58152 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 20

RIN 1018–AG08

Migratory Bird Hunting; Final

Frameworks for Late-Season Migratory

Bird Hunting Regulations

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service

(hereinafter Service or we) prescribes

final late-season frameworks from

which States may select season dates,

limits, and other options for the 2000–

01 migratory bird hunting seasons.

These late seasons include most

waterfowl seasons, the earliest of which

generally commence on or about

October 1, 2000. The effect of this final

rule is to facilitate the selection of

hunting seasons by the States to further

the annual establishment of the lateseason migratory bird hunting

regulations. State selections will be

published in the Federal Register as

amendments to §§ 20.101 through

20.107, and § 20.109 of title 50 CFR part

20.

DATES: This rule takes effect on

September 27, 2000.

ADDRESSES: States should send their

season selections to: Chief, Division of

Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service, Department of the

Interior, ms 634–ARLSQ, 1849 C Street,

NW., Washington, DC 20240. You may

inspect comments during normal

business hours in room 634, Arlington

Square Building, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive,

Arlington, Virginia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jonathan Andrew, Chief, or Ron W.

Kokel, Division of Migratory Bird

Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, (703) 358–1714.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulations Schedule for 2000

On April 25, 2000, we published in

the Federal Register (65 FR 24260) a

proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20. The

proposal dealt with the establishment of

seasons, limits, and other regulations for

migratory game birds under §§ 20.101

through 20.107, 20.109, and 20.110 of

subpart K. On June 20, 2000, we

published in the Federal Register (65

FR 38400) a second document providing

supplemental proposals for early- and

late-season migratory bird hunting

regulations frameworks and the

proposed regulatory alternatives for the

2000–01 duck hunting season. The June

20 supplement also provided detailed

information on the 2000–01 regulatory

schedule and announced the Service

Migratory Bird Regulations Committee

and Flyway Council meetings.

On June 21–22, 2000, we held

meetings that reviewed information on

the current status of migratory shore and

upland game birds and developed 2000–

01 migratory game bird regulations

recommendations 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 the information related to

the development and selection of the

regulatory packages for the 2000–01

regular waterfowl seasons. On July 31,

we published in the Federal Register

(65 FR 46840) a third document

specifically dealing with the proposed

frameworks for early-season regulations.

The July 31 supplement also established

the final regulatory alternatives for the

2000–01 duck hunting season.

On August 2–3, 2000, we held

meetings, as announced in the April 25

and June 20 Federal Register, to review

the status of waterfowl. On August 22,

2000, we published a fourth document

(65 FR 51174) that dealt specifically

with proposed frameworks for the 2000–

01 late-season migratory bird hunting

regulations. On August 23, 2000, we

published a fifth document in the

Federal Register (65 FR 51496)

containing final frameworks for early

migratory bird hunting seasons from

which wildlife conservation agency

officials from the States, Puerto Rico,

and the Virgin Islands selected earlyseason hunting dates, hours, areas, and

limits for the 2000–01 season. On

September 1, 2000, we published in the

Federal Register (65 FR 53492) a sixth

document consisting of a final rule

amending subpart K of title 50 CFR part

20 to set hunting seasons, hours, areas,

and limits for early seasons. This

document establishes final frameworks

for late-season migratory bird hunting

regulations for the 2000–01 season.

Population Status and Harvest

A brief summary of information on

the status and harvest of waterfowl

excerpted from various reports was

included in the August 22 supplemental

proposed rule. For more detailed

information on methodologies and

results, complete copies of the various

reports are available at the address

indicated under the caption ADDRESSES

or from our website at http://

migratorybirds.fws.gov.

Review of Public Comments and

Flyway Council Recommendations

The preliminary proposed

rulemaking, which appeared in the

April 25 Federal Register, opened the

public comment period for migratory

game bird hunting regulations. The

supplemental proposed rule, which

appeared in the June 20 Federal

Register, defined the public comment

period for the proposed regulatory

alternatives for the 2000–01 duck

hunting season. The public comment

period for the proposed regulatory

alternatives ended July 7, 2000, and the

public comment period for late-season

issues ended on September 8, 2000.

Written comments received through

September 8, 2000, relating to the

proposed late-season frameworks are

summarized and discussed below in the

order used in the April 25 proposed

rule. Only the numbered items

pertaining to late seasons for which

written comments were received are

included. Consequently, the issues do

not follow in direct numerical or

alphabetical order. We also 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.

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. General Harvest Strategy

Council Recommendations: Beginning

with the 2000–01 season, the Atlantic,

Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway

Councils, in a joint recommendation,

recommended that the appropriate

regulatory alternative for duck-hunting

seasons in the Atlantic Flyway be based

on the status of eastern mallards and an

objective to maximize long-term harvest.

The Flyway Councils also

recommended that the regulatory choice

for all other Flyways be based on the

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 58153

status of midcontinent mallards and an

objective to maximize long-term harvest,

while maintaining population size

above the goal of the North American

Waterfowl Management Plan. Finally,

the Flyway Councils recommended

further evaluation of the implications of

this recommendation for other mallard

stocks and for other duck species.

Written Comments: The South

Carolina Department of Natural

Resources and the New Jersey Division

of Fish and Wildlife supported the

Service’s decision concerning eastern

mallards in the Atlantic Flyway. South

Carolina also supported further

assessment of the consequences of this

decision for mallard population

segments of concern, and for other duck

species.

Service Response: Since

implementation of Adaptive Harvest

Management (AHM) in 1995, the

regulatory choice for all Flyways has

been based exclusively on the status of

midcontinent mallards. This year, we

proposed two alternatives for modifying

the current AHM protocol to account for

eastern mallards. Both alternatives

allow for a different regulatory choice in

the Atlantic Flyway than in the

remainder of the country. The first

alternative involves a regulatory choice

in the Atlantic Flyway based on the

status of both eastern and midcontinent

mallards. The second alternative

involves a regulatory choice in the

Atlantic Flyway that is based

exclusively on the status of eastern

mallards. Both alternatives are expected

to increase the frequency of liberal

regulations in the Atlantic Flyway,

because eastern mallard biology and the

associated harvest-management

objective suggest allowable harvest rates

that are higher than those for

midcontinent mallards.

We support the second alternative for

the 2000–01 hunting season; i.e., that

the regulatory choice in the Atlantic

Flyway should be based exclusively on

the status of eastern mallards, and that

the regulatory choice for the remaining

Flyways should be based exclusively on

the status of midcontinent mallards. We

make this recommendation, however,

with the clear understanding that there

must be further assessment of the

consequences of this decision for

mallard population segments of

concern, and for other duck species. The

move to Flyway-specific regulations is

perhaps the most significant change in

duck harvest management since the

advent of the Flyway system. And the

decisions we make relative to eastern

mallards have important implications

for how we modify AHM to account for

western mallards and for other species

such as pintails and wood ducks.

Therefore, we suggest that the AHM

Working Group continue to place a high

priority on its investigations into

multiple-stock management.

B. Regulatory Alternatives

Council Recommendations: The

Upper-Region Regulations Committee of

the Mississippi Flyway Council, and the

Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Flyway

Councils recommended adopting the

‘‘liberal’’ alternative for the 2000–01

duck hunting season.

The Lower-Region Regulations

Committee of the Mississippi Flyway

Council recommended adoption of the

‘‘liberal’’ alternative, except that they

recommend the framework opening and

closing dates in all regulations packages

be the Saturday nearest September 23

and the Sunday nearest January 28, with

no penalties in days.

The Upper- and Lower-Region

Regulations Committees of the

Mississippi Flyway Council, and the

Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Flyway

Councils recommended, in a joint

recommendation, that the Flyway

Councils and the Service develop,

through the AHM Working Group, by

July 2002, (1) a revised set of guidelines

for making changes to AHM regulatory

options (packages), and (2) a schedule

for when changes to AHM packages will

next be considered.

Written Comments: The Wildlife

Management Institute supported the

proposed regulations.

An individual from South Carolina

requested a January 31 framework

closing date, and an individual from

Mississippi requested a February 15

framework closing date.

An individual from California

supported not increasing season lengths

or bag limits.

Service Response: The set of

regulatory alternatives for this year,

including specification of season

lengths, bag limits, and framework

dates, was finalized in the July 31

Federal Register. In establishing these

alternatives, we reiterated our desire to

maintain current framework-date

specifications through the 2002–03

hunting season, or until such time that

the Flyway Councils can develop an

approach that adequately addresses the

concerns of the Service and a majority

of States. Based on discussions to date,

we are not optimistic that such an

approach is forthcoming in the short

term. Therefore, we support the joint

Flyway Council recommendation, in

which the AHM Working Group is

charged with developing a set of

guidelines and schedule for reviewing

the current set of regulatory alternatives

by July 2002. These guidelines should

consider all facets of the regulatory

alternatives, including the desire by

some States to extend framework dates

beyond October 1–January 20.

For the 2000–01 hunting season, we

selected the ‘‘liberal’’ regulatory

alternative (as described in the July 31

supplemental proposed rule) for all

Flyways, based on 10.5 million

midcontinent mallards, 2.4 million

ponds in Prairie Canada, and 890,000

eastern mallards.

C. Zones and Split Seasons

Council Recommendations: The

Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations

Committees of the Mississippi Flyway

Council, and the Atlantic, Central, and

Pacific Flyway Councils, in a joint

recommendation, recommended that the

Service allow three zones, with two-way

splits in each zone, as an additional

option for duck season configurations in

2001–2005. In addition, the Flyway

Councils recommend that States with

existing grandfathered status be allowed

to retain that status and that Alaska be

granted greater flexibility to modify its

zone and split configurations, without

loss of grandfathered status, than is

permissible under the current

guidelines. Finally, the Committees and

Councils recommended that no changes

be made regarding the current status

and guidelines for the High Plains

Management Unit.

Written Comments: The Illinois

Department of Natural Resources and

the Wisconsin Department of Natural

Resources expressed disappointment

with the Service’s decision to maintain

the existing zone and split-season

guidelines. Illinois and Wisconsin

supported the joint Flyway Council

recommendation allowing three zones,

with two-way splits in each zone, as an

additional option for duck season

configurations in 2001–2005.

The LaCrosse County Conservation

Alliance of Wisconsin and several

individuals from Wisconsin supported

the creation of a third zone in

Wisconsin and the ability to split the

season.

Service Response: Zones and split

seasons are ‘‘special regulations’’

designed to distribute hunting

opportunities and harvests according to

temporal, geographic, and demographic

variability in waterfowl populations.

These regulations are not intended to

substantially change the pattern of

harvest distribution among States

within a Flyway, nor should these

options detrimentally change the

harvest distribution pattern among

species or populations at either the State

or Flyway level. Most States began to

58154 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

experiment with zoning after formal

evaluation criteria were put into place

in 1977. By 1985, 36 States used zones

or 3-way split seasons for duck seasons.

To address the proliferations in these

seasons, in 1985 we placed a

moratorium on further use of these

special regulations until a review could

be completed. In 1990, we completed a

comprehensive review of these special

regulations. This review of over 40

assessments of splits and zones had

equivocal results. The vast majority of

these experiments failed to provide

evidence of significant impacts on duck

populations. However, we found that

most studies were inconclusive because

of poor selection and unreliable

estimation of response variables, lack of

statistical tests to differentiate between

real and perceived changes, and an

inability to establish adequate

experimental controls.

Based on this review, we established

a long-term strategy for the use of zones

and split options. The purpose of this

strategy was to limit both the number of

options and the frequency that

modifications could be made. These

controls or guidelines were deemed

necessary to preserve and enhance our

ability to regulate and evaluate harvest

pressure on ducks. Changes in seasons

would be limited to 5-year intervals,

with the first ‘‘open season’’ in 1991, the

second in 1996, and the third will be

next year.

When the zone/split-season

guidelines were established in 1990,

most States with zone/split

arrangements were using one of the

three options established. Some States,

however, had completed experiments

with different zone/split arrangements

and had fulfilled the reporting

requirements for these experiments.

These arrangements included three,

four, and five zones with two-way splits

in each zone. These States were offered

a one-time chance to grandfather those

arrangements, with the provision that if

they ever wanted to change them, their

zoning arrangement would have to

conform to one of the three options

offered under the guidelines.

In 1996, the guidelines were modified

to allow greater flexibility in season

structures within the three options

established in 1990. We maintain that

the current guidelines achieve their

intended objectives, while allowing

States sufficient flexibility to address

differences in physiography, climate,

etc., and therefore, believe that the

guidelines need not be changed.

D. Special Seasons/Species Management

i. Black Ducks

Council Recommendations: The

Atlantic Flyway Council recommended

that all Atlantic Flyway States be

allowed to offer one black duck in the

daily bag limit for up to 60 days,

provided each State achieve a minimum

25 percent harvest reduction from the

1977–81 base period.

Written Comments: An individual

from Delaware expressed concern about

population trends of interior nesting

and wintering black ducks in the

Mississippi Flyway and questioned the

continued harvest of these birds.

Service Response: We believe that the

current level of harvest reduction on

black ducks, achieved since the 1983

Environmental Assessment, should be

maintained as a conservation measure.

The harvest strategy has been supported

and maintained for many years by the

Atlantic Flyway Council and, in the

absence of a revised strategy, is

consistent with our objective to improve

the status of black duck populations.

Black ducks continue to be a species of

concern and remain below the

population objective. We believe that a

conservative approach to harvesting

black ducks is appropriate until an

international harvest strategy is agreed

upon between Canada and the United

States. We would encourage the Atlantic

and Mississippi Flyway Councils to

work cooperatively with the Service and

Canada to develop and implement an

international harvest strategy as soon as

possible.

Regarding the Mississippi Flyway, we

recognize the problems associated with

interior breeding and wintering black

ducks and continue to monitor their

status. These concerns will be

considered within the international

harvest strategy currently being

developed.

ii. Canvasbacks

Council Recommendations: All four

Flyway Councils recommended a daily

bag limit of one canvasback in the 2000–

01 hunting season as prescribed by the

Canvasback Harvest Strategy.

Service Response: We continue to

support the harvest strategy adopted in

1994. However, harvest data collected

since the implementation of the strategy

indicate that observed harvests in the

United States and Canada tend to be

higher than those currently used in the

population model, some of which were

based on data collected several decades

ago. We believe that more contemporary

estimates would better reflect current

harvest pressure. Therefore, as we stated

last year and consistent with our April

proposal (65 FR 24264), we have

replaced the old harvest values with the

average of harvests observed during the

1994–97 hunting seasons. Even when

accounting for the higher harvest levels,

current population and habitat status

suggest that a daily bag limit of one

canvasback per day during the 2000–01

season will result in a harvest within

levels allowed by the strategy. We will

continue to monitor the harvest strategy

performance.

iii. Pintails

Council Recommendations: All four

Flyway Councils recommended a daily

bag limit of one pintail in the 2000–01

hunting season as prescribed by the

Interim Pintail Harvest Strategy.

Service Response: We recommend the

continued use of the interim harvest

strategy for a fourth year. Considering

the current status of the population (2.9

million breeding birds) and the

expected recruitment rate (0.76), the

strategy prescribes a bag limit of one

pintail for all Flyways under the liberal

alternative.

iv. Scaup

Council Recommendations: The

Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations

Committees of the Mississippi Flyway

Council, and the Atlantic and Central

Flyway Councils recommended a daily

bag limit of three scaup for the 2000–01

hunting season.

The Pacific Flyway Council

recommended a daily bag limit of four

scaup in the Pacific Flyway for the

2000–01 hunting season.

Service Response: In 1999, we

restricted the daily bag limit of scaup to

three in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and

Central Flyways and to four in the

Pacific Flyway and indicated we would

work with the Flyway Councils to

develop a scaup harvest management

strategy. Only limited progress toward a

strategy has been made, and further

technical work is needed; it is too early

to judge the effects of the harvest

restriction with only 1 year’s data. This

year, we propose to continue the

restrictions put in place last year and

ask the Flyway Councils to direct their

technical committees to continue dialog

with us, building toward a consensus

strategy to guide harvest management.

4. Canada Geese

Council Recommendations: The

Upper-Region Regulations Committee of

the Mississippi Flyway Council

recommended a number of changes in

season lengths, bag limits, zones, and

quotas for Canada geese in Wisconsin,

Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois,

primarily to allow a small increase in

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 58155

the harvest of Mississippi Valley

Population (MVP) Canada geese.

The Lower-Region Regulations

Committee of the Mississippi Flyway

Council also recommended several

changes in season lengths, quotas, etc.,

primarily to allow a small increase in

the harvest of MVP Canada geese. The

Committee also recommended a 23-day

season statewide in Arkansas, a 7-day

increase in the west zone. The previous

16-day season and the remainder of the

State closure were self-imposed by the

State. All of these changes are based on

improved population status and current

management plans. The Committee

further recommended that in Tennessee,

in lieu of tagging in the Kentucky/

Barkley Lakes Zone, all geese harvested

must be taken to designated check

stations and checked officially.

The Pacific Flyway Council made

several recommendations for Canada

geese. The Council recommended that

the Flyway-wide prohibition of take of

Aleutian Canada geese be removed if the

Service completes the delisting process.

Existing special management areas in

Oregon and California, closed to take of

Canada geese to protect Aleutians and

reduce the harvest of cackling geese,

will be maintained until a population

objective and harvest strategy are

established by the Council. The Council

also recommended that, in a Serviceapproved investigation, the State must

obtain quantitative information on

hunter compliance (mandatory check

stations) of those regulations aimed at

reducing the take of dusky Canada

geese. Lastly, the Council recommended

some minor modifications to the

cackling Canada goose frameworks.

Service Response: We concur with the

recommended changes in the

Mississippi Flyway. Most of these

changes are based on the improved

population status of MVP geese and are

consistent with the current management

plan.

Regarding the recommendation from

the Pacific Flyway Council on Aleutian

Canada geese, since delisting is not final

at this time, we do not see how the

removal of all restrictions on the take of

Aleutian Canada geese could be

accomplished this year. In addition,

administrative concerns would also

need to be addressed. We note,

however, that we support the general

intent of this recommendation, which is

not to increase the harvest level of

Aleutian Canada geese, but to remove

the take prohibition in those portions of

the affected States where Aleutian

Canada geese are only infrequently

encountered. However, we do not

believe that the changes can be

accommodated during this regulations

cycle. We also appreciate the timely and

efficient manner in which the Pacific

Flyway has completed the management

plan for this species. This plan will

serve as an excellent road-map to the

future for this species.

Regarding dusky Canada geese, we

understand the importance of

maintaining hunting opportunities in

the dusky Canada goose quota zones in

Washington and Oregon. Additionally,

we recognize this is a shared

responsibility and one the States and

Federal Government have actively

supported since the inception of the

quota zones. However, we want to be

clear about the need to monitor the

harvest for any goose season to be held

in this area. We believe that both the

Flyway Council and the Service are in

agreement that monitoring is a

necessary condition of these seasons,

based on the recommendation

submitted by the Pacific Flyway

Council. We intend to continue to work

with the Pacific Flyway Council and the

affected States to avoid season closures.

However, States must agree to promptly

close all goose seasons in this zone

should monitoring programs be

eliminated for any reason.

We concur with the recommended

framework modifications for cackling

Canada geese.

C. Special Late Seasons

Council Recommendations: The

Atlantic Flyway Council recommended

a change to the southern boundary of

the late season Coastal zone boundary in

Massachusetts and a change to the

boundary of the late season special

Canada goose southern zone in New

Jersey.

The Upper-Region Regulations

Committee of the Mississippi Flyway

Council recommended that the

experimental late season for Canada

geese in the Central Michigan Goose

Management Unit be continued for 1

year to allow completion of data

analysis and additional data collection.

Service Response: We concur with all

the recommended changes.

5. White-Fronted Geese

Council Recommendations: The

Central Flyway Council recommended

that the season length for Mid-continent

White-fronted geese in the East Tier be

95 days, except for the Eastern Goose

Zone of Texas where it would be

unchanged (86 days).

Service Response: We believe that

equitable hunting opportunity between

the Mississippi Flyway and the East

Tier of the Central Flyway is

appropriate because Mid-continent

white-fronted geese are managed as one

population. This equitable approach is

consistent with the ‘‘base regulations’’

identified in the cooperative

management plan. Finally, in the

absence of any guidance for

liberalizations, we believe that this level

of liberalization should be viewed as the

‘‘liberal alternative’’ beyond the ‘‘base

regulations’’ identified in the

management plan for these harvest

areas. Thus, we do not support the

proposed increase of 9 days.

7. Snow and Ross’ Geese

Council Recommendations: The

Atlantic Flyway Council recommended

that following the close of the duck

season, New Jersey be allowed

additional splits in the coastal zone

snow goose season to accommodate a

special hunt at Forsythe National

Wildlife Refuge impoundments. They

further recommended that the

experimental seasons established last

year in Maryland and Delaware be

allowed to continue for another year.

The Upper- and Lower-Region

Regulations Committees of the

Mississippi Flyway Council, and the

Atlantic and Central Flyway Councils,

recommended that baiting regulations

for light geese, when all other

waterfowl, except falconry, seasons are

closed and during the Light Goose

Conservation Order during the 2000–01

season (prior to completion of the

Environmental Impact Statement [EIS]),

be the same as those currently

implemented for doves.

Service Response: We endorse the

request by New Jersey to allow

additional split seasons in their coastal

zone following the close of their duck

season. Last year, we approved an

increase in the number of split seasons

in Delaware and Maryland for the 1999–

00 season to provide temporary relief.

We agreed to explore its effectiveness in

reducing agricultural damage and

wetland degradation by requiring an

evaluation prior to this year’s approval.

Also, we asked both States to seek

landowner support by allowing hunters

access on their fields to hunt snow

geese. We believe that New Jersey

should be afforded the same

opportunity to determine the

effectiveness of this measure to reduce

wetland degradations and agricultural

damages. This provision is experimental

and granted for 1 year only, pending an

evaluation. We further support the

request from Maryland and Delaware to

continue a multiple split season format

for another year on an experimental

basis in lieu of an evaluation report.

Regarding baiting regulations for light

geese, baiting regulations for the ‘‘light

goose only’’ portions of the regular

58156 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

season and the Light Goose

Conservation Order were covered under

special rules published February 1999.

Although these original rules were

withdrawn in May 1999, they were

subsequently reinstated without change

by Congress and signed into law in

November 1999. Known as the Arctic

Tundra Habitat Emergency Conservation

Act, this law ensures that population

control measures for Mid-continent light

geese will remain in place without

change during the preparation of the

EIS. However, the provisions of the

February 1999 Conservation Order

specified area closures and did not

include any changes to the current

baiting regulations. Additionally, the

Act passed in November reinstated the

February 1999 Conservation Order

rather than enabling a conservation

order. Because of this, changes to the

Conservation-Order provisions cannot

be made until after the completion of

the EIS. Therefore, we believe that

changes in baiting regulations for light

geese should more appropriately be

addressed in the comprehensive EIS

process that is currently under way.

8. Swans

Council Recommendations: The

Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations

Committees of the Mississippi Flyway

Council, and the Atlantic, Central, and

Pacific Flyway Councils, in a joint

recommendation, asked that States with

Eastern Population (EP) tundra swan

hunting seasons be allowed to issue a

second swan permit to interested

resident and nonresident hunters from

permits remaining after the initial

drawing.

The Pacific Flyway Council

recommended no change, with one

exception, from last year’s frameworks

for tundra swan seasons in the Pacific

Flyway. The single change proposed is

for a 1-week extension in season

framework dates in Utah.

Written Comments: The Trumpeter

Swan Society (TTSS) voiced concerns

about the lack of interim management

strategies to address the longstanding

winter distribution problems facing the

Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) of

trumpeter swans. TTSS also questioned

the plan to include the Bear River

National Wildlife Refuge in Utah in the

area open to tundra swan hunting

during the three-year experiment.

Additionally, TTSS requested

clarification of the objectives for the

three-year experiment proposed for

Utah. In the discussion related to these

issues, TTSS made numerous

statements and assertions that relate to

the past history and the present

understanding of the management

situation for RMP trumpeter swans in

the Pacific Flyway.

The Biodiversity Legal Foundation

(BLF) suggested that their recent

petition to list a portion of the RMP of

trumpeter swans as an endangered or

threatened species (under the distinct

population segment guidelines) be

considered in the decision to allow

swan hunting in Utah. The BLF pointed

to the drought conditions that have

existed throughout much of the west

this year as posing an increased risk to

trumpeter swans throughout the region

and therefore the limited harvest of

trumpeter swans proposed for the

tundra swan seasons in Utah

particularly, should not be permitted.

The BLF also raised a number of issues

pertaining to specific hunting practices

on Bear River National Wildlife Refuge.

The Fund for Animals (The Fund) and

the BLF, in a joint subsequent letter,

reiterated many of the points made by

the BLF and added several comments

regarding the Service’s role and

responsibility under various legislation

for migratory bird conservation. The

BLF in a subsequent letter indicated a

general concern over trumpeter swan

conservation efforts and conflicts with

swan hunting in the contiguous U.S.,

including the Central and Atlantic

Flyways. The BLF pointed out that

tundra swan seasons were occurring in

the Central and Atlantic Flyways

without requiring trumpeter swan

monitoring programs. The BLF believes

that all trumpeter swans in the

contiguous U.S. should be designated as

threatened or endangered and that they

must receive special protection and

nurturing.

Seven hundred and twenty-two

individuals wrote to object to the

hunting of trumpeter swans.

Service Response: We support the

Joint Flyway Recommendation that

would allow States with EP tundra swan

seasons to issue a second hunting

permit to hunters, if permits from the

initial drawing were unused. This

issuance of a second permit would be

allowed only if there are no outstanding

requests for additional permits and with

the concurrence of participating States.

In accordance with the Flyways’

approved Hunt Plan, any unused

portion of these permits is available for

temporary redistribution to participating

States upon request. Issuance of a

second permit to a hunter by a State is

subject to evaluation to determine

success rates and must be identified in

the State’s annual report to the Service.

Regarding the general swan seasons in

the Pacific Flyway, we recently

addressed this issue in an

environmental assessment to reconcile

conflicting strategies for managing two

swan species in the Pacific Flyway. The

assessment evaluated the following

strategies: (1) To enhance the winter

distribution of the less abundant RMP

trumpeter swans (Cygnus buccinator) by

severely restricting or eliminating

tundra swan (C. columbianus) hunting,

or both, in portions of the Pacific

Flyway currently open to tundra swan

hunting; and (2) to optimize hunting of

the more numerous and widely

distributed Western Population (WP) of

tundra swans in the Pacific Flyway by

not further restricting hunting seasons

to benefit the winter distribution of

trumpeter swans. The preferred

alternative identified in the EA

proposed a balance between these two

competing strategies by continuing on

an operational basis a general swan

season in portions of Montana and

Nevada and proposing a new 3-year

experiment in Utah. The experimental

hunt in Utah would be based on further

reductions in the swan season that

would allow the continued taking of any

species of swan (Cygnus sp.) subject to:

(1) A limited, but biologically

acceptable, quota on the take of

trumpeter swans, and (2) modification

of the already limited take and restricted

seasons on tundra swans to enhance the

likelihood that trumpeter swans would

be successful in expanding their winter

range; and (3) a program to monitor the

effectiveness of this action. We would

continue with our participation in the

State-Federal effort to enhance the

winter distribution of trumpeter swans.

More specifically, implementation of

the preferred alternative would allow us

to continue to establish a hunting

season on all swan species in designated

portions of Montana and Nevada, within

the Pacific Flyway. Current constraints

imposed upon these swan hunting

seasons would be continued, and

specific areas open to swan hunting in

Montana and Nevada would remain.

Additionally, we would continue to

require the monitoring of swan harvests,

by mail in Montana, and by examination

in Nevada, with appropriate provisions

for season closure to be implemented by

States should assigned quotas of

trumpeter swans be reached.

In Utah, we would continue the area

and time restrictions imposed since

1995 while also implementing further

limitations on areas where tundra swan

hunting is allowed. More specifically,

we would close all lands north of the

Bear River National Wildlife Refuge

(Bear River NWR) to all swan hunting in

Utah, reduce the quota on allowable

take of trumpeter swans in Utah from 15

to 10, and reduce the number of tundra

swan permits issued in Utah from 2,750

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 58157

to 2,000. We would also extend the

framework closing date from the first to

the second Sunday in December.

In the EA, comments identified the

potential impact of harvest in Utah as

the main issue regarding appropriate

management action needed to address

the winter distribution problem of RMP

trumpeter swans. These comments

indicated that there is a wide disparity

of opinion on the actual impact of this

limited harvest on the redistribution of

RMP trumpeter swans. Given the

uncertainty and disparate views on this

particular issue, the preferred

alternative establishes a new 3-year

experiment to assess the impacts of

these further restrictions in Utah.

During this time, we would request the

States, through the Pacific Flyway

Council, other Federal agencies, and

interested non-governmental

organizations, to participate with the

Service in development of a

comprehensive implementation plan for

addressing specific issues regarding

RMP trumpeter swan management in

this region. We will complete our

portion of this implementation plan

during 2001, and will request the other

cooperators to complete their portions

no later than July 2002. This plan and

results from the new 3-year experiment

will serve as the basis for our evaluation

of this new experiment.

Additionally, we will assume a

leadership role in attempting to enhance

trumpeter swan status and breeding

distribution within the Pacific Flyway,

through increased efforts directed at

establishment of breeding trumpeter

swans in suitable habitats throughout

the Pacific Flyway. We would continue

to support cooperative efforts to address

the winter distribution issues by

working with the States and other

partners. We would also support limited

winter capture and translocation on a

case-by-case basis when circumstances

developed that seemed to warrant such

activity. We do not plan to employ

winter translocations as the main

method to address the winter

distribution problem of RMP trumpeter

swans, but rather as a method to limit

risk to swans from direct over-winter

mortality, if necessary.

While we recognize that the Pacific

Flyway Council does not believe

adequate data exist to support the

restrictions in Utah, others believe the

data support even greater restrictions

within the States. We urge the Council

to view the next 3-year experimental

period in Utah as an opportunity to

improve this situation. We trust the

Council will work with us to complete

this plan and begin to implement

actions that will help address this

problem so that we are not faced with

a similar situation in 3 years.

Regarding the comments by TTSS,

BLF, The Fund, and others, we have

responded to the general question of

swan hunting and tundra swan hunting

related to the increasing number of

trumpeter swans in our recent EA. In

general, we continue to support tundra

swan hunting and trumpeter swan

restoration efforts. We do not view these

activities as mutually exclusive and, as

indicated, do not view the occasional

harvest of a trumpeter swan in existing

tundra swan seasons as sufficient reason

for suspension of tundra swan hunting.

Conversely, we remain committed to

limiting the take of trumpeter swans in

these seasons and modifying these

seasons to protect trumpeter swan

populations, but not individuals. We

want to make clear that trumpeter swans

in North America have been increasing

steadily both in numbers and

geographic distribution during the past

several decades. Further, we have

recognized three populations of

trumpeter swans for management

purposes in North America and each of

these populations is following this same

trend of steady numeric increases

during the past several decades. We

have acknowledged and discussed in

considerable detail in all documents

pertaining to this issue the fact that

these general population trends do not

apply equally to all components of the

three recognized populations.

With regard to specific points raised

by TTSS, we note that our current EA

does contain three strategies for

addressing some of the management

challenges faced by RMP trumpeter

swans. These actions include: (1)

Continued hazing and habitat

modification to make the current

wintering concentration area less

attractive; (2) active reintroduction of

trumpeter swans throughout the Pacific

Flyway to both enhance numbers and

develop new migration pathways as

have been recently accomplished with

releases in Wyoming and (3) cessation

of the winter feeding program at Red

Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.

Beyond these actions, we do not believe

interim strategies should be employed

without benefit of completing the

proposed implementation plan. We

believe the proposed implementation

plan will provide additional activities

that will constructively address this

situation and plan to implement these

strategies as soon as possible. However,

we do not believe interim actions in

advance of the proposed plan are likely

to improve the current situation.

Objectives for the 3-year experimental

season proposed for Utah are to: (1)

Determine if closing additional areas in

Utah to swan hunting increases the

number of trumpeter swans passing

through the State, and (2) determine the

temporal and geographic distribution of

trumpeter swans that are taken in the

modified tundra swan season. We note

that the new area proposed for closure

is the area where the majority of (nontranslocated) trumpeter swans were

harvested during the past 5-year

experiment. We believe that the limited

evidence available at this point suggests

that trumpeter and tundra swans may

well use slightly different habitats when

present in Utah and thus further

experimentation is warranted to

evaluate this possibility.

Additionally, we do not agree with

the position that tundra swan hunting

activities at Bear River NWR have

precluded either consideration or actual

use of habitats, on the refuge or

elsewhere in Utah, to help address the

winter distribution of RMP trumpeter

swans. Releases at Fish Springs National

Wildlife Refuge in Utah were conducted

and failed due to disease problems, not

hunting activities, during the past 5-year

experiment. Like all National Wildlife

Refuges with hunting programs, Bear

River NWR contains substantial areas of

habitat that are not open to hunting and

provides sanctuary throughout the

season. In addition, we note that most

of the State has been closed to all swan

hunting. Tundra swans have not altered

their migratory behavior through Utah

since the reinstitution of hunting in

1962 and we do not necessarily see a

direct connection between hunting

activities and migratory behavior in

swans. We are skeptical that small

numbers of trumpeter swans moving to

and through Utah will ever lead to a

meaningful shift in the winter

distribution of RMP trumpeter swans,

unless other management strategies are

also employed that lead to increased

dispersal. We would also note that, as

desirable as it is to all concerned parties

believe it is that the existing

concentration be altered, no mechanism

to accomplish this is apparent, and most

efforts that have been tried to date have

met with limited success at best. The

reality of the situation is that we do not

know how to ‘‘make’’ these swans

migrate to Utah, or to any other area.

This reality is the basis for our preferred

approach of establishing new trumpeter

swan breeding concentrations with

alternative migratory strategies. We

believe this approach is one that has

proven successful with swans and other

waterfowl species throughout North

America in the past. Further, we

question the degree of threat posed by

58158 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

the current limited winter distribution

to RMP trumpeter swans in general. We

note that only one die-off has occurred

during the past twelve years, and the

RMP of trumpeter swans has continued

to increase throughout this period.

Many of the comments by the BLF

and The Fund are addressed above.

However, three specific points are not:

(1) The possibility that a portion of the

RMP trumpeter swans should be

considered as a distinct population

segment and would qualify for

protection under the Endangered

Species Act; (2) that current drought

conditions existing throughout much of

the western U.S. have created an

emergency situation that would

preclude the limited trumpeter swan

harvest proposed for Utah this year; and

(3) that the Service has failed to

adequately explain how they have

determined the proposed regulations are

consistent with trumpeter swan

conservation.

With regard to the first point, we have

not historically recognized the group of

trumpeter swans nesting in the tristate

region of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho

as a distinct and separate manageable

entity within RMP trumpeter swans.

The information provided by the BLF

will be evaluated along with other

existing information under our normal

procedures for dealing with listing

petitions under the Endangered Species

Act. Should this review result in an

alteration of current Service policy, we

would reevaluate our current season

proposal in light of the findings of such

a review. At this point, we cannot

prejudge this action, and therefore will

proceed based on the current

assessment and definition of trumpeter

swan populations, one that does not

recognize this group as a separate entity.

The RMP of trumpeter swans is

increasing at a rate of 6 percent a year

and currently numbers about 3,500, the

highest level since the beginning of

monitoring. In addition, despite a

decline that was primarily associated

with the cessation of winter feeding in

1992 in the area identified by the BLF

as a separate entity, numbers in this

region remained relatively stable during

the preceding 5-year experiment (1995–

2000). This allowed a limited harvest of

trumpeter swans in Montana, Utah, and

Nevada. Based on the experience of the

past 5 years, we do not believe that the

continuation of hunting, with further

restrictions both in area and total swan

harvest in Utah, poses a threat to RMP

trumpeter swans, nor would these

regulations pose a serious jeopardy to

the proposed distinct population

segment, should the review find that

this group should be so designated.

With regard to the current drought

situation in the West, we recognize once

more that waterfowl distributions and

migratory behavior are often impacted

by weather events. Migratory birds are

among the most resilient groups of

animals in their ability to react to such

changing conditions. We see no

imminent threat in this year’s

conditions that would lead us to view

this situation as more serious than in

previous years. The controls put in

place on the seasons will result in

season closure if 10 trumpeter swans are

harvested in Utah. Should weather

events result in an unexpected mass

movement of trumpeter swans into the

open hunt area, we believe that the 10

bird closure limit will ensure that no

harm is suffered by the population as a

whole.

With regard to the last point, we

believe that in both our evaluation

report of the 5-year experiment and the

EA on this subject, we have carefully

considered the possible population

impacts of the limited harvest of

trumpeter swans. Clearly, the fact that

numbers of RMP trumpeter swans

continued to increase during the 5-year

experiment supports our position that

such limited harvest poses no risk to the

population as a whole. Additionally, the

component of RMP trumpeter swans

nesting in the Montana, Wyoming, and

Idaho area remained relatively stable

during this period, suggesting no

negative impact of the limited harvest.

If we assume that the various

components of the population would be

proportionally distributed in any

harvest, we would estimate that only

about two trumpeter swans from this

region would likely be included in the

annual harvest, even if the quotas were

reached in both Utah and Nevada. We

do not believe such an annual loss poses

a risk to the population, or to any

segment within the population, that has

been suggested to date.

Finally, we continue to support

conservation programs that promote

trumpeter swan restoration to portions

of their historic range in the contiguous

U.S. Current trumpeter swan restoration

programs in the Central and Mississippi

Flyways are being guided by the

Cooperative Management Plan for the

Interior Population of trumpeter swans.

This plan acknowledges potential

conflict with tundra swan hunting

programs; however, incidental take of

trumpeter swans has not been shown to

negatively impact ongoing restoration

programs. The most recent population

status information indicates an average

annual growth rate of 15 percent, which

is consistent with the growth objectives

established for this population. Tundra

swan hunting programs, including

annual permit allocation and

monitoring requirements in both

Flyways are consistent with guidelines

established in the Cooperative

Management Plan for the Eastern

Population of Tundra Swans. Trumpeter

swans are protected in all hunt areas in

the Central and Atlantic Flyways.

The comments regarding refugespecific hunting practices are not

applicable to this rulemaking and have

been forwarded to the Bear River Refuge

for consideration.

Copies of the evaluation, the EA, and

the Finding of No Significant Impact are

available at the address indicated under

the caption ADDRESSES or from our

website at http://migratorybirds.fws.gov.

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). Additionally, issues pertaining

to swan hunting in the Pacific Flyway

were covered under a separate NEPA

document, ‘‘Swan Hunting in the Pacific

Flyway,’’ issued July 12, 2000, with a

Finding of No Significant Impact issued

July 23, 2000. Copies are available from

the address indicated under the caption

ADDRESSES.

Endangered Species Act Consideration

Section 7 of the Endangered Species

Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531–1543;

87 Stat. 884), provides that, ‘‘The

Secretary shall review other programs

administered by him and utilize such

programs in furtherance of the purposes

of this Act’’ (and) shall ‘‘insure that any

action authorized, funded or carried out

* * * is not likely to jeopardize the

continued existence of any endangered

species or threatened species or result in

the destruction or adverse modification

of [critical] habitat * * *’’

Consequently, we conducted formal

consultations to ensure that actions

resulting from these regulations would

not likely jeopardize the continued

existence of endangered or threatened

species or result in the destruction or

adverse modification of their critical

habitat. Findings from these

consultations are included in a

biological opinion and concluded that

the regulations are not likely to

adversely affect any endangered or

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 58159

threatened species. Additionally, these

findings may have caused modification

of some regulatory measures previously

proposed and the final frameworks

reflect any such modifications. Our

biological opinions resulting from its

Section 7 consultation are public

documents available for public

inspection in the Service’s Division of

Endangered Species and DMBM, at the

address indicated under the caption

ADDRESSES.

Executive Order (E.O.) 12866

This rule was reviewed by the Office

of Management and Budget (OMB). The

migratory bird hunting regulations are

economically significant and are

annually reviewed by OMB under E.O.

12866. As such, a cost/benefit analysis

was prepared in 1998 and is further

discussed below under the heading

Regulatory Flexibility Act. Copies of the

cost/benefit analysis are available upon

request from the address indicated

under the caption ADDRESSES.

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 and issued a Small Entity

Flexibility Analysis (Analysis) in 1998.

The Analysis documented the

significant beneficial economic effect on

a substantial number of small entities.

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

Analysis was based on the 1996

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 $429

million and $1,084 million at small

businesses. The Analysis is available

upon request from the address indicated

under the caption ADDRESSES.

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

plan to make the rule effective

immediately 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.

We utilize the various recordkeeping

and reporting requirements imposed

under regulations established in 50 CFR

part 20, Subpart K, in the formulation of

migratory game bird hunting

regulations. Specifically, OMB has

approved the information collection

requirements of the Migratory Bird

Harvest Information Program and

assigned clearance number 1018–0015

(expires 9/30/2001). 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. OMB has also

approved the information collection

requirements of the Sandhill Crane

Harvest Questionnaire and assigned

clearance number 1018–0023 (expires 7/

30/2003). The information from this

survey is used to estimate the

magnitude and the geographical and

temporal distribution of harvest, and the

portion it constitutes of the total

population.

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 ‘‘significantly or uniquely’’

affect small governments, and will not

produce a Federal mandate 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

rule, has determined that this rule will

not unduly burden the judicial system

and meets the requirements of sections

3(a) and 3(b)(2) of E.O. 12988.

Takings Implication Assessment

In accordance with E.O. 12630, this

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, this rule will allow hunters to

exercise otherwise unavailable

privileges, and, therefore, reduces

restrictions on the use of private and

public property.

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 and 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 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 E.O. 13132, these

regulations do not have significant

federalism effects and do not have

sufficient federalism implications to

warrant the preparation of a Federalism

Assessment.

Regulations Promulgation

The rulemaking process for migratory

game bird hunting must, by its nature,

operate under severe time constraints.

However, we intend that the public be

given the greatest possible opportunity

to comment. Thus, when the

preliminary proposed rulemaking was

published, we established what we

believed were the longest periods

possible for public comment. In doing

this, we recognized that when the

comment period closed, time would be

of the essence. That is, if there were a

delay in the effective date of these

regulations after this final rulemaking,

States would have insufficient time to

select season dates and limits; to

communicate those selections to us; and

to establish and publicize the necessary

regulations and procedures to

implement their decisions. We therefore

find that ‘‘good cause’’ exists, within the

terms of 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) of the

Administrative Procedure Act, and

these frameworks will, therefore, take

effect immediately upon publication.

Therefore, under authority of the

Migratory Bird Treaty Act (July 3, 1918),

58160 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

as amended, (16 U.S.C. 703–711), we

prescribe final frameworks setting forth

the species to be hunted, the daily bag

and possession limits, the shooting

hours, the season lengths, the earliest

opening and latest closing season dates,

and hunting areas, from which State

conservation agency officials will select

hunting season dates and other options.

Upon receipt of season and option

selections from these officials, we will

publish in the Federal Register a final

rulemaking amending 50 CFR part 20 to

reflect seasons, limits, and shooting

hours for the conterminous United

States for the 2000–01 season.

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 2000–01 hunting

season are authorized under 16 U.S.C.

703–712 and 16 U.S.C. 742 a-j.

Dated: September 15, 2000.

Stephen C. Saunders,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and

Wildlife and Parks.

Final Regulations Frameworks for

2000–01 Late Hunting Seasons on

Certain Migratory Game Birds

Pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty

Act and delegated authorities, the

Department has approved the following

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, 2000, and March 10, 2001.

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 which lies west of

the 100th meridian.

Definitions: For the purpose of

hunting regulations listed below, the

collective terms ‘‘dark’’ and ‘‘light’’

geese include the following species:

Dark geese—Canada geese, whitefronted geese, brant, and all other goose

species except light geese.

Light geese—snow (including blue)

geese and Ross’ geese.

Area, Zone, and Unit Descriptions:

Geographic descriptions related to lateseason regulations are contained in a

later portion of this document.

Area-Specific Provisions: Frameworks

for open seasons, season lengths, bag

and possession limits, and other special

provisions are listed below by Flyway.

Compensatory Days in the Atlantic

Flyway: In the Atlantic Flyway States of

Connecticut, Delaware, Maine,

Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey,

North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia,

and West Virginia, where Sunday

hunting is prohibited statewide by State

law, all Sundays are closed to all take

of migratory waterfowl (including

mergansers and coots).

Atlantic Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots

Outside Dates: Between October 1 and

January 20.

Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: 60

days and daily bag limit of 6 ducks,

including no more than 4 mallards (2

hens), 3 scaup, 1 black duck, 1 pintail,

1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous whistling

duck, 2 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 1

canvasback, and 4 scoters.

Closures: The season on harlequin

ducks is closed.

Sea Ducks: Within the special sea

duck areas, during the regular duck

season in the Atlantic Flyway, States

may choose to allow the above sea duck

limits in addition to the limits applying

to other ducks during the regular duck

season. In all other areas, sea ducks may

be taken only during the regular open

season for ducks and are part of the

regular duck season daily bag (not to

exceed 4 scoters) and possession limits.

Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit

of mergansers is 5, only 1 of which may

be a hooded merganser.

Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15

coots.

Lake Champlain Zone, New York: The

waterfowl seasons, limits, and shooting

hours shall be the same as those

selected for the Lake Champlain Zone of

Vermont.

Zoning and Split Seasons: Delaware,

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. 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

season is January 14.

Connecticut

North Atlantic Population (NAP)

Zone: A 40-day season may be held

between October 1 and December 15

with a 2-bird daily bag limit.

Atlantic Population (AP) Zone: A 15-

day season may be held concurrent with

the duck season between November 1

and January 20 with a 1-bird daily bag

limit.

South Zone: A special experimental

season may be held between January 15

and February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag

limit.

Delaware: A 6-day season may be

held concurrent with the duck season

between November 15 and January 20

with a 1-bird daily bag limit (tagging

required to harvest). The harvest of

Canada geese is limited to 2,100.

Florida: A 70-day season may be held

between November 15 and February 15,

with a 5-bird daily bag limit.

Georgia: In specific areas, a 70-day

season may be held between November

15 and February 15, with a 5-bird daily

bag limit.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 58161

Maine: A 40-day season may be held

Statewide between October 1 and

December 15 with a 2-bird daily bag

limit.

Maryland

Southern James Bay Population

(SJBP) Zone: A 40-day season may be

held between November 15 and January

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

season may be split 3-ways.

Additionally, an experimental season

may be held from January 15 to

February 15, with a 5-bird daily bag

limit.

AP Zone: A 6-day season may be held

concurrent with the duck season

between November 15 and January 20

with a 1-bird daily bag limit (tagging

required to harvest). The harvest of

Canada geese is limited to 12,200.

Massachusetts

NAP Zone: A 40-day season may be

held between October 1 and December

15 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 15-day season may be

held concurrent with the duck season

between November 1 and January 20

with a 1-bird daily bag limit.

New Hampshire: A 40-day season

may be held statewide between October

1 and December 15 with a 2-bird daily

bag limit.

New Jersey

Statewide: A 15-day season may be

held concurrent with the duck season

between November 1 and January 20

with a 1-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

SJBP Zone: A 70-day season may be

held between November 1 and January

30, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.

NAP Zone: A 40-day season may be

held between October 1 and December

31 with a 2-bird daily bag limit.

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 15-day season may be

held concurrent with the duck season

between November 1 and January 20

with a 1-bird daily bag limit.

North Carolina: A 46-day season may

be held between October 1 and

November 15, with a 2-bird daily bag

limit Statewide, except for the Northeast

Hunt Unit and Northampton County.

Pennsylvania

SJBP Zone: A 40-day season may be

held between November 15 and January

14, with a 2-bird daily bag limit.

AP Zone: A 15-day season may be

held concurrent with the duck season

between November 1 and January 20

with a 1-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.

Pymatuning Zone: A 35-day season

may be held between October 1 and

January 20, with a 1-bird daily bag limit.

Rhode Island: A 40-day season may

be held between October 1 and

December 15 with a 2-bird daily bag

limit. An experimental season may be

held in a designated area from January

15 to February 15, with a 5-bird daily

bag limit.

South Carolina: In designated areas, a

70-day season may be held during

November 15 to February 15, with a 5-

bird daily bag limit.

Vermont: A 15-day season may be

held concurrent with the duck season

between November 1 and January 20

with a 1-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 6-day season may be held

concurrent with the duck season

between November 15 and January 20

with a 1-bird daily bag limit.

Back Bay Area: Season is closed.

West Virginia: A 70-day season may

be held between October 1 and January

31, with a 3-bird daily bag limit.

Light Geese

Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and

Limits: States may select a 107-day

season between October 1 and March

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

possession limit. States may split their

seasons into three segments, except in

Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey,

where, following the completion of their

duck season, and until March 10,

Delaware and Maryland may split the

remaining portion of the season to hunt

on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and

Saturdays only, and New Jersey may

split the remaining portion of the season

to hunt on Mondays, Thursdays,

Fridays, and Saturdays only.

Brant

Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and

Limits: States may select a 50-day

season between October 1 and January

20, 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 October 1 (September 30) and

the Sunday nearest January 20 (January

21). Seasons in Alabama, Mississippi,

and Tennessee may extend to January

31.

Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits: 60

days (51 days in Alabama, Mississippi,

and Tennessee), 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, 3 scaup,

1 black duck, 1 pintail, 2 wood ducks,

1 canvasback, and 2 redheads.

Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit

is 5, only 1 of which may be a hooded

merganser. In States that include

mergansers in the duck bag limit, the

daily limit is the same as the duck bag

limit, only one of which may be a

hooded merganser.

Coot Limits: The daily bag limit is 15

coots.

Zoning and Split Seasons: Alabama,

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky,

Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi,

Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and

Wisconsin may select hunting seasons

by zones.

In Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky,

Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio,

Tennessee, and Wisconsin, the season

may be split into two segments in each

zone.

In Minnesota and Arkansas, 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

Mississippi Flyway Council and U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service approval, and

a 3-year evaluation, by each

participating State.

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 October 1 (September 30) and

March 10; for white-fronted geese not to

exceed 86 days with 2 geese daily or 107

days with 1 goose daily between the

Saturday nearest October 1 (September

30) and the Sunday nearest February 15

(February 18); and for brant not to

exceed 70 days with 2 brant daily or 107

days with 1 brant daily between the

58162 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

Saturday nearest October 1 (September

30) 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 October 1 (September 30) and

January 31.

Alabama

In the Southern James Bay Population

(SJBP) Goose Zone, the season for

Canada geese may not exceed 35 days.

Elsewhere, the season for Canada geese

may extend for 70 days in the respective

duck-hunting zones. The daily bag limit

is 2 Canada geese.

Arkansas

The season for Canada geese may

extend for 23 days. The season may

extend to February 15. The daily bag

limit is 2 Canada geese.

Illinois

The total harvest of Canada geese in

the State will be limited to 127,000

birds. The possession limit is 10 Canada

geese.

(a) North Zone—The season for

Canada geese will close after 91 days or

when 21,500 birds have been harvested

in the Northern Illinois Quota Zone,

whichever occurs first. The daily bag

limit is 3 Canada geese.

(b) Central Zone—The season for

Canada geese will close after 91 days or

when 24,700 birds have been harvested

in the Central Illinois Quota Zone,

whichever occurs first. The daily bag

limit is 3 Canada geese.

(c) South Zone—The harvest of

Canada geese in the Southern Illinois

and Rend Lake Quota Zones will be

limited to 32,900 and 4,650 birds,

respectively. The season for Canada

geese in each zone will close after 91

days or when the harvest limit has been

reached, whichever occurs first. The

daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese. In the

Southern Illinois Quota Zone, if any of

the following conditions exist after

December 20, the State, after

consultation with the Service, will close

the season by emergency order with 48

hours notice:

(1) Average body weights of adult

female geese less than 3,200 grams as

measured from a weekly sample of a

minimum of 50 geese.

(2) Starvation or a major disease

outbreak resulting in observed mortality

exceeding 5,000 birds in 10 days, or a

total mortality exceeding 10,000 birds.

In the remainder of the South Zone,

the season may extend for 91 days or

until both the Southern Illinois and

Rend Lake Quota Zones have been

closed, whichever occurs first. The daily

bag limit is 3 Canada geese.

Indiana

The total harvest of Canada geese in

the State will be limited to 28,300 birds.

The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.

(a) Posey County—The season for

Canada geese will close after 65 days or

when the Canada goose harvest at

Hovey Lake Fish and Wildlife Area

exceeds 1,500 birds, whichever occurs

first.

(b) Remainder of the State—The

season for Canada geese will extend for

65 days, except in the SJBP Zone, where

the season may not exceed 35 days.

Iowa

The season may extend for 70 days.

The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.

Kentucky

(a) Western Zone—The season for

Canada geese may extend for 61 days

(76 days in Fulton County), and the

harvest will be limited to 23,800 birds.

Of the 23,800-bird quota, 15,470 birds

will be allocated to the Ballard

Reporting Area and 4,520 birds will be

allocated to the Henderson/Union

Reporting Area. If the quota in either

reporting area is reached prior to

completion of the 61-day season, the

season in that reporting area will be

closed. If the quotas in both the Ballard

and Henderson/Union reporting areas

are reached prior to completion of the

61-day season, the season in the

counties and portions of counties that

comprise the Western Goose Zone

(listed in State regulations) may

continue for an additional 7 days, not to

exceed a total of 61 days (76 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 35 days. The

daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.

(c) Remainder of the State—The

season may extend for 50 days. The

daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.

Louisiana

The season for Canada geese may

extend for 9 days. During the season, the

daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose and 2

white-fronted geese with an 86-day

white-fronted goose season or 1 whitefronted goose with a 107-day season.

Hunters participating in the Canada

goose season must possess a special

permit issued by the State.

Michigan

The total harvest of Canada geese in

the State will be limited to 73,200 birds.

(a) North Zone—The framework

opening date for all geese is September

16, and the season for Canada geese may

extend for 18 days. The daily bag limit

is 2 Canada geese.

(b) Middle Zone—The framework

opening date for all geese is September

16, and the season for Canada geese may

extend for 18 days. The daily bag limit

is 2 Canada geese.

(c) South Zone. (1) Allegan County

GMU—The Canada goose season will

close after 25 days or when 1,100 birds

have been harvested, whichever occurs

first. The daily bag limit is 1 Canada

goose.

(2) Muskegon Wastewater GMU—The

Canada goose season will close after 25

days or when 350 birds have been

harvested, whichever occurs first. The

daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.

(3) Saginaw County GMU—The

Canada goose season will close after 50

days or when 2,000 birds have been

harvested, whichever occurs first. The

daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose.

(4) 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.

(5) Remainder of the South Zone—

The framework opening date for all

geese is September 16, and the season

for Canada geese may extend for 18

days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada

geese.

(d) Southern Michigan GMU—A

special Canada goose season may be

held between January 6 and February 4.

The daily bag limit is 5 Canada geese.

(e) Central Michigan GMU—An

experimental special Canada goose

season may be held between January 6

and February 4. The daily bag limit is

5 Canada geese.

Minnesota

(a) West Zone. (1) West Central

Zone—The season for Canada geese may

extend for 30 days. In the Lac Qui Parle

Zone, the season will close after 30 days

or when 16,000 birds have been

harvested, whichever occurs first.

Throughout the West Central Zone, the

daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose.

(2) Remainder of West Zone—The

season for Canada geese may extend for

40 days. The daily bag limit is 1 Canada

goose.

(b) Northwest Zone—The season for

Canada geese may extend for 40 days.

The daily bag limit is 1 Canada goose.

(c) Remainder of the State—The

season for Canada geese may extend for

70 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada

geese.

(d) Special Late Canada Goose

Season—An experimental special

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 58163

Canada goose season of up to 10 days

may be held in December, except in the

West Central and Lac Qui Parle Goose

zones. 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

(a) Swan Lake Zone—The season for

Canada geese may extend for 70 days,

with no more than 30 days occurring

after November 30. The season may be

split into 3 segments. The daily bag

limit is 2 Canada geese.

(b) Southeast Zone—The season for

Canada geese may extend for 70 days.

The season may be split into 3

segments, provided that at least 1

segment occurs prior to December 1.

The daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese

through October 31, and 2 Canada geese

thereafter.

(c) Remainder of the State—

(1) North Zone—The season for

Canada geese may extend for 70 days,

with no more than 30 days occurring

after November 30. The season may be

split into 3 segments, provided that 1

segment of at least 9 days occurs prior

to October 15. The daily bag limit is 3

Canada geese through October 31, and 2

Canada geese thereafter.

(2) Middle Zone—The season for

Canada geese may extend for 70 days,

with no more than 30 days occurring

after November 30. The season may be

split into 3 segments, provided that 1

segment of at least 9 days occurs prior

to October 15. The daily bag limit is 3

Canada geese through October 31, and 2

Canada geese thereafter.

(3) South Zone—The season for

Canada geese may extend for 70 days.

The season may be split into 3

segments, provided that at least 1

segment occurs prior to December 1.

The daily bag limit is 3 Canada geese

through October 31, and 2 Canada geese

thereafter.

Ohio

The season for Canada geese may

extend for 70 days in the respective

duck-hunting zones, with a daily bag

limit of 2 Canada geese, except in the

Lake Erie SJBP Zone, where the season

may not exceed 30 days and the daily

bag limit is 1 Canada goose. A special

experimental Canada goose season of up

to 22 days, beginning the first Saturday

after January 10, may be held in selected

areas of the State. During the special

season, the daily bag limit is 2 Canada

geese.

Tennessee

(a) Northwest Zone—The season for

Canada geese will close after 76 days or

when 8,900 birds have been harvested,

whichever occurs first. The season may

extend to February 15. A 6,400-bird

harvest quota will be monitored in the

Reelfoot Quota Zone. The remaining

2,500 quota will be assigned to the area

outside the Reelfoot Zone. If the quota

in the Reelfoot Quota Zone is reached

prior to completion of the 76-day

season, the season in the entire

Northwest Zone will close. The daily

bag limit is 2 Canada geese.

(b) Southwest Zone—The season for

Canada geese may extend for 61 days,

and the harvest will be limited to 1,000

birds. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada

geese.

(c) Kentucky/Barkley Lakes Zone—

The season for Canada geese will close

after 50 days or when 1,800 birds have

been harvested, whichever occurs first.

All geese harvested must be taken to a

designated check station and checked.

The daily bag limit is 2 Canada geese.

In lieu of the quota and checking

requirement above, the State may select

either a 50-day season with a 1-bird

daily bag limit or a 35-day season with

a 2-bird daily bag limit for this Zone.

(d) Remainder of the State—The

season for Canada geese may extend for

70 days. The daily bag limit is 2 Canada

geese.

Wisconsin

The total harvest of Canada geese in

the State will be limited to 83,900 birds.

(a) Horicon Zone—The framework

opening date for all geese is September

16. The harvest of Canada geese is

limited to 39,600 birds. The season may

not exceed 95 days. All Canada geese

harvested must be tagged. The daily bag

limit is 2 Canada geese, and the season

limit will be the number of tags issued

to each permittee.

(b) Collins Zone—The framework

opening date for all geese is September

16. The harvest of Canada geese is

limited to 1,300 birds. The season may

not exceed 68 days. All Canada geese

harvested must be tagged. The daily bag

limit is 2 Canada geese, and the season

limit will be the number of tags issued

to each permittee.

(c) Exterior Zone—The framework

opening date for all geese is September

23. The harvest of Canada geese is

limited to 38,500 birds, with 500 birds

allocated to the Mississippi River

Subzone. The season may not exceed 94

days, except in the Mississippi River

Subzone, where the season may not

exceed 80 days. The daily bag limit is

2 Canada geese. In that portion of the

Exterior Zone outside the Mississippi

River Subzone, the progress of the

harvest must be monitored, and the

season closed, if necessary, to ensure

that the harvest does not exceed 38,500

birds.

Additional Limits: In addition to the

harvest limits stated for the respective

zones above, an additional 4,500 Canada

geese may be taken in the Horicon Zone

under special agricultural permits.

Quota Zone Closures: When it has

been determined that the quota of

Canada geese allotted to the Northern

Illinois, Central Illinois, Southern

Illinois, and Rend Lake Quota Zones in

Illinois; Posey County in Indiana; the

Ballard and Henderson-Union Subzones

in Kentucky; the Allegan County,

Muskegon Wastewater, Saginaw County,

and Tuscola/Huron Goose Management

Units in Michigan; the Lac Qui Parle

Zone in Minnesota; the Northwest and

Kentucky/Barkley Lakes (if applicable)

Zones in Tennessee; and the Exterior

Zone in Wisconsin will have been filled,

the season for taking Canada geese in

the respective zone (and associated area,

if applicable) will be closed by either

the Director upon giving public notice

through local information media at least

48 hours in advance of the time and

date of closing, or by the State through

State regulations with such notice and

time (not less than 48 hours) as they

deem necessary.

Central Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots

Outside Dates: Between September 30

and January 21.

Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits:

(1) High Plains Mallard Management

Unit (roughly defined as that portion of

the Central Flyway which lies west of

the 100th meridian): 97 days and a daily

bag limit of 6 ducks, including no more

than 5 mallards (no more than 2 of

which may be hens), 1 mottled duck, 1

canvasback, 1 pintail, 2 redheads, 3

scaup, and 2 wood ducks. The last 23

days may start no earlier than the

Saturday nearest December 10

(December 9).

(2) Remainder of the Central Flyway:

74 days and a daily bag limit of 6 ducks,

including no more than 5 mallards (no

more than 2 of which may be hens), 1

mottled duck, 1 canvasback, 1 pintail, 2

redheads, 3 scaup, and 2 wood ducks.

Merganser Limits: The daily bag limit

is 5 mergansers, only 1 of which may be

a hooded merganser. In States that

include mergansers in the duck daily

bag limit, the daily limit may be the

58164 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

same as the duck bag limit, only one of

which may be a hooded merganser.

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 October 1

(September 30) and the Sunday nearest

February 15 (February 18). For light

geese, outside dates for seasons may be

selected between the Saturday nearest

October 1 (September 30) and March 10.

In the Rainwater Basin Light Goose Area

(East and West) of Nebraska, temporal

and spatial restrictions consistent with

the experimental late-winter snow goose

hunting strategy endorsed by the Central

Flyway Council in July 1999, 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 95 days with a daily bag limit of

3. Additionally, in the Eastern Goose

Zone of Texas, an alternative season of

107 days with a daily bag limit of 1

Canada goose may be selected. For

white-fronted geese, these States may

select either a season of 86 days with a

bag limit of 2 or a 107-day season with

a bag limit of 1.

In South Dakota, for Canada geese in

the Big Stone Power Plant Area of Dark

Goose Unit 1, the daily bag limit is 3

until November 30 and 2 thereafter.

In Colorado, Montana, New Mexico

and Wyoming, States may select seasons

not to exceed 107 days. The daily bag

limit for dark geese is 5 in the aggregate.

In the Western Goose Zone of Texas,

the season may not exceed 107 days.

The daily bag limit for Canada geese (or

any other dark goose species except

white-fronted geese) is 5. The daily bag

limit for white-fronted geese is 1.

Pacific Flyway

Ducks, Mergansers, Coots, and Common

Moorhens

Hunting Seasons and Duck Limits:

Concurrent 107 days and daily bag limit

of 7 ducks and mergansers, including no

more than 2 female mallards, 1 pintail,

4 scaup, 2 redheads, and 1 canvasback.

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 and Common Moorhen Limits:

The daily bag and possession limits of

coots and common moorhens are 25,

singly or in the aggregate.

Outside Dates: Between the Saturday

nearest October 1 (September 30) and

the Sunday nearest January 20 (January

21).

Zoning and Split Seasons: Arizona,

California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah,

and Washington may select hunting

seasons by zones.

Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada,

Oregon, Utah, and Washington may

split their seasons into two segments.

Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and

Wyoming may split their seasons into

three segments.

Colorado River Zone, California:

Seasons and limits shall be the same as

seasons and limits selected in the

adjacent portion of Arizona (South

Zone).

Geese

Season Lengths, Outside Dates, and

Limits: Except as subsequently noted,

100-day seasons may be selected, with

outside dates between the Saturday

nearest October 1 (September 30), and

the Sunday nearest January 20 (January

21), and the basic daily bag limits are 3

light geese and 4 dark geese, except in

California, Oregon, and Washington,

where the dark goose bag limit does not

include brant.

Split Seasons: Unless otherwise

specified, seasons for geese may be split

into up to 3 segments. Three-way split

seasons for Canada geese and whitefronted geese require Pacific Flyway

Council and U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service approval and a 3-year

evaluation by each participating State.

Brant Season—A 16-consecutive-day

season may be selected in Oregon and

Washington, and a 30-consecutive-day

season may be selected in California. In

these States, the daily bag limit is 2

brant and is in addition to dark goose

limits.

Closures: There will be no open

season on Aleutian Canada geese in the

Pacific Flyway. The States of California,

Oregon, and Washington must include a

statement on the closure for that

subspecies in their respective

regulations leaflet. Emergency closures

may be invoked for all Canada geese

should Aleutian Canada goose

distribution patterns or other

circumstances justify such actions.

Arizona: The daily bag limit for dark

geese is 3.

California

Northeastern Zone—White-fronted

geese and cackling Canada geese may be

taken only during the first 44 days of the

goose season. The daily bag limit is 3

geese and may include no more than 2

dark geese; including not more than 1

cackling Canada goose.

Colorado River Zone—The seasons

and limits must be the same as those

selected in the adjacent portion of

Arizona (South Zone).

Southern Zone—The daily bag limit

for dark geese is 3 geese.

Balance-of-the-State Zone—A 79-day

season may be selected. Limits may not

include more than 3 geese per day, of

which not more than 2 may be whitefronted geese and not more than 1 may

be a cackling Canada goose. Three areas

in the Balance-of-the-State Zone are

restricted in the hunting of certain

geese:

(1) In the Counties of Del Norte and

Humboldt, there will be no open season

for Canada geese, except for the Special

September Canada goose hunt in

Humboldt County.

(2) In the Sacramento Valley Special

Management Area (West), the season on

white-fronted geese must end on or

before December 14, and, in the

Sacramento Valley Special Management

Area (East), there will be no open season

for Canada geese.

(3) In the San Joaquin Valley Special

Management Area, there will be no open

season for Canada geese.

Colorado: The daily bag limit for dark

geese is 3 geese.

Idaho

Northern Unit—The daily bag limit is

4 geese, including 4 dark geese, but not

more than 3 light geese.

Southwest Unit and Southeastern

Unit—The daily bag limit on dark geese

is 4.

Montana: West of Divide Zone and

East of Divide Zone—The daily bag

limit of dark geese is 4.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 58165

Nevada: The daily bag limit for dark

geese is 3 except in the Lincoln and

Clark County Zone, where the daily bag

limit of dark geese is 2.

New Mexico: The daily bag limit of

dark geese is 3.

Oregon: Except as subsequently

noted, the dark goose daily bag limit is

4, including not more than 1 cackling

Canada goose.

Lake County Zone—The daily dark

goose bag limit may not include more

than 2 white-fronted geese.

Western Zone—In the Special Canada

Goose Management Area, except for

designated areas, there will be no open

season on Canada geese. In the

designated areas, individual quotas will

be established that collectively will not

exceed 165 dusky Canada geese. See

section on quota zones. In those

designated areas, the daily bag limit of

dark geese is 4 and may include 4

cackling Canada geese.

Utah: The daily bag limit for dark

geese is 3 geese.

Washington: The daily bag limit is 4

geese, including 4 dark geese but not

more than 3 light geese.

West Zone—In the Lower Columbia

River Special Goose Management Area,

except for designated areas, there will

be no open season on Canada geese. In

the designated areas, individual quotas

will be established that collectively will

not exceed 85 dusky Canada geese. See

section on quota zones. In this area, the

daily bag limit of dark geese is 4 and

may include 4 cackling Canada geese.

Wyoming: The daily bag limit is 4

dark geese.

Quota Zones: Seasons on dark geese

must end upon attainment of individual

quotas of dusky Canada geese allotted to

the designated areas of Oregon and

Washington. The September Canada

goose season, the regular goose season,

any special late dark goose season, and

any extended falconry season,

combined, must not exceed 107 days,

and the established quota of dusky

Canada geese must not be exceeded.

Hunting of dark geese in those

designated areas will only be by hunters

possessing a State-issued permit

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

obtain quantitative information on

hunter compliance of those regulations

aimed at reducing the take of dusky

Canada geese and eliminating the take

of Aleutian Canada geese. If the

monitoring program cannot be

conducted, for any reason, the season

must immediately close. In the

designated areas of the Washington

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. The

daily bag limit may not include

Aleutian Canada geese. In the Special

Canada Goose Management Area of

Oregon, the framework closing date is

extended to the Sunday closest to March

1 (March 4). In the Special Canada

Goose Management Area of Oregon, the

framework closing date is extended to

the Sunday closest to March 1 (Feb. 28).

Regular dark goose seasons may be split

into 3 segments within the Oregon and

Washington quota zones. The 3-way

split seasons are considered

experimental for the next 3 years. An

evaluation of the 3-way split seasons is

required and must be submitted by July

2002.

Swans

In designated areas of Utah, Nevada,

and the Pacific Flyway portion of

Montana, an open season for taking a

limited number of swans may be

selected. Permits will be issued by

States and will authorize each permittee

to take no more than 1 swan per season.

The season may open no earlier than the

Saturday nearest October 1 (September

30). The States must implement a

harvest-monitoring program to measure

the species composition of the swan

harvest. In Utah and Nevada, the

harvest-monitoring program must

require that all harvested swans or their

species-determinant parts be examined

by either State or Federal biologists for

the purpose of species classification. All

States should use appropriate measures

to maximize hunter compliance in

providing bagged swans for examination

or, in the case of Montana, reporting

bill-measurement and color information.

All States must achieve at least an 80-

percent compliance rate, or subsequent

permits will be reduced by 10 percent.

All States must provide to the Service

by June 30, 2001, a report covering

harvest, hunter participation, reporting

compliance, and monitoring of swan

populations in the designated hunt

areas. These seasons will be subject to

the following conditions:

In Utah, no more than 2,000 permits

may be issued. The season must end no

later than the second Sunday in

December (December 10) or upon

attainment of 10 trumpeter swans in the

harvest, whichever occurs earliest.

In Nevada, no more than 650 permits

may be issued. The season must end no

later than the Sunday following January

1 (January 7) or upon attainment of 5

trumpeter swans in the harvest,

whichever occurs earliest.

In Montana, no more than 500 permits

may be issued. The season must end no

later than December 1.

Tundra Swans

In the Central Flyway portion of

Montana, and in North Carolina, North

Dakota, South Dakota (east of the

Missouri River), and Virginia, an open

season for taking a limited number of

tundra swans may be selected. Permits

will be issued by 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 will be

subject to the following conditions:

In the Atlantic Flyway

—The season will be 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 and must

occur during the light goose season.

—In the Central Flyway portion of

Montana, no more than 500 permits

may be issued.

—In North Dakota, no more than 2,000

permits may be issued.

—In South Dakota, no more than 1,500

permits may be issued.

Area, Unit, and Zone Descriptions

Ducks (Including Mergansers) and Coots

Atlantic Flyway

Connecticut

North Zone: That portion of the State

north of I–95.

South Zone: 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 border 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 border on I–91 to MA

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

58166 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

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

Connecticut border.

Central Zone: That portion of the

State east of the Berkshire Zone and

west of a line extending south from the

New Hampshire border on I–95 to U.S.

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

93 to MA 3, south on MA 3 to U.S. 6,

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

28 to I–195, west to the Rhode Island

border; except the waters, and the lands

150 yards inland from the high-water

mark, of the Assonet River upstream to

the MA 24 bridge, and the Taunton

River upstream to the Center St.-Elm St.

bridge shall be in the Coastal Zone.

Coastal Zone: That portion of

Massachusetts east and south of the

Central Zone.

New Hampshire

Coastal Zone: That portion of the

State east of a line extending west from

the Maine border in Rollinsford on NH

4 to the city of Dover, south to NH 108,

south along NH 108 through Madbury,

Durham, and Newmarket to NH 85 in

Newfields, south to NH 101 in Exeter,

east to NH 51 (Exeter-Hampton

Expressway), east to I–95 (New

Hampshire Turnpike) in Hampton, and

south along I–95 to the Massachusetts

border.

Inland Zone: That portion of the State

north and west of the above boundary.

New Jersey

Coastal Zone: That portion of the

State seaward of a line beginning at the

New York border in Raritan Bay and

extending west along the New York

border to NJ 440 at Perth Amboy; west

on NJ 440 to the Garden State Parkway;

south on the Garden State Parkway to

the shoreline at Cape May and

continuing to the Delaware border in

Delaware Bay.

North Zone: That portion of the State

west of the Coastal Zone and north of

a line extending west from the Garden

State Parkway on NJ 70 to the New

Jersey Turnpike, north on the turnpike

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

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

Pennsylvania border in the Delaware

River.

South Zone: That portion of the State

not within the North Zone or the Coastal

Zone.

New York

Lake Champlain Zone: The U.S.

portion of Lake Champlain and that area

east and north of a line extending along

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

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

Keesville; south along NY 22 to the west

shore of South Bay, along and around

the shoreline of South Bay to NY 22 on

the east shore of South Bay; southeast

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

U.S. 4 to the Vermont border.

Long Island Zone: That area

consisting of Nassau County, Suffolk

County, that area of Westchester County

southeast of I–95, and their tidal waters.

Western Zone: That area west of a line

extending from Lake Ontario east along

the north shore of the Salmon River to

I–81, and south along I–81 to the

Pennsylvania border.

Northeastern Zone: That area north of

a line extending from Lake Ontario east

along the north shore of the Salmon

River to I–81, south along I–81 to NY 49,

east along NY 49 to NY 365, east along

NY 365 to NY 28, east along NY 28 to

NY 29, east along NY 29 to I–87, north

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

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

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

Vermont border, exclusive of the Lake

Champlain Zone.

Southeastern Zone: The remaining

portion of New York.

Pennsylvania

Lake Erie Zone: The Lake Erie waters

of Pennsylvania and a shoreline margin

along Lake Erie from New York on the

east to Ohio on the west extending 150

yards inland, but including all of

Presque Isle Peninsula.

Northwest Zone: The area bounded on

the north by the Lake Erie Zone and

including all of Erie and Crawford

Counties and those portions of Mercer

and Venango Counties north of I–80.

North Zone: That portion of the State

east of the Northwest Zone and north of

a line extending east on I–80 to U.S.

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

and I–80 to the Delaware River.

South Zone: The remaining portion of

Pennsylvania.

Vermont

Lake Champlain Zone: The U.S.

portion of Lake Champlain and that area

north and west of the line extending

from the New York border along U.S. 4

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

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

border.

Interior Zone: The remaining portion

of Vermont.

West Virginia

Zone 1 : That portion outside the

boundaries in Zone 2.

Zone 2 (Allegheny Mountain Upland):

That area bounded by a line extending

south along U.S. 220 through Keyser to

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

to WV 42; WV 42 south to Petersburg;

WV 28 south to Minnehaha Springs; WV

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

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

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

north to U.S. 48; U.S. 48 east to the

Maryland border; and along the border

to the point of beginning.

Mississippi Flyway

Alabama

South Zone: Mobile and Baldwin

Counties.

North Zone: The remainder of

Alabama.

Illinois

North Zone: That portion of the State

north of a line extending east from the

Iowa border along Illinois Highway 92

to Interstate Highway 280, east along I–

280 to I–80, then east along I–80 to the

Indiana border.

Central Zone: That portion of the

State south of the North Zone to a line

extending east from the Missouri border

along the Modoc Ferry route to Modoc

Ferry Road, east along Modoc Ferry

Road to Modoc Road, northeasterly

along Modoc Road and St. Leo’s Road to

Illinois Highway 3, north along Illinois

3 to Illinois 159, north along Illinois 159

to Illinois 161, east along Illinois 161 to

Illinois 4, north along Illinois 4 to

Interstate Highway 70, east along I–70 to

the Bond County line, north and east

along the Bond County line to Fayette

County, north and east along the Fayette

County line to Effingham County, east

and south along the Effingham County

line to I–70, then east along I–70 to the

Indiana border.

South Zone: The remainder of Illinois.

Indiana

North Zone: That portion of the State

north of a line extending east from the

Illinois border along State Road 18 to

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

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

Huntington, then southeast along U.S.

224 to the Ohio border.

Ohio River Zone: That portion of the

State south of a line extending east from

the Illinois border along Interstate

Highway 64 to New Albany, east along

State Road 62 to State 56, east along

State 56 to Vevay, east and north on

State 156 along the Ohio River to North

Landing, north along State 56 to U.S.

Highway 50, then northeast along U.S.

50 to the Ohio border.

South Zone: That portion of the State

between the North and Ohio River Zone

boundaries.

Iowa

North Zone: That portion of the State

north of a line extending east from the

Nebraska border along State Highway

175 to State 37, southeast along State 37

to U.S. Highway 59, south along U.S. 59

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 58167

to Interstate Highway 80, then east along

I–80 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 of a line extending south from the

Arkansas border along Louisiana

Highway 3 to Bossier City, east along

Interstate Highway 20 to Minden, south

along Louisiana 7 to Ringgold, east

along Louisiana 4 to Jonesboro, south

along U.S. Highway 167 to Lafayette,

southeast along U.S. 90 to Houma, then

south along the Houma Navigation

Channel to the Gulf of Mexico through

Cat Island Pass.

East Zone: The remainder of

Louisiana.

Catahoula Lake Area: All of

Catahoula Lake, including those

portions known locally as Round

Prairie, Catfish Prairie, and Frazier’s

Arm. See State regulations for

additional information.

Michigan

North Zone: The Upper Peninsula.

Middle Zone: That portion of the

Lower Peninsula north of a line

beginning at the Wisconsin border in

Lake Michigan due west of the mouth of

Stony Creek in Oceana County; then due

east to, and 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, east along U.S. 10 BR to U.S.

10, east along U.S. 10 to Interstate

Highway 75/U.S. Highway 23, north

along I–75/U.S. 23 to the U.S. 23 exit at

Standish, east along U.S. 23 to Shore

Road in Arenac County, east along

Shore Road to the tip of Point Lookout,

then on a line directly east 10 miles into

Saginaw Bay, and from that point on a

line directly northeast to the Canada

border.

South Zone: The remainder of

Michigan.

Mississippi

Zone 1: Hancock, Harrison, and

Jackson Counties.

Zone 2: The remainder of Mississippi.

Missouri

North Zone: That portion of Missouri

north of a line running west from the

Illinois border along Interstate Highway

70 to U.S. Highway 54, south along U.S.

54 to U.S. 50, then west along U.S. 50

to the Kansas border.

South Zone: That portion of Missouri

south of a line running west from the

Illinois border along Missouri Highway

34 to Interstate Highway 55; south along

I–55 to U.S. Highway 62, west along

U.S. 62 to Missouri 53, north along

Missouri 53 to Missouri 51, north along

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

60 to Missouri 21, north along Missouri

21 to Missouri 72, west along Missouri

72 to Missouri 32, west along Missouri

32 to U.S. 65, north along U.S. 65 to

U.S. 54, west along U.S. 54 to Missouri

32, south along Missouri 32 to Missouri

97, south along Missouri 97 to Dade

County NN, west along Dade County NN

to Missouri 37, west along Missouri 37

to Jasper County N, west along Jasper

County N to Jasper County M, west

along Jasper County M to the Kansas

border.

Middle Zone: The remainder of

Missouri.

Ohio

North Zone: The Counties of Darke,

Miami, Clark, Champaign, Union,

Delaware, Licking (excluding the

Buckeye Lake Area), Muskingum,

Guernsey, Harrison and Jefferson and all

counties north thereof.

Ohio River Zone: The Counties of

Hamilton, Clermont, Brown, Adams,

Scioto, Lawrence, Gallia and Meigs.

South Zone: That portion of the State

between the North and Ohio River Zone

boundaries, including the Buckeye Lake

Area in Licking County bounded on the

west by State Highway 37, on the north

by U.S. Highway 40, and on the east by

State 13.

Tennessee

Reelfoot Zone: All or portions of Lake

and Obion Counties.

State Zone: The remainder of

Tennessee.

Wisconsin

North Zone: That portion of the State

north of a line extending east from the

Minnesota border along State Highway

77 to State 27, south along State 27 and

77 to U.S. Highway 63, and continuing

south along State 27 to Sawyer County

Road B, south and east along County B

to State 70, southwest along State 70 to

State 27, south along State 27 to State

64, west along State 64/27 and south

along State 27 to U.S. 12, south and east

on State 27/U.S. 12 to U.S. 10, east on

U.S. 10 to State 310, east along State 310

to State 42, north along State 42 to State

147, north along State 147 to State 163,

north along State 163 to Kewaunee

County Trunk A, north along County

Trunk A to State 57, north along State

57 to the Kewaunee/Door County Line,

west along the Kewaunee/Door County

Line to the Door/Brown County Line,

west along the Door/Brown County Line

to the Door/Oconto/Brown County Line,

northeast along the Door/Oconto County

Line to the Marinette/Door County Line,

northeast along the Marinette/Door

County Line to the Michigan border.

South Zone: The remainder of

Wisconsin.

Central Flyway

Kansas

High Plains Zone: That portion of the

State west of U.S. 283.

Low Plains Early Zone: That portion

of the State east of the High Plains Zone

and west of a line extending south from

the Nebraska border along KS 28 to U.S.

36, east along U.S. 36 to KS 199, south

along KS 199 to Republic County Road

563, south along Republic County Road

563 to KS 148, east along KS 148 to

Republic County Road 138, south along

Republic County Road 138 to Cloud

County Road 765, south along Cloud

County Road 765 to KS 9, west along KS

9 to U.S. 24, west along U.S 24 to U.S.

281, north along U.S. 281 to U.S. 36,

west along U.S. 36 to U.S. 183, south

along U.S. 183 to U.S. 24, west along

U.S. 24 to KS 18, southeast along KS 18

to U.S. 183, south along U.S. 183 to KS

4, east along KS 4 to I–135, south along

I–135 to KS 61, southwest along KS 61

to KS 96, northwest on KS 96 to U.S. 56,

west along U.S. 56 to U.S. 281, south

along U.S. 281 to U.S. 54, then west

along U.S. 54 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 the

State west of highways U.S. 183 and

U.S. 20 from the South Dakota border to

Ainsworth, NE 7 and NE 91 to Dunning,

NE 2 to Merna, NE 92 to Arnold, NE 40

and NE 47 through Gothenburg to NE

23, NE 23 to Elwood, and U.S. 283 to

the Kansas border.

Low Plains Zone 1: That portion of the

State east of the High Plains Zone and

north and west of a line extending from

the South Dakota border along NE 26E

58168 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

Spur to NE 12, west on NE 12 to the

Knox/Boyd County line, south along the

county line to the Niobrara River and

along the Niobrara River to U.S. 183 (the

High Plains Zone line). Where the

Niobrara River forms the boundary, both

banks will be in Zone 1.

Low Plains Zone 2: That portion of the

State east of the High Plains Zone and

bounded by designated highways and

political boundaries starting on U.S. 73

at the Kansas border, north to NE 67,

north 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 U.S. 34, west to NE

2, south to I–80, west to Hamilton/Hall

County line (Gunbarrel Road), south to

Giltner Road; west to U.S. 34, west to

U.S. 136, east on U.S. 136 to NE 10,

south to the State line, west to U.S. 283,

north to NE 23, west to NE 47, north to

U.S. 30, east to NE 14, north to NE 52,

northwesterly to NE 91, west to U.S.

281, north to NE 91 in Wheeler County,

west to U.S. 183, north to northerly

boundary of Loup County, east along the

north boundaries of Loup, Garfield, and

Wheeler County, south along the east

Wheeler County line to NE 70, east on

NE 70 from Wheeler County to NE 14,

south to NE 39, southeast to NE 22, east

to U.S. 81, southeast to U.S. 30, east

along U.S. 30 to U.S. 75, north along

U.S. 75 to the Washington/Burt County

line; then east along the county line to

the Iowa 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 border 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: 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 border 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, west

along OK 33 to I–35, north along I–35

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

64, west along U.S. 64 to OK 132, then

north along OK 132 to the Kansas

border.

Low Plains Zone 2: The remainder of

Oklahoma.

South Dakota

High Plains Unit: That portion of the

State west of a line beginning at the

North Dakota border and extending

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

along U.S. 14 to Blunt-Canning Road in

Blunt, south along Blunt-Canning Road

to SD 34, east to SD 47, south to I–90,

east to SD 47, south to SD 49, south to

Colome and then continuing south on

U.S. 183 to the Nebraska border.

North Zone: That portion of

northeastern South Dakota east of the

High Plains Unit and north of a line

extending east along US 212 to SD 15,

then north along SD 15 to Big Stone

Lake at the Minnesota border.

South Zone: That portion of Gregory

County east of SD 47, Charles Mix

County south of SD 44 to the Douglas

County line, south on SD 50 to Geddes,

east on the Geddes Hwy. to U.S. 281,

south on U.S. 281 and U.S. 18 to SD 50,

south and east on SD 50 to 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 border 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

border 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,

Washakie, and that portion of Park

County south of T58N and not within

the boundary of the Shoshone National

Forest.

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: That portion of

the State east and north of a line

beginning at the Oregon border; south

and west along the Klamath River to the

mouth of Shovel Creek; south along

Shovel Creek to Forest Service Road

46N10; south and east along FS 46N10

to FS 45N22; west and south along FS

45N22 to U.S. 97 at Grass Lake Summit;

south and west along U.S. 97 to I–5 at

the town of Weed; south along I–5 to CA

89; east and south along CA 89 to the

junction with CA 49; east and north on

CA 49 to CA 70; east on CA 70 to U.S.

395; south and east on U.S. 395 to the

Nevada border.

Colorado River Zone: Those portions

of San Bernardino, Riverside, and

Imperial Counties east of a line

extending from the Nevada border south

along U.S. 95 to Vidal Junction; south

on a road known as ‘‘Aqueduct Road’’

in San Bernardino County through the

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

known in Riverside County as the

‘‘Desert Center to Rice Road’’ to the

town of Desert Center; east 31 miles on

I–10 to the Wiley Well Road; south on

this road to Wiley Well; southeast along

the Army-Milpitas Road to the Blythe,

Brawley, Davis Lake intersections; south

on the Blythe-Brawley paved road to the

Ogilby and Tumco Mine Road; south on

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

U.S. 80 to the Andrade-Algodones Road;

south on this paved road to the Mexican

border at Algodones, Mexico.

Southern Zone: That portion of

southern California (but excluding the

Colorado River Zone) south and east of

a line extending from the Pacific Ocean

east along the Santa Maria River to CA

166 near the City of Santa Maria; east on

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

crest of the Tehachapi Mountains at

Tejon Pass; east and north along the

crest of the Tehachapi Mountains to CA

178 at Walker Pass; east on CA 178 to

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

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

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

CA 127 to the Nevada border.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 58169

Southern San Joaquin Valley

Temporary Zone: All of Kings and

Tulare Counties and that portion of

Kern County north of the Southern

Zone.

Balance-of-the-State Zone: The

remainder of California not included in

the Northeastern, Southern, and

Colorado River Zones, and the Southern

San Joaquin Valley Temporary Zone.

Idaho

Zone 1: Includes all lands and waters

within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation,

including private inholdings; Bannock

County; Bingham County, except that

portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir

drainage; and Power County east of ID

37 and ID 39.

Zone 2: Includes the following

Counties or portions of Counties:

Adams; Bear Lake; Benewah; Bingham

within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage;

those portions of Blaine west of ID 75,

south and east of U.S. 93, and between

ID 75 and U.S. 93 north of U.S. 20

outside the Silver Creek drainage;

Bonner; Bonneville; Boundary; Butte;

Camas; Caribou except the Fort Hall

Indian Reservation; Cassia within the

Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge;

Clark; Clearwater; Custer; Elmore within

the Camas Creek drainage; Franklin;

Fremont; Idaho; Jefferson; Kootenai;

Latah; Lemhi; Lewis; Madison; Nez

Perce; Oneida; Power within the

Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge;

Shoshone; Teton; and Valley Counties.

Zone 3: Includes the following

Counties or portions of Counties: Ada;

Blaine between ID 75 and U.S. 93 south

of U.S. 20 and that additional area

between ID 75 and U.S. 93 north of U.S.

20 within the Silver Creek drainage;

Boise; Canyon; Cassia except 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.

Geese

Atlantic Flyway

Connecticut

NAP Zone: Statewide, except for

Hartford and Litchfield Counties west of

the Connecticut River.

AP Zone: Remainder of the State.

South Zone: Same as for ducks.

North Zone: Same as for ducks.

Maryland

SJBP Zone: Allegheny, Carroll,

Frederick, Garrett, Washington counties

and the portion of Montgomery County

south of Interstate 270 and west of

Interstate 495 to the Potomac River.

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 Route 14, east

of St. George Road, and east of the

Powder Point Bridge.

New Hampshire

Same zones as for ducks.

New Jersey

North—that portion of the State

within a continuous line that runs east

along the New York State boundary line

to the Hudson River; then south along

the New York State boundary to its

intersection with Route 440 at Perth

Amboy; then west on Route 440 to its

intersection with Route 287; then west

along Route 287 to its intersection with

Route 206 in Bedminster (Exit 18); then

north along Route 206 to its intersection

with Route 94: then west along Route 94

to the tollbridge in Columbia; then north

along the Pennsylvania State boundary

in the Delaware River to the beginning

point.

South—that portion of the State

within a continuous line that runs west

from the Atlantic Ocean at Ship Bottom

along Route 72 to Route 70; then west

along Route 70 to Route 206; then south

along Route 206 to Route 536; then west

along Route 536 to Route 322; then west

along Route 322 to Route 55; then south

along Route 55 to Route 553 (Buck

Road); then south along Route 553 to

Route 40; then east along Route 40 to

route 55; then south along Route 55 to

Route 552 (Sherman Avenue); then west

along Route 552 to Carmel Road; then

south along Carmel Road to Route 49;

then east along Route 49 to Route 555;

then south along Route 555 to Route

553; then east along Route 553 to Route

649; then north along Route 649 to

Route 670; then east along Route 670 to

Route 47; then north along Route 47 to

Route 548; then east along Route 548 to

Route 49; then east along Route 49 to

Route 50; then south along Route 50 to

Route 9; then south along Route 9 to

Route 625 (Sea Isle City Boulevard);

then east along Route 625 to the Atlantic

Ocean; then north to the beginning

point.

New York

Special Late Season Area for Canada

Geese: that area of Chemung County

lying east of a continuous line extending

south along State Route 13 from the

Schuyler County line to State Route 17

and then south along Route 17 to the

New York-Pennsylvania boundary; all of

Tioga and Broome Counties; that area of

Delaware, Sullivan, and Orange

Counties lying southwest of a

continuous line extending east along

State Route 17 from the Broome County

line to U.S. Route 209 at Wurtsboro and

then south along Route 209 to the New

York-Pennsylvania boundary at Port

Jervis, excluding areas on or within 50

yards of the Delaware River between the

confluence of the West Branch and East

Branch below Hancock and the mouth

of the Shingle Kill (3 miles upstream

from Port Jervis); that area of Orange,

Rockland, Dutchess, Putnam and

Westchester Counties lying southeast of

a continuous line extending north along

Route 17 from the New York-New Jersey

boundary at Suffern to Interstate Route

87, then north along Route 87 to

Interstate Route 84, then east along

Route 84 to the northern boundary of

Putnam County, then east along that

boundary to the New York-Connecticut

boundary; that area of Nassau and

Suffolk Counties lying north of State

Route 25A and west of a continuous line

extending northward from State Route

58170 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

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.

Long Island (NAP) Zone: Same as

Long Island Duck Zone.

Southwest (SJBP) Zone: all of

Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautaugua

Counties; that area of Erie, Wyoming

and Niagara Counties lying south and

west of a continuous line extending

from the Rainbow Bridge below Niagara

Falls, north along the Robert Moses

Parkway to US Route 62A, then east

along Route 62A to US Route 62, then

southeast along US Route 62 to

Interstate Route 290, then south along

Route 290 to Exit 50 of the NYS

Thruway, then east along I–90 to State

Route 98, then south along State Route

98 to the Cattaraugus County line; and

that area of Steuben and Chemung

Counties lying south of State Route 17.

AP Zone: Remainder of the State.

North Carolina

Regular Season for Canada Geese:

Statewide, except for Northampton

County and the Northeast Hunt Unit—

Counties of Bertie, Camden, Chowan,

Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Pasquotank,

Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington.

Pennsylvania

SJBP Zone: Area from the New York

State line west of U.S. Route 220 to

intersection of I–180, west of I–180 to

intersection of SR 147, west of SR 147

to intersection of U.S. Route 322, west

of U.S. Route 322 to intersection of I–

81, west of I–81 to intersection of I–83,

west of I–83 to I–283, west of I–283 to

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

west of U.S. Route 30 to I–83, west of

I–83 to Maryland State line, except for

the Pymatuning Zone.

Pymatuning Zone: Area south of SR

198 from the Ohio State line to the

intersection of SR 18, to the intersection

of US Route 322/SR 18, to the

intersection of SR 3013, then south to

the Crawford/Mercer County line.

Special Late Season Area for Canada

Geese: Same as SJBP Zone and the area

from New York State line east of U.S.

Route 220 to intersection of I–180, east

of I–180 to intersection of SR 147, east

of SR 147 to intersection of U.S. Route

322, east of Route 322 to intersection of

I–81, north of I–81 to intersection of I–

80, north of I–80 to New Jersey State

line.

AP Zone: Remainder of the State.

Rhode Island

Special Area for Canada Geese: Kent

and Providence Counties and portions

of the towns of Exeter and North

Kingston within Washington County

(see State regulations for detailed

descriptions).

South Carolina

Canada Goose Area: Statewide except

for Clarendon County and that portion

of Lake Marion in Orangeburg County

and Berkeley County.

Vermont

Same zones as for ducks.

Virginia

SJBP Zone and Special Late Season

Area for Canada Geese: All areas west

of I–95.

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.

AP Zone: Remainder of the State.

West Virginia

Same zones as for ducks.

Mississippi Flyway

Alabama

Same zones as for ducks, but in

addition:

SJBP Zone: That portion of Morgan

County east of U.S. Highway 31, north

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

231; that portion of Limestone County

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

Madison County south of Swancott

Road and west of Triana Road.

Arkansas

East Zone: Arkansas, Ashley, Chicot,

Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross,

Desha, Drew, Greene, Independence,

Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lee,

Lincoln, Lonoke, Mississippi, Monroe,

Phillips, Poinsett, Prairie, Pulaski,

Randolph, St. Francis, White, and

Woodruff Counties.

West Zone: Baxter, Benton, Boone,

Carroll, Cleburne, Conway, Crawford,

Faulkner, Franklin, Fulton, Izard,

Johnson, Madison, Marion, Newton,

Pope, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, Van Buren,

and Washington Counties, and those

portions of Logan, Perry, Sebastian, and

Yell Counties lying north of a line

extending east from the Oklahoma

border along State Highway 10 to Perry,

south on State 9 to State 60, then east

on State 60 to the Faulkner County line.

Illinois

Same zones as for ducks, but in

addition:

North Zone:

Northern Illinois Quota Zone: The

Counties of McHenry, Lake, Kane,

DuPage, and those portions of LaSalle

and Will Counties north of Interstate

Highway 80.

Central Zone:

Central Illinois Quota Zone: The

Counties of Grundy, Woodford, Peoria,

Knox, Fulton, Tazewell, Mason, Cass,

Morgan, Pike, Calhoun, and Jersey, and

those portions of LaSalle and Will

Counties south of Interstate Highway 80.

South Zone:

Southern Illinois Quota Zone:

Alexander, Jackson, Union, and

Williamson Counties.

Rend Lake Quota Zone: Franklin and

Jefferson Counties.

Indiana

Same zones as for ducks, but in

addition:

SJBP Zone: Jasper, LaGrange, LaPorte,

Starke, and Steuben Counties, and that

portion of the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and

Wildlife Area in Pulaski County.

Iowa

Same zones as for ducks.

Kentucky

Western Zone: That portion of the

State west of a line beginning at the

Tennessee border at Fulton and

extending north along the Purchase

Parkway to Interstate Highway 24, east

along I–24 to U.S. Highway 641, north

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

along U.S. 60 to the Henderson County

line, then south, east, and northerly

along the Henderson County line to the

Indiana border.

Ballard Reporting Area: That area

encompassed by a line beginning at the

northwest city limits of Wickliffe in

Ballard County and extending westward

to the middle of the Mississippi River,

north along the Mississippi River and

along the low-water mark of the Ohio

River on the Illinois shore to the

Ballard-McCracken County line, south

along the county line to Kentucky

Highway 358, south along Kentucky 358

to U.S. Highway 60 at LaCenter; then

southwest along U.S. 60 to the northeast

city limits of Wickliffe.

Henderson-Union Reporting Area:

Henderson County and that portion of

Union County within the Western Zone.

Pennyroyal/Coalfield Zone: Butler,

Daviess, Ohio, Simpson, and Warren

Counties and all counties lying west to

the boundary of the Western Goose

Zone.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 58171

Michigan

Same zones as for ducks, but in

addition:

South Zone:

Tuscola/Huron Goose Management

Unit (GMU): Those portions of Tuscola

and Huron Counties bounded on the

south by Michigan Highway 138 and

Bay City Road, on the east by Colwood

and Bay Port Roads, on the north by

Kilmanagh Road and a line extending

directly west off the end of Kilmanagh

Road into Saginaw Bay to the west

boundary, and on the west by the

Tuscola-Bay County line and a line

extending directly north off the end of

the Tuscola-Bay County line into

Saginaw Bay to the north boundary.

Allegan County GMU: That area

encompassed by a line beginning at the

junction of 136th Avenue and Interstate

Highway 196 in Lake Town Township

and extending easterly along 136th

Avenue to Michigan Highway 40,

southerly along Michigan 40 through

the city of Allegan to 108th Avenue in

Trowbridge Township, westerly along

108th Avenue to 46th Street, northerly

1⁄2 mile along 46th Street to 109th

Avenue, westerly along 109th Avenue to

I–196 in Casco Township, then

northerly along I–196 to the point of

beginning.

Saginaw County GMU: That portion of

Saginaw County bounded by Michigan

Highway 46 on the north; Michigan 52

on the west; Michigan 57 on the south;

and Michigan 13 on the east.

Muskegon Wastewater GMU: That

portion of Muskegon County within the

boundaries of the Muskegon County

wastewater system, east of the

Muskegon State Game Area, in sections

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

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

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

posted.

Special Canada Goose Seasons:

Southern Michigan GMU: That

portion of the State, including the Great

Lakes and interconnecting waterways

and excluding the Allegan County

GMU, south of a line beginning at the

Ontario border at the Bluewater Bridge

in the city of Port Huron and extending

westerly and southerly along Interstate

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

to Michigan Highway 21, westerly along

Michigan 21 to I–96, northerly along I–

96 to I–196, westerly along I–196 to

Lake Michigan Drive (M–45) in Grand

Rapids, westerly along Lake Michigan

Drive to the Lake Michigan shore, then

directly west from the end of Lake

Michigan Drive to the Wisconsin border.

Central Michigan GMU: That portion

of the South Zone north of the Southern

Michigan GMU, excluding the Tuscola/

Huron 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 border, 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 border.

West Central Zone: That area

encompassed by a line beginning at the

intersection of State Trunk Highway

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

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

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

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

U.S. 75 to County State Aid Highway

(CSAH) 30 in Lac qui Parle County, west

along CSAH 30 to the western boundary

of the State, north along the western

boundary of the State to a point due

south of the intersection of STH 7 and

CSAH 7 in Big Stone County, and

continuing due north to said

intersection, then north along CSAH 7

to CSAH 6 in Big Stone County, east

along CSAH 6 to CSAH 21 in Big Stone

County, south along CSAH 21 to CSAH

10 in Big Stone County, east along

CSAH 10 to CSAH 22 in Swift County,

east along CSAH 22 to CSAH 5 in Swift

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

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

County, south along CSAH 17 to CSAH

9 in Chippewa County, south along

CSAH 9 to STH 40, east along STH 40

to STH 29, then south along STH 29 to

the point of beginning.

Lac qui Parle Zone: That area

encompassed by a line beginning at the

intersection of U.S. Highway 212 and

County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 27 in

Lac qui Parle County and extending

north along CSAH 27 to CSAH 20 in Lac

qui Parle County, west along CSAH 20

to State Trunk Highway (STH) 40, north

along STH 40 to STH 119, north along

STH 119 to CSAH 34 in Lac qui Parle

County, west along CSAH 34 to CSAH

19 in Lac qui Parle County, north and

west along CSAH 19 to CSAH 38 in Lac

qui Parle County, west along CSAH 38

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

7, east along STH 7 to CSAH 6 in Swift

County, east along CSAH 6 to County

Road 65 in Swift County, south along

County 65 to County 34 in Chippewa

County, south along County 34 to CSAH

12 in Chippewa County, east along

CSAH 12 to CSAH 9 in Chippewa

County, south along CSAH 9 to STH 7,

southeast along STH 7 to Montevideo

and along the municipal boundary of

Montevideo to U.S. 212; then west along

U.S. 212 to the point of beginning.

Northwest Zone: That portion of the

state encompassed by a line extending

east from the North Dakota border along

U.S. Highway 2 to State Trunk Highway

(STH) 32, north along STH 32 to STH

92, east along STH 92 to County State

Aid Highway (CSAH) 2 in Polk County,

north along CSAH 2 to CSAH 27 in

Pennington County, north along CSAH

27 to STH 1, east along STH 1 to CSAH

28 in Pennington County, north along

CSAH 28 to CSAH 54 in Marshall

County, north along CSAH 54 to CSAH

9 in Roseau County, north along CSAH

9 to STH 11, west along STH 11 to STH

310, and north along STH 310 to the

Manitoba border.

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:

North Zone:

Swan Lake Zone: That area bounded

by U.S. Highway 36 on the north,

Missouri Highway 5 on the east,

Missouri 240 and U.S. 65 on the south,

and U.S. 65 on the west.

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

58172 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

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 border to Clarksville and U.S.

Highway 79 from Clarksville to the

Kentucky border.

Wisconsin

Horicon Zone: That area encompassed

by a line beginning at the intersection of

State Highway 21 and the Fox River in

Winnebago County and extending

westerly along State 21 to the west

boundary of Winnebago County,

southerly along the west boundary of

Winnebago County to the north

boundary of Green Lake County,

westerly along the north boundaries of

Green Lake and Marquette Counties to

State 22, southerly along State 22 to

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

Highway 16, westerly along U.S. 16 to

Weyh Road, southerly along Weyh Road

to County Highway O, southerly along

County O to the west boundary of

Section 31, southerly along the west

boundary of Section 31 to the Sauk/

Columbia County boundary, southerly

along the Sauk/Columbia County

boundary to State 33, easterly along

State 33 to Interstate Highway 90/94,

southerly along I–90/94 to State 60,

easterly along State 60 to State 83,

northerly along State 83 to State 175,

northerly along State 175 to State 33,

easterly along State 33 to U.S. Highway

45, northerly along U.S. 45 to the east

shore of the Fond Du Lac River,

northerly along the east shore of the

Fond Du Lac River to Lake Winnebago,

northerly along the western shoreline of

Lake Winnebago to the Fox River, then

westerly along the Fox River to State 21.

Collins Zone: That area encompassed

by a line beginning at the intersection of

Hilltop Road and Collins Marsh Road in

Manitowoc County and extending

westerly along Hilltop Road to Humpty

Dumpty Road, southerly along Humpty

Dumpty Road to Poplar Grove Road,

easterly and southerly along Poplar

Grove Road to County Highway JJ,

southeasterly along County JJ to Collins

Road, southerly along Collins Road to

the Manitowoc River, southeasterly

along the Manitowoc River to Quarry

Road, northerly along Quarry Road to

Einberger Road, northerly along

Einberger Road to Moschel Road,

westerly along Moschel Road to Collins

Marsh Road, northerly along Collins

Marsh Road to Hilltop Road.

Exterior Zone: That portion of the

State not included in the Horicon or

Collins Zones.

Mississippi River Subzone: That area

encompassed by a line beginning at the

intersection of the Burlington Northern

& Santa Fe Railway and the Illinois

border 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 border.

Rock Prairie Subzone: That area

encompassed by a line beginning at the

intersection of the Illinois border and

Interstate Highway 90 and extending

north along I–90 to County Highway A,

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

southeast along U.S. 12 to State

Highway 50, west along State 50 to State

120, then south along 120 to the Illinois

border.

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 lands

in Adams, Boulder, Clear Creek, Denver,

Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld

Counties west of I–25 from the

Wyoming border south to I–70; west on

I–70 to the Continental Divide; north

along the Continental Divide to the

Jackson-Larimer County Line to the

Wyoming border.

South Park/San Luis Valley Area:

Alamosa, Chaffee, Conejos, Costilla,

Custer, Fremont, Lake, Park, Teller, and

Rio Grande Counties and those portions

of Hinsdale, Mineral, and Saguache

Counties east of the Continental Divide.

North Park Area: Jackson County.

Arkansas Valley Area: Baca, Bent,

Crowley, Kiowa, Otero, and Prowers

Counties.

Pueblo County Area: Pueblo County.

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.

Kansas

Light Geese

Unit 1: That portion of Kansas east of

a line beginning at the intersection of

the Nebraska border and KS 99,

extending south along KS 99 to I–70 to

U.S. 75, south on U.S. 75 to U.S. 54,

west on U.S. 54 to KS 99, and then

south on KS 99 to the Oklahoma border.

Unit 2: The remainder of Kansas,

laying west of Unit 1.

Dark Geese

Marais des Cygnes Valley Unit: The

area is bounded by the Missouri border

to KS 68, KS 68 to U.S. 169, U.S. 169

to KS 7, KS 7 to KS 31, KS 31 to U.S.

69, U.S. 69 to KS 239, KS 239 to the

Missouri border.

Southeast Unit: That part of Kansas

bounded by a line from the KansasMissouri State line west on US–160 to

its junction with US–69, then north on

US–69 to its junction with K–39, then

west on K–39 to its junction with US–

169, then south on US–169 to its

junction with the Kansas-Oklahoma

State line, then east on the KansasOklahoma State line to its junction with

the Kansas-Missouri State line, then

north on the Kansas-Missouri State line

to its junction with US–160, except

Federal and State sanctuaries.

Montana (Central Flyway Portion)

Sheridan County: Includes all of

Sheridan County.

Remainder: Includes the remainder of

the Central Flyway portion of Montana.

Nebraska

Dark Geese

North Unit: Keya Paha County east of

U.S. 183 and all of Boyd County,

including the boundary waters of the

Niobrara River, all of Knox County and

that portion of Cedar County west of

U.S. 81.

Platte River Unit: That area south and

west of U.S. 281 at the Kansas/Nebraska

border, north to Giltner Road (near

Doniphan), east to NE 14, north to NE

91, west to U.S. 183, south to NE 92,

west to NE 61, north to U.S. 2, west to

the intersection of Garden, Grant, and

Sheridan counties, then west along the

northern border of Garden, Morrill, and

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 58173

Scotts Bluff counties to the Wyoming

border.

Northcentral Unit: That area north of

the Southcentral Unit and west of U.S.

183.

East Unit: The remainder of Nebraska.

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 US 30 at Grand Island,

north and east on U.S. 30 to NE 92, east

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

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

on U.S. 281 to the beginning.

Remainder of State: The remainder

portion of Nebraska.

New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion)

Dark Geese

Middle Rio Grande Valley Unit:

Sierra, Socorro, and Valencia counties.

Remainder: The remainder of the

Central Flyway portion of New Mexico.

South Dakota

Canada Geese

Unit 1: Statewide except for Units 2,

3 and 4.

Big Stone Power Plant Area: That

portion of Grant and Roberts Counties

east of SD 15 and north of SD 20.

Unit 2: Brule, Buffalo, Campbell,

Charles Mix, Dewey, Gregory, Hughes,

Hyde, Lyman, Potter, Stanley, Sully,

and Walworth Counties and that portion

of Corson County east of South Dakota

State Highway 65.

Unit 3: Clark, Codington, Day, Deuel,

Grant, Hamlin, Marshall, and Roberts

Counties.

Unit 4: Bennett County.

Texas

West Unit: That portion of the State

laying west of a line from the

international toll bridge at Laredo; north

along I–35 and I–35W to Fort Worth;

northwest along U.S. 81 and U.S. 287 to

Bowie; and north along U.S. 81 to the

Oklahoma border.

East Unit: Remainder of State.

Wyoming (Central Flyway Portion)

Area 1: Hot Springs, Natrona, and

Washakie Counties, and that portion of

Park County south of T58N.

Area 2: Converse and Platte County.

Area 3: Albany, Big Horn, Campbell,

Crook, Fremont, Johnson, Laramie,

Niobrara, Sheridan, and Weston

Counties and those portions of Carbon

County east of the Continental Divide

and Park County north of T58N.

Area 4: Goshen County.

Pacific Flyway

Arizona

GMU 1 and 27: Game Management

Units 1 and 27.

GMU 22 and 23: Game Management

Units 22 and 23.

Remainder of State: The remainder of

Arizona.

California

Northeastern Zone: That portion of

the State east and north of a line

beginning at the Oregon border; south

and west along the Klamath River to the

mouth of Shovel Creek; south along

Shovel Creek to Forest Service Road

46N10; south and east along FS 46N10

to FS 45N22; west and south along FS

45N22 to U.S. 97 at Grass Lake Summit;

south and west along U.S. 97 to I–5 at

the town of Weed; south along I–5 to CA

89; east and south along CA 89 to the

junction with CA 49; east and north on

CA 49 to CA 70; east on CA 70 to U.S.

395; south and east on U.S. 395 to the

Nevada border.

Colorado River Zone: Those portions

of San Bernardino, Riverside, and

Imperial Counties east of a line

extending from the Nevada border south

along U.S. 95 to Vidal Junction; south

on a road known as ‘‘Aqueduct Road’’

in San Bernardino County through the

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

known in Riverside County as the

‘‘Desert Center to Rice Road’’ to the

town of Desert Center; east 31 miles on

I–10 to the Wiley Well Road; south on

this road to Wiley Well; southeast along

the Army-Milpitas Road to the Blythe,

Brawley, Davis Lake intersections; south

on the Blythe-Brawley paved road to the

Ogilby and Tumco Mine Road; south on

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

U.S. 80 to the Andrade-Algodones Road;

south on this paved road to the Mexican

border at Algodones, Mexico.

Southern Zone: That portion of

southern California (but excluding the

Colorado River Zone) south and east of

a line extending from the Pacific Ocean

east along the Santa Maria River to CA

166 near the City of Santa Maria; east on

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

crest of the Tehachapi Mountains at

Tejon Pass; east and north along the

crest of the Tehachapi Mountains to CA

178 at Walker Pass; east on CA 178 to

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

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

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

CA 127 to the Nevada border.

Balance-of-the-State Zone: The

remainder of California not included in

the Northeastern, Southern, and the

Colorado River Zones.

Del Norte and Humboldt Area: The

Counties of Del Norte and Humboldt.

Sacramento Valley Special

Management Area (East): That area

bounded by a line beginning at the

junction of the Gridley-Colusa Highway

and the Cherokee Canal; west on the

Gridley-Colusa Highway to Gould Road;

west on Gould Road and due west 0.75

miles directly to Highway 45; south on

Highway 45 to Highway 20; east on

Highway 20 to West Butte Road; north

on West Butte Road to Pass Road; west

on Pass Road to West Butte Road; north

on West Butte Road to North Butte

Road; west on North Butte Road and

due west 0.5 miles directly to the

Cherokee Canal; north on the Cherokee

Canal to the point of beginning.

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.

San Joaquin Valley Special

Management Area: That area bounded

by a line beginning at the intersection of

Highway 5 and Highway 120; south on

Highway 5 to Highway 33; southeast on

Highway 33 to Crows Landing Road;

north on Crows Landing Road to

Highway 99; north on Highway 99 to

Highway 120; west on Highway 120 to

the point of beginning.

Western Canada Goose Hunt Area:

That portion of the above described

Sacramento Valley Area lying east of a

line formed by Butte Creek from the

Gridley-Colusa Highway south to the

Cherokee Canal; easterly along the

Cherokee Canal and North Butte Road to

West Butte Road; southerly on West

Butte Road to Pass Road; easterly on

Pass Road to West Butte Road; southerly

on West Butte Road to CA 20; and

westerly along CA 20 to the Sacramento

River.

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.

58174 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

Idaho

Zone 1: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary,

Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah,

Lewis, Nez Perce, and Shoshone

Counties.

Zone 2: The Counties of Ada; Adams;

Boise; Canyon; those portions of Elmore

north and east of I–84, and south and

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

Camas Creek drainage; Gem; Owyhee

west of ID 51; Payette; Valley; and

Washington.

Zone 3: The Counties of Blaine;

Camas; Cassia; those portions of Elmore

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

the Camas Creek drainage; Gooding;

Jerome; Lincoln; Minidoka; Owyhee east

of ID 51; Power within the Minidoka

National Wildlife Refuge; and Twin

Falls.

Zone 4: The Counties of Bear Lake;

Bingham within the Blackfoot Reservoir

drainage; Bonneville, Butte; Caribou

except the Fort Hall Indian Reservation;

Clark; Custer; Franklin; Fremont;

Jefferson; Lemhi; Madison; Oneida;

Power west of ID 37 and ID 39 except

the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge;

and Teton.

Zone 5: All lands and waters within

the Fort Hall Indian Reservation,

including private inholdings; Bannock

County; Bingham County, except that

portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir

drainage; and Power County east of ID

37 and ID 39.

In addition, goose frameworks are set

by the following geographical areas:

Northern Unit: Benewah, Bonner,

Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai,

Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, and Shoshone

Counties.

Southwestern Unit: That area west of

the line formed by U.S. 93 north from

the Nevada border to Shoshone,

northerly on ID 75 (formerly U.S. 93) to

Challis, northerly on U.S. 93 to the

Montana border (except the Northern

Unit and except Custer and Lemhi

Counties).

Southeastern Unit: That area east of

the line formed by U.S. 93 north from

the Nevada border to Shoshone,

northerly on ID 75 (formerly U.S. 93) to

Challis, northerly on U.S. 93 to the

Montana border, including all of Custer

and Lemhi Counties.

Montana (Pacific Flyway Portion)

East of the Divide Zone: The Pacific

Flyway portion of the State located east

of the Continental Divide.

West of the Divide Zone: The

remainder of the Pacific Flyway portion

of Montana.

Nevada

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: Douglas, Coos,

Curry, Josephine, and Jackson Counties.

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 OR 36; then north on OR 36

to Forest Road 5070 at Brickerville; then

west and south on Forest Road 5070 to

OR 126; then west on OR 126 to the

Pacific Coast.

Northwest Zone: Those portions of

Clackamas, Lane, Linn, Marion,

Multnomah, and Washington Counties

outside of the Northwest Special Permit

Zone.

Closed Zone: Those portions of Coos,

Curry, Douglas and Lane Counties west

of US 101.

Eastern Zone: Hood River, Wasco,

Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, Umatilla,

Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler,

Grant, Baker, Union, and Wallowa

Counties.

Lake County Zone: All of Lake

County.

Utah

Washington County Zone: All of

Washington County.

Remainder-of-the-State Zone: The

remainder of Utah.

Washington

Eastern Washington: All areas east of

the Pacific Crest Trail and east of the Big

White Salmon River in Klickitat County.

Area 1: Lincoln, Spokane, and Walla

Walla Counties; that part of Grant

County east of a line beginning at the

Douglas-Lincoln County line on WA

174, southwest on WA 174 to WA 155,

south on WA 155 to US 2, southwest on

US 2 to Pinto Ridge Road, south on

Pinto Ridge Road to WA 28, east on WA

28 to the Stratford Road, south on the

Stratford Road to WA 17, south on WA

17 to the Grant-Adams County line;

those parts of Adams County east of

State Highway 17; those parts of

Franklin County east and south of a line

beginning at the Adams-Franklin

County line on WA 17, south on WA 17

to US 395, south on US 395 to I–182,

west of I–182 to the Franklin-Benton

County line; those parts of Benton

County south of I–182 and I–82; and

those parts of Klickitat County east of

U.S. Highway 97.

Area 2: All of Okanongan, Douglas,

and Kittitas Counties and those parts of

Grant, Adams, Franklin, and Benton

Counties not included in Eastern

Washington Goose Management Area 1.

Area 3: All other parts of eastern

Washington not included in Eastern

Washington Goose Management Areas 1

and 2.

Western Washington: All areas west of

the East Zone.

Area 1: Skagit, Island, and Snohomish

Counties.

Area 2: Clark County, except portions

south of the Washougal River, Cowlitz,

Pacific, and Wahkiakum Counties, and

that portion of Grays Harbor County

south of U.S. highway 12 and east of

U.S. highway 101.

Area 3: All parts of western

Washington not included in Western

Washington Goose Management Areas 1

and 2.

Lower Columbia River Early-Season

Canada Goose Zone: Beginning at the

Washington-Oregon border on the I–5

Bridge near Vancouver, Washington;

north on I–5 to Kelso; west on Highway

4 from Kelso to Highway 401; south and

west on Highway 401 to Highway 101

at the Astoria-Megler Bridge; west on

Highway 101 to Gray Drive in the City

of Ilwaco; west on Gray Drive to Canby

Road; southwest on Canby Road to the

North Jetty; southwest on the North Jetty

to its end; southeast to the WashingtonOregon border; upstream along the

Washington-Oregon border to the point

of origin.

Wyoming (Pacific Flyway Portion): See

State Regulations

Bear River Area: That portion of

Lincoln County described in State

regulations.

Salt River Area: That portion of

Lincoln County described in State

regulations.

Eden-Farson Area: Those portions of

Sweetwater and Sublette Counties

described in State regulations.

Swans

Central Flyway

South Dakota: Aurora, Beadle,

Brookings, Brown, Brule, Buffalo,

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 27, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 58175

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. 00–24611 Filed 9–26–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P