II 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2942 

To amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to establish January 31 of each 

year as the Federal closing date for duck hunting season and to establish 

special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and active military personnel, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 23, 2018 

Mrs. HYDE-SMITH introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 

referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works 

A BILL 

To amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to establish January 31 of each year as the Federal closing date for 

duck hunting season and to establish special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and active military personnel, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Migratory Bird Frame5 work and Hunting Opportunities for Veterans Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. FEDERAL CLOSING DATE FOR HUNTING OF DUCKS, 

2 MERGANSERS, AND COOTS. 

3 Section 3 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 

4 U.S.C. 704) is amended by adding at the end the fol5 lowing: 

6 ‘‘(c) FEDERAL CLOSING DATE FOR HUNTING OF

7 DUCKS, MERGANSERS, AND COOTS.— 

8 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In promulgating regula9 tions under subsection (a) relating to a framework 

10 for migratory bird hunting, except as provided in 

11 paragraph (2), the Secretary shall establish January 

12 31 of each year as the Federal closing date of the 

13 hunting season for ducks, mergansers, and coots. 

14 ‘‘(2) SPECIAL DUCK HUNTING DAYS FOR

15 YOUTHS, VETERANS, AND ACTIVE MILITARY PER16 SONNEL.—Notwithstanding the closing date under 

17 paragraph (1), the Secretary shall allow youths, vet18 erans (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United 

19 States Code), and members of the Armed Forces on 

20 active duty, including members of the National 

21 Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than for 

22 training), to hunt ducks, mergansers, and coots dur23 ing the first weekend in February of each year. 

24 ‘‘(3) PROHIBITION.—With respect to ducks, 

25 mergansers, and coots, the Secretary shall not de26 crease the length of the hunting season or bag limit, 


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1 as compared to the length of the hunting season and 

2 bag limit for the 2017–2018 hunting season, in— 

3 ‘‘(A) the Atlantic flyway; 

4 ‘‘(B) the Mississippi flyway; 

5 ‘‘(C) the Central flyway; or 

6 ‘‘(D) the Pacific flyway. 

7 ‘‘(4) REGULATIONS.— 

8 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 

9 days after the date of enactment of this sub10 section, the Secretary shall promulgate regula11 tions in accordance with this subsection. 

12 ‘‘(B) 2018–2019 MIGRATORY BIRD HUNT13 ING SEASON.—The Secretary shall modify the 

14 proposed rule entitled ‘Migratory Bird Hunting; 

15 Proposed Frameworks for Migratory Bird 

16 Hunting Regulations’ (83 Fed. Reg. 4964 (Feb17 ruary 2, 2018)) if, before the date of enactment 

18 of this subsection— 

19 ‘‘(i) the proposed rule has been final20 ized; and 

21 ‘‘(ii) the 2018–2019 duck hunting 

22 season has not commenced in— 

23 ‘‘(I) the Atlantic flyway; 

24 ‘‘(II) the Mississippi flyway; 

25 ‘‘(III) the Central flyway; or 


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1 ‘‘(IV) the Pacific flyway.’’. 

Æ 


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