[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 169 (Friday, August 31, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50613-50638]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4236]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 20

RIN 1018-AV12


Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed Frameworks for Late-Season 
Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; supplemental.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter Service or we) is 
proposing to establish the 2007-08 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 10, 2007.

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: Robert Blohm, Chief, or Ron W. Kokel, 
Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
(703) 358-1714.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulations Schedule for 2007

    On April 11, 2007, we published in the Federal Register (72 FR 
18328) 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 2007-08 duck hunting season, and other 
regulations for hunting migratory game birds under Sec. Sec.  20.101 
through 20.107, 20.109, and 20.110 of subpart K. Major steps in the 
2007-08 regulatory cycle relating to open public meetings and Federal 
Register notifications were also identified in the April 11 proposed 
rule.
    On June 8, 2007, we published in the Federal Register (72 FR 31789) 
a second document providing supplemental proposals for early- and late-
season migratory bird hunting regulations and the regulatory 
alternatives for the 2007-08 duck hunting season. The June 8 supplement 
also provided detailed information on the 2007-08 regulatory schedule 
and announced the Service Migratory Bird Regulations Committee (SRC) 
and Flyway Council meetings.
    On June 20 and 21, 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 2007-08 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 2007-08 regular 
waterfowl seasons. On July 23, 2007, we published in the Federal 
Register (72 FR 40194) a third document specifically dealing with the 
proposed frameworks for early-season regulations. In late August, we 
will publish a

[[Page 50614]]

rulemaking establishing final frameworks for early-season migratory 
bird hunting regulations for the 2007-08 season.
    On August 1-2, 2007, we held open meetings with the Flyway Council 
Consultants, at which the participants reviewed the status of waterfowl 
and developed recommendations for the 2007-08 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 August 
3, 2007, in developing this document. In addition, new proposals for 
certain late-season regulations are provided for public comment. The 
comment period is specified above under DATES. We will publish final 
regulatory frameworks for late-season migratory game bird hunting in 
the Federal Register on or around September 20, 2007.

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://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/reports/reports.html.

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 north central 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
    Overall, habitat conditions for breeding waterfowl in 2007 were 
similar or slightly improved relative to 2006. The total pond estimate 
(Prairie Canada and United States combined) was 7.0 <plus-minus> 0.3 
million ponds, 15 percent greater than last year's estimate of 6.1 
<plus-minus> 0.2 million ponds and 44 percent higher than the long-term 
average of 4.9 <plus-minus> 0.03 million ponds. The 2007 estimate of 
ponds in Prairie Canada was 5.0 <plus-minus> 0.3 million. This was a 13 
percent increase from last year's estimate (4.4 <plus-minus> 0.2 
million), 49 percent above the 1955-2006 average (3.4 <plus-minus> 0.03 
million), and the fourth highest on record. The 2007 pond estimate for 
the northcentral United States (2.0 <plus-minus> 0.1 million) was 19 
percent greater than last year's estimate (1.6 <plus-minus> 0.09 
million) and 29 percent above the long-term average (1.5 <plus-minus> 
0.02 million).
    In the Eastern Survey Area (strata 51-72), the boreal forests were 
generally in good or excellent condition this spring, except for a few 
drier patches in Northern Quebec that were in fair condition.
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 41.2 <plus-minus> 0.7 [SE] million birds. This was 14 
percent greater than last year's estimate of 36.2 <plus-minus> 0.6 
million birds and 24 percent above the 1955-2006 long-term average. 
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) abundance was 8.3 <plus-minus> 0.3 million 
birds, which was 14 percent above last year's estimate of 7.3 <plus-
minus> 0.2 million birds and 11 percent above the long-term average. 
Blue-winged teal (A. discors) estimated abundance was 6.7 <plus-minus> 
0.4 million birds, the third highest since 1955, 14 percent greater 
than last year's estimate of 5.9 <plus-minus> 0.3 million birds, and 48 
percent above the long-term average. Estimated abundances of gadwall 
(A. strepera; 3.4 <plus-minus> 0.2 million) and Northern shovelers (A. 
clypeata; 4.6 <plus-minus> 0.2 million) were also higher than those of 
last year (+19 percent and +24 percent, respectively) and well above 
their long-term averages (+96 percent and +106 percent, respectively). 
Estimated abundance of American wigeon (A. americana; 2.8 <plus-minus> 
0.2 million) was 29 percent greater than last year but similar to the 
long-term average. Estimated abundances of green-winged teal (A. 
crecca; 2.9 <plus-minus> 0.2 million), redheads (Aythya americana; 1.0 
<plus-minus> 0.08 million), and canvasbacks (A. valisineria; 0.9 <plus-
minus> 0.09 million) were similar to last year's, but were each >50 
percent above their long-term averages. Abundances of Northern 
shovelers, redheads, and canvasbacks were the highest ever estimated in 
this survey area, and the abundance of green-winged teal was the second 
highest estimated for this region. Estimates for Northern pintails 
(Anas acuta; 3.3 <plus-minus> 0.2 million) and scaup (Aythya affinis 
and A. marila combined; 3.5 <plus-minus> 0.2 million) were unchanged 
from those of 2006, and remained below long-term averages (-19 percent 
and -33 percent, respectively).
    The eastern survey area was restratified in 2005, is now composed 
of strata 51-72, and efforts at integrating U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service and Canadian Wildlife Service surveys are ongoing. Estimated 
abundance of mallards, scaup, scoters (black [Melanitta nigra], white-
winged [M. fusca], and surf [M. perspicillata]), green-winged teal, 
American wigeon, and buffleheads (B. albeola) were all similar to 2006 
estimates and to long-term averages. American black duck (A. rubripes, 
568,700 ducks) and ring-necked duck (Aythya collaris, 651,000 ducks) 
estimates were 14 percent and 19 percent higher than those of 2006, and 
22 percent and 27 percent above their 1990-2006 averages, respectively. 
The merganser (red-breasted [Mergus serrator], common [M. merganser], 
and hooded [Lophodytes cucullatus]) estimate of 400,100 was 27 percent 
higher than last year's, and the goldeneye (common [Bucephala clangula] 
and Barrow's [B. islandica]) count of 319,000 was 49 percent higher 
than that of 2006, but both these species were similar to their 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 
9.1 <plus-minus> 0.3 million. This is similar to the 2006 estimate of 
7.9 <plus-minus> 0.2 million. The projected mallard fall flight index 
was 11.4 <plus-minus> 1.0 million, similar to the 2006 estimate of 9.9 
<plus-minus> 0.9 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 2007, a large area of the eastern Canadian 
Arctic experienced a much colder than average spring. Delayed nesting 
activities and reduced production of waterfowl occurred

[[Page 50615]]

widely from Queen Maud Gulf to northern Quebec, and will impact goose 
and swan populations migrating through the Continent's three eastern 
Flyways. In contrast, waterfowl nesting in subarctic areas around 
Hudson and James Bays and Alaska's Yukon Delta experienced favorable 
nesting conditions. Primary abundance indices in 2007 increased from 
2006 levels for 17 goose populations and decreased for 5 goose 
populations. Primary abundance indices in 2007 for both populations of 
tundra swans increased from 2006 levels. The following populations 
displayed significant positive trends during the most recent 10-year 
period (p < 0.05): Mississippi Flyway Giant, Atlantic, and Aleutian 
Canada geese; Western Arctic/Wrangel Island snow geese; and Pacific 
white-fronted geese. Only the Eastern Population of tundra swans showed 
a significant negative 10-year trend. The forecast for the production 
of geese and swans in North America in 2007 is regionally variable, but 
production for many populations will be reduced from the excellent 
production experienced in 2006.

Waterfowl Harvest and Hunter Activity

    During the 2006-07 hunting season, U.S. hunters harvested 
13,808,100 ducks, compared to 12,510,800 in 2005-06, and they harvested 
3,579,100 geese, compared to 3,660,700 geese taken in 2005-06. The five 
most commonly harvested duck species were mallard (4,668,411), green-
winged teal (1,658,727), gadwall (1,544,792), wood duck (1,076,200), 
and blue-winged/cinnamon teal (940,965).

Review of Public Comments and Flyway Council Recommendations

    The preliminary proposed rulemaking, which appeared in the April 
11, 2007, Federal Register, opened the public comment period for 
migratory game bird hunting regulations. The supplemental proposed 
rule, which appeared in the June 8, 2007, Federal Register, discussed 
the regulatory alternatives for the 2007-08 duck hunting season. Late-
season comments are summarized below and numbered in the order used in 
the April 11 and June 8 Federal Register documents. We have included 
only the numbered items pertaining to late-season 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 June 8, 2007, Federal Register documents.

1. Ducks

    Categories used to discuss issues related to duck harvest 
management are: (A) Harvest Strategy Considerations, (B) Regulatory 
Alternatives, (C) Zones and Split Seasons, and (D) Special Seasons/
Species Management. The categories correspond to previously published 
issues/discussion, and only those containing substantial 
recommendations are discussed below.

A. Harvest Strategy Considerations

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic 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 continuation of 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, and 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 2007 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 2007 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 
breeding-population size (traditional survey area plus Minnesota, 
Michigan, and Wisconsin) is [gteqt] 5.5 million.
    Optimal AHM strategies for the 2007 hunting season were calculated 
using: (1) Harvest-management objectives specific to each mallard 
stock; (2) the 2007 regulatory alternatives; and (3) current population 
models and associated weights for midcontinent and eastern mallards. 
Based on this year's survey results of 9.05 million midcontinent 
mallards (traditional survey area plus MN, WI, and MI), 5.04 million 
ponds in Prairie Canada, and 906,900 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 June 8 Federal 
Register.
    Regarding Hunter's Choice, we support continuation of the Central 
Flyway Council's recommendation for a 3-year evaluation of the Central 
Flyway's Hunter's Choice duck bag limit. The Central Flyway's Hunter's 
Choice regulations are intended to limit harvest on pintails and 
canvasbacks in a manner similar to the season-within-a-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

[[Page 50616]]

``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) were randomly assigned to Hunter's Choice regulations and the 
remaining five States (Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, and 
Oklahoma) serve as controls (season-within-a-season regulations) as the 
evaluation proceeds. The overall duck daily bag limit is reduced from 
six to five for the Hunter's Choice States.
    While we continue to support the Central Flyway's Hunter's Choice 
experiment, we reiterate that we believe 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 Upper- 
and Lower-Regulations Committees of the Mississippi Flyway Council 
recommended that black duck harvest regulations remain unchanged for 
the 2007-08 season.
    Service Response: For the 2007-08 hunting season, we support the 
Flyway Councils' recommendations for no change in hunting regulations 
for black ducks. However, we are disappointed that progress towards 
development of an international harvest strategy stalled during recent 
discussions with the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways. It is our 
understanding that a number of key points were debated, but consensus 
could not be reached on two major issues: a suitable harvest rate 
objective and equitable allocation of the harvest between Canada and 
the United States. It remains our objective to reach final agreement on 
the international harvest strategy in time to inform decisions for the 
2008-09 regulatory cycle. To do so, we will provide a facilitated 
forum, involving representatives from the Service, the Canadian 
Wildlife Service, and the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, to reach 
consensus on the parity issue and any other remaining issues that 
currently stand in the way of completing and implementing this revised 
approach to black duck harvest management. Failure to reach agreement 
in time for next year's regulations development cycle will result in 
the Service using the best available information to recommend 
regulations necessary to bring harvests in line with the harvest 
potential of black ducks.
iv. Canvasbacks
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic and Pacific Flyway Councils 
and the Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the Mississippi Flyway 
Council recommended a full season for canvasbacks consisting of a 2-
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: Since 1994, we have followed a canvasback harvest 
strategy that if canvasback population status and production are 
sufficient to permit a harvest of one canvasback per day nationwide for 
the entire length of the regular duck season, while still attaining a 
projected spring population objective of 500,000 birds, the season on 
canvasbacks should be opened. A partial season would be permitted if 
the estimated allowable harvest was within the projected harvest for a 
shortened season. If neither of these conditions can be met, the 
harvest strategy calls for a closed season on canvasbacks nationwide.
    This year's spring survey resulted in a record high estimate of 
865,000 canvasbacks. This was 25 percent above the 2006 estimate of 
691,000 canvasbacks and 53 percent above the 1955-2006 average. The 
estimate of ponds in Prairie Canada was 5.04 million, which was 13 
percent above last year and 49 percent above the long-term average. The 
size of the spring population, together with above-average expected 
production due to the good habitat conditions results in an allowable 
harvest in the United States is 467,900 birds for the 2007-08 season. 
The expected canvasback harvest with a 1-bird daily bag limit for the 
entire season is expected to be about 120,000 birds. Available data 
indicates that adding a second canvasback to the daily bag limit is 
expected to increase harvest about 25 percent, or to approximately 
150,000 birds in the United States. The current harvest strategy has no 
provisions for daily bag limits greater than one bird. However, with 
the record high breeding population recorded this spring and the 
expected good recruitment, the strategy would project population growth 
even with a 2-bird daily bag limit. Therefore, we are in support of the 
Atlantic, Mississippi, and Pacific Flyway Councils' recommendations to 
increase the daily bag limit for canvasbacks to two birds for the 2007-
08 season. We also support the Central Flyway Council's recommendation 
to leave canvasback limits unchanged in the Central Flyway to allow 
continuation of the hunter's choice experiment in that Flyway.
    We continue to support the canvasback harvest strategy and the 
model adopted in 1994. However, this strategy was developed primarily 
due to concerns about low population levels, and as such, did not 
address circumstances encountered this year of record high abundance 
and the potential for increased daily bag limits. We believe there is 
reasonable opportunity to allow a limited increase in the daily bag 
limit this year without compromising the population's ability to 
sustain a breeding population in excess of 500,000 canvasbacks next 
spring.
    We note, however, that departures from existing harvest strategies 
are not actions that we generally condone nor will we make an exception 
in the case of the canvasback strategy next year, even if similar 
circumstances exist without an explicit modification to the existing 
strategy allowing for daily bag limits greater than one bird. Over the 
next year, we are willing to discuss the possibility of revising the 
strategy with the Flyway Councils and other interested parties. Because 
the population model has performed relatively well to date, we believe 
that the most productive area for discussion involves examination of 
the harvest management objectives of this strategy, with an emphasis on 
allowing bag limits greater than one bird. We believe that such a 
revision should carefully consider the potential ramifications of such 
changes on the expected frequency of closed and partial seasons for 
this species in the future.
    Due to relative lateness of this development, the generally earlier 
opening of duck seasons in Alaska (September 1), and the anticipated 
level of harvest in Alaska, we propose to exclude Alaska from the 
proposed increase in the daily bag limit this year, as was recommended 
by the Pacific Flyway Council, with the State of

[[Page 50617]]

Alaska's concurrence. However, we believe that Alaska should fully 
engage in review of population objectives and remain a part of the 
overall harvest strategy for this species. Additionally, explicit 
provisions for Alaska should be considered in any proposed 
modifications to the strategy that might be forthcoming from the 
Flyways for the next regulatory cycle.
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: In the July 23 Federal Register, we approved the 
incorporation of a compensatory harvest mortality model into the 
decision-making framework used in the pintail harvest strategy. Within 
that framework, the compensatory model serves as an alternative 
hypothesis regarding the effect of harvest mortality on population 
growth. The two alternative models have been assigned weights based on 
their respective abilities to predict historic pintail breeding 
populations. These weights, representing the current strength of 
evidence favoring each model, determine the influence each model has on 
the annual regulatory choice for pintails. A document describing the 
current pintail harvest strategy with these technical improvements is 
posted on the Service's Web page (http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/reports/reports.html ).
    Based on this revised strategy, along with an observed spring 
breeding population of 3.34 million, an overflight-bias-corrected 
breeding population of 4.34 million and a projected fall flight of 5.29 
million pintails, the Pintail Harvest Strategy prescribes a full season 
and a 1-bird bag 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 3.24 million in 2008, 
not considering any potential effect from continuation of the Hunter's 
Choice evaluation in the Central Flyway.
    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 Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the 
Mississippi Flyway Council recommended no changes in scaup harvest 
regulations for 2007. All the Flyway Councils reiterated their support 
for the cooperative development of a comprehensive scaup harvest 
management strategy.
    Service Response: The continental scaup (greater Aythya marila and 
lesser Aythya affinis combined) population has experienced a long-term 
decline over the past 20 years. Over the past several years in 
particular, we have continued to express our growing concern about the 
status of scaup. The 2007 breeding population estimate for scaup is 
3.45 million, essentially unchanged from the 2006 estimate, and the 
third lowest estimate on record.
    Last year, we stated that we did not change scaup harvest 
regulations with the firm understanding that a draft harvest strategy 
would be available for Flyway Council review prior to the winter 
meetings (71 FR 55654, September 22, 2006) and be in place to guide 
development of scaup hunting regulations in 2007. As part of this 
effort, we developed an assessment framework that uses available data 
to help predict the effects of harvest and other uncontrollable 
environmental factors on the scaup population. After extensive review 
that we believe resulted in substantial improvements, the final 
technical assessment was presented during the Winter Flyway Technical 
Section meetings and made available for public review in the April 11 
Federal Register. We stated then, and continue to believe, that this 
technical assessment represents an objective and comprehensive 
synthesis of data relevant to scaup harvest management and can help 
frame a scientifically-sound scaup harvest strategy. We note that 
results of the assessment suggest that a reduction in scaup harvest is 
commensurate with the current population status of scaup. Based on this 
technical assessment, a proposed scaup harvest strategy was made 
available for public review in the June 8 Federal Register. The 
proposed harvest strategy included initial Service recommendations on a 
harvest management objective and proposed Flyway-specific harvest 
allocations, as well as an additional analysis that predicted scaup 
harvest from various combinations of Flyway-specific season lengths and 
bag limits (http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/reports/reports.html). A 
number of concerns about the proposed strategy were raised by the 
Flyway Councils and States.
    In the July 23 Federal Register, we addressed these concerns and 
stated that while we continue to support the technical assessment of 
scaup harvest potential, we were sensitive to the concerns expressed by 
the Flyway Councils about the policy and social aspects of 
implementation of the proposed strategy at this time. More 
specifically, we agreed that more dialogue about the nature of harvest 
management objectives and regulatory alternatives was necessary for 
successful implementation of the strategy. Failure to agree on crucial 
policy aspects of the proposed strategy in a timely fashion increases 
the risk that more drastic regulatory measures may be necessary in the 
future, and having considered all of these concerns, we agreed that 
another year is needed to develop consensus on a harvest strategy for 
scaup. We believe that one year is sufficient time to resolve all 
outstanding issues and it is our intent to implement a strategy in 
2008. However, we further stated that our decision did not preclude the 
possibility that we would consider possible changes to scaup harvest 
regulations for the 2007-08 hunting season, based on population status.
    We remain disappointed that collectively we 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 2007-08 hunting season. Our 
decision is made with the firm understanding that a harvest strategy 
will be available for 2008-09 and our understanding that outstanding 
policy issues will be resolved and incorporated into a final strategy 
in time for adoption in June 2008. We will work with the Flyway 
Councils to resolve

[[Page 50618]]

outstanding issues and to continue ongoing cooperative efforts to 
improve the monitoring programs and databases upon which scaup 
regulatory decisions are based. These include: evaluation of potential 
biases in population estimates, expansion and improvement of population 
surveys, and a feasibility assessment of a broad-scale scaup banding 
program. Additionally, we will continue retrospective analyses of 
existing databases to assist in the identification of causal factors 
which might explain the continued scaup decline.
    In preparation for that dialogue, we reiterate our longstanding 
objections to State-specific regulations and encourage the Flyway 
Councils to focus efforts on achieving consensus around Flyway-wide 
regulatory alternatives. Secondly, we recognize that additional effort 
is necessary over the coming year to communicate the rationale for a 
scaup strategy and possible regulatory changes to the Flyways and the 
public. We intend to review progress on policy issues at the winter 
2008 SRC meeting and anticipate significant progress by that time.
vii. Mottled Ducks
    While we do not recommend any changes in mottled duck hunting 
regulations at this time, we remain concerned about mottled duck 
status, especially those in the Western Gulf Coast region of Louisiana 
and Texas. However, we commend the progress made on the management of 
mottled ducks over the past year-and-a-half, including the 
identification of two management populations and work on range-wide 
breeding surveys in Florida and the Western Gulf Coast. We are 
committed to managing the Western Gulf Coast as a single stock of 
birds, and acknowledge the challenges that are associated with a 
population boundary that includes more than one Flyway. We request that 
both the Central and Mississippi Flyways work together to consider how 
a reduction in harvest, by as much as 30 percent if necessary, can be 
achieved with regulatory changes. We are confident that the Flyways 
will be able to adequately address harvest management of mottled ducks 
as a single Western Gulf Coast population unit and we look forward to 
considering a coordinated proposal during the 2008-09 regulatory cycle. 
During the coming year, we will continue to explore methods to assess 
mottled duck population status and refine our understanding of 
population and harvest dynamics.
    Further, we recognize that the mottled duck is an integral part of 
the Central Flyway's Hunter's Choice bag-limit experiment, and we 
support continued inclusion of the mottled duck among those species 
with bag-limit restriction in the experiment as requested by the 
Central Flyway Council. However, we reiterate that if it is determined 
that further reductions in harvest, or a different approach to harvest 
reduction, are warranted at any time over the course of the Hunter's 
Choice experiment, we will make those necessary changes. Thus, the 
continued 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.
viii. Youth Hunt
    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended 
that tundra swans be added to the list of eligible species legal to 
hunt during special youth waterfowl hunts and that we allow the take of 
tundra swans during the special youth waterfowl hunt day(s) to those 
individuals holding a valid permit/tag. Further, the Council 
recommended that this proposed take occur regardless of whether the 
youth hunt day(s) are inside or outside the current tundra swan hunting 
framework.
    Service Response: Currently, tundra swans may be taken by 
individuals holding a valid permit/tag at any time during the open 
season without any additional provisions. Since tundra swan harvests 
are tightly controlled in each State where a limited number of permits 
are issued, we see no reason not to allow youth to harvest a tundra 
swan as they will still have to possess a valid tag that is issued by 
random draw prior to the hunting season. Further, we note that the 
revised (2007) Eastern Population Tundra Swan Management plan advocates 
the issuance of tundra swan hunt permits during youth waterfowl days, 
regardless of whether these youth waterfowl hunting days are inside or 
outside the current framework. Thus, we propose to approve the addition 
of tundra swans to the list of eligible species for youth swan hunts 
and to allow the take of tundra swans inside or outside the tundra swan 
hunting frameworks.

4. Canada Geese

B. Regular Seasons

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council forwarded a 
number of recommendations concerning Canada geese. First, the Council 
recommended the approval of a minor change in the delineation of High 
and Low North Atlantic Population (NAP) harvest zones in New York. They 
further recommended that Connecticut's NAP zones be adjusted to account 
for the current harvest distribution of NAP and resident Canada geese 
and to simplify zone boundaries. In Resident Population (RP) areas, the 
Council recommended the allowance of an 80-day Canada goose hunting 
season, with a 5-bird daily bag limit, and a 3-way split. In the RP 
harvest area of New York, they further recommend that the framework 
closing date be extended to March 10, beginning this fall. They 
recommended reclassifying a small portion of the Northeast Goose Hunt 
Zone in Northampton County, North Carolina, to a Southern James Bay 
Population (SJBP) Hunt Zone designation. Lastly, they recommended that 
the SJBP Canada goose harvest strategy be revised in the SJBP 
Management Plan before changes to the SJBP harvest areas or season 
liberalization are considered in both Flyways.
    The Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the 
Mississippi Flyway Council recommended a number of changes in Canada 
goose zones, seasons lengths, and bag limits for several States in the 
Flyway. These changes are an outgrowth of the evolution of Canada goose 
harvest management philosophy in the Flyway. The change in philosophy 
in the Flyway is driven by the increasing numbers of giant Canada geese 
and the diminishing importance of interior Canada geese to goose 
harvest opportunities in the Flyway. The large numbers of giant Canada 
geese in most States appear to be buffering, to some extent, hunting 
pressure on interior Canada geese. These changes will allow States to 
evaluate the potential of this buffering effect as well as the impacts 
of stable regulations on interior Canada goose populations.
    The Central Flyway Council recommended several changes for dark 
goose regulations. In the West-Tier, they recommended an increase in 
season length (from 95 to 107 days) in Colorado and an increase in bag 
limit (from 3 to 4) in Colorado and Texas. In the East-Tier, they 
recommended removing the Big Stone Power Plant area restriction in 
South Dakota.
    The Pacific Flyway Council recommended the following area, bag, and 
season length changes described below:
    1. Increase the bag limit to 6 geese per day in the California 
Northeastern and Balance of State Zones;
    2. Increase the daily bag limit for small Canada geese in the 
California

[[Page 50619]]

Balance-of-State Zone to 6 geese per day;
    3. Eliminate the closed zone of Tillamook County, Oregon, include 
the county in the NW Oregon Permit Goose Zone, and establish a daily 
bag limit of dark geese of 3 including not more than 2 cackling or 
Aleutian geese; and
    4. Revise Idaho zone designations for 4 counties, to move all parts 
of Power County from Zone 3 to Zone 5 and move Blaine and Camas 
Counties and Cassia County within Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge 
from Zone 3 to Zone 4.
    Service Response: We concur with the Atlantic Flyway Council's 
recommendations to adjust delineation of High and Low NAP harvest zones 
in New York and Connecticut to account for the current harvest 
distribution of NAP. The Atlantic Flyway Management Plan for NAP Canada 
geese allows for a two-tiered approach to harvest management for this 
population. ``High Harvest'' zones are defined as those areas within 
each State containing 70% or more of all NAP leg band recoveries, 
whereas ``Low Harvest'' areas are all other areas of each State within 
existing NAP zones. Use of High and Low harvest zones allows States to 
increase and direct harvest opportunity towards RP geese in areas where 
relatively few NAP geese will be affected. Under this revised 
delineation, New York's High and Low harvest zones would contain 
approximately 83% and 17%, respectively, of all NAP band returns, still 
well within the management plan criteria. In Connecticut, only 11 
percent of all NAP recoveries have occurred in the NAP-L zone since 
delineation (2002) of these harvest zones, and no NAP recoveries have 
occurred in the proposed area of change. Both of these changes would 
not only allow for more harvest of RP geese, but would have minimal 
impact to NAP geese.
    We also concur with the Atlantic Flyway Council's recommendations 
regarding frameworks for RP harvest areas. Resident Canada geese are 
overabundant in many areas of the Atlantic Flyway and currently number 
approximately 1.2 million birds, or nearly double the goal in the 
Atlantic Flyway Resident Canada Goose Management Plan of 650,000 geese. 
Allowance of an 80-day season, combined with the 25-day special Canada 
goose season in September, and the 2-day Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days, 
would potentially allow 107 days of harvest opportunity for RP geese, 
the maximum allowed under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Further, 
allowing 3-way splits within the regular season would provide States 
with greater flexibility for setting their seasons. All of these 
objectives are consistent with those identified in the Service's 2005 
Final Environmental Impact Statement on Resident Canada Goose 
Management (70 FR 69985, November 18, 2005). Since RP areas were first 
established in 2002 (with 70-day seasons and a 5-bird daily limit), 
available band recovery data from the first 3 seasons (2002-2004) 
indicate that harvest of migrant geese (AP, NAP and SJBP) has been 
negligible. Further, the March 10 closing date in New York will not 
adversely impact AP geese migrating north in early spring as data 
indicate that AP geese make only minimal use of the RP area in New 
York. Lastly, delays in opening framework dates will be maintained to 
avoid any harvest of migrant geese during peak fall movements (e.g., 
early to mid October in New York) to southern regions of the flyway.
    We also agree with the Atlantic Flyway Council's recommendation to 
reclassify a small portion of the Northeast Goose Hunt Zone in 
Northampton County, North Carolina, to an SJBP Hunt Zone designation. 
Northampton County currently includes portions of two Canada goose hunt 
zones--an AP zone designation and an SJBP zone designation. Over the 
last 15 years, the AP zone in North Carolina has decreased in size due 
to contemporary information regarding locations of migrant Canada goose 
flocks and population affiliation. While Northampton County does hold 
migrant geese from both the AP and SJBP, the Flyway's original intent 
in including this small portion of Northampton County in the AP zone 
occurred at a time when the AP population was reduced throughout the 
entire Flyway, and when the Service's and Flyway's goal was to provide 
maximum protection to AP geese in North Carolina. Since then, AP geese 
have rebounded from low numbers in the late 1990s, and the hunting of 
AP geese in North Carolina has been relaxed to some extent.
    We do not agree with the framework changes and season 
liberalizations proposed by the Mississippi Flyway Council to the SJBP 
harvest areas. SJBP Canada geese are managed through a management plan 
developed cooperatively by the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways. In 
recent years, the Mississippi Flyway has undergone major changes in 
their philosophical approach to Canada goose management. As a result, 
the Mississippi Flyway Council has instituted changes in their 
regulatory approach to MVP, SJBP, and RP Canada goose management. While 
the Mississippi Flyway Council believes that their 2007-08 proposals 
for SJBP regulations are consistent with the current management plan, 
the Atlantic Flyway Council believes that more dialogue is needed on 
these proposals before they can support them. Given the lack of 
consensus between the two Flyways, we do not support changes to SJBP 
regulations at this time. We encourage the two Flyways to revise the 
SJBP management plan to reflect evolving philosophies of Canada goose 
management in general.
    We concur with the Central Flyway's recommendation to increase the 
season length from 95 to 107 days for dark geese in Colorado and 
increase the daily bag limit in Colorado and Texas. The 2005-07 average 
(211,627) of mid-winter counts for the Hi-Line Population of Canada 
geese remains well above the established objective level (>85,000). 
Further, the 2005-07 average (200,821) of mid-winter counts for the 
Shortgrass Prairie Population of Canada geese also remains above the 
established population objective (150,000-200,000). Given the status of 
these populations and the established population objective levels, we 
agree that the proposed increase in season length in Colorado and the 
daily bag limit increases in Colorado and Texas are commensurate with 
the status of the populations.
    Regarding the Central Flyway Council's recommendation to remove the 
Big Stone Power Plant area restriction in South Dakota, we agree. The 
restriction was put in place in 1997 due to potential concerns related 
to the status of Eastern Prairie Population (EPP) Canada geese. These 
geese nest in the Hudson Bay Lowlands of Manitoba and concentrate 
primarily in Manitoba, Minnesota, and Missouri during winter. The 2007 
spring estimate of EPP geese was 217,500, 17 percent higher than the 
2006 estimate. Spring estimates have increased an average of 3 percent 
per year over the last 10 years. Furthermore, the estimated number of 
productive geese in 2007 increased from 2006 and reached a record-high 
level. We see no reason to continue this restriction.
    We also concur with all of the recommendations forwarded by the 
Pacific Flyway Council. We support the changes proposed and recognize 
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. We further note that Pacific Flyway white-fronted 
geese and Aleutian Canada geese are at the highest

[[Page 50620]]

population levels that have observed in the last 15 years. The proposed 
increased harvest opportunity will help address depredation concerns in 
northwest California and southwest Oregon associated with both of these 
populations. 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. The 
proposed zone boundary change in Idaho is an administrative change and 
is not expected to have any measurable impact on the goose harvest from 
these areas.

C. Special Late Seasons

    Council Recommendations: The Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations 
Committees of the Mississippi Flyway Council recommended a 3-year 
experimental late Canada goose season for a 30-county area in Indiana 
during February 1-15. The 15-day season would be designed to increase 
harvests of local giant Canada geese.
    Service Response: We concur with the Council on the creation of an 
experimental late Canada goose season in Indiana. The 2007 population 
estimate for Mississippi Flyway Giant Population Canada geese (MFGP) 
breeding in Indiana is 125,000, and the established population goal is 
80,000. While Indiana has used special September Canada goose seasons 
to control locally-breeding MFGP, complaints regarding breeding MFGP in 
Indiana continue to increase. We agree that a special late goose season 
could help control Indiana's breeding Canada goose population. 
Available collar and harvest data indicate that the proposed 
experimental area is comprised of well above the 80 percent non-migrant 
geese, as required by the current criteria.

6. Brant

    Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommends a 
50-day season with a 2-bird daily bag limit for Atlantic brant.
    Service Response: We concur with the Atlantic Flyway Council 
recommendation. The 2007 Mid-Winter Index (MWI) for Atlantic brant was 
150,559. While the Brant Management Plan prescribes a 50-day season 
with a 2-bird daily bag limit when the MWI estimate falls within 
125,000-150,000, and consideration of a 60-day season with a 3-bird 
daily bag limit when the MWI estimate is above 150,000, the outlook for 
productivity is below average due to highly variable conditions on the 
main breeding grounds. Thus, we agree with the Council that an increase 
of 20 days without the associated daily bag limit increase is a 
conservative approach to harvest management for the upcoming season.

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). Annual NEPA considerations are covered under a 
separate Environmental Assessment (EA), ``Duck Hunting Regulations for 
2007-08,'' and an August 24, 2007, Finding of No Significant Impact 
(FONSI). Copies of the EA and FONSI are available upon request from the 
address indicated under 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). A 
scoping report summarizing the scoping comments and scoping meetings is 
available either at the address indicated under ADDRESSES or on our Web 
site at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds.

Endangered Species Act Consideration

    Prior to issuance of the 2007-08 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.

[[Page 50621]]

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 mid-point 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 
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/reports/SpecialTopics/EconomicAnalysis-Final-2004.pdf.
    This year, due to limited data availability, we partially updated 
the 2004 analysis, but restricted our analysis to duck hunting. Results 
indicate that the total consumer surplus of the annual duck hunting 
frameworks is on the order of $222 to $360 million, with a mid-point 
estimate of $291 million. We plan to perform a full update of the 
analysis in 2008. Copies of the updated analysis are available upon 
request from the address indicated under ADDRESSES or from our Web site 
at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/reports/SpecialTopics/EconomicAnalysis-2007Update.pdf.
    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 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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a0e5d8d3c5c3e0c9cfd38ec4cfc98ec7cfd6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e2a79a918781a28b8d91cc868d8bcc858d94">[email protected]</span></a>.

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 http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/reports/SpecialTopics/EconomicAnalysis-Final-2004.pdf.
    This year, due to limited data availability, we partially updated 
the 2004 analysis, but restricted our analysis to duck hunting. Results 
indicate that the duck hunters would spend between $291 million and 
$473.5 million at small businesses in 2007. We plan to perform a full 
update of the analysis in 2008 when the full results from the 2006 
National Hunting and Fishing Survey is available. Copies of the updated 
analysis are available upon request from the address indicated under 
ADDRESSES or from our Web site at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/reports/SpecialTopics/EconomicAnalysis-2007Update.pdf.

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.

[[Page 50622]]

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, off-reservation trust 
lands, and ceded lands for the 2007-08 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 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 2007-08 
hunting season are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 703-712 and 16 U.S.C. 742 
a-j.

    Dated: August 22, 2007.
Todd Willens,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

Proposed Regulations Frameworks for 2007-08 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, 2007, and March 10, 2008.

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, white-fronted geese, brant (except in 
California, Oregon, Washington, and the Atlantic Flyway), and all other 
goose species except light geese.
    Light geese: snow (including blue) geese and Ross' geese.
    Area, Zone, and Unit Descriptions: Geographic descriptions related 
to late-season regulations are contained in a later portion of this 
document.
    Area-Specific Provisions: Frameworks for open seasons, season 
lengths, bag and possession limits, and other special provisions are 
listed below by Flyway.

Waterfowl Seasons in the Atlantic Flyway

    In the Atlantic Flyway States of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, 
Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and 
Virginia, where Sunday hunting is prohibited statewide by State law, 
all Sundays are closed to all take of migratory waterfowl (including 
mergansers and coots).

Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days

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

[[Page 50623]]

duck hunt but may participate in other seasons that are open on the 
special youth day. Tundra swans may only be taken by participants 
possessing applicable tundra swan permits.

Atlantic Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots

    Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 
22) and the last Sunday in January (January 27).
    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, 2 canvasbacks, 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 hooded mergansers. In States that include mergansers in 
the duck bag limit, the daily limit is the same as the duck bag limit, 
only two of which may be hooded mergansers.
    Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
    Lake Champlain Zone, New York: The waterfowl seasons, limits, and 
shooting hours shall be the same as those selected for the Lake 
Champlain Zone of Vermont.
    Connecticut River Zone, Vermont: The waterfowl seasons, limits, and 
shooting hours shall be the same as those selected for the Inland Zone 
of New Hampshire.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, 
North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, 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 27) 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: An 80-day season may be held between November 15 and 
February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split 
into 3 segments.
    Georgia: In specific areas, an 80-day season may be held between 
November 15 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season 
may be split into 3 segments.
    Maine: A 60-day season may be held Statewide between October 1 and 
January 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    Maryland:
    Resident Population (RP) Zone: An 80-day season may be held between 
November 15 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season 
may be split into 3 segments.
    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 27) 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 27), 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: An 80-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday 
in October (October 27) and March 10, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. 
The season may be split into 3 segments.
    North Carolina:
    SJBP Zone: A 70-day season may be held between October 1 and 
December 31, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.
    RP Zone: An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and 
February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split 
into 3 segments.
    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 13) 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: An 80-day season may be held between November 15 and 
February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split 
into 3 segments.
    AP Zone: A 45-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in 
October (October 27) 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,

[[Page 50624]]

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, an 80-day season may be held 
during November 15 to February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The 
season may be split into 3 segments.
    Vermont: A 45-day season may be held between the fourth Saturday in 
October (October 27), except in the Lake Champlain Zone and Interior 
Zone 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: An 80-day season may be held between November 15 and 
February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split 
into 3 segments.
    Back Bay Area: A 30-day experimental season may be held between 
December 24 and January 26 in the AP Zone, with a 2-bird daily bag 
limit.
    West Virginia: An 80-day season may be held between October 1 and 
January 31, with a 5-bird daily bag limit. The season may be split into 
3 segments.

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 50-
day season between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 22) 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 
22) and the last Sunday in January (January 27).
    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, 2 canvasbacks, 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, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 
Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, 
and Wisconsin may select hunting seasons by zones.
    In Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, 
Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, the season may be split into 
two segments in each zone.
    In Arkansas and Mississippi, the season may be split into three 
segments.

Geese

    Split Seasons: Seasons for geese may be split into three segments.
    Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits: States may select 
seasons for light geese not to exceed 107 days, with 20 geese daily 
between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 22) 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 22) and the Sunday nearest February 15 (February 17); 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 22) 
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 
22) 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 50 days. In the remainder of the State, the season may not 
exceed 40 days. The season may extend to February 15. The daily bag 
limit is 2 Canada geese.
    Illinois: The season for Canada geese may extend for 85 days in the 
North and Central Zones and 66 days in the South Zone. The daily bag 
limit is 2 Canada geese.
    Indiana: The season for Canada geese may extend for 74 days, except 
in the SJBP Zone, where the season may not exceed 50 days. The daily 
bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    Late Canada Goose Season Zone--An experimental special Canada goose 
season of up to 15 days may be held during February 1-15. During this 
special season the daily bag limit cannot exceed 5 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 70 
days (85 days in Fulton County). The season in Fulton County may extend 
to February 15. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (b) Pennyroyal/Coalfield Zone--The season may extend for 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 framework opening 
date for all geese is September 16 and the season for Canada geese may 
extend for 45 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (1) Allegan County GMU--The Canada goose season is 45 days. The 
daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (2) Muskegon Wastewater GMU--The Canada goose season is 45 days. 
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

[[Page 50625]]

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 Late Season Canada Goose Zone--A 30-day 
special Canada goose season may be held between December 31 and 
February 7. The daily bag limit may not exceed 5 Canada geese.
    Minnesota:
    (a) West Zone--
    (1) West Central Zone--The season for Canada geese may extend for 
41 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 72 
days. 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 October 16. 
The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    (d) Remainder of the State--The season for Canada geese may extend 
for 72 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.
    Wisconsin:
    (a) Horicon Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is 
September 16. The season may not exceed 92 days. All Canada geese 
harvested must be tagged. The season limit will be 6 Canada geese per 
permittee.
    (b) Collins Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is 
September 16. The season may not exceed 70 days. All Canada geese 
harvested must be tagged. The season limit will be 6 Canada geese per 
permittee.
    (c) Exterior Zone--The framework opening date for all geese is 
September 16. The season may not exceed 85 days. The daily bag limit is 
2 Canada geese.
    Additional Limits: In addition to the harvest limits stated for the 
respective zones above, an additional 4,500 Canada geese may be taken 
in the Horicon Zone under special agricultural permits.

Central Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots

    Outside Dates: Between the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 
22) and the last Sunday in January (January 27).
    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 8).
    (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 hooded mergansers. In States that include mergansers in 
the duck daily bag limit, the daily limit may be the same as the duck 
bag limit, only two of which may be hooded mergansers.
    Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15 coots.
    Zoning and Split Seasons: 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 22) and 
the Sunday nearest February 15 (February 17). For light geese, outside 
dates for seasons may be selected between the Saturday nearest 
September 24 (September 22) 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

[[Page 50626]]

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 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 107 days. The daily bag 
limit is 4 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 white-fronted geese) is 4. 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, 2 canvasbacks, 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 
22) and the last Sunday in January (January 27).
    Zoning and Split Seasons: Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, 
Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming may select hunting seasons by 
zones. Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, 
and Wyoming may split their seasons into two segments.
    Colorado, Montana, and New Mexico may split their seasons into 
three segments.
    Colorado River Zone, California: Seasons and limits shall be the 
same as seasons and limits selected in the adjacent portion of Arizona 
(South Zone).

Geese

    Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and Limits:
    California, Oregon, and Washington: Except as subsequently noted, 
100-day seasons may be selected, with outside dates between the 
Saturday nearest October 1 (September 29), and the last Sunday in 
January (January 27). 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 
Management Area, 107-day seasons may be selected, with outside dates 
between the Saturday nearest October 1 (September 29) 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 South Coast 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 
22), and the last Sunday in January (January 27). 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 white-fronted geese require Pacific Flyway Council and U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service approval and a 3-year evaluation by each 
participating State.

Brant Season

    Oregon may select a 16-day season, Washington a 16-day season, and 
California a 30-day season. Days must be consecutive. Washington and 
California may select hunting seasons by up to two zones. The daily bag 
limit is 2 brant and is in addition to dark goose limits. In Oregon and 
California, the brant season must end no later than December 15.
    Arizona: The daily bag limit for dark geese is 3.
    California:
    Northeastern Zone: The daily bag limit is 6 dark geese 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 3).
    Balance-of-the-State Zone: Limits may not include more than 6 dark 
geese per day including 6 cackling Canada geese or 6 Aleutian Canada 
geese. 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 29), 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 white-fronted geese 
may be taken with a daily bag limit of two.
    Northwest Special Permit Zone: Except for designated areas outside 
of Tillamook County, the daily bag limit of dark geese is 4 including 
not more than 2 cackling or Aleutian geese. In those designated areas 
of Tillamook County open to hunting, the daily bag limit of dark geese 
is 2.
    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

[[Page 50627]]

hunters possessing a State-issued permit authorizing them to do so. In 
a Service-approved investigation, the State must obtain quantitative 
information on hunter compliance of those regulations aimed at reducing 
the take of dusky 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 2). 
Regular dark goose seasons may be split into 3 segments within the 
Oregon and Washington quota zones.

Swans

    In portions of the Pacific Flyway (Montana, Nevada, and Utah), an 
open season for taking a limited number of swans may be selected. 
Permits will be issued by the State and will authorize each permittee 
to take no more than 1 swan per season with each permit. Nevada may 
issue up to 2 permits per hunter. Montana and Utah may only issue 1 
permit per hunter. Each State's season may open no earlier than the 
Saturday nearest October 1 (September 29). 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 9) 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 6) or upon 
attainment of 5 trumpeter swans in the harvest, whichever occurs 
earliest.
    In addition, the States of Utah and Nevada must implement a 
harvest-monitoring program to measure the species composition of the 
swan harvest. The harvest-monitoring program must require that all 
harvested swans or their species-determinant parts be examined by 
either State or Federal 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, 2008, 
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 29) 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 high-water mark, of the Assonet River 
upstream to the MA 24 bridge, and the Taunton River upstream to the 
Center St.-Elm St. bridge shall be in the Coastal Zone.
    Coastal Zone: That portion of Massachusetts east and south of the 
Central Zone.
    New Hampshire:
    Coastal Zone: That portion of the State east of a line extending 
west from 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 (Exeter-Hampton 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

[[Page 50628]]

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.
    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.
    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.

[[Page 50629]]

    East Zone: The remainder of Louisiana.
    Michigan:
    North Zone: The Upper Peninsula.
    Middle Zone: That portion of the Lower Peninsula north of a line 
beginning at the Wisconsin State line in Lake Michigan due west of the 
mouth of Stony Creek in Oceana County; then due east to, and easterly 
and southerly along the south shore of Stony Creek to Scenic Drive, 
easterly and southerly along Scenic Drive to Stony Lake Road, easterly 
along Stony Lake and Garfield Roads to Michigan Highway 20, east along 
Michigan 20 to U.S. Highway 10 Business Route (BR) in the city of 
Midland, easterly along U.S. 10 BR to U.S. 10, easterly along U.S. 10 
to Interstate Highway 75/U.S. Highway 23, northerly along I-75/U.S. 23 
to the U.S. 23 exit at Standish, easterly along U.S. 23 to the 
centerline of the Au Gres River, then southerly along the centerline of 
the Au Gres River to Saginaw Bay, then on a line directly east 10 miles 
into Saginaw Bay, and from that point on a line directly northeast to 
the Canadian border.
    South Zone: The remainder of Michigan.
    Minnesota:
    North Duck Zone: That portion of the State north of a line 
extending east from the North Dakota State line along State Highway 210 
to State Highway 23, east along State Highway 23 to State Highway 39, 
then east along State Highway 39 to the Wisconsin State line at the 
Oliver Bridge.
    South Duck Zone: The remainder of Minnesota.
    Missouri:
    North Zone: That portion of Missouri north of a line running west 
from the Illinois 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);

[[Page 50630]]

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 <greek-i>742 (Phelps County); west to 
County Road <greek-i>438 (Gosper County line); south along County Road 
<greek-i>438 (Gosper County line) to County Road <greek-i>726 (Furnas 
County line); east to County Road <greek-i>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; 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 Loup-Brown 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 Blunt-Canning 
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 California-Nevada-Oregon State lines; west along the 
California-Oregon State line to the point of origin.
    Colorado River Zone: Those portions of San Bernardino, Riverside, 
and Imperial Counties east of a line extending from the Nevada 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

[[Page 50631]]

on the Blythe-Brawley paved road to the Ogilby and Tumco Mine Road; 
south on this road to U.S. 80; east seven miles on U.S. 80 to the 
Andrade-Algodones Road; south on this paved road to the Mexican border 
at Algodones, Mexico.
    Southern Zone: That portion of southern California (but excluding 
the Colorado River Zone) south and east of a line extending from the 
Pacific Ocean east along the Santa Maria River to CA 166 near the City 
of Santa Maria; east on CA 166 to CA 99; south on CA 99 to the crest of 
the Tehachapi Mountains at Tejon Pass; east and north along the crest 
of the Tehachapi Mountains to CA 178 at Walker Pass; east on CA 178 to 
U.S. 395 at the town of Inyokern; south on U.S. 395 to CA 58; east on 
CA 58 to I-15; east on I-15 to CA 127; north on CA 127 to the Nevada 
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 Zone.

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 the Naugatuck River; north on 
the Naugatuck River to the Litchfield County line, then extending west 
along the Litchfield County line 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

[[Page 50632]]

along Route 70 to Route 206; then south along Route 206 to Route 536; 
then west along Route 536 to Route 322; then west along Route 322 to 
Route 55; then south along Route 55 to Route 553 (Buck Road); then 
south along Route 553 to Route 40; then east along Route 40 to route 
55; then south along Route 55 to Route 552 (Sherman Avenue); then west 
along Route 552 to Carmel Road; then south along Carmel Road to Route 
49; then east along Route 49 to Route 555; then south along Route 555 
to Route 553; then east along Route 553 to Route 649; then north along 
Route 649 to Route 670; then east along Route 670 to Route 47; then 
north along Route 47 to Route 548; then east along Route 548 to Route 
49; then east along Route 49 to Route 50; then south along Route 50 to 
Route 9; then south along Route 9 to Route 625 (Sea Isle City 
Boulevard); then east along Route 625 to the Atlantic Ocean; then north 
to the beginning point.
    New York:
    Lake Champlain Goose Area: That area of New York State lying east 
and north of a continuous line extending along Route 11 from the New 
York-Canada International boundary south to Route 9B, south along Route 
9B to Route 9, south along Route 9 to Route 22 south of Keeseville, 
south along Route 22 to the west shore of South Bay along and around 
the shoreline of South Bay to Route 22 on the east shore of South Bay, 
southeast along Route 22 to Route 4, northeast along Route 4 to the New 
York-Vermont boundary.
    Northeast Goose Area: The same as the Northeastern Waterfowl 
Hunting Zone, which is that area of New York State lying north of a 
continuous line extending from Lake Ontario east along the north shore 
of the Salmon River to Interstate 81, south along Interstate Route 81 
to Route 31, east along Route 31 to Route 13, north along Route 13 to 
Route 49, east along Route 49 to Route 365, east along Route 365 to 
Route 28, east along Route 28 to Route 29, east along Route 29 to 
Interstate Route 87, north along Interstate Route 87 to Route 9 (at 
Exit 20), north along Route 9 to Route 149, east along Route 149 to 
Route 4, north along Route 4 to the New York-Vermont boundary, 
exclusive of the Lake Champlain Zone.
    East Central Goose Area: That area of New York State lying inside 
of a continuous line extending from Interstate Route 81 in Cicero, east 
along Route 31 to Route 13, north along Route 13 to Route 49, east 
along Route 49 to Route 365, east along Route 365 to Route 28, east 
along Route 28 to Route 29, east along Route 29 to Route 147 at Kimball 
Corners, south along Route 147 to Schenectady County Route 40 (West 
Glenville Road), west along Route 40 to Touareuna Road, south along 
Touareuna Road to Schenectady County Route 59, south along Route 59 to 
State Route 5, east along Route 5 to the Lock 9 bridge, southwest along 
the Lock 9 bridge to Route 5S, southeast along Route 5S to Schenectady 
County Route 58, southwest along Route 58 to the NYS Thruway, south 
along the Thruway to Route 7, southwest along Route 7 to Schenectady 
County Route 103, south along Route 103 to Route 406, east along Route 
406 to Schenectady County Route 99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route 
99 to Dunnsville Road, south along Dunnsville Road to Route 397, 
southwest along Route 397 to Route 146 at Altamont, west along Route 
146 to Albany County Route 252, northwest along Route 252 to 
Schenectady County Route 131, north along Route 131 to Route 7, west 
along Route 7 to Route 10 at Richmondville, south on Route 10 to Route 
23 at Stamford, west along Route 23 to 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 point of beginning.
    West Central Goose Area: That area of New York State lying within a 
continuous line beginning at the point where the northerly extension of 
Route 269 (County Line Road on the Niagara-Orleans County boundary) 
meets the International boundary with Canada, south to the shore of 
Lake Ontario at the eastern boundary of Golden Hill State Park, south 
along the extension of Route 269 and Route 269 to Route 104 at Jeddo, 
west along Route 104 to Niagara County Route 271, south along Route 271 
to Route 31E at Middleport, south along Route 31E to Route 31, west 
along Route 31 to Griswold Street, south along Griswold Street to Ditch 
Road, south along Ditch Road to Foot Road, south along Foot Road to the 
north bank of Tonawanda Creek, west along the north bank of Tonawanda 
Creek to Route 93, south along Route 93 to 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

[[Page 50633]]

Albany County Route 301 at Clarksville, southeast along Route 301 to 
Route 32, south along Route 32 to Route 23 at Cairo, west along Route 
23 to Joseph Chadderdon Road, southeast along Joseph Chadderdon Road to 
Hearts Content Road (Greene County Route 31), southeast along Route 31 
to Route 32, south along Route 32 to Greene County Route 23A, east 
along Route 23A to Interstate Route 87 (the NYS Thruway), south along 
Route 87 to Route 28 (Exit 19) near Kingston, northwest on Route 28 to 
Route 209, southwest on Route 209 to the New York-Pennsylvania 
boundary, southeast along the New York-Pennsylvania boundary to the New 
York-New Jersey boundary, southeast along the New York-New Jersey 
boundary to Route 210 near Greenwood Lake, northeast along Route 210 to 
Orange County Route 5, northeast along Orange County Route 5 to Route 
105 in the Village of Monroe, east and north along Route 105 to Route 
32, northeast along Route 32 to Orange County Route 107 (Quaker 
Avenue), east along Route 107 to Route 9W, north along Route 9W to the 
south bank of Moodna Creek, southeast along the south bank of Moodna 
Creek to the New Windsor-Cornwall town boundary, northeast along the 
New Windsor-Cornwall town boundary to the Orange-Dutchess County 
boundary (middle of the Hudson River), north along the county boundary 
to Interstate Route 84, east along Route 84 to the New York-Connecticut 
boundary, north along the New York-Connecticut boundary to the New 
York-Massachusetts boundary, north along the New York-Massachusetts 
boundary to the New York-Vermont boundary, north to the point of 
beginning.
    Eastern Long Island Goose Area (NAP High Harvest Area): That area 
of Suffolk County lying east of a line extending due south from the New 
York-Connecticut boundary to the northernmost end of Roanoke Avenue in 
the Town of Riverhead, south on Roanoke Avenue (which becomes County 
Route 73) to State Route 25, west on Route 25 to Peconic Avenue, south 
on Peconic Avenue to County Route (CR) 104 (Riverleigh Avenue), south 
on CR 104 to CR 31 (Old Riverhead Road), south on CR 31 to Oak Street, 
south on Oak Street to Potunk Lane, then west on Stevens Lane, then 
south on Jessup Avenue (in Westhampton Beach) to Dune Road (CR 89), 
then due south to International waters.
    Western Long Island Goose Area (NAP Low Harvest Area): The 
remainder of the Long Island Waterfowl Hunting Zone, excluding the 
Eastern Long Island Goose 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 York-
Connecticut boundary.
    North Carolina:
    SJBP Hunt Zone: Includes the following counties or portions of 
counties: Anson, Cabarrus, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Halifax (that 
portion east of NC 903), Montgomery (that portion west of NC 109), 
Northampton, Richmond (that portion south of NC 73 and west of 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, 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, that 
portion of Orangeburg County north of SC Highway 6, and that portion of 
Berkeley County north of SC Highway 45 from the Orangeburg County line 
to the junction of SC Highway 45 and State Road S-8-31 and that portion 
west of the Santee Dam.
    Vermont:
    Same zones as for ducks.
    Virginia:
    AP Zone: The area east and south of the following line--the 
Stafford County line from the Potomac River west to Interstate 95 at 
Fredericksburg, then south along Interstate 95 to Petersburg, then 
Route 460 (SE) to City of Suffolk, then south along Route 32 to the 
North Carolina line.
    SJBP Zone: The area to the west of the AP Zone boundary and east of 
the following line: the ``Blue Ridge'' (mountain spine) at the West 
Virginia-Virginia Border (Loudoun County-Clarke County line) south to 
Interstate 64 (the Blue Ridge line follows county borders along the 
western edge of Loudoun-Fauquier-Rappahannock-Madison-Greene-Albemarle 
and into

[[Page 50634]]

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 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: Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Conway, Crawford, 
Faulkner, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Madison, Marion, Newton, Perry, 
Pope, Pulaski, Searcy, Sebastian, Scott, Van Buren, Washington, and 
Yell Counties.
    Illinois:
    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.
    Indiana Late Canada Goose Season Zone: That part of the state 
encompassed by the following counties: Steuben, Lagrange, Elkhart, St. 
Joseph, La Porte, Starke, Marshall, Kosciusko, Noble, De Kalb, Allen, 
Whitley, Huntington, Wells, Adams, Boone, Hamilton, Madison, Hendricks, 
Marion, Hancock, Morgan, Johnson, Shelby, Vermillion, Parke, Vigo, 
Clay, Sullivan, and Greene.
    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: 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 (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 Late Season Canada Goose Zone: Same as the South 
Duck Zone excluding Tuscola/Huron Goose Management Unit (GMU), Allegan 
County GMU, Saginaw County GMU, and Muskegon Wastewater GMU.
    Minnesota:
    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

[[Page 50635]]

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.
    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

[[Page 50636]]

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 
intersection of the Interstate Canal, west to Wyoming State line.
    North-Central Unit: The remainder of the State.
    Light Geese:
    Rainwater Basin Light Goose Area (West): The area bounded by the 
junction of U.S. 283 and U.S. 30 at Lexington, east on U.S. 30 to U.S. 
281, south on U.S. 281 to NE 4, west on NE 4 to U.S. 34, continue west 
on U.S. 34 to U.S. 283, then north on U.S. 283 to the beginning.
    Rainwater Basin Light Goose Area (East): The area bounded by the 
junction of U.S. 281 and U.S. 30 at Grand Island, north and east on 
U.S. 30 to NE 14, south to NE 66, east to U.S. 81, north to NE 92, east 
on NE 92 to NE 15, south on NE 15 to NE 4, west on NE 4 to U.S. 281, 
north on U.S. 281 to the beginning.
    Remainder of State: The remainder portion of Nebraska.
    New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion):
    Dark Geese:
    Middle Rio Grande Valley Unit: Sierra, Socorro, and Valencia 
Counties.
    Remainder: The remainder of the Central Flyway portion of New 
Mexico.
    South Dakota:
    Canada Geese:
    Unit 1: Remainder of South Dakota.
    Unit 2: Bon Homme, Brule, Buffalo, Charles Mix, Custer east of SD 
Hwy 79 and south of French Creek, Dewey south of U.S. Hwy 212, Fall 
River east of SD Hwy 71 and U.S. Hwy 385, Gregory, Hughes, Hyde south 
of U.S. Hwy 14, Lyman, Potter west of U.S. Hwy 83, Stanley, and Sully 
Counties.
    Unit 3: Bennett County.
    Texas:
    Northeast Goose Zone: That portion of Texas lying east and north of 
a line beginning at the Texas-Oklahoma border at U.S. 81, then 
continuing south to Bowie and then southeasterly along U.S. 81 and U.S. 
287 to I-35W and I-35 to the juncture with I-10 in San Antonio, then 
east on I-10 to the Texas-Louisiana border.
    Southeast Goose Zone: That portion of Texas lying east and south of 
a line beginning at the International Toll Bridge at Laredo, then 
continuing north following I-35 to the juncture with I-10 in San 
Antonio, then easterly along I-10 to the Texas-Louisiana border.
    West Goose Zone: The remainder of the State.
    Wyoming (Central Flyway Portion):
    Dark Geese:
    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 
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 California-Nevada-Oregon State lines west along the 
California-Oregon State line to the point of origin.
    Colorado River Zone: Those portions of San Bernardino, Riverside, 
and Imperial Counties east of a line extending from the Nevada border 
south along U.S. 95 to Vidal Junction; south on a road known as 
``Aqueduct Road'' in San Bernardino County through the town of Rice to 
the San Bernardino-Riverside County line; south on a road known in 
Riverside County as the ``Desert Center to Rice Road'' to the town of 
Desert Center; east 31 miles on I-10 to the Wiley Well Road; south on 
this road to Wiley Well; southeast along the Army-Milpitas Road to the 
Blythe, Brawley, Davis Lake intersections; south on the Blythe-Brawley 
paved road to the Ogilby and Tumco Mine Road; south on this road to 
U.S. 80; east 7 miles on U.S. 80 to the Andrade-Algodones Road;

[[Page 50637]]

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 Cassia except the Minidoka National 
Wildlife Refuge; 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; and Twin Falls.
    Zone 4: The Counties of Bear Lake; Bingham within the Blackfoot 
Reservoir drainage; Blaine; Camas; Bonneville, Butte; Caribou except 
the Fort Hall Indian Reservation; Cassia within the Minidoka National 
Wildlife Refuge; Clark; Custer; Franklin; Fremont; Jefferson; Lemhi; 
Madison; Oneida; 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.
    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.
    Tillamook County Management Area: All of Tillamook County is open 
to goose hunting except for the following area--beginning in Cloverdale 
at Hwy 101, west on Old Woods Rd to Sand Lake Rd at Woods, north on 
Sand Lake Rd to the intersection with McPhillips Dr, due west (~200 
yards) from the intersection to the Pacific coastline, south on the 
Pacific coastline to Neskowin Creek, east along the north shores of 
Neskowin Creeks and then Hawk Creeks to Salem Ave, east on Salem Ave in 
Neskowin to Hawk Ave, east on Hawk Ave to Hwy 101, north on Hwy 101 at 
Cloverdale, point of beginning.
    Northwest Zone: Those portions of Clackamas, Lane, Linn, Marion, 
Multnomah, and Washington Counties outside of the Northwest Special 
Permit Zone and all of Lincoln County.
    Eastern Zone: Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, 
Umatilla, Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler, Grant, Baker, Union, 
and Wallowa Counties.
    Harney, 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 Utah-Wyoming 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

[[Page 50638]]

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. 07-4236 Filed 8-30-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P


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