Migratory Bird Hunting; Final Frameworks for Early-Season Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations; Final Rule
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Vol. 76 Tuesday, No. 168 August 30, 2011 Part III Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 20 Migratory Bird Hunting; Final Frameworks for Early-Season Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations; Final Rule VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:14 Aug 29, 2011 Jkt 223001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4717 Sfmt 4717 E:\FR\FM\30AUR3.SGM 30AUR3 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES3 54052 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 168 / Tuesday, August 30, 2011 / Rules and Regulations DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR also identified in the April 8 proposed information on methodologies and rule. Further, we explained that all results, is available at the address Fish and Wildlife Service sections of subsequent documents indicated under FOR FURTHER outlining hunting frameworks and INFORMATION CONTACT or from our Web 50 CFR Part 20 guidelines were organized under site at http://www.fws.gov/ [Docket No. FWS–R9–MB–2011–0014; numbered headings. Subsequent migratorybirds/ 91200–1231–9BPP–L2] documents will refer only to numbered NewsPublicationsReports.html. items requiring attention. Therefore, it is Review of Public Comments RIN 1018–AX34 important to note that we omit those items requiring no attention, and The preliminary proposed rulemaking Migratory Bird Hunting; Final remaining numbered items might be (April 8 Federal Register) opened the Frameworks for Early-Season discontinuous or appear incomplete. public comment period for migratory Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations On June 22, 2011, we published in the game bird hunting regulations and AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal Register (76 FR 36508) a second announced the proposed regulatory Interior. document providing supplemental alternatives for the 2011–12 duck hunting season. Comments concerning ACTION: Final rule. proposals for early- and late-season migratory bird hunting regulations. The early-season issues and the proposed SUMMARY: This rule prescribes final June 22 supplement also provided alternatives are summarized below and early-season frameworks from which the information on the 2011–12 regulatory numbered in the order used in the April States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin schedule and announced the Service 8 Federal Register document. Only the Islands may select season dates, limits, Regulations Committee (SRC) and numbered items pertaining to early- and other options for the 2011–12 summer Flyway Council meetings. seasons issues and the proposed migratory bird hunting seasons. Early On June 22 and 23, 2011, we held regulatory alternatives for which we seasons are those that generally open open meetings with the Flyway Council received written comments are prior to October 1, and include seasons Consultants where the participants included. Consequently, the issues do in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the reviewed information on the current not follow in consecutive numerical or Virgin Islands. The effect of this final status of migratory shore and upland alphabetical order. rule is to facilitate the selection of game birds and developed We received recommendations from hunting seasons by the States and recommendations for the 2011–12 all four Flyway Councils. Some Territories to further the annual regulations for these species plus recommendations supported establishment of the early-season regulations for migratory game birds in continuation of last year’s frameworks. migratory bird hunting regulations. Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Due to the comprehensive nature of the annual review of the frameworks DATES: This rule takes effect on August Islands, special September waterfowl performed by the Councils, support for 30, 2011. seasons in designated States, special sea duck seasons in the Atlantic Flyway, continuation of last year’s frameworks is ADDRESSES: States and Territories and extended falconry seasons. In assumed for items for which no should send their season selections to: addition, we reviewed and discussed recommendations were received. Chief, Division of Migratory Bird preliminary information on the status of Council recommendations for changes Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife waterfowl as it relates to the in the frameworks are summarized Service, ms MBSP–4107–ARLSQ, 1849 development and selection of the below. C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240. regulatory packages for the 2011–12 You may inspect comments during General regular waterfowl seasons. normal business hours at the Service’s On July 26, 2011, we published in the Written Comments: An individual office in room 4107, 4501 N. Fairfax Federal Register (76 FR 44730) a third commenter protested the entire Drive, Arlington, Virginia, or at http:// document specifically dealing with the migratory bird hunting regulations www.regulations.gov at Docket No. proposed frameworks for early-season process, the killing of all migratory FWS–R9–MB–2011–0014. regulations. We published the proposed birds, and the lack of accepting FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron frameworks for late-season regulations electronic public comments. W. Kokel, U.S. Fish and Wildlife (primarily hunting seasons that start Service Response: Our long-term Service, Department of the Interior, MS after October 1 and most waterfowl objectives continue to include providing MBSP–4107–ARLSQ, 1849 C Street, seasons not already established) in an opportunities to harvest portions of NW., Washington, DC 20240; (703) 358– August 26, 2011, Federal Register. certain migratory game bird populations 1714. This document is the fifth in a series and to limit harvests to levels SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: of proposed, supplemental, and final compatible with each population’s rulemaking documents. It establishes ability to maintain healthy, viable Regulations Schedule for 2011 final frameworks from which States may numbers. Having taken into account the On April 8, 2011, we published in the select season dates, shooting hours, and zones of temperature and the Federal Register (76 FR 19876) a daily bag and possession limits for the distribution, abundance, economic proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20. The 2011–12 season. These selections will value, breeding habits, and times and proposal provided a background and be published in the Federal Register as lines of flight of migratory birds, we overview of the migratory bird hunting amendments to §§ 20.101 through believe that the hunting seasons regulations process, and addressed the 20.107, and § 20.109 of title 50 CFR part provided for herein are compatible with establishment of seasons, limits, and 20. the current status of migratory bird other regulations for hunting migratory populations and long-term population game birds under §§ 20.101 through Population Status and Harvest goals. Additionally, we are obligated to, 20.107, 20.109, and 20.110 of subpart K. Information on the status of waterfowl and do, give serious consideration to all Major steps in the 2011–12 regulatory and information on the status and information received as public cycle relating to open public meetings harvest of migratory shore and upland comment. While there are problems and Federal Register notifications were game birds, including detailed inherent with any type of representative VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:14 Aug 29, 2011 Jkt 223001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\30AUR3.SGM 30AUR3 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES3 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 168 / Tuesday, August 30, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 54053 management of public-trust resources, waterfowl and other natural resources, The Central Flyway Council we believe that the Flyway-Council to encourage youngsters and adults to recommended that we increase the daily system of migratory bird management experience the outdoors together, and to bag limit framework from five to eight has been a longstanding example of contribute to the long-term conservation for North Dakota during the special State-Federal cooperative management of the migratory bird resource. We early Canada goose hunting season in since its establishment in 1952. stated then that we viewed the special September. However, as always, we continue to youth hunting day as a unique The Pacific Flyway Council seek new ways to streamline and educational opportunity, above and recommended increasing the daily bag improve the process. beyond the regular season, which helps limit in the Pacific Flyway portion of Regarding the comment concerning ensure high-quality learning Colorado from three geese to four geese, our acceptance, or lack thereof, of experiences for those youth indicating and increasing the possession limit from electronic public comments, we do an interest in hunting. We further six to eight birds during the special accept electronic comments filed believed that the youth hunting day September season. through the official Federal would help develop a conservation Service Response: We agree with the eRulemaking portal (http:// ethic in our youth and was consistent Atlantic Flyway Council’s www.regulations.gov). Public comment with the Service’s responsibility to recommendation that Delaware’s methods are identified and listed above foster an appreciation for our nation’s September Canada goose season become under ADDRESSES. valuable wildlife resources. However, operational. As the Council notes in 1. Ducks there have been few attempts to their recommendation, resident Canada determine whether youth hunts have Categories used to discuss issues geese remain overabundant in many achieved their intended purpose. Thus, areas of the Flyway. The current related to duck harvest management