Part II

Federal Register: September 25, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 187)

Rules and Regulations

Page 55601-55627

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr25se08-13

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Part II

Department of the Interior

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 20

Migratory Bird Hunting; Final Frameworks for Late-Season Migratory Bird

Hunting Regulations; Final Rule

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 20

FWS-R9-MB-2008-0032; 91200-1231-9BPP-L2

RIN 1018-AV62

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 (Service or we) prescribes final late-season frameworks from which States may select season dates, limits, and other options for the 2008-09 migratory bird hunting seasons. These late seasons include most waterfowl seasons, the earliest of which commences on September 27, 2008. The effect of this final rule is to facilitate the States' selection of hunting seasons and to further the annual establishment of the late-season migratory bird hunting regulations.

DATES: This rule takes effect on September 25, 2008.

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 MBSP-4107-ARLSQ, 1849 C Street, NW.,

Washington, DC 20240. You may inspect comments during normal business hours at our office in room 4107, 4501 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington,

Virginia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Blohm, Chief, or Ron W. Kokel,

Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

(703) 358-1714.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulations Schedule for 2008

On May 28, 2008, we published in the Federal Register (73 FR 30712) a proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20. The proposal provided a background and overview of the migratory bird hunting regulations process, and dealt with the establishment of seasons, limits, and other regulations for hunting migratory game birds under Sec. Sec. 20.101 through 20.107, 20.109, and 20.110 of subpart K. Major steps in the 2008-09 regulatory cycle relating to open public meetings and Federal Register notifications were also identified in the May 28 proposed rule.

Further, we explained that all sections of subsequent documents outlining hunting frameworks and guidelines were organized under numbered headings.

On June 18, 2008, we published in the Federal Register (73 FR 34692) a second document providing supplemental proposals for early- and late-season migratory bird hunting regulations. The June 18 supplement also provided detailed information on the 2008-09 regulatory schedule and announced the SRC and Flyway Council meetings.

On June 25 and 26, we held open meetings with the Flyway Council

Consultants, at which the participants reviewed information on the current status of migratory shore and upland game birds and developed recommendations for the 2008-09 regulations for these species plus regulations for migratory game birds in Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the

Virgin Islands; special September waterfowl seasons in designated

States; special sea duck seasons in the Atlantic Flyway; and extended falconry seasons. In addition, we reviewed and discussed preliminary information on the status of waterfowl as it relates to the development and selection of the regulatory packages for the 2008-09 regular waterfowl seasons. On July 24, 2008, we published in the Federal

Register (73 FR 43290) a third document specifically dealing with the proposed frameworks for early-season regulations. On August 27, 2008, we published in the Federal Register (73 FR 50678) a rulemaking establishing final frameworks for early-season migratory bird hunting regulations for the 2008-09 season. Subsequently, on August 29, 2008, we published a final rule in the Federal Register (73 FR 51088) amending subpart K of title 50 CFR part 20 to set hunting seasons, hours, areas, and limits for early seasons.

On July 30-31, 2008, we held open meetings with the Flyway Council

Consultants, at which the participants reviewed the status of waterfowl and developed recommendations for the 2008-09 regulations for these species. On August 29, 2008, we published in the Federal Register (73

FR 51124) the proposed frameworks for the 2008-09 late-season migratory bird hunting regulations. This document establishes final frameworks for late-season migratory bird hunting regulations for the 2008-09 season. We will publish State selections in the Federal Register as amendments to Sec. Sec. 20.101 through 20.107, and 20.109 of title 50

CFR part 20.

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 29 supplemental proposed rule. For more detailed information on methodologies and results, complete copies of the various reports are available at the address indicated under ADDRESSES or from our Web site at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/reports/reports.html.

Review of Public Comments and Flyway Council Recommendations

The preliminary proposed rulemaking, which appeared in the May 28, 2008, Federal Register, opened the public comment period for migratory game bird hunting regulations. The supplemental proposed rule, which appeared in the June 18, 2008, Federal Register, discussed the regulatory alternatives for the 2008-09 duck hunting season. Late- season comments are summarized below and numbered in the order used in the May 28 and June 18 Federal Register documents. We have included only the numbered items pertaining to late-season issues for which we received written comments. Consequently, the issues do not follow in direct numerical or alphabetical order.

We received recommendations from all four Flyway Councils. Some recommendations supported continuation of last year's frameworks. Due to the comprehensive nature of the annual review of the frameworks performed by the Councils, support for continuation of last year's frameworks is assumed for items for which no recommendations were received. Council recommendations for changes in the frameworks are summarized below.

General

Written Comments: An individual commenter protested the entire migratory bird hunting regulations process, the killing of all migratory birds, and the Flyway Council process.

Service Response: Our long-term objectives continue to include providing opportunities to harvest portions of certain migratory game bird populations and to limit harvests to levels compatible with each population's ability to maintain healthy, viable numbers. Having taken into account the zones of temperature and the distribution, abundance, economic value, breeding habits, and times and lines of flight of migratory birds, we believe that the hunting seasons provided herein are compatible with the current status of migratory bird populations and long-term population goals. Additionally, we are obligated to, and do, give serious consideration to all

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information received as public comment. While there are problems inherent with any type of representative management of public-trust resources, we believe that the Flyway-Council system of migratory bird management has been a longstanding example of State-Federal cooperative management since its establishment in 1952. However, as always, we continue to seek new ways to streamline and improve the process. 1. Ducks

Categories used to discuss issues related to duck harvest management are: (

1. 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.

1. Harvest Strategy Considerations

   Council Recommendations: The Atlantic and Pacific Flyway Councils and the Upper- and Lower-Regulations Committees of the Mississippi

   Flyway Council recommended the adoption of the ``liberal'' regulatory alternative.

   The Mississippi Flyway Council opposed the implementation of the western mallard Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM) protocol and recommended the midcontinent mallard AHM protocol should be used for all three western Flyways.

   The Central Flyway Council also recommended the ``liberal'' alternative. However, as part of their Hunter's Choice experiment, they recommended continuation of the following bag limits:

   In Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, the daily bag limit would be six ducks, with species and sex restrictions as follows: five mallards (no more than two of which may be females), two redheads, two scaup, two wood ducks, one pintail, one mottled duck, and one canvasback. For pintails and canvasbacks, the season length would be 39 days, which may be split according to applicable zones/split duck hunting configurations approved for each State.

   In Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, the daily bag limit would be five ducks, with species and sex restrictions as follows: two scaup, two redheads, and two wood ducks, and only one from the following group--hen mallards, mottled ducks, pintails, canvasbacks.

   Written Comments: The Wisconsin Conservation Congress and the

   Wisconsin Waterfowl Association opposed the removal of the Alaskan mallards from the mid-continent mallard stock.

   Service Response: As we stated in the August 29 proposed rule, we are continuing development of an AHM protocol that would allow hunting regulations to vary among Flyways in a manner that recognizes each

   Flyway's unique breeding-ground derivation of mallards. In the July 24

   Federal Register, we described and adopted a protocol for regulatory decision-making for the newly defined stock of western mallards. For the 2008 hunting season, we believe that the prescribed regulatory choice for the Pacific Flyway should be based on the status of this western mallard breeding stock, while the regulatory choice for the

   Mississippi and Central Flyways should depend on the status of the recently redefined mid-continent mallard stock. In defining the western breeding stock, based on available data, mallards breeding in Alaska were disassociated with the mid-continent mallard stock and reassigned to the western stock. We also recommend that the regulatory choice for the Atlantic Flyway continue to depend on the status of eastern mallards.

   For the 2008 hunting season, we considered the same regulatory alternatives as those used last year. The nature of the restrictive, moderate, and liberal alternatives has remained essentially unchanged since 1997, except that extended framework dates have been offered in the moderate and liberal regulatory alternatives since 2002. Also, in 2003, we agreed to place a constraint on closed seasons in the western three Flyways whenever the midcontinent mallard breeding-population size (as defined prior to 2008; traditional survey area plus Minnesota,

   Michigan, and Wisconsin) was >=5.5 million. As we described in the July 24 Federal Register, redefinition of the midcontinent mallard stock through the removal of Alaska necessitated that both the population constraint (North American Waterfowl Management Plan goal plus

   Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin) and the closed season constraint in the midcontinent mallard objective function be rescaled to 8.5 million and 4.75 million, respectively, in order to appropriately reflect the change in stock definition and to achieve performance of the mid- continent mallard strategy that is comparable to performance prior to the stock redefinition.

   Optimal AHM strategies for the 2008 hunting season were calculated using: (1) Harvest-management objectives specific to each mallard stock; (2) the 2008 regulatory alternatives; and (3) current population models and associated weights for midcontinent, western, and eastern mallards. Based on this year's survey results of 7.87 million midcontinent mallards (traditional survey area minus Alaska plus

   Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan), 3.06 million ponds in Prairie

   Canada, 913.8 thousand western mallards (381.1 and 532.4 thousand, respectively, in California-Oregon and Alaska), and 815 thousand eastern mallards, the prescribed regulatory choice for all four Flyways is the liberal alternative.

   Therefore, we concur with the recommendations of the Atlantic,

   Mississippi, Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils regarding selection of the ``liberal'' regulatory alternative and will adopt the

   ``liberal'' regulatory alternative, as described in the June 18 Federal

   Register.

   Regarding Hunter's Choice, we support continuation of the Central

   Flyway Council's recommendation for a 3-year evaluation of the Central

   Flyway's Hunter's Choice duck bag limit. The Central Flyway's Hunter's

   Choice regulations are intended to limit harvest on pintails and canvasbacks in a manner similar to the season-within-a-season regulations. Hunter's Choice regulations should also reduce harvests of mottled ducks and hen mallards, while maintaining full hunting opportunity on abundant species such as drake mallards. For the species included in the aggregate bag limit, the harvest of one species is intended to ``buffer'' the harvest of the others, thus reducing the harvest of all species included in the one-bird category. The Central

   Flyway has accumulated 4 years of baseline information on harvests resulting from ``season-within-a-season'' regulations in the Central

   Flyway; the season length for pintails and canvasbacks in season- within-a-season States under the ``liberal'' alternative will be 39 days.

   Five States (Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and

   Wyoming) were randomly assigned to Hunter's Choice regulations and the remaining five States (Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, and

   Oklahoma) serve as controls (season-within-a-season regulations) as the evaluation proceeds. The overall duck daily bag limit is reduced from six to five for the Hunter's Choice States.

   While we continue to support the Central Flyway's Hunter's Choice experiment, we reiterate that we believe implementation of this experiment should not preclude any future changes in hunting regulations that may be deemed necessary on an annual basis for any other duck species in the Central

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   Flyway, if such changes are deemed necessary.

   Regarding the Mississippi Flyway Council's opposition to the western mallard AHM protocol, we have cooperated with the Pacific

   Flyway during the past several years to develop a protocol for managing the harvest of the western stock of mallards. As we discussed above, in

   July 2008, we formally adopted the western mallard protocol (73 FR 43290). This decision resulted in Alaska mallards being removed from the midcontinent mallard stock and placing them in the western mallard stock. This change resulted in a 70 percent increase (10 to 17 percent) in the frequency of closed seasons in the Central and Mississippi

   Flyways under the midcontinent mallard AHM protocol. As we also discussed above, to address this concern, we modified the closed season constraint for midcontinent mallards from 5.25 to 4.75 million mallards. This change is also consistent with changes in mallard breeding populations in Alaska over the past 2 decades, and therefore, expresses the closed season constraint in terms of more contemporary mallard breeding distributions.

   We recognize the concerns expressed by the Mississippi Flyway

   Council with regard to implementation of the western mallard protocol.

   However, we believe that establishment of a western mallard protocol is justified, and we have made an appropriate adjustment to the midcontinent mallard protocol to reduce the impact of removing Alaska from that stock of birds. With regard to potential impacts of higher frequency of liberal seasons in the Pacific Flyway on midcontinent mallards, a preliminary joint optimization of western and midcontinent mallards was assessed. The preliminary analysis suggested that joint optimization does not result in a significant difference in the performance of either protocol. Therefore, we believe an independent harvest strategy for western mallards poses little risk to the midcontinent stock. With regard to the potential impacts of near- permanent liberal regulations in the Pacific Flyway on other species of waterfowl, it is presently unclear how such impacts would be assessed.

   However, we are committed to monitoring of these potential impacts and will discuss any findings with all of the Flyway Councils prior to implementing any appropriate regulatory changes to address such impacts.

2. Regulatory Alternatives

   Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended that the Service propose a process and time line by June 2009 for review and modification of the regulatory alternatives for implementation by the 2011 season.

   Service Response: We plan to address this issue within the context of the new Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the migratory bird hunting program (see NEPA Consideration for further discussion) and anticipate the issuance of the draft SEIS by the date desired by the Atlantic Flyway Council.

4. Special Seasons/Species Management iii. Black Ducks

   Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended that black duck harvest regulations remain unchanged for the 2008-09 season.

   Service Response: In the July 24 Federal Register we described the black duck interim harvest strategy developed by U.S. and Canadian waterfowl managers that will be employed by both countries to make regulatory decisions over the next three seasons (2008-09 to 2010-11), allowing time for the development of a formal strategy based on the principles of AHM. The interim harvest strategy is prescriptive, in that it calls for no substantive changes in hunting regulations unless the black duck breeding population, averaged over the most recent 3 years, exceeds or falls below the long-term average breeding population by 15 percent or more. The strategy is designed to share the black duck harvest equally between the two countries; however, recognizing incomplete control of harvest through regulations, it will allow realized harvest in either country to vary between 40 and 60 percent.

   The 2008 composite estimate (based on hierarchical modeling and both Service and Canadian Wildlife Service survey data) for the Eastern

   Survey Area is 683,400. The 1998-2007 mean estimate is 713,800 and the most recent 3-year running mean estimate is 721,6000. Based on these estimates, we agree with the Atlantic Flyway Council that no restriction or liberalization of harvest is warranted. iv. Canvasbacks

   Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended a full season for canvasbacks consisting of a 1-bird daily bag limit and a 60-day season in the Atlantic Flyway.

   The Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the

   Mississippi Flyway Council reiterated their recommended alternative canvasback harvest management strategy that uses threshold levels based on breeding population size in order to determine bag limits (detailed in the June 18 Federal Register). Using their strategy would result in a 1-bird daily bag limit and a 60-day season in the Mississippi Flyway.

   The Central Flyway Council, as part of their Hunter's Choice experiment, recommended a full season (74 days) for canvasbacks with a 1-bird daily bag limit in Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming and a 39-day season with a 1-bird daily bag limit in

   Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

   The Pacific Flyway Council recommended a closed season for canvasbacks.

   Written Comments: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

   (Minnesota) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

   (Wisconsin) expressed concern over our proposal to close the canvasback season. Minnesota believed that basing this decision solely on the results of the current model was inappropriate. They urged us to consider the Mississippi Flyway Council's recommendation. Wisconsin also supported the Mississippi Flyway Council's recommendation and suggested that our 2008 breeding population estimate was likely to be low.

   The Wisconsin Waterfowl Association stated that we had arbitrarily closed the canvasback season and that our survey figures were unacceptable and unbelievable. Similarly, the Wisconsin Wildlife

   Federation and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress also expressed frustration with the proposed canvasback closure and supported the

   Mississippi Flyway Council's recommendation for an open season using threshold levels based on breeding population size in order to determine bag limits.

   One individual expressed skepticism in the accuracy of the canvasback harvest strategy and population estimate.

   Service Response: Since 1994, we have followed a canvasback harvest strategy that if canvasback population status and production are sufficient to permit a harvest of one canvasback per day nationwide for the entire length of the regular duck season, while still attaining a projected spring population objective of 500,000 birds, the season on canvasbacks should be opened. A partial season would be permitted if the estimated allowable harvest was within the projected harvest for a shortened season. If neither of these conditions

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   can be met, the harvest strategy calls for a closed season on canvasbacks nationwide. In the July 24 Federal Register we announced our decision to modify the Canvasback Harvest Strategy to incorporate the option for a 2-bird daily bag limit for canvasbacks when the predicted breeding population the subsequent year exceeds 725,000 birds.

   This year's spring survey resulted in an estimate of 489,000 canvasbacks. This was 44 percent below the 2007 estimate of 865,000 canvasbacks and 14 percent below the 1955-2007 average. The estimate of ponds in Prairie Canada was 3.06 million, which was 39 percent below last year and 11 percent below the long-term average. According to the

   Canvasback Harvest Strategy, the allowable harvest in the conterminous

   United States is 24,700 birds, which is less than the expected harvest in the United States for all four flyways under their respective restrictive season lengths (61,758 birds). Thus, the Canvasback Harvest

   Strategy stipulates a canvasback season closure for the upcoming season.

   Last year, the estimate of canvasback abundance was a record-high of 865,000 birds. In response to Flyway requests for additional harvest opportunities due to that estimate, we increased the daily bag limit to 2 birds per day. As expected, the harvest of canvasbacks increased last year, but not to the extent that could explain the large decrease in the estimate of canvasback abundance this spring. We have conducted a comprehensive review of canvasback survey information, with a particular focus on the change in estimates between 2007 and 2008.

   Investigations into the estimation procedures for canvasbacks revealed that numbers of canvasbacks observed during the May survey increased across many survey areas last year, but counts were consistently lower in those same areas this spring. We found no anomalies in the data, leading us to conclude with confidence that the estimate this year is as reliable as previous estimates. Annual canvasback estimates typically have higher variances than for most other species counted during May, and large changes from year-to-year have happened historically. It is possible that the discrepancy between this year's estimate and last year's record-high estimate are purely the result of sampling variation, but other factors may have contributed.

   However, we support the completion of the Hunter's Choice experiment in the Central Flyway. For the last 2 years, the average harvest of canvasbacks in the U.S. portion of the Central Flyway has been about 14,800 birds. This, together with the average expected harvest in Alaska (350 birds), is below the allowable U.S. harvest resulting from the strategy this year. Thus, we will allow the States in the Central Flyway an open season on canvasbacks this year according to the Hunter's Choice experimental design, but the seasons on canvasbacks would be closed in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Pacific

   Flyways. v. Pintails

   Council Recommendations: The Atlantic and Pacific Flyway Councils and the Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the

   Mississippi Flyway Council recommended a full season for pintails consisting of a 1-bird daily bag limit and a 60-day season in the

   Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, and a 107-day season in the Pacific

   Flyway.

   The Central Flyway Council, as part of their Hunter's Choice experiment, recommended a full season (74 days) for pintails with a 1- bird daily bag limit in Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and

   Wyoming and a 39-day season with a 1-bird daily bag limit in Colorado,

   Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

   Service Response: Based on the current strategy, along with an observed spring breeding population of 2.61 million, an overflight- bias-corrected breeding population of 4.24 million and a projected fall flight of 4.47 million pintails, the Pintail Harvest Strategy prescribes a full season and a 1-bird bag in all Flyways. Under the

   ``liberal'' season length, this regulation is expected to result in a harvest of 569,000 pintails and an observed breeding population estimate of 3.53 million in 2009, not considering any potential effect from continuation of the Hunter's Choice evaluation in the Central

   Flyway.

   Furthermore, we agree with the Central Flyway Council's recommendation to adopt a 39-day ``season-within-a-season'' for pintails in Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. We understand that this departure from the pintail strategy is a necessary part of the experimental ``Hunter's Choice'' season. vi. Scaup

   Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended that the following regulatory packages for scaup be allowed for the

   Atlantic Flyway for the next 3 years and that we use their harvest prediction methodology to predict scaup harvests in the Atlantic

   Flyway:

   (1) Under the restrictive harvest policy, a 40-day season with a 1- bird daily bag and a 20-day season with a 2-bird daily bag. The 20 days with the 2 bird daily bag shall be 20 consecutive hunting days;

   (2) Under the moderate harvest policy, a 60-day season with a 2- bird daily bag; and

   (3) Under the liberal harvest policy, a 60-day season with a 4-bird daily bag.

   For 2008-09, the Council recommended implementation of the restrictive season package, based on results of the scaup harvest model.

   The Upper- and Lower Regulations Committees of the Mississippi

   Flyway Council recommended a 60-day season with a 2-bird daily bag limit for the 2008-09 season. They further recommended a restrictive and moderate regulatory package of 60 days with a 2-bird daily bag limit and a liberal regulatory package of 60 days with a 4-bird daily bag limit.

   The Central Flyway Council recommended the continuation of the

   Hunter's Choice bag limit for the 2008-09 season. After completion of the Hunter's Choice experiment, the Central Flyway Council recommends the following potential scaup regulatory alternatives (season lengths and daily bag limits) for Central Flyway States:

   (1) Restrictive Policy--74 days with a 1-bird daily bag limit;

   (2) Moderate Policy--74 days with a 2-bird daily bag limit; and

   (3) Liberal Policy--74 days with a 6-bird daily bag limit.

   The Pacific Flyway Council recommended the adoption of the following scaup regulation packages for the Pacific Flyway for the next 3 years:

   (1) Restrictive season package: 86 days, 2 bag limit.

   (2) Moderate season package: 86 days, 3 bag limit.

   (3) Liberal season package: 107 days, 7 bag limit.

   In addition, the Pacific Flyway Council requested that split and zone configurations be available to individual States for scaup seasons, similar to the split and zone options we previously provided for pintail seasons. For 2008-09, the Council recommended implementation of the restrictive season package, based on results of the scaup harvest model.

   Written Comments: The Mississippi Flyway Council requested consideration of an alternative restrictive regulatory option for the 2008-09 season. The Council proposed a 45-day season with a 2-bird daily bag and a 15-day season with a 1-bird daily bag. Under their regulatory option, the Council estimates that the harvest would be 84,000 scaup,

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   a level similar to the Service's target harvest level of 83,000 scaup for the Mississippi Flyway.

   The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (Minnesota) and the

   Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Wisconsin) both expressed concern over implementation of the proposed scaup harvest strategy and requested the Service reconsider its proposal. Minnesota recognized the declines in the scaup population but believed that reduction in harvest are not likely to lead to future breeding population increases. They further question the use of the scaup harvest strategy and support the

   Mississippi Flyway Council's recommendation. Wisconsin also supported efforts to reverse the long-term decline in scaup populations but believed that harvest is not the driving factor. They believe the

   Service's proposal is unreasonably restrictive.

   The Wisconsin Waterfowl Association expressed support for the

   Mississippi Flyway Council's recommendation of a 45-day season with a 2-bird daily bag and a 15-day season with a 1-bird daily bag. The

   Wisconsin Conservation Congress supported a 60-day season with a 2-bird daily bag limit.

   Delta Waterfowl Foundation recommended delaying implementation of the scaup harvest strategy until the Service could fully consider the recommendations of the scaup harvest strategy review panel (see July 24

   Federal Register). They remain deeply opposed to both the process in and the implementation of the scaup harvest strategy.

   The Oneida Lake Association opposed proposals for scaup harvest reductions and urged the Service to develop an improved harvest model supported by all stakeholders.

   Twelve individuals expressed displeasure with the proposed implementation of the scaup harvest strategy. They raised various concerns related to the potential impacts of the strategy on diving duck hunters and the validity of the scaup harvest model. Most did not believe that harvest reductions were warranted this season. Several other individuals expressed support for our proposal.

   Service Response: As we have stated over the last several years, the continental scaup (greater Aythya marila and lesser Aythya affinis combined) population has experienced a long-term decline over the past 20 years. Over the past several years in particular, we have continued to express our growing concern about the status of scaup (see the May 28 Federal Register for a review of the actions we have taken over the last few years to synthesize data relevant to scaup harvest management and frame a scientifically-sound scaup harvest strategy or for a complete list of reports see http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/reports/ reports.html).

   In the July 24 Federal Register, we adopted a scaup harvest strategy that resulted from 5 years of development and review in cooperation with the Flyway Councils. The 2008 scaup breeding population estimate was 3.74 million. Total estimated scaup harvest in 2007-08 was 295,000. Employing these estimates as the input to the scaup harvest strategy, the optimal harvest for the 2008-09 hunting season is 200,000 (including the 40,000 scaup harvest expected in

   Canada and Alaska). The available harvest results in a recommendation for a restrictive package in all four Flyways (except Alaska).

   We appreciate the time and attention that the Flyways have given this issue. We further support the recommendations received from the

   Atlantic, Central and Pacific Flyways for their restrictive, moderate and liberal packages for scaup. We also support the packages recommended by the Mississippi Flyway for their moderate and liberal packages. However, the restrictive package originally recommended by the Mississippi Flyway (see Council Recommendations above) is not projected to be sufficient to achieve the required harvest reductions.

   In further consultation with the Mississippi Flyway Consultants at the

   July SRC meeting, we accepted the same season structure recommended by the Atlantic Flyway for restrictive seasons in the Mississippi Flyway that is expected to result in a harvest that is within the allowable allocation for the Mississippi Flyway (as a portion of the 200,000 indicated above).

   In addition, we have adopted the alternative harvest prediction models suggested by the Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Flyway Councils

   (see July 24 Federal Register for additional discussion). We also support the proposal by the Pacific Flyway to afford States the opportunity to use their existing zone/split rules for their respective

   States when choosing scaup season frameworks.

   Regarding the new recommendation from the Mississippi Flyway

   Council in response to our August 29 proposed rule (see Written

   Comments above), as we stated above, we continue to support the recommendations for scaup season structures of the Atlantic, Central and Pacific Flyway Councils, but do not support the new recommendation offered by the Mississippi Flyway Council. Alternatively, we proposed in the August 29 Federal Register a scaup season structure for the

   Mississippi Flyway that met the established guidelines. While we appreciate the additional comments from the States of Minnesota and

   Wisconsin, and the Mississippi Flyway Council offering an alternative season structure to both their original recommendation and the season structure we proposed, this new proposal does not conform to the guidelines. Thus, we do not support the recommendation. We reaffirm our support for employing the general scaup harvest strategy adopted this year and for continuing efforts to improve and refine this strategy.

   However, in consideration of the concerns expressed by the Mississippi

   Flyway Council and the two member States, we will continue to work with all four Flyway Councils to re-examine the guidelines for structuring scaup seasons during the next regulatory cycle. For the coming season, we will adopt scaup season structures as initially proposed. vii. Mottled Ducks

   Council Recommendations: The Upper- and Lower Regulations

   Committees of the Mississippi Flyway Council recommended continuation of a 60-day season and a 3-bird daily bag limit for mottled ducks for the 2008-09 waterfowl season. They further recommended that given adequate justification for a 30 percent reduction in harvest, and no further analyses of effects of harvest regulations on mottled duck harvests sometime in the future, the following:

   (

   1. Season length of 45 days with a daily bag limit of 1 per day in years when AHM prescribes a liberal or moderate regulations package.

   (b) Season length of 30 days with a daily bag limit of 2 per day in years when AHM prescribes a restrictive regulations package.

   (c) Outside the mottled duck breeding range, mottled duck season length and bag limits would be the same as for hen mallards.

   The Central Flyway Council recommended that no further harvest reductions were warranted at this time.

   Service Response: We did not propose any changes to mottled duck regulations for the 2008-09 season. Because of our long-standing concern about the status of mottled ducks, we are encouraged by the progress made to date on improving population monitoring programs for this species in the Gulf Coast region. We look forward to working with the Flyways on continued development of such surveys. Further, we appreciate the

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   Mississippi Flyway Council's recommendations on potential regulatory packages that could serve to reduce harvest pressure on mottled ducks if deemed necessary at some future date. We will take under consideration the Council's recommendation regarding regulations in areas outside the mottled duck breeding range. We also recognize that the Central Flyway Council has taken voluntary restrictions in mottled duck regulations in the past and, together with reductions in harvest resulting from the Hunter's Choice experiment, have reduced harvest pressure on mottled ducks, primarily in Texas. viii. Wood Ducks

   Council Recommendations: The Atlantic and Central Flyway Councils and the Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the

   Mississippi Flyway Council recommended that the wood duck bag limit in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways be increased to 3 birds per day during the regular duck season for an experimental 3-year period beginning in 2008.

   Service Response: We support the proposal to increase the daily bag limit for wood ducks from 2 to 3 birds in the Atlantic,

   Mississippi, and Central Flyways beginning in 2008. We do not, however, believe that this change warrants an experiment because the assessment work that justifies the bag limit increase has already been done.

   However, we recognize the importance of maintaining the current wood duck banding effort that is needed to assess the effects of the change.

   Further, we look forward to continuing involvement by the Flyways in developing a wood duck harvest strategy, including (1) determining specific harvest management objectives; (2) determining regulatory alternatives; (3) designation of and support for appropriate population monitoring programs; and (4) designation of the appropriate test criteria for making management decisions. We would like the Flyways to develop this strategy for implementation during the 2010-2011 hunting season. viii. Youth Hunt

   Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council recommended that the Service allow States to select any 2 weekend days, holidays or other non-school days for their youth waterfowl hunting days.

   Service Response: We do not support the Atlantic Flyway's proposal to allow the selection of any 2 weekend days, holidays, or other non- school days for their youth waterfowl hunting days. In 2000, we expanded the special youth waterfowl hunt to 2 consecutive days in order to reduce travel and scheduling conflicts for youth hunt participants--issues identified by the Flyways as problems with promoting participation under the original 1-day youth hunt guidelines

   (65 FR 51496). The following year, we further supported a change to 2 consecutive hunting days to address the inability of some States in the

   Atlantic Flyway to hunt on Sundays (66 FR 44010). As we stated in 2003 when presented with a similar proposal by the Atlantic Flyway, we believe the proposal is inconsistent with the original purpose put forth by the Flyway Councils in 2000 to facilitate travel and scheduling of youth hunt participants (68 FR 51658). 4. Canada Geese

2. Regular Seasons

   Council Recommendations: The Atlantic Flyway Council forwarded a number of recommendations concerning Canada geese. First, the Council recommended that we modify the existing criteria for delineation of

   Atlantic Flyway Resident Population (AFRP) Canada goose hunting zones in the Atlantic Flyway by proposing that AFRP hunting zones may not contain more than 10 percent of all Atlantic Population (AP) band recoveries, or more than 10 percent of all North Atlantic Population

   (NAP) recoveries, within a State from 2002-2007.

   Second, the Council recommended that we adopt the following criteria for evaluation of AFRP hunting zones in the Atlantic Flyway during 2008-2010:

   (1) All areas holding an AFRP regular season must collectively account for no more than a 1 percent direct recovery rate for adults for any migrant goose population during the open AFRP regular seasons.

   Areas contributing disproportionately to the cumulative recovery rate will be identified and these areas may be eliminated to stay below the 1 percent threshold;

   (2) AFRP hunting zones must not account for more than 10 percent of all AP band recoveries, or more than 10 percent of all NAP recoveries, in any State during the 3-year period 2008-2010;

   (3) If a season is closed for any migrant population, AFRP hunting zones would remain open as long as they do not result in exceeding the cumulative 1 percent adult recovery rate threshold; and

   (4) Band recovery data will be examined annually, and at 3-year intervals all available data will be examined to determine if zone modifications and/or changes to opening and closing framework dates are needed to ensure continued compliance with the above criteria.

   As a result of the above delineation criteria modifications, the

   Council recommended modifications to existing AFRP hunting zones in New

   York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland beginning in 2008, and that we extend the opening and closing framework dates for Canada geese in AFRP harvest zones in Pennsylvania (from the fourth Saturday in October to

   March 10), Maryland and Virginia (from November 15 to March 10), and

   North Carolina (from October 1 to March 10). They also recommended allowing Connecticut and New York to establish new AFRP harvest zones with framework dates between 1 October and 15 February and bag limits of 5 geese per day.

   With regard to frameworks in Southern James Bay Population (SJBP) harvest zones, the Council recommended allowing Pennsylvania a 70-day

   Canada goose hunting season, with a 3-bird daily bag limit, between the second Saturday in October and February 15; Virginia, a 40-day season between November 15 and January 14 with a 3-bird daily bag limit and an experimental season between January 15-February 15 with a 5-bird daily bag limit; and North Carolina a 70-day season with a 5-bird daily bag limit between October 1 and December 31. In addition, they recommended modifying the SJBP harvest zone in Pennsylvania to include the former

   Pymatuning Zone and that portion of Mercer, Crawford and Erie Counties north of Interstate 80 and west of Interstate 79 including Lake Erie,

   Presque Isle, and the area within 150 yards of the Lake Erie shoreline.

   The Upper- and Lower-Region Regulations Committees of the

   Mississippi Flyway Council recommended a number of changes in Canada goose zones, seasons lengths, and bag limits for several States in the

   Flyway. These changes are a result of approved revisions to the

   Southern James Bay Population (SJBP) Canada goose harvest strategy and management plan that were made in agreement with the Atlantic Flyway.

   These changes are consistent with the revised harvest strategies for

   Canada geese in the Mississippi Flyway.

   The Pacific Flyway Council recommended revising Idaho zone designations for 2 counties (Adams and Valley Counties from Zone 2 to

   Zone 1), and reducing the bag limit on dark geese in Wyoming from 4 to 3 geese.

   Written Comments: The Virginia Department of Game and Inland

   Fisheries requested a change in the zone

   Page 55608

   boundary between the AP and SJBP Canada goose hunting zones based on concerns from farmers that large numbers of Canada geese are depredating crops. They requested the zone boundary between the two populations be moved further east to allow more liberal regulations

   (i.e., longer season or larger bag limit) in the area of concern.

   The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries requested removal of the requirement to issue a permit for Canada goose hunting.

   They stated that recent changes to their licensing structure effectively meet this requirement.

   The Virginia Farm Bureau supported the request to move the zone boundary between the AP and SJBP Canada goose hunting zones. They further supported extending the season into February and March to address depredation concerns and expanding the daily bag limit for AP geese from 2 to 3 per day.

   Service Response: We concur with the Atlantic Flyway Council's recommendations to modify existing criteria for delineation and subsequent evaluation of AFRP hunting zones. Evaluations of AFRP seasons since 2002 have demonstrated that these seasons have met the established criteria of less than a 1 percent direct recovery rate of migrant geese. We note that a migrant (AP, NAP, SJBP) direct recovery rate of 0.35 percent was realized for the 2005-2007 period. AFRP zones have resulted in higher hunter opportunity and higher AFRP goose harvests, and current North Atlantic Population Canada Goose Low

   Harvest zones have shown to be effective in minimizing NAP harvest. The

   Atlantic Flyway Council's proposed modification to allow certain portions of existing NAP Harvest zones to become AFRP zones will allow for greater harvest opportunity on AFRP geese while further protecting

   NAP stocks. Current direct recovery rates of NAP geese in the United

   States are 2.9 percent, equating to a harvest rate of 742 (Phelps County); west to County Road 438 (Gosper

   County line); south along County Road 438 (Gosper County line) to County Road 726 (Furnas County line); east to County Road 438 (Harlan County line); south to U.S. 34; south and west to

   U.S. 136; east to NE 14; south to the Kansas-Nebraska border; west to

   U.S. 283; north to NE 23; west to NE 47; north to U.S. 30; east to NE 14; north to NE 52; west and north to NE 91 to U.S. 281; south to NE 22; west to NE 11; northwest to NE 91; west to Loup County Line; north to Loup-Brown County line; east along northern boundaries of Loup,

   Garfield, and Wheeler Counties; south on the Wheeler-Antelope county line to NE 70; east to NE 14; south to NE 39; southeast to NE 22; east to U.S. 81; southeast to U.S. 30; east to U.S. 75; north to the

   Washington County line; east to the Iowa-Nebraska border; south along the Iowa-Nebraska border; to the beginning at U.S. 75 and the Kansas-

   Nebraska border.

   Low Plains Zone 3: The area east of the High Plains Zone, excluding

   Low Plains Zone 1, north of Low Plains Zone 2.

   Low Plains Zone 4: The area east of the High Plains Zone and south of Zone 2.

   New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion)

   North Zone: That portion of the State north of I-40 and U.S. 54.

   South Zone: The remainder of New Mexico.

   North Dakota

   High Plains Unit: That portion of the State south and west of a line from the South Dakota State line along U.S. 83 and I-94 to ND 41, north to U.S. 2, west to the Williams/Divide County line, then north along the County line to the Canadian border.

   Low Plains Unit: The remainder of North Dakota.

   Oklahoma

   High Plains Zone: The Counties of Beaver, Cimarron, and Texas.

   Low Plains Zone 1: That portion of the State east of the High

   Plains Zone and north of a line extending east from the Texas State line along OK 33 to OK 47, east along OK 47 to U.S. 183, south along

   U.S. 183 to I-40, east along I-40 to U.S. 177, north along U.S. 177 to

   OK 33, east along OK 33 to OK 18, north along OK 18 to OK 51, west along OK 51 to I-35, north along I-35 to U.S. 412, west along U.S. 412 to OK 132, then north along OK 132 to the Kansas State line.

   Low Plains Zone 2: The remainder of Oklahoma.

   South Dakota

   High Plains Zone: That portion of the State west of a line beginning at the North Dakota State line and extending south along U.S. 83 to U.S. 14, east on U.S. 14 to Blunt, south on the Blunt-Canning road to SD 34, east and south on SD 34 to SD 50 at Lee's Corner, south on SD 50 to I-90, east on I-90 to SD 50, south on SD 50 to SD 44, west on SD 44 across the Platte-Winner bridge to SD 47, south on SD 47 to

   U.S. 18, east on U.S. 18 to SD 47, south on SD 47 to the Nebraska State line.

   North Zone: That portion of northeastern South Dakota east of the

   High Plains Unit and north of a line extending east along U.S. 212 to the Minnesota State line.

   South Zone: That portion of Gregory County east of SD 47 and south of SD 44; Charles Mix County south of SD 44 to the Douglas County line; south on SD 50 to Geddes; east on the Geddes Highway to U.S. 281; south on U.S. 281 and U.S. 18 to SD 50; south and east on SD 50 to the Bon

   Homme County line; the Counties of Bon Homme, Yankton, and Clay south of SD 50; and Union County south and west of SD 50 and I-29.

   Middle Zone: The remainder of South Dakota.

   Texas

   High Plains Zone: That portion of the State west of a line extending south from the Oklahoma State line along U.S. 183 to Vernon, south along U.S. 283 to Albany, south along TX 6 to TX 351 to Abilene, south along U.S. 277 to Del Rio, then south along the Del Rio

   International Toll Bridge access road to the Mexico border.

   Low Plains North Zone: That portion of northeastern Texas east of the High Plains Zone and north of a line beginning at the International

   Toll Bridge south of Del Rio, then extending east on U.S. 90 to San

   Antonio, then continuing east on I-10 to the Louisiana State line at

   Orange, Texas.

   Low Plains South Zone: The remainder of Texas.

   Wyoming (Central Flyway portion)

   Zone 1: The Counties of Converse, Goshen, Hot Springs, Natrona,

   Platte, and Washakie; and the portion of Park County east of the

   Shoshone National Forest boundary and south of a line beginning where the Shoshone National Forest boundary meets Park County Road 8VC, east along Park County Road 8VC to Park County Road 1AB, continuing east along Park County Road 1AB to Wyoming Highway 120, north along WY

   Highway 120 to WY Highway 294, south along WY Highway 294 to Lane 9, east along Lane 9 to Powel and WY Highway 14A, and finally east along

   WY Highway 14A to the Park County and Big Horn County line.

   Zone 2: The remainder of Wyoming.

   Pacific Flyway

   Arizona

   Game Management Units (GMUs) as follows:

   South Zone: Those portions of GMUs 6 and 8 in Yavapai County, and

   GMUs 10 and 12B-45.

   North Zone: GMUs 1-5, those portions of GMUs 6 and 8 within

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

   California

   Northeastern Zone: In that portion of California lying east and north of a line beginning at the intersection of Interstate 5 with the

   California-Oregon line; south along Interstate 5 to its junction with

   Walters Lane south of the town of Yreka; west along Walters Lane to its junction with Easy Street; south along Easy Street to the junction with

   Page 55620

   Old Highway 99; south along Old Highway 99 to the point of intersection with Interstate 5 north of the town of Weed; south along Interstate 5 to its junction with Highway 89; east and south along Highway 89 to

   Main Street Greenville; north and east to its junction with North

   Valley Road; south to its junction of Diamond Mountain Road; north and east to its junction with North Arm Road; south and west to the junction of North Valley Road; south to the junction with Arlington

   Road (A22); west to the junction of Highway 89; south and west to the junction of Highway 70; east on Highway 70 to Highway 395; south and east on Highway 395 to the point of intersection with the California-

   Nevada State line; north along the California-Nevada State line to the junction of the California-Nevada-Oregon State lines; west along the

   California-Oregon State line to the point of origin.

   Colorado River Zone: Those portions of San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial Counties east of a line extending from the Nevada State line south along U.S. 95 to Vidal Junction; south on a road known as

   ``Aqueduct Road'' in San Bernardino County through the town of Rice to the San Bernardino-Riverside County line; south on a road known in

   Riverside County as the ``Desert Center to Rice Road'' to the town of

   Desert Center; east 31 miles on I-10 to the Wiley Well Road; south on this road to Wiley Well; southeast along the Army-Milpitas Road to the

   Blythe, Brawley, Davis Lake intersections; south on the Blythe-Brawley paved road to the Ogilby and Tumco Mine Road; south on this road to

   U.S. 80; east 7 miles on U.S. 80 to the Andrade-Algodones Road; south on this paved road to the Mexican border at Algodones, Mexico.

   Southern Zone: That portion of southern California (but excluding the Colorado River Zone) south and east of a line extending from the

   Pacific Ocean east along the Santa Maria River to CA 166 near the City of Santa Maria; east on CA 166 to CA 99; south on CA 99 to the crest of the Tehachapi Mountains at Tejon Pass; east and north along the crest of the Tehachapi Mountains to CA 178 at Walker Pass; east on CA 178 to

   U.S. 395 at the town of Inyokern; south on U.S. 395 to CA 58; east on

   CA 58 to I-15; east on I-15 to CA 127; north on CA 127 to the Nevada

   State line.

   Southern San Joaquin Valley Temporary Zone: All of Kings and Tulare

   Counties and that portion of Kern County north of the Southern Zone.

   Balance-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of California not included in the Northeastern, Southern, and Colorado River Zones, and the

   Southern San Joaquin Valley Temporary Zone.

   Idaho

   Zone 1: Includes all lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian

   Reservation, including private inholdings; Bannock County; Bingham

   County, except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; and Power County east of ID 37 and ID 39.

   Zone 2: Includes the following Counties or portions of Counties:

   Adams; Bear Lake; Benewah; Bingham within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; Blaine; Bonner; Bonneville; Boundary; Butte; Camas; Caribou except the Fort Hall Indian Reservation; Cassia within the Minidoka

   National Wildlife Refuge; Clark; Clearwater; Custer; Elmore within the

   Camas Creek drainage; Franklin; Fremont; Idaho; Jefferson; Kootenai;

   Latah; Lemhi; Lewis; Madison; Nez Perce; Oneida; Power within the

   Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge; Shoshone; Teton; and Valley

   Counties.

   Zone 3: Includes the following Counties or portions of Counties:

   Ada; Boise; Canyon; Cassia except within the Minidoka National Wildlife

   Refuge; Elmore except the Camas Creek drainage; Gem; Gooding; Jerome;

   Lincoln; Minidoka; Owyhee; Payette; Power west of ID 37 and ID 39 except that portion within the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge; Twin

   Falls; and Washington Counties.

   Nevada

   Lincoln and Clark County Zone: All of Clark and Lincoln Counties.

   Remainder-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of Nevada.

   Oregon

   Zone 1: Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Lane, Douglas, Coos, Curry,

   Josephine, Jackson, Linn, Benton, Polk, Marion, Yamhill, Washington,

   Columbia, Multnomah, Clackamas, Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,

   Morrow and Umatilla Counties.

   Columbia Basin Mallard Management Unit: Gilliam, Morrow, and

   Umatilla Counties.

   Zone 2: The remainder of the State.

   Utah

   Zone 1: All of Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Morgan,

   Rich, Salt Lake, Summit, Unitah, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber Counties, and that part of Toole County north of I-80.

   Zone 2: The remainder of Utah.

   Washington

   East Zone: All areas east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of the Big White Salmon River in Klickitat County.

   Columbia Basin Mallard Management Unit: Same as East Zone.

   West Zone: All areas to the west of the East Zone.

   Wyoming

   Snake River Zone: Beginning at the south boundary of Yellowstone

   National Park and the Continental Divide; south along the Continental

   Divide to Union Pass and the Union Pass Road (U.S.F.S. Road 600); west and south along the Union Pass Road to U.S.F.S. Road 605; south along

   U.S.F.S. Road 605 to the Bridger-Teton National Forest boundary; along the national forest boundary to the Idaho State line; north along the

   Idaho State line to the south boundary of Yellowstone National Park; east along the Yellowstone National Park boundary to the Continental

   Divide.

   Balance of Flyway Zone: Balance of the Pacific Flyway in Wyoming outside the Snake River Zone.

   Geese

   Atlantic Flyway

   Connecticut

   AP Unit: Litchfield County and the portion of Hartford County west of a line beginning at the Massachusetts border in Suffield and extending south along Route 159 to its intersection with Route 91 in

   Hartford, and then extending south along Route 91 to its intersection with the Hartford/Middlesex County line.

   AFRP Unit: Starting at the intersection of I-95 and the Quinnipiac

   River, north on the Quinnipiac River to its intersection with I-91, north on I-91 to I-691, west on I-691 to the Hartford County line, and encompassing the rest of New Haven County and Fairfield County in its entirety.

   NAP H-Unit: All of the rest of the State not included in the AP or

   AFRP descriptions above.

   South Zone: Same as for ducks.

   North Zone: Same as for ducks.

   Maryland

   Resident Population (RP) Zone: Garrett, Allegany, Washington,

   Frederick, and Montgomery Counties; that portion of Prince George's

   County west of Route 3 and Route 301; that portion of Charles County west of Route 301 to the Virginia State line; and that portion of

   Carroll County west of Route 31 to the intersection of Route 97, and west of Route 97 to the Pennsylvania line.

   AP Zone: Remainder of the State.

   Massachusetts

   NAP Zone: Central and Coastal Zones (see duck zones).

   AP Zone: The Western Zone (see duck zones).

   Page 55621

   Special Late Season Area: The Central Zone and that portion of the

   Coastal Zone (see duck zones) that lies north of the Cape Cod Canal, north to the New Hampshire line.

   New Hampshire

   Same zones as for ducks.

   New Jersey

   North: That portion of the State within a continuous line that runs east along the New York State boundary line to the Hudson River; then south along the New York State boundary to its intersection with Route 440 at Perth Amboy; then west on Route 440 to its intersection with

   Route 287; then west along Route 287 to its intersection with Route 206 in Bedminster (Exit 18); then north along Route 206 to its intersection with Route 94: then west along Route 94 to the tollbridge in Columbia; then north along the Pennsylvania State boundary in the Delaware River to the beginning point.

   South: That portion of the State within a continuous line that runs west from the Atlantic Ocean at Ship Bottom along Route 72 to Route 70; then west along Route 70 to Route 206; then south along Route 206 to

   Route 536; then west along Route 536 to Route 322; then west along

   Route 322 to Route 55; then south along Route 55 to Route 553 (Buck

   Road); then south along Route 553 to Route 40; then east along Route 40 to route 55; then south along Route 55 to Route 552 (Sherman Avenue); then west along Route 552 to Carmel Road; then south along Carmel Road to Route 49; then east along Route 49 to Route 555; then south along

   Route 555 to Route 553; then east along Route 553 to Route 649; then north along Route 649 to Route 670; then east along Route 670 to Route 47; then north along Route 47 to Route 548; then east along Route 548 to Route 49; then east along Route 49 to Route 50; then south along

   Route 50 to Route 9; then south along Route 9 to Route 625 (Sea Isle

   City Boulevard); then east along Route 625 to the Atlantic Ocean; then north to the beginning point.

   New York

   Lake Champlain Goose Area: That area of New York State lying east and north of a continuous line extending along Route 11 from the New

   York-Canada International boundary south to Route 9B, south along Route 9B to Route 9, south along Route 9 to Route 22 south of Keeseville, south along Route 22 to the west shore of South Bay along and around the shoreline of South Bay to Route 22 on the east shore of South Bay, southeast along Route 22 to Route 4, northeast along Route 4 to the New

   York-Vermont boundary.

   Northeast Goose Area: The same as the Northeastern Waterfowl

   Hunting Zone, which is that area of New York State lying north of a continuous line extending from Lake Ontario east along the north shore of the Salmon River to Interstate 81, south along Interstate Route 81 to Route 31, east along Route 31 to Route 13, north along Route 13 to

   Route 49, east along Route 49 to Route 365, east along Route 365 to

   Route 28, east along Route 28 to Route 29, east along Route 29 to

   Interstate Route 87, north along Interstate Route 87 to Route 9 (at

   Exit 20), north along Route 9 to Route 149, east along Route 149 to

   Route 4, north along Route 4 to the New York-Vermont boundary, exclusive of the Lake Champlain Zone.

   East Central Goose Area: That area of New York State lying inside of a continuous line extending from Interstate Route 81 in Cicero, east along Route 31 to Route 13, north along Route 13 to Route 49, east along Route 49 to Route 365, east along Route 365 to Route 28, east along Route 28 to Route 29, east along Route 29 to Route 147 at Kimball

   Corners, south along Route 147 to Schenectady County Route 40 (West

   Glenville Road), west along Route 40 to Touareuna Road, south along

   Touareuna Road to Schenectady County Route 59, south along Route 59 to

   State Route 5, east along Route 5 to the Lock 9 bridge, southwest along the Lock 9 bridge to Route 5S, southeast along Route 5S to Schenectady

   County Route 58, southwest along Route 58 to the NYS Thruway, south along the Thruway to Route 7, southwest along Route 7 to Schenectady

   County Route 103, south along Route 103 to Route 406, east along Route 406 to Schenectady County Route 99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route 99 to Dunnsville Road, south along Dunnsville Road to Route 397, southwest along Route 397 to Route 146 at Altamont, west along Route 146 to Albany County Route 252, northwest along Route 252 to

   Schenectady County Route 131, north along Route 131 to Route 7, west along Route 7 to Route 10 at Richmondville, south on Route 10 to Route 23 at Stamford, west along Route 23 to the south bank of the

   Susquehanna River, southwest along the south bank of the Susquehanna

   River to Interstate Route 88 near Harpursville, west along Route 88 to

   Route 79, northwest along Route 79 to Route 26 in Whitney Point, southwest along Route 26 to Interstate Route 81, north along Route 81 to the point of beginning.

   West Central Goose Area: That area of New York State lying within a continuous line beginning at the point where the northerly extension of

   Route 269 (County Line Road on the Niagara-Orleans County boundary) meets the International boundary with Canada, south to the shore of

   Lake Ontario at the eastern boundary of Golden Hill State Park, south along the extension of Route 269 and Route 269 to Route 104 at Jeddo, west along Route 104 to Niagara County Route 271, south along Route 271 to Route 31E at Middleport, south along Route 31E to Route 31, west along Route 31 to Griswold Street, south along Griswold Street to Ditch

   Road, south along Ditch Road to Foot Road, south along Foot Road to the north bank of Tonawanda Creek, west along the north bank of Tonawanda

   Creek to Route 93, south along Route 93 to Route 5, east along Route 5 to Crittenden-Murrays Corners Road, south on Crittenden-Murrays Corners

   Road to the NYS Thruway, east along the Thruway 90 to Route 98 (at

   Thruway Exit 48) in Batavia, south along Route 98 to Route 20, east along Route 20 to Route 19 in Pavilion Center, south along Route 19 to

   Route 63, southeast along Route 63 to Route 246, south along Route 246 to Route 39 in Perry, northeast along Route 39 to Route 20A, northeast along Route 20A to Route 20, east along Route 20 to Route 364 (near

   Canandaigua), south and east along Route 364 to Yates County Route 18

   (Italy Valley Road), southwest along Route 18 to Yates County Route 34, east along Route 34 to Yates County Route 32, south along Route 32 to

   Steuben County Route 122, south along Route 122 to Route 53, south along Route 53 to Steuben County Route 74, east along Route 74 to Route 54A (near Pulteney), south along Route 54A to Steuben County Route 87, east along Route 87 to Steuben County Route 96, east along Route 96 to

   Steuben County Route 114, east along Route 114 to Schuyler County Route 23, east and southeast along Route 23 to Schuyler County Route 28, southeast along Route 28 to Route 409 at Watkins Glen, south along

   Route 409 to Route 14, south along Route 14 to Route 224 at Montour

   Falls, east along Route 224 to Route 228 in Odessa, north along Route 228 to Route 79 in Mecklenburg, east along Route 79 to Route 366 in

   Ithaca, northeast along Route 366 to Route 13, northeast along Route 13 to Interstate Route 81 in Cortland, north along Route 81 to the north shore of the Salmon River to shore of Lake Ontario, extending generally northwest in a straight line to the nearest point of the International boundary with Canada, south and west along the International boundary to the point of beginning.

   Page 55622

   Hudson Valley Goose Area: That area of New York State lying within a continuous line extending from Route 4 at the New York-Vermont boundary, west and south along Route 4 to Route 149 at Fort Ann, west on Route 149 to Route 9, south along Route 9 to Interstate Route 87 (at

   Exit 20 in Glens Falls), south along Route 87 to Route 29, west along

   Route 29 to Route 147 at Kimball Corners, south along Route 147 to

   Schenectady County Route 40 (West Glenville Road), west along Route 40 to Touareuna Road, south along Touareuna Road to Schenectady County

   Route 59, south along Route 59 to State Route 5, east along Route 5 to the Lock 9 bridge, southwest along the Lock 9 bridge to Route 5S, southeast along Route 5S to Schenectady County Route 58, southwest along Route 58 to the NYS Thruway, south along the Thruway to Route 7, southwest along Route 7 to Schenectady County Route 103, south along

   Route 103 to Route 406, east along Route 406 to Schenectady County

   Route 99 (Windy Hill Road), south along Route 99 to Dunnsville Road, south along Dunnsville Road to Route 397, southwest along Route 397 to

   Route 146 at Altamont, southeast along Route 146 to Main Street in

   Altamont, west along Main Street to Route 156, southeast along Route 156 to Albany County Route 307, southeast along Route 307 to Route 85A, southwest along Route 85A to Route 85, south along Route 85 to Route 443, southeast along Route 443 to Albany County Route 301 at

   Clarksville, southeast along Route 301 to Route 32, south along Route 32 to Route 23 at Cairo, west along Route 23 to Joseph Chadderdon Road, southeast along Joseph Chadderdon Road to Hearts Content Road (Greene

   County Route 31), southeast along Route 31 to Route 32, south along

   Route 32 to Greene County Route 23A, east along Route 23A to Interstate

   Route 87 (the NYS Thruway), south along Route 87 to Route 28 (Exit 19) near Kingston, northwest on Route 28 to Route 209, southwest on Route 209 to the New York-Pennsylvania boundary, southeast along the New

   York-Pennsylvania boundary to the New York-New Jersey boundary, southeast along the New York-New Jersey boundary to Route 210 near

   Greenwood Lake, northeast along Route 210 to Orange County Route 5, northeast along Orange County Route 5 to Route 105 in the Village of

   Monroe, east and north along Route 105 to Route 32, northeast along

   Route 32 to Orange County Route 107 (Quaker Avenue), east along Route 107 to Route 9W, north along Route 9W to the south bank of Moodna

   Creek, southeast along the south bank of Moodna Creek to the New

   Windsor-Cornwall town boundary, northeast along the New Windsor-

   Cornwall town boundary to the Orange-Dutchess County boundary (middle of the Hudson River), north along the county boundary to Interstate

   Route 84, east along Route 84 to the Dutchess-Putnam County boundary, east along the county boundary to the New York-Connecticut boundary, north along the New York-Connecticut boundary to the New York-

   Massachusetts boundary, north along the New York-Massachusetts boundary to the New York-Vermont boundary, north to the point of beginning.

   Eastern Long Island Goose Area (NAP High Harvest Area): That area of Suffolk County lying east of a continuous line extending due south from the New York-Connecticut boundary to the northernmost end of

   Roanoke Avenue in the Town of Riverhead; then south on Roanoke Avenue

   (which becomes County Route 73) to State Route 25; then west on Route 25 to Peconic Avenue; then south on Peconic Avenue to County Route (CR) 104 (Riverleigh Avenue); then south on CR 104 to CR 31 (Old Riverhead

   Road); then south on CR 31 to Oak Street; then south on Oak Street to

   Potunk Lane; then west on Stevens Lane; then south on Jessup Avenue (in

   Westhampton Beach) to Dune Road (CR 89); then due south to international waters.

   Western Long Island Goose Area (RP Area): That area of Westchester

   County and its tidal waters southeast of Interstate Route 95 and that area of Nassau and Suffolk Counties lying west of a continuous line extending due south from the New York-Connecticut boundary to the northernmost end of the Sunken Meadow State Parkway; then south on the

   Sunken Meadow Parkway to the Sagtikos State Parkway; then south on the

   Sagtikos Parkway to the Robert Moses State Parkway; then south on the

   Robert Moses Parkway to its southernmost end; then due south to international waters.

   Central Long Island Goose Area (NAP Low Harvest Area): That area of

   Suffolk County lying between the Western and Eastern Long Island Goose

   Areas, as defined above.

   South Goose Area: The remainder of New York State, excluding New

   York City.

   Special Late Canada Goose Area: That area of the Central Long

   Island Goose Area lying north of State Route 25A and west of a continuous line extending northward from State Route 25A along Randall

   Road (near Shoreham) to North Country Road, then east to Sound Road and then north to Long Island Sound and then due north to the New York-

   Connecticut boundary.

   North Carolina

   SJBP Hunty Zone: Includes the following Counties or portions of

   Counties: Anson, Cabarrus, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Halifax (that portion east of NC 903), Montgomery (that portion west of NC 109),

   Northampton, Richmond (that portion south of NC 73 and west of U.S. 220 and north of U.S. 74), Rowan, Stanly, Union, and Wake.

   RP Hunt Zone: Includes the following Counties or portions of

   Counties: Alamance, Alleghany, Alexander, Ashe, Avery, Beaufort, Bertie

   (that portion south and west of a line formed by NC 45 at the

   Washington Co. line to U.S. 17 in Midway, U.S. 17 in Midway to U.S. 13 in Windsor, U.S. 13 in Windsor to the Hertford Co. line), Bladen,

   Brunswick, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Carteret, Caswell, Catawba,

   Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Davie, Duplin,

   Edgecombe, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Gates, Graham, Granville, Greene,

   Guilford, Halifax (that portion west of NC 903), Harnett, Haywood,

   Henderson, Hertford, Hoke, Iredell, Jackson, Johnston, Jones, Lee,

   Lenoir, Lincoln, McDowell, Macon, Madison, Martin, Mecklenburg,

   Mitchell, Montgomery (that portion that is east of NC 109), Moore,

   Nash, New Hanover, Onslow, Orange, Pamlico, Pender, Person, Pitt, Polk,

   Randolph, Richmond (all of the county with exception of that portion that is south of NC 73 and west of U.S. 220 and north of U.S. 74),

   Robeson, Rockingham, Rutherford, Sampson, Scotland, Stokes, Surry,

   Swain, Transylvania, Vance, Warren, Watauga, Wayne, Wilkes, Wilson,

   Yadkin, and Yancey.

   Northeast Hunt Unit: Includes the following Counties or portions of

   Counties: Bertie (that portion north and east of a line formed by NC 45 at the Washington County line to U.S. 17 in Midway, U.S. 17 in Midway to U.S. 13 in Windsor, U.S. 13 in Windsor to the Hertford Co. line),

   Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington.

   Pennsylvania

   Resident Canada Goose Zone: All of Pennsylvania except for SJBP

   Zone and the area east of route SR 97 from the Maryland State Line to the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of U.S.

   Route 30, south of U.S. Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, east of SR 743 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of

   I-80, and south of I-80 to the New Jersey State line.

   SJBP Zone: The area north of I-80 and west of I-79 including in the city of Erie

   Page 55623

   west of Bay Front Parkway to and including the Lake Erie Duck zone

   (Lake Erie, Presque Isle, and the area within 150 yards of the Lake

   Erie Shoreline).

   AP Zone: The area east of route SR 97 from Maryland State Line to the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of U.S.

   Route 30, south of U.S. Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, east of SR 743 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of

   I-80, south of I-80 to New Jersey State line.

   Rhode Island

   Special Area for Canada Geese: Kent and Providence Counties and portions of the towns of Exeter and North Kingston within Washington

   County (see State regulations for detailed descriptions).

   South Carolina

   Canada Goose Area: Statewide except for Clarendon County, that portion of Orangeburg County north of SC Highway 6, and that portion of

   Berkeley County north of SC Highway 45 from the Orangeburg County line to the junction of SC Highway 45 and State Road S-8-31 and that portion west of the Santee Dam.

   Vermont

   Same zones as for ducks.

   Virginia

   AP Zone: The area east and south of the following line--the

   Stafford County line from the Potomac River west to Interstate 95 at

   Fredericksburg, then south along Interstate 95 to Petersburg, then

   Route 460 (SE) to City of Suffolk, then south along Route 32 to the

   North Carolina line.

   SJBP Zone: The area to the west of the AP Zone boundary and east of the following line: the ``Blue Ridge'' (mountain spine) at the West

   Virginia-Virginia Border (Loudoun County-Clarke County line) south to

   Interstate 64 (the Blue Ridge line follows county borders along the western edge of Loudoun-Fauquier-Rappahannock-Madison-Greene-Albemarle and into Nelson Counties), then east along Interstate Rt. 64 to Route 15, then south along Rt. 15 to the North Carolina line.

   RP Zone: The remainder of the State west of the SJBP Zone.

   Back Bay Area: The waters of Back Bay and its tributaries and the marshes adjacent thereto, and on the land and marshes between Back Bay and the Atlantic Ocean from Sandbridge to the North Carolina line, and on and along the shore of North Landing River and the marshes adjacent thereto, and on and along the shores of Binson Inlet Lake (formerly known as Lake Tecumseh) and Red Wing Lake and the marshes adjacent thereto.

   West Virginia

   Same zones as for ducks.

   Mississippi Flyway

   Alabama

   Same zones as for ducks, but in addition:

   SJBP Zone: That portion of Morgan County east of U.S. Highway 31, north of State Highway 36, and west of U.S. 231; that portion of

   Limestone County south of U.S. 72; and that portion of Madison County south of Swancott Road and west of Triana Road.

   Arkansas

   Northwest Zone: Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Conway, Crawford,

   Faulkner, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Madison, Marion, Newton, Perry,

   Pope, Pulaski, Searcy, Sebastian, Scott, Van Buren, Washington, and

   Yell Counties.

   Illinois

   Same zones as for ducks.

   Indiana

   Same zones as for ducks but in addition:

   Special Canada Goose Seasons

   Indiana Late Canada Goose Season Zone: That part of the state encompassed by the following Counties: Steuben, Lagrange, Elkhart, St.

   Joseph, La Porte, Starke, Marshall, Kosciusko, Noble, De Kalb, Allen,

   Whitley, Huntington, Wells, Adams, Boone, Hamilton, Madison, Hendricks,

   Marion, Hancock, Morgan, Johnson, Shelby, Vermillion, Parke, Vigo,

   Clay, Sullivan, and Greene.

   Iowa

   North Zone: That portion of the State north of U.S. Highway 20.

   South Zone: The remainder of Iowa.

   Kentucky

   Western Zone: That portion of the State west of a line beginning at the Tennessee State line at Fulton and extending north along the

   Purchase Parkway to Interstate Highway 24, east along I-24 to U.S.

   Highway 641, north along U.S. 641 to U.S. 60, northeast along U.S. 60 to the Henderson County line, then south, east, and northerly along the

   Henderson County line to the Indiana State line.

   Ballard Reporting Area: That area encompassed by a line beginning at the northwest city limits of Wickliffe in Ballard County and extending westward to the middle of the Mississippi River, north along the Mississippi River and along the low-water mark of the Ohio River on the Illinois shore to the Ballard-McCracken County line, south along the county line to Kentucky Highway 358, south along Kentucky 358 to

   U.S. Highway 60 at LaCenter, then southwest along U.S. 60 to the northeast city limits of Wickliffe.

   Henderson-Union Reporting Area: Henderson County and that portion of Union County within the Western Zone.

   Pennyroyal/Coalfield Zone: Butler, Daviess, Ohio, Simpson, and

   Warren Counties and all counties lying west to the boundary of the

   Western Goose Zone.

   Michigan

   (

   1. North Zone--Same as North duck zone.

   (b) Middle Zone--Same as Middle duck zone.

   (c) South Zone--Same as South duck zone.

   Tuscola/Huron Goose Management Unit (GMU): Those portions of

   Tuscola and Huron Counties bounded on the south by Michigan Highway 138 and Bay City Road, on the east by Colwood and Bay Port Roads, on the north by Kilmanagh Road and a line extending directly west off the end of Kilmanagh Road into Saginaw Bay to the west boundary, and on the west by the Tuscola-Bay County line and a line extending directly north off the end of the Tuscola-Bay County line into Saginaw Bay to the north boundary.

   Allegan County GMU: That area encompassed by a line beginning at the junction of 136th Avenue and Interstate Highway 196 in Lake Town

   Township and extending easterly along 136th Avenue to Michigan Highway 40, southerly along Michigan 40 through the city of Allegan to 108th

   Avenue in Trowbridge Township, westerly along 108th Avenue to 46th

   Street, northerly along 46th Street to 109th Avenue, westerly along 109th Avenue to I-196 in Casco Township, then northerly along I-196 to the point of beginning.

   Saginaw County GMU: That portion of Saginaw County bounded by

   Michigan Highway 46 on the north; Michigan 52 on the west; Michigan 57 on the south; and Michigan 13 on the east.

   Muskegon Wastewater GMU: That portion of Muskegon County within the boundaries of the Muskegon County wastewater system, east of the

   Muskegon State Game Area, in sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30, and 32, T10N R14W, and sections 1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 24, and 25, T10N R15W, as posted.

   Page 55624

   Special Canada Goose Seasons

   Southern Michigan Late Season Canada Goose Zone: Same as the South

   Duck Zone excluding Tuscola/Huron Goose Management Unit (GMU), Allegan

   County GMU, Saginaw County GMU, and Muskegon Wastewater GMU.

   Minnesota

   West Zone: That portion of the State encompassed by a line beginning at the junction of State Trunk Highway (STH) 60 and the Iowa

   State line, then north and east along STH 60 to U.S. Highway 71, north along U.S. 71 to Interstate Highway 94, then north and west along I-94 to the North Dakota State line.

   West Central Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at the intersection of State Trunk Highway (STH) 29 and U.S. Highway 212 and extending west along U.S. 212 to U.S. 59, south along U.S. 59 to STH 67, west along STH 67 to U.S. 75, north along U.S. 75 to County State

   Aid Highway (CSAH) 30 in Lac qui Parle County, west along CSAH 30 to the western boundary of the State, north along the western boundary of the State to a point due south of the intersection of STH 7 and CSAH 7 in Big Stone County, and continuing due north to said intersection, then north along CSAH 7 to CSAH 6 in Big Stone County, east along CSAH 6 to CSAH 21 in Big Stone County, south along CSAH 21 to CSAH 10 in Big

   Stone County, east along CSAH 10 to CSAH 22 in Swift County, east along

   CSAH 22 to CSAH 5 in Swift County, south along CSAH 5 to U.S. 12, east along U.S. 12 to CSAH 17 in Swift County, south along CSAH 17 to CSAH 9 in Chippewa County, south along CSAH 9 to STH 40, east along STH 40 to

   STH 29, then south along STH 29 to the point of beginning.

   Special Canada Goose Seasons

   Southeast Zone: That part of the State within the following described boundaries: Beginning at the intersection of U.S. Highway 52 and the south boundary of the Twin Cities Metro Canada Goose Zone; thence along the U.S. Highway 52 to State Trunk Highway (STH) 57; thence along STH 57 to the municipal boundary of Kasson; thence along the municipal boundary of Kasson County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 13,

   Dodge County; thence along CSAH 13 to STH 30; thence along STH 30 to

   U.S. Highway 63; thence along U.S. Highway 63 to the south boundary of the State; thence along the south and east boundaries of the State to the south boundary of the Twin Cities Metro Canada Goose Zone; thence along said boundary to the point of beginning.

   Missouri

   Same zones as for ducks but in addition:

   Middle Zone

   Southeast Zone: That portion of the State encompassed by a line beginning at the intersection of Missouri Highway (MO) 34 and

   Interstate 55 and extending south along I-55 to U.S. Highway 62, west along U.S. 62 to MO 53, north along MO 53 to MO 51, north along MO 51 to U.S. 60, west along U.S. 60 to MO 21, north along MO 21 to MO 72, east along MO 72 to MO 34, then east along MO 34 to I-55.

   Ohio

   Same zones as for ducks but in addition:

   North Zone

   Lake Erie Zone: That portion of the North Duck Zone encompassed by and north and east of a line beginning in Lucas County at the Michigan

   State line on I-75, and extending south along I-75 to I-280, south along I-280 to I-80, and east along I-80 to the Pennsylvania State line in Trumbull County.

   Tennessee

   Southwest Zone: That portion of the State south of State Highways 20 and 104, and west of U.S. Highways 45 and 45W.

   Northwest Zone: Lake, Obion, and Weakley Counties and those portions of Gibson and Dyer Counties not included in the Southwest

   Tennessee Zone.

   Kentucky/Barkley Lakes Zone: That portion of the State bounded on the west by the eastern boundaries of the Northwest and Southwest Zones and on the east by State Highway 13 from the Alabama State line to

   Clarksville and U.S. Highway 79 from Clarksville to the Kentucky State line.

   Wisconsin

   Same zones as for ducks but in addition:

   Horicon Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at the intersection of State Highway 21 and the Fox River in Winnebago County and extending westerly along State 21 to the west boundary of Winnebago

   County, southerly along the west boundary of Winnebago County to the north boundary of Green Lake County, westerly along the north boundaries of Green Lake and Marquette Counties to State 22, southerly along State 22 to State 33, westerly along State 33 to Interstate

   Highway 39, southerly along Interstate Highway 39 to Interstate Highway 90/94, southerly along I-90/94 to State 60, easterly along State 60 to

   State 83, northerly along State 83 to State 175, northerly along State 175 to State 33, easterly along State 33 to U.S. Highway 45, northerly along U.S. 45 to the east shore of the Fond Du Lac River, northerly along the east shore of the Fond Du Lac River to Lake Winnebago, northerly along the western shoreline of Lake Winnebago to the Fox

   River, then westerly along the Fox River to State 21.

   Collins Zone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at the intersection of Hilltop Road and Collins Marsh Road in Manitowoc County and extending westerly along Hilltop Road to Humpty Dumpty Road, southerly along Humpty Dumpty Road to Poplar Grove Road, easterly along

   Poplar Grove Road to Rockea Road, southerly along Rockea Road to County

   Highway JJ, southeasterly along County JJ to Collins Road, southerly along Collins Road to the Manitowoc River, southeasterly along the

   Manitowoc River to Quarry Road, northerly along Quarry Road to

   Einberger Road, northerly along Einberger Road to Moschel Road, westerly along Moschel Road to Collins Marsh Road, northerly along

   Collins Marsh Road to Hilltop Road.

   Exterior Zone: That portion of the State not included in the

   Horicon or Collins Zones.

   Mississippi River Subzone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at the intersection of the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe

   Railway and the Illinois State line in Grant County and extending northerly along the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway to the city limit of Prescott in Pierce County, then west along the Prescott city limit to the Minnesota State line.

   Rock Prairie Subzone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at the intersection of the Illinois State line and Interstate Highway 90 and extending north along I-90 to County Highway A, east along County A to U.S. Highway 12, southeast along U.S. 12 to State Highway 50, west along State 50 to State 120, then south along 120 to the Illinois State line.

   Brown County Subzone: That area encompassed by a line beginning at the intersection of the Fox River with Green Bay in Brown County and extending southerly along the Fox River to State Highway 29, northwesterly along State 29 to the Brown County line, south, east, and north along the Brown County line to Green Bay, due west to the midpoint of the Green Bay Ship Channel, then southwesterly along the

   Green Bay Ship Channel to the Fox River.

   Page 55625

   Central Flyway

   Colorado (Central Flyway Portion)

   Northern Front Range Area: All areas in Boulder, Larimer and Weld

   Counties from the Continental Divide east along the Wyoming border to

   U.S. 85, south on U.S. 85 to the Adams County line, and all lands in

   Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Gilpin, and

   Jefferson Counties.

   North Park Area: Jackson County.

   South Park and San Luis Valley Area: All of Alamosa, Chaffee,

   Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Fremont, Lake, Park, Rio Grande and Teller

   Counties, and those portions of Saguache, Mineral and Hinsdale Counties east of the Continental Divide.

   Remainder: Remainder of the Central Flyway portion of Colorado.

   Eastern Colorado Late Light Goose Area: That portion of the State east of Interstate Highway 25.

   Nebraska

   Dark Geese

   Niobrara Unit: That area contained within and bounded by the intersection of the South Dakota State line and the Cherry County line, south along the Cherry County line to the Niobrara River, east to the

   Norden Road, south on the Norden Road to U.S. Hwy 20, east along U.S.

   Hwy 20 to NE Hwy 137, north along NE Hwy 137 to the Niobrara River, east along the Niobrara River to the Boyd County line, north along the

   Boyd County line to the South Dakota State line. Where the Niobrara

   River forms the boundary, both banks of the river are included in the

   Niobrara Unit.

   East Unit: That area north and east of U.S. 281 at the Kansas-

   Nebraska State line, north to Giltner Road (near Doniphan), east to NE 14, north to NE 66, east to U.S. 81, north to NE 22, west to NE 14 north to NE 91, east to U.S. 275, south to U.S. 77, south to NE 91, east to U.S. 30, east to Nebraska-Iowa State line.

   Platte River Unit: That area south and west of U.S. 281 at the

   Kansas-Nebraska State line, north to Giltner Road (near Doniphan), east to NE 14, north to NE 66, east to U.S. 81, north to NE 22, west to NE 14 north to NE 91, west along NE 91 to NE 11, north to the Holt County line, west along the northern border of Garfield, Loup, Blaine and

   Thomas Counties to the Hooker County line, south along the Thomas-

   Hooker County lines to the McPherson County line, east along the south border of Thomas County to the western line of Custer County, south along the Custer--Logan County line to NE 92, west to U.S. 83, north to

   NE 92, west to NE 61, north along NE 61 to NE 2, west along NE 2 to the corner formed by Garden-Grant-Sheridan Counties, west along the north border of Garden, Morrill, and Scotts Bluff Counties to the intersection of the Interstate Canal, west to Wyoming State line.

   North-Central Unit: The remainder of the State.

   Light Geese

   Rainwater Basin Light Goose Area (West): The area bounded by the junction of U.S. 283 and U.S. 30 at Lexington, east on U.S. 30 to U.S. 281, south on U.S. 281 to NE 4, west on NE 4 to U.S. 34, continue west on U.S. 34 to U.S. 283, then north on U.S. 283 to the beginning.

   Rainwater Basin Light Goose Area (East): The area bounded by the junction of U.S. 281 and U.S. 30 at Grand Island, north and east on

   U.S. 30 to NE 14, south to NE 66, east to U.S. 81, north to NE 92, east on NE 92 to NE 15, south on NE 15 to NE 4, west on NE 4 to U.S. 281, north on U.S. 281 to the beginning.

   Remainder of State: The remainder portion of Nebraska.

   New Mexico (Central Flyway Portion)

   Dark Geese

   Middle Rio Grande Valley Unit: Sierra, Socorro, and Valencia

   Counties.

   Remainder: The remainder of the Central Flyway portion of New

   Mexico.

   North Dakota

   Missouri River Canada Goose Zone: The area within and bounded by a line starting where ND Hwy 6 crosses the South Dakota border; thence north on ND Hwy 6 to I-94; thence west on I-94 to ND Hwy 49; thence north on ND Hwy 49 to ND Hwy 200; thence north on Mercer County Rd. 21 to the section line between sections 8 and 9 (T146N-R87W); thence north on that section line to the southern shoreline to Lake Sakakawea; thence east along the southern shoreline (including Mallard Island) of

   Lake Sakakawea to U.S. Hwy 83; thence south on U.S. Hwy 83 to ND Hwy 200; thence east on ND Hwy 200 to ND Hwy 41; thence south on ND Hwy 41 to U.S. Hwy 83; thence south on U.S. Hwy 83 to I-94; thence east on I- 94 to U.S. Hwy 83; thence south on U.S. Hwy 83 to the South Dakota border; thence west along the South Dakota border to ND Hwy 6.

   Rest of State: Remainder of North Dakota.

   South Dakota

   Canada Geese

   Unit 1: Remainder of South Dakota.

   Unit 2: Bon Homme, Brule, Buffalo, Charles Mix, Custer east of SD

   Hwy 79 and south of French Creek, Dewey south of U.S. Hwy 212, Fall

   River east of SD Hwy 71 and U.S. Hwy 385, Gregory, Hughes, Hyde south of U.S. Hwy 14, Lyman, Perkins, Potter west of U.S. Hwy 83, Stanley, and Sully Counties.

   Unit 3: Bennett County.

   Texas

   Northeast Goose Zone: That portion of Texas lying east and north of a line beginning at the Texas-Oklahoma border at U.S. 81, then continuing south to Bowie and then southeasterly along U.S. 81 and U.S. 287 to I-35W and I-35 to the juncture with I-10 in San Antonio, then east on I-10 to the Texas-Louisiana border.

   Southeast Goose Zone: That portion of Texas lying east and south of a line beginning at the International Toll Bridge at Laredo, then continuing north following I-35 to the juncture with I-10 in San

   Antonio, then easterly along I-10 to the Texas-Louisiana border.

   West Goose Zone: The remainder of the State.

   Wyoming (Central Flyway Portion)

   Dark Geese

   Area 1: Converse, Hot Springs, Natrona, and Washakie Counties, and the portion of Park County east of the Shoshone National Forest boundary and south of a line beginning where the Shoshone National

   Forest boundary crosses Park County Road 8VC, easterly along said road to Park County Road 1AB, easterly along said road to Wyoming Highway 120, northerly along said highway to Wyoming Highway 294, southeasterly along said highway to Lane 9, easterly along said lane to the town of

   Powel and Wyoming Highway 14A, easterly along said highway to the Park

   County and Big Horn County Line.

   Area 2: Albany, Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Laramie, Niobrara,

   Sheridan, and Weston Counties, and that portion of Carbon County east of the Continental Divide; that portion of Park County west of the

   Shoshone National Forest boundary, and that portion of Park County north of a line beginning where the Shoshone National Forest boundary crosses Park County Road 8VC, easterly along said road to Park County

   Road 1AB, easterly along said road to Wyoming Highway 120, northerly along said highway to Wyoming Highway 294, southeasterly along said highway to Lane 9, easterly along said lane to the town of Powel and

   Wyoming Highway 14A, easterly along said highway to the Park County and

   Big Horn County Line.

   Area 3: Goshen and Platte Counties.

   Area 4: Big Horn and Fremont Counties.

   Page 55626

   Pacific Flyway

   Arizona

   North Zone: Game Management Units 1-5, those portions of Game

   Management Units 6 and 8 within Coconino County, and Game Management

   Units 7, 9, and 12A.

   South Zone: Those portions of Game Management Units 6 and 8 in

   Yavapai County, and Game Management Units 10 and 12B-45.

   California

   Northeastern Zone: In that portion of California lying east and north of a line beginning at the intersection of Interstate 5 with the

   California-Oregon line; south along Interstate 5 to its junction with

   Walters Lane south of the town of Yreka; west along Walters Lane to its junction with Easy Street; south along Easy Street to the junction with

   Old Highway 99; south along Old Highway 99 to the point of intersection with Interstate 5 north of the town of Weed; south along Interstate 5 to its junction with Highway 89; east and south along Highway 89 to main street Greenville; north and east to its junction with North

   Valley Road; south to its junction of Diamond Mountain Road; north and east to its junction with North Arm Road; south and west to the junction of North Valley Road; south to the junction with Arlington

   Road (A22); west to the junction of Highway 89; south and west to the junction of Highway 70; east on Highway 70 to Highway 395; south and east on Highway 395 to the point of intersection with the California-

   Nevada State line; north along the California-Nevada State line to the junction of the California-Nevada-Oregon State lines west along the

   California-Oregon State line to the point of origin.

   Colorado River Zone: Those portions of San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial Counties east of a line extending from the Nevada border south along U.S. 95 to Vidal Junction; south on a road known as

   ``Aqueduct Road'' in San Bernardino County through the town of Rice to the San Bernardino-Riverside County line; south on a road known in

   Riverside County as the ``Desert Center to Rice Road'' to the town of

   Desert Center; east 31 miles on I-10 to the Wiley Well Road; south on this road to Wiley Well; southeast along the Army-Milpitas Road to the

   Blythe, Brawley, Davis Lake intersections; south on the Blythe-Brawley paved road to the Ogilby and Tumco Mine Road; south on this road to

   U.S. 80; east 7 miles on U.S. 80 to the Andrade-Algodones Road; south on this paved road to the Mexican border at Algodones, Mexico.

   Southern Zone: That portion of southern California (but excluding the Colorado River Zone) south and east of a line extending from the

   Pacific Ocean east along the Santa Maria River to CA 166 near the City of Santa Maria; east on CA 166 to CA 99; south on CA 99 to the crest of the Tehachapi Mountains at Tejon Pass; east and north along the crest of the Tehachapi Mountains to CA 178 at Walker Pass; east on CA 178 to

   U.S. 395 at the town of Inyokern; south on U.S. 395 to CA 58; east on

   CA 58 to I-15; east on I-15 to CA 127; north on CA 127 to the Nevada border.

   Imperial County Special Management Area: The area bounded by a line beginning at Highway 86 and the Navy Test Base Road; south on Highway 86 to the town of Westmoreland; continue through the town of

   Westmoreland to Route S26; east on Route S26 to Highway 115; north on

   Highway 115 to Weist Rd.; north on Weist Rd. to Flowing Wells Rd.; northeast on Flowing Wells Rd. to the Coachella Canal; northwest on the

   Coachella Canal to Drop 18; a straight line from Drop 18 to Frink Rd.; south on Frink Rd. to Highway 111; north on Highway 111 to Niland

   Marina Rd.; southwest on Niland Marina Rd. to the old Imperial County boat ramp and the water line of the Salton Sea; from the water line of the Salton Sea, a straight line across the Salton Sea to the Salinity

   Control Research Facility and the Navy Test Base Road; southwest on the

   Navy Test Base Road to the point of beginning.

   Balance-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of California not included in the Northeastern, Southern, and the Colorado River Zones.

   North Coast Special Management Area: The Counties of Del Norte and

   Humboldt. Sacramento Valley Special Management Area (West): That area bounded by a line beginning at Willows south on I-5 to Hahn Road; easterly on Hahn Road and the Grimes-Arbuckle Road to Grimes; northerly on CA 45 to the junction with CA 162; northerly on CA 45/162 to Glenn; and westerly on CA 162 to the point of beginning in Willows.

   Colorado (Pacific Flyway Portion)

   West Central Area: Archuleta, Delta, Dolores, Gunnison, LaPlata,

   Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, and San Miguel Counties and those portions of Hinsdale, Mineral, and Saguache Counties west of the

   Continental Divide.

   State Area: The remainder of the Pacific-Flyway Portion of

   Colorado.

   Idaho

   Zone 1: Adams, Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho,

   Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, Shoshone, and Valley Counties.

   Zone 2: The Counties of Ada; 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; and Washington.

   Zone 3: The Counties of Cassia except the Minidoka National

   Wildlife Refuge; those portions of Elmore south of I-84 east of ID 51, and within the Camas Creek drainage; Gooding; Jerome; Lincoln;

   Minidoka; Owyhee east of ID 51; and Twin Falls.

   Zone 4: The Counties of Bear Lake; Bingham within the Blackfoot

   Reservoir drainage; Blaine; Bonneville, Butte; Camas; Caribou except the Fort Hall Indian Reservation; Cassia within the Minidoka National

   Wildlife Refuge; Clark; Custer; Franklin; Fremont; Jefferson; Lemhi;

   Madison; Oneida; and Teton.

   Zone 5: All lands and waters within the Fort Hall Indian

   Reservation, including private inholdings; Bannock County; Bingham

   County, except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; and Power County.

   Montana (Pacific Flyway Portion)

   East of the Divide Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of the State located east of the Continental Divide.

   West of the Divide Zone: The remainder of the Pacific Flyway portion of Montana.

   Nevada

   Lincoln Clark County Zone: All of Lincoln and Clark Counties.

   Remainder-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of Nevada.

   New Mexico (Pacific Flyway Portion)

   North Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of New Mexico located north of I-40.

   South Zone: The Pacific Flyway portion of New Mexico located south of I-40.

   Oregon

   Southwest Zone: Those portions of Douglas, Coos, and Curry Counties east of Highway 101, and Josephine and Jackson Counties.

   South Coast Zone: Those portions of Douglas, Coos, and Curry

   Counties west of Highway 101.

   Northwest Special Permit Zone: That portion of western Oregon west and north of a line running south from the Columbia River in Portland along I-5 to OR 22 at Salem; then east on OR 22 to

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   the Stayton Cutoff; then south on the Stayton Cutoff to Stayton and due south to the Santiam River; then west along the north shore of the

   Santiam River to I-5; then south on I-5 to OR 126 at Eugene; then west on OR 126 to Greenhill Road; then south on Greenhill Road to Crow Road; then west on Crow Road to Territorial Hwy; then west on Territorial Hwy to OR 126; then west on OR 126 to Milepost 19; then north to the intersection of the Benton and Lincoln County line; then north along the western boundary of Benton and Polk Counties to the southern boundary of Tillamook County; then west along the Tillamook County boundary to the Pacific Coast.

   Lower Columbia/N. Willamette Valley Management Area: Those portions of Clatsop, Columbia, Multnomah, and Washington Counties within the

   Northwest Special Permit Zone.

   Tillamook County Management Area: All of Tillamook County is open to goose hunting except for the following area--beginning in Cloverdale at Hwy 101, west on Old Woods Rd to Sand Lake Rd at Woods, north on

   Sand Lake Rd to the intersection with McPhillips Dr, due west (~200 yards) from the intersection to the Pacific coastline, south on the

   Pacific coastline to Neskowin Creek, east along the north shores of

   Neskowin Creek and then Hawk Creek to Salem Ave, east on Salem Ave in

   Neskowin to Hawk Ave, east on Hawk Ave to Hwy 101, north on Hwy 101 at

   Cloverdale, to the point of beginning.

   Northwest Zone: Those portions of Clackamas, Lane, Linn, Marion,

   Multnomah, and Washington Counties outside of the Northwest Special

   Permit Zone and all of Lincoln County.

   Eastern Zone: Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow,

   Umatilla, Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler, Grant, Baker, Union, and Wallowa Counties.

   Harney, Lake, and Malheur County Zone: All of Harney, Lake, and

   Malheur Counties.

   Klamath County Zone: All of Klamath County.

   Utah

   Northern Utah Zone: All of Cache and Rich Counties, and that portion of Box Elder County beginning at I-15 and the Weber-Box Elder

   County line; east and north along this line to the Weber-Cache County line; east along this line to the Cache-Rich County line; east and south along the Rich County line to the Utah-Wyoming State line; north along this line to the Utah-Idaho State line; west on this line to

   Stone, Idaho-Snowville, Utah road; southwest on this road to Locomotive

   Springs Wildlife Management Area; east on the county road, past

   Monument Point and across Salt Wells Flat, to the intersection with

   Promontory Road; south on Promontory Road to a point directly west of the northwest corner of the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge boundary; east along an imaginary line to the northwest corner of the Refuge boundary; south and east along the Refuge boundary to the southeast corner of the boundary; northeast along the boundary to the Perry access road; east on the Perry access road to I-15; south on I-15 to the Weber-Box Elder County line.

   Remainder-of-the-State Zone: The remainder of Utah.

   Washington

   Area 1: Skagit, Island, and Snohomish Counties.

   Area 2A (SW Quota Zone): Clark County, except portions south of the

   Washougal River; Cowlitz County; and Wahkiakum County.

   Area 2B (SW Quota Zone): Pacific County.

   Area 3: All areas west of the Pacific Crest Trail and west of the

   Big White Salmon River that are not included in Areas 1, 2A, and 2B.

   Area 4: Adams, Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas,

   Lincoln, Okanogan, Spokane, and Walla Walla Counties.

   Area 5: All areas east of the Pacific Crest Trail and east of the

   Big White Salmon River that are not included in Area 4.

   Brant

   Pacific Flyway

   California

   North Coast Zone: Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties.

   South Coast Zone: Balance of the State.

   Washington

   Puget Sound Zone: Skagit County.

   Coastal Zone: Pacific County.

   Swans

   Central Flyway

   South Dakota

   Aurora, Beadle, Brookings, Brown, Brule, Buffalo, Campbell, Clark,

   Codington, Davison, Deuel, Day, Edmunds, Faulk, Grant, Hamlin, Hand,

   Hanson, Hughes, Hyde, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Lake, Marshall, McCook,

   McPherson, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Potter, Roberts, Sanborn, Spink,

   Sully, and Walworth Counties.

   Pacific Flyway

   Montana (Pacific Flyway Portion)

   Open Area: Cascade, Chouteau, Hill, Liberty, and Toole Counties and those portions of Pondera and Teton Counties lying east of U.S. 287-89.

   Nevada

   Open Area: Churchill, Lyon, and Pershing Counties.

   Utah

   Open Area: Those portions of Box Elder, Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, and Toole Counties lying west of I-15, north of I-80, and south of a line beginning from the Forest Street exit to the Bear River National

   Wildlife Refuge boundary; then north and west along the Bear River

   National Wildlife Refuge boundary to the farthest west boundary of the

   Refuge; then west along a line to Promontory Road; then north on

   Promontory Road to the intersection of SR 83; then north on SR 83 to I- 84; then north and west on I-84 to State Hwy 30; then west on State Hwy 30 to the Nevada-Utah State line; then south on the Nevada-Utah State line to I-80.

   FR Doc. E8-22439 Filed 9-24-08; 8:45 am

   BILLING CODE 4310-55-P