/ 

migratorybirds/ 

NewsPublicationsReports.html. 

Waterfowl Breeding and Habitat Survey 

Federal, provincial, and State 

agencies conduct surveys each spring to 

estimate the size of breeding 

populations and to evaluate the 

conditions of the habitats. These 

surveys are conducted using fixed-wing 

aircraft, helicopters, and ground crews 

and encompass principal breeding areas 

of North America, covering an area over 

2.0 million square miles. The traditional 

survey area comprises Alaska, Canada, 

and the northcentral United States, and 

includes approximately 1.3 million 

square miles. The eastern survey area 

includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, 

Labrador, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, 

Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, 

New York, and Maine, an area of 

approximately 0.7 million square miles. 

Overall, habitat conditions during the 

2011 Waterfowl Breeding Population 

and Habitat Survey were characterized 

by average to above-average moisture 

and a normal winter and spring across 

the traditional and eastern survey areas. 

The exception was the west-central 

portion of the traditional survey area 

that received below-average moisture. 

The total pond estimate (Prairie Canada 

and United States combined) was 8.1 ± 

0.2 million. This was 22 percent above 

the 2010 estimate and 62 percent above 

the long-term average (1974–2010) of 5.0 

± 0.03 million ponds. The 2011 estimate 

of ponds in Prairie Canada was 4.9 ± 0.2 

million. This was 31 percent above last 

year’s estimate (3.7 ± 0.2 million) and 43 

percent above the long-term average 

(1961–2010; 3.4 ± 0.03 million). The 

2011 pond estimate for the north-central 

United States was 3.2 ± 0.1 million, 

which was similar to last year’s estimate 

(2.9 ± 0.1 million) and 102 percent 

above the long-term average (1974– 

2010; 1.6 ± 0.02 million). Additional 

details of the 2011 Survey were 

provided in the July 26 Federal Register 

and are available from our Web site at 

http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/ 

NewsPublicationsReports.html. 

Breeding Population Status 

In the traditional survey area, which 

includes strata 1–18, 20–50, and 75–77, 

the total duck population estimate was 

45.6 ± 0.8 [SE] million birds. This 

estimate represents an 11 percent 

increase over last year’s estimate of 40.9 

± 0.7 million birds and was 35 percent 

above the long-term average (1955– 

2010). Estimated mallard (Anas 

platyrhynchos) abundance was 9.2 ± 0.3 

million birds, which was 9 percent 

above the 2010 estimate of 8.4 ± 0.3 

million birds and 22 percent above the 

long-term average. Estimated abundance 

of gadwall (A. strepera; 3.3 ± 0.2 

million) was similar to the 2010 

estimate and 80 percent above the longterm average. Estimated abundance of 

American wigeon (A. americana; 2.1 

± 0.1 million) was 14 percent below the 

2010 estimate and 20 percent below the 

long-term average. The estimated 

abundance of green-winged teal (A. 

crecca) was 2.9 ± 0.2 million, which was 

17 percent below the 2010 estimate and 

47 percent above their long-term 

average. The estimate of blue-winged 

teal abundance (A. discors) was 8.9 ± 0.4 

million, which was 41 percent above the 

2010 estimate and 91 percent above 

their long-term average. The estimate for 

northern pintails (A. acuta; 4.4 ± 0.3 

million) was 26 percent above the 2010 

estimate, and similar to the long-term 

average. The northern shoveler estimate 

(A. clypeata) was 4.6 ± 0.2 million, 

which was 14 percent above the 2010 

estimate and 98 percent above the longterm average. Redhead abundance 

(Aythya americana; 1.4 ± 0.1 million) 

was 27 percent above the 2010 estimate 

and 106 percent above the long-term 

average. The canvasback estimate (A. 

valisineria; 0.7 ± 0.05 million) was 

similar to the 2010 estimate and 21 

percent above the long-term average. 

Estimated abundance of scaup (A. 

affinis and A. marila combined; 4.3 

± 0.3 million) was similar to that of 2010 

and 15 percent below the long-term 

average of 5.1 ± 0.05 million. 

The eastern survey area was 

restratified in 2005 and is now 

composed of strata 51–72. Estimated 

abundance of mallards in the eastern 

survey area was 0.4 ± 0.1 million, which 

was similar to the 2010 estimate and the 

long-term average (1990–2010). 

Abundance estimates of green-winged 

teal, ring-necked duck (A. collaris), 

goldeneyes (common [Bucephala 

clangula] and Barrow’s [B. islandica]), 

and mergansers (red-breasted [Mergus 

serrator], common [M. merganser], and 

hooded [Lophodytes cucullatus]) were 

all similar to their 2010 estimates and 

long-term averages. The American black 

duck (Anas rubripes) estimate was 0.55 

± 0.04 million, which was similar to the 

2010 estimate and 13 percent below the 

long-term average of 0.63 million. 

Fall Flight Estimate 

The mid-continent mallard 

population is composed of mallards 

from the traditional survey area (revised 

in 2008 to exclude Alaska mallards), 

Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, 

and was estimated to be 11.9 ± 1.1 

million birds. This was similar to the 

2010 estimate of 10.3 ± 0.9 million in 

2010. 

See section 1.A. Harvest Strategy 

Considerations for further discussion of 

the implications of this information for 

this year’s selection of the appropriate 

hunting regulations. 

Status of Geese and Swans 

We provide information on the 

population status and productivity of 

North American Canada geese (Branta 

canadensis), brant (B. bernicla), snow 

geese (Chen caerulescens), Ross’s geese 

(C. rossii), emperor geese (C. canagica), 

white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons), 

and tundra swans (Cygnus 

columbianus). Production of arcticnesting geese depends heavily upon the 

timing of snow and ice melt, and on 

spring and early summer temperatures. 

In 2011, snowmelt timing was average 

to slightly below average throughout 

most of the important goose breeding 

areas, and most of North America will 

see average, or slightly below-average, 

fall flights of geese this year. Conditions 

in the central Arctic, especially near 

Queen Maud Gulf, improved relative to 

last year’s very late spring, so improved 

production of snow and Ross’s geese 

and mid-continent white-fronted geese 

is expected. Gosling production of 

Canada goose populations that migrate 

to the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways 

should generally be good in 2011, with 

the possible exceptions of the Eastern 

Prairie and Mississippi Valley 

populations. Conditions throughout 

Alaska and northwestern Canada were 

very good. As a result, Pacific Flyway 

white-fronted geese, brant, and most 

Canada geese experienced average to 

above-average production. Indices of 

wetland abundance in the Canadian and 

U.S. prairies in 2011 were generally 

excellent, and were particularly 

improved relative to 2010 in Canada. 

This likely improved nesting and brood 

rearing success of temperate-nesting 

Canada geese this year. However, 

flooding along many river systems may 

have destroyed some nests. Well-above 

or near-average wetland abundance in 

the United States and Canadian prairie 

regions and mild spring temperatures in 

many other temperate regions will likely 

improve production of Canada geese 

that nest at southern latitudes. Primary 

abundance indices decreased (>–10 

percent) for 7 goose populations and 

increased (≤ 10 percent) for 10 goose 

populations from 2010 to 2011. Indices 

of 12 other populations remained 

similar among these years. Primary 

abundance indices decreased for 

western tundra swans and remained 

unchanged for eastern tundra swans. 

The following populations displayed 

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53538 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 166 / Friday, August 26, 2011 / Proposed Rules 

significant (P< 0.05) positive trends 

during the most recent 10-year period: 

Mississippi Flyway Giant, Short Grass 

Prairie, and Hi-line Canada geese; 

Western Arctic Wrangel Island and 

Western Central Flyway light geese; 

Pacific white-fronted geese and Pacific 

brant. Only the Atlantic Flyway 

Resident goose population showed a 

significant negative 10-year trend. 

Waterfowl Harvest and Hunter Activity 

National surveys of migratory bird 

hunters were conducted during the 2009 

and 2010 hunting seasons. About 1.1 

million waterfowl hunters harvested 

13,139,800 (± 4 percent) ducks and 

3,327,000 (± 5 percent) geese in 2009, 

and about 1.1 million waterfowl hunters 

harvested 14,796,700 (± 4 percent) 

ducks and 3,169,900 (± 5 percent) geese 

in 2010. Mallard, green-winged teal, 

gadwall, blue-winged/cinnamon teal, 

and wood duck (Aix sponsa) were the 

5 most-harvested duck species in the 

United States, and Canada goose was 

the predominant species in the goose 

harvest. Coot hunters (about 31,100 in 

2009 and 50,500 in 2010) harvested 

219,000 (± 34 percent) coots in 2009 and 

302,600 (± 50 percent) in 2010. 

Review of Public Comments and 

Flyway Council Recommendations 

The preliminary proposed 

rulemaking, which appeared in the 

April 8, 2011 Federal Register, opened 

the public comment period for 

migratory game bird hunting 

regulations. The supplemental proposed 

rule, which appeared in the June 22, 

2011 Federal Register, discussed the 

regulatory alternatives for the 2011–12 

duck hunting season. Late-season 

comments are summarized below and 

numbered in the order used in the 

April 8 and June 22 Federal Register 

documents. We have included only the 

numbered items pertaining to lateseason issues for which we received 

written comments. Consequently, the 

issues do not follow in successive 

numerical or alphabetical order. 

We received recommendations from 

all four Flyway Councils. Some 

recommendations supported 

continuation of last year’s frameworks. 

Due to the comprehensive nature of the 

annual review of the frameworks 

performed by the Councils, support for 

continuation of last year’s frameworks is 

assumed for items for which no 

recommendations were received. 

Council recommendations for changes 

in the frameworks are summarized 

below. 

We seek additional information and 

comments on the recommendations in 

this supplemental proposed rule. New 

proposals and modifications to 

previously described proposals are 

discussed below. Wherever possible, 

they are discussed under headings 

corresponding to the numbered items in 

the April 8 and June 22, 2011 Federal 

Register documents. 

1. Ducks 

Categories used to discuss issues 

related to duck harvest management are: 

(A) Harvest Strategy Considerations, (B) 

Regulatory Alternatives, (C) Zones and 

Split Seasons, and (D) Special Seasons/ 

Species Management. The categories 

correspond to previously published 

issues/discussion, and only those 

containing substantial recommendations 

are discussed below. 

A. Harvest Strategy Considerations 

Council Recommendations: The 

Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Flyway 

Councils and the Upper- and LowerRegion Regulations Committees of the 

Mississippi Flyway Council 

recommended the adoption of the 

‘‘liberal’’ regulatory alternative. 

Service Response: We continue to use 

Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM) 

protocols that allow hunting regulations 

to vary among Flyways in a manner that 

recognizes each Flyway’s unique 

breeding-ground derivation of mallards. 

In 2008, we described and adopted a 

protocol for regulatory decision-making 

for the newly defined stock of western 

mallards (73 FR 43290; July 24, 2008). 

For the 2011 hunting season, we 

continue to believe that the prescribed 

regulatory choice for the Pacific Flyway 

should be based on the status of this 

western mallard breeding stock, while 

the regulatory choice for the Mississippi 

and Central Flyways should depend on 

the status of the recently redefined midcontinent mallard stock. We also 

recommend that the regulatory choice 

for the Atlantic Flyway continue to 

depend on the status of eastern 

mallards. 

For the 2011 hunting season, we are 

continuing to consider the same 

regulatory alternatives as those used last 

year. The nature of the ‘‘restrictive,’’ 

‘‘moderate,’’ and ‘‘liberal’’ alternatives 

has remained essentially unchanged 

since 1997, except that extended 

framework dates have been offered in 

the ‘‘moderate’’ and ‘‘liberal’’ regulatory 

alternatives since 2002. Also, in 2003, 

we agreed to place a constraint on 

closed seasons in the Mississippi and 

Central Flyways whenever the 

midcontinent mallard breedingpopulation size (as defined prior to 

2008; traditional survey area plus 

Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin) 

was > 5.5 million. 

Optimal AHM strategies for the 2011– 

12 hunting season were calculated 

using: (1) Harvest-management 

objectives specific to each mallard 

stock; (2) the 2011 regulatory 

alternatives; and (3) current population 

models and associated weights for 

midcontinent, western, and eastern 

mallards. Based on this year’s survey 

results of 9.46 million midcontinent 

mallards (traditional survey area minus 

Alaska plus Minnesota, Wisconsin, and 

Michigan), 4.89 million ponds in Prairie 

Canada, 798,413 western mallards 

(382,588 and 415,825 respectively in 

California-Oregon and Alaska) and 

746,000 eastern mallards (strata 51–54, 

56 and the northeastern United States), 

the prescribed regulatory choice for all 

four Flyways is the ‘‘liberal’’ alternative. 

Therefore, we concur with the 

recommendations of the Atlantic, 

Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway 

Councils regarding selection of the 

‘‘liberal’’ regulatory alternative and 

propose to adopt the ‘‘liberal’’ 

regulatory alternative, as described in 

the June 22, 2011, Federal Register. 

C. Zones and Split Seasons 

In the August 25, 2010, proposed rule 

(75 FR 52398) and the September 23, 

2010, final rule (75 FR 58250), we 

announced our intention to propose 

changes to the existing zone and split 

season guidelines for possible 

implementation in 2011 for use in State 

selections for the 2011–12 hunting 

seasons. In the April 8, 2011, proposed 

rule (76 FR 19876) we provided specific 

details of the previously announced 

proposed changes to the guidelines, 

announced the availability of a draft 

environmental assessment (EA) we 

prepared on the proposed changes to the 

guidelines, and provided a brief 

summary of the anticipated impacts of 

the preferred alternative. In the June 22 

and July 26, 2011, proposed rules (76 FR 

36508 and 76 FR 44730, respectively), 

we continued to discuss our April 8 

proposal. This rule for the 2011–12 

hunting season continues that 

discussion and announces our final 

decision on these guidelines. 

Background 

We annually issue regulations 

permitting the sport hunting of 

migratory birds. Zones and split seasons 

are ‘‘special regulations’’ designed to 

distribute hunting opportunities and 

harvests according to temporal, 

geographic, and demographic variability 

in waterfowl and other migratory game 

bird populations. For ducks, States have 

been allowed the option of dividing 

their allotted hunting days into two (or 

in some cases, three) segments to take 

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advantage of species-specific peaks of 

abundance or to satisfy hunters in 

different areas who want to hunt during 

the peak of waterfowl abundance in 

their area. However, the split-season 

option does not fully satisfy many States 

who wish to provide a more equitable 

distribution of harvest opportunities. 

Therefore, we also have allowed the 

establishment of independent seasons in 

two or more zones within States for the 

purpose of providing more equitable 

distribution of harvest opportunity for 

hunters throughout the State. 

In 1978, we prepared an 

environmental assessment (EA) on the 

use of zones to set duck hunting 

regulations. A primary tenet of the 1978 

EA was that zoning would be for the 

primary purpose of providing equitable 

distribution of duck hunting 

opportunities within a State or region 

and not for the purpose of increasing 

total annual waterfowl harvest in the 

zoned areas. In fact, target harvest levels 

were to be adjusted downward if they 

exceeded traditional levels as a result of 

zoning. Subsequently, we conducted a 

review of the use of zones and split 

seasons in 1990. 

Currently, every 5 years, States are 

afforded the opportunity to change the 

zoning and split season configuration 

within which they set their annual duck 

hunting regulations. While the schedule 

of ‘‘open seasons’’ for making changes to 

splits and zones is being evaluated in 

the recently released draft supplemental 

environmental impact statement (SEIS) 

for the migratory bird hunting program 

(see NEPA Considerations in the April 

8, 2011, proposed rule (76 FR 19876) for 

further information), the specific 

guidelines for choosing splits and zones 

are not a part of that evaluation. The 

current guidelines have remained 

unchanged since 1996. 

Public Comments 

The Flyway Council 

recommendations and public comments 

discussed below include 

recommendations and comments from 

both the 2010–11 regulatory process and 

the current 2011–12 regulatory process. 

Recommendations and comments from 

the 2010–11 regulatory process were 

included in the August 25, 2010, 

proposed rule (75 FR 52398) and the 

September 23, 2010, final rule (75 FR 

58250). 

Council Recommendations: Last year, 

the Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Flyway 

Councils recommended that the Service 

allow 3 zones, with 2-way splits in each 

zone, and 4 zones with no splits as 

additional zone/split-season options for 

duck seasons during 2011–15. The 

Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations 

Committees of the Mississippi Flyway 

Council recommended that the Service 

allow 3 zones with the season split into 

2 segments in each zone, 4 zones with 

no splits, and 2 zones with the season 

split into 3 segments in each zone as 

additional zone/split-season options for 

duck seasons during 2011–15. In 

addition, all four Flyway Councils 

recommended that States with existing 

grandfathered status be allowed to 

retain that status. 

This year, the Atlantic Flyway 

Council recommended allowing States 

two periods for selecting their zone and 

split options: spring 2011 for currently 

offered options, and spring 2012 for 

possible additional available options. 

The Mississippi Flyway Council, while 

urging us to provide new options for 

zones/split-season criteria for use 

during the 2011–12 regulations cycle 

season, noted, however, that some 

States may not be able to use these new 

criteria even if they are approved this 

spring because of their internal 

regulations-setting process. Thus, they 

requested extending the open season for 

States to select zone/split-season 

configurations through the 2012 

regulations cycle. The Central and 

Pacific Flyway Councils recommended 

extending the current open season for 

States to select regular season zone/split 

configurations for 2011–15 through June 

2012. 

Written Comments in 2010: The 

National Flyway Council requested that 

the Service allow 3 zones, with 2-way 

splits in each zone, and 4 zones with no 

splits as additional zone/split-season 

options for duck seasons during 2011– 

15. 

The Illinois Department of Natural 

Resources and the Wisconsin 

Department of Natural Resources 

requested that the Service allow 3 

zones, with 2-way splits in each zone, 

and 4 zones with no splits as additional 

zone/split-season options for duck 

seasons during 2011–15. 

The Delta Waterfowl Foundation, the 

Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation, the 

LaCrosse County Conservation Alliance, 

the Governor of Illinois, and several 

individuals expressed support for the 

Flyway Councils’ recommended 

changes to the existing zone and split 

season guidelines. 

Written Comments in 2011: The 

Mississippi and Central Flyway 

Councils and the States of Colorado, 

Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, New York, 

Wisconsin and Wyoming expressed 

their support for our April 8 proposal to 

modify the zones and split season 

guidelines to allow up to four zones (no 

splits) and up to three zones with two 

splits, including all grandfathered 

arrangements. Both the Councils and 

States supported the extension of the 

open season for State selections of zone 

and split season configurations into the 

2012–13 regulatory cycle. There was 

also widespread support for the creation 

of a Human Dimensions Working Group 

that is capable of advancing informed 

decision-making frameworks for 

explicitly considering human 

dimensions aspects of waterfowl 

management issues. The States 

appreciated our efforts to assess the 

potential impacts of changes in the 

criteria on duck harvest, and believed 

that such impacts would be minimal. 

Six non-governmental organizations 

from Illinois and 106 individuals from 

Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin expressed 

support for the Flyway Councils’ 

recommended changes to the 

guidelines. Twenty individuals did not 

support changing the guidelines, while 

four individuals supported the 

abolishment of zone and split season 

criteria all together. 

Service Decision 

In 1990, because of concerns about 

the proliferation of zones and split 

seasons for duck hunting, we conducted 

a cooperative review and evaluation of 

the historical use of zone/split options. 

This review did not show that the 

proliferation of these options had 

increased harvest pressure; however, the 

ability to detect the impact of zone/split 

configurations was poor because of 

unreliable response variables, the lack 

of statistical tests to differentiate 

between real and perceived changes, 

and the absence of adequate 

experimental controls. Consequently, 

we established guidelines to provide a 

framework for controlling the 

proliferation of changes in zone/split 

options. The guidelines identified a 

limited number of zone/split 

configurations that could be used for 

duck hunting and restricted the 

frequency of changes in these 

configurations to 5-year intervals. 

In 1996, we revised the guidelines to 

provide States greater flexibility in 

using their zone/split arrangements. In 

2005, in further response to 

recommendations from the Flyway 

Councils, we considered changes to the 

zone/split guidelines. After our review, 

however, we concluded that the current 

guidelines need not be changed. We 

further stated that the guidelines would 

be used for future open seasons (70 FR 

55667; September 22, 2005). 

However, while we continue to 

support the use of guidelines for 

providing a stable framework for 

controlling the number of changes to 

zone/split options, last August (75 FR 

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53540 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 166 / Friday, August 26, 2011 / Proposed Rules 

52398; August 25, 2010) we noted the 

consensus position among all the 

Flyway Councils on their proposal and 

expressed our sensitivity to the States’ 

desires for flexibility in addressing 

concerns of the hunting public which, 

in part, provided the motivation for this 

recommendation. Furthermore, we also 

expressed our continued support of the 

recommendations from the 2008 Future 

of Waterfowl Management Workshop 

that called for a greater emphasis on the 

effects of management actions on the 

hunting public. Thus, we announced 

that we planned to propose that two 

specific additional options be added to 

the existing zone and split season 

criteria governing State selection of 

waterfowl zones and splits. The 

additional options would include four 

zones with no splits and three zones 

with the option for 2-way (2-segment) 

split seasons in one, two, or all three 

zones. Otherwise, the criteria and rules 

governing the application of those 

criteria would remain unchanged. 

When we announced our intention to 

propose adding the Flyway Councils’ 

recommended two options to the 

existing zone and split season 

guidelines, we also stated that we 

needed additional time to explore all 

the possible implications and impacts of 

such changes in the zone and split 

season guidelines in order to provide 

the public with all the necessary 

information for their consideration and 

comment. We also noted that existing 

human dimensions data on the 

relationship of harvest regulations, and 

specifically zones and splits, to hunter 

recruitment, retention, and/or 

satisfaction are equivocal or lacking. In 

the face of uncertainty over the effects 

of management actions, the waterfowl 

management community has broadly 

endorsed adaptive management and the 

principles of informed decision-making 

as a means of accounting for and 

reducing that uncertainty. The 

necessary elements of informed 

decision-making include: clearly 

articulated objectives, explicit 

measurable attributes for objectives, 

identification of a suite of potential 

management actions, some means of 

predicting the consequences of 

management actions with respect to 

stated objectives, and, finally, a 

monitoring program to compare 

observations with predictions as a basis 

for learning, policy adaptation, and 

more informed decision-making. 

Currently, none of these elements are 

used to support decision-making that 

involves human dimensions 

considerations. Because the Flyways 

indicated that additional zone/split 

options were important for addressing 

hunter recruitment, retention, and 

satisfaction issues, we saw this 

proposed change as an opportunity to 

advance an informed decision-making 

framework that explicitly considers 

human dimensions issues. 

To that end, we requested that the 

National Flyway Council marshal the 

expertise and resources of the Human 

Dimensions Working Group to develop 

explicit human dimensions objectives 

related to expanding zone and split 

options and a study plan to evaluate the 

effect of the proposed action in 

achieving those objectives. It was our 

hope that the study plan would include 

hypotheses and specific predictions 

about the effect of changing zone/split 

criteria on stated human dimensions 

objectives, and monitoring and 

evaluation methods that would be used 

to test those predictions. We stated that 

we believed that insights gained through 

such an evaluation would be invaluable 

in furthering the ongoing dialogue 

regarding fundamental objectives of 

waterfowl management and an 

integrated and coherent decision 

framework for advancing those 

objectives. We further stated that we 

would review the objectives and study 

plan at our February 2011 SRC meeting 

and consider this plan, along with 

public and Flyway comments on the 

proposed change to the zones and splits 

criteria, along with any required 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) analysis, 

in making a final decision on a course 

of action in 2011. 

We reviewed the objectives and the 

study plan at our February 2011 SRC 

meeting and our June 22–23 SRC 

meeting and detailed our review in the 

July 26 proposed rule. At that time, we 

stated that while we remained 

supportive of the Flyway Councils’ 

desire to expand the existing zone and 

split season criteria, the adequacy of the 

National Flyway Council’s human 

dimensions study design that we 

required last year (75 FR 58250; 

September 23, 2010) as part of our 

initial intent and proposal still did not 

meet our expectations. Thus, the 

Councils and the Service committed to 

form a smaller working group to help 

resolve these differences, and that we 

would consider a revised study proposal 

as soon as it was available. Further, 

assuming an acceptable study plan 

could be agreed upon, we would 

consider offering the expanded zone/ 

split criteria to States in both the current 

year’s regulation cycle and again in the 

2012–13 regulations cycle. 

Consequently, since the June 22–23 

SRC meeting, the four Flyway Councils 

and the National Flyway Council 

submitted a revised study plan to 

examine the human dimensions aspects 

of revisions to the zones and split 

season criteria. This new study plan 

meets the original objectives laid out in 

the August 25, 2010, and the September 

23, 2010, rules and we support the 

Flyway Councils’ recommendation to 

expand the criteria to allow two 

additional options that States may use 

to configure duck zones and split 

seasons within their boundaries. 

Further, we appreciate the efforts of the 

four Flyway Councils and the National 

Flyway Council to revise the study plan 

to examine the human dimensions 

aspects of this issue. 

As we have previously stated, those 

States that are capable of implementing 

these new guidelines this year may do 

so. However, for those States not able to 

implement changes this year, we are 

committed to extending the current 

open season into 2012, and we ask that 

States provide us with any changes to 

their zone and split season 

configuration by May 1, 2012, for use 

during the 2012–13 season. After this 

open period, the next regularlyscheduled open season for changes to 

zone and split season configurations 

will be in 2016, for use during the 2016– 

20 period. In order to allow sufficient 

time for States to solicit public input 

regarding their selections of zone and 

split season configurations in 2016, we 

will reaffirm the criteria during the 2015 

late-season regulations process. At that 

time we will notify States that changes 

to zone and split season configurations 

should be provided to the Service by 

May 1, 2016. 

Guidelines for Duck Zones and Split 

Seasons 

The following zone/split-season 

guidelines apply only for the regular 

duck season: 

(1) A zone is a geographic area or 

portion of a State, with a contiguous 

boundary, for which independent dates 

may be selected for the regular duck 

season. 

(2) Consideration of changes for 

management-unit boundaries is not 

subject to the guidelines and provisions 

governing the use of zones and split 

seasons for ducks. 

(3) Only minor (less than a county in 

size) boundary changes will be allowed 

for any grandfathered arrangement, and 

changes are limited to the open season. 

(4) Once a zone/split option is 

selected during an open season, it must 

remain in place for the following 

5 years. 

Any State may continue the 

configuration used in the previous 

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5-year period. If changes are made, the 

zone/split-season configuration must 

conform to one of the following options: 

(1) No more than four zones with no 

splits, 

(2) Split seasons (no more than 3 

segments) with no zones, or 

(3) No more than three zones with the 

option for 2-way (2-segment) split 

seasons in one, two, or all zones. 

Grandfathered Zone/Split Arrangements 

When we first implemented the zone/ 

split guidelines in 1991, several States 

had completed experiments with zone/ 

split arrangements different from our 

original options. We offered those States 

a one-time opportunity to continue 

(‘‘grandfather’’) those arrangements, 

with the stipulation that only minor 

changes could be made to zone 

boundaries. If any of those States now 

wish to change their zone/split 

arrangement: 

(1) The new arrangement must 

conform to one of the 3 options 

identified above; and 

(2) The State cannot go back to the 

grandfathered arrangement that it 

previously had in place. 

Management Units 

We will continue to utilize the 

specific limitations previously 

established regarding the use of zone 

and split seasons in special management 

units, including the High Plains Mallard 

Management Unit. We note that the 

original justification and objectives 

established for the High Plains Mallard 

Management Unit provided for 

additional days of hunting opportunity 

at the end of the regular duck season. In 

order to maintain the integrity of the 

management unit, current guidelines 

prohibit simultaneous zoning and/or 3- 

way split seasons within a management 

unit and the remainder of the State. 

Removal of this limitation would allow 

additional proliferation of zone/split 

configurations and compromise the 

original objectives of the management 

unit. 

Impacts of Proposed Change 

We prepared an EA on the proposed 

zone and split season guidelines and 

provide a brief summary of the 

anticipated impacts of the preferred 

alternative with regard to the guidelines. 

Specifics of each of the four alternatives 

we analyzed can be found on our Web 

site at http://www.fws.gov/ 

migratorybirds, or at http:// 

www.regulations.gov. 

In summary, we anticipate that the 

proposed changes to the guidelines, 

specifically adopting the preferred 

alternative, would result in an increase 

in the number of exposure days (days in 

which ducks are exposed to hunting) 

throughout a hunting season, but would 

vary by Flyway. Whereas the maximum 

potential impact on duck harvest may 

be small in some Flyways (e.g., < 3 

percent increase in the Pacific Flyway), 

the impact in other Flyways may be 

much higher (e.g., up to 25 percent in 

the Mississippi Flyway). More 

specifically, regression analysis of the 

number of duck exposure days and 

number of duck zones within a State 

indicated that the addition of one zone 

in all States (excluding grandfathered 

States) could result in up to a 17 percent 

increase in the national duck harvest (or 

approximately 2.2 million birds) above 

the ‘‘no change’’ alternative (13.8 

million ducks). It is important to note 

that this estimate is for total duck 

harvest nationwide, and we would 

expect the potential percentage 

increases to vary among Flyways, States, 

and species. Additionally, we recognize 

that our analysis utilizes assumptions 

that may not be fully realized during 

implementation of the new guidelines. 

For example, our analysis assumes that 

all States that are eligible to make 

changes to their zones-splits 

configurations will actually make such 

changes. However, many States have 

indicated that they will not avail 

themselves of new options available to 

them. This would lower the realized 

increase in harvest in a particular 

Flyway; thus, the magnitude of any 

potential increase in harvest would 

likely be lower than the estimated 17 

percent. 

Additionally, we annually prepare a 

biological opinion under section 7 of the 

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 

amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), prior 

to establishing annual hunting 

regulations for migratory birds. 

Regulations promulgated as a result of 

this consultation remove or alleviate 

chances of conflict between seasons for 

migratory game birds and endangered 

and threatened species and their critical 

habitats. 

We also do not believe the preferred 

alternative would recruit new hunters, 

and therefore hunter numbers would 

probably remain similar to 2008 levels, 

when the last economic analysis was 

conducted. However, if increasing the 

possible number of zones and split 

season configurations encourages 

current hunters to spend more days 

afield, we would expect a slight increase 

in expenditures. Therefore, the national 

estimate of the consumer surplus 

expected under this alternative may be 

slightly higher than the estimate of $317 

million annually (range of $274 million 

to $362 million [2007$]) that we would 

expect under the ‘‘no change’’ 

alternative. In general, the non-hunting 

public has not expressed an opinion 

about zoning and split seasons in the 

past. Within this large group, 

individuals opposed to hunting will 

likely object to increased zoning and/or 

split seasons if they believe it will 

enhance or encourage hunting. Others 

generally favor more restrictive 

regulations, and some further believe 

that all hunting should be discontinued. 

We note that the four Flyway Councils 

support the preferred alternative. Duck 

hunter numbers would likely be similar 

to that of 2008, which would maintain 

the current level of revenues to the 

States and Service through sales of 

waterfowl hunting licenses and duck 

stamps. While this alternative 

potentially could increase hunter 

expenditures above the current level of 

$1.2 billion (2007$), we have no specific 

information available that would allow 

an accurate estimation of this increase. 

However, we believe any potential 

increase would likely be negligible. 

The EA and Finding of No Significant 

Impact (FONSI) is available by either 

writing to the address indicated under 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in 

the preamble of this proposed rule or by 

viewing on our Web site at http:// 

www.fws.gov/migratorybirds, or at 

http://www.regulations.gov. 

Response to Other Comments 

With regard to abolishing the zones 

and splits criteria, we disagree. 

Implementation of the criteria for zones 

and splits was meant to stem the 

increasing proliferation of zoning and 

split seasons, which complicated the 

assessment of the impacts of harvest 

regulations on duck populations. We 

believe the use of zoning criteria 

provides a certain level of stability to 

duck regulations, which enhance the 

assessment of the impacts of other 

regulations (e.g., season length and bag 

limit) on duck populations. 

D. Special Seasons/Species 

Management 

iii. Black Ducks 

In 2008, U.S. and Canadian waterfowl 

managers developed an interim harvest 

strategy that will be employed by both 

countries until a formal strategy based 

on the principles of AHM is completed. 

We detailed this interim strategy in the 

July 24, 2008, Federal Register (73 FR 

43290). The interim harvest strategy is 

prescriptive, in that it calls for no 

substantive changes in hunting 

regulations unless the black duck 

breeding population, averaged over the 

most recent 3 years, exceeds or falls 

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below the long-term average breeding 

population by 15 percent or more. The 

strategy is designed to share the black 

duck harvest equally between the two 

countries; however, recognizing 

incomplete control of harvest through 

regulations, it will allow realized 

harvest in either country to vary 

between 40 and 60 percent. 

Each year in November, Canada 

publishes its proposed migratory bird 

hunting regulations for the upcoming 

hunting season. Thus, last fall the 

Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) used 

the interim strategy to establish its 

proposed black duck regulations for the 

2011–12 season, based on the most 

current data available at that time: 

breeding population estimates for 2008, 

2009, and 2010, and an assessment of 

parity based on harvest estimates for the 

2005–09 hunting seasons. Although 

updates of both breeding population 

estimates and harvest estimates are now 

available, the United States will base its 

2011–12 black duck regulations on the 

same data CWS used, to ensure 

comparable application of the strategy. 

The long-term (1998–2007) breeding 

population mean estimate is 929,100, 

and the 2008–10, 3-year running mean 

estimate is 858,300. From 2005–09, 45 

percent of the black duck harvest 

occurred in Canada and 55 percent in 

the United States; this falls within the 

accepted parity bounds of 40 and 60 

percent. Based on these estimates, no 

restriction or liberalization of black 

duck harvest is warranted. 

iv. Canvasbacks 

Council Recommendations: The 

Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Flyway 

Councils and the Upper- and LowerRegion Regulations Committees of the 

Mississippi Flyway Council 

recommended a full season for 

canvasbacks with a 1-bird daily bag 

limit. Season lengths would be 60 days 

in the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, 

74 days in the Central Flyway, and 107 

days in the Pacific Flyway. 

Service Response: Since 1994, we 

have followed a canvasback harvest 

strategy that if canvasback population 

status and production are sufficient to 

permit a harvest of one canvasback per 

day nationwide for the entire length of 

the regular duck season, while still 

attaining a projected spring population 

objective of 500,000 birds, the season on 

canvasbacks should be opened. A 

partial season would be permitted if the 

estimated allowable harvest was within 

the projected harvest for a shortened 

season. If neither of these conditions 

can be met, the harvest strategy calls for 

a closed season on canvasbacks 

nationwide. In 2008 (73 FR 43290; July 

24, 2008), we announced our decision to 

modify the Canvasback Harvest Strategy 

to incorporate the option for a 2-bird 

daily bag limit for canvasbacks when 

the predicted breeding population the 

subsequent year exceeds 725,000 birds. 

This year’s spring survey resulted in 

an estimate of 692,000 canvasbacks. 

This was statistically similar to the 2010 

estimate of 585,000 canvasbacks and 21 

percent above the 1955–2010 average. 

The estimate of ponds in Prairie Canada 

was 4.9 million, which was 31 percent 

above last year and 43 percent above the 

long-term average. Based on updated 

harvest predictions using data from 

recent hunting seasons, the canvasback 

harvest strategy predicts a 2012 

canvasback population of 756,000 birds 

under a liberal duck season with a 1- 

bird daily bag limit and 697,000 with a 

2-bird daily bag limit. Because the 

predicted 2012 population under the 1- 

bird daily bag limit is greater than 

500,000, while the prediction under the 

2-bird daily bag limit is less than 

725,000, the canvasback harvest strategy 

stipulates a full canvasback season with 

a 1-bird daily bag limit for the upcoming 

season. 

v. Pintails 

Council Recommendations: The 

Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Flyway 

Councils and the Upper- and LowerRegion Regulations Committees of the 

Mississippi Flyway Council 

recommended a full season for pintails, 

consisting of a 2-bird daily bag limit and 

a 60-day season in the Atlantic and 

Mississippi Flyways, a 74-day season in 

the Central Flyway, and a 107-day 

season in the Pacific Flyway. 

Service Response: The current derived 

pintail harvest strategy was adopted by 

the Service and Flyway Councils in 

2010 (75 FR 44856; July 29, 2010). For 

this year, optimal regulatory strategies 

were calculated with: (1) An objective of 

maximizing long-term cumulative 

harvest, including a closed-season 

constraint of 1.75 million birds, (2) the 

regulatory alternatives and associated 

predicted harvest, and (3) current 

population models and their relative 

weights. Based on this year’s survey 

results of 4.43 million pintails observed 

and a mean latitude of 51.7, the optimal 

regulatory choice for all four Flyways is 

the ‘‘liberal’’ alternative with a 2-bird 

daily bag limit. 

vi. Scaup 

Council Recommendations: The 

Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Flyway 

Councils and the Upper- and LowerRegion Regulations Committees of the 

Mississippi Flyway Council 

recommended use of the ‘‘moderate’’ 

regulation package, consisting of a 60- 

day season with a 2-bird daily bag in the 

Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, a 74- 

day season with a 2-bird daily bag limit 

in the Central Flyway, and an 86-day 

season with a 3-bird daily bag limit in 

the Pacific Flyway. 

Service Response: In 2008, we 

adopted and implemented a new scaup 

harvest strategy (73 FR 43290 on July 

24, 2008, and 73 FR 51124 on August 

29, 2008) with initial ‘‘restrictive,’’ 

‘‘moderate,’’ and ‘‘liberal’’ regulatory 

packages adopted for each Flyway. 

Further opportunity to revise these 

packages was afforded prior to the 

2009–10 season and modifications by 

the Mississippi and Central Flyway 

Councils were endorsed by the Service 

in July 2009 (74 FR 36870; July 24, 

2009). These packages will remain in 

effect for at least 3 years prior to their 

re-evaluation. 

The 2011 breeding population 

estimate for scaup is 4.32 million, up 2 

percent from, but statistically similar to, 

the 2010 estimate of 4.24 million. Total 

estimated scaup harvest for the 2010–11 

season was 358,000 birds. Based on 

updated model parameter estimates, the 

optimal regulatory choice for scaup is 

the ‘‘moderate’’ package in all four 

Flyways. 

vii. Mottled Ducks 

Council Recommendations: The 

Central Flyway Council recommended 

removal of the restriction in Texas 

requiring a 5-day delay in the opening 

date of the mottled duck season from 

the opening of the general duck season 

(i.e., must be closed the first 5 days of 

the duck season). 

Service Response: We remain 

concerned about the status of mottled 

ducks, particularly those in the Western 

Gulf Coast Population (WGCP). In 2009, 

the Central and Mississippi Flyways 

implemented restrictions in either bag 

limit or season length in an attempt to 

achieve harvest reductions we believed 

were appropriate given the status of 

those mottled ducks. In the Central 

Flyway, the restrictions included a 

delay of 5 days in the opening date 

when dusky ducks (mottled duck, black 

duck and their hybrids, or Mexican-like 

duck) may be taken in Texas. Although 

the harvest estimates associated with 

those restrictions did not achieve the 

targeted 30 percent reduction, the 

reduction approached what we believed 

was appropriate for the current status of 

the WGCP. Therefore, we do not support 

removal of this restriction and believe 

that regulations in effect for the last two 

hunting seasons are appropriate for the 

2011–12 season, including the delay in 

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the opening date in which dusky ducks 

may be taken in Texas. 

xii. Other 

Council Recommendations: The 

Central Flyway Council and the UpperRegion Regulations Committee of the 

Mississippi Flyway Council 

recommended that the daily and 

possession bag limits for redheads 

during the 2011–12 duck hunting 

season be 3 and 6, respectively. 

Service Response: While we recognize 

the desire to provide additional hunting 

opportunity for redheads, at this time 

we do not support the recommendations 

to increase the daily bag limit of 

redheads from 2 to 3 birds. As we have 

done with other species (such as 

canvasbacks, pintails, etc.), we believe 

that changes to redhead daily bag limits 

should only be considered with 

guidance from an agreed-upon harvest 

strategy that is supported by all four 

Flyway Councils and the Service. Thus, 

we suggest that the Flyways work 

collaboratively to develop a redhead 

harvest strategy, which would include: 

(1) Clearly defined and agreed-upon 

management objectives; (2) clearly 

defined regulatory alternatives; and (3) 

a model that can be used to predict 

population responses to harvest 

mortality. If the development of a 

harvest strategy for redheads is a 

priority for the Flyways, a conceptual 

framework for a redhead harvest 

strategy could be discussed at the 

Harvest Management Working Group 

meeting in November 2011. However, 

we note that if the Flyway Councils 

wish to implement a redhead harvest 

strategy for the 2012–13 season, a draft 

strategy needs to be available for review 

and discussion by the February 2012 

Service Regulations Committee (SRC) 

meeting, finalized by the Flyways 

Councils at their March 2012 meetings, 

and forwarded as a recommendation for 

SRC consideration at the early season 

SRC meeting (June 2012). 

4. Canada Geese 

B. Regular Seasons 

Council Recommendations: The 

Central Flyway Council recommended 

increasing the Canada goose daily bag 

limit from 3 to 5 geese in the east-tier 

States. 

The Pacific Flyway Council 

recommended several changes to dark 

goose season frameworks. More 

specifically, they recommended: 

1. Within the basic dark goose bag 

limit for California, Oregon, and 

Washington: remove the dark goose bag 

limit exception for Oregon of not more 

than one cackling Canada or Aleutian 

Canada geese per day. 

2. Within the Northwest Special 

Permit Zone for Oregon: increase the 

dark goose bag limit exception of not 

more than 2 cackling Canada or 

Aleutian Canada geese per day to not 

more than 3 cackling Canada or 

Aleutian Canada geese per day. 

3. Within the Tillamook County 

Management Area of the Northwest 

Special Permit Zone for Oregon: 

increase the dark goose bag limit from 

not more than 3 per day, including not 

more than 2 cackling Canada or 

Aleutian Canada geese, to not more than 

4 per day, provided this total include 

not more than 3 cackling Canada or 

Aleutian Canada geese. 

4. Within the Northwest Zone for 

Oregon: restrict the bag limit for 

cackling Canada and Aleutian Canada 

geese to not more than 3 cackling 

Canada or Aleutian Canada geese per 

day within the overall daily dark goose 

bag limit of not more than 4 per day. 

5. Within the South Coast Zone for 

Oregon: remove the dark goose bag limit 

exception, within the basic dark goose 

bag limit, of up to 4 cackling Canada 

and Aleutian Canada geese per day. 

6. Within the Southwest Zone for 

Oregon: remove the dark goose bag limit 

exception, within the basic dark goose 

bag limit, of up to 4 cackling Canada 

and Aleutian Canada geese per day. 

7. In Washington’s Areas 2A and 2B 

(Southwest Quota Zone): increase the 

daily bag limit from 2 to 3 cackling 

geese. 

8. In California’s Northeastern Zone: 

remove the restrictions on small Canada 

geese (Aleutian and cackling geese). 

9. Increase the daily bag limit for 

Canada geese in the Pacific Flyway 

portion of Colorado from 3 birds to 4 

birds, and possession limit from 6 to 8 

birds. 

10. In Idaho, consolidate the current 

goose zones to correspond with duck 

hunting zones. 

Service Response: We do not support 

the Central Flyway Council’s 

recommendation to increase the dark 

goose daily bag limit in the east-tier 

States from 3 to 5 geese. While we agree 

that the Flyway’s proposed bag limit 

increase would likely result in an 

increased harvest of resident Canada 

geese (Great Plains Population), there 

are other Canada goose populations that 

would also be subjected to additional 

harvest pressure, including the Tall 

Grass Prairie (TGP), Western Prairie, 

and the Eastern Prairie populations. We 

recognize the continuing problems 

posed by increasing numbers of resident 

Canada geese and that migrant 

populations of Canada geese in the 

Central Flyway are above objective 

levels. We also understand the Flyway’s 

desire to provide as much hunting 

opportunity on these geese as possible, 

and we share the philosophy that 

hunting, not control permits, should be 

the primary tool used to manage 

populations of game birds. However, we 

also recognize that hunting is not 

necessarily the most appropriate or 

effective tool to address these issues in 

all areas. Although States have used 

some of the additional tools provided to 

them through annual hunting 

regulations, Statewide Special Canada 

goose permits, and implementation of 

the preferred alternative in the Resident 

Canada Goose Environmental Impact 

Statement, we believe several of these 

tools are not being used to the extent 

available. Thus, we encourage the States 

to work with Service staff to better 

identify the most appropriate tool, or 

tools, for the various situations and 

conflicts in the affected States. Further, 

as we stated last year (75 FR 58250; 

September 23, 2010), we believe that 

more progress needs to be made 

regarding monitoring Canada goose 

populations in east-tier States, as well as 

collaboration with the Mississippi 

Flyway regarding impacts to shared 

goose resources, including progress on a 

revision to the TGP Population 

Management Plan. We would consider 

increasing bag limits in the future if 

progress is made on these fronts, 

particularly on the management plan. 

We support all of the Pacific Flyway 

goose recommendations. Originally, 

Oregon’s Tillamook County 

Management Area was established to 

provide protection for Aleutian Canada 

geese originating from Semidi Island, 

Alaska. Modification of the closure area, 

as proposed by the Council, will reduce 

the closure area by approximately 22 

percent. However, the Council notes 

that the original closure area included 

non-goose use areas and the refuge 

recommended reducing the closure area 

as the Semidi Island birds do not use 

the entire closure area. Most of the 

proposed newly open area constitutes 

agricultural lands, primarily dairy 

pastures and hay fields, and opening 

these lands to goose hunting is expected 

to help relieve depredations caused by 

wintering geese. While we expect goose 

harvest in the Management Area to 

increase due to this proposed change, 

harvest will continue to be monitored 

by check station and goose distribution 

and collar surveys, focused on Semidi 

birds. 

The recommendations for removal of 

small Canada goose restrictions in 

eastern Oregon and for 1-bird daily bag 

limit increases to address agricultural 

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damage issues in Oregon and 

Washington are not expected to increase 

harvest of these populations 

substantially. We believe these 

populations are at levels that can 

sustain these minor increases in harvest 

without jeopardy to their long-term 

sustainability. However, we note that 

long-term solutions to agricultural 

depredation issues will not be 

completely addressed through harvest 

regulations and encourage the States of 

the Pacific Flyway to continue to work 

to implement the other approaches 

detailed in the Flyway’s Canada goose 

depredation plan. 

The proposed removal of within bag 

limit restrictions on small Canada geese 

(Aleutian and cackling Canada geese) in 

California’s Northeastern Zone is 

intended to simplify goose hunting 

regulations and we expect little or no 

increase in harvest. Few, if any, 

Aleutian geese occur in that portion of 

California and despite restrictive daily 

bag limits, the abundance of cackling 

geese in the Klamath Basin has declined 

from the tens of thousands in the late 

1990s to essentially zero in recent years 

as cackling goose distribution has 

shifted northward. However, since that 

time, the Aleutian Canada goose 

population has grown from less than 

1,000 birds in 1976 to over 110,000 in 

2011. 

Regarding the proposed increase in 

the daily bag limit in Colorado from 3 

to 4 Canada geese, we note that removal 

of this more restrictive bag limit makes 

it consistent with most of the remainder 

of the flyway. Further, population 

measurement data support an increase 

in the bag limit as counts from both the 

spring breeding survey and post-hunting 

indices have increased over the last 

3 years. 

In Idaho, the recommendation to 

consolidate the current goose zones to 

correspond with duck hunting zones is 

intended to reduce regulatory 

complexity in State and Federal 

regulations. We have no issue with this 

recommendation. 

C. Special Late Seasons 

Council Recommendations: The 

Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 

changing Rhode Island’s experimental 

late Canada goose season status to 

operational. 

Service Response: We agree with the 

Council’s recommendation to change 

the status of Rhode Island’s late Canada 

goose season from experimental to 

operational. Based on band recovery 

data submitted by the Council, there 

were no direct recoveries of migrant 

geese and the special late season meets 

the established criteria for special 

Canada goose seasons of <20 percent 

migrant harvest. Further, between 1997– 

2011, only 7 banded Canada geese 

recovered were migrants (all of which 

were indirect recoveries). 

5. White-Fronted Geese 

Council Recommendations: The 

Mississippi and Central Flyway 

Councils recommended that the whitefronted goose season option of a 72-day 

season be increased to 74 days and the 

86-day season option be increased to 88 

days. Daily bag limits associated with 

each season option would remain 

unchanged. 

The Pacific Flyway Council 

recommended extending the latest 

closing date for white-fronted geese in 

California’s Sacramento Valley Special 

Management Zone to December 28 and 

in California’s Balance of State Zone to 

March 10. 

Service Response: We support the 2- 

day increase in the season length in the 

Mississippi and Central Flyways. These 

increases are consistent with the newly 

revised management plan for midcontinent white-fronted geese. 

We also support the Pacific Flyway 

Councils recommendations to extend 

the framework closing dates in 

California’s Balance of State Zone and 

the Sacramento Valley Special 

Management Area (SMA). In the 

Balance of State Zone, expanding the 

framework closing date to March 10 is 

intended to allow additional hunting 

opportunity and potentially reduce 

goose crop depredation complaints. The 

Council notes that the white-fronted 

goose population is currently about 

700,000 birds and above the population 

goal of 300,000 birds. In the SMA, 

extending the closing date to December 

28 is expected to increase the harvest of 

Pacific white-fronted geese while still 

protecting the less numerous Tule 

subspecies. Tule Greater white-fronted 

geese currently number approximately 

14,578 based on preliminary indirect 

population estimates. However, overlapping this relatively small number of 

Tule geese are burgeoning populations 

of Pacific Greater white-fronted geese 

within the SMA. The Council estimates 

that the harvest of Tule geese are low, 

as determined by measurements of 

hunter-harvested white-fronted geese at 

public hunting areas within the SMA; 

and the range of hunter-harvested adult 

Tule geese at the public hunt areas in 

the SMA since 1999 has ranged from a 

low of 13 (2005–06) to a high of 86 

(2000–01). We agree with the Council’s 

assessment. 

Public Comments 

The Department of the Interior’s 

policy is, whenever possible, to afford 

the public an opportunity to participate 

in the rulemaking process. Accordingly, 

we invite interested persons to submit 

written comments, suggestions, or 

recommendations regarding the 

proposed regulations. Before 

promulgating final migratory game bird 

hunting regulations, we will consider all 

comments we receive. These comments, 

and any additional information we 

receive, may lead to final regulations 

that differ from these proposals. You 

may submit your comments and 

materials concerning this proposed rule 

by one of the methods listed in the 

ADDRESSES section. We will not accept 

comments sent by e-mail or fax. We will 

not consider hand-delivered comments 

that we do not receive, or mailed 

comments that are not postmarked, by 

the date specified in the DATES section. 

We will post all comments in their 

entirety—including your personal 

identifying information—on http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Before including 

your address, phone number, e-mail 

address, or other personal identifying 

information in your comment, you 

should be aware that your entire 

comment—including your personal 

identifying information—may be made 

publicly available at any time. While 

you can ask us in your comment to 

withhold your personal identifying 

information from public review, we 

cannot guarantee that we will be able to 

do so. 

Comments and materials we receive, 

as well as supporting documentation we 

used in preparing this proposed rule, 

will be available for public inspection 

on http://www.regulations.gov, or by 

appointment, during normal business 

hours, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, Division of Migratory Bird 

Management, Room 4107, 4501 North 

Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203. For 

each series of proposed rulemakings, we 

will establish specific comment periods. 

We will consider, but possibly may not 

respond in detail to, each comment. As 

in the past, we will summarize all 

comments we receive during the 

comment period and respond to them 

after the closing date in the preambles 

of any final rules. 

Required Determinations 

Based on our most current data, we 

are affirming our required 

determinations made in the April 8 

proposed rule; for descriptions of our 

actions to ensure compliance with the 

following statutes and Executive Orders, 

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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 166 / Friday, August 26, 2011 / Proposed Rules 53545 

see our April 8, 2011, proposed rule (76 

FR 19876): 

• National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) Consideration; 

• Endangered Species Act 

Consideration; 

• Regulatory Flexibility Act; 

• Small Business Regulatory 

Enforcement Fairness Act; 

• Paperwork Reduction Act; 

• Unfunded Mandates Reform Act; 

• Executive Orders 12630, 12866, 

12988, 13132, 13175, and 13211. 

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 20 

Exports, Hunting, Imports, Reporting 

and recordkeeping requirements, 

Transportation, Wildlife. 

The rules that eventually will be 

promulgated for the 2011–12 hunting 

season are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 

703–712 and 16 U.S.C. 742 a–j. 

Dated: August 15, 2011. 

Jane Lyder, 

Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and 

Wildlife and Parks. 

Proposed Regulations Frameworks for 

2011–12 Late Hunting Seasons on 

Certain Migratory Game Birds 

Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty 

Act and delegated authorities, the 

Department of the Interior approved the 

following proposals for season lengths, 

shooting hours, bag and possession 

limits, and outside dates within which 

States may select seasons for hunting 

waterfowl and coots between the dates 

of September 1, 2011, and March 10, 

2012. These frameworks are 

summarized below. 

General 

Dates: All outside dates noted below 

are inclusive. 

Shooting and Hawking (taking by 

falconry) Hours: Unless otherwise 

specified, from one-half hour before 

sunrise to sunset daily. 

Possession Limits: Unless otherwise 

specified, possession limits are twice 

the daily bag limit. 

Permits: For some species of 

migratory birds, the Service authorizes 

the use of permits to regulate harvest or 

monitor their take by sport hunters, or 

both. In many cases (e.g., tundra swans, 

some sandhill crane populations), the 

Service determines the amount of 

harvest that may be taken during 

hunting seasons during its formal 

regulations-setting process, and the 

States then issue permits to hunters at 

levels predicted to result in the amount 

of take authorized by the Service. Thus, 

although issued by States, the permits 

would not be valid unless the Service 

approved such take in its regulations. 

These Federally authorized, Stateissued permits are issued to individuals, 

and only the individual whose name 

and address appears on the permit at the 

time of issuance is authorized to take 

migratory birds at levels specified in the 

permit, in accordance with provisions of 

both Federal and State regulations 

governing the hunting season. The 

permit must be carried by the permittee 

when exercising its provisions and must 

be presented to any law enforcement 

officer upon request. The permit is not 

transferrable or assignable to another 

individual, and may not be sold, 

bartered, traded, or otherwise provided 

to another person. If the permit is 

altered or defaced in any way, the 

permit becomes invalid. 

Flyways and Management Units 

Waterfowl Flyways 

Atlantic Flyway—includes 

Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, 

Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New 

Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 

North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode 

Island, South Carolina, Vermont, 

Virginia, and West Virginia. 

Mississippi Flyway—includes 

Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, 

Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, 

Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, 

Tennessee, and Wisconsin. 

Central Flyway—includes Colorado 

(east of the Continental Divide), Kansas, 

Montana (Counties of Blaine, Carbon, 

Fergus, Judith Basin, Stillwater, 

Sweetgrass, Wheatland, and all counties 

east thereof), Nebraska, New Mexico 

(east of the Continental Divide except 

the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation), 

North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, 

Texas, and Wyoming (east of the 

Continental Divide). 

Pacific Flyway—includes Alaska, 

Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, 

Oregon, Utah, Washington, and those 

portions of Colorado, Montana, New 

Mexico, and Wyoming not included in 

the Central Flyway. 

Management Units 

High Plains Mallard Management 

Unit—roughly defined as that portion of 

the Central Flyway that lies west of the 

100th meridian. 

Definitions 

For the purpose of hunting 

regulations listed below, the collective 

terms ‘‘dark’’ and ‘‘light’’ geese include 

the following species: 

Dark geese: Canada geese, whitefronted geese, brant (except in 

California, Oregon, Washington, and the 

Atlantic Flyway), and all other goose 

species except light geese. 

Light geese: Snow (including blue) 

geese and Ross’s geese. 

Area, Zone, and Unit Descriptions: 

Geographic descriptions related to lateseason regulations are contained in a 

later portion of this document. 

Area-Specific Provisions: Frameworks 

for open seasons, season lengths, bag 

and possession limits, and other special 

provisions are listed below by Flyway. 

Waterfowl Seasons in the Atlantic 

Flyway 

In the Atlantic Flyway States of 

Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, 

Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, 

North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and 

Virginia, where Sunday hunting is 

prohibited statewide by State law, all 

Sundays are closed to all take of 

migratory waterfowl (including 

mergansers and coots). 

Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days 

Outside Dates: States may select 2 

days per duck-hunting zone, designated 

as ‘‘Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days,’’ in 

addition to their regular duck seasons. 

The days must be held outside any 

regular duck season on a weekend, 

holidays, or other non-school days 

when youth hunters would have the 

maximum opportunity to participate. 

The days may be held up to 14 days 

before or after any regular duck-season 

frameworks or within any split of a 

regular duck season, or within any other 

open season on migratory birds. 

Daily Bag Limits: The daily bag limits 

may include ducks, geese, tundra 

swans, mergansers, coots, moorhens, 

and gallinules and would be the same 

as those allowed in the regular season. 

Flyway species and area restrictions 

would remain in effect. 

Shooting Hours: One-half hour before 

sunrise to sunset. 

Participation Restrictions: Youth 

hunters must be 15 years of age or 

younger. In addition, an adult at least 18 

years of age must accompany the youth 

hunter into the field. This adult may not 

duck hunt but may participate in other 

seasons that are open on the special 

youth day. Tundra swans may only be 

taken by participants possessing 

applicable tundra swan permits. 

Atlantic Flyway 

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots 

Outside Dates: Between the Saturday 

nearest September 24 (September 24) 

and the last Sunday in January (January 

29). 

Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: 60 

days. The daily bag limit is 6 ducks, 

including no more than 4 mallards (2 

hens), 1 black duck, 2 pintails, 1 

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mottled duck, 1 fulvous whistling duck, 

3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 scaup, 1 

canvasback, and 4 scoters. 

Closures: The season on harlequin 

ducks is closed. 

Sea Ducks: Within the special sea 

duck areas, during the regular duck 

season in the Atlantic Flyway, States 

may choose to allow the above sea duck 

limits in addition to the limits applying 

to other ducks during the regular duck 

season. In all other areas, sea ducks may 

be taken only during the regular open 

season for ducks and are part of the 

regular duck season daily bag (not to 

exceed 4 scoters) and possession limits. 

Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit 

of mergansers is 5, only 2 of which may 

be hooded mergansers. In States that 

include mergansers in the duck bag 

limit, the daily limit is the same as the 

duck bag limit, only two of which may 

be hooded mergansers. 

Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 

coots. 

Lake Champlain Zone, New York: The 

waterfowl seasons, limits, and shooting 

hours shall be the same as those 

selected for the Lake Champlain Zone of 

Vermont. 

Connecticut River Zone, Vermont: 

The waterfowl seasons, limits, and 

shooting hours shall be the same as 

those selected for the Inland Zone of 

New Hampshire. 

Zoning and Split Seasons: Delaware, 

Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North 

Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, 

Virginia, and West Virginia may split 

their seasons into three segments; 

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, 

New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 

Pennsylvania, and Vermont may select 

hunting seasons by zones and may split 

their seasons into two segments in each 

zone. 

Canada Geese 

Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and 

Limits: Specific regulations for Canada 

geese are shown below by State. These 

seasons also include white-fronted 

geese. Unless specified otherwise, 

seasons may be split into two segments. 

In areas within States where the 

framework closing date for Atlantic 

Population (AP) goose seasons overlaps 

with special late-season frameworks for 

resident geese, the framework closing 

date for AP goose seasons is January 14. 

Connecticut: 

North Atlantic Population (NAP) 

Zone: Between October 1 and January 

31, a 60-day season may be held with 

a 2-bird daily bag limit. 

Atlantic Population (AP) Zone: A 45- 

day season may be held between the 

fourth Saturday in October (October 22) 

and January 31, with a 3-bird daily bag 

limit. 

South Zone: A special season may be 

held between January 15 and February 

15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. 

Resident Population (RP) Zone: An 

80-day season may be held between 

October 1 and February 15, with a 5- 

bird daily bag limit. The season may be 

split into 3 segments. 

Delaware: A 45-day season may be 

held between November 15 and January 

31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. 

Florida: An 80-day season may be 

held between November 15 and 

February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag 

limit. The season may be split into 3 

segments. 

Georgia: In specific areas, an 80-day 

season may be held between November 

15 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily 

bag limit. The season may be split into 

3 segments. 

Maine: A 60-day season may be held 

Statewide between October 1 and 

January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. 

Maryland: 

RP Zone: An 80-day season may be 

held between November 15 and March 

10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The 

season may be split into 3 segments. 

AP Zone: A 45-day season may be 

held between November 15 and January 

31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. 

Massachusetts: 

NAP Zone: A 60-day season may be 

held between October 1 and January 31, 

with a 2-bird daily bag limit. 

Additionally, a special season may be 

held from January 15 to February 15, 

with a 5-bird daily bag limit. 

AP Zone: A 45-day season may be 

held between October 20 and January 

31, with a 3-bird daily bag limit. 

New Hampshire: 

A 60-day season may be held 

statewide between October 1 and 

January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. 

New Jersey: 

Statewide: A 45-day season may be 

held between the fourth Saturday in 

October (October 22) and January 31, 

with a 3-bird daily bag limit. 

Special Late Goose Season Area: A 

special season may be held in 

designated areas of North and South 

New Jersey from January 15 to February 

15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. 

New York: 

NAP Zone: Between October 1 and 

January 31, a 60-day season may be 

held, with a 2-bird daily bag limit in the 

High Harvest areas; and between 

October 1 and February 15, a 70-day 

season may be held, with a 3-bird daily 

bag limit in the Low Harvest areas. 

Special Late Goose Season Area: A 

special season may be held between 

January 15 and February 15, with a 5- 

bird daily bag limit in designated areas 

of Suffolk County. 

AP Zone: A 45-day season may be 

held between the fourth Saturday in 

October (October 22), except in the Lake 

Champlain Area where the opening date 

is October 20, and January 31, with a 3- 

bird daily bag limit. 

Western Long Island RP Zone: A 107- 

day season may be held between the 

Saturday nearest September 24 

(September 24) and March 10, with an 

8-bird daily bag limit. The season may 

be split into 3 segments. 

Rest of State RP Zone: An 80-day 

season may be held between the fourth 

Saturday in October (October 22) and 

March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. 

The season may be split into 3 

segments. 

North Carolina: 

SJBP Zone: A 70-day season may be 

held between October 1 and December 

31, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. 

RP Zone: An 80-day season may be 

held between October 1 and March 10, 

with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season 

may be split into 3 segments. 

Northeast Hunt Unit: A 7-day season 

may be held between the Saturday prior 

to December 25 (December 24) and 

January 31, with a 1-bird daily bag limit. 

Pennsylvania: 

SJBP Zone: A 70-day season may be 

held between the second Saturday in 

October (October 8) and February 15, 

with a 3-bird daily bag limit. 

RP Zone: An 80-day season may be 

held between the fourth Saturday in 

October (October 22) and March 10, 

with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season 

may be split into 3 segments. 

AP Zone: A 45-day season may be 

held between the fourth Saturday in 

October (October 22) and January 31, 

with a 3-bird daily bag limit. 

Rhode Island: A 60-day season may 

be held between October 1 and January 

31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. A 

special late season may be held in 

designated areas from January 15 to 

February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag 

limit. 

South Carolina: In designated areas, 

an 80-day season may be held during 

November 15 to February 15, with a 5- 

bird daily bag limit. The season may be 

split into 3 segments. 

Vermont: A 45-day season may be 

held between October 20 and January 31 

with a 3-bird daily bag limit in the Lake 

Champlain Zone and Interior Zone. A 

60-day season may be held in the 

Connecticut River Zone between 

October 1 and January 31, with a 2-bird 

daily bag limit. 

Virginia: 

SJBP Zone: A 40-day season may be 

held between November 15 and January 

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14, with a 3-bird daily bag limit. 

Additionally, a special late season may 

be held between January 15 and 

February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag 

limit. 

AP Zone: A 45-day season may be 

held between November 15 and January 

31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. 

RP Zone: An 80-day season may be 

held between November 15 and March 

10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The 

season may be split into 3 segments. 

West Virginia: An 80-day season may 

be held between October 1 and January 

31, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The 

season may be split into 2 segments in 

each zone. 

Light Geese 

Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and 

Limits: States may select a 107-day 

season between October 1 and March 

10, with a 25-bird daily bag limit and no 

possession limit. States may split their 

seasons into three segments. 

Brant 

Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and 

Limits: States may select a 50-day 

season between the Saturday nearest 

September 24 (September 24) and 

January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. 

States may split their seasons into two 

segments. 

Mississippi Flyway 

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots 

Outside Dates: Between the Saturday 

nearest September 24 (September 24) 

and the last Sunday in January (January 

29). 

Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: 

The season may not exceed 60 days, 

with a daily bag limit of 6 ducks, 

including no more than 4 mallards (no 

more than 2 of which may be females), 

1 mottled duck, 1 black duck, 2 pintails, 

3 wood ducks, 1 canvasback, 2 scaup, 

and 2 redheads. 

Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit 

is 5, only 2 of which may be hooded 

mergansers. In States that include 

mergansers in the duck bag limit, the 

daily limit is the same as the duck bag 

limit, only 2 of which may be hooded 

mergansers. 

Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 

coots. 

Zoning and Split Seasons: Alabama, 

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, 

Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, 

Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and 

Wisconsin may select hunting seasons 

by zones. 

In Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, 

Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, 

Tennessee, and Wisconsin, the season 

may be split into two segments in each 

zone. 

In Arkansas and Mississippi, the 

season may be split into three segments. 

Geese 

Split Seasons: Seasons for geese may 

be split into three segments. 

Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and 

Limits: States may select seasons for 

light geese not to exceed 107 days, with 

20 geese daily between the Saturday 

nearest September 24 (September 24) 

and March 10; for white-fronted geese 

not to exceed 74 days with 2 geese daily 

or 88 days with 1 goose daily between 

the Saturday nearest September 24 

(September 24) and the Sunday nearest 

February 15 (February 12); and for brant 

not to exceed 70 days, with 2 brant daily 

or 107 days with 1 brant daily between 

the Saturday nearest September 24 

(September 24) and January 31. There is 

no possession limit for light geese. 

Specific regulations for Canada geese 

and exceptions to the above general 

provisions are shown below by State. 

Except as noted below, the outside dates 

for Canada geese are the Saturday 

nearest September 24 (September 24) 

and January 31. 

Alabama: In the SJBP Goose Zone, the 

season for Canada geese may not exceed 

70 days. Elsewhere, the season for 

Canada geese may extend for 70 days in 

the respective duck-hunting zones. The 

daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese. 

Arkansas: In the Northwest Zone, the 

season for Canada geese may extend for 

82 days. In the remainder of the State, 

the season may not exceed 72 days. The 

season may extend to February 15. The 

daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese. 

Illinois: The season for Canada geese 

may extend for 85 days in the North and 

Central Zones and 66 days in the South 

Central and South Zones. The daily bag 

limit is 2 Canada geese. 

Indiana: The season for Canada geese 

may extend for 74 days. The daily bag 

limit is 2 Canada geese. 

Late Canada Goose Season Areas: 

(a) A special Canada goose season of 

up to 15 days may be held during 

February 1–15 in the Late Canada Goose 

Season Zone. During this special season 

the daily bag limit cannot exceed 5 

Canada geese. 

(b) An experimental special Canada 

goose season of up to 15 days may be 

held during February 1–15 in the 

Experimental Late Canada Goose Zone. 

During this special season the daily bag 

limit cannot exceed 5 Canada geese. 

Iowa: The season for Canada geese 

may extend for 107 days. The daily bag 

limit is 3 Canada geese. 

Kentucky: 

(a) Western Zone—The season for 

Canada geese may extend for 70 days 

(85 days in Fulton County). The season 

in Fulton County may extend to 

February 15. The daily bag limit is 2 

Canada geese. 

(b) Pennyroyal/Coalfield Zone—The 

season may extend for 70 days. The 

daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese. 

(c) Remainder of the State—The 

season may extend for 70 days. The 

daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese. 

Louisiana: The season for Canada 

geese may extend for 44 days. The daily 

bag limit is 1 Canada goose. 

Michigan: 

(a) North Zone—The framework 

opening date for all geese is September 

16 and the season for Canada geese may 

extend for 45 days. The daily bag limit 

is 2 Canada geese. 

(b) Middle Zone—The framework 

opening date for all geese is September 

16 and the season for Canada geese may 

extend for 45 days. The daily bag limit 

is 2 Canada geese. 

(c) South Zone—The framework 

opening date for all geese is September 

16 and the season for Canada geese may 

extend for 45 days. The daily bag limit 

is 2 Canada geese. 

(1) Allegan County and Muskegon 

Wastewater GMU—The framework 

opening date for all geese is September 

16 and the season for Canada geese may 

extend for 45 days. The daily bag limit 

is 2 Canada geese. 

(2) Saginaw County and Tuscola/ 

Huron GMUs—The framework opening 

date for all geese is September 16 and 

the season for Canada geese may extend 

for 45 days through December 30 and an 

additional 30 days may be held between 

December 31 and February 7. The daily 

bag limit is 2 Canada geese. 

(d) Southern Michigan Late Season 

Canada Goose Zone—A 30-day special 

Canada goose season may be held 

between December 31 and February 7. 

The daily bag limit may not exceed 5 

Canada geese. 

Minnesota: The season for Canada 

geese may extend for 85 days. The daily 

bag limit is 3 Canada geese. 

Mississippi: The season for Canada 

geese may extend for 70 days. The daily 

bag limit is 3 Canada geese. 

Missouri: The season for Canada geese 

may extend for 85 days. The daily bag 

limit is 3 Canada geese. 

Ohio: 

(a) Lake Erie Zone—The season may 

extend for 74 days. The daily bag limit 

is 2 Canada geese. 

(b) North Zone—The season may 

extend for 74 days. The daily bag limit 

is 2 Canada geese. 

(c) South Zone—The season may 

extend for 74 days. The daily bag limit 

is 2 Canada geese. 

Tennessee: 

(a) Northwest Zone—The season for 

Canada geese may not exceed 72 days, 

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and may extend to February 15. The 

daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese. 

(b) Southwest Zone—The season for 

Canada geese may extend for 72 days. 

The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese. 

(c) Kentucky/Barkley Lakes Zone— 

The season for Canada geese may extend 

for 72 days. The daily bag limit is 2 

Canada geese. 

(d) Remainder of the State—The 

season for Canada geese may extend for 

72 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada 

geese. 

Wisconsin: 

(a) Horicon Zone—The framework 

opening date for all geese is September 

16. The season may not exceed 92 days. 

All Canada geese harvested must be 

tagged. The season limit will be 6 

Canada geese per permittee. 

(b) Exterior Zone—The framework 

opening date for all geese is September 

16. The season may not exceed 85 days. 

The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese. 

Additional Limits: In addition to the 

harvest limits stated for the respective 

zones above, an additional 4,500 Canada 

geese may be taken in the Horicon Zone 

under special agricultural permits. 

Central Flyway 

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots 

Outside Dates: Between the Saturday 

nearest September 24 (September 24) 

and the last Sunday in January (January 

29). 

Hunting Seasons: 

(1) High Plains Mallard Management 

Unit (roughly defined as that portion of 

the Central Flyway which lies west of 

the 100th meridian): 97 days. The last 

23 days must run consecutively and 

may start no earlier than the Saturday 

nearest December 10 (December 10). 

(2) Remainder of the Central Flyway: 

74 days. 

Bag Limits: The daily bag limit is 6 

ducks, with species and sex restrictions 

as follows: 5 mallards (no more than 2 

of which may be females), 2 redheads, 

2 scaup, 3 wood ducks, 2 pintails, and 

1 canvasback. In Texas, the daily bag 

limit on mottled ducks is 1, except for 

the first 5 days of the season when it is 

closed. 

Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit 

is 5 mergansers, only 2 of which may be 

hooded mergansers. In States that 

include mergansers in the duck daily 

bag limit, the daily limit may be the 

same as the duck bag limit, only two of 

which may be hooded mergansers. 

Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 

coots. 

Zoning and Split Seasons: Colorado, 

Kansas (Low Plains portion), Montana, 

Nebraska (Low Plains portion), New 

Mexico, Oklahoma (Low Plains portion), 

South Dakota (Low Plains portion), 

Texas (Low Plains portion), and 

Wyoming may select hunting seasons by 

zones. 

In Colorado, Kansas, Montana, 

Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, 

Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and 

Wyoming, the regular season may be 

split into two segments. 

Geese 

Split Seasons: Seasons for geese may 

be split into three segments. Three-way 

split seasons for Canada geese require 

Central Flyway Council and U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service approval, and a 3- 

year evaluation by each participating 

State. 

Outside Dates: For dark geese, seasons 

may be selected between the outside 

dates of the Saturday nearest September 

24 (September 24) and the Sunday 

nearest February 15 (February 12). For 

light geese, outside dates for seasons 

may be selected between the Saturday 

nearest September 24 (September 24) 

and March 10. In the Rainwater Basin 

Light Goose Area (East and West) of 

Nebraska, temporal and spatial 

restrictions that are consistent with the 

late-winter snow goose hunting strategy 

cooperatively developed by the Central 

Flyway Council and the Service are 

required. 

Season Lengths and Limits: 

Light Geese: States may select a light 

goose season not to exceed 107 days. 

The daily bag limit for light geese is 20 

with no possession limit. 

Dark Geese: In Kansas, Nebraska, 

North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, 

and the Eastern Goose Zone of Texas, 

States may select a season for Canada 

geese (or any other dark goose species 

except white-fronted geese) not to 

exceed 107 days with a daily bag limit 

of 3. Additionally, in the Eastern Goose 

Zone of Texas, an alternative season of 

107 days with a daily bag limit of 1 

Canada goose may be selected. For 

white-fronted geese, these States may 

select either a season of 74 days with a 

bag limit of 2 or an 88-day season with 

a bag limit of 1. 

In Colorado, Montana, New Mexico 

and Wyoming, States may select seasons 

not to exceed 107 days. The daily bag 

limit for dark geese is 5 in the aggregate. 

In the Western Goose Zone of Texas, 

the season may not exceed 95 days. The 

daily bag limit for Canada geese (or any 

other dark goose species except whitefronted geese) is 5. The daily bag limit 

for white-fronted geese is 1. 

Pacific Flyway 

Ducks, Mergansers, Coots, Common 

Moorhens, and Purple Gallinules 

Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: 

Concurrent 107 days. The daily bag 

limit is 7 ducks and mergansers, 

including no more than 2 female 

mallards, 2 pintails, 3 scaup, 1 

canvasback, and 2 redheads. For scaup, 

the season length would be 86 days, 

which may be split according to 

applicable zones/split duck hunting 

configurations approved for each State. 

The season on coots and common 

moorhens may be between the outside 

dates for the season on ducks, but not 

to exceed 107 days. 

Coot, Common Moorhen, and Purple 

Gallinule Limits: The daily bag and 

possession limits of coots, common 

moorhens, and purple gallinules are 25, 

singly or in the aggregate. 

Outside Dates: Between the Saturday 

nearest September 24 (September 24) 

and the last Sunday in January (January 

29). 

Zoning and Split Seasons: Arizona, 

California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, 

Washington, and Wyoming may select 

hunting seasons by zones. Arizona, 

California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, 

Washington, and Wyoming may split 

their seasons into two segments. 

Colorado, Montana, and New Mexico 

may split their seasons into three 

segments. 

Colorado River Zone, California: 

Seasons and limits shall be the same as 

seasons and limits selected in the 

adjacent portion of Arizona (South 

Zone). 

Geese 

Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and 

Limits: 

California, Oregon, and Washington: 

Dark geese: Except as subsequently 

noted, 100-day seasons may be selected, 

with outside dates between the Saturday 

nearest October 1 (October 1), and the 

last Sunday in January (January 29). The 

basic daily bag limit is 4 dark geese, 

except the dark goose bag limit does not 

include brant. 

Light geese: Except as subsequently 

noted, 107-day seasons may be selected, 

with outside dates between the Saturday 

nearest October 1 (October 1), and 

March 10. The daily bag limit is 6 light 

geese. 

Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, 

Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and 

Wyoming: 

Dark geese: Except as subsequently 

noted, 107-day seasons may be selected, 

with outside dates between the Saturday 

nearest September 24 (September 24), 

and the last Sunday in January (January 

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29). The basic daily bag limit is 4 dark 

geese. 

Light geese: Except as subsequently 

noted, 107-day seasons may be selected, 

with outside dates between the Saturday 

nearest September 24 (September 24), 

and March 10. The basic daily bag limit 

is 10 light geese. 

Split Seasons: Unless otherwise 

specified, seasons for geese may be split 

into up to 3 segments. Three-way split 

seasons for Canada geese and whitefronted geese require Pacific Flyway 

Council and U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service approval and a 3-year 

evaluation by each participating State. 

Brant Season 

Oregon may select a 16-day season, 

Washington a 16-day season, and 

California a 30-day season. Days must 

be consecutive. Washington and 

California may select hunting seasons 

by up to two zones. The daily bag limit 

is 2 brant and is in addition to dark 

goose limits. In Oregon and California, 

the brant season must end no later than 

December 15. 

Arizona: The daily bag limit for dark 

geese is 3. 

California: 

Northeastern Zone: The daily bag 

limit is 6 dark geese. 

Balance-of-State Zone: A 107-day 

season may be selected with outside 

dates between the Saturday nearest 

October 1 (October 1) and March 10. 

Limits may not include more than 6 

dark geese per day. In the Sacramento 

Valley Special Management Area, the 

season on white-fronted geese must end 

on or before December 28 and the daily 

bag limit shall contain no more than 2 

white-fronted geese. In the North Coast 

Special Management Area, a 107-day 

season may be selected, with outside 

dates between the Saturday nearest 

October 1 (October 1) and March 10. 

Hunting days that occur after the last 

Sunday in January shall be concurrent 

with Oregon’s South Coast Zone. 

Idaho: 

Zone 3: Hunting days that occur after 

the last Sunday in January shall be 

concurrent with Oregon’s Malheur 

County Zone. 

Nevada: The daily bag limit for dark 

geese is 3. 

New Mexico: The daily bag limit for 

dark geese is 3. 

Oregon: 

Harney and Lake County Zone: For 

Lake County only, the daily dark goose 

bag limit may not include more than 1 

white-fronted goose. 

Klamath County Zone: A 107-day 

season may be selected, with outside 

dates between the Saturday nearest 

October 1 (October 1), and March 10. A 

3-way split season may be selected. For 

hunting days after the last Sunday in 

January, the daily bag limit may not 

include Canada geese. 

Malheur County Zone: The daily bag 

limit of light geese is 10. Hunting days 

that occur after the last Sunday in 

January shall be concurrent with Idaho’s 

Zone 2. 

Northwest Zone: The daily bag limit 

may not include more than 3 cackling 

or Aleutian geese. 

Northwest Special Permit Zone: 

Outside dates are between the Saturday 

nearest October 1 (October 1) and March 

10. The daily bag limit may not include 

more than 3 cackling or Aleutian geese 

and daily bag limit of light geese is 4. 

South Coast Zone: A 107-day season 

may be selected, with outside dates 

between the Saturday nearest October 1 

(October 1) and March 10. Hunting days 

that occur after the last Sunday in 

January shall be concurrent with 

California’s North Coast Special 

Management Area. A 3-way split season 

may be selected. 

Utah: The daily bag limit for dark 

geese is 3. 

Washington: The daily bag limit is 4 

geese. 

Area 1: Outside dates are between the 

Saturday nearest October 1 (October 1), 

and the last Sunday in January (January 

29). 

Areas 2A and 2B (Southwest Quota 

Zone): Except for designated areas, there 

will be no open season on Canada geese. 

See section on quota zones. In this area, 

the daily bag limit may include 3 

cackling geese. In Southwest Quota 

Zone Area 2B (Pacific County), the daily 

bag limit may include 1 Aleutian goose. 

Areas 4 and 5: A 107-day season may 

be selected for dark geese. 

Wyoming: The daily bag limit for dark 

geese is 3. 

Quota Zones 

Seasons on geese must end upon 

attainment of individual quotas of 

dusky geese allotted to the designated 

areas of Oregon (90) and Washington 

(45). The September Canada goose 

season, the regular goose season, any 

special late dark goose season, and any 

extended falconry season, combined, 

must not exceed 107 days, and the 

established quota of dusky geese must 

not be exceeded. Hunting of geese in 

those designated areas will be only by 

hunters possessing a State-issued permit 

authorizing them to do so. In a Serviceapproved investigation, the State must 

obtain quantitative information on 

hunter compliance of those regulations 

aimed at reducing the take of dusky 

geese. If the monitoring program cannot 

be conducted, for any reason, the season 

must immediately close. In the 

designated areas of the Washington 

Southwest Quota Zone, a special late 

goose season may be held between the 

Saturday following the close of the 

general goose season and March 10. In 

the Northwest Special Permit Zone of 

Oregon, the framework closing date is 

March 10. Regular goose seasons may be 

split into 3 segments within the Oregon 

and Washington quota zones. 

Swans 

In portions of the Pacific Flyway 

(Montana, Nevada, and Utah), an open 

season for taking a limited number of 

swans may be selected. Permits will be 

issued by the State and will authorize 

each permittee to take no more than 1 

swan per season with each permit. 

Nevada may issue up to 2 permits per 

hunter. Montana and Utah may only 

issue 1 permit per hunter. Each State’s 

season may open no earlier than the 

Saturday nearest October 1 (October 1). 

These seasons are also subject to the 

following conditions: 

Montana: No more than 500 permits 

may be issued. The season must end no 

later than December 1. The State must 

implement a harvest-monitoring 

program to measure the species 

composition of the swan harvest and 

should use appropriate measures to 

maximize hunter compliance in 

reporting bill measurement and color 

information. 

Utah: No more than 2,000 permits 

may be issued. During the swan season, 

no more than 10 trumpeter swans may 

be taken. The season must end no later 

than the second Sunday in December 

(December 11) or upon attainment of 10 

trumpeter swans in the harvest, 

whichever occurs earliest. The Utah 

season remains subject to the terms of 

the Memorandum of Agreement entered 

into with the Service in August 2001, 

regarding harvest monitoring, season 

closure procedures, and education 

requirements to minimize the take of 

trumpeter swans during the swan 

season. 

Nevada: No more than 650 permits 

may be issued. During the swan season, 

no more than 5 trumpeter swans may be 

taken. The season must end no later 

than the Sunday following January 1 

(January 8) or upon attainment of 5 

trumpeter swans in the harvest, 

whichever occurs earliest. 

In addition, the States of Utah and 

Nevada must implement a harvestmonitoring program to measure the 

species composition of the swan 

harvest. The harvest-monitoring 

program must require that all harvested 

swans or their species-determinant parts 

be examined by either State or Federal 

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biologists for the purpose of species 

classification. The States should use 

appropriate measures to maximize 

hunter compliance in providing bagged 

swans for examination. Further, the 

States of Montana, Nevada, and Utah 

must achieve at least an 80-percent 

compliance rate, or subsequent permits 

will be reduced by 10 percent. All three 

States must provide to the Service by 

June 30, 2012, a report detailing harvest, 

hunter participation, reporting 

compliance, and monitoring of swan 

populations in the designated hunt 

areas. 

Tundra Swans 

In portions of the Atlantic Flyway 

(North Carolina and Virginia) and the 

Central Flyway (North Dakota, South 

Dakota [east of the Missouri River], and 

that portion of Montana in the Central 

Flyway), an open season for taking a 

limited number of tundra swans may be 

selected. Permits will be issued by the 

States that authorize the take of no more 

than 1 tundra swan per permit. A 

second permit may be issued to hunters 

from unused permits remaining after the 

first drawing. The States must obtain 

harvest and hunter participation data. 

These seasons are also subject to the 

following conditions: 

In the Atlantic Flyway: 

—The season may be 90 days, from 

October 1 to January 31. 

—In North Carolina, no more than 5,000 

permits may be issued. 

—In Virginia, no more than 600 permits 

may be issued. 

In the Central Flyway: 

—The season may be 107 days, from the 

Saturday nearest October 1 (October 

1) to January 31. 

—In the Central Flyway portion of 

Montana, no more than 500 permits 

may be issued. 

—In North Dakota, no more than 2,200 

permits may be issued. 

—In South Dakota, no more than 1,300 

permits may be issued. 

Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions 

Ducks (Including Mergansers) and Coots 

Atlantic Flyway 

Connecticut: 

North Zone: That portion of the State 

north of I–95. 

South Zone: Remainder of the State. 

Maine: 

North Zone: That portion north of the 

line extending from the Maine-New 

Brunswick border in Baileyville, Maine 

west along Stony Brook to Route 9 in 

Baileyville; west along Route 9 to Route 

15 in Bangor; west along Route 15 to I– 

95 in Bangor; southwest along I–95 to 

the bridge across the Kennebec River in 

Fairfield; north/northwest along the 

western shore of the Kennebec River to 

the bridge across the Kennebec River in 

Anson; southwest along Route 148 in 

Anson to Route 43 in Industry; 

southwest along Route 43 to Route 4 in 

Farmington; southwest along Route 4 to 

Route 140 in Jay; southwest along Route 

140 to Route 108 in Canton; southeast 

along Route 108 to Route 4 in 

Livermore; south along Route 4 to Route 

11 in Auburn; southwest along Route 11 

to Route 110 in Newfield; and west 

along Route 110 to Maine-New 

Hampshire border. 

South Zone: Remainder of the State. 

Massachusetts: 

Western Zone: That portion of the 

State west of a line extending south 

from the Vermont State line on I–91 to 

MA 9, west on MA 9 to MA 10, south 

on MA 10 to U.S. 202, south on U.S. 202 

to the Connecticut State line. 

Central Zone: That portion of the 

State east of the Berkshire Zone and 

west of a line extending south from the 

New Hampshire State line on I–95 to 

U.S. 1, south on U.S. 1 to I–93, south on 

I–93 to MA 3, south on MA 3 to U.S. 

6, west on U.S. 6 to MA 28, west on MA 

28 to I–195, west to the Rhode Island 

State line; except the waters, and the 

lands 150 yards inland from the highwater mark, of the Assonet River 

upstream to the MA 24 bridge, and the 

Taunton River upstream to the Center 

St.– Elm St. bridge shall be in the 

Coastal Zone. 

Coastal Zone: That portion of 

Massachusetts east and south of the 

Central Zone. 

New Hampshire: 

Coastal Zone: That portion of the 

State east of a line extending west from 

the Maine State line in Rollinsford on 

NH 4 to the city of Dover, south to NH 

108, south along NH 108 through 

Madbury, Durham, and Newmarket to 

NH 85 in Newfields, south to NH 101 

in Exeter, east to NH 51 (ExeterHampton Expressway), east to I–95 

(New Hampshire Turnpike) in 

Hampton, and south along I–95 to the 

Massachusetts State line. 

Inland Zone: That portion of the State 

north and west of the above boundary 

and along the Massachusetts State line 

crossing the Connecticut River to 

Interstate 91 and northward in Vermont 

to Route 2, east to 102, northward to the 

Canadian border. 

New Jersey: 

Coastal Zone: That portion of the 

State seaward of a line beginning at the 

New York State line in Raritan Bay and 

extending west along the New York 

State line to NJ 440 at Perth Amboy; 

west on NJ 440 to the Garden State 

Parkway; south on the Garden State 

Parkway to the shoreline at Cape May 

and continuing to the Delaware State 

line in Delaware Bay. 

North Zone: That portion of the State 

west of the Coastal Zone and north of 

a line extending west from the Garden 

State Parkway on NJ 70 to the New 

Jersey Turnpike, north on the turnpike 

to U.S. 206, north on U.S. 206 to U.S. 

1 at Trenton, west on U.S. 1 to the 

Pennsylvania State line in the Delaware 

River. 

South Zone: That portion of the State 

not within the North Zone or the Coastal 

Zone. 

New York: 

Lake Champlain Zone: That area east 

and north of a continuous line 

extending along U.S. 11 from the New 

York-Canada International boundary 

south to NY 9B, south along NY 9B to 

U.S. 9, south along U.S. 9 to NY 22 

south of Keesville; south along NY 22 to 

the west shore of South Bay, along and 

around the shoreline of South Bay to NY 

22 on the east shore of South Bay; 

southeast along NY 22 to U.S. 4, 

northeast along U.S. 4 to the Vermont 

State line. 

Long Island Zone: That area 

consisting of Nassau County, Suffolk 

County, that area of Westchester County 

southeast of I–95, and their tidal waters. 

Western Zone: That area west of a line 

extending from Lake Ontario east along 

the north shore of the Salmon River to 

I–81, and south along I–81 to the 

Pennsylvania State line. 

Northeastern Zone: That area north of 

a continuous line extending from Lake 

Ontario east along the north shore of the 

Salmon River to I–81, south along I–81 

to NY 31, east along NY 31 to NY 13, 

north along NY 13 to NY 49, east along 

NY 49 to NY 365, east along NY 365 to 

NY 28, east along NY 28 to NY 29, east 

along NY 29 to NY 22, north along NY 

22 to Washington County Route 153, 

east along CR 153 to the New YorkVermont boundary, exclusive of the 

Lake Champlain Zone. 

Southeastern Zone: The remaining 

portion of New York. 

Pennsylvania: 

Lake Erie Zone: The Lake Erie waters 

of Pennsylvania and a shoreline margin 

along Lake Erie from New York on the 

east to Ohio on the west extending 150 

yards inland, but including all of 

Presque Isle Peninsula. 

Northwest Zone: The area bounded on 

the north by the Lake Erie Zone and 

including all of Erie and Crawford 

Counties and those portions of Mercer 

and Venango Counties north of I–80. 

North Zone: That portion of the State 

east of the Northwest Zone and north of 

a line extending east on I–80 to U.S. 

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220, Route 220 to I–180, I–180 to I–80, 

and I–80 to the Delaware River. 

South Zone: The remaining portion of 

Pennsylvania. 

Vermont: 

Lake Champlain Zone: The U.S. 

portion of Lake Champlain and that area 

north and west of the line extending 

from the New York border along U.S. 4 

to VT 22A at Fair Haven; VT 22A to U.S. 

7 at Vergennes; U.S. 7 to VT 78 at 

Swanton; VT 78 to VT 36; VT 36 to 

Maquam Bay on Lake Champlain; along 

and around the shoreline of Maquam 

Bay and Hog Island to VT 78 at the West 

Swanton Bridge; VT 78 to VT 2 in 

Alburg; VT 2 to the Richelieu River in 

Alburg; along the east shore of the 

Richelieu River to the Canadian border. 

Interior Zone: That portion of 

Vermont east of the Lake Champlain 

Zone and west of a line extending from 

the Massachusetts border at Interstate 

91; north along Interstate 91 to U.S. 2; 

east along U.S. 2 to VT 102; north along 

VT 102 to VT 253; north along VT 253 

to the Canadian border. 

Connecticut River Zone: The 

remaining portion of Vermont east of 

the Interior Zone. 

Mississippi Flyway 

Alabama: 

South Zone: Mobile and Baldwin 

Counties. 

North Zone: The remainder of 

Alabama. 

Illinois: 

North Zone: That portion of the State 

north of a line extending west from the 

Indiana border along Peotone-Beecher 

Road to Illinois Route 50, south along 

Illinois Route 50 to Wilmington-Peotone 

Road, west along Wilmington-Peotone 

Road to Illinois Route 53, north along 

Illinois Route 53 to New River Road, 

northwest along New River Road to 

Interstate Highway 55, south along I–55 

to Pine Bluff-Lorenzo Road, west along 

Pine Bluff-Lorenzo Road to Illinois 

Route 47, north along Illinois Route 47 

to I–80, west along I–80 to I–39, south 

along I–39 to Illinois Route 18, west 

along Illinois Route 18 to Illinois Route 

29, south along Illinois Route 29 to 

Illinois Route 17, west along Illinois 

Route 17 to the Mississippi River, and 

due south across the Mississippi River 

to the Iowa border. 

Central Zone: That portion of the 

State south of the North Duck Zone line 

to a line extending west from the 

Indiana border along I–70 to Illinois 

Route 4, south along Illinois Route 4 to 

Illinois Route 161, west along Illinois 

Route 161 to Illinois Route 158, south 

and west along Illinois Route 158 to 

Illinois Route 159, south along Illinois 

Route 159 to Illinois Route 3, south 

along Illinois Route 3 to St. Leo’s Road, 

south along St. Leo’s road to Modoc 

Road, west along Modoc Road to Modoc 

Ferry Road, southwest along Modoc 

Ferry Road to Levee Road, southeast 

along Levee Road to County Route 12 

(Modoc Ferry entrance Road), south 

along County Route 12 to the Modoc 

Ferry route and southwest on the Modoc 

Ferry route across the Mississippi River 

to the Missouri border. 

South Zone: That portion of the State 

south and east of a line extending west 

from the Indiana border along Interstate 

70, south along U.S. Highway 45, to 

Illinois Route 13, west along Illinois 

Route 13 to Greenbriar Road, north on 

Greenbriar Road to Sycamore Road, 

west on Sycamore Road to N. Reed 

Station Road, south on N. Reed Station 

Road to Illinois Route 13, west along 

Illinois Route 13 to Illinois Route 127, 

south along Illinois Route 127 to State 

Forest Road (1025 N), west along State 

Forest Road to Illinois Route 3, north 

along Illinois Route 3 to the south bank 

of the Big Muddy River, west along the 

south bank of the Big Muddy River to 

the Mississippi River, west across the 

Mississippi River to the Missouri 

border. 

South Central Zone: The remainder of 

the State between the south border of 

the Central Zone and the North border 

of the South Zone. 

Indiana: 

North Zone: That portion of the State 

north of a line extending east from the 

Illinois State line along State Road 18 to 

U.S. Highway 31, north along U.S. 31 to 

U.S. 24, east along U.S. 24 to 

Huntington, then southeast along U.S. 

224 to the Ohio State line. 

Ohio River Zone: That portion of the 

State south of a line extending east from 

the Illinois State line along Interstate 

Highway 64 to New Albany, east along 

State Road 62 to State Road 56, east 

along State Road 56 to Vevay, east and 

north on State 156 along the Ohio River 

to North Landing, north along State 56 

to U.S. Highway 50, then northeast 

along U.S. 50 to the Ohio State line. 

South Zone: That portion of the State 

between the North and Ohio River Zone 

boundaries. 

Iowa: 

North Zone: That portion of the State 

north of a line extending east from the 

South Dakota-Iowa border along 

Interstate 29 southeast to Woodbury 

County Road D38, east along Woodbury 

County Road D38 to Woodbury County 

Road K45, southeast along Woodbury 

County Road K45 to State Highway 175, 

east along State Highway 175 to State 

Highway 37, southeast along State 

Highway 37 to State Highway 183, 

northeast along State Highway 183 to 

State Highway 141, east along State 

Highway 141 to U.S. Highway 30, and 

along U.S. Highway 30 to the Illinois 

border. 

South Zone: The remainder of Iowa. 

Kentucky: 

West Zone: All counties west of and 

including Butler, Daviess, Ohio, 

Simpson, and Warren Counties. 

East Zone: The remainder of 

Kentucky. 

Louisiana: 

West Zone: That portion of the State 

west and south of a line extending south 

from the Arkansas State line along 

Louisiana Highway 3 to Bossier City, 

east along Interstate Highway 20 to 

Minden, south along Louisiana 7 to 

Ringgold, east along Louisiana 4 to 

Jonesboro, south along U.S. Highway 

167 to Lafayette, southeast along U.S. 90 

to the Mississippi State line. 

East Zone: The remainder of 

Louisiana. 

Michigan: 

North Zone: The Upper Peninsula. 

Middle Zone: That portion of the 

Lower Peninsula north of a line 

beginning at the Wisconsin State line in 

Lake Michigan due west of the mouth of 

Stony Creek in Oceana County; then due 

east to, and easterly and southerly along 

the south shore of Stony Creek to Scenic 

Drive, easterly and southerly along 

Scenic Drive to Stony Lake Road, 

easterly along Stony Lake and Garfield 

Roads to Michigan Highway 20, east 

along Michigan 20 to U.S. Highway 10 

Business Route (BR) in the city of 

Midland, easterly along U.S. 10 BR to 

U.S. 10, easterly along U.S. 10 to 

Interstate Highway 75/U.S. Highway 23, 

northerly along I–75/U.S. 23 to the U.S. 

23 exit at Standish, easterly along U.S. 

23 to the centerline of the Au Gres 

River, then southerly along the 

centerline of the Au Gres River to 

Saginaw Bay, then on a line directly east 

10 miles into Saginaw Bay, and from 

that point on a line directly northeast to 

the Canadian border. 

South Zone: The remainder of 

Michigan. 

Minnesota: 

North Duck Zone: That portion of the 

State north of a line extending east from 

the North Dakota State line along State 

Highway 210 to State Highway 23, east 

along State Highway 23 to State 

Highway 39, then east along State 

Highway 39 to the Wisconsin State line 

at the Oliver Bridge. 

South Duck Zone: The remainder of 

Minnesota. 

Missouri: 

North Zone: That portion of Missouri 

north of a line running west from the 

Illinois border at Lock and Dam 25; west 

on Lincoln County Hwy. N to Mo. Hwy. 

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79; south on Mo. Hwy. 79 to Mo. Hwy. 

47; west on Mo. Hwy. 47 to I–70; west 

on I–70 to the Kansas border. 

Middle Zone: The remainder of 

Missouri not included in other zones. 

South Zone: That portion of Missouri 

south of a line running west from the 

Illinois border on Mo. Hwy. 74 to Mo. 

Hwy. 25; south on Mo. Hwy 25. to U.S. 

Hwy. 62; west on U.S. Hwy. 62 to Mo. 

Hwy. 53; north on Mo. Hwy. 53 to Mo. 

Hwy. 51; north on Mo. Hwy. 51 to U.S. 

Hwy. 60; west on U.S. Hwy. 60 to Mo. 

Hwy. 21; north on Mo. Hwy. 21 to Mo. 

Hwy. 72; west on Mo. Hwy. 72 to Mo. 

Hwy. 32; west on Mo. Hwy. 32 to U.S. 

Hwy. 65; north on U.S. Hwy. 65 to U.S. 

Hwy. 54; west on U.S. Hwy. 54 to U.S. 

Hwy. 71; south on U.S. Hwy. 71 to 

Jasper County Hwy. M; west on Jasper 

County Hwy. M to the Kansas border. 

Ohio: 

Lake Erie Marsh Zone: Includes all 

land and water within the boundaries of 

the area bordered by Interstate 75 from 

the Ohio-Michigan line to Interstate 280 

to Interstate 80 to the Erie-Lorain 

County line extending to a line 

measuring two hundred (200) yards 

from the shoreline into the waters of 

Lake Erie and including the waters of 

Sandusky Bay and Maumee Bay. 

North Zone: That portion of the State 

north of a line beginning at the OhioIndiana border and extending east along 

Interstate 70 to the Ohio-West Virginia 

border. 

South Zone: The remainder of Ohio. 

Tennessee: 

Reelfoot Zone: All or portions of Lake 

and Obion Counties. 

State Zone: The remainder of 

Tennessee. 

Wisconsin: 

North Zone: That portion of the State 

north of a line extending east from the 

Minnesota State line along U.S. 

Highway 10 into Portage County to 

County Highway HH, east on County 

Highway HH to State Highway 66 and 

then east on State Highway 66 to U.S. 

Highway 10, continuing east on U.S. 

Highway 10 to U.S. Highway 41, then 

north on U.S. Highway 41 to the 

Michigan State line. 

One or both of the following two 

zones: 

Mississippi River Zone: That area 

encompassed by a line beginning at the 

intersection of the Burlington Northern 

& Santa Fe Railway and the Illinois 

State line in Grant County and 

extending northerly along the 

Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway 

to the city limit of Prescott in Pierce 

County, then west along the Prescott 

city limit to the Minnesota State line. 

South Zone: The remainder of 

Wisconsin. 

Central Flyway 

Colorado (Central Flyway Portion): 

Northeast Zone: All areas east of 

Interstate 25 and north of Interstate 70. 

Southeast Zone: All areas east of 

Interstate 25 and south of Interstate 70, 

and all of El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano, 

and Las Animas counties. 

Mountain/Foothills Zone: All areas 

west of Interstate 25 and east of the 

Continental Divide, except El Paso, 

Pueblo, Huerfano, and Las Animas 

counties. 

Kansas: 

High Plains Zone: That portion of the 

State west of U.S. 283. 

Early Zone: That part of Kansas 

bounded by a line from the NebraskaKansas State line south on K–128 to its 

junction with US–36, then east on US– 

36 to its junction with K–199, then 

south on K–199 to its junction with 

Republic County 30 Rd, then south on 

Republic County 30 Rd to its junction 

with K–148, then east on K–148 to its 

junction with Republic County 50 Rd, 

then south on Republic County 50 Rd to 

its junction with Cloud County 40th Rd, 

then south on Cloud County 40th Rd to 

its junction with K–9, then west on K– 

9 to its junction with US–24, then west 

on US–24 to its junction with US–281, 

then north on US–281 to its junction 

with US–36, then west on US–36 to its 

junction with US–183, then south on 

US–183 to its junction with US–24, then 

west on US–24 to its junction with K– 

18, then southeast on K–18 to its 

junction with US–183, then south on 

US–183 to its junction with K–4, then 

east on K–4 to its junction with I–135, 

then south on I–135 to its junction with 

K–61, then southwest on K–61 to 

McPherson County 14th Avenue, then 

south on McPherson County 14th 

Avenue to its junction with Arapaho Rd, 

then west on Arapaho Rd to its junction 

with K–61, then southwest on K–61 to 

its junction with K–96, then northwest 

on K–96 to its junction with US–56, 

then southwest on US–56 to its junction 

with K–19, then east on K–19 to its 

junction with US–281, then south on 

US–281 to its junction with US–54, then 

west on US–54 to its junction with US– 

183, then north on US–183 to its 

junction with US–56, then southwest on 

US–56 to its junction with Ford County 

Rd 126, then south on Ford County Rd 

126 to its junction with US–400, then 

northwest on US–400 to its junction 

with US–283, then north on US–283 to 

its junction with the Nebraska-Kansas 

State line, then east along the NebraskaKansas State line to its junction with 

K–128. 

Late Zone: That part of Kansas 

bounded by a line from the NebraskaKansas State line south on K–128 to its 

junction with US–36, then east on US– 

36 to its junction with K–199, then 

south on K–199 to its junction with 

Republic County 30 Rd, then south on 

Republic County 30 Rd to its junction 

with K–148, then east on K–148 to its 

junction with Republic County 50 Rd, 

then south on Republic County 50 Rd to 

its junction with Cloud County 40th Rd, 

then south on Cloud County 40th Rd to 

its junction with K–9, then west on K– 

9 to its junction with US–24, then west 

on US–24 to its junction with US–281, 

then north on US–281 to its junction 

with US–36, then west on US–36 to its 

junction with US–183, then south on 

US–183 to its junction with US–24, then 

west on US–24 to its junction with K– 

18, then southeast on K–18 to its 

junction with US–183, then south on 

US–183 to its junction with K–4, then 

east on K–4 to its junction with I–135, 

then south on I–135 to its junction with 

K–61, then southwest on K–61 to 14th 

Avenue, then south on 14th Avenue to 

its junction with Arapaho Rd, then west 

on Arapaho Rd to its junction with K– 

61, then southwest on K–61 to its 

junction with K–96, then northwest on 

K–96 to its junction with US–56, then 

southwest on US–56 to its junction with 

K–19, then east on K–19 to its junction 

with US–281, then south on US–281 to 

its junction with US–54, then west on 

US–54 to its junction with US–183, then 

north on US–183 to its junction with 

US–56, then southwest on US–56 to its 

junction with Ford County Rd 126, then 

south on Ford County Rd 126 to its 

junction with US–400, then northwest 

on US–400 to its junction with US–283, 

then south on US–283 to its junction 

with the Oklahoma-Kansas State line, 

then east along the Oklahoma-Kansas 

State line to its junction with US–77, 

then north on US–77 to its junction with 

Butler County, NE 150th Street, then 

east on Butler County, NE 150th Street 

to its junction with US–35, then 

northeast on US–35 to its junction with 

K–68, then east on K–68 to the KansasMissouri State line, then north along the 

Kansas-Missouri State line to its 

junction with the Nebraska State line, 

then west along the Kansas-Nebraska 

State line to its junction with K–128. 

Southeast Zone: That part of Kansas 

bounded by a line from the MissouriKansas State line west on K–68 to its 

junction with US–35, then southwest on 

US–35 to its junction with Butler 

County, NE 150th Street, then west on 

NE 150th Street until its junction with 

K–77, then south on K–77 to the 

Oklahoma-Kansas State line, then east 

along the Kansas-Oklahoma State line to 

its junction with the Missouri State line, 

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then north along the Kansas-Missouri 

State line to its junction with K–68. 

Montana (Central Flyway Portion): 

Zone 1: The Counties of Blaine, 

Carbon, Carter, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, 

Fergus, Garfield, Golden Valley, Judith 

Basin, McCone, Musselshell, Petroleum, 

Phillips, Powder River, Richland, 

Roosevelt, Sheridan, Stillwater, Sweet 

Grass, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, and 

Yellowstone. 

Zone 2: The remainder of Montana. 

Nebraska: 

High Plains: That portion of Nebraska 

lying west of a line beginning at the 

South Dakota-Nebraska border on U.S. 

Hwy. 183; south on U.S. Hwy. 183 to 

U.S. Hwy. 20; west on U.S. Hwy. 20 to 

NE Hwy. 7; south on NE Hwy. 7 to NE 

Hwy. 91; southwest on NE Hwy. 91 to 

NE Hwy. 2; southeast on NE Hwy. 2 to 

NE Hwy. 92; west on NE Hwy. 92 to NE 

Hwy. 40; south on NE Hwy. 40 to NE 

Hwy. 47; south on NE Hwy. 47 to NE 

Hwy. 23; east on NE Hwy. 23 to U.S. 

Hwy. 283; and south on U.S. Hwy. 283 

to the Kansas-Nebraska border. 

Low Plains Zone 1: That portion of 

Dixon County west of NE Hwy. 26E 

Spur and north of NE Hwy. 12; those 

portions of Cedar and Knox Counties 

north of NE Hwy. 12; that portion of 

Keya Paha County east of U.S. Hwy. 

183; and all of Boyd County. Both banks 

of the Niobrara River in Keya Paha and 

Boyd counties east of U.S. Hwy. 183 

shall be included in Zone 1. 

Low Plains Zone 2: Area bounded by 

designated Federal and State highways 

and political boundaries beginning at 

the Kansas-Nebraska border on U.S. 

Hwy. 75 to U.S. Hwy. 136; east to the 

intersection of U.S. Hwy. 136 and the 

Steamboat Trace (Trace); north along the 

Trace to the intersection with Federal 

Levee R–562; north along Federal Levee 

R–562 to the intersection with the 

Trace; north along the Trace/Burlington 

Northern Railroad right-of-way to NE 

Hwy. 2; west to U.S. Hwy. 75; north to 

NE Hwy. 2; west to NE Hwy. 43; north 

to U.S. Hwy. 34; east to NE Hwy. 63; 

north and west to U.S. Hwy. 77; north 

to NE Hwy. 92; west to County Rd X; 

south to County Rd 21 (Seward County 

Line); west to NE Hwy. 15; north to 

County Rd 34; west to County Rd J; 

south to NE Hwy. 92; west to U.S. 81; 

south to NE 66; west to County Rd C; 

north to NE Hwy. 92; west to U.S. Hwy. 

30; west to NE Hwy. 14; south to County 

Rd 22 (Hamilton County); west to 

County Rd M; south to County Rd 21; 

west to County Rd K; south to U.S. Hwy. 

34; west to NE Hwy. 2; south to U.S. 

Hwy. I–80; west to Gunbarrel Rd (Hall/ 

Hamilton county line); south to Giltner 

Rd; west to U.S. Hwy. 281; south to U.S. 

Hwy. 34; west to NE Hwy. 10; north to 

County Rd ‘‘R’’ (Kearney County) and 

County Rd #742 (Phelps County); west 

to County Rd #438 (Gosper County line); 

south along County Rd #438 (Gosper 

County line) to County Rd #726 (Furnas 

County line); east to County Rd #438 

(Harlan County line); south to U.S. Hwy. 

34; south and west to U.S. Hwy. 136; 

east to U.S. Hwy. 183; north to NE Hwy. 

4; east to NE Hwy. 10; south to U.S. 

Hwy 136; east to NE Hwy. 14; south to 

the Kansas-Nebraska border; west to 

U.S. Hwy. 283; north to NE Hwy. 23; 

west to NE Hwy. 47; north to U.S. Hwy. 

30; east to County Rd 13; north to 

County Rd O; east to NE Hwy. 14; north 

to NE Hwy. 52; west and north to NE 

Hwy. 91; west to U.S. Hwy. 281; south 

to NE Hwy. 22; west to NE Hwy. 11; 

northwest to NE Hwy. 91; west to U.S. 

Hwy. 183; south to Round Valley Rd; 

west to Sargent River Rd; west to 

Sargent Rd; west to Milburn Rd; north 

to Blaine County Line; east to Loup 

County Line; north to NE Hwy. 91; west 

to North Loup Spur Rd; north to North 

Loup Rd; east to Pleasant Valley/Worth 

Rd; east to Loup County Line; north to 

Loup-Brown county line; east along 

northern boundaries of Loup, Garfield 

and Wheeler counties; south on the 

Wheeler-Antelope county line to NE 

Hwy. 70; east to NE Hwy. 14; south to 

NE Hwy. 39; southeast to NE Hwy. 22; 

east to U.S. Hwy. 81; southeast to U.S. 

Hwy. 30; east to U.S. Hwy. 75; north to 

the Washington County line; east to the 

Iowa–Nebraska border; south along the 

Iowa-Nebraska border; to the beginning 

at U.S. Hwy. 75 and the KansasNebraska border. 

Low Plains Zone 3: The area east of 

the High Plains Zone, excluding Low 

Plains Zone 1, north of Low Plains Zone 

2. 

Low Plains Zone 4: The area east of 

the High Plains Zone and south of Zone 

2. 

New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion): 

North Zone: That portion of the State 

north of I–40 and U.S. 54. 

South Zone: The remainder of New 

Mexico. 

North Dakota: 

High Plains Unit: That portion of the 

State south and west of a line from the 

South Dakota State line along U.S. 83 

and I–94 to ND 41, north to U.S. 2, west 

to the Williams/Divide County line, 

then north along the County line to the 

Canadian border. 

Low Plains Unit: The remainder of 

North Dakota. 

Oklahoma: 

High Plains Zone: The Counties of 

Beaver, Cimarron, and Texas. 

Low Plains Zone 1: That portion of 

the State east of the High Plains Zone 

and north of a line extending east from 

the Texas State line along OK 33 to OK 

47, east along OK 47 to U.S. 183, south 

along U.S. 183 to I–40, east along I–40 

to U.S. 177, north along U.S. 177 to OK 

33, east along OK 33 to OK 18, north 

along OK 18 to OK 51, west along OK 

51 to I–35, north along I–35 to U.S. 412, 

west along U.S. 412 to OK 132, then 

north along OK 132 to the Kansas State 

line. 

Low Plains Zone 2: The remainder of 

Oklahoma. 

South Dakota: 

High Plains Zone: That portion of the 

State west of a line beginning at the 

North Dakota State line and extending 

south along U.S. 83 to U.S. 14, east on 

U.S. 14 to Blunt, south on the BluntCanning Rd to SD 34, east and south on 

SD 34 to SD 50 at Lee’s Corner, south 

on SD 50 to I–90, east on I–90 to SD 50, 

south on SD 50 to SD 44, west on SD 

44 across the Platte-Winner bridge to SD 

47, south on SD 47 to U.S. 18, east on 

U.S. 18 to SD 47, south on SD 47 to the 

Nebraska State line. 

North Zone: That portion of 

northeastern South Dakota east of the 

High Plains Unit and north of a line 

extending east along U.S. 212 to the 

Minnesota State line. 

South Zone: That portion of Gregory 

County east of SD 47 and south of SD 

44; Charles Mix County south of SD 44 

to the Douglas County line; south on SD 

50 to Geddes; east on the Geddes 

Highway to U.S. 281; south on U.S. 281 

and U.S. 18 to SD 50; south and east on 

SD 50 to the Bon Homme County line; 

the Counties of Bon Homme, Yankton, 

and Clay south of SD 50; and Union 

County south and west of SD 50 and 

I–29. 

Middle Zone: The remainder of South 

Dakota. 

Texas: 

High Plains Zone: That portion of the 

State west of a line extending south 

from the Oklahoma State line along U.S. 

183 to Vernon, south along U.S. 283 to 

Albany, south along TX 6 to TX 351 to 

Abilene, south along U.S. 277 to Del 

Rio, then south along the Del Rio 

International Toll Bridge access road to 

the Mexico border. 

Low Plains North Zone: That portion 

of northeastern Texas east of the High 

Plains Zone and north of a line 

beginning at the International Toll 

Bridge south of Del Rio, then extending 

east on U.S. 90 to San Antonio, then 

continuing east on I–10 to the Louisiana 

State line at Orange, Texas. 

Low Plains South Zone: The 

remainder of Texas. 

Wyoming (Central Flyway portion): 

Zone C1: The Counties of Converse, 

Goshen, Hot Springs, Natrona, Platte, 

and Washakie; and the portion of Park 

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County east of the Shoshone National 

Forest boundary and south of a line 

beginning where the Shoshone National 

Forest boundary meets Park County 

Road 8VC, east along Park County Road 

8VC to Park County Road 1AB, 

continuing east along Park County Road 

1AB to Wyoming Highway 120, north 

along WY Highway 120 to WY Highway 

294, south along WY Highway 294 to 

Lane 9, east along Lane 9 to Powel and 

WY Highway 14A, and finally east along 

WY Highway 14A to the Park County 

and Big Horn County line. 

Zone C2: The remainder of Wyoming. 

Pacific Flyway 

Arizona: 

Game Management Units (GMU) as 

follows: 

South Zone: Those portions of GMUs 

6 and 8 in Yavapai County, and GMUs 

10 and 12B–45. 

North Zone: GMUs 1–5, those 

portions of GMUs 6 and 8 within 

Coconino County, and GMUs 7, 9, 12A. 

California: 

Northeastern Zone: In that portion of 

California lying east and north of a line 

beginning at the intersection of 

Interstate 5 with the California-Oregon 

line; south along Interstate 5 to its 

junction with Walters Lane south of the 

town of Yreka; west along Walters Lane 

to its junction with Easy Street; south 

along Easy Street to the junction with 

Old Highway 99; south along Old 

Highway 99 to the point of intersection 

with Interstate 5 north of the town of 

Weed; south along Interstate 5 to its 

junction with Highway 89; east and 

south along Highway 89 to Main Street 

Greenville; north and east to its junction 

with North Valley Road; south to its 

junction of Diamond Mountain Road; 

north and east to its junction with North 

Arm Road; south and west to the 

junction of North Valley Road; south to 

the junction with Arlington Road (A22); 

west to the junction of Highway 89; 

south and west to the junction of 

Highway 70; east on Highway 70 to 

Highway 395; south and east on 

Highway 395 to the point of intersection 

with the California-Nevada State line; 

north along the California-Nevada State 

line to the junction of the CaliforniaNevada-Oregon State lines; west along 

the California-Oregon State line to the 

point of origin. 

Colorado River Zone: Those portions 

of San Bernardino, Riverside, and 

Imperial Counties east of a line 

extending from the Nevada State line 

south along U.S. 95 to Vidal Junction; 

south on a road known as ‘‘Aqueduct 

Road’’ in San Bernardino County 

through the town of Rice to the San 

Bernardino-Riverside County line; south 

on a road known in Riverside County as 

the ‘‘Desert Center to Rice Road’’ to the 

town of Desert Center; east 31 miles on 

I–10 to the Wiley Well Road; south on 

this road to Wiley Well; southeast along 

the Army-Milpitas Road to the Blythe, 

Brawley, Davis Lake intersections; south 

on the Blythe-Brawley paved road to the 

Ogilby and Tumco Mine Road; south on 

this road to U.S. 80; east 7 miles on U.S. 

80 to the Andrade-Algodones Road; 

south on this paved road to the Mexican 

border at Algodones, Mexico. 

Southern Zone: That portion of 

southern California (but excluding the 

Colorado River Zone) south and east of 

a line extending from the Pacific Ocean 

east along the Santa Maria River to CA 

166 near the City of Santa Maria; east on 

CA 166 to CA 99; south on CA 99 to the 

crest of the Tehachapi Mountains at 

Tejon Pass; east and north along the 

crest of the Tehachapi Mountains to CA 

178 at Walker Pass; east on CA 178 to 

U.S. 395 at the town of Inyokern; south 

on U.S. 395 to CA 58; east on CA 58 to 

I–15; east on I–15 to CA 127; north on 

CA 127 to the Nevada State line. 

Southern San Joaquin Valley 

Temporary Zone: All of Kings and 

Tulare Counties and that portion of 

Kern County north of the Southern 

Zone. 

Balance-of-State Zone: The remainder 

of California not included in the 

Northeastern, Southern, and Colorado 

River Zones, and the Southern San 

Joaquin Valley Temporary Zone. 

Idaho: 

Zone 1: All lands and waters within 

the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, 

including private inholdings; Bannock 

County; Bingham County, except that 

portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir 

drainage; and Power County east of 

State Highway 37 and State Highway 39. 

Zone 2: Adams, Bear Lake, Benewah, 

Bingham within the Blackfoot Reservoir 

drainage, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, 

Boundary, Butte, Camas, Caribou except 

the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, Clark, 

Clearwater, Custer, Franklin, Fremont, 

Idaho, Jefferson, Kootenai, Latah, 

Lemhi, Lewis, Madison, Nez Perce, 

Oneida, Power County west of State 

Highway 37 and State Highway 39, 

Shoshone, Teton, and Valley Counties. 

Zone 3: Ada, Boise, Canyon, Cassia, 

Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, 

Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, 

and Washington Counties. 

Nevada: 

Northeast Zone: All of Elko and White 

Pine Counties. 

Northwest Zone: All of Carson City, 

Churchill, Douglas, Esmeralda, Eureka, 

Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, 

Pershing, Storey, and Washoe Counties. 

South Zone: All of Clark and Lincoln 

County. 

Oregon: 

Zone 1: Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, 

Lane, Douglas, Coos, Curry, Josephine, 

Jackson, Linn, Benton, Polk, Marion, 

Yamhill, Washington, Columbia, 

Multnomah, Clackamas, Hood River, 

Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow and 

Umatilla Counties. 

Columbia Basin Mallard Management 

Unit: Gilliam, Morrow, and Umatilla 

Counties. 

Zone 2: The remainder of the State. 

Utah: 

Zone 1: All of Box Elder, Cache, 

Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Morgan, Rich, 

Salt Lake, Summit, Unitah, Utah, 

Wasatch, and Weber Counties, and that 

part of Toole County north of I–80. 

Zone 2: The remainder of Utah. 

Washington: 

East Zone: All areas east of the Pacific 

Crest Trail and east of the Big White 

Salmon River in Klickitat County. 

Columbia Basin Mallard Management 

Unit: Same as East Zone. 

West Zone: All areas to the west of the 

East Zone. 

Wyoming: 

Snake River Zone: Beginning at the 

south boundary of Yellowstone National 

Park and the Continental Divide; south 

along the Continental Divide to Union 

Pass and the Union Pass Road (U.S.F.S. 

Road 600); west and south along the 

Union Pass Road to U.S.F.S. Road 605; 

south along U.S.F.S. Road 605 to the 

Bridger-Teton National Forest boundary; 

along the national forest boundary to the 

Idaho State line; north along the Idaho 

State line to the south boundary of 

Yellowstone National Park; east along 

the Yellowstone National Park boundary 

to the Continental Divide. 

Balance of State Zone: Balance of the 

Pacific Flyway in Wyoming outside the 

Snake River Zone. 

Geese 

Atlantic Flyway 

Connecticut: 

AP Unit: Litchfield County and the 

portion of Hartford County west of a 

line beginning at the Massachusetts 

border in Suffield and extending south 

along Route 159 to its intersection with 

Route 91 in Hartford, and then 

extending south along Route 91 to its 

intersection with the Hartford/ 

Middlesex County line. 

AFRP Unit: Starting at the 

intersection of I–95 and the Quinnipiac 

River, north on the Quinnipiac River to 

its intersection with I–91, north on I–91 

to I–691, west on I–691 to the Hartford 

County line, and encompassing the rest 

of New Haven County and Fairfield 

County in its entirety. 

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NAP H-Unit: All of the rest of the 

State not included in the AP or AFRP 

descriptions above. 

South Zone: Same as for ducks. 

North Zone: Same as for ducks. 

Maryland: 

Resident Population (RP) Zone: 

Garrett, Allegany, Washington, 

Frederick, and Montgomery Counties; 

that portion of Prince George’s County 

west of Route 3 and Route 301; that 

portion of Charles County west of Route 

301 to the Virginia State line; and that 

portion of Carroll County west of Route 

31 to the intersection of Route 97, and 

west of Route 97 to the Pennsylvania 

line. 

AP Zone: Remainder of the State. 

Massachusetts: 

NAP Zone: Central and Coastal Zones 

(see duck zones). 

AP Zone: The Western Zone (see duck 

zones). 

Special Late Season Area: The Central 

Zone and that portion of the Coastal 

Zone (see duck zones) that lies north of 

the Cape Cod Canal, north to the New 

Hampshire line. 

New Hampshire: 

Same zones as for ducks. 

New Jersey: 

North: That portion of the State 

within a continuous line that runs east 

along the New York State boundary line 

to the Hudson River; then south along 

the New York State boundary to its 

intersection with Route 440 at Perth 

Amboy; then west on Route 440 to its 

intersection with Route 287; then west 

along Route 287 to its intersection with 

Route 206 in Bedminster (Exit 18); then 

north along Route 206 to its intersection 

with Route 94: then west along Route 94 

to the tollbridge in Columbia; then north 

along the Pennsylvania State boundary 

in the Delaware River to the beginning 

point. 

South: That portion of the State 

within a continuous line that runs west 

from the Atlantic Ocean at Ship Bottom 

along Route 72 to Route 70; then west 

along Route 70 to Route 206; then south 

along Route 206 to Route 536; then west 

along Route 536 to Route 322; then west 

along Route 322 to Route 55; then south 

along Route 55 to Route 553 (Buck 

Road); then south along Route 553 to 

Route 40; then east along Route 40 to 

route 55; then south along Route 55 to 

Route 552 (Sherman Avenue); then west 

along Route 552 to Carmel Road; then 

south along Carmel Road to Route 49; 

then east along Route 49 to Route 555; 

then south along Route 555 to Route 

553; then east along Route 553 to Route 

649; then north along Route 649 to 

Route 670; then east along Route 670 to 

Route 47; then north along Route 47 to 

Route 548; then east along Route 548 to 

Route 49; then east along Route 49 to 

Route 50; then south along Route 50 to 

Route 9; then south along Route 9 to 

Route 625 (Sea Isle City Boulevard); 

then east along Route 625 to the Atlantic 

Ocean; then north to the beginning 

point. 

New York: 

Lake Champlain Goose Area: The 

same as the Lake Champlain Waterfowl 

Hunting Zone, which is that area of New 

York State lying east and north of a 

continuous line extending along Route 

11 from the New York-Canada 

International boundary south to Route 

9B, south along Route 9B to Route 9, 

south along Route 9 to Route 22 south 

of Keeseville, south along Route 22 to 

the west shore of South Bay along and 

around the shoreline of South Bay to 

Route 22 on the east shore of South Bay, 

southeast along Route 22 to Route 4, 

northeast along Route 4 to the New 

York-Vermont boundary. 

Northeast Goose Area: The same as 

the Northeastern Waterfowl Hunting 

Zone, which is that area of New York 

State lying north of a continuous line 

extending from Lake Ontario east along 

the north shore of the Salmon River to 

Interstate 81, south along Interstate 

Route 81 to Route 31, east along Route 

31 to Route 13, north along Route 13 to 

Route 49, east along Route 49 to Route 

365, east along Route 365 to Route 28, 

east along Route 28 to Route 29, east 

along Route 29 to Route 22 at 

Greenwich Junction, north along Route 

22 to Washington County Route 153, 

east along CR 153 to the New YorkVermont boundary, exclusive of the 

Lake Champlain Zone. 

East Central Goose Area: That area of 

New York State lying inside of a 

continuous line extending from 

Interstate Route 81 in Cicero, east along 

Route 31 to Route 13, north along Route 

13 to Route 49, east along Route 49 to 

Route 365, east along Route 365 to 

Route 28, east along Route 28 to Route 

29, east along Route 29 to Route 147 at 

Kimball Corners, south along Route 147 

to Schenectady County Route 40 (West 

Glenville Road), west along Route 40 to 

Touareuna Road, south along Touareuna 

Road to Schenectady County Route 59, 

south along Route 59 to State Route 5, 

east along Route 5 to the Lock 9 bridge, 

southwest along the Lock 9 bridge to 

Route 5S, southeast along Route 5S to 

Schenectady County Route 58, 

southwest along Route 58 to the NYS 

Thruway, south along the Thruway to 

Route 7, southwest along Route 7 to 

Schenectady County Route 103, south 

along Route 103 to Route 406, east along 

Route 406 to Schenectady County Route 

99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route 

99 to Dunnsville Road, south along 

Dunnsville Road to Route 397, 

southwest along Route 397 to Route 146 

at Altamont, west along Route 146 to 

Albany County Route 252, northwest 

along Route 252 to Schenectady County 

Route 131, north along Route 131 to 

Route 7, west along Route 7 to Route 10 

at Richmondville, south on Route 10 to 

Route 23 at Stamford, west along Route 

23 to Route 7 in Oneonta, southwest 

along Route 7 to Route 79 to Interstate 

Route 88 near Harpursville, west along 

Route 88 to Interstate Route 81, north 

along Route 81 to the point of 

beginning. 

West Central Goose Area: That area of 

New York State lying within a 

continuous line beginning at the point 

where the northerly extension of Route 

269 (County Line Road on the NiagaraOrleans County boundary) meets the 

International boundary with Canada, 

south to the shore of Lake Ontario at the 

eastern boundary of Golden Hill State 

Park, south along the extension of Route 

269 and Route 269 to Route 104 at 

Jeddo, west along Route 104 to Niagara 

County Route 271, south along Route 

271 to Route 31E at Middleport, south 

along Route 31E to Route 31, west along 

Route 31 to Griswold Street, south along 

Griswold Street to Ditch Road, south 

along Ditch Road to Foot Road, south 

along Foot Road to the north bank of 

Tonawanda Creek, west along the north 

bank of Tonawanda Creek to Route 93, 

south along Route 93 to Route 5, east 

along Route 5 to Crittenden-Murrays 

Corners Road, south on CrittendenMurrays Corners Road to the NYS 

Thruway, east along the Thruway 90 to 

Route 98 (at Thruway Exit 48) in 

Batavia, south along Route 98 to Route 

20, east along Route 20 to Route 19 in 

Pavilion Center, south along Route 19 to 

Route 63, southeast along Route 63 to 

Route 246, south along Route 246 to 

Route 39 in Perry, northeast along Route 

39 to Route 20A, northeast along Route 

20A to Route 20, east along Route 20 to 

Route 364 (near Canandaigua), south 

and east along Route 364 to Yates 

County Route 18 (Italy Valley Road), 

southwest along Route 18 to Yates 

County Route 34, east along Route 34 to 

Yates County Route 32, south along 

Route 32 to Steuben County Route 122, 

south along Route 122 to Route 53, 

south along Route 53 to Steuben County 

Route 74, east along Route 74 to Route 

54A (near Pulteney), south along Route 

54A to Steuben County Route 87, east 

along Route 87 to Steuben County Route 

96, east along Route 96 to Steuben 

County Route 114, east along Route 114 

to Schuyler County Route 23, east and 

southeast along Route 23 to Schuyler 

County Route 28, southeast along Route 

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28 to Route 409 at Watkins Glen, south 

along Route 409 to Route 14, south 

along Route 14 to Route 224 at Montour 

Falls, east along Route 224 to Route 228 

in Odessa, north along Route 228 to 

Route 79 in Mecklenburg, east along 

Route 79 to Route 366 in Ithaca, 

northeast along Route 366 to Route 13, 

northeast along Route 13 to Interstate 

Route 81 in Cortland, north along Route 

81 to the north shore of the Salmon 

River to shore of Lake Ontario, 

extending generally northwest in a 

straight line to the nearest point of the 

International boundary with Canada, 

south and west along the International 

boundary to the point of beginning. 

Hudson Valley Goose Area: That area 

of New York State lying within a 

continuous line extending from Route 4 

at the New York-Vermont boundary, 

west and south along Route 4 to Route 

149 at Fort Ann, west on Route 149 to 

Route 9, south along Route 9 to 

Interstate Route 87 (at Exit 20 in Glens 

Falls), south along Route 87 to Route 29, 

west along Route 29 to Route 147 at 

Kimball Corners, south along Route 147 

to Schenectady County Route 40 (West 

Glenville Road), west along Route 40 to 

Touareuna Road, south along Touareuna 

Road to Schenectady County Route 59, 

south along Route 59 to State Route 5, 

east along Route 5 to the Lock 9 bridge, 

southwest along the Lock 9 bridge to 

Route 5S, southeast along Route 5S to 

Schenectady County Route 58, 

southwest along Route 58 to the NYS 

Thruway, south along the Thruway to 

Route 7, southwest along Route 7 to 

Schenectady County Route 103, south 

along Route 103 to Route 406, east along 

Route 406 to Schenectady County Route 

99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route 

99 to Dunnsville Road, south along 

Dunnsville Road to Route 397, 

southwest along Route 397 to Route 146 

at Altamont, southeast along Route 146 

to Main Street in Altamont, west along 

Main Street to Route 156, southeast 

along Route 156 to Albany County 

Route 307, southeast along Route 307 to 

Route 85A, southwest along Route 85A 

to Route 85, south along Route 85 to 

Route 443, southeast along Route 443 to 

Albany County Route 301 at Clarksville, 

southeast along Route 301 to Route 32, 

south along Route 32 to Route 23 at 

Cairo, west along Route 23 to Joseph 

Chadderdon Road, southeast along 

Joseph Chadderdon Road to Hearts 

Content Road (Greene County Route 31), 

southeast along Route 31 to Route 32, 

south along Route 32 to Greene County 

Route 23A, east along Route 23A to 

Interstate Route 87 (the NYS Thruway), 

south along Route 87 to Route 28 (Exit 

19) near Kingston, northwest on Route 

28 to Route 209, southwest on Route 

209 to the New York-Pennsylvania 

boundary, southeast along the New 

York-Pennsylvania boundary to the New 

York-New Jersey boundary, southeast 

along the New York-New Jersey 

boundary to Route 210 near Greenwood 

Lake, northeast along Route 210 to 

Orange County Route 5, northeast along 

Orange County Route 5 to Route 105 in 

the Village of Monroe, east and north 

along Route 105 to Route 32, northeast 

along Route 32 to Orange County Route 

107 (Quaker Avenue), east along Route 

107 to Route 9W, north along Route 9W 

to the south bank of Moodna Creek, 

southeast along the south bank of 

Moodna Creek to the New WindsorCornwall town boundary, northeast 

along the New Windsor-Cornwall town 

boundary to the Orange-Dutchess 

County boundary (middle of the Hudson 

River), north along the county boundary 

to Interstate Route 84, east along Route 

84 to the Dutchess-Putnam County 

boundary, east along the county 

boundary to the New York-Connecticut 

boundary, north along the New YorkConnecticut boundary to the New YorkMassachusetts boundary, north along 

the New York-Massachusetts boundary 

to the New York-Vermont boundary, 

north to the point of beginning. 

Eastern Long Island Goose Area (NAP 

High Harvest Area): That area of Suffolk 

County lying east of a continuous line 

extending due south from the New 

York-Connecticut boundary to the 

northernmost end of Roanoke Avenue in 

the Town of Riverhead; then south on 

Roanoke Avenue (which becomes 

County Route 73) to State Route 25; then 

west on Route 25 to Peconic Avenue; 

then south on Peconic Avenue to 

County Route (CR) 104 (Riverleigh 

Avenue); then south on CR 104 to CR 31 

(Old Riverhead Road); then south on CR 

31 to Oak Street; then south on Oak 

Street to Potunk Lane; then west on 

Stevens Lane; then south on Jessup 

Avenue (in Westhampton Beach) to 

Dune Road (CR 89); then due south to 

international waters. 

Western Long Island Goose Area (RP 

Area): That area of Westchester County 

and its tidal waters southeast of 

Interstate Route 95 and that area of 

Nassau and Suffolk Counties lying west 

of a continuous line extending due 

south from the New York-Connecticut 

boundary to the northernmost end of the 

Sunken Meadow State Parkway; then 

south on the Sunken Meadow Parkway 

to the Sagtikos State Parkway; then 

south on the Sagtikos Parkway to the 

Robert Moses State Parkway; then south 

on the Robert Moses Parkway to its 

southernmost end; then due south to 

international waters. 

Central Long Island Goose Area (NAP 

Low Harvest Area): That area of Suffolk 

County lying between the Western and 

Eastern Long Island Goose Areas, as 

defined above. 

South Goose Area: The remainder of 

New York State, excluding New York 

City. 

Special Late Canada Goose Area: That 

area of the Central Long Island Goose 

Area lying north of State Route 25A and 

west of a continuous line extending 

northward from State Route 25A along 

Randall Road (near Shoreham) to North 

Country Road, then east to Sound Road 

and then north to Long Island Sound 

and then due north to the New YorkConnecticut boundary. 

North Carolina: 

SJBP Hunt Zone: Includes the 

following Counties or portions of 

Counties: Anson, Cabarrus, Chatham, 

Davidson, Durham, Halifax (that portion 

east of NC 903), Montgomery (that 

portion west of NC 109), Northampton, 

Richmond (that portion south of NC 73 

and west of US 220 and north of US 74), 

Rowan, Stanly, Union, and Wake. 

RP Hunt Zone: Includes the following 

Counties or portions of Counties: 

Alamance, Alleghany, Alexander, Ashe, 

Avery, Beaufort, Bertie (that portion 

south and west of a line formed by NC 

45 at the Washington Co. line to US 17 

in Midway, US 17 in Midway to US 13 

in Windsor, US 13 in Windsor to the 

Hertford Co. line), Bladen, Brunswick, 

Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Carteret, 

Caswell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, 

Cleveland, Columbus, Craven, 

Cumberland, Davie, Duplin, Edgecombe, 

Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Gates, 

Graham, Granville, Greene, Guilford, 

Halifax (that portion west of NC 903), 

Harnett, Haywood, Henderson, Hertford, 

Hoke, Iredell, Jackson, Johnston, Jones, 

Lee, Lenoir, Lincoln, McDowell, Macon, 

Madison, Martin, Mecklenburg, 

Mitchell, Montgomery (that portion that 

is east of NC 109), Moore, Nash, New 

Hanover, Onslow, Orange, Pamlico, 

Pender, Person, Pitt, Polk, Randolph, 

Richmond (all of the county with 

exception of that portion that is south of 

NC 73 and west of US 220 and north of 

US 74), Robeson, Rockingham, 

Rutherford, Sampson, Scotland, Stokes, 

Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Vance, 

Warren, Watauga, Wayne, Wilkes, 

Wilson, Yadkin, and Yancey. 

Northeast Hunt Unit: Includes the 

following Counties or portions of 

Counties: Bertie (that portion north and 

east of a line formed by NC 45 at the 

Washington County line to US 17 in 

Midway, US 17 in Midway to US 13 in 

Windsor, US 13 in Windsor to the 

Hertford Co. line), Camden, Chowan, 

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Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Pasquotank, 

Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington. 

Pennsylvania: 

Resident Canada Goose Zone: All of 

Pennsylvania except for SJBP Zone and 

the area east of route SR 97 from the 

Maryland State Line to the intersection 

of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection 

of US Route 30, south of US Route 30 

to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, east 

of SR 743 to intersection of I–81, east of 

I–81 to intersection of I–80, and south 

of I–80 to the New Jersey State line. 

SJBP Zone: The area north of I–80 and 

west of I–79 including in the city of Erie 

west of Bay Front Parkway to and 

including the Lake Erie Duck zone (Lake 

Erie, Presque Isle, and the area within 

150 yards of the Lake Erie Shoreline). 

AP Zone: The area east of route SR 97 

from Maryland State Line to the 

intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to 

intersection of US Route 30, south of US 

Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to 

SR 743, east of SR 743 to intersection of 

I–81, east of I–81 to intersection of I–80, 

south of I–80 to New Jersey State line. 

Rhode Island: 

Special Area for Canada Geese: Kent 

and Providence Counties and portions 

of the towns of Exeter and North 

Kingston within Washington County 

(see State regulations for detailed 

descriptions). 

South Carolina: 

Canada Goose Area: Statewide except 

for Clarendon County, that portion of 

Orangeburg County north of SC 

Highway 6, and that portion of Berkeley 

County north of SC Highway 45 from 

the Orangeburg County line to the 

junction of SC Highway 45 and State 

Road S–8–31 and that portion west of 

the Santee Dam. 

Vermont: 

Same zones as for ducks. 

Virginia: 

AP Zone: The area east and south of 

the following line—the Stafford County 

line from the Potomac River west to 

Interstate 95 at Fredericksburg, then 

south along Interstate 95 to Petersburg, 

then Route 460 (SE) to City of Suffolk, 

then south along Route 32 to the North 

Carolina line. 

SJBP Zone: The area to the west of the 

AP Zone boundary and east of the 

following line: the ‘‘Blue Ridge’’ 

(mountain spine) at the West VirginiaVirginia Border (Loudoun CountyClarke County line) south to Interstate 

64 (the Blue Ridge line follows county 

borders along the western edge of 

Loudoun-Fauquier-RappahannockMadison-Greene-Albemarle and into 

Nelson Counties), then east along 

Interstate Rt. 64 to Route 15, then south 

along Rt. 15 to the North Carolina line. 

RP Zone: The remainder of the State 

west of the SJBP Zone. 

West Virginia: 

Same zones as for ducks. 

Mississippi Flyway 

Alabama: 

Same zones as for ducks, but in 

addition: 

SJBP Zone: That portion of Morgan 

County east of U.S. Highway 31, north 

of State Highway 36, and west of U.S. 

231; that portion of Limestone County 

south of U.S. 72; and that portion of 

Madison County south of Swancott 

Road and west of Triana Road. 

Arkansas: 

Northwest Zone: Baxter, Benton, 

Boone, Carroll, Conway, Crawford, 

Faulkner, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, 

Madison, Marion, Newton, Perry, Pope, 

Pulaski, Searcy, Sebastian, Scott, Van 

Buren, Washington, and Yell Counties. 

Illinois: 

North Zone: That portion of the State 

north of a line extending west from the 

Indiana border along Interstate 80 to I– 

39, south along I–39 to Illinois Route 18, 

west along Illinois Route 18 to Illinois 

Route 29, south along Illinois Route 29 

to Illinois Route 17, west along Illinois 

Route 17 to the Mississippi River, and 

due south across the Mississippi River 

to the Iowa border. 

Central Zone: That portion of the 

State south of the North Goose Zone line 

to a line extending west from the 

Indiana border along I–70 to Illinois 

Route 4, south along Illinois Route 4 to 

Illinois Route 161, west along Illinois 

Route 161 to Illinois Route 158, south 

and west along Illinois Route 158 to 

Illinois Route 159, south along Illinois 

Route 159 to Illinois Route 3, south 

along Illinois Route 3 to St. Leo’s Road, 

south along St. Leo’s road to Modoc 

Road, west along Modoc Road to Modoc 

Ferry Road, southwest along Modoc 

Ferry Road to Levee Road, southeast 

along Levee Road to County Route 12 

(Modoc Ferry entrance Road), south 

along County Route 12 to the Modoc 

Ferry route and southwest on the Modoc 

Ferry route across the Mississippi River 

to the Missouri border. 

South Zone: Same zones as for ducks. 

South Central Zone: Same zones as for 

ducks. 

Indiana: 

Same zones as for ducks but in 

addition: 

Special Canada Goose Seasons 

Late Canada Goose Season Zone: That 

part of the state encompassed by the 

following Counties: Steuben, Lagrange, 

Elkhart, St. Joseph, La Porte, Starke, 

Marshall, Kosciusko, Noble, De Kalb, 

Allen, Whitley, Huntington, Wells, 

Adams, Boone, Hamilton, Madison, 

Hendricks, Marion, Hancock, Morgan, 

Johnson, and Shelby. 

Experimental Late Canada Goose 

Season Zone: That part of the state 

encompassed by the following Counties: 

Vermillion, Parke, Vigo, Clay, Sullivan, 

and Greene. 

Iowa: 

Same zones as for ducks. 

Kentucky: 

Western Zone: That portion of the 

State west of a line beginning at the 

Tennessee State line at Fulton and 

extending north along the Purchase 

Parkway to Interstate Highway 24, east 

along I–24 to U.S. Highway 641, north 

along U.S. 641 to U.S. 60, northeast 

along U.S. 60 to the Henderson County 

line, then south, east, and northerly 

along the Henderson County line to the 

Indiana State line. 

Ballard Reporting Area: That area 

encompassed by a line beginning at the 

northwest city limits of Wickliffe in 

Ballard County and extending westward 

to the middle of the Mississippi River, 

north along the Mississippi River and 

along the low-water mark of the Ohio 

River on the Illinois shore to the 

Ballard-McCracken County line, south 

along the county line to Kentucky 

Highway 358, south along Kentucky 358 

to U.S. Highway 60 at LaCenter, then 

southwest along U.S. 60 to the northeast 

city limits of Wickliffe. 

Henderson-Union Reporting Area: 

Henderson County and that portion of 

Union County within the Western Zone. 

Pennyroyal/Coalfield Zone: Butler, 

Daviess, Ohio, Simpson, and Warren 

Counties and all counties lying west to 

the boundary of the Western Goose 

Zone. 

Louisiana: 

Same zones as for ducks. 

Michigan: 

(a) North Zone—Same as North duck 

zone. 

(b) Middle Zone—Same as Middle 

duck zone. 

(c) South Zone—Same as South duck 

zone. 

Tuscola/Huron Goose Management 

Unit (GMU): Those portions of Tuscola 

and Huron Counties bounded on the 

south by Michigan Highway 138 and 

Bay City Road, on the east by Colwood 

and Bay Port Roads, on the north by 

Kilmanagh Road and a line extending 

directly west off the end of Kilmanagh 

Road into Saginaw Bay to the west 

boundary, and on the west by the 

Tuscola-Bay County line and a line 

extending directly north off the end of 

the Tuscola-Bay County line into 

Saginaw Bay to the north boundary. 

Allegan County GMU: That area 

encompassed by a line beginning at the 

junction of 136th Avenue and Interstate 

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Highway 196 in Lake Town Township 

and extending easterly along 136th 

Avenue to Michigan Highway 40, 

southerly along Michigan 40 through 

the city of Allegan to 108th Avenue in 

Trowbridge Township, westerly along 

108th Avenue to 46th Street, northerly 

along 46th Street to 109th Avenue, 

westerly along 109th Avenue to I–196 in 

Casco Township, then northerly along 

I–196 to the point of beginning. 

Saginaw County GMU: That portion 

of Saginaw County bounded by 

Michigan Highway 46 on the north; 

Michigan 52 on the west; Michigan 57 

on the south; and Michigan 13 on the 

east. Muskegon Wastewater GMU: That 

portion of Muskegon County within the 

boundaries of the Muskegon County 

wastewater system, east of the 

Muskegon State Game Area, in sections 

5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30, and 32, 

T10N R14W, and sections 1, 2, 10, 11, 

12, 13, 14, 24, and 25, T10N R15W, as 

posted. 

Special Canada Goose Seasons: 

Southern Michigan Late Season 

Canada Goose Zone: Same as the South 

Duck Zone excluding Tuscola/Huron 

Goose Management Unit (GMU), 

Allegan County GMU, Saginaw County 

GMU, and Muskegon Wastewater GMU. 

Minnesota: 

Rochester Goose Zone: That part of 

the State within the following described 

boundary: Beginning at the intersection 

of State Trunk Highway (STH) 247 and 

County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 4, 

Wabasha County; thence along CSAH 4 

to CSAH 10, Olmsted County; thence 

along CSAH 10 to CSAH 9, Olmsted 

County; thence along CSAH 9 to CSAH 

22, Winona County; thence along CSAH 

22 to STH 74; thence along STH 74 to 

STH 30; thence along STH 30 to CSAH 

13, Dodge County; thence along CSAH 

13 to U.S. Highway 14; thence along 

U.S. Highway 14 to STH 57; thence 

along STH 57 to CSAH 24, Dodge 

County; thence along CSAH 24 to CSAH 

13, Olmsted County; thence along CSAH 

13 to U.S. Highway 52; thence along 

U.S. Highway 52 to CSAH 12, Olmsted 

County; thence along CSAH 12 to STH 

247; thence along STH 247 to the point 

of beginning. 

Missouri: 

Same zones as for ducks. 

Ohio: 

Lake Erie Goose Zone: That portion of 

Ohio north of a line beginning at the 

Michigan border and extending south 

along Interstate 75 to Interstate 280, 

south on Interstate 280 to Interstate 80, 

and east on Interstate 80 to the 

Pennsylvania border. 

North Zone: That portion of Ohio 

north of a line beginning at the Indiana 

border and extending east along 

Interstate 70 to the West Virginia border 

excluding the portion of Ohio within 

the Lake Erie Goose Zone. 

South Zone: The remainder of Ohio 

Tennessee: 

Southwest Zone: That portion of the 

State south of State Highways 20 and 

104, and west of U.S. Highways 45 and 

45W. 

Northwest Zone: Lake, Obion, and 

Weakley Counties and those portions of 

Gibson and Dyer Counties not included 

in the Southwest Tennessee Zone. 

Kentucky/Barkley Lakes Zone: That 

portion of the State bounded on the 

west by the eastern boundaries of the 

Northwest and Southwest Zones and on 

the east by State Highway 13 from the 

Alabama State line to Clarksville and 

U.S. Highway 79 from Clarksville to the 

Kentucky State line. 

Wisconsin: 

Same zones as for ducks but in 

addition: 

Horicon Zone: That area encompassed 

by a line beginning at the intersection of 

State Highway 21 and the Fox River in 

Winnebago County and extending 

westerly along State 21 to the west 

boundary of Winnebago County, 

southerly along the west boundary of 

Winnebago County to the north 

boundary of Green Lake County, 

westerly along the north boundaries of 

Green Lake and Marquette Counties to 

State 22, southerly along State 22 to 

State 33, westerly along State 33 to 

Interstate Highway 39, southerly along 

Interstate Highway 39 to Interstate 

Highway 90/94, southerly along I–90/94 

to State 60, easterly along State 60 to 

State 83, northerly along State 83 to 

State 175, northerly along State 175 to 

State 33, easterly along State 33 to U.S. 

Highway 45, northerly along U.S. 45 to 

the east shore of the Fond Du Lac River, 

northerly along the east shore of the 

Fond Du Lac River to Lake Winnebago, 

northerly along the western shoreline of 

Lake Winnebago to the Fox River, then 

westerly along the Fox River to State 21. 

Exterior Zone: That portion of the 

State not included in the Horicon Zone. 

Mississippi River Subzone: That area 

encompassed by a line beginning at the 

intersection of the Burlington Northern 

& Santa Fe Railway and the Illinois 

State line in Grant County and 

extending northerly along the 

Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway 

to the city limit of Prescott in Pierce 

County, then west along the Prescott 

city limit to the Minnesota State line. 

Brown County Subzone: That area 

encompassed by a line beginning at the 

intersection of the Fox River with Green 

Bay in Brown County and extending 

southerly along the Fox River to State 

Highway 29, northwesterly along State 

29 to the Brown County line, south, 

east, and north along the Brown County 

line to Green Bay, due west to the 

midpoint of the Green Bay Ship 

Channel, then southwesterly along the 

Green Bay Ship Channel to the Fox 

River. 

Central Flyway 

Colorado (Central Flyway Portion): 

Northern Front Range Area: All areas 

in Boulder, Larimer and Weld Counties 

from the Continental Divide east along 

the Wyoming border to U.S. 85, south 

on U.S. 85 to the Adams County line, 

and all lands in Adams, Arapahoe, 

Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, 

Douglas, Gilpin, and Jefferson Counties. 

North Park Area: Jackson County. 

South Park and San Luis Valley Area: 

All of Alamosa, Chaffee, Conejos, 

Costilla, Custer, Fremont, Lake, Park, 

Rio Grande and Teller Counties, and 

those portions of Saguache, Mineral and 

Hinsdale Counties east of the 

Continental Divide. 

Remainder: Remainder of the Central 

Flyway portion of Colorado. 

Eastern Colorado Late Light Goose 

Area: That portion of the State east of 

Interstate Highway 25. 

Nebraska: 

Dark Geese 

Niobrara Unit: That area contained 

within and bounded by the intersection 

of the South Dakota State line and the 

eastern Cherry County line, south along 

the Cherry County line to the Niobrara 

River, east to the Norden Road, south on 

the Norden Road to U.S. Hwy 20, east 

along U.S. Hwy 20 to NE Hwy 14, north 

along NE Hwy 14 to NE Hwy 59 and 

County Road 872, west along County 

Road 872 to the Knox County Line, 

north along the Knox County Line to the 

South Dakota State line. Where the 

Niobrara River forms the boundary, both 

banks of the river are included in the 

Niobrara Unit. 

East Unit: That area north and east of 

U.S. 81 at the Kansas-Nebraska State 

line, north to NE Hwy 91, east to U.S. 

275, south to U.S. 77, south to NE 91, 

east to U.S. 30, east to Nebraska-Iowa 

State line. 

Platte River Unit: That area north and 

west of U.S. 81 at the Kansas—Nebraska 

State line, north to NE Hwy 91, west 

along NE 91 to NE 11, north to the Holt 

County line, west along the northern 

border of Garfield, Loup, Blaine and 

Thomas Counties to the Hooker County 

line, south along the Thomas-Hooker 

County lines to the McPherson County 

line, east along the south border of 

Thomas County to the western line of 

Custer County, south along the CusterLogan County line to NE 92, west to 

U.S. 83, north to NE 92, west to NE 61, 

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south along NE 61 to NE 92, west along 

NE 92 to U.S. Hwy 26, south along U.S. 

Hwy 26 to Keith County Line, south 

along Keith County Line to the Colorado 

State line. 

Panhandle Unit: That area north and 

west of Keith-Deuel County Line at the 

Nebraska-Colorado State line, north 

along the Keith County Line to U.S. 

Hwy 26, west to NE Hwy 92, east to NE 

Hwy 61, north along NE Hwy 61 to NE 

Hwy 2, west along NE Hwy 2 to the 

corner formed by Garden-GrantSheridan Counties, west along the north 

border of Garden, Morrill, and Scotts 

Bluff Counties to the intersection of the 

Interstate Canal, west to the Wyoming 

State line. 

North-Central Unit: The remainder of 

the State. 

Light Geese 

Rainwater Basin Light Goose Area 

(West): The area bounded by the 

junction of U.S. 283 and U.S. 30 at 

Lexington, east on U.S. 30 to U.S. 281, 

south on U.S. 281 to NE 4, west on NE 

4 to U.S. 34, continue west on U.S. 34 

to U.S. 283, then north on U.S. 283 to 

the beginning. 

Rainwater Basin Light Goose Area 

(East): The area bounded by the junction 

of U.S. 281 and U.S. 30 at Grand Island, 

north and east on U.S. 30 to NE 14, 

south to NE 66, east to US 81, north to 

NE 92, east on NE 92 to NE 15, south 

on NE 15 to NE 4, west on NE 4 to U.S. 

281, north on U.S. 281 to the beginning. 

Remainder of State: The remainder 

portion of Nebraska. 

New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion): 

Dark Geese 

Middle Rio Grande Valley Unit: 

Sierra, Socorro, and Valencia Counties. 

Remainder: The remainder of the 

Central Flyway portion of New Mexico. 

North Dakota: 

Missouri River Canada Goose Zone: 

The area within and bounded by a line 

starting where ND Hwy 6 crosses the 

South Dakota border; thence north on 

ND Hwy 6 to I–94; thence west on I–94 

to ND Hwy 49; thence north on ND Hwy 

49 to ND Hwy 200; thence north on 

Mercer County Rd. 21 to the section line 

between sections 8 and 9 (T146N– 

R87W); thence north on that section line 

to the southern shoreline to Lake 

Sakakawea; thence east along the 

southern shoreline (including Mallard 

Island) of Lake Sakakawea to US Hwy 

83; thence south on US Hwy 83 to ND 

Hwy 200; thence east on ND Hwy 200 

to ND Hwy 41; thence south on ND Hwy 

41 to US Hwy 83; thence south on US 

Hwy 83 to I–94; thence east on I–94 to 

US Hwy 83; thence south on US Hwy 

83 to the South Dakota border; thence 

west along the South Dakota border to 

ND Hwy 6. 

Rest of State: Remainder of North 

Dakota. 

South Dakota: 

Canada Geese 

Unit 1: Remainder of South Dakota. 

Unit 2: Gregory, Hughes, Lyman, 

Perkins, and Stanley Counties; that 

portion of Potter County west of US 

Highway 83; that portion of Sully 

County west of US Highway 83; that 

portion of Bon Homme, Brule, Buffalo, 

Charles Mix, and Hyde County south 

and west of a line beginning at the 

Hughes-Hyde County line on SD 

Highway 34, east to Lees Boulevard, 

southeast to SD 34, east 7 miles to 350th 

Avenue, south to I–90, south and east 

on SD Highway 50 to Geddes, east on 

285th Street to US Highway 281, south 

on US Highway 281 to SD 50, east and 

south on SD 50 to the Bon HommeYankton County boundary; that portion 

of Fall River County east of SD Highway 

71 and US Highway 385; that portion of 

Custer County east of SD Highway 79 

and south of French Creek; that portion 

of Dewey County south of BIA Road 8, 

BIA Road 9, and the section of US 212 

east of BIA Road 8 junction. 

Unit 3: Bennett County. 

Texas: 

Northeast Goose Zone: That portion of 

Texas lying east and north of a line 

beginning at the Texas-Oklahoma border 

at U.S. 81, then continuing south to 

Bowie and then southeasterly along U.S. 

81 and U.S. 287 to I–35W and 

I–35 to the juncture with I–10 in San 

Antonio, then east on 

I–10 to the Texas-Louisiana border. 

Southeast Goose Zone: That portion of 

Texas lying east and south of a line 

beginning at the International Toll 

Bridge at Laredo, then continuing north 

following I–35 to the juncture with I–10 

in San Antonio, then easterly along 

I–10 to the Texas-Louisiana border. 

West Goose Zone: The remainder of 

the State. 

Wyoming (Central Flyway Portion): 

Dark Geese 

Zone C1: Converse, Hot Springs, 

Natrona, and Washakie Counties, and 

the portion of Park County east of the 

Shoshone National Forest boundary and 

south of a line beginning where the 

Shoshone National Forest boundary 

crosses Park County Road 8VC, easterly 

along said road to Park County Road 

1AB, easterly along said road to 

Wyoming Highway 120, northerly along 

said highway to Wyoming Highway 294, 

southeasterly along said highway to 

Lane 9, easterly along said lane to the 

town of Powel and Wyoming Highway 

14A, easterly along said highway to the 

Park County and Big Horn County Line. 

Zone C2: Albany, Campbell, Crook, 

Johnson, Laramie, Niobrara, Sheridan, 

and Weston Counties, and that portion 

of Carbon County east of the Continental 

Divide; that portion of Park County west 

of the Shoshone National Forest 

boundary, and that portion of Park 

County north of a line beginning where 

the Shoshone National Forest boundary 

crosses Park County Road 8VC, easterly 

along said road to Park County Road 

1AB, easterly along said road to 

Wyoming Highway 120, northerly along 

said highway to Wyoming Highway 294, 

southeasterly along said highway to 

Lane 9, easterly along said lane to the 

town of Powel and Wyoming Highway 

14A, easterly along said highway to the 

Park County and Big Horn County Line. 

Pacific Flyway 

Arizona: 

North Zone: Game Management Units 

1–5, those portions of Game 

Management Units 6 and 8 within 

Coconino County, and Game 

Management Units 7, 9, and 12A. 

South Zone: Those portions of Game 

Management Units 6 and 8 in Yavapai 

County, and Game Management Units 

10 and 12B–45. 

California: 

Northeastern Zone: In that portion of 

California lying east and north of a line 

beginning at the intersection of 

Interstate 5 with the California-Oregon 

line; south along Interstate 5 to its 

junction with Walters Lane south of the 

town of Yreka; west along Walters Lane 

to its junction with Easy Street; south 

along Easy Street to the junction with 

Old Highway 99; south along Old 

Highway 99 to the point of intersection 

with Interstate 5 north of the town of 

Weed; south along Interstate 5 to its 

junction with Highway 89; east and 

south along Highway 89 to main street 

Greenville; north and east to its junction 

with North Valley Road; south to its 

junction with Diamond Mountain Road; 

north and east to its junction with North 

Arm Road; south and west to the 

junction of North Valley Road; south to 

the junction with Arlington Road (A22); 

west to the junction of Highway 89; 

south and west to the junction of 

Highway 70; east on Highway 70 to 

Highway 395; south and east on 

Highway 395 to the point of intersection 

with the California-Nevada State line; 

north along the California-Nevada State 

line to the junction of the CaliforniaNevada-Oregon State lines west along 

the California-Oregon State line to the 

point of origin. 

Colorado River Zone: Those portions 

of San Bernardino, Riverside, and 

Imperial Counties east of a line 

extending from the Nevada border south 

along U.S. 95 to Vidal Junction; south 

on a road known as ‘‘Aqueduct Road’’ 

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in San Bernardino County through the 

town of Rice to the San BernardinoRiverside County line; south on a road 

known in Riverside County as the 

‘‘Desert Center to Rice Road’’ to the 

town of Desert Center; east 31 miles on 

I–10 to the Wiley Well Road; south on 

this road to Wiley Well; southeast along 

the Army-Milpitas Road to the Blythe, 

Brawley, Davis Lake intersections; south 

on the Blythe-Brawley paved road to the 

Ogilby and Tumco Mine Road; south on 

this road to U.S. 80; east 7 miles on U.S. 

80 to the Andrade-Algodones Road; 

south on this paved road to the Mexican 

border at Algodones, Mexico. 

Southern Zone: That portion of 

southern California (but excluding the 

Colorado River Zone) south and east of 

a line extending from the Pacific Ocean 

east along the Santa Maria River to CA 

166 near the City of Santa Maria; east on 

CA 166 to CA 99; south on CA 99 to the 

crest of the Tehachapi Mountains at 

Tejon Pass; east and north along the 

crest of the Tehachapi Mountains to CA 

178 at Walker Pass; east on CA 178 to 

U.S. 395 at the town of Inyokern; south 

on U.S. 395 to CA 58; east on CA 58 to 

I–15; east on I–15 to CA 127; north on 

CA 127 to the Nevada border. 

Imperial County Special Management 

Area: The area bounded by a line 

beginning at Highway 86 and the Navy 

Test Base Road; south on Highway 86 to 

the town of Westmoreland; continue 

through the town of Westmoreland to 

Route S26; east on Route S26 to 

Highway 115; north on Highway 115 to 

Weist Rd.; north on Weist Rd. to 

Flowing Wells Rd.; northeast on 

Flowing Wells Rd. to the Coachella 

Canal; northwest on the Coachella Canal 

to Drop 18; a straight line from Drop 18 

to Frink Rd.; south on Frink Rd. to 

Highway 111; north on Highway 111 to 

Niland Marina Rd.; southwest on Niland 

Marina Rd. to the old Imperial County 

boat ramp and the water line of the 

Salton Sea; from the water line of the 

Salton Sea, a straight line across the 

Salton Sea to the Salinity Control 

Research Facility and the Navy Test 

Base Road; southwest on the Navy Test 

Base Road to the point of beginning. 

Balance-of-State Zone: The remainder 

of California not included in the 

Northeastern, Southern, and the 

Colorado River Zones. 

North Coast Special Management 

Area: The Counties of Del Norte and 

Humboldt. 

Sacramento Valley Special 

Management Area: That area bounded 

by a line beginning at Willows south on 

I–5 to Hahn Road; easterly on Hahn 

Road and the Grimes-Arbuckle Road to 

Grimes; northerly on CA 45 to the 

junction with CA 162; northerly on CA 

45/162 to Glenn; and westerly on CA 

162 to the point of beginning in 

Willows. 

Colorado (Pacific Flyway Portion): 

West Central Area: Archuleta, Delta, 

Dolores, Gunnison, LaPlata, 

Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, 

and San Miguel Counties and those 

portions of Hinsdale, Mineral, and 

Saguache Counties west of the 

Continental Divide. 

State Area: The remainder of the 

Pacific Flyway Portion of Colorado. 

Idaho: 

Zone 1: All lands and waters within 

the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, 

including private inholdings; Bannock 

County; Bingham County, except that 

portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir 

drainage; and Power County east of 

State Highway 37 and State Highway 39. 

Zone 2: Adams, Bear Lake, Benewah, 

Bingham within the Blackfoot Reservoir 

drainage, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, 

Boundary, Butte, Camas, Caribou except 

the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, Clark, 

Clearwater, Custer, Franklin, Fremont, 

Idaho, Jefferson, Kootenai, Latah, 

Lemhi, Lewis, Madison, Nez Perce, 

Oneida, Power County west of State 

Highway 37 and State Highway 39, 

Shoshone, Teton, and Valley Counties. 

Zone 3: Ada, Boise, Canyon, Cassia, 

Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, 

Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, 

and Washington Counties. 

Montana (Pacific Flyway Portion): 

East of the Divide Zone: The Pacific 

Flyway portion of the State located east 

of the Continental Divide. 

West of the Divide Zone: The 

remainder of the Pacific Flyway portion 

of Montana. 

Nevada: 

Northeast Zone: All of Elko and White 

Pine Counties. 

Northwest Zone: All of Carson City, 

Churchill, Douglas, Esmeralda, Eureka, 

Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, 

Pershing, Storey, and Washoe Counties. 

South Zone: All of Clark and Lincoln 

County. 

New Mexico (Pacific Flyway Portion): 

North Zone: The Pacific Flyway 

portion of New Mexico located north of 

I–40. 

South Zone: The Pacific Flyway 

portion of New Mexico located south of 

I–40. 

Oregon: 

Southwest Zone: Those portions of 

Douglas, Coos, and Curry Counties east 

of Highway 101, and Josephine and 

Jackson Counties. 

South Coast Zone: Those portions of 

Douglas, Coos, and Curry Counties west 

of Highway 101. 

Northwest Special Permit Zone: That 

portion of western Oregon west and 

north of a line running south from the 

Columbia River in Portland along I–5 to 

OR 22 at Salem; then east on OR 22 to 

the Stayton Cutoff; then south on the 

Stayton Cutoff to Stayton and due south 

to the Santiam River; then west along 

the north shore of the Santiam River to 

I–5; then south on I–5 to OR 126 at 

Eugene; then west on OR 126 to 

Greenhill Road; then south on Greenhill 

Road to Crow Road; then west on Crow 

Road to Territorial Hwy; then west on 

Territorial Hwy to OR 126; then west on 

OR 126 to Milepost 19; then north to the 

intersection of the Benton and Lincoln 

County line; then north along the 

western boundary of Benton and Polk 

Counties to the southern boundary of 

Tillamook County; then west along the 

Tillamook County boundary to the 

Pacific Coast. 

Lower Columbia/N. Willamette Valley 

Management Area: Those portions of 

Clatsop, Columbia, Multnomah, and 

Washington Counties within the 

Northwest Special Permit Zone. 

Tillamook County Management Area: 

All of Tillamook County. The following 

portion of the Tillamook County 

Management Area is closed to goose 

hunting beginning at the point where 

Old Woods Rd crosses the south shores 

of Horn Creek, north on Old Woods Rd 

to Sand Lake Rd at Woods, north on 

Sand Lake Rd to the intersection with 

McPhillips Dr., due west (∼200 yards) 

from the intersection to the Pacific 

coastline, south on the Pacific coastline 

to Neskowin Creek, east along the north 

shores of Neskowin Creek and then 

Hawk Creek to Salem Ave, east on 

Salem Ave in Neskowin to Hawk Ave, 

east on Hawk Ave to Hwy 101, north on 

Hwy 101 to Resort Dr., north on Resort 

Dr. to a point due west of the south 

shores of Horn Creek at its confluence 

with the Nestucca River, due east (∼80 

yards) across the Nestucca River to the 

south shores of Horn Creek, east along 

the south shores of Horn Creek to the 

point of beginning. 

Northwest Zone: Those portions of 

Clackamas, Lane, Linn, Marion, 

Multnomah, and Washington Counties 

outside of the Northwest Special Permit 

Zone and all of Lincoln County. 

Eastern Zone: Hood River, Wasco, 

Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, Umatilla, 

Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler, 

Grant, Baker, Union, and Wallowa 

Counties. 

Harney and Lake County Zone: All of 

Harney and Lake Counties. 

Klamath County Zone: All of Klamath 

County. 

Malheur County Zone: All of Malheur 

County. 

Utah: 

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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 166 / Friday, August 26, 2011 / Proposed Rules 53561 

Northern Utah Zone: All of Cache and 

Rich Counties, and that portion of Box 

Elder County beginning at I–15 and the 

Weber-Box Elder County line; east and 

north along this line to the Weber-Cache 

County line; east along this line to the 

Cache-Rich County line; east and south 

along the Rich County line to the UtahWyoming State line; north along this 

line to the Utah-Idaho State line; west 

on this line to Stone, Idaho-Snowville, 

Utah road; southwest on this road to 

Locomotive Springs Wildlife 

Management Area; east on the county 

road, past Monument Point and across 

Salt Wells Flat, to the intersection with 

Promontory Road; south on Promontory 

Road to a point directly west of the 

northwest corner of the Bear River 

Migratory Bird Refuge boundary; east 

along an imaginary line to the northwest 

corner of the Refuge boundary; south 

and east along the Refuge boundary to 

the southeast corner of the boundary; 

northeast along the boundary to the 

Perry access road; east on the Perry 

access road to I–15; south on I–15 to the 

Weber-Box Elder County line. 

Remainder-of-the-State Zone: The 

remainder of Utah. 

Washington: 

Area 1: Skagit, Island, and Snohomish 

Counties. 

Area 2A (SW Quota Zone): Clark 

County, except portions south of the 

Washougal River; Cowlitz County; and 

Wahkiakum County. 

Area 2B (SW Quota Zone): Pacific 

County. 

Area 3: All areas west of the Pacific 

Crest Trail and west of the Big White 

Salmon River that are not included in 

Areas 1, 2A, and 2B. 

Area 4: Adams, Benton, Chelan, 

Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, 

Lincoln, Okanogan, Spokane, and Walla 

Walla Counties. 

Area 5: All areas east of the Pacific 

Crest Trail and east of the Big White 

Salmon River that are not included in 

Area 4. 

Brant 

Pacific Flyway 

California: 

North Coast Zone: Del Norte, 

Humboldt and Mendocino Counties. 

South Coast Zone: Balance of the 

State. 

Washington: 

Puget Sound Zone: Skagit County. 

Coastal Zone: Pacific County. 

Swans 

Central Flyway 

South Dakota: Aurora, Beadle, 

Brookings, Brown, Brule, Buffalo, 

Campbell, Clark, Codington, Davison, 

Deuel, Day, Edmunds, Faulk, Grant, 

Hamlin, Hand, Hanson, Hughes, Hyde, 

Jerauld, Kingsbury, Lake, Marshall, 

McCook, McPherson, Miner, 

Minnehaha, Moody, Potter, Roberts, 

Sanborn, Spink, Sully, and Walworth 

Counties. 

Pacific Flyway 

Montana (Pacific Flyway Portion) 

Open Area: Cascade, Chouteau, Hill, 

Liberty, and Toole Counties and those 

portions of Pondera and Teton Counties 

lying east of U.S. 287–89. 

Nevada 

Open Area: Churchill, Lyon, and 

Pershing Counties. 

Utah 

Open Area: Those portions of Box 

Elder, Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, and 

Toole Counties lying west of I–15, north 

of I–80, and south of a line beginning 

from the Forest Street exit to the Bear 

River National Wildlife Refuge 

boundary; then north and west along the 

Bear River National Wildlife Refuge 

boundary to the farthest west boundary 

of the Refuge; then west along a line to 

Promontory Road; then north on 

Promontory Road to the intersection of 

SR 83; then north on SR 83 to I–84; then 

north and west on I–84 to State Hwy 30; 

then west on State Hwy 30 to the 

Nevada-Utah State line; then south on 

the Nevada-Utah State line to I–80. 

[FR Doc. 2011–21484 Filed 8–25–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

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