50224 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 164 / Thursday, August 24, 2006 / Proposed Rules 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

50 CFR Part 20 

RIN 1018–AU42 

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 2006–07 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 5, 

2006. 

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the 

proposals to the Chief, Division of 

Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service, Department of the 

Interior, ms MBSP–4107–ARLSQ, 1849 

C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240. 

All comments received, including 

names and addresses, will become part 

of the public record. You may inspect 

comments during normal business 

hours at the Service’s office in room 

4107, Arlington Square Building, 4501 

N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Brian Millsap, Chief, or Ron W. Kokel, 

Division of Migratory Bird Management, 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (703) 

358–1714. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Regulations Schedule for 2006 

On April 11, 2006, we published in 

the Federal Register (71 FR 18562) a 

proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20. The 

proposal provided a background and 

overview of the migratory bird hunting 

regulations process, and dealt with the 

establishment of seasons, limits, 

proposed regulatory alternatives for the 

2006–07 duck hunting season, 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 2006–07 regulatory cycle 

relating to open public meetings and 

Federal Register notifications were also 

identified in the April 11 proposed rule. 

On May 30, 2006, we published in the 

Federal Register (71 FR 30786) a second 

document providing supplemental 

proposals for early- and late-season 

migratory bird hunting regulations and 

the regulatory alternatives for the 2006– 

07 duck hunting season. The May 30 

supplement also provided detailed 

information on the 2006–07 regulatory 

schedule and announced the Service 

Migratory Bird Regulations Committee 

(SRC) and Flyway Council meetings. 

On June 21 and 22, 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 2006–07 

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 2006–07 

regular waterfowl seasons. On July 28, 

2006, we published in the Federal 

Register (71 FR 43008) a third document 

specifically dealing with the proposed 

frameworks for early-season regulations. 

In late August, we will publish a 

rulemaking establishing final 

frameworks for early-season migratory 

bird hunting regulations for the 2006–07 

season. 

On July 26–27, 2006, we held open 

meetings with the Flyway Council 

Consultants, at which the participants 

reviewed the status of waterfowl and 

developed recommendations for the 

2006–07 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 31, 

2006, in developing this document. In 

addition, new proposals for certain lateseason 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 20, 2006. 

Population Status and Harvest 

The following paragraphs provide a 

brief summary of information on the 

status and harvest of waterfowl 

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 

ADDRESSES or from our Web site at 

http://migratorybirds.fws.gov. 

Status of Ducks 

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 and helicopters and encompass 

principal breeding areas of North 

America, and cover 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. 

Breeding Ground Conditions 

Despite a very warm winter, breeding 

waterfowl habitat quality in the United 

States and Canada is slightly better this 

year than last year. Improvements in 

Canadian and U.S. prairie habitats were 

primarily due to average to aboveaverage precipitation, warm spring 

temperatures, and carry-over effects 

from the good summer conditions of 

2005. Improved habitat conditions were 

reflected in the higher number of ponds 

counted in Prairie Canada this year 

compared to last year. The 2006 

estimate of ponds in Prairie Canada was 

4.4 ± 0.2 million ponds, a 13 percent 

increase from last year’s estimate of 3.9 

± 0.2 million ponds, and 32 percent 

above the 1955–2005 average. Habitat 

conditions on the U.S prairies were 

more variable than those on the 

Canadian prairies. The 2006 pond 

estimate for the northcentral United 

States (1.6 ± 0.1 million) was similar to 

last year’s estimate and the long-term 

average. The total pond estimate (Prairie 

Canada and United States combined) 

was 6.1 ± 0.2 million ponds. This was 

13 percent greater than last year’s 

estimate of 5.4 ± 0.2 million and 26 

percent higher than the long-term 

average of 4.8 ± 0.1 million ponds. 

In the Eastern Survey Area (strata 51– 

72), spring-like conditions also arrived 

early with an early ice break-up and 


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relatively mild temperatures. Biologists 

reported that habitat conditions were 

generally good across most of the survey 

area. 

Breeding Population Status 

In the Waterfowl Breeding Population 

and Habitat Survey traditional survey 

area (strata 1–18, 20–50, and 75–77), the 

total duck population estimate was 36.2 

± 0.6 [SE] million birds. This was 14 

percent greater than last year’s estimate 

of 31.7 ± 0.6 million birds and 9 percent 

above the 1955–2005 long-term average. 

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 

abundance was 7.3 ± 0.2 million birds, 

which was similar to last year’s estimate 

of 6.8 ± 0.3 million birds and to the 

long-term average. Blue-winged teal (A. 

discors) abundance was 5.9 ± 0.3 

million birds. This value was 28 percent 

greater than last year’s estimate of 4.6 ± 

0.2 million birds and 30 percent above 

the long-term average. The estimated 

abundance of green-winged teal (A. 

crecca; 2.6 ± 0.2 million) was 20 percent 

greater than last year and 39 percent 

above the long-term average. The 

estimated number of gadwall (A. 

strepera; 2.8 ± 0.2 million) was 30 

percent greater than last year and was 

67 percent above the long-term average, 

and the estimated number of redheads 

(Aythya americana; 0.9 ± 0.1 million) 

increased 55 percent relative to 2005 

and was 47 percent above the long-term 

average. The canvasback estimate (A. 

valisineria; 0.7 ± 0.1 million) was 33 

percent higher than last year’s and was 

23 percent higher than the long-term 

average. The Northern shoveler (Anas 

clypeata; 3.7 ± 0.2 million) estimate was 

similar to last year’s, and 69 percent 

above the long-term average. Although 

estimates for most species increased 

relative to last year’s and were greater 

than their long-term averages, American 

wigeon (A. americana; 2.2 ± 0.1 million) 

and scaup (Aythya affinis and A. marila 

combined; 3.2 ± 0.2 million) estimates 

were unchanged relative to 2005, but 

remained 17 percent and 37 percent 

below their long-term averages, 

respectively. The estimate for scaup was 

a record low for the second consecutive 

year. The Northern pintail (Anas acuta; 

3.4 ± 0.2 million) estimate was 18 

percent below its 1955–2005 average, 

although this year’s estimate was 32 

percent greater than that of last year. 

The eastern survey area was 

restratified in 2005, and is now 

composed of strata 51–72. Mergansers 

(red-breasted [Mergus serrator], common 

[M. merganser], and hooded 

[Lophodytes cucullatus;]), mallards, 

American black ducks (A. rubripes), 

Ringnecked ducks (Aythya collaris), 

goldeneyes (common [Bucephala 

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

and green-winged teal were all similar 

to their 2005 estimates. American 

wigeon (¥51 percent) and buffleheads 

([B. albeola], ¥58 percent) were lower 

than their 2005 estimates. None of the 

species in the eastern survey area 

differed from long-term averages. 

Fall Flight Estimate 

The mid-continent mallard 

population is composed of mallards 

from the traditional survey area, 

Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, 

and is 7.9 ± 0.2 million. This is similar 

to the 2005 estimate of 7.5 ± 0.3 million. 

The projected mallard fall flight index 

was 9.8 ± 0.1 million, similar to the 

2005 estimate of 9.3 ± 0.1 million birds. 

These indices were based on revised 

mid-continent mallard population 

models, and therefore, differ from those 

previously published. 

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’ geese 

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

white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons), 

and tundra swans (Cygnus 

columbianus). In 2006, the timing of 

spring snowmelt in important goose and 

swan nesting areas in most of the Arctic 

and subarctic was earlier than average. 

Delayed nesting phenology or reduced 

nesting effort was indicated for only 

Alaska’s Yukon Delta, other coastal 

areas of Alaska, and near the Mackenzie 

River Delta in the western Canadian 

Arctic. Primary abundance indices in 

2006 increased from 2005 levels for 13 

goose populations and decreased for 11 

goose populations. Primary abundance 

indices in 2006 for both populations of 

tundra swans increased from 2005 

levels. The Mississippi Flyway Giant 

and the Atlantic Canada goose 

populations, the Western Arctic/ 

Wrangel Island snow goose population, 

and the Pacific white-fronted goose 

population displayed significant 

positive trends during the most recent 

10-year period. The Short Grass Prairie 

Canada goose and the Mid-continent 

light goose populations showed 

significant negative 10-year trends. The 

forecast for the production of geese and 

swans in North America in 2006 is 

generally favorable and improved from 

that of 2005. 

Waterfowl Harvest and Hunter Activity 

During the 2005–06 hunting season, 

both duck and goose harvest increased 

from the previous year. U.S. hunters 

harvested 12,510,800 ducks in 2005–06, 

compared to 12,385,700 in 2004–05, and 

they harvested 3,660,700 geese, 

compared to 3,200,400 geese taken in 

2004–05. The five most commonly 

harvested duck species were mallard 

(4,466,927), green-winged teal 

(1,500,479), gadwall (1,363,954), wood 

duck (1,119,921), and blue-winged/ 

cinnamon teal (703,534). 

Review of Public Comments and 

Flyway Council Recommendations 

The preliminary proposed 

rulemaking, which appeared in the 

April 11, 2006, Federal Register, 

opened the public comment period for 

migratory game bird hunting 

regulations. The supplemental proposed 

rule, which appeared in the May 30, 

2006, Federal Register, discussed the 

regulatory alternatives for the 2006–07 

duck hunting season. Late-season 

comments are summarized below and 

numbered in the order used in the April 

11 and July 28 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 11 and July 28, 2006, 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 


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issues/discussion, and only those 

containing substantial recommendations 

are discussed below. 

A. Harvest Strategy Considerations 

Council Recommendations: The 

Atlantic and Pacific Flyway Councils 

and the Upper- and Lower-Regulations 

Committees of the Mississippi Flyway 

Council recommended the adoption of 

the ‘‘liberal’’ regulatory alternative. 

The Central Flyway Council also 

recommended the ‘‘liberal’’ alternative. 

However, as part of their Hunter’s 

Choice experiment, they recommended 

the following bag limits: 

In Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, New 

Mexico, and Oklahoma, the daily bag limit 

would be six ducks, with species and sex 

restrictions as follows: five mallards (no more 

than two of which may be females), two 

redheads, two scaup, two wood ducks, one 

pintail, one mottled duck, and one 

canvasback. For pintails and canvasbacks, 

the season length would be 39 days, which 

may be split according to applicable zones/ 

split duck hunting configurations approved 

for each State. 

In Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, 

Texas, and Wyoming, the daily bag limit 

would be five ducks, with species and sex 

restrictions as follows: two scaup, two 

redheads, and two wood ducks, and only one 

from the following group—hen mallards, 

mottled ducks, pintails, canvasbacks. 

Service Response: We are continuing 

development of an Adaptive Harvest 

Management (AHM) protocol that 

would allow hunting regulations to vary 

among Flyways in a manner that 

recognizes each Flyway’s unique 

breeding-ground derivation of mallards. 

For the 2006 hunting season, we believe 

that the prescribed regulatory choice for 

the Mississippi, Central, and Pacific 

Flyways should continue to depend on 

the status of midcontinent mallards. We 

also recommend that the regulatory 

choice for the Atlantic Flyway continue 

to depend on the status of eastern 

mallards. Investigations of the dynamics 

of western mallards (and their potential 

effect on regulations in the West) are 

continuing; therefore we are not yet 

prepared to recommend an AHM 

protocol for this mallard stock. 

For the 2006 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, we agreed in 2003 to place 

a constraint on closed seasons in the 

western three Flyways whenever the 

midcontinent mallard breedingpopulation size (traditional survey area 

plus Minnesota, Michigan, and 

Wisconsin) is ≥5.5 million. 

Optimal AHM strategies for the 2006 

hunting season were calculated using: 

(1) Harvest-management objectives 

specific to each mallard stock; (2) the 

2006 regulatory alternatives; and (3) 

current population models and 

associated weights for midcontinent and 

eastern mallards. Based on this year’s 

survey results of 7.86 million 

midcontinent mallards (traditional 

survey area plus Michigan, Minnesota, 

and Wisconsin), 4.45 million ponds in 

Prairie Canada, and 899,000 eastern 

mallards, we believe the appropriate 

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 May 30 Federal Register. 

Regarding Hunter’s Choice, we 

support the Central Flyway Council’s 

recommendation to initiate a 3-year 

evaluation of the Central Flyway’s 

Hunter’s Choice duck bag limit this 

year. The Central Flyway’s Hunter’s 

Choice regulations are intended to limit 

harvest on pintails and canvasbacks in 

a manner similar to the season-withina-season regulations. Hunter’s Choice 

regulations should also reduce harvests 

of mottled ducks and hen mallards, 

while maintaining full hunting 

opportunity on abundant species such 

as drake mallards. For the species 

included in the aggregate bag limit, the 

harvest of one species is intended to 

‘‘buffer’’ the harvest of the others, thus 

reducing the harvest of all species 

included in the one-bird category. The 

Central Flyway has accumulated 4 years 

of baseline information on harvests 

resulting from ‘‘season-within-a-season’’

regulations in the Central Flyway; the 

season length for pintails and 

canvasbacks in season-within-a-season 

States under the ‘‘liberal’’ alternative 

will be 39 days. 

Five States (Kansas, North Dakota, 

South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming) 

have been randomly assigned to 

Hunter’s Choice regulations and the 

remaining five States (Colorado, 

Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, and 

Oklahoma) will serve as controls 

(season-within-a-season regulations) as 

the evaluation proceeds. The overall 

duck daily bag limit will be reduced 

from six to five for the Hunter’s Choice 

States. 

Finally, we believe that 

implementation of this experiment 

should not preclude any future changes 

in hunting regulations that may be 

deemed necessary on an annual basis 

for any other duck species in the Central 

Flyway, if such changes are deemed 

necessary. 

D. Special Seasons/Species Management 

iii. Black Ducks 

Council Recommendations: The 

Atlantic Flyway Council and the Upperand Lower-Regulations Committees of 

the Mississippi Flyway Council 

recommended that black duck harvest 

regulations remain unchanged for the 

2006–07 season, while the Joint Atlantic 

Flyway—Mississippi Flyway Black 

Duck Committee continues to work with 

the Canadian Wildlife Service and the 

Fish and Wildlife Service to reach 

consensus on an interim black duck 

harvest strategy. 

Service Response: We are proposing 

no change in the current harvest strategy 

on black ducks this year until new 

analyses are completed and evaluated 

with the United States Geological 

Survey and the International Black Duck 

Harvest Strategy Committee. We 

encourage both the Atlantic and 

Mississippi Flyway Councils to 

participate in this process. An important 

component of any new harvest strategy 

will be agreement on population 

objectives and regulatory strategies to 

inform future harvest-management 

decisions. 

iv. Canvasbacks 

Council Recommendations: The 

Atlantic and Pacific Flyway Councils 

and the Upper- and Lower-Region 

Regulations Committees of the 

Mississippi Flyway Council 

recommended a full season for 

canvasbacks consisting of a 1-bird daily 

bag limit and a 60-day season in the 

Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, and 

107-day season in the Pacific Flyway. 

The Central Flyway Council, as part 

of their Hunter’s Choice experiment, 

recommended a full season (74 days) for 

canvasbacks with a 1-bird daily bag 

limit in Kansas, North Dakota, South 

Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming and a 39- 

day season with a 1-bird daily bag limit 

in Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, New 

Mexico, and Oklahoma. 

Service Response: This year’s spring 

survey resulted in an estimate of 

691,000 canvasbacks. This was 33 

percent above the 2005 estimate of 

520,600 canvasbacks and 23 percent 

above the 1955–2005 average. The 

estimate of ponds in Prairie Canada was 

4.4 million, which was 13 percent above 

last year and 32 percent above the longterm average. According to the 

canvasback harvest strategy, the 


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allowable harvest in the United States is 

266,000 birds. Since allowable harvest 

is larger than the predicted harvest in 

the United States during a ‘‘liberal’’

duck season (118,900 canvasbacks), a 

canvasback season spanning the entire 

length of the 2006–07 regular duck 

season is supported. 

Furthermore, we agree with the 

Central Flyway Council’s 

recommendation to adopt a 39-day 

‘‘season-within-a-season’’ for 

canvasbacks in Colorado, Montana, 

Nebraska, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. 

We understand that this departure from 

the canvasback strategy is a necessary 

part of the experimental ‘‘Hunter’s 

Choice’’ season. 

v. Pintails 

Council Recommendations: The 

Atlantic and Pacific Flyway Councils 

and the Upper- and Lower-Region 

Regulations Committees of the 

Mississippi Flyway Council 

recommended a full season for pintails 

consisting of a 1-bird daily bag limit and 

a 60-day season in the Atlantic and 

Mississippi Flyways, and a 107-day 

season in the Pacific Flyway. 

The Central Flyway Council, as part 

of their Hunter’s Choice experiment, 

recommended a full season (74 days) for 

pintails with a 1-bird daily bag limit in 

Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, 

Texas, and Wyoming and a 39-day 

season with a 1-bird daily bag limit in 

Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, New 

Mexico, and Oklahoma. 

Service Response: During the spring 

of 2006, each Flyway Council endorsed 

the incorporation of several technical 

updates to the modeling framework 

used in the pintail harvest strategy. 

Based on these technical updates, along 

with an observed spring breeding 

population of 3.39 million, an 

overflight-bias-corrected breeding 

population of 4.23 million, and a 

projected fall flight of 5.34 million 

pintails, the interim pintail harvest 

strategy prescribes a full season and a 1- 

bird daily bag limit in all Flyways. 

Under the ‘‘liberal’’ season length, this 

regulation is expected to result in a 

harvest of 569,000 pintails and an 

observed breeding population estimate 

of 3.45 million in 2007. 

Furthermore, we agree with the 

Central Flyway Council’s 

recommendation to adopt a 39-day 

‘‘season-within-a-season’’ for pintails in 

Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, New 

Mexico, and Oklahoma. We understand 

that this departure from the pintail 

strategy is a necessary part of the 

experimental ‘‘Hunter’s Choice’’ season. 

vi. Scaup 

Council Recommendations: The 

Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Flyway 

Councils and the Upper- and LowerRegion Regulations Committees of the 

Mississippi Flyway Council 

recommended no changes in scaup 

harvest regulations for 2006. All the 

Flyway Councils reiterated their support 

for the cooperative development of a 

comprehensive scaup harvest 

management strategy. 

Service Response: We are aware that 

the Flyway Councils and the Service 

have not made the progress anticipated 

in the development of a viable strategy 

to manage harvest that acknowledges 

the uncertainty about what factors are 

really influencing scaup numbers, but at 

the same time provides guidance on 

what changes in regulations are still 

appropriate. 

Although we remain very concerned 

about the continued decline in scaup 

numbers and other evidence that this 

species is not doing well, we are 

proposing no change in scaup 

regulations for the 2006–07 hunting 

season. This decision is made with the 

firm understanding that a harvest 

strategy will be available for review this 

fall. The Service will develop the draft 

in time for review by the Flyway 

Councils at their winter meetings. 

Recommendations regarding the strategy 

will be expected from the Council 

meetings next March for consideration 

during the early-season regulations 

process. 

We also are aware that much time and 

effort have been spent to date by 

researchers and managers to begin to 

help identify those factors during the 

scaup’s annual cycle that are most 

important in influencing population 

change and we want this momentum to 

continue. We also acknowledge that our 

database on scaup, compared to many 

other waterfowl species, is limited; and 

any enhancement of our understanding 

of scaup population dynamics, which 

has a direct bearing on the utility of the 

harvest strategy, will require better 

information from the field. We 

encourage the Flyway Councils to work 

with us to help identify and support 

additional data-gathering activities for 

scaup and work with other groups and 

organizations to ensure that their 

programs, including existing or new 

habitat initiatives, can also be aligned to 

benefit scaup populations. 

vii. Mottled Ducks 

We continue to be concerned about 

the status of the Western Gulf Coast 

Population of mottled ducks. We 

recognize that the mottled duck is an 

integral part of the Central Flyway’s 

Hunter’s Choice bag-limit experiment, 

and we support inclusion of the mottled 

duck among those species with baglimit restriction in the experiment as 

requested by the Central Flyway 

Council. However, we want to be clear 

that if it is determined that further 

reductions in harvest, or a different 

approach to harvest reduction, are 

warranted at any time over the next 3 

years, we will make those changes. 

Thus, the implementation of this 

experiment will not preclude any future 

changes in hunting regulations that may 

be deemed necessary on an annual basis 

for mottled ducks. 

We are pleased to see that the Central 

and Mississippi Flyway Councils and 

Service staff have initiated the work we 

requested on an approach to accomplish 

harvest reductions if reductions are 

determined to be necessary. We 

encourage that work to continue. 

3. Mergansers 

Council Recommendations: The 

Atlantic Flyway Council and Upperand Lower-Region Regulations 

Committees of the Mississippi Flyway 

Council recommended that the daily bag 

limit on hooded mergansers be 

increased from 1 to 2 birds. 

Service Response: We support the 

recommendations of the Atlantic and 

Mississippi Flyway to increase the bag 

limit for hooded mergansers from 1 to 

2 and note that the survey information 

suggests this species is increasing 

throughout its range. Based on this fact, 

we propose a 2-bird daily bag limit for 

hooded mergansers in the Atlantic, 

Mississippi, and Central Flyways. 

4. Canada Geese 

B. Regular Seasons 

Council Recommendations: The 

Atlantic Flyway Council forwarded a 

number of recommendations concerning 

Canada geese. First, the Council 

recommended that the framework 

opening date for the regular Canada 

goose season in the Lake Champlain 

Zones of Vermont and New York, the 

Interior Zone of Vermont, and the 

Western Zone of Massachusetts be fixed 

at October 20, beginning in 2006. 

Regarding the experimental season in 

Back Bay, Virginia, the Council 

recommended that the Service allow 

1,000 permits to be issued in North 

Carolina’s Northeast Hunt Unit, that the 

daily bag limit in Virginia be increased 

from 1 bird to 2 birds, and that the 

experimental season in both North 

Carolina and Virginia be expanded from 

15 days to 30 days. Third, the Council 

recommended that the framework 


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closing date for North Atlantic 

Population (NAP) geese in established 

Low Harvest Zones be extended from 

January 31 to February 15. Lastly, the 

Council recommended that the season 

frameworks for Southern James Bay 

Population (SJBP) Canada geese in the 

Pymatuning Zone of Pennsylvania be 

increased to a 50-day season with 

framework dates of October 1 to January 

31 and a daily bag limit of 2 geese. 

The Upper- and Lower-Region 

Regulations Committees of the 

Mississippi Flyway Council 

recommended a number of changes in 

Canada goose seasons lengths and bag 

limits for several States in the Flyway. 

These changes are an outgrowth of 

recent revisions made to Canada goose 

harvest and population management 

plans and an evolving Canada goose 

harvest-management philosophy in the 

Flyway. The changes in harvest 

strategies and philosophies are largely 

driven by the increasing numbers of 

giant Canada geese in the Flyway and 

the decreasing importance of interior 

Canada geese to goose harvest 

opportunities in the Flyway. It appears 

that the large numbers of giant Canada 

geese may be buffering, to some extent, 

hunting pressure on interior Canada 

goose populations. These changes will 

allow States to evaluate the potential of 

this buffering effect. In keeping with the 

change in harvest management 

philosophy for Canada geese in the 

Flyway, the Council is also 

recommending to eliminate the 

requirement for Council and Service 

approval for States wanting to split their 

Canada goose seasons into 3 segments, 

including the requirement for a 3-year 

evaluation. 

The Central Flyway Council 

recommended increasing the season 

length for Canada geese from 95 to 107 

days in the east-tier States of the 

Flyway. 

The Pacific Flyway Council 

recommended the following changes for 

geese in the Pacific Flyway: 

1. Modify the frameworks for Aleutian 

Canada geese in southwest Oregon and 

northwest California by: 

a. Changing season lengths to allow 

107 days and changing outside dates to 

allow seasons until March 10 in Oregon 

and California in specified zones; 

b. Redefining Oregon’s Southwest 

Zone and creating a new South Coast 

Zone, with same bag limits in both 

zones; and 

c. Authorizing a 3-way split season in 

Oregon’s new South Coast Zone. 

2. Remove Grays Harbor County, 

Washington, from the Southwest 

Washington Quota Zone. 

3. Increase the dark goose daily bag 

limit in the Lincoln and Clark County 

Zone of Nevada from 2 to 3 per day. 

4. Eliminate Utah’s Washington 

County Canada Goose Zone and create 

a Northern Utah Goose Zone. 

Service Response: We concur with the 

Atlantic Flyway Council’s 

recommendation to change the opening 

framework date to a fixed date of 

October 20 in a portion of the Atlantic 

Population (AP) harvest area provided 

these changes are consistent with the 

objectives of the pending AP 

Management Plan. In addition, we 

concur with the recommended changes 

in the number of permits, season length, 

and bag limits for Back Bay, Virginia, 

and North Carolina’s Northeast Hunt 

Unit as allowed in the MOA’s during 

the 3-year evaluation. Further, we 

concur with the season framework 

closing-date extension to February 15 in 

the Low Harvest Zones for the North 

Atlantic Population. And, finally, we 

concur with framework changes 

recommended for the Pymatuning Zone 

of Pennsylvania to harvest SJBP Canada 

geese. 

With reference to three-way split 

seasons for Canada geese in the 

Mississippi Flyway, we concur that the 

move toward redirection of harvest 

management from one of managing 

specific populations of Canada geese 

toward a more general approach of 

managing the collective harvest of 

Canada geese in the Flyway, together 

with the experience gained to date with 

three-way splits, eliminates the need for 

State-by-State approval by the Flyway 

Council and the Service and a 3-year 

evaluation. 

We concur with the Central Flyway’s 

recommendation to increase the season 

length from 95 to 107 days for Canada 

geese in the east tier States. The Tall 

Grass Prairie and Western Prairie/Great 

Plains Populations of Canada geese that 

migrate through and winter in this 

portion of the Flyway are above 

population objective levels, therefore 

the proposed increase in season length 

will provide additional hunting 

opportunity on these populations. 

We also concur with all of the 

recommendations forwarded by the 

Pacific Flyway Council. The Service 

supports the changes proposed and 

recognizes that the changes in California 

and Oregon are intended to address 

increasing depredation problems 

associated with Aleutian Canada geese. 

Aleutian Canada geese continue to 

increase rapidly and currently are above 

the population objective levels 

identified in the Flyway management 

plan. The increased harvest opportunity 

will help address these depredation 

concerns in northwest California and 

southwest Oregon. The other changes 

proposed for Canada geese in 

Washington, Utah, and Nevada, are 

relatively minor boundary changes in 

harvest zones or bag limit increases that 

will help address depredation concerns 

in these States and will not impact the 

harvest of other Canada goose 

populations of management concern in 

the Flyway. 

5. White-Fronted Geese 

Council Recommendations: The 

Pacific Flyway Council recommended 

modification of frameworks for whitefronted geese in the Klamath Basin of 

Oregon and California by: 

1. Increasing the white-fronted goose 

daily bag limit from 2 to 4 in 

California’s Northeastern Zone; 

2. Increasing the white-fronted goose 

daily bag limit from 3 to 4 in 

California’s Balance of State Zone 

(except in the Sacramento Valley 

Special Management Area); 

3. Redefine Oregon’s Harney, 

Klamath, Lake and Malheur County 

Zone and create a new zone comprised 

of just Klamath County; 

4. Change the outside dates in the 

new Klamath County Zone only to 

extend to March 10; 

5. In the Klamath County Zone, late 

seasons would be for white-fronted 

geese only with a daily bag limit of 2; 

6. Create a 3-way split in Oregon’s 

new Klamath County Zone. 

Service Response: We support the 

recommendations of the Pacific Flyway 

Council. Pacific white-fronted geese are 

currently well above population 

objective levels with this year’s index 

totaling more than 500,000, well above 

the population objective of 300,000. 

Increasing numbers of this population 

are now staging in the Klamath Basin 

region of Oregon and California in the 

spring. These increasing numbers of 

geese are causing agricultural 

depredation problems that can be 

partially addressed by this proposed 

change in season structure for these 

geese. We support the use of sport 

harvest to address these concerns when 

possible. We will require monitoring 

and evaluation of these season changes 

to ensure that no adverse impacts occur 

on other goose populations of 

management concern. 

6. Brant 

Council Recommendations: The 

Pacific Flyway Council recommends 

increasing the season length for brant in 

California from 15 to 30 days and 

increasing the season length in 

Washington from 8 to 16 days. 


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Service Response: We concur with the 

Pacific Flyway Council 

recommendation to return to the Pacific 

Brant season frameworks that were in 

place prior to last year based on the 

midwinter survey index from last year 

and consistency with the Flyway 

Management Plan. However, we 

reiterate the concern expressed 

previously about provisions in the 

management plan that allow frequent 

changes among the three harvest levels. 

We request that the Flyway Council 

review these provisions and consider 

methods that might reduce the potential 

frequency of annual changes, such as 

those we have experienced in the last 2 

years. 

8. Swans 

Council Recommendations: The 

Pacific Flyway Council recommended 

allowing hunters in Nevada two swan 

permits per year. 

Service Response: We concur with the 

Pacific Flyway Council’s 

recommendation concerning Nevada. 

We continue to support the carefully 

controlled harvest of Tundra swans in 

the Pacific Flyway States and continue 

to require careful monitoring of this 

harvest to insure that only small 

numbers of Trumpeter swans can be 

taken during this season. During the 

past 10 years, Nevada has only 

harvested one Trumpeter swan in this 

season. Further, Nevada’s permit 

allocation would not be increased from 

that offered in previous years (650). The 

proposed change that would allow 

hunters a second permit is consistent 

with the existing harvest strategy in the 

Flyway management plan and no 

increase in Trumpeter swan harvest is 

expected. Monitoring programs will 

ensure that the season is closed if the 

assigned quota of five Trumpeter swans 

are harvested in the season. 

Regarding the Eastern Population (EP) 

of tundra swans, the mid-winter index 

in 2006 was 74,500 and below the 

population objective of 80,000 for the 

second consecutive year. As a result, the 

3-year average population index from 

the mid-winter has declined to 78,100. 

In accordance with the 1998 Hunt Plan, 

whenever the 3-year average drops 

below the population objective for more 

than one year, permit reductions should 

be considered. Therefore, we encourage 

the Flyway Councils to review the 

current status of EP tundra swans and 

determine appropriate permit changes 

prior to the development of the 2007–

08 hunting regulations. 

Public Comment Invited 

The Department of the Interior’s 

policy is, whenever practicable, to 

afford the public an opportunity to 

participate in the rulemaking process. 

We intend that adopted final rules be as 

responsive as possible to all concerned 

interests and, therefore, seek the 

comments and suggestions of the public, 

other concerned governmental agencies, 

nongovernmental organizations, and 

other private interests on these 

proposals. Accordingly, we invite 

interested persons to submit written 

comments, suggestions, or 

recommendations regarding the 

proposed regulations to the address 

indicated under ADDRESSES. 

Special circumstances involved in the 

establishment of these regulations limit 

the amount of time that we can allow for 

public comment. Specifically, two 

considerations compress the time in 

which the rulemaking process must 

operate: (1) The need to establish final 

rules at a point early enough in the 

summer to allow affected State agencies 

to adjust their licensing and regulatory 

mechanisms; and (2) the unavailability, 

before mid-June, of specific, reliable 

data on this year’s status of some 

waterfowl and migratory shore and 

upland game bird populations. 

Therefore, we believe that to allow 

comment periods past the dates 

specified in DATES is contrary to the 

public interest. 

Before promulgation of final 

migratory game bird hunting 

regulations, we will take into 

consideration all comments received. 

Such comments, and any additional 

information received, may lead to final 

regulations that differ from these 

proposals. You may inspect comments 

received on the proposed annual 

regulations during normal business 

hours at the Service’s office in room 

4107, 4501 North Fairfax Drive, 

Arlington, Virginia. 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. However, as 

in the past, we will summarize all 

comments received during the comment 

period and respond to them in the final 

rule. 

NEPA Consideration 

NEPA considerations are covered by 

the programmatic document ‘‘Final 

Supplemental Environmental Impact 

Statement: Issuance of Annual 

Regulations Permitting the Sport 

Hunting of Migratory Birds (FSES 88–

14),’’ filed with the Environmental 

Protection Agency on June 9, 1988. We 

published a Notice of Availability in the 

Federal Register on June 16, 1988 (53 

FR 22582). We published our Record of 

Decision on August 18, 1988 (53 FR 

31341). In addition, an August 1985 

environmental assessment entitled 

‘‘Guidelines for Migratory Bird Hunting 

Regulations on Federal Indian 

Reservations and Ceded Lands’’ is 

available from the address indicated 

under the caption ADDRESSES. In a 

notice published in the September 8, 

2005, Federal Register (70 FR 53376), 

we announced our intent to develop a 

new Supplemental Environmental 

Impact Statement for the migratory bird 

hunting program. Public scoping 

meetings were held in the spring of 

2006, as we announced in a March 9, 

2006, Federal Register notice (71 FR 

12216). 

Endangered Species Act Consideration 

Prior to issuance of the 2006–07 

migratory game bird hunting 

regulations, we will comply with 

provisions of the Endangered Species 

Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 

1531–1543; hereinafter the Act), to 

ensure that hunting is not likely to 

jeopardize the continued existence of 

any species designated as endangered or 

threatened or modify or destroy its 

critical habitat, and is consistent with 

conservation programs for those species. 

Consultations under Section 7 of this 

Act may cause us to change proposals 

in this and future supplemental 

proposed rulemaking documents. 

Executive Order 12866 

The migratory bird hunting 

regulations are economically significant 

and were reviewed by the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) under 

Executive Order 12866. As such, a cost/ 

benefit analysis was initially prepared 

in 1981. This analysis was subsequently 

revised annually from 1990–96, updated 

in 1998, and updated again in 2004. It 

is further discussed below under the 

heading Regulatory Flexibility Act. 

Results from the 2004 analysis indicate 

that the expected welfare benefit of the 

annual migratory bird hunting 

frameworks is on the order of $734 

million to $1.064 billion, with a midpoint estimate of $899 million. Copies 

of the cost/benefit analysis are available 

upon request from the address indicated 

under ADDRESSES or from our Web site 

at www.migratorybirds.gov. 

Executive Order 12866 also requires 

each agency to write regulations that are 

easy to understand. We invite comments 

on how to make this rule easier to 

understand, including answers to 

questions such as the following: (1) Are 

the requirements in the rule clearly 

stated? (2) Does the rule contain 

technical language or jargon that 

interferes with its clarity? (3) Does the 

format of the rule (grouping and order 


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of sections, use of headings, 

paragraphing, etc.) aid or reduce its 

clarity? (4) Would the rule be easier to 

understand if it were divided into more 

(but shorter) sections? (5) Is the 

description of the rule in the 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 

the preamble helpful in understanding 

the rule? (6) What else could we do to 

make the rule easier to understand? 

Send a copy of any comments that 

concern how we could make this rule 

easier to understand to: Office of 

Regulatory Affairs, Department of the 

Interior, Room 7229, 1849 C Street, 

NW., Washington, DC 20240. You may 

also e-mail the comments to this 

address: Exsec@ios.doi.gov. 

Regulatory Flexibility Act 

These regulations have a significant 

economic impact on substantial 

numbers of small entities under the 

Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 

et seq.). We analyzed the economic 

impacts of the annual hunting 

regulations on small business entities in 

detail as part of the 1981 cost-benefit 

analysis discussed under Executive 

Order 12866. This analysis was revised 

annually from 1990–95. In 1995, the 

Service issued a Small Entity Flexibility 

Analysis (Analysis), which was 

subsequently updated in 1996, 1998, 

and 2004. The primary source of 

information about hunter expenditures 

for migratory game bird hunting is the 

National Hunting and Fishing Survey, 

which is conducted at 5-year intervals. 

The 2004 Analysis was based on the 

2001 National Hunting and Fishing 

Survey and the U.S. Department of 

Commerce’s County Business Patterns, 

from which it was estimated that 

migratory bird hunters would spend 

between $481 million and $1.2 billion at 

small businesses in 2004. Copies of the 

Analysis are available upon request 

from the address indicated under 

ADDRESSES or from our Web site at 

www.migratorybirds.gov. 

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 

Fairness Act 

This rule is a major rule under 5 

U.S.C. 804(2), the Small Business 

Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. 

For the reasons outlined above, this rule 

has an annual effect on the economy of 

$100 million or more. However, because 

this rule establishes hunting seasons, we 

do not plan to defer the effective date 

under the exemption contained in 5 

U.S.C. 808(1). 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

We examined these regulations under 

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

(PRA). There are no new information 

collections in this proposed rule that 

would require OMB approval under the 

PRA. The existing various 

recordkeeping and reporting 

requirements imposed under regulations 

established in 50 CFR part 20, Subpart 

K, are utilized in the formulation of 

migratory game bird hunting 

regulations. Specifically, OMB has 

approved the information collection 

requirements of the surveys associated 

with the Migratory Bird Harvest 

Information Program and assigned 

clearance number 1018–0015 (expires 2/ 

29/2008). This information is used to 

provide a sampling frame for voluntary 

national surveys to improve our harvest 

estimates for all migratory game birds in 

order to better manage these 

populations. 

A Federal agency may not conduct or 

sponsor, and a person is not required to 

respond to, a collection of information 

unless it displays a currently valid OMB 

control number. 

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 

We have determined and certify, in 

compliance with the requirements of the 

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, 2 

U.S.C. 1502 et seq., that this rulemaking 

will not impose a cost of $100 million 

or more in any given year on local or 

State government or private entities. 

Therefore, this rule is not a ‘‘significant 

regulatory action’’ under the Unfunded 

Mandates Reform Act. 

Civil Justice Reform—Executive Order 

12988 

The Department, in promulgating this 

proposed rule, has determined that this 

proposed rule will not unduly burden 

the judicial system and that it meets the 

requirements of sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) 

of Executive Order 12988. 

Takings Implication Assessment 

In accordance with Executive Order 

12630, this proposed rule, authorized by 

the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, does not 

have significant takings implications 

and does not affect any constitutionally 

protected property rights. This rule will 

not result in the physical occupancy of 

property, the physical invasion of 

property, or the regulatory taking of any 

property. In fact, these rules allow 

hunters to exercise otherwise 

unavailable privileges and, therefore, 

reduce restrictions on the use of private 

and public property. 

Energy Effects—Executive Order 13211 

On May 18, 2001, the President issued 

Executive Order 13211 on regulations 

that significantly affect energy supply, 

distribution, and use. Executive Order 

13211 requires agencies to prepare 

Statements of Energy Effects when 

undertaking certain actions. While this 

proposed rule is a significant regulatory 

action under Executive Order 12866, it 

is not expected to adversely affect 

energy supplies, distribution, or use. 

Therefore, this action is not a significant 

energy action and no Statement of 

Energy Effects is required. 

Government-to-Government 

Relationship with Tribes 

Due to the migratory nature of certain 

species of birds, the Federal 

Government has been given 

responsibility over these species by the 

Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Thus, in 

accordance with the President’s 

memorandum of April 29, 1994, 

‘‘Government-to-Government Relations 

with Native American Tribal 

Governments’’ (59 FR 22951), Executive 

Order 13175, and 512 DM 2, we have 

evaluated possible effects on Federally 

recognized Indian tribes and have 

determined that there are no effects on 

Indian trust resources. However, in the 

April 11 proposed rule we solicited 

proposals for special migratory bird 

hunting regulations for certain Tribes on 

Federal Indian reservations, offreservation trust lands, and ceded lands 

for the 2006–07 migratory bird hunting 

season. The resulting proposals will be 

contained in a separate proposed rule. 

By virtue of these actions, we have 

consulted with all the Tribes affected by 

this rule. 

Federalism Effects 

Due to the migratory nature of certain 

species of birds, the Federal 

Government has been given 

responsibility over these species by the 

Migratory Bird Treaty Act. We annually 

prescribe frameworks from which the 

States make selections regarding the 

hunting of migratory birds, and we 

employ guidelines to establish special 

regulations on Federal Indian 

reservations and ceded lands. This 

process preserves the ability of the 

States and tribes to determine which 

seasons meet their individual needs. 

Any State or Indian tribe may be more 

restrictive than the Federal frameworks 

at any time. The frameworks are 

developed in a cooperative process with 

the States and the Flyway Councils. 

This process allows States to participate 

in the development of frameworks from 

which they will make selections, 

thereby having an influence on their 

own regulations. These rules do not 

have a substantial direct effect on fiscal 

capacity, change the roles or 

responsibilities of Federal or State 

governments, or intrude on State policy 

or administration. Therefore, in 


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accordance with Executive Order 13132, 

these regulations do not have significant 

federalism effects and do not have 

sufficient federalism implications to 

warrant the preparation of a Federalism 

Assessment. 

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 2006–07 hunting 

season are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 

703–712 and 16 U.S.C. 742 a–j. 

Dated: August 11, 2006. 

David M. Verhey, 

Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and 

Wildlife and Parks. 

Proposed Regulations Frameworks for 

2006–07 Late Hunting Seasons on 

Certain Migratory Game Birds 

Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty 

Act and delegated authorities, the 

Department has approved frameworks 

for season lengths, shooting hours, bag 

and possession limits, and outside dates 

within which States may select seasons 

for hunting waterfowl and coots 

between the dates of September 1, 2006, 

and March 10, 2007. 

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. 

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, and all other goose 

species except light geese. 

Light geese: snow (including blue) 

geese and Ross’ geese. 

Area, Zone, and Unit Descriptions: 

Geographic descriptions related to 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. 

Compensatory Days 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). 

Atlantic Flyway 

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots 

Outside Dates: Between the Saturday 

nearest September 24 (September 23) 

and the last Sunday in January (January 

28). 

Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: 60 

days. The daily bag limit is 6 ducks, 

including no more than 4 mallards (2 

hens), 2 scaup, 1 black duck, 1 pintail, 

1 canvasback, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous 

whistling duck, 2 wood ducks, 2 

redheads, 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 a hooded merganser. 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, 

and Virginia may split their seasons into 

three segments; Connecticut, Maine, 

Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New 

Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, 

Vermont, and West Virginia may select 

hunting seasons by zones and may split 

their seasons into two segments in each 

zone. 

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 in the H Unit; and between 

October 1 and February 15, a 70-day 

season with a 3-bird daily bag in the L 

Unit. 

Atlantic Population (AP) Zone: A 45- 

day season may be held between the 

fourth Saturday in October (October 28) 

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. 

Delaware: A 45-day season may be 

held between November 15 and January 

31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. 

Florida: A 70-day season may be held 

between November 15 and February 15, 

with a 5-bird daily bag limit. 

Georgia: In specific areas, a 70-day 

season may be held between November 


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15 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily 

bag limit. 

Maine: A 60-day season may be held 

Statewide between October 1 and 

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

Maryland: Resident Population (RP) 

Zone: A 70-day season may be held 

between November 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. 

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 28) and 

January 31, with a 3-bird daily bag limit. 

Special Late Goose Season Area: An 

experimental 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: An 

experimental season may be held 

between January 15 and February 15, 

with a 5-bird daily bag limit in 

designated areas of Chemung, Delaware, 

Tioga, Broome, Sullivan, Westchester, 

Nassau, Suffolk, Orange, Dutchess, 

Putnam, and Rockland Counties. 

AP Zone: A 45-day season may be 

held between the fourth Saturday in 

October (October 28), except in the Lake 

Champlain Area where the opening date 

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

bird daily bag limit. 

RP Zone: A 70-day season may be 

held between the fourth Saturday in 

October (October 28) and February 15, 

with a 5-bird daily bag limit. 

North Carolina: SJBP Zone: A 70-day 

season may be held between October 1 

and December 31, with a 2-bird daily 

bag limit. 

RP Zone: A 70-day season may be 

held between October 1 and February 

15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. 

Northeast Hunt Unit: A 30-day 

experimental season (1,000 permits) 

may be held concurrent with the season 

selected for the Back Bay Area of 

Virginia. The seasonal bag limit is 1 

bird. 

Pennsylvania: SJBP Zone: A 70-day 

season may be held between the second 

Saturday in October (October 14) and 

February 15, with a 2-bird daily bag 

limit until January 14 and a 5-bird daily 

bag limit between January 15 and 

February 15. 

Pymatuning Zone: A 50-day season 

may be held between October 1 and 

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

RP Zone: A 70-day season may be 

held between November 15 and 

February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag 

limit. 

AP Zone: A 45-day season may be 

held between the fourth Saturday in 

October (October 28) and January 31, 

with a 3-bird daily bag limit. 

Special Late Goose Season Area: An 

experimental season may be held from 

January 15 to February 15, with a 5-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. An 

experimental 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, a 

70-day season may be held during 

November 15 to February 15, with a 5- 

bird daily bag limit. 

Vermont: A 45-day season may be 

held between the fourth Saturday in 

October (October 28), except in the Lake 

Champlain Area where the opening date 

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

bird daily bag limit. 

Virginia: SJBP Zone: A 40-day season 

may be held between November 15 and 

January 14, with a 2-bird daily bag limit. 

Additionally, an experimental 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: A 70-day season may be 

held between November 15 and 

February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag 

limit. 

Back Bay Area: A 30-day 

experimental season may be held 

between December 25 and January 28 in 

the AP Zone with a 2-bird daily bag 

limit. 

West Virginia: A 70-day season may 

be held between October 1 and January 

31, with a 3-bird daily bag limit. 

Light Geese 

Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and 

Limits: States may select a 107-day 

season between October 1 and March 

10, with a 15-bird daily bag limit and no 

possession limit. States may split their 

seasons into three segments, except in 

Delaware and Maryland, where, 

following the completion of their duck 

season, and until March 10, Delaware 

and Maryland may split the remaining 

portion of the season to allow hunting 

on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and 

Saturdays only. 

Brant 

Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and 

Limits: States may select a 30-day 

season between the Saturday nearest 

September 24 (September 23) 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 23) 

and the last Sunday in January (January 

28). 

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), 

3 mottled ducks, 2 scaup, 1 black duck, 

1 pintail, 1 canvasback, 2 wood ducks, 

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, 

Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 

Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, 

Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, 

and Wisconsin may select hunting 

seasons by zones. 

In Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, 

Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, 

Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee, and 

Wisconsin, the season may be split into 

two segments in each zone. 

In 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 


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nearest September 24 (September 23) 

and March 10; for white-fronted geese 

not to exceed 72 days with 2 geese daily 

or 86 days with 1 goose daily between 

the Saturday nearest September 24 

(September 23) and the Sunday nearest 

February 15 (February 18); 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 23) 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 23) 

and January 31. 

Alabama: In the SJBP Goose Zone, the 

season for Canada geese may not exceed 

50 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 

33 days, provided that one segment of 

at least 9 days occurs prior to October 

15. In the remainder of the State, the 

season may not exceed 23 days. The 

season may extend to February 15, and 

may be split into 2 segments. The daily 

bag limit is 2 Canada geese. 

Illinois: The season for Canada geese 

may extend for 79 days in the North and 

Central Zones and 57 days in the South 

Zone. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada 

geese. 

Indiana: The season for Canada geese 

may extend for 70 days, except in the 

SJBP Zone, where the season may not 

exceed 50 days. The daily bag limit is 

2 Canada geese. 

Iowa: The season for Canada geese 

may extend for 90 days. The daily bag 

limit is 2 Canada geese. 

Kentucky: (a) Western Zone—The 

season for Canada geese may extend for 

67 days (82 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 50 days. The 

daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese. 

(c) Remainder of the State—The 

season may extend for 50 days. The 

daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese. 

Louisiana: The season for Canada 

geese may extend for 16 days. During 

the season, the daily bag limit is 1 

Canada goose and 2 white-fronted geese 

with a 72-day white-fronted goose 

season or 1 white-fronted goose with an 

86-day season. Hunters participating in 

the Canada goose season must possess a 

special permit issued by the State. 

Michigan: (a) MVP—Upper and Lower 

Peninsula Zones—The total harvest of 

Canada geese will be limited to 82,600 

birds for these zones combined. The 

framework opening date for all geese is 

September 16 and the season for Canada 

geese may extend for 50 days. The daily 

bag limit is 2 Canada geese. 

(1) Allegan County GMU—The 

Canada goose season will close after 50 

days or when 3,000 birds have been 

harvested, whichever occurs first. The 

daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese. 

(2) Muskegon Wastewater GMU—The 

Canada goose season will close after 50 

days or when 1,000 birds have been 

harvested, whichever occurs first. The 

daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese. 

(b) SJBP Zone—The framework 

opening date for all geese is September 

16 and the season for Canada geese may 

extend for 30 days. The daily bag limit 

is 2 Canada geese. 

(1) Saginaw County GMU—The 

Canada goose season will close after 50 

days or when 2,000 birds have been 

harvested, whichever occurs first. The 

daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose. 

(2) Tuscola/Huron GMU—The Canada 

goose season will close after 50 days or 

when 750 birds have been harvested, 

whichever occurs first. The daily bag 

limit is 1 Canada goose. 

(c) Southern Michigan GMU—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. 

(d) Central Michigan GMU—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: (a) West Zone. (1) West 

Central Zone—The season for Canada 

geese may extend for 40 days. The daily 

bag limit is 2 Canada geese. 

(2) Remainder of West Zone—The 

season for Canada geese may extend for 

60 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada 

geese. 

(b) Remainder of the State—The 

season for Canada geese may extend for 

70 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada 

geese. 

(c) Special Late Canada Goose 

Season—A special Canada goose season 

of up to 10 days may be held in 

December, except in the West Central 

Goose zone. During the special season, 

the daily bag limit is 5 Canada geese, 

except in the Southeast Goose Zone, 

where the daily bag limit is 2. 

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 79 days and may be split 

into 3 segments provided that at least 1 

segment of at least 9 days occurs prior 

to October 16. The daily bag limit is 3 

Canada geese through October 15 and 2 

Canada geese thereafter. 

Ohio: The season for Canada geese 

may extend for 60 days in the respective 

duck-hunting zones, with a daily bag 

limit of 2 Canada geese, except in the 

Lake Erie SJBP Zone, where the season 

may not exceed 40 days and the daily 

bag limit is 2 Canada geese. A special 

Canada goose season of up to 22 days, 

beginning the first Saturday after 

January 10, may be held in the following 

Counties: Allen (north of U.S. Highway 

30), Fulton, Geauga (north of Route 6), 

Henry, Huron, Lucas (Lake Erie Zone 

closed), Seneca, and Summit (Lake Erie 

Zone closed). During the special season, 

the daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese. 

Tennessee: (a) Northwest Zone—The 

season for Canada geese may not exceed 

72 days, 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 59 days, at 

least 9 of which must occur before Oct. 

16. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada 

geese. 

(c) Kentucky/Barkley Lakes Zone—

The season for Canada geese may extend 

for 59 days, at least 9 of which must 

occur before Oct. 16. The daily bag limit 

is 2 Canada geese. 

(d) Remainder of the State—The 

season for Canada geese may extend for 

70 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada 

geese. 

Wisconsin: The total harvest of 

Canada geese in the State will be limited 

to 131,100 birds. (a) Horicon 

Zone7mdash;The framework opening 

date for all geese is September 16. The 

harvest of Canada geese is limited to 

27,000 birds. The season may not 

exceed 92 days. All Canada geese 

harvested must be tagged. The daily bag 

limit is 2 Canada geese, and the season 

limit will be the number of tags issued 

to each permittee. 

(b) Collins Zone—The framework 

opening date for all geese is September 

16. The harvest of Canada geese is 

limited to 1,500 birds. The season may 

not exceed 65 days. All Canada geese 

harvested must be tagged. The daily bag 

limit is 2 Canada geese, and the season 

limit will be the number of tags issued 

to each permittee. 

(c) Exterior Zone—The framework 

opening date for all geese is September 

16. The harvest of Canada geese is 

limited to 102,600 birds, 500 of which 

are allocated to the Mississippi River 

Subzone. The season may not exceed 92 

days, except in the Mississippi River 

Subzone, where the season may not 

exceed 72 days. The daily bag limit is 

2 Canada geese. In that portion of the 


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Exterior Zone outside the Mississippi 

River Subzone, the progress of the 

harvest must be monitored, and the 

season closed, if necessary, to ensure 

that the harvest does not exceed 102,100 

birds. 

Additional Limits: In addition to the 

harvest limits stated for the respective 

zones above, an additional 4,500 Canada 

geese may be taken in the Horicon Zone 

under special agricultural permits. 

Quota Zone Closures: When it has 

been determined that the quota of 

Canada geese allotted to the Allegan 

County, Muskegon Wastewater, Saginaw 

County, and Tuscola/Huron Goose 

Management Units in Michigan and the 

Exterior Zone in Wisconsin will have 

been filled, the season for taking Canada 

geese in the respective unit/zone will be 

closed, either by the Director upon 

giving public notice through local 

information media at least 48 hours in 

advance of the time and date of closing, 

or by the State through State regulations 

with such notice and time (not less than 

48 hours) as they deem necessary. 

Central Flyway 

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots 

Outside Dates: Between the Saturday 

nearest September 24 (September 23) 

and the last Sunday in January (January 

28). 

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 

may start no earlier than the Saturday 

nearest December 10 (December 9). 

(2) Remainder of the Central Flyway: 

74 days. 

Bag Limits: (1) Colorado, Montana, 

Nebraska, New Mexico, and Oklahoma: 

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, 2 

wood ducks, 1 pintail, 1 mottled duck, 

and 1 canvasback. For pintails and 

canvasbacks, the season length would 

be 39 days, which may be split 

according to applicable zones/split duck 

hunting configurations approved for 

each State. A single canvasback and 

pintail may also be included in the 6- 

bird daily bag limit for designated 

youth-hunt days. 

(2) Kansas, North Dakota, South 

Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming: The daily 

bag limit is 5 ducks, with species and 

sex restrictions as follows: 2 scaup, 2 

redheads, and 2 wood ducks, and only 

1 duck from the following group—hen 

mallard, mottled duck, pintail, 

canvasback. 

Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit 

is 5 mergansers, only 2 of which may be 

a hooded merganser. 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: 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 Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New 

Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South 

Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, the 

regular season may be split into two 

segments. 

In Colorado, the season may be split 

into three 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 23) and the Sunday 

nearest February 15 (February 18). For 

light geese, outside dates for seasons 

may be selected between the Saturday 

nearest September 24 (September 23) 

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 72 days with a 

bag limit of 2 or a 86-day season with 

a bag limit of 1. 

In South Dakota, for Canada geese in 

the Big Stone Power Plant Area of 

Canada Goose Unit 3, the daily bag limit 

is 3 until November 30, and 2 thereafter. 

In 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 Colorado, the season may not 

exceed 95 days. The daily bag limit is 

3 dark geese 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 3. 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, 1 pintail, 1 canvasback, 3 

scaup, and 2 redheads. 

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 23) 

and the last Sunday in January (January 

28). 

Zoning and Split Seasons: Arizona, 

California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, 

and Washington may select hunting 

seasons by zones. 

Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, 

Oregon, Utah, and Washington may 

split their seasons into two segments. 

Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and 

Wyoming 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: Except as subsequently 

noted, 100-day seasons may be selected, 

with outside dates between the Saturday 

nearest October 1 (September 30), and 

the last Sunday in January (January 28). 

Basic daily bag limits are 4 light geese 

and 4 dark geese, except in California, 

Oregon, and Washington, where the 

dark goose bag limit does not include 

brant. 

In Oregon’s South Coast Zone and 

California’s North Coast Special 


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Management Area, 107-day seasons may 

be selected, with outside dates between 

the Saturday nearest October 1 

(September 30) and March 10. Hunting 

days that occur after the last Sunday in 

January shall be concurrent in both 

zones. A 3-way split season may be 

selected in Oregon’s Southwest Zone. 

Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, 

Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and 

Wyoming: Except as subsequently 

noted, 107-day seasons may be selected, 

with outside dates between the Saturday 

nearest September 24 (September 23), 

and the last Sunday in January (January 

28). Basic daily bag limits are 4 light 

geese and 4 dark 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 4 geese and may 

include no more than 1 cackling Canada 

goose or 1 Aleutian Canada goose. 

Southern Zone: In the Imperial 

County Special Management Area, light 

geese only may be taken from the end 

of the general goose hunting season 

through the first Sunday in February 

(February 5). 

Balance-of-the-State Zone: Limits may 

not include more than 4 geese per day. 

In the Sacramento Valley Special 

Management Area (West), the season on 

white-fronted geese must begin no 

earlier than the last Saturday in October 

and end on or before December 14, and 

the daily bag limit shall contain no more 

than 2 white-fronted geese. 

Oregon: Except as subsequently 

noted, the dark goose daily bag limit is 

4, including not more than 1 cackling or 

Aleutian goose. 

Harney, Lake, and Malheur County 

Zone: For Lake County only, the daily 

dark goose bag limit may not include 

more than 2 white-fronted geese. 

Klamath County Zone: A 107-day 

season may be selected, with outside 

dates between the Saturday nearest 

October 1 (September 30), and March 

10. A 3-way split season may be 

selected. The daily dark goose bag limit 

is 4 dark geese and 4 white geese except 

for hunting days that occur after the last 

Sunday in January when only whitefronted geese may be taken with a daily 

bag limit of two. 

Northwest Special Permit Zone: 

Except for designated areas, there will 

be no open season on Canada geese. In 

the designated areas, individual quotas 

will be established that collectively will 

not exceed 165 dusky geese. See section 

on quota zones. In those designated 

areas, the daily bag limit of dark geese 

is 4 including not more than 2 cackling 

or Aleutian geese. 

Closed Zone: All of Tillamook 

County. 

South Coast Zone: The daily dark 

goose bag limit is 4 including cackling 

and Aleutian geese. 

Southwest Zone: The daily dark goose 

bag limit is 4 including cackling and 

Aleutian geese. 

Washington: The daily bag limit is 4 

geese. A 107-day season may be selected 

in Areas 4 and 5 (eastern Washington). 

Southwest Quota Zone: In the 

Southwest Quota Zone, except for 

designated areas, there will be no open 

season on Canada geese. In the 

designated areas, individual quotas will 

be established that collectively will not 

exceed 85 dusky geese. See section on 

quota zones. In this area, the daily bag 

limit may include 2 cackling geese. In 

Southwest Quota Zone Area 2B (Pacific 

County), the daily bag limit may include 

1 Aleutian goose. 

Colorado: The daily bag limit for dark 

geese is 3 geese. 

Idaho: The daily bag limit is 4 geese. 

Nevada: The daily bag limit for dark 

geese is 3. 

New Mexico: The daily bag limit for 

dark geese is 3. 

Utah: The daily bag limit for dark 

geese is 3. 

Quota Zones 

Seasons on dark geese must end upon 

attainment of individual quotas of 

dusky geese allotted to the designated 

areas of Oregon and Washington. 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 dark geese in 

those designated areas will only be 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 

dark 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 

extended to the Sunday closest to March 

1 (March 4). Regular dark goose seasons 

may be split into 3 segments within the 

Oregon and Washington quota zones. 

The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3. 

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 (September 

30). 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 10) 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 7) 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 


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50236 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 164 / Thursday, August 24, 2006 / Proposed Rules 

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 

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, 2007, 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 is experimental. 

—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 

(September 30) 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 east along Maine State 

Highway 110 from the New Hampshire 

and Maine State line to the intersection 

of Maine State Highway 11 in Newfield; 

then north and east along Route 11 to 

the intersection of U.S. Route 202 in 

Auburn; then north and east on Route 

202 to the intersection of Interstate 

Highway 95 in Augusta; then north and 

east along I–95 to Route 15 in Bangor; 

then east along Route 15 to Route 9; 

then east along Route 9 to Stony Brook 

in Baileyville; then east along Stony 

Brook to the United States 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: The U.S. 

portion of Lake Champlain and that area 

east and north of a line extending along 

NY 9B from the Canadian border to U.S. 

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

Keesville; south along NY 22 to the west 

shore of South Bay, along and around 

the shoreline of South Bay to NY 22 on 

the east shore of South Bay; southeast 

along NY 22 to U.S. 4, northeast along 

U.S. 4 to the Vermont 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 line extending from Lake Ontario east 

along the north shore of the Salmon 

River to 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 I–87, 

north along I–87 to U.S. 9 (at Exit 20), 

north along U.S. 9 to NY 149, east along 

NY 149 to U.S. 4, north along U.S. 4 to 

the Vermont State line, 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. 


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North Zone: That portion of the State 

east of the Northwest Zone and north of 

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

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

and I–80 to the Delaware River. 

South Zone: The remaining portion of 

Pennsylvania. 

Vermont 

Lake Champlain Zone: The U.S. 

portion of Lake Champlain and that area 

north and west of the line extending 

from the New York State line along U.S. 

4 to VT 22A at Fair Haven; VT 22A to 

U.S. 7 at Vergennes; U.S. 7 to the 

Canadian border. 

Interior Zone: That portion of 

Vermont west of the Lake Champlain 

Zone and eastward of a line extending 

from the Massachusetts State line 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. 

West Virginia 

Zone 1: That portion outside the 

boundaries in Zone 2. 

Zone 2 (Allegheny Mountain Upland): 

That area bounded by a line extending 

south along U.S. 220 through Keyser to 

U.S. 50; U.S. 50 to WV 93; WV 93 south 

to WV 42; WV 42 south to Petersburg; 

WV 28 south to Minnehaha Springs; WV 

39 west to U.S. 219; U.S. 219 south to 

I–64; I–64 west to U.S. 60; U.S. 60 west 

to U.S. 19; U.S. 19 north to I–79, I–79 

north to I–68; I–68 east to the Maryland 

State line; and along the State line to the 

point of beginning. 

Mississippi Flyway 

Alabama 

South Zone: Mobile and Baldwin 

Counties. 

North Zone: The remainder of 

Alabama. 

Arkansas 

Zone 1: That portion of Arkansas 

north and east of a line beginning at the 

confluence of the White and Mississippi 

Rivers and extending northwest along 

the north bank of the White River to the 

north bank of the Arkansas Post Canal, 

west along the Arkansas Post Canal to 

Tichnor Blacktop Road, north and west 

along Tichnor Blacktop Road to Connor 

Levee Road, west along Connor Levee 

Road to Whiting Lane, south along 

Whiting Lane to the north bank of the 

Arkansas Post Canal, west along the 

north bank of the Arkansas Post Canal 

to the Arkansas River, west along the 

north bank/rock dike of the Arkansas 

River to the mouth of Moore’s Bayou, 

northwest along the east bank of 

Moore’s Bayou to State Highway 169, 

west along State 169 to the junction of 

U.S. Highway 165 and Gander Street 

Road, north along Gander Street Road to 

Simon Fuhrman Road, northwest along 

Simon Fuhrman to the north levee of 

the Arkansas River, northwest along the 

north levee of the Arkansas River to U.S. 

165 near Baucum, northwest along U.S. 

165 to Interstate Highway 440 near 

Little Rock, north along I–440 to I–40, 

west along I–40 to U.S. 65 at Conway, 

then north along U.S. 65 to the Missouri 

border. 

Zone 2: The remainder of Arkansas. 

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 Zone to a line 

extending west from the Indiana border 

along Interstate Highway 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 156, west 

along Illinois Route 156 to A Road, 

north and west on A Road to Levee 

Road, north on Levee Road to the south 

shore of New Fountain Creek, west 

along the south shore of New Fountain 

Creek to the Mississippi River, and due 

west across the Mississippi River to the 

Missouri border. 

South Zone: The remainder of Illinois. 

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 

Nebraska border 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, then east 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 


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50238 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 164 / Thursday, August 24, 2006 / Proposed Rules 

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 State line (Lock and Dam 25) on 

Lincoln County Highway N to Missouri 

Highway 79; south on Missouri 

Highway 79 to Missouri Highway 47; 

west on Missouri Highway 47 to 

Interstate 70; west on Interstate 70 to the 

Kansas State line. 

South Zone: That portion of Missouri 

south of a line running west from the 

Illinois State line on Missouri Highway 

34 to Interstate 55; south on Interstate 

55 to U.S. Highway 62; west on U.S. 

Highway 62 to Missouri Highway 53; 

north on Missouri Highway 53 to 

Missouri Highway 51; north on Missouri 

Highway 51 to U.S. Highway 60; west 

on U.S. Highway 60 to Missouri 

Highway 21; north on Missouri 

Highway 21 to Missouri Highway 72; 

west on Missouri Highway 72 to 

Missouri Highway 32; west on Missouri 

Highway 32 to U.S. Highway 65; north 

on U.S. Highway 65 to U.S. Highway 54; 

west on U.S. Highway 54 to the Kansas 

State line. 

Middle Zone: The remainder of 

Missouri. 

Ohio 

North Zone: That portion of the State 

north of a line extending east from the 

Indiana State line along U.S. Highway 

33 to State Route 127, south along SR 

127 to SR 703, south along SR 703 to SR 

219, east along SR 219 to SR 364, north 

along SR 364 to SR 703, east along SR 

703 to SR 66, north along SR 66 to U.S. 

33, east along U.S. 33 to SR 385, east 

along SR 385 to SR 117, south along SR 

117 to SR 273, east along SR 273 to SR 

31, south along SR 31 to SR 739, east 

along SR 739 to SR 4, north along SR 

4 to SR 95, east along SR 95 to SR 13, 

southeast along SR 13 to SR 3, northeast 

along SR 3 to SR 60, north along SR 60 

to U.S. 30, east along U.S. 30 to SR 3, 

south along SR 3 to SR 226, south along 

SR 226 to SR 514, southwest along SR 

514 to SR 754, south along SR 754 to SR 

39/60, east along SR 39/60 to SR 241, 

north along SR 241 to U.S. 30, east along 

U.S. 30 to SR 39, east along SR 39 to the 

Pennsylvania State line. 

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 to U.S. Highway 41, then 

north on U.S. Highway 41 to the 

Michigan State line. 

South Zone: The remainder of 

Wisconsin. 

Central Flyway 

Colorado (Central Flyway Portion) 

Eastern Plains Zone: That portion of 

the State east of Interstate 25, and all of 

El Paso, Pueblo, Heurfano, and Las 

Animas Counties. 

Mountain/Foothills Zone: That 

portion of the State west of Interstate 25 

and east of the Continental Divide, 

except El Paso, Pueblo, Heurfano, and 

Las Animas Counties. 

Kansas 

High Plains Zone: That portion of the 

State west of U.S. 283. 

Low Plains Early Zone: That area of 

Kansas east of U.S. 283, and generally 

west of a line beginning at the Junction 

of the Nebraska border and KS 28; south 

on KS 28 to U.S. 36; east on U.S. 36 to 

KS 199; south on KS 199 to Republic 

Co. Road 563; south on Republic Co. 

Road 563 to KS 148; east on KS 148 to 

Republic Co. Road 138; south on 

Republic Co. Road 138 to Cloud Co. 

Road 765; south on Cloud Co. Road 765 

to KS 9; west on KS 9 to U.S. 24; west 

on U.S. 24 to U.S. 281; north on U.S. 

281 to U.S. 36; west on U.S. 36 to U.S. 

183; south on U.S. 183 to U.S. 24; west 

on U.S. 24 to KS 18; southeast on KS 18 

to U.S. 183; south on U.S. 183 to KS 4; 

east on KS 4 to I–135; south on I–135 

to KS 61; southwest on KS 61 to KS 96; 

northwest on KS 96 to U.S. 56; 

southwest on U.S. 56 to KS 19; east on 

KS 19 to U.S. 281; south on U.S. 281 to 

U.S. 54; west on U.S. 54 to U.S. 183; 

north on U.S. 183 to U.S. 56; southwest 

on U.S. 56 to Ford Co. Road 126; south 

on Ford Co. Road 126 to U.S. 400; 

northwest on U.S. 400 to U.S. 283. 

Low Plains Late Zone: The remainder 

of Kansas. 

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 Zone: That portion of 

Nebraska lying west of a line beginning 

at the South Dakota-Nebraska border on 

U.S. 183, south on U.S. 183 to U.S. 20, 

west on U.S. 20 to NE 7, south on NE 

7 to NE 91, southwest on NE 91 to NE 

2, southeast on NE 2 to NE 92, west on 

NE 92 to NE 40, south on NE 40 to NE 

47, south on NE 47 to NE 23, east on NE 

23 to U.S. 283 and south on U.S. 283 to 

the Kansas-Nebraska border. 

Low Plains Zone 1: That portion of 

Dixon County west of NE 26E Spur and 

north of NE 12; those portions of Cedar 

County north of NE 12; those portions 

of Knox counties north of NE 12 to 

intersection of Niobrara River; all of 

Boyd County; Keya Paha County east of 

U.S. 183. Both banks of the Niobrara 

River in Keya Paha, Boyd, and Knox 

counties east of U.S. 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. 75 

to U.S. 136; east to the intersection of 

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

north to NE 2; west to NE 43; north to 

U.S. 34; east to NE 63; north and west 

to U.S. 77; north to NE 92; west to U.S. 

81; south to NE 66; west to NE 14; south 

to County Road 22 (Hamilton County); 

west to County Road M, south to County 

Road 21; west to County Road K; south 

U.S. 34; west to NE 2; south to U.S. I–

80; west to Gunbarrel Road. (Hall/ 

Hamilton county line); south to Giltner 

Road.; west to U.S. 281; south to U.S. 

34; west to NE 10; north to County Road 

‘‘R’’ (Kearney County) and County Road 

#742 (Phelps County); west to County 

Road #438 (Gosper County line); south 

along County Road #438 (Gosper County 

line) to County Road #726 (Furnas 

County line); east to County Road #438 

(Harlan County line); south to U.S. 34; 

south and west to U.S. 136; east to NE 

14; south to the Kansas-Nebraska 

border, west to U.S. 283; north to NE 23; 


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west to NE 47; north to U.S. 30; east to 

NE 14; north to NE 52; west and north 

to NE 91 to U.S. 281; south to NE 22; 

west to NE 11; northwest to NE 91; west 

to Loup County Line, north to LoupBrown county line; east along northern 

boundaries of Loup, Garfield and 

Wheeler counties; south on the 

Wheeler-Antelope county line to NE 70; 

east to NE 14; south to NE 39; southeast 

to NE 22; east to U.S. 81; southeast to 

U.S. 30; east to U.S. 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. 75 and the Kansas-Nebraska 

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 road 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 1: The Counties of Converse, 

Goshen, Hot Springs, Natrona, Platte, 

and Washakie; 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 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 2: 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 or 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 seven miles 

on U.S. 80 to the Andrade-Algodones 

Road; south on this paved road to the 

Mexican border at Algodones, Mexico. 

Southern Zone: That portion of 

southern California (but excluding the 

Colorado River Zone) south and east of 

a line extending from the Pacific Ocean 

east along the Santa Maria River to CA 

166 near the City of Santa Maria; east on 


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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-the-State Zone: The 

remainder of California not included in 

the Northeastern, Southern, and 

Colorado River Zones, and the Southern 

San Joaquin Valley Temporary Zone. 

Idaho 

Zone 1: Includes all lands and waters 

within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, 

including private inholdings; Bannock 

County; Bingham County, except that 

portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir 

drainage; and Power County east of ID 

37 and ID 39. 

Zone 2: Includes the following 

Counties or portions of Counties: 

Adams; Bear Lake; Benewah; Bingham 

within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; 

Blaine; Bonner; Bonneville; Boundary; 

Butte; Camas; Caribou except the Fort 

Hall Indian Reservation; Cassia within 

the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge; 

Clark; Clearwater; Custer; Elmore within 

the Camas Creek drainage; Franklin; 

Fremont; Idaho; Jefferson; Kootenai; 

Latah; Lemhi; Lewis; Madison; Nez 

Perce; Oneida; Power within the 

Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge; 

Shoshone; Teton; and Valley Counties. 

Zone 3: Includes the following 

Counties or portions of Counties: Ada; 

Boise; Canyon; Cassia except within the 

Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge; 

Elmore except the Camas Creek 

drainage; Gem; Gooding; Jerome; 

Lincoln; Minidoka; Owyhee; Payette; 

Power west of ID 37 and ID 39 except 

that portion within the Minidoka 

National Wildlife Refuge; Twin Falls; 

and Washington Counties. 

Nevada 

Lincoln and Clark County Zone: All of 

Clark and Lincoln Counties. 

Remainder-of-the-State Zone: The 

remainder of Nevada. 

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 Flyway Zone: Balance of 

the Pacific Flyway in Wyoming outside 

the Snake River drainage. 

Geese 

Atlantic Flyway 

Connecticut 

NAP L-Unit: That portion of Fairfield 

County north of Interstate 95 and that 

portion of New Haven County: starting 

at I–95 bridge on Housatonic River; 

north of Interstate 95; west of Route 10 

to the intersection of Interstate 691; west 

along Interstate 691 to Interstate 84; 

west and south on Interstate 84 to Route 

67; north along Route 67 to the 

Litchfield County line, then extending 

west along the Litchfield County line to 

the Shepaug River, then south to the 

intersection of the Litchfield and 

Fairfield County lines. 

NAP H-Unit: All of the rest of the 

State not included in the AP or NAP–

L descriptions. 

AP Unit: Litchfield County and the 

portion of Hartford County, west of a 

line beginning at the Massachusetts 

State line 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. 

South Zone: Same as for ducks. 

North Zone: Same as for ducks. 

Maryland 

Resident Population (RP) Zone: 

Garrett, Allegany, Washington, 

Frederick, Howard, and Montgomery 

Counties; that portion of Baltimore 

County south of Route 138, Route 137, 

and Mount Carmel Road; that portion of 

Anne Arundel County west of Interstate 

895, Interstate 97 and Route 3; 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 south of Route 88, 

west of Route 30 from the intersection 

of Route 30 and Route 88 to the 

intersection of Route 30 and Route 482, 

south of Route 482, south of Route 27 

from the intersection of Route 27 and 

Route 482 to the intersection of Route 

27 and Route 97, and west of Route 97 

from the Intersection of Route 27 and 

Route 97 to the Pennsylvania line. 

AP Zone: Remainder of the State. 

Massachusetts 

NAP Zone: Central Zone (same as for 

ducks) and that portion of the Coastal 

Zone that lies north of route 139 from 

Green Harbor. 

AP Zone: Remainder of the State. 

Special Late Season Area: That 

portion of the Coastal Zone (see duck 

zones) that lies north of the Cape Cod 

Canal and east of Route 3, 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 


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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—that 

area of New York State lying east and 

north of a continuous line extending 

along Route 11 from the New YorkCanada 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. 

North Central Goose Area— that area 

of New York State lying north of 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, 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 the south bank of the Susquehanna 

River, southwest along the south bank of 

the Susquehanna River to Interstate 

Route 88 near Harpursville, west along 

Route 88 to Route 79, northwest along 

Route 79 to Route 26 in Whitney Point, 

southwest along Route 26 to Interstate 

Route 81, north along Route 81 to the 

north shore of the Salmon River, west 

along the north shore of the Salmon 

River to the shore of Lake Ontario, 

extending generally northwest in a 

straight line to the nearest point of the 

international boundary with Canada, 

excluding the Lake Champlain Goose 

Hunting Area. 

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 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, south along Route 39 

to Route 19A (south of Castile), south 

and southeast along Route 19A to Route 

436, east along Route 436 to Route 36 

in Dansville, south along Route 36 to 

Route 17, east along Route 17 to Belfast 

Street at Bath, east along Belfast Street 

to Route 415 (West Washington Street), 

southeast along Route 415 to Route 54, 

northeast along Route 54 to Steuben 

County Route 87, northeast along Route 

87 to Steuben County Route 96, east 

along Route 96 to Steuben County Route 

114, east along Route 114 to Schuyler 

County Route 23, east and southeast 

along Route 23 to Schuyler County 

Route 28, southeast along Route 28 to 

Route 409 at Watkins Glen, south along 

Route 409 to Route 14, south along 

Route 14 to Route 224 at Montour Falls, 

east along Route 224 to Route 228 in 

Odessa, north along Route 228 to Route 

79 in Mecklenburg, east along Route 79 

to Route 366 in Ithaca, northeast along 

Route 366 to Route 13, northeast along 

Route 13 to Interstate Route 81 in 

Cortland, north along Route 81 to the 

north shore of the Salmon River to shore 

of Lake Ontario, extending generally 

northwest in a straight line to the 

nearest point of the International 

boundary with Canada, south and west 

along the International boundary to the 

point of beginning. 

Hudson Valley Goose Area—that area 

of New York State lying within a 

continuous line extending from Route 4 

at the New York-Vermont boundary, 

west and south along Route 4 to Route 

149 at Fort Ann, west on Route 149 to 

Route 9, south along Route 9 to 

Interstate Route 87 (at Exit 20 in Glens 

Falls), south along Route 87 to Route 29, 

west along Route 29 to Route 147 at 

Kimball Corners, south along Route 147 

to Schenectady County Route 40 (West 

Glenville Road), west along Route 40 to 

Touareuna Road, south along Touareuna 

Road to Schenectady County Route 59, 

south along Route 59 to State Route 5, 

east along Route 5 to the Lock 9 bridge, 

southwest along the Lock 9 bridge to 

Route 5S, southeast along Route 5S to 

Schenectady County Route 58, 

southwest along Route 58 to the NYS 

Thruway, south along the Thruway to 

Route 7, southwest along Route 7 to 

Schenectady County Route 103, south 

along Route 103 to Route 406, east along 

Route 406 to Schenectady County Route 

99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route 

99 to Dunnsville Road, south along 

Dunnsville Road to Route 397, 

southwest along Route 397 to Route 146 

at Altamont, southeast along Route 146 

to Main Street in Altamont, west along 

Main Street to Route 156, southeast 

along Route 156 to Albany County 

Route 307, southeast along Route 307 to 

Route 85A, southwest along Route 85A 

to Route 85, south along Route 85 to 

Route 443, southeast along Route 443 to 

Albany County Route 301 at Clarksville, 

southeast along Route 301 to Route 32, 

south along Route 32 to Route 23 at 

Cairo, west along Route 23 to Joseph 

Chadderdon Road, southeast along 

Joseph Chadderdon Road to Hearts 

Content Road (Greene County Route 31), 

southeast along Route 31 to Route 32, 

south along Route 32 to Greene County 

Route 23A, east along Route 23A to 

Interstate Route 87 (the NYS Thruway), 

south along Route 87 to Route 28 (Exit 

19) near Kingston, northwest on Route 


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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 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. 

Western Long Island Goose Area—

that area of Westchester County and its 

tidal waters lying 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 northern end of Sound 

Road (near Wading River), then south 

along Sound Road to North Country 

Road, then west along North Country 

Road to Randall Road, then south along 

Randall Road to State Route 25A, then 

west along Route 25A to the William 

Floyd Parkway (County Route 46), then 

south along William Floyd Parkway to 

Fire Island Beach Road, then due south 

to International waters. 

Eastern Long Island Goose Area—that 

area of Suffolk County that is not part 

of the Western Long Island Goose 

Hunting Area, as defined above. 

South Goose Area—the remainder of 

New York State, excluding New York 

City. 

Special Late Canada Goose Area—that 

area of Westchester County lying 

southeast of Interstate Route 95, and 

that area of Nassau and Suffolk Counties 

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 

(all of the county with the exception of 

that portion that is both north of U.S. 

158 and east of NC 35), Richmond (that 

portion south of NC 73 and west of U.S. 

220 and north of U.S. 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 U.S. 17 

in Midway, U.S. 17 in Midway to U.S. 

13 in Windsor, U.S. 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 U.S. 220 and north 

of U.S. 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 U.S. 17 in 

Midway, U.S. 17 in Midway to U.S. 13 

in Windsor, U.S. 13 in Windsor to the 

Hertford Co. line), Camden, Chowan, 

Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Northampton 

(that portion that is both north of U.S. 

158 and east of NC 35), Pasquotank, 

Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington. 

Pennsylvania 

Resident Canada Goose Zone: All of 

Pennsylvania except for Crawford, Erie, 

and Mercer counties and the area east of 

route SR 97 from Maryland State Line 

to the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 

194 to intersection of U.S. Route 30, 

south of U.S. Route 30 to SR 441, east 

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

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

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

New Jersey State line). 

SJBP Zone: Erie, Mercer and Crawford 

Counties except for the Pymatuning 

Zone. 

Pymatuning Zone: The area south of 

SR 198 from the Ohio State line to 

intersection of SR 18, SR 18 south to SR 

618, SR 618 south to U.S. Route 6, U.S. 

Route 6 east to U.S. Route 322/SR 18, 

U.S. Route 322/SR 18 west to 

intersection of SR 3013, SR 3013 south 

to the Crawford/Mercer County line. 

AP Zone: The area east of route SR 97 

from Maryland State Line to the 

intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to 

intersection of U.S. Route 30, south of 

U.S. Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 

to SR 743, east of SR 743 to intersection 

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

80, south of I–80 to New Jersey State 

line. 

Rhode Island 

Special Area for Canada Geese: Kent 

and Providence Counties and portions 

of the towns of Exeter and North 

Kingston within Washington County 

(see State regulations for detailed 

descriptions). 

South Carolina 

Canada Goose Area: Statewide except 

for Clarendon County and that portion 

of Lake Marion in Orangeburg County 

and Berkeley County. 

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. 

Back Bay Area: The waters of Back 

Bay and its tributaries and the marshes 

adjacent thereto, and on the land and 

marshes between Back Bay and the 

Atlantic Ocean from Sandbridge to the 

North Carolina line, and on and along 

the shore of North Landing River and 


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the marshes adjacent thereto, and on 

and along the shores of Binson Inlet 

Lake (formerly known as Lake 

Tecumseh) and Red Wing Lake and the 

marshes adjacent thereto. 

West Virginia: Same zones as for 

ducks. 

Mississippi Flyway 

Alabama: Same zones as for ducks, 

but in addition: 

SJBP Zone: That portion of Morgan 

County east of U.S. Highway 31, north 

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

231; that portion of Limestone County 

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

Madison County south of Swancott 

Road and west of Triana Road. 

Arkansas 

Northwest Zone: Benton, Carroll, 

Baxter, Washington, Madison, Newton, 

Crawford, Van Buren, Searcy, Sebastion, 

Scott, Franklin, Logan, Johnson, Pope, 

Yell, Conway, Perry, Faulkner, Pulaski, 

Boone, and Marion Counties. 

Illinois: Same zones as for ducks. 

Indiana: Same zones as for ducks, but 

in addition: 

SJBP Zone: Jasper, LaGrange, LaPorte, 

Starke, Elkhart, and Steuben Counties, 

and that portion of the Jasper-Pulaski 

Fish and Wildlife Area in Pulaski 

County. 

Iowa 

North Zone: That portion of the State 

north of U.S. Highway 20. 

South Zone: The remainder of Iowa. 

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. 

Michigan 

MVP–Upper Peninsula Zone: The 

MVP–Upper Peninsula Zone consists of 

the entire Upper Peninsula of Michigan. 

MVP–Lower Peninsula Zone: The 

MVP–Lower Peninsula Zone consists of 

the area within the Lower Peninsula of 

Michigan that is north and west of the 

point beginning at the southwest corner 

of Branch county, north continuing 

along the western border of Branch and 

Calhoun counties to the northwest 

corner of Calhoun county, then east to 

the southwest corner of Eaton county, 

then north to the southern border of 

Ionia county, then east to the southwest 

corner of Clinton county, then north 

along the western border of Clinton 

County continuing north along the 

county border of Gratiot and Montcalm 

counties to the southern border of 

Isabella county, then east to the 

southwest corner of Midland county, 

then north along the west Midland 

county border to Highway M–20, then 

easterly to U.S. Highway 10, then 

easterly to U.S. Interstate 75/U.S. 

Highway 23, then northerly along I–75/ 

U.S. 23 and easterly on 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. 

SJBP Zone is the rest of the State, that 

area south and east of the boundary 

described above. 

Tuscola/Huron Goose Management 

Unit (GMU): Those portions of Tuscola 

and Huron Counties bounded on the 

south by Michigan Highway 138 and 

Bay City Road, on the east by Colwood 

and Bay Port Roads, on the north by 

Kilmanagh Road and a line extending 

directly west off the end of Kilmanagh 

Road into Saginaw Bay to the west 

boundary, and on the west by the 

Tuscola-Bay County line and a line 

extending directly north off the end of 

the Tuscola-Bay County line into 

Saginaw Bay to the north boundary. 

Allegan County GMU: That area 

encompassed by a line beginning at the 

junction of 136th Avenue and Interstate 

Highway 196 in Lake Town Township 

and extending easterly along 136th 

Avenue to Michigan Highway 40, 

southerly along Michigan 40 through 

the city of Allegan to 108th Avenue in 

Trowbridge Township, westerly along 

108th Avenue to 46th Street, northerly 

1⁄2 mile along 46th Street to 109th 

Avenue, westerly along 109th Avenue to 

I–196 in Casco Township, then 

northerly along I–196 to the point of 

beginning. 

Saginaw County GMU: That portion of 

Saginaw County bounded by Michigan 

Highway 46 on the north; Michigan 52 

on the west; Michigan 57 on the south; 

and Michigan 13 on the east. 

Muskegon Wastewater GMU: That 

portion of Muskegon County within the 

boundaries of the Muskegon County 

wastewater system, east of the 

Muskegon State Game Area, in sections 

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

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

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

posted. 

Special Canada Goose Seasons 

Southern Michigan GMU: That 

portion of the State, including the Great 

Lakes and interconnecting waterways 

and excluding the Allegan County 

GMU, south of a line beginning at the 

Ontario border at the Bluewater Bridge 

in the city of Port Huron and extending 

westerly and southerly along Interstate 

Highway 94 to I–69, westerly along I–69 

to Michigan Highway 21, westerly along 

Michigan 21 to I–96, northerly along I– 

96 to I–196, westerly along I–196 to 

Lake Michigan Drive (M–45) in Grand 

Rapids, westerly along Lake Michigan 

Drive to the Lake Michigan shore, then 

directly west from the end of Lake 

Michigan Drive to the Wisconsin State 

line. 

Central Michigan GMU: That portion 

of the Lower Peninsula north of the 

Southern Michigan GMU but south 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, easterly 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, 

excluding the Tuscola/Huron GMU, 

Saginaw County GMU, and Muskegon 

Wastewater GMU. 


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Minnesota 

West Zone: That portion of the State 

encompassed by a line beginning at the 

junction of State Trunk Highway (STH) 

60 and the Iowa State line, then north 

and east along STH 60 to U.S. Highway 

71, north along U.S. 71 to Interstate 

Highway 94, then north and west along 

I–94 to the North Dakota State line. 

West Central Zone: That area 

encompassed by a line beginning at the 

intersection of State Trunk Highway 

(STH) 29 and U.S. Highway 212 and 

extending west along U.S. 212 to U.S. 

59, south along U.S. 59 to STH 67, west 

along STH 67 to U.S. 75, north along 

U.S. 75 to County State Aid Highway 

(CSAH) 30 in Lac qui Parle County, west 

along CSAH 30 to the western boundary 

of the State, north along the western 

boundary of the State to a point due 

south of the intersection of STH 7 and 

CSAH 7 in Big Stone County, and 

continuing due north to said 

intersection, then north along CSAH 7 

to CSAH 6 in Big Stone County, east 

along CSAH 6 to CSAH 21 in Big Stone 

County, south along CSAH 21 to CSAH 

10 in Big Stone County, east along 

CSAH 10 to CSAH 22 in Swift County, 

east along CSAH 22 to CSAH 5 in Swift 

County, south along CSAH 5 to U.S. 12, 

east along U.S. 12 to CSAH 17 in Swift 

County, south along CSAH 17 to CSAH 

9 in Chippewa County, south along 

CSAH 9 to STH 40, east along STH 40 

to STH 29, then south along STH 29 to 

the point of beginning. 

Special Canada Goose Seasons 

Southeast Zone: That part of the State 

within the following described 

boundaries: beginning at the 

intersection of U.S. Highway 52 and the 

south boundary of the Twin Cities 

Metro Canada Goose Zone; thence along 

the U.S. Highway 52 to State Trunk 

Highway (STH) 57; thence along STH 57 

to the municipal boundary of Kasson; 

thence along the municipal boundary of 

Kasson County State Aid Highway 

(CSAH) 13, Dodge County; thence along 

CSAH 13 to STH 30; thence along STH 

30 to U.S. Highway 63; thence along 

U.S. Highway 63 to the south boundary 

of the State; thence along the south and 

east boundaries of the State to the south 

boundary of the Twin Cities Metro 

Canada Goose Zone; thence along said 

boundary to the point of beginning. 

Missouri: Same zones as for ducks but 

in addition: 

Middle Zone: 

Southeast Zone: That portion of the 

State encompassed by a line beginning 

at the intersection of Missouri Highway 

(MO) 34 and Interstate 55 and extending 

south along I–55 to U.S. Highway 62, 

west along U.S. 62 to MO 53, north 

along MO 53 to MO 51, north along MO 

51 to U.S. 60, west along U.S. 60 to MO 

21, north along MO 21 to MO 72, east 

along MO 72 to MO 34, then east along 

MO 34 to I–55. 

Ohio: Same zones as for ducks but in 

addition: 

North Zone: 

Lake Erie SJBP Zone: That portion of 

the State encompassed by a line 

beginning in Lucas County at the 

Michigan State line on I–75, and 

extending south along I–75 to I–280, 

south along I–280 to I–80, east along I–

80 to the Pennsylvania State line in 

Trumbull County, north along the 

Pennsylvania State line to SR 6 in 

Ashtabula County, west along SR 6 to 

the Lake/Cuyahoga County line, north 

along the Lake/Cuyahoga County line to 

the shore of Lake Erie. 

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. 

Collins Zone: That area encompassed 

by a line beginning at the intersection of 

Hilltop Road and Collins Marsh Road in 

Manitowoc County and extending 

westerly along Hilltop Road to Humpty 

Dumpty Road, southerly along Humpty 

Dumpty Road to Poplar Grove Road, 

easterly along Poplar Grove Road to 

Rockea Road, southerly along Rockea 

Road to County Highway JJ, 

southeasterly along County JJ to Collins 

Road, southerly along Collins Road to 

the Manitowoc River, southeasterly 

along the Manitowoc River to Quarry 

Road, northerly along Quarry Road to 

Einberger Road, northerly along 

Einberger Road to Moschel Road, 

westerly along Moschel Road to Collins 

Marsh Road, northerly along Collins 

Marsh Road to Hilltop Road. 

Exterior Zone: That portion of the 

State not included in the Horicon or 

Collins Zones. 

Mississippi River Subzone: That area 

encompassed by a line beginning at the 

intersection of the Burlington Northern 

& 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. 

Rock Prairie Subzone: That area 

encompassed by a line beginning at the 

intersection of the Illinois State line and 

Interstate Highway 90 and extending 

north along I–90 to County Highway A, 

east along County A to U.S. Highway 12, 

southeast along U.S. 12 to State 

Highway 50, west along State 50 to State 

120, then south along 120 to the Illinois 

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. 


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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 

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 137, 

north along NE Hwy 137 to the Niobrara 

River, east along the Niobrara River to 

the Boyd County line, north along the 

Boyd 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. 281 at the Kansas’Nebraska State 

line, north to Giltner Road (near 

Doniphan), east to NE 14, north to NE 

66, east to U.S. 81, north to NE 22, west 

to NE 14 north to NE 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 south and 

west of U.S. 281 at the Kansas—

Nebraska State line, north to Giltner 

Road (near Doniphan), east to NE 14, 

north to NE 66, east to U.S. 81, north to 

NE 22, west to NE 14 north to NE 91, 

west along NE 91 to NE 11, north to the 

Holt County line, west along the 

northern border of Garfield, Loup, 

Blaine and Thomas Counties to the 

Hooker County line, south along the 

Thomas’Hooker County lines to the 

McPherson County line, east along the 

south border of Thomas County to the 

western line of Custer County, south 

along the Custer—Logan County line to 

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

west to NE 61, north along NE 61 to NE 

2, west along NE 2 to the corner formed 

by Garden—Grant—Sheridan Counties, 

west along the north border of Garden, 

Morrill, and Scotts Bluff Counties to the 

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 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. 

South Dakota 

Canada Geese: 

Unit 1: Statewide except for Units 2, 

3 and 4. 

Big Stone Power Plant Area: That 

portion of Grant and Roberts Counties 

east of SD 15 and north of SD 20. 

Unit 2: Bon Homme, Brule, Buffalo, 

Charles Mix, Gregory, Hughes, Lyman, 

Stanley, and Sully Counties; that 

portion of Dewey County south of U.S. 

212, that portion of Hyde County south 

of U.S. Highway 14; that portion of 

Potter County west of U.S. Highway 83; 

Fall River County east of SD 71 and U.S. 

385; and that portion of Custer County, 

east of SD 79 and south of French Creek. 

Unit 3: Clark, Codington, Day, Deuel, 

Grant, Hamlin, Marshall, and Roberts 

Counties. 

Unit 4: 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: 

Area 1: 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. 

Area 2: 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. 

Area 3: Goshen and Platte Counties. 

Area 4: Big Horn and Fremont 

Counties. 

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 of Diamond Mountain Road; 

north and east to its junction with North 

Arm Road; south and west to the 


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50246 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 164 / Thursday, August 24, 2006 / Proposed Rules 

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’’

in San Bernardino County through the 

town of Rice to the San Bernardino—

Riverside County line; south on a road 

known in Riverside County as the 

‘‘Desert Center to Rice Road’’ to the 

town of Desert Center; east 31 miles on 

I–10 to the Wiley Well Road; south on 

this road to Wiley Well; southeast along 

the Army—Milpitas Road to the Blythe, 

Brawley, Davis Lake intersections; south 

on the Blythe—Brawley paved road to 

the Ogilby and Tumco Mine Road; south 

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

U.S. 80 to the Andrade—Algodones 

Road; south on this paved road to the 

Mexican border at Algodones, Mexico. 

Southern Zone: That portion of 

southern California (but excluding the 

Colorado River Zone) south and east of 

a line extending from the Pacific Ocean 

east along the Santa Maria River to CA 

166 near the City of Santa Maria; east on 

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

crest of the Tehachapi Mountains at 

Tejon Pass; east and north along the 

crest of the Tehachapi Mountains to CA 

178 at Walker Pass; east on CA 178 to 

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

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

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

CA 127 to the Nevada border. 

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-the-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 (West): 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: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, 

Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, 

Lewis, Nez Perce, and Shoshone 

Counties. 

Zone 2: The Counties of Ada; Adams; 

Boise; Canyon; those portions of Elmore 

north and east of I–84, and south and 

west of I–84, west of ID 51, except the 

Camas Creek drainage; Gem; Owyhee 

west of ID 51; Payette; Valley; and 

Washington. 

Zone 3: The Counties of Blaine; 

Camas; Cassia; those portions of Elmore 

south of I–84 east of ID 51, and within 

the Camas Creek drainage; Gooding; 

Jerome; Lincoln; Minidoka; Owyhee east 

of ID 51; Power within the Minidoka 

National Wildlife Refuge; and Twin 

Falls. 

Zone 4: The Counties of Bear Lake; 

Bingham within the Blackfoot Reservoir 

drainage; Bonneville, Butte; Caribou 

except the Fort Hall Indian Reservation; 

Clark; Custer; Franklin; Fremont; 

Jefferson; Lemhi; Madison; Oneida; 

Power west of ID 37 and ID 39 except 

the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge; 

and Teton. 

Zone 5: All lands and waters within 

the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, 

including private inholdings; Bannock 

County; Bingham County, except that 

portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir 

drainage; and Power County east of ID 

37 and ID 39. 

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 

Lincoln Clark County Zone: All of 

Lincoln and Clark Counties. 

Remainder-of-the-State Zone: The 

remainder of Nevada. 

New Mexico (Pacific Flyway Portion) 

North Zone: The Pacific Flyway 

portion of New Mexico located north of 

I–40. 

South Zone: The Pacific Flyway 

portion of New Mexico located south of 

I–40. 

Oregon 

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, north to the 

intersection of the Benton and Lincoln 

County line, north along the western 

boundary of Benton and Polk Counties 

to the southern boundary of Tillamook 

County, 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. 

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. 

Closed Zone: All of Tillamook 

County. 

Eastern Zone: Hood River, Wasco, 

Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, Umatilla, 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSAL_3
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Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler, 

Grant, Baker, Union, and Wallowa 

Counties. 

Harney, Lake, and Malheur County 

Zone: All of Harney, Lake, and Malheur 

Counties. 

Klamath County Zone: All of Klamath 

County. 

Utah 

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, and 

Wahkiakum Counties. 

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. 06–7027 Filed 8–23–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 


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