[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 159 (Friday, August 15, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48098-48115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18930]
[[Page 48097]]
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Part V
Department of the Interior
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Fish and Wildlife Service
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50 CFR Part 20
Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations on
Certain Federal Indian Reservations and Ceded Lands for the 2008-09
Season; Proposed Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 159 / Friday, August 15, 2008 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 48098]]
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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; Proposed Migratory Bird Hunting
Regulations on Certain Federal Indian Reservations and Ceded Lands for
the 2008-09 Season
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter, Service or
we) proposes special migratory bird hunting regulations for certain
Tribes on Federal Indian reservations, off-reservation trust lands, and
ceded lands for the 2008-09 migratory bird hunting season.
DATES: We will accept all comments on the proposed regulations that are
postmarked or received in our office by August 25, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposals by one of the
following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing,
Attn: 1018-AV62; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington,
VA 22203.
We will not accept e-mail or faxes. We will post all comments on
http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any
personal information you provide us (see the Public Comments section
below for more information).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron W. Kokel, Division of Migratory
Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (703) 358-1714.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the May 28, 2008, Federal Register (73 FR
30712), we requested proposals from Indian Tribes wishing to establish
special migratory bird hunting regulations for the 2008-09 hunting
season, under the guidelines described in the June 4, 1985, Federal
Register (50 FR 23467). In this supplemental proposed rule, we propose
special migratory bird hunting regulations for 28 Indian Tribes, based
on the input we received in response to the May 28, 2008, proposed
rule. As described in that document/proposed rule, the promulgation of
annual migratory bird hunting regulations involves a series of
rulemaking actions each year. This proposed rule is part of that
series.
We developed the guidelines for establishing special migratory bird
hunting regulations for Indian Tribes in response to tribal requests
for recognition of their reserved hunting rights and, for some Tribes,
recognition of their authority to regulate hunting by both tribal and
nontribal hunters on their reservations. The guidelines include
possibilities for:
(1) On-reservation hunting by both tribal and nontribal hunters,
with hunting by nontribal hunters on some reservations to take place
within Federal frameworks but on dates different from those selected by
the surrounding State(s);
(2) On-reservation hunting by tribal members only, outside of the
usual Federal frameworks for season dates and length, and for daily bag
and possession limits; and
(3) Off-reservation hunting by tribal members on ceded lands,
outside of usual framework dates and season length, with some added
flexibility in daily bag and possession limits.
In all cases, the regulations established under the guidelines must
be consistent with the March 10 to September 1 closed season mandated
by the 1916 Convention Between the United States and Great Britain (for
Canada) for the Protection of Migratory Birds (Treaty). The guidelines
apply to those Tribes having recognized reserved hunting rights on
Federal Indian reservations (including off-reservation trust lands) and
on ceded lands. They also apply to establishing migratory bird hunting
regulations for nontribal hunters on all lands within the exterior
boundaries of reservations where Tribes have full wildlife management
authority over such hunting or where the Tribes and affected States
otherwise have reached agreement over hunting by nontribal hunters on
lands owned by non-Indians within the reservation.
Tribes usually have the authority to regulate migratory bird
hunting by nonmembers on Indian-owned reservation lands, subject to
Service approval. The question of jurisdiction is more complex on
reservations that include lands owned by non-Indians, especially when
the surrounding States have established or intend to establish
regulations governing hunting by non-Indians on these lands. In such
cases, we encourage the Tribes and States to reach agreement on
regulations that would apply throughout the reservations. When
appropriate, we will consult with a Tribe and State with the aim of
facilitating an accord. We also will consult jointly with tribal and
State officials in the affected States where Tribes wish to establish
special hunting regulations for tribal members on ceded lands. Because
of past questions regarding interpretation of what events trigger the
consultation process, as well as who initiates it, we provide the
following clarification. We routinely provide copies of Federal
Register publications pertaining to migratory bird management to all
State Directors, Tribes, and other interested parties. It is the
responsibility of the States, Tribes, and others to notify us of any
concern regarding any feature(s) of any regulations. When we receive
such notification, we will initiate consultation.
Our guidelines provide for the continued harvest of waterfowl and
other migratory game birds by tribal members on reservations where such
harvest has been a customary practice. We do not oppose this harvest,
provided it does not take place during the closed season defined by the
Treaty, and does not adversely affect the status of the migratory bird
resource. Before developing the guidelines, we reviewed available
information on the current status of migratory bird populations;
reviewed the current status of migratory bird hunting on Federal Indian
reservations; and evaluated the potential impact of such guidelines on
migratory birds. We concluded that the impact of migratory bird harvest
by tribal members hunting on their reservations is minimal.
One area of interest in Indian migratory bird hunting regulations
relates to hunting seasons for nontribal hunters on dates that are
within Federal frameworks, but which are different from those
established by the State(s) where the reservation is located. A large
influx of nontribal hunters onto a reservation at a time when the
season is closed in the surrounding State(s) could result in adverse
population impacts on one or more migratory bird species. The
guidelines make this unlikely, however, because tribal proposals must
include: (a) Harvest anticipated under the requested regulations; (b)
methods that will be employed to measure or monitor harvest (such as
bag checks, mail questionnaires, etc.); (c) steps that will be taken to
limit level of harvest, where it could be shown that failure to limit
such harvest would adversely impact the migratory bird resource; and
(d) tribal capabilities to establish and enforce migratory bird hunting
regulations. We may modify regulations or establish experimental
special hunts, after evaluation and confirmation of
[[Page 48099]]
harvest information obtained by the Tribes.
We believe the guidelines provide appropriate opportunity to
accommodate the reserved hunting rights and management authority of
Indian Tribes while ensuring that the migratory bird resource receives
necessary protection. The conservation of this important international
resource is paramount. The guidelines should not be viewed as
inflexible. In this regard, we note that they have been employed
successfully since 1985. We believe they have been tested adequately
and, therefore, we made them final beginning with the 1988-89 hunting
season. We should stress here, however, that use of the guidelines is
not mandatory and no action is required if a Tribe wishes to observe
the hunting regulations established by the State(s) in which the
reservation is located.
Service Migratory Bird Regulations Committee Meetings
Participants at the June 25-26, 2008, meetings reviewed information
on the current status of migratory shore and upland game birds and
developed 2008-09 migratory game bird regulations recommendations for
these species plus regulations for migratory game birds in Alaska,
Puerto Rico, and the U.S. 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.
Participants at the previously announced July 30-31, 2008, meetings
reviewed information on the current status of waterfowl and developed
recommendations for the 2008-09 regulations pertaining to regular
waterfowl seasons and other species and seasons not previously
discussed at the early-season meetings. In accordance with Department
of the Interior policy, these meetings were open to public observation
and you may submit comments to the Director on the matters discussed.
Population Status and Harvest
The following paragraphs provide preliminary information on the
status of waterfowl and information on the status and harvest of
migratory shore and upland game birds excerpted from various reports.
For more detailed information on methodologies and results, you may
obtain complete copies of the various reports at the address indicated
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or from our Web site at http://fws.gov/migratorybirds/reports/report.html.
Waterfowl Breeding and Habitat Survey
Federal, provincial, and State agencies conduct surveys each spring
to estimate the size of breeding populations and to evaluate the
conditions of the habitats. These surveys are conducted using fixed-
wing aircraft, helicopters, and ground crews and encompass principal
breeding areas of North America, covering an area over 2.0 million
square miles. The Traditional survey area comprises Alaska, Canada, and
the northcentral United States, and includes approximately 1.3 million
square miles. The Eastern survey area includes parts of Ontario,
Quebec, Labrador, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New
Brunswick, New York, and Maine, an area of approximately 0.7 million
square miles.
Overall, habitat conditions during the 2008 May waterfowl survey
were characterized in many areas by a delayed spring compared to
several preceding years. Drought in many parts of the traditional
survey area contrasted sharply with record amounts of snow and rainfall
in the eastern survey area.
Traditional Survey Area (U.S. and Canadian Prairies)
Although spring was delayed in much of the traditional survey area,
field crews reported that habitat conditions were suitable for nesting
at the time of the survey. Much of the prairie potholes experienced
drought conditions this spring and many semi-permanent wetlands and
livestock dugouts were dry. At the time of the survey this area was
considered to be in fair to poor condition, with the exceptions being
regions with temporary and seasonal water in southeastern South Dakota,
and areas of western South Dakota that received abundant rain and
snowfall in early May; conditions were classified as good in both of
these areas. Parts of the prairie pothole region experienced heavy
rains following completion of the survey. This may improve habitat
conditions for late nesters and may improve the success of re-nesting
attempts.
The parklands were drier in 2008 than in 2007 when excess water
created much additional waterfowl habitat; still, this area was
classified as fair to good overall with most seasonal and semi-
permanent wetlands full. A late April snowstorm recharged wetlands in
some areas of the northern parklands, and these areas were classified
as excellent.
Bush (Alaska, Northern Manitoba, Northern Saskatchewan, Northwest
Territories, Yukon Territory, Western Ontario)
In the boreal forest, spring break-up was later in 2008 than in
recent years, with locally variable snowfall and, consequently,
variable runoff that resulted in habitat conditions ranging from fair
in the east to good in the west. Most large lakes were still frozen on
May 20 in the Northwest Territories; however, warmer temperatures in
late May led to habitat conditions suitable for nesting during the
survey period. Good conditions were present throughout Alaska, with
slightly late spring conditions in some coastal areas.
Eastern Survey Area
In the eastern survey area, a cold winter with heavy snows and
colder than average spring temperatures delayed spring conditions by 1-
2 weeks relative to the early springs of preceding years. An exception
was northern Quebec, which experienced an early spring with most ice
melting by the last week of May. Quickly rising temperatures combined
with spring rains led to flooding in parts of Maine and the Maritimes,
which disrupted spring nesting phenology; as a result, habitat
conditions in these areas were classified as fair. Elsewhere in the
East, abundant water in most lakes and wetlands resulted in habitat
conditions being classified as good or excellent.
Status of Teal
The estimate of blue-winged teal numbers from the Traditional
Survey Area is 6.6 million. This represents a 1.0 percent decrease from
2007 and is 45 percent above the 1955-2007 average.
Sandhill Cranes
Compared to increases recorded in the 1970s, annual indices to
abundance of the Mid-Continent Population (MCP) of sandhill cranes have
been relatively stable since the early 1980s. The Central Platte River
Valley, Nebraska, spring index for 2008, uncorrected for visibility
bias, was 472,128 sandhill cranes. The photo-corrected, 3-year average
for 2005-07 was 364,281, which is within the established population-
objective range of 349,000-472,000 cranes. All Central Flyway States,
except Nebraska, allowed crane hunting in portions of their States
during 2007-08. About 9,808 hunters participated in these seasons,
which was similar to the number that participated in the previous
season. Hunters harvested 18,610 MCP cranes in the U.S. portion of the
Central Flyway during the 2007-08 seasons, which was 6 percent higher
than the
[[Page 48100]]
estimated harvest for the previous year. The retrieved harvest of MCP
cranes in hunt areas outside of the Central Flyway (Arizona, Pacific
Flyway portion of New Mexico, Alaska, Canada, and Mexico combined) was
13,567 during 2007-08. The preliminary estimate for the North American
MCP sport harvest, including crippling losses, was 36,567 birds, which
is similar to the previous year's estimate. The long-term (1982-2004)
trends for the MCP indicate that harvest has been increasing at a
higher rate than population growth.
The fall 2007 pre-migration survey for the Rocky Mountain
Population (RMP) resulted in a record high count of 22,822 cranes. The
3-year average for 2004, 2005, and 2007 (no survey was conducted in
2006) was 20,732 sandhill cranes, which is within established
population objectives of 17,000-21,000 for the RMP. Hunting seasons
during 2007-08 in portions of Arizona, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico,
Utah, and Wyoming resulted in a harvest of 820 RMP cranes, a 10 percent
decrease from the harvest of 907 the year before.
Woodcock
Singing-ground and Wing-collection Surveys were conducted to assess
the population status of the American woodcock (Scolopax minor). The
Singing-ground Survey is intended to measure long-term changes in
woodcock population levels. Singing-ground Survey data for 2008
indicate that the number of displaying woodcock in the Eastern Region
in 2008 was unchanged from 2007, while the Central Region experienced a
9.2 percent decline. However, we note that measurement of short-term
(i.e., annual) trends tends to give estimates with larger variances and
is more prone to be influenced by climatic factors that may affect
local counts during the survey. There was no significant trend in
woodcock heard in the Eastern Region during 1998-2008; however, there
was a declining trend of -1.5 percent per year in the Central Region.
This represents the fifth consecutive year that the 10-year trend
estimate for the Eastern Region did not indicate a significant decline,
while it is the first time since 2003 that the Central Region had a
declining trend. There were long-term (1968-2008) declines of 1.2
percent per year in the Eastern Region and 1.1 percent per year in the
Central Region. Wing-collection Survey data indicate that the 2007
recruitment index for the U.S. portion of the Eastern Region (1.6
immatures per adult female) was 4 percent higher than the 2006 index,
and 4 percent lower than the long-term average. The recruitment index
for the U.S. portion of the Central Region (1.5 immatures per adult
female) was 10 percent lower than the 2006 index and 8 percent below
the long-term average.
Band-Tailed Pigeons and Doves
Annual counts of Interior band-tailed pigeons seen and heard per
Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) route have not changed significantly since
implementation of the BBS in 1966; however, they decreased
significantly over the last 10 years. The 2007 harvest was estimated to
be 4,800 birds. For Pacific Coast band-tailed pigeons, annual BBS
counts of birds seen and heard per route have decreased since 1966, but
they have not changed significantly over the last 10 years. According
to the Pacific Coast Mineral Site Survey, annual counts of Pacific
Coast band-tailed pigeons seen per mineral site have increased
significantly since the survey was experimentally implemented in 2001.
The 2007 harvest was estimated to be 12,700 birds.
Analyses of Mourning Dove Call-count Survey data over the most
recent 10 years indicated no significant trend for doves heard in
either the Eastern or Western Management Units while the Central Unit
showed a significant decline. Over the 43-year period, 1966-2007, all 3
units exhibited significant declines. In contrast, for doves seen over
the 10-year period, no significant trends were found for any of the
three Management Units. Over 43 years, no trend was found for doves
seen in the Eastern and Central Units while a significant decline was
indicated for the Western Unit. The preliminary 2007 harvest estimate
for the United States was 20,550,000 doves. A banding program is
underway to obtain current information in order to develop mourning
dove population models for each Management Unit to provide guidance for
improving our decision-making process with respect to harvest
management.
The two key States with a white-winged dove population are Arizona
and Texas. California and New Mexico have much smaller populations.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) monitors white-winged
dove populations by means of a call-count survey to provide an annual
index to population size. The index peaked at a mean of 52.3 doves
heard per route in 1968, but fell precipitously in the late 1970s. The
index has stabilized to around 25 doves per route in the last few
years. In 2008, the mean number of doves heard per route was 26.9. AGFD
also monitors harvest. Harvest during the 15-day season (September 1-
15) peaked in the late 1960s at ~740,000 birds and has since stabilized
at around 100,000 birds. The 2007 Harvest Information Program (HIP)
estimate was 127,600 birds. In 2007, Arizona redesigned their dove
harvest survey questionnaire to sample only from hunters registered
under HIP. In the future, AGFD and HIP harvest estimates should be more
comparable than they have been in the past.
In Texas, white-winged doves continue to expand their breeding
range. Nesting by whitewings has been recorded in most counties, except
for the northeastern part of the State primarily. Nesting is
essentially confined to urban areas, but appears to be expanding to
exurban areas. Concomitant with this range expansion has been a
continuing increase in whitewing abundance. A new DISTANCE sampling
protocol was implemented for Central and South Texas for 2007, and
expanded in 2008 so that coverage is almost statewide. Once fully
implemented, biologists should have the ability to obtain a good
estimate of white-winged dove abundance in Texas. While 2008 data were
not available at this time, 2007 surveys indicated an estimated
abundance throughout surveyed areas (representing about 20 percent of
the State) of about 2,300,000 whitewings. Total Statewide harvest has
averaged about 2 million birds annually.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is working to improve
management of white-winged doves in Texas in the following ways: (1)
Expanding current surveys of spring populations to encompass areas
throughout the State that now have breeding populations; (2) Completing
the Tamaulipas-Texas White-winged Dove Strategic Plan so that there are
consistent and comparable harvest management strategies, surveys,
research, and data collection across the breeding range of the species;
(3) Expanding operational banding in 2008 that was begun in 2007 to
derive estimates of survival and harvest rates; (4) Implementing a
wing-collection survey for recruitment rates in lieu of the feeding
flight and production surveys; (5) Estimating probability of detection
for more accurate estimates of breeding populations within urban
environments; and (6) Evaluating and estimating reproductive success in
urban areas to better estimate population increases.
In California, BBS data (although imprecise due to a small sample
size) indicate that there has been a significant increase in the
population between 1968 and 2007. According to HIP surveys, the
preliminary harvest estimate for 2007
[[Page 48101]]
was 67,900. In New Mexico, BBS data (very imprecise due to a small
sample size) also showed a significant increase over the long term. In
2007, the estimated harvest was 64,000.
White-tipped doves are believed to be maintaining a relatively
stable population in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of Texas.
DISTANCE sampling procedures in the LRGV include whitetips. However,
until the sampling frame includes rural Rio Grande corridor habitats,
not many whitetips will be reported. Sampling frame issues are expected
to be resolved by next year. However, annual white-tipped dove harvest
during the special season is only averaging 3,000-4,000 birds.
Hunting Season Proposals From Indian Tribes and Organizations
For the 2008-09 hunting season, we received requests from 28 Tribes
and Indian organizations. We actively solicit regulatory proposals from
other tribal groups that are interested in working cooperatively for
the benefit of waterfowl and other migratory game birds. We encourage
Tribes to work with us to develop agreements for management of
migratory bird resources on tribal lands.
It should be noted that this proposed rule includes generalized
regulations for both early- and late-season hunting. A final rule will
be published in a late-August 2008 Federal Register that will include
tribal regulations for the early-hunting season. Early seasons
generally begin around September 1 each year and most commonly include
such species as American woodcock, sandhill cranes, mourning doves, and
white-winged doves. Late seasons generally begin on or around September
24 and most commonly include waterfowl species.
In this current rulemaking, because of the compressed timeframe for
establishing regulations for Indian Tribes and because final frameworks
dates and other specific information are not available, the regulations
for many tribal hunting seasons are described in relation to the season
dates, season length, and limits that will be permitted when final
Federal frameworks are announced for early- and late-season
regulations. For example, daily bag and possession limits for ducks on
some areas are shown as the same as permitted in Pacific Flyway States
under final Federal frameworks, and limits for geese will be shown as
the same permitted by the State(s) in which the tribal hunting area is
located.
The proposed frameworks for early-season regulations were published
in the Federal Register on July 24, 2008 (73 FR 43290); early-season
final frameworks will be published in late-August. Proposed late-season
frameworks for waterfowl and coots will be published in mid-August, and
the final frameworks for the late seasons will be published in mid-
September. We will notify affected Tribes of season dates, bag limits,
etc., as soon as final frameworks are established. As previously
discussed, no action is required by Tribes wishing to observe migratory
bird hunting regulations established by the State(s) where they are
located. The proposed regulations for the 28 Tribes that have submitted
proposals that meet the established criteria are shown below.
(a) Colorado River Indian Tribes, Colorado River Indian Reservation,
Parker, Arizona (Tribal Members and Nontribal Hunters)
The Colorado River Indian Reservation is located in Arizona and
California. The Tribes own almost all lands on the reservation, and
have full wildlife management authority.
In their 2008-09 proposal, the Colorado River Indian Tribes
requested split dove seasons. They propose their early season begin
September 1 and end September 15, 2008. Daily bag limits would be 10
mourning or white-winged doves in the aggregate. The late season for
doves is proposed to open November 15, 2008, and close December 29,
2008. The daily bag limit would be 10 mourning doves. The possession
limit would be twice the daily bag limit after the first day of the
season. Shooting hours would be from one-half hour before sunrise to
noon in the early season and until sunset in the late season. Other
special tribally set regulations would apply.
The Tribes also propose duck hunting seasons. The season would open
October 11, 2008, and run until January 25, 2009. The Tribes propose
the same season dates for mergansers, coots, and common moorhens. The
daily bag limit for ducks, including mergansers, would be seven, except
that the daily bag limits could contain no more than two hen mallards,
two redheads, two Mexican ducks, two goldeneye, three scaup, one
pintail, and two cinnamon teal. The season on canvasback is closed. The
possession limit would be twice the daily bag limit after the first day
of the season. The daily bag and possession limit for coots and common
moorhens would be 25, singly or in the aggregate.
For geese, the Colorado River Indian Tribes propose a season of
October 18, 2008, through January 25, 2009. The daily bag limit for
geese would be three light geese and three dark geese. The possession
limit would be six light geese and six dark geese after opening day.
In 1996, the Tribe conducted a detailed assessment of dove hunting.
Results showed approximately 16,100 mourning doves and 13,600 white-
winged doves were harvested by approximately 2,660 hunters who averaged
1.45 hunter-days. Field observations and permit sales indicate that
fewer than 200 hunters participate in waterfowl seasons. Under the
proposed regulations described here and, based upon past seasons, we
and the Tribes estimate harvest will be similar.
Hunters must have a valid Colorado River Indian Reservation hunting
permit and a Federal Migratory Bird Stamp in their possession while
hunting. Other special tribally set regulations would apply. As in the
past, the regulations would apply both to tribal and nontribal hunters,
and nontoxic shot is required for waterfowl hunting.
We propose to approve the Colorado River Indian Tribes regulations
for the 2008-09 hunting season, given the seasons dates fall within
final flyway frameworks (applies to nontribal hunters only).
(b) Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Flathead Indian
Reservation, Pablo, Montana (Tribal and Nontribal Hunters)
For the past several years, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai
Tribes and the State of Montana have entered into cooperative
agreements for the regulation of hunting on the Flathead Indian
Reservation. The State and the Tribes are currently operating under a
cooperative agreement signed in 1990 that addresses fishing and hunting
management and regulation issues of mutual concern. This agreement
enables all hunters to utilize waterfowl hunting opportunities on the
reservation.
As in the past, tribal regulations for nontribal hunters would be
at least as restrictive as those established for the Pacific Flyway
portion of Montana. Goose season dates would also be at least as
restrictive as those established for the Pacific Flyway portion of
Montana. Shooting hours for waterfowl hunting on the Flathead
Reservation are sunrise to sunset. Steel shot or other federally
approved nontoxic shots are the only legal shotgun loads on the
reservation for waterfowl or other game birds.
For tribal members, the Tribe proposes outside frameworks for ducks
and geese of September 1, 2008, through March 9, 2009. Daily bag and
possession
[[Page 48102]]
limits were not proposed for tribal members.
The requested season dates and bag limits are similar to past
regulations. Harvest levels are not expected to change significantly.
Standardized check station data from the 1993-94 and 1994-95 hunting
seasons indicated no significant changes in harvest levels and that the
large majority of the harvest is by nontribal hunters.
We propose to approve the Tribes' request for special migratory
bird regulations for the 2008-09 hunting season.
(c) Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Crow Creek Indian Reservation, Fort
Thompson, South Dakota (Tribal Members and Nontribal Hunters)
The Crow Creek Indian Reservation has a checkerboard pattern of
land ownership, with much of the land owned by non-Indians. Since the
1993-94 season, the Tribe has selected special waterfowl hunting
regulations independent of the State of South Dakota. The Tribe
observes migratory bird hunting regulations contained in 50 CFR part
20.
The Tribe requests a duck and merganser season of October 2 to
December 14, 2008, with a daily bag limit of six ducks, including no
more than five mallards (only two of which may be hens), two redheads,
two wood ducks, one pintail, one canvasback, and three scaup. The
merganser daily bag limit would be five and include no more than one
hooded merganser. The daily bag limit for coots would be 15.
For Canada geese, the Tribe proposes an October 16, 2008, to
January 18, 2009, season with a three-bird daily bag limit. For white-
fronted geese, the Tribe proposes a September 25 to December 19, 2008,
season with a daily bag limit of two. For snow geese, the Tribe
proposes a September 24 to December 29, 2008, season with a daily bag
limit of 20.
Similar to the last several years, the Tribe also requests a
sandhill crane season from September 11 to October 17, 2008, with a
daily bag limit of three.
In all cases, except snow geese, the possession limits would be
twice the daily bag limit. There would be no possession limit for snow
geese. Shooting hours would be from one-half hour before sunrise to
sunset.
The season and bag limits would be essentially the same as last
year, and, as such, the Tribe would expect similar harvest. In 1994-95,
duck harvest was 48 birds, down from 67 in 1993-94. Goose harvest
during recent past seasons has been fewer than 100 geese. Total harvest
on the reservation in 2000 was estimated to be 179 ducks and 868 geese.
The Service proposes to approve the request for special migratory
bird hunting regulations for the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe. We remind the
Tribe that all sandhill crane hunters are required to obtain a Federal
sandhill crane permit. As such, the Tribe should contact us for further
information on obtaining the needed permits.
(d) Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Cloquet,
Minnesota (Tribal Members Only)
Since 1996, the Service and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior
Chippewa Indians have cooperated to establish special migratory bird
hunting regulations for tribal members. The Fond du Lac's May 29, 2008,
proposal covers land set apart for the band under the Treaties of 1837
and 1854 in northeast and east-central Minnesota.
The band's proposal for 2008-09 is essentially the same as that
approved last year except the Tribe has separate regulations for the
1854 and 1837 ceded territories and reservation lands. The proposed
2008-09 waterfowl hunting season regulations for Fond du Lac are as
follows:
Ducks
A. 1854 and 1837 Ceded Territories
Season Dates: Begin September 13 and end November 30, 2008.
Daily Bag Limit: 18 ducks, including no more than 12 mallards (only
3 of which may be hens), 3 black ducks, 6 scaup, 6 wood ducks, 6
redheads, 3 pintails, and 3 canvasbacks.
B. Reservation
Season Dates: Begin September 6 and end November 30, 2008.
Daily Bag Limit: 12 ducks, including no more than 8 mallards (only
2 of which may be hens), 2 black ducks, 4 scaup, 4 redheads, 2
pintails, 4 wood ducks, and 2 canvasbacks.
Mergansers
A. 1854 and 1837 Ceded Territories
Season Dates: Begin September 13 and end November 30, 2008.
Daily Bag Limit: 15 mergansers, including no more than 6 hooded
mergansers.
B. Reservation
Season Dates: Begin September 6 and end November 30, 2008.
Daily Bag Limit: 10 mergansers, including no more than 4 hooded
mergansers.
Canada Geese
All Areas
Season Dates: Begin September 1 and end November 30, 2008.
Daily Bag Limit: 20 geese.
Coots and Common Moorhens (Common Gallinules)
A. 1854 and 1837 Ceded Territories
Season Dates: Begin September 13 and end November 30, 2008.
Daily Bag Limit: 20 coots and common moorhens, singly or in the
aggregate.
B. Reservation
Season Dates: Begin September 6 and end November 30, 2008.
Daily Bag Limit: 25 coots and common moorhens, singly or in the
aggregate.
Sora and Virginia Rails
A. 1854 and 1837 Ceded Territories
Season Dates: Begin September 1 and end November 30, 2008.
Daily Bag Limit: 25 sora and Virginia rails, singly or in the
aggregate.
B. Reservation
Season Dates: Begin September 1 and end December 2, 2008.
Daily Bag Limit: 25 sora and Virginia rails, singly or in the
aggregate.
Common Snipe
All Areas
Season Dates: Begin September 1 and end November 30, 2008.
Daily Bag Limit: Eight common snipe.
Woodcock
All Areas
Season Dates: Begin September 1 and end November 30, 2008.
Daily Bag Limit: Three woodcock.
Mourning Dove
All Areas
Season Dates: Begin September 1 and end November 30, 2008.
Daily Bag Limit: 30 mourning dove.
The following general conditions apply:
1. While hunting waterfowl, a tribal member must carry on his/her
person a valid Ceded Territory License.
2. Shooting hours for migratory birds are one-half hour before
sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
3. Except as otherwise noted, tribal members will be required to
comply with tribal codes that will be no less restrictive than the
provisions of Chapter 10 of the Model Off-Reservation Code. Except as
modified by the Service
[[Page 48103]]
rules adopted in response to this proposal, these amended regulations
parallel Federal requirements in 50 CFR part 20 as to hunting methods,
transportation, sale, exportation, and other conditions generally
applicable to migratory bird hunting.
4. Band members in each zone will comply with State regulations
providing for closed and restricted waterfowl hunting areas.
5. There are no possession limits on any species, unless otherwise
noted above. For purposes of enforcing bag limits, all migratory birds
in the possession or custody of band members on ceded lands will be
considered to have been taken on those lands unless tagged by a tribal
or State conservation warden as having been taken on-reservation. All
migratory birds that fall on reservation lands will not count as part
of any off-reservation bag or possession limit.
The band anticipates harvest will be fewer than 500 ducks and
geese.
We propose to approve the request for special migratory bird
hunting regulations for the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior
Chippewas.
(e) Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Suttons Bay,
Michigan (Tribal Members Only)
In the 1995-96 migratory bird seasons, the Grand Traverse Band of
Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the Service first cooperated to
establish special regulations for waterfowl. The Grand Traverse Band is
a self-governing, federally recognized Tribe located on the west arm of
Grand Traverse Bay in Leelanau County, Michigan. The Grand Traverse
Band is a signatory Tribe of the Treaty of 1836. We have approved
special regulations for tribal members of the 1836 treaty's signatory
Tribes on ceded lands in Michigan since the 1986-87 hunting season.
For the 2008-09 season, the Tribe requests that the tribal member
duck season run from September 22, 2008, through January 18, 2009. A
daily bag limit of 12 would include no more than 2 pintail, 2
canvasback, 1 hooded merganser, 3 black ducks, 3 wood ducks, 3
redheads, and 6 mallards (only 3 of which may be hens).
For Canada and snow geese, the Tribe proposes a September 1 through
November 30, 2008, and a January 1 through February 8, 2009, season.
For white-fronted geese and brant, the Tribe proposes a September 20
through November 30, 2008, season. The daily bag limit for all geese
(including brant) would be five birds. Based on our information, it is
unlikely that any Canada geese from the Southern James Bay Population
will be harvested by the Tribe.
For woodcock, the Tribe proposes a September 1 through November 14,
2008, season. The daily bag limit will not exceed five birds. For
mourning doves, snipe, and rails, the Tribe proposes a September 1
through November 14, 2008, season. The daily bag limit would be 10 per
species.
All other Federal regulations contained in 50 CFR part 20 would
apply. The Tribe proposes to monitor harvest closely through game bag
checks, patrols, and mail surveys. Harvest surveys from the 2006-07
hunting season indicated that approximately 15 tribal hunters harvested
an estimated 112 ducks and 50 Canada geese.
We propose to approve the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and
Chippewa Indians requested 2008-09 special migratory bird hunting
regulations.
(f) Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, Odanah, Wisconsin
(Tribal Members Only)
Since 1985, various bands of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa
Indians have exercised judicially recognized off-reservation hunting
rights for migratory birds in Wisconsin. The specific regulations were
established by the Service in consultation with the Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and
Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC, which represents the various bands).
Beginning in 1986, a tribal season on ceded lands in the western
portion of the State's Upper Peninsula was developed in coordination
with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and we have approved
special regulations for tribal members in both Michigan and Wisconsin
since the 1986-87 hunting season. In 1987, the GLIFWC requested, and we
approved, special regulations to permit tribal members to hunt on ceded
lands in Minnesota, as well as in Michigan and Wisconsin. The States of
Michigan and Wisconsin originally concurred with the regulations,
although Wisconsin has raised concerns in the past and Michigan now
annually raises objections. Minnesota did not concur with the original
regulations, stressing that the State would not recognize Chippewa
Indian hunting rights in Minnesota's treaty area until a court with
jurisdiction over the State acknowledges and defines the extent of
these rights. We acknowledge all of the States' concerns, but point out
that the U.S. Government has recognized the Indian hunting rights
decided in the Lac Courte Oreilles v. State of Wisconsin (Voigt) case,
and that acceptable hunting regulations have been negotiated
successfully in both Michigan and Wisconsin even though the Voigt
decision did not specifically address ceded land outside Wisconsin. We
believe this is appropriate because the treaties in question cover
ceded lands in Michigan (and Minnesota), as well as in Wisconsin.
Consequently, in view of the above, we have approved special
regulations since the 1987-88 hunting season on ceded lands in all
three States. In fact, this recognition of the principle of reserved
treaty rights for band members to hunt and fish was pivotal in our
decision to approve a special 1991-92 season for the 1836 ceded area in
Michigan.
For 2008, the GLIFWC proposed off-reservation special migratory
bird hunting regulations on behalf of the member Tribes of the Voigt
Intertribal Task Force of the GLIFWC (for the 1837 and 1842 Treaty
areas) and the Bay Mills Indian Community (for the 1836 Treaty area).
Member Tribes of the Task Force are: The Bad River Band of the Lake
Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of
Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake
Superior Chippewa Indians, the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Indians, the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, the Sokaogon
Chippewa Community (Mole Lake Band), all in Wisconsin; the Mille Lacs
Band of Chippewa Indians in Minnesota; the Lac Vieux Desert Band of
Chippewa Indians and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community in Michigan.
The GLIFWC 2008 proposal is generally similar to last year's
regulations, except that it includes lengthened season dates for
mourning doves, from September 1-October 30 to September 1-November 9,
if a 70-day season is offered, and eliminates mallard species
restrictions within the overall bag limit for ducks.
Under the GLIFWC proposed regulations, GLIFWC expects modifications
to the mallard bag limits to have no appreciable impact on the mallard
population since the total estimated mallard harvest last year was
approximately 600 birds, tribal members averaged just 2.1 ducks per
hunting trip, and only 1 survey respondent reported harvesting more
than 10 ducks of all species on his best day of hunting last year.
Thus, they expect that this proposed change is likely to affect, at
most, a few individual hunters on a few individual days, and to have no
appreciable effect on mallard populations (which have averaged 87,000
breeding birds on Wisconsin's
[[Page 48104]]
Northern High and Northern Low State survey strata alone from 2003-
2007).
Given these factors, the Tribe expects harvest would likely remain
below 5,000 ducks and 1,000 geese, which is similar to anticipated
levels in previous years.
Recent GLIFWC harvest surveys (1996-98, 2001, and 2004) indicate
that tribal off-reservation waterfowl harvest has averaged less than
1,000 ducks and 120 geese annually. In the latest survey year (2004),
an estimated 53 hunters took an estimated 421 trips and harvested 645
ducks (1.5 ducks per trip) and 84 geese (0.2 geese per trip). Further,
in the last 5 years of harvest surveys, only 1 hunter reported
harvesting 20 ducks in a single day. Analysis of hunter survey data
over the period in question (1996-2004) indicates a general downward
trend in both harvest and hunter participation.
While we acknowledge GLIFWC's previously submitted data indicating
that tribal harvest and participation have declined in recent years, we
do not believe that the GLIFWC's proposal for tribal waterfowl seasons
on ceded lands in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota for the 2008-09
hunting season is in the best interests of the migratory bird resource.
More specific discussion follows below.
Removal of Mallard Restrictions
We have several concerns with GLIFWC's proposal for removal of
mallard restrictions within the overall duck daily bag limits in the
1837, 1842, and 1836 Treaty Areas. An increase in the daily bag limit
of mallards (by removal of the internal bag limit restriction) from 10
mallards per day to 30 mallards per day in the 1837 and 1842 Treaty
Areas and 20 mallards per day in the 1836 Treaty Area could potentially
have conservation impacts on locally-breeding mallards. Overharvest of
mallards in localized areas due to removal of species restrictions
could contribute to localized long-term declines. As we stated last
year (October 15, 2007 Federal Register, 72 FR 58452), removal of the
mallard bag limit restriction would be inconsistent with our current
conservation concerns. Furthermore, last year, we implemented a pilot
bag limit increase for ducks in the 1837 and 1842 Treaty Areas. We do
not believe that one year is sufficient time to evaluate the pilot
daily bag limit increases implemented last year. Normally, changes such
as those implemented last year take several years to fully evaluate. As
such, we believe the pilot bag limits implemented last year should
warrant at least several years of data evaluation using GLIFWC's
current harvest survey. For these reasons, we believe that the
regulations advanced by the GLIFWC for the 2008-09 hunting season are
not in the best interests of the migratory bird resource. Thus, we
propose to maintain the mallard bag limit restriction within the
overall daily bag limit in all three of the Treaty Areas as 10
mallards. We believe this restriction is commensurate with the species'
population status.
Expanded Season Dates
We have no concerns about extending the dove season to mimic the
proposed Federal framework regulations for mourning doves in the
Eastern Management Unit (see July 24, 2008 Federal Register, 73 FR
XXXXX).
The Commission and the Service are parties to a Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) designed to facilitate the ongoing enforcement of
Service-approved tribal migratory bird regulations. Its intent is to
provide long-term cooperative application.
Also, as in recent seasons, the proposal contains references to
Chapter 10 of the Migratory Bird Harvesting Regulations of the Model
Off-Reservation Conservation Code. Chapter 10 regulations parallel
State and Federal regulations and, in effect, are not changed by this
proposal.
The proposed 2008-09 waterfowl hunting season regulations for
GLIFWC are as follows:
Ducks
A. Wisconsin and Minnesota 1837 and 1842 Treaty Areas
Season Dates: Begin September 15 and end December 31, 2008.
Daily Bag Limit: 30 ducks, including no more than 10 mallards (only
5 of which may be hens), 5 black ducks, 5 scaup, 5 pintails, 5 wood
ducks, and 5 canvasbacks.
B. Michigan 1836 Treaty Area
Season Dates: Begin September 15 and end December 31, 2008.
Daily Bag Limit: 20 ducks, including no more than 10 mallards (only
5 of which may be hens), 5 black ducks, 5 scaup, 5 pintails, 5 wood
ducks, and 5 canvasbacks.
Mergansers
All Ceded Areas
Season Dates: Begin September 15 and end December 31, 2008.
Daily Bag Limit: 10 mergansers.
Geese
All Ceded Areas
Season Dates: Begin September 1 and end December 31, 2008. In
addition, any portion of the ceded territory that is open to State-
licensed hunters for goose hunting after December 1 will also be open
concurrently for tribal members.
Daily Bag Limit: 20 geese in aggregate.
Other Migratory Birds
A. Coots and Common Moorhens (Common Gallinules)
Season Dates: Begin September 15 and end December 31, 2008.
Daily Bag Limit: 20 coots and common moorhens (common gallinules),
singly or in the aggregate.
B. Sora and Virginia Rails
Season Dates: Begin September 15 and end December 31, 2008.
Daily Bag Limit: 20, singly or in the aggregate.
C. Common Snipe
Season Dates: Begin September 15 and end December 1, 2008.
Daily Bag Limit: 16 common.
D. Woodcock
Season Dates: Begin September 2 and end December 1, 2008.
Daily Bag Limit: 10 woodcock.
E. Mourning Dove 1837 and 1842 Ceded Territories
Season Dates: Begin September 1 and end October 30, or November 9,
2008 if a 70-day season is offered to the States in the Mississippi
Flyway.
Daily Bag Limit: 15.
General Conditions
A. All tribal members will be required to obtain a valid tribal
waterfowl hunting permit.
B. Except as otherwise noted, tribal members will be required to
comply with tribal codes that will be no less restrictive than the
model ceded territory conservation codes approved by Federal courts in
the Lac Courte Oreilles v. State of Wisconsin (Voigt) and Mille Lacs
Band v. State of Minnesota cases. Chapter 10 in each of these model
codes regulates ceded territory migratory bird hunting. Both versions
of Chapter 10 parallel Federal requirements as to hunting methods,
transportation, sale, exportation and other conditions generally
applicable to migratory bird hunting. They also automatically
incorporate by reference the Federal migratory bird regulations adopted
in response to this proposal.
C. Particular regulations of note include:
[[Page 48105]]
1. Nontoxic shot will be required for all off-reservation waterfowl
hunting by tribal members.
2. Tribal members in each zone will comply with tribal regulations
providing for closed and restricted waterfowl hunting areas. These
regulations generally incorporate the same restrictions contained in
parallel State regulations.
3. Possession limits for each species are double the daily bag
limit, except on the opening day of the season, when the possession
limit equals the daily bag limit, unless otherwise noted above.
Possession limits are applicable only to transportation and do not
include birds that are cleaned, dressed, and at a member's primary
residence. For purposes of enforcing bag and possession limits, all
migratory birds in the possession and custody of tribal members on
ceded lands will be considered to have been taken on those lands unless
tagged by a tribal or State conservation warden as taken on reservation
lands. All migratory birds that fall on reservation lands will not
count as part of any off-reservation bag or possession limit.
4. The baiting restrictions included in the respective sections
10.05(2)(h) of the model ceded territory conservation codes will be
amended to include language which parallels that in place for nontribal
members as published at 64 FR 29799, June 3, 1999.
5. The shell limit restrictions included in the respective sections
10.05(2)(b) of the model ceded territory conservation codes will be
removed.
6. Hunting hours shall be from a half hour before sunrise to 15
minutes after sunset.
D. Michigan--Duck Blinds and Decoys. Tribal members hunting in
Michigan will comply with tribal codes that contain provisions parallel
to Michigan law regarding duck blinds and decoys.
(g) Jicarilla Apache Tribe, Jicarilla Indian Reservation, Dulce, New
Mexico (Tribal Members and Nontribal Hunters)
The Jicarilla Apache Tribe has had special migratory bird hunting
regulations for tribal members and nonmembers since the 1986-87 hunting
season. The Tribe owns all lands on the reservation and has recognized
full wildlife management authority. In general, the proposed seasons
would be more conservative than allowed by the Federal frameworks of
last season and by States in the Pacific Flyway.
The Tribe proposed a 2008-09 waterfowl and Canada goose season
beginning with the earliest possible opening date in the Pacific Flyway
States and a closing date of November 30, 2008. Daily bag and
possession limits for waterfowl would be the same as Pacific Flyway
States. The Tribe proposes a daily bag limit for Canada geese of two.
Other regulations specific to the Pacific Flyway guidelines for New
Mexico would be in effect.
During the Jicarilla Game and Fish Department's 2007-08 season,
estimated duck harvest was 527, which is within the historical harvest
range. The species composition in the past has included mainly
mallards, gadwall, wigeon, and teal. Northern pintail comprised 2
percent of the total harvest in 2007. The estimated harvest of geese
was 12 birds.
The proposed regulations are essentially the same as were
established last year. The Tribe anticipates the maximum 2008-09
waterfowl harvest would be around 500-750 ducks and 10-20 geese.
We propose to approve the Tribe's requested 2008-09 hunting
seasons.
(h) Kalispel Tribe, Kalispel Reservation, Usk, Washington (Tribal
Members and Nontribal Hunters)
The Kalispel Reservation was established by Executive Order in
1914, and currently comprises approximately 4,600 acres. The Tribe owns
all Reservation land and has full management authority. The Kalispel
Tribe has a fully developed wildlife program with hunting and fishing
codes. The Tribe enjoys excellent wildlife management relations with
the State. The Tribe and the State have an operational Memorandum of
Understanding with emphasis on fisheries but also for wildlife.
The nontribal member seasons described below pertain to a 176-acre
waterfowl management unit and 800 acres of reservation land with a
guide for waterfowl hunting. The Tribe is utilizing this opportunity to
rehabilitate an area that needs protection because of past land use
practices, as well as to provide additional waterfowl hunting in the
area. Beginning in 1996, the requested regulations also included a
proposal for Kalispel-member-only migratory bird hunting on Kalispel-
ceded lands within Washington, Montana, and Idaho.
For the 2008-09 migratory bird hunting seasons, the Kalispel Tribe
proposed tribal and nontribal member waterfowl seasons. The Tribe
requests that both duck and goose seasons open at the earliest possible
date and close on the latest date under Federal frameworks.
For nontribal hunters on reservation, the Tribe requests the
seasons open at the earliest possible date and remain open, for the
maximum amount of open days. Specifically, the Tribe requests that the
season for ducks begin September 19, 2008, and end January 31, 2009. In
that period, nontribal hunters would be allowed to hunt approximately
101 days. Hunters should obtain further information on specific hunt
days from the Kalispel Tribe.
The Tribe also requests the season for geese run from September 1
to September 14, 2008, and from October 1, 2008, to January 31, 2009.
Total number of days should not exceed 107.
Nontribal hunters should obtain further information on specific
hunt days from the Tribe. Daily bag and possession limits would be the
same as those for the State of Washington.
The Tribe reports a 2007-08 nontribal harvest of 30 ducks. Under
the proposal, the Tribe expects harvest to be similar to last year and
less than 100 geese and 200 ducks.
All other State and Federal regulations contained in 50 CFR part
20, such as use of nontoxic shot and possession of a signed migratory
bird hunting stamp, would be required.
For tribal members on Kalispel-ceded lands, the Kalispel propose
season dates consistent with Federal flyway frameworks. Specifically,
the Tribe requests outside frameworks for ducks of October 1, 2008,
through January 31, 2009, and geese of September 1, 2008, through
January 31, 2009. The Tribe requests that both duck and goose seasons
open at the earliest possible date and close on the latest date under
Federal frameworks. However, during that period, the Tribe proposes
that the season run continuously. Daily bag and possession limits would
be concurrent with the Federal rule.
The Tribe reports that there was no tribal harvest. Under the
proposal, the Tribe expects harvest to be less than 200 birds for the
season with less than 100 geese. Tribal members would be required to
possess a signed Federal migratory bird stamp and a tribal ceded lands
permit.
We propose to approve the regulations requested by the Kalispel
Tribe, provided that the nontribal seasons conform to Treaty
limitations and final Federal frameworks for the Pacific Flyway.
(i) Klamath Tribe, Chiloquin, Oregon (Tribal Members Only)
The Klamath Tribe currently has no reservation, per se. However,
the Klamath Tribe has reserved hunting, fishing, and gathering rights
within its former reservation boundary. This area of former
reservation, granted to the
[[Page 48106]]
Klamaths by the Treaty of 1864, is over 1 million acres. Tribal natural
resource management authority is derived from the Treaty of 1864, and
carried out cooperatively under the judicially enforced Consent Decree
of 1981. The parties to this Consent Decree are the Federal Government,
the State of Oregon, and the Klamaths. The Klamath Indian Game
Commission sets the seasons. The tribal biological staff and tribal
Regulatory Enforcement Officers monitor tribal harvest by frequent bag
checks and hunter interviews.
For the 2008-09 season, the Tribe requests proposed season dates of
October 4, 2008, through February 1, 2009. Daily bag limits would be
nine for ducks, nine for geese, and nine for coot, with possession
limits twice the daily bag limit. Shooting hours would be one-half hour
before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Steel shot is required.
Based on the number of birds produced in the Klamath Basin, this
year's harvest would be similar to last year's. Information on tribal
harvest suggests that more than 70 percent of the annual goose harvest
is local birds produced in the Klamath Basin.
We propose to approve the Klamath Tribe's requested 2008-09 special
migratory bird hunting regulations.
(j) Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Cass Lake, Minnesota (Tribal Members
Only)
The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe is a federally recognized Tribe
located in Cass Lake, Minnesota. The reservation employs conservation
officers to enforce conservation regulations. The Service and the Tribe
have cooperatively established migratory bird hunting regulations since
2000.
For the 2008-09 season, the Tribe requests a duck season starting
on September 20 and ending December 31, 2008, and a goose season to run
from September 1 through December 31, 2008. Daily bag limits for both
ducks and geese would be 10. Possession limits would be twice the daily
bag limit. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half
hour after sunset.
The annual harvest by tribal members on the Leech Lake Reservation
is estimated at 500-1,000 birds.
We propose to approve the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe's special
migratory bird hunting season.
(k) Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Manistee, Michigan (Tribal
Members Only)
The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians is a self-governing,
federally recognized Tribe located in Manistee, Michigan, and a
signatory Tribe of the Treaty of 1836. We have approved special
regulations for tribal members of the 1836 treaty's signatory Tribes on
ceded lands in Michigan since the 1986-87 hunting season. Ceded lands
are located in Lake, Mason, Manistee, and Wexford Counties. The Band
proposes the following regulations to govern the hunting of migratory
birds by Tribal members within the 1836 Ceded Territory as well as on
the Band's Reservation.
For the 2008-09 season, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
proposes a duck and merganser season from September 15, 2008, through
January 20, 2009. A daily bag limit of 12 ducks would include no more
than 2 pintail, 2 canvasback, 3 black duck, 3 wood ducks, 3 redheads, 6
mallards (only 2 of which may be a hen), and 1 hooded merganser.
Possession limits would be twice the daily bag limit.
For white-fronted geese, snow geese, and brant, the Tribe proposes
a September 20 through November 30, 2008, season. Daily bag limits
would be five geese.
For Canada geese only, the Tribe proposes a September 1, 2008,
through February 8, 2009, season with a daily bag limit of five Canada
geese. The possession limit would be twice the daily bag limit.
For snipe, woodcock, rails, and mourning doves, the Tribe proposes
a September 1 to November 14, 2008, season. The daily bag limit would
be 10 common snipe, 5 woodcock, 10 rails, and 10 mourning doves.
Possession limits for all species would be twice the daily bag limit.
The Tribe monitored harvest through mail surveys. General
Conditions were as follows:
A. All tribal members will be required to obtain a valid tribal
resource card and 2008-09 hunting license.
B. Except as modified by the Service rules adopted in response to
this proposal, these amended regulations parallel all Federal
regulations contained in 50 CFR part 20.
C. Particular regulations of note include:
(1) Nontoxic shot will be required for all waterfowl hunting by
tribal members.
(2) Tribal members in each zone will comply with tribal regulations
providing for closed and restricted waterfowl hunting areas. These
regulations generally incorporate the same restrictions contained in
parallel State regulations.
D. Tribal members hunting in Michigan will comply with tribal codes
that contain provisions parallel to Michigan law regarding duck blinds
and decoys.
We propose to approve Little River Band of Ottawa Indians' special
migratory bird hunting seasons.
(l) The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Petoskey, Michigan
(Tribal Members Only)
The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians is a self-governing,
federally recognized Tribe located in Petoskey, Michigan, and a
signatory Tribe of the Treaty of 1836. We have approved special
regulations for tribal members of the 1836 treaty's signatory Tribes on
ceded lands in Michigan since the 1986-87 hunting season.
For the 2008-09 season, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa
Indians propose regulations similar to those of other Tribes in the
1836 treaty area. The tribal member duck, merganser, coot, and
gallinule season would run from September 15, 2008, through January 20,
2009. A daily bag limit of 12 would include no more than 2 pintail, 2
canvasback, 1 hooded merganser, 3 black ducks, 3 wood ducks, 3
redheads, and 6 mallards (only 3 of which may be hens).
For Canada geese, the Tribe proposes a September 1, 2008, through
February 8, 2009, season. For white-fronted geese, brant, and snow
geese, the Tribe proposes a September 1 through November 30, 2008,
season. The daily bag limit for Canada geese would be 5 birds, and for
snow geese, brant, and white-fronted geese, 10 birds. Based on our
information, it is unlikely that any Canada geese from the Southern
James Bay Population would be harvested by the Tribe. Possession limits
are twice the daily bag limit.
For woodcock, the Tribe proposes a September 1, 2008, to November
14, 2008, season. The daily bag limit will not exceed five birds. For
snipe, mourning doves, and sora rail, the Tribe proposes a September 1
to November 14, 2008, season. The daily bag limit will not exceed 10
birds per species. The possession limit will not exceed two days' bag
limit for all birds. All other Federal regulations contained in 50 CFR
part 20 would apply.
The Tribe proposes to monitor harvest closely through game bag
checks, patrols, and mail surveys. In particular, the Tribe proposes
monitoring the harvest of Southern James Bay Canada geese to assess any
impacts of tribal hunting on the population.
We propose to approve the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa
Indians' requested 2008-09 special migratory bird hunting regulations.
[[Page 48107]]
(m) Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule Reservation, Lower Brule,
South Dakota (Tribal Members and Nontribal Hunters)
The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe first established tribal migratory bird
hunting regulations for the Lower Brule Reservation in 1994. The Lower
Brule Reservation is about 214,000 acres in size and is located on and
adjacent to the Missouri River, south of Pierre. Land ownership on the
reservation is mixed, and until recently, the Lower Brule Tribe had
full management authority over fish and wildlife via an MOA with the
State of South Dakota. The MOA provided the Tribe jurisdiction over
fish and wildlife on reservation lands, including deeded and Corps of
Engineers-taken lands. For the 2008-09 season, the two parties have
come to an agreement that provides the public a clear understanding of
the Lower Brule Sioux Wildlife Department license requirements and
hunting season regulations. The Lower Brule Reservation waterfowl
season is open to tribal and nontribal hunters.
For the 2008-09 migratory bird hunting season, the Lower Brule
Sioux Tribe proposes a nontribal member duck, merganser, and coot
season length of 97 days, or the maximum number of days allowed by
federal frameworks in the High Plains Management Unit for this season.
The Tribe proposes a season from October 13, 2008, through January 17,
2009. The daily bag limit would be five birds, including no more than
five mallards (only one of which may be a hen), one pintail, two
redheads, one canvasback, two wood ducks, two scaup, and one mottled
duck. The daily bag limit for mergansers would be five, only one of
which could be a hooded merganser. The daily bag limit for coots would
be 15. Possession limits would be twice the daily bag limits.
The Tribe's proposed nontribal member Canada goose season would run
from October 25, 2008, through February 10, 2009 (107-day season
length), with a daily bag limit of three Canada geese. The Tribe's
proposed nontribal member white-fronted goose season would run from
October 11, 2008, through December 21, 2008, with a daily bag limit of
two white-fronted geese. The Tribe's proposed nontribal member light
goose season would run from October 11, 2008, through January 11, 2009,
and February 26 through March 10, 2009. The light goose daily bag limit
would be 20. Possession limits would be twice the daily bag limits.
For tribal members, the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe proposes a duck,
merganser, and coot season from September 20, 2008, through March 10,
2009. The daily bag limit would be five birds, including no more than
five mallards (only one of which may be a hen), one pintail, two
redheads, one canvasback, two wood ducks, two scaup, and one mottled
duck. The daily bag limit for mergansers would be five, only two of
which could be hooded mergansers. The daily bag limit for coots would
be 15. Possession limits would be twice the daily bag limits.
The Tribe's proposed Canada goose season for tribal members would
run from October 11, 2008, through March 10, 2009, with a daily bag
limit of three Canada geese. The Tribe's proposed white-fronted goose
tribal season would run from October 4, 2008, through March 10, 2009,
with a daily bag limit of two white-fronted geese. The Tribe's proposed
light goose tribal season would run from October 11, 2008, through
March 10, 2009. The light goose daily bag limit would be 20. Possession
limits would be twice the daily bag limits.
In the 2007-08 season, hunters harvested an estimated 656 geese and
550 ducks. In the 2007-08 season, duck harvest species composition was
primarily mallard (88 percent), gadwall (5 percent), green-winged teal
(3 percent), blue-winged teal (1 percent), and wigeon (2 percent).
Goose harvest species composition in 2007-08 at Mni Sho Sho was
approximately 96 percent Canada geese, 3 percent snow geese, and 1
percent white-fronted geese. Harvest of geese harvested by other
hunters was approximately 97 percent Canada geese and 3 percent snow
geese.
The Tribe anticipates a duck harvest similar to those of the
previous 3 years and a goose harvest below the target harvest level of
3,000 to 4,000 geese. All basic Federal regulations contained in 50 CFR
part 20, including the use of steel shot, Migratory Waterfowl Hunting
and Conservation Stamps, etc., would be observed by the Tribe's
proposed regulations. In addition, the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe has an
official Conservation Code that was established by Tribal Council
Resolution in June 1982 and updated in 1996.
We propose to approve the Tribe's requested regulations for the
Lower Brule Reservation given the season's dates fall within final
Federal flyway frameworks (applies to nontribal hunters only).
(n) Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Port Angeles, Washington (Tribal Members
Only)
Since 1996, the Service and the Point No Point Treaty Tribes, of
which Lower Elwha was one, have cooperated to establish special
regulations for migratory bird hunting. The Tribes are now acting
independently and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe would like to establish
migratory bird hunting regulations for tribal members for the 2008-09
season. The Tribe has a reservation on the Olympic Peninsula in
Washington State and is a successor to the signatories of the Treaty of
Point No Point of 1855.
For the 2008-09 season, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe requests a
duck and coot season from September 20, 2008, to December 31, 2008. The
daily bag limit will be seven ducks including no more than two hen
mallards, one pintail, one canvasback, and two redheads. The daily bag
and possession limit on harlequin duck will be one per season. The coot
daily bag limit will be 25. The possession limit will be twice the
daily bag limit, except as noted above.
For geese, the Tribe requests a season from September 20, 2008, to
December 31, 2008. The daily bag limit will be four, including no more
than three light geese. The season on Aleutian Canada geese will be
closed.
For brant, the Tribe proposes a season from November 1, 2008, to
February 15, 2009, with a daily bag limit of two. The possession limit
will be twice the daily bag limit.
For mourning doves, band-tailed pigeon, and snipe, the Tribe
requests a season from September 20, 2008, to December 31, 2008, with a
daily bag limit of 10, 2, and 8, respectively. The possession limit
will be twice the daily bag limit.
All Tribal hunters authorized to hunt migratory birds are required
to obtain a tribal hunting permit from the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe
pursuant to tribal law. Hunting hours would be from one-half hour
before sunrise to sunset. Only steel, tungsten-iron, tungsten-polymer,
tungsten-matrix, and tin shot are allowed for hunting waterfowl. It is
unlawful to use or possess lead shot while hunting waterfowl.
The Tribe anticipates harvest to be typically fewer than 50 birds.
Tribal reservation police and Tribal Fisheries enforcement officers
have the authority to enforce these migratory bird hunting regulations.
The Service proposes to approve the request for special migratory
bird hunting regulations for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.
(o) Makah Indian Tribe, Neah Bay, Washington (Tribal Members Only)
The Makah Indian Tribe and the Service have been cooperating to
[[Page 48108]]
establish special regulations for migratory game birds on the Makah
Reservation and traditional hunting land off the Makah Reservation
since the 2001-02 hunting season. Lands off the Makah Reservation are
those contained within the boundaries of the State of Washington Game
Management Units 601-603 and 607.
The Makah Indian Tribe proposes a duck and coot hunting season from
September 27, 2008, to January 25, 2009. The daily bag limit is seven
ducks, including no more than one canvasback, one pintail, three scaup,
and one redhead. The daily bag limit for coots is 25. The Tribe has a
year-round closure on wood ducks and harlequin ducks. Shooting hours
for all species of waterfowl are one-half hour before sunrise to
sunset.
For geese, the Tribe proposes the season open on September 27,
2008, and close January 25, 2009. The daily bag limit for geese is four
and one brant. The Tribe notes that there is a year-round closure on
Aleutian and Dusky Canada geese.
For band-tailed pigeons, the Tribe proposes the season open
September 20, 2008, and close October 31, 2008. The daily bag limit for
band-tailed pigeons is two.
The Tribe anticipates that harvest under this regulation will be
relatively low since there are no known dedicated waterfowl hunters and
any harvest of waterfowl or band-tailed pigeons is usually incidental
to hunting for other species, such as deer, elk, and bear. The Tribe
expects fewer than 50 ducks and 10 geese to be harvested during the
2008-09 migratory bird hunting season.
All other Federal regulations contained in 50 CFR part 20 would
apply. The following restrictions are also proposed by the Tribe:
(1) As per Makah Ordinance 44, only shotguns may be used to hunt
any species of waterfowl. Additionally, shotguns must not be discharged
within 0.25 miles of an occupied area;
(2) Hunters must be eligible, enrolled Makah tribal members and
must carry their Indian Treaty Fishing and Hunting Identification Card
while hunting. No tags or permits are required to hunt waterfowl;
(3) The Cape Flattery area is open to waterfowl hunting, except in
designated wilderness areas, or within 1 mile of Cape Flattery Trail,
or in any area that is closed to hunting by another ordinance or
regulation;
(4) The use of live decoys and/or baiting to pursue any species of
waterfowl is prohibited;
(5) Steel or bismuth shot only for waterfowl is allowed; the use of
lead shot is prohibited; and
(6) The use of dogs is permitted to hunt waterfowl.
We propose to approve the Makah Indian Tribe's requested 2008-09
special migratory bird hunting regulations.
(p) Navajo Nation, Navajo Indian Reservation, Window Rock, Arizona
(Tribal Members and Nontribal Hunters)
Since 1985, we have established uniform migratory bird hunting
regulations for tribal members and nonmembers on the Navajo Indian
Reservation (in parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah). The Navajo
Nation owns almost all lands on the reservation and has full wildlife
management authority.
For the 2008-09 season, the Navajo Nation requests special
migratory bird hunting regulations on the reservation for both tribal
and nontribal hunters for the 2008-09 hunting season for ducks
(including mergansers), Canada geese, coots, band-tailed pigeons, and
mourning doves. For ducks, mergansers, Canada geese, and coots, the
Tribe requests the earliest opening dates and longest seasons, and the
same daily bag and possession limits allowed to Pacific Flyway States
under final Federal frameworks.
For both mourning dove and band-tailed pigeons, the Navajo Nation
proposes seasons of September 1 through September 30, 2008, with daily
bag limits of 10 and 5, respectively. Possession limits would be twice
the daily bag limits.
The Nation requires tribal members and nonmembers to comply with
all basic Federal migratory bird hunting regulations in 50 CFR part 20
pertaining to shooting hours and manner of taking. In addition, each
waterfowl hunter 16 years of age or over must carry on his/her person a
valid Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp), which
must be signed in ink across the face. Special regulations established
by the Navajo Nation also apply on the reservation.
The Tribe anticipates a total harvest of fewer than 500 mourning
doves; 20 band-tailed pigeons; 1,000 ducks, coots, and mergansers; and
1,000 Canada geese for the 2008-09 season. The Tribe will measure
harvest by mail survey forms. Through the established Tribal Nation
Code, Title 17 and 18 U.S.C. 1165, the Tribe will take action to close
the season, reduce bag limits, or take other appropriate actions if the
harvest is detrimental to the migratory bird resource.
We propose to approve the Navajo Nation's special migratory bird
season.
(q) Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, Oneida, Wisconsin (Tribal
Members Only)
Since 1991-92, the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin and the
Service have cooperated to establish uniform regulations for migratory
bird hunting by tribal and nontribal hunters within the original Oneida
Reservation boundaries. Since 1985, the Oneida Tribe's Conservation
Department has enforced the Tribe's hunting regulations within those
original reservation limits. The Oneida Tribe also has a good working
relationship with the State of Wisconsin and the majority of the
seasons and limits are the same for the Tribe and Wisconsin.
In a May 29, 2008, letter, the Tribe proposed special migratory
bird hunting regulations. For ducks, the Tribe described the general
outside dates as being September 20 through December 7, 2008, with a
closed segment of November 22 to 30, 2008. The Tribe proposes a daily
bag limit of six birds, which could include no more than six mallards
(three hen mallards), six wood duck, one redhead, two pintail, and one
hooded merganser.
For geese, the Tribe requests a season between September 1 and
December 31, 2008, with a daily bag limit of three Canada geese.
Hunters will be issued three tribal tags for geese in order to monitor
goose harvest. An additional three tags will be issued each time birds
are registered. The Tribe will close the season November 22 to 30,
2008. If a quota of 300 geese is attained before the season concludes,
the Tribe will recommend closing the season early.
For woodcock, the Tribe proposes a season between September 6 and
November 9, 2008, with a daily bag and possession limit of 5 and 10,
respectively.
For mourning dove, the Tribe proposes a season between September 1
and November 9, 2008, with a daily bag and possession limit of 10 and
20, respectively.
The Tribe proposes shooting hours be one-half hour before sunrise
to one-half hour after sunset. Nontribal hunters hunting on the
Reservation or on lands under the jurisdiction of the Tribe must comply
with all State of Wisconsin regulations, including shooting hours of
one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, season dates, and daily bag
limits. Tribal members and nontribal hunters hunting on the Reservation
or on lands under the jurisdiction of the Tribe must
[[Page 48109]]
observe all basic Federal migratory bird hunting regulations found in
50 CFR part 20, with the following exceptions: Oneida members would be
exempt from the purchase of the Migratory Waterfowl Hunting and
Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp); and shotgun capacity is not limited to
three shells. Tribal member shooting hours will be from one-half hour
before sunset to one-half hour after sunset.
The Service proposes to approve the request for special migratory
bird hunting regulations for the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin.
(r) Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Fort Hall Indian Reservation, Fort Hall,
Idaho (Nontribal Hunters)
Almost all of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation is tribally owned.
The Tribes claim full wildlife management authority throughout the
reservation, but the Idaho Fish and Game Department has disputed tribal
jurisdiction, especially for hunting by nontribal members on
reservation lands owned by non-Indians. As a compromise, since 1985, we
have established the same waterfowl hunting regulations on the
reservation and in a surrounding off-reservation State zone. The
regulations were requested by the Tribes and provided for different
season dates than in the remainder of the State. We agreed to the
season dates because they seemed to provide additional protection to
mallards and pintails. The State of Idaho concurred with the zoning
arrangement. We have no objection to the State's use of this zone again
in the 2008-09 hunting season, provided the duck and goose hunting
season dates are the same as on the reservation.
In a proposal for the 2008-09 hunting season, the Shoshone-Bannock
Tribes requested a continuous duck (including mergansers) season, with
the maximum number of days and the same daily bag and possession limits
permitted for Pacific Flyway States under final Federal frameworks. The
Tribes propose that, if the same number of hunting days is permitted as
last year, the season would have an opening date of October 4, 2008,
and a closing date of January 17, 2009. Coot and snipe season dates
would be the same as for ducks, with the same daily bag and possession
limits permitted for Pacific Flyway States. The Tribes anticipate
harvest will be between 2,000 and 5,000 ducks.
The Tribes also requested a continuous goose season with the
maximum number of days and the same daily bag and possession limits
permitted in Idaho under Federal frameworks. The Tribes propose that,
if the same number of hunting days is permitted as in previous years,
the season would have an opening date of October 4, 2008, and a closing
date of January 17, 2009. The Tribes anticipate harvest will be between
4,000 and 6,000 geese.
The Tribe requests a common snipe season with the maximum number of
days and the same daily bag and possession limits permitted in Idaho
under Federal frameworks. The Tribes propose that, if the same number
of hunting days is permitted as in previous years, the season would
have an opening date of October 4, 2008, and a closing date of January
17, 2009.
Nontribal hunters must comply with all basic Federal migratory bird
hunting regulations in 50 CFR part 20 pertaining to shooting hours, use
of steel shot, and manner of taking. Special regulations established by
the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes also apply on the reservation.
We note that the requested regulations are nearly identical to
those of last year and propose they be approved for the 2008-09 hunting
season given the seasons dates fall within final Federal flyway
frameworks (applies to nontribal hunters only).
(s) Skokomish Tribe, Shelton, Washington (Tribal Members Only)
Since 1996, the Service and the Point No Point Treaty Tribes, of
which the Skokomish Tribe was one, have cooperated to establish special
regulations for migratory bird hunting. The Tribes have been acting
independently since 2005, and the Skokomish Tribe would like to
establish migratory bird hunting regulations for tribal members for the
2008-09 season. The Tribe has a reservation on the Olympic Peninsula in
Washington State and is a successor to the signatories of the Treaty of
Point No Point of 1855.
The Skokomish Tribe requests a duck and coot season from September
16, 2008, to February 28, 2009. The daily bag limit is seven ducks,
including no more than two hen mallards, one pintail, one canvasback,
and two redheads. The daily bag and possession limit on harlequin duck
is one per season. The coot daily bag limit is 25. The possession limit
is twice the daily bag limit except as noted above.
For geese, the Tribe requests a season from September 16, 2008, to
February 28, 2009. The daily bag limit is four, including no more than
three light geese. The season on Aleutian Canada geese is closed. For
brant, the Tribe proposes a season from November 1, 2008, to February
15, 2009, with a daily bag limit of two. The possession limit is twice
the daily bag limit.
For mourning doves, band-tailed pigeon, and snipe, the Tribe
requests a season from September 16, 2008, to February 28, 2009, with a
daily bag limit of 10, 2, and 8, respectively. The possession limit is
twice the daily bag limit.
All Tribal hunters authorized to hunt migratory birds are required
to obtain a tribal hunting permit from the Skokomish Tribe pursuant to
tribal law. Hunting hours would be from one-half hour before sunrise to
sunset. Only steel, tungsten-iron, tungsten-polymer, tungsten-matrix,
and tin shot are allowed for hunting waterfowl. It is unlawful to use
or possess lead shot while hunting waterfowl.
The Tribe anticipates harvest to be fewer than 150 birds. The
Skokomish Public Safety Office enforcement officers have the authority
to enforce these migratory bird hunting regulations.
We propose to approve the Skokomish Tribe's requested migratory
bird hunting season.
(t) Spokane Tribe of Indians, Spokane Indian Reservation, Wellpinit,
Washington (Tribal Members Only)
The Spokane Tribe of Indians wishes to establish waterfowl seasons
on their respective reservation for its membership access to an
additional resource. An established waterfowl season on the reservation
will allow access to a resource for members to continue practicing a
subsistence lifestyle.
The Spokane Indian Reservation is located in northeastern
Washington State. The reservation comprises approximately 157,000
acres. The boundaries of the Reservation are the Columbia River to the
west, the Spokane River to the south (now Lake Roosevelt), Tshimikn
Creek to the east, and the 48th Parallel as the north boundary. Tribal
membership comprises approximately 2,300 enrolled Spokane Tribal
Members. Prior to 1939, the Spokane Tribe was primarily a salmon
people; upon completion of Grand Coulee Dam creating Lake Roosevelt,
the development of hydroelectricity without passage ultimately removed
salmon access from historical fishing areas for the Spokane Tribe for
the past 70 years.
These proposed regulations would allow Tribal Members, spouses of a
Spokane Tribal Member and first-generation descendants of a Spokane
Tribal Member with a tribal permit and Federal Waterfowl stamps an
opportunity to utilize the reservation and ceded lands. It will also
benefit tribal membership through access to this resource throughout
Spokane Tribal
[[Page 48110]]
ceded lands in eastern Washington. By Spokane Tribal Referendum,
spouses of Spokane Tribal Members and children of Spokane Tribal
Members not enrolled are allowed to harvest game animals within the
Spokane Indian Reservation with the issuance of hunting permits.
For the 2008-09 season, the Tribe requests to establish duck
seasons that would run from September 1, 2008, through January 31,
2009. The tribe is requesting the daily bag limit for ducks to be
consistent with the State of Washington. The possession limit is twice
the daily bag limit.
The Tribe proposes a season on geese starting September 1, 2008,
and ending on January 31, 2009. The tribe is requesting the daily bag
limit for geese to be consistent with the State of Washington. The
possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.
Based on the quantity of requests the Spokane Tribe of Indians has
received, the tribe anticipates harvest levels for the 2008-09 season
for both ducks and geese to be below 300 total birds with goose harvest
at less than 100. Hunter success will be monitored through mandatory
harvest reports returned within 30 days of the season closure.
We propose to approve the Spokane Tribe's requested 2008-09 special
migratory bird hunting regulations.
(u) Squaxin Island Tribe, Squaxin Island Reservation, Shelton,
Washington (Tribal Members Only)
The Squaxin Island Tribe of Washington and the Service have
cooperated since 1995 to establish special tribal migratory bird
hunting regulations. These special regulations apply to tribal members
on the Squaxin Island Reservation, located in western Washington near
Olympia, and all lands within the traditional hunting grounds of the
Squaxin Island Tribe.
For the 2008-09 season, the Tribe requests to establish duck and
coot seasons that would run from September 1, 2008, through January 15,
2009. The daily bag limit for ducks is five per day and could include
only one canvasback. The season on harlequin ducks is closed. For
coots, the daily bag limit is 25. For snipe, the Tribe proposes the
season start on September 15, 2008, and end on January 15, 2009. The
daily bag limit for snipe is eight. For band-tailed pigeon, the Tribe
proposes the season start on September 1, 2008, and end on December 31,
2008. The daily bag limit is five. The possession limit is twice the
daily bag limit.
The Tribe proposes a season on geese starting September 15, 2008,
and ending on January 15, 2009. The daily bag limit for geese is four,
including no more than two snow geese. The season on Aleutian and
Cackling Canada geese is closed. For brant, the Tribe proposes the
season start on September 1, 2008, and end on December 31, 2008. The
daily bag limit for brant is two. The possession limit is twice the
daily bag limit.
We propose to approve the Squaxin Island Tribe's requested 2008-09
special migratory bird hunting regulations.
(v) Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians, Arlington, Washington (Tribal
Members Only)
The Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians and the Service have cooperated
to establish special regulations for migratory game birds since 2001.
The Tribe is proposing regulations to hunt all open and unclaimed lands
under the Treaty of Point Elliott of January 22, 1855, including their
main hunting grounds around Camano Island, Skagit Flats, and Port Susan
to the border of the Tulalip Tribes Reservation. Ceded lands are
located in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, and Kings Counties, and a
portion of Pierce County, Washington. The Stillaguamish Tribe of
Indians is a federally recognized Tribe and reserves the Treaty Right
to hunt (U.S. v. Washington).
The Tribe proposes that duck (including mergansers) and goose
seasons run from October 1, 2008, to February 15, 2009. The daily bag
limit on ducks (including sea ducks and mergansers) is 10 and must
include no more than 7 mallards (only 3 of which can be hens), 3
pintail, 3 redhead, 3 scaup, and 3 canvasback. For geese, the daily bag
limit is six. Possession limits are totals of two daily bag limits.
The Tribe proposes that coot, brant, and snipe seasons run from
October 1, 2008, to January 31, 2009. The daily bag limit for coot is
25. The daily bag limit on brant is three. The daily bag limit for
snipe is 10. Possession limits are totals of two daily bag limits.
Harvest is regulated by a punch card system. Tribal members hunting
on lands under this proposal will observe all basic Federal migratory
bird hunting regulations found in 50 CFR part 20, which will be
enforced by the Stillaguamish Tribal Law Enforcement. Tribal members
are required to use steel shot or a nontoxic shot as required by
Federal regulations.
The Tribe anticipates a total harvest of 200 ducks, 100 geese, 50
mergansers, 50 brant, 100 coots, and 100 snipe. Anticipated harvest
needs include subsistence and ceremonial needs. Certain species may be
closed to hunting for conservation purposes, and consideration for the
needs of certain species will be addressed.
The Service proposes to approve the request for special migratory
bird hunting regulations for the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians.
(w) Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, LaConner, Washington (Tribal
Members Only)
In 1996, the Service and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
began cooperating to establish special regulations for migratory bird
hunting. The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community is a federally
recognized Indian Tribe consisting of the Suiattle, Skagit, and
Kikialos. The Swinomish Reservation was established by the Treaty of
Point Elliott of January 22, 1855, and lies in the Puget Sound area
north of Seattle, Washington.
For the 2008-09 season, the Tribe requests to establish a migratory
bird hunting season on all areas that are open and unclaimed and
consistent with the meaning of the treaty. The Tribe requests to
establish duck, merganser, Canada goose, brant, and coot seasons
opening on the earliest possible date allowed by the final Federal
frameworks for the Pacific Flyway and closing 30 days after the State
of Washington closes its season. The Swinomish Tribe requests an
additional three birds of each species over that allowed by the State
for daily bag and possession limits.
The Community normally anticipates that the regulations will result
in the harvest of approximately 300 ducks, 50 Canada geese, 75
mergansers, 100 brant, and 50 coot. The Swinomish utilize a report card
and permit system to monitor harvest and will implement steps to limit
harvest where conservation is needed. All tribal regulations will be
enforced by tribal fish and game officers.
On reservation, the Tribal Community proposes a hunting season for
the abovementioned species beginning on the earliest possible opening
date and closing March 9, 2009. The Swinomish manage harvest by a
report card and permit system, and we anticipate harvest will be
similar to that expected off reservation.
We believe the estimated harvest by the Swinomish will be minimal
and will not adversely affect migratory bird populations. We propose to
approve the Tribe's requested 2008-09 special migratory bird hunting
regulations.
(x) The Tulalip Tribes of Washington, Tulalip Indian Reservation,
Marysville, Washington (Tribal Members and Nontribal Hunters)
The Tulalip Tribes are the successors in interest to the Tribes and
bands
[[Page 48111]]
signatory to the Treaty of Point Elliott of January 22, 1855. The
Tulalip Tribes' government is located on the Tulalip Indian Reservation
just north of the City of Everett in Snohomish County, Washington. The
Tribes or individual tribal members own all of the land on the
reservation, and they have full wildlife management authority. All
lands within the boundaries of the Tulalip Tribes Reservation are
closed to nonmember hunting unless opened by Tulalip Tribal
regulations.
For the 2008-09 season, the Tribe proposes tribal and nontribal
hunting regulations for the 2008-09 season. Migratory waterfowl hunting
by Tulalip Tribal members is authorized by Tulalip Tribal Ordinance No.
67. For ducks, mergansers, coot, and snipe, the proposed season for
tribal members would be from September 15, 2008, through February 29,
2009. In the case of nontribal hunters hunting on the reservation, the
season would be the latest closing date and the longest period of time
allowed under final Pacific Flyway Federal frameworks. Daily bag and
possession limits for Tulalip Tribal members would be 7 and 14 ducks,
respectively, except that for blue-winged teal, canvasback, harlequin,
pintail, and wood duck, the bag and possession limits would be the same
as those established in accordance with final Federal frameworks. For
nontribal hunters, bag and possession limits would be the same as those
permitted under final Federal frameworks. For coot, daily bag and
possession limits are 25 and 50, respectively, and for snipe 8 and 18,
respectively. Nontribal hunters should check with the Tulalip tribal
authorities regarding additional conservation measures that may apply
to specific species managed within the region. Ceremonial hunting may
be authorized by the Department of Natural Resources at any time upon
application of a qualified tribal member. Such a hunt must have a bag
limit designed to limit harvest only to those birds necessary to
provide for the ceremony.
For geese, tribal members propose a season from September 15, 2008,
through February 29, 2009. Nontribal hunters would be allowed the
longest season and the latest closing date permitted for Pacific Flyway
Federal frameworks. For tribal hunters, the goose daily bag and
possession limits would be 7 and 14, respectively, except that the bag
limits for brant, cackling Canada geese, and dusky Canada geese would
be those established in accordance with final Federal frameworks. For
nontribal hunters hunting on reservation lands, the daily bag and
possession limits would be those established in accordance with final
Federal frameworks for the Pacific Flyway. The Tulalip Tribes also set
a maximum annual bag limit for those tribal members who engage in
subsistence hunting of 365 ducks and 365 geese.
All hunters on Tulalip Tribal lands are required to adhere to
shooting hour regulations set at one-half hour before sunrise to
sunset, special tribal permit requirements, and a number of other
tribal regulations enforced by the Tribe. Each nontribal hunter 16
years of age and older hunting pursuant to Tulalip Tribes' Ordinance
No. 67 must possess a valid Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and
Conservation Stamp and a valid State of Washington Migratory Waterfowl
Stamp. Each hunter must validate stamps by signing across the face.
Although the season length requested by the Tulalip Tribes appears
to be quite liberal, harvest information indicates a total take by
tribal and nontribal hunters under 1,000 ducks and 500 geese annually.
We propose approval of the Tulalip Tribe's request to have a
special season.
(y) Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, Sedro Woolley, Washington (Tribal
Members Only)
The Upper Skagit Indian Tribe and the Service have cooperated to
establish special regulations for migratory game birds since 2001. The
Tribe has jurisdiction over lands within Skagit, Island, and Whatcom
Counties, Washington. The Tribe issues tribal hunters a harvest report
card that will be shared with the State of Washington.
For the 2008-09 season, the Tribe requests a duck season starting
October 1, 2008, and ending February 28, 2009. The Tribe proposes a
daily bag limit of 15 with a possession limit of 20. The Tribe requests
a coot season starting October 15, 2008, and ending February 15, 2009.
The coot daily bag limit is 20 with a possession limit of 30.
The Tribe proposes a goose season from October 15, 2008, to
February 28, 2009, with a daily bag limit of seven geese and five
brant. The possession limit for geese and brant are 10 and 7,
respectively.
The Tribe proposes a mourning dove season between September 1 to
December 31, 2008, with a daily bag limit of 12 and possession limit of
15.
The anticipated migratory bird harvest under this proposal would be
100 ducks, 5 geese, 2 brant, and 10 coots. Tribal members must have the
tribal identification and tribal harvest report card on their person to
hunt. Tribal members hunting on the Reservation will observe all basic
Federal migratory bird hunting regulations found in 50 CFR part 20,
except shooting hours would be 15 minutes before official sunrise to 15
minutes after official sunset.
The Service proposes to approve the request for special migratory
bird hunting regulations for the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe.
(z) Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, Aquinnah, Massachusetts (Tribal
Members Only)
The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head is a federally recognized Tribe
located on the island of Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. The Tribe
has approximately 560 acres of land, which it manages for wildlife
through its natural resources department. The Tribe also enforces its
own wildlife laws and regulations through the natural resources
department.
For the 2008-09 season, the Tribe proposes a duck season of October
29, 2008, through February 25, 2009. The Tribe proposes a daily bag
limit of six birds, which could include no more than two hen mallards,
six drake mallards, two black ducks, two mottled ducks, one fulvous
whistling duck, four mergansers, three scaup, one hooded merganser, two
wood ducks, one canvasback, two redheads, one pintail, and four of all
other species not listed. The season for harlequins would be closed.
The Tribe proposes a teal (green-winged and blue) season of October 13,
2008, through January 26, 2009. A daily bag limit of six teal would be
in addition to the daily bag limit for ducks.
For sea ducks, the Tribe proposes a season between October 13,
2008, and February 27, 2009, with a daily bag limit of seven, which
could include no more than one hen eider and four of any one species
unless otherwise noted above.
For Canada geese, the Tribe requests a season between September 15
to September 29, 2008, and October 29, 2008, through February 25, 2009,
with a daily bag limit of 5 Canada geese during the first period, 3
Canada geese during the second period. For snow geese, the tribe
requests a season between September 8 to September 22, 2008, and
October 29, 2008, to February with a daily bag limit of 15 snow geese.
For woodcock, the Tribe proposes a season between October 13 and
November 28, 2008, with a daily bag limit of three.
Prior to 2008, the Tribe had 22 registered tribal hunters and
estimates harvest to be no more than 15 geese, 25 mallards, 25 teal, 50
black ducks, and 50 of all other species combined. Tribal
[[Page 48112]]
members hunting on the Reservation will observe all basic Federal
migratory bird hunting regulations found in 50 CFR part 20. The Tribe
requires hunters to register with the Harvest Information Program.
The Service proposes to approve the request for special migratory
bird hunting regulations for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head.
(aa) White Earth Band of Ojibwe, White Earth, Minnesota (Tribal Members
Only)
The White Earth Band of Ojibwe is a federally recognized tribe
located in northwest Minnesota and encompasses all of Mahnomen County
and parts of Becker and Clearwater Counties. The reservation employs
conservation officers to enforce migratory bird regulations. The Tribe
and the Service first cooperated to establish special tribal
regulations in 1999.
For the 2008-09 migratory bird hunting season, the White Earth Band
of Ojibwe requests a duck and merganser season to start September 20
and end December 19, 2008. For ducks, they request a daily bag limit of
10, including no more than 2 mallards and 1 canvasback. The merganser
daily bag limit would be five with no more than two hooded mergansers.
For geese, the Tribe proposes an early season from September 1 through
September 26, 2008, and a late season from September 27, 2008, through
December 19, 2008. The early season daily bag limit is eight geese and
the late season daily bag limit is five geese.
For coots, dove, rail, woodcock, and snipe, the Tribe proposes a
September 1 through November 30, 2008, season with daily bag limits of
20 coots, 25 doves, 25 rails, 10 woodcock, and 10 snipe. Shooting hours
are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
Nontoxic shot is required.
Based on past harvest surveys, the Tribe anticipates harvest of
1,000 to 2,000 Canada geese and 1,000 to 1,500 ducks. The White Earth
Reservation Tribal Council employs four full-time Conservation Officers
to enforce migratory bird regulations.
We propose to approve the White Earth Band of Ojibwe's request to
have a special season.
(bb) White Mountain Apache Tribe, Fort Apache Indian Reservation,
Whiteriver, Arizona (Tribal Members and Nontribal Hunters)
The White Mountain Apache Tribe owns all reservation lands, and the
Tribe has recognized full wildlife management authority. The White
Mountain Apache Tribe has requested regulations that are essentially
unchanged from those agreed to since the 1997-98 hunting year.
The hunting zone for waterfowl is restricted and is described as:
the length of the Black River west of the Bonito Creek and Black River
confluence and the entire length of the Salt River forming the southern
boundary of the reservation; the White River, extending from the Canyon
Day Stockman Station to the Salt River; and all stock ponds located
within Wildlife Management Units 4, 5, 6, and 7. Tanks located below
the Mogollon Rim, within Wildlife Management Units 2 and 3, will be
open to waterfowl hunting during the 2008-09 season. The length of the
Black River east of the Black River/Bonito Creek confluence is closed
to waterfowl hunting. All other waters of the reservation would be
closed to waterfowl hunting for the 2008-09 season.
For nontribal and tribal hunters, the Tribe proposes a continuous
duck, coot, merganser, gallinule, and moorhen hunting season, with an
opening date of October 14, 2008, and a closing date of January 28,
2009. The Tribe proposes a separate canvasback season, with an opening
date of October 14, 2008, and a closing date of December 10, 2008. The
Tribe proposes a daily duck (including mergansers) bag limit of seven,
which may include no more than two redheads, one pintail, one
canvasback (when open), and seven mallards (including no more than two
hen mallards). The daily bag limit for coots, gallinules, and moorhens
would be 25, singly or in the aggregate. For geese, the Tribe is
proposing a season from October 14, 2008, through January 28, 2009.
Hunting would be limited to Canada geese, and the daily bag limit would
be three.
Season dates for band-tailed pigeons and mourning doves would run
concurrently from September 1 through September 15, 2008, in Wildlife
Management Unit 10 and all areas south of Y-70 in Wildlife Management
Unit 7, only. Proposed daily bag limits for band-tailed pigeons and
mourning doves would be 3 and 10, respectively.
Possession limits for the above species are twice the daily bag
limits. Shooting hours would be from one-half hour before sunrise to
sunset. There would be no open season for sandhill cranes, rails, and
snipe on the White Mountain Apache lands under this proposal. A number
of special regulations apply to tribal and nontribal hunters, which may
be obtained from the White Mountain Apache Tribe Game and Fish
Department.
We propose to approve the regulations requested by the Tribe for
the 2008-09 season.
(cc) Yankton Sioux Tribe, Marty, South Dakota (Tribal Members and
Nontribal Hunters)
On May 17, 2008, the Yankton Sioux Tribe submitted a waterfowl
hunting proposal for the 2008-09 season. The Yankton Sioux tribal
waterfowl hunting season would be open to both tribal members and
nontribal hunters. The waterfowl hunting regulations would apply to
tribal and trust lands within the external boundaries of the
reservation.
For ducks (including mergansers) and coots, the Yankton Sioux Tribe
proposes a season starting October 9, 2008, and running for the maximum
amount of days allowed under the final Federal frameworks. The Tribe
indicated that if the Service decided to close the canvasback season,
the Tribe would close theirs; otherwise, the canvasback season would
start October 9, 2008, and run for the maximum amount of days allowed
under the final Federal frameworks. Daily bag and possession limits
would be 6 ducks, which may include no more than 5 mallards (no more
than 2 hens), 1 canvasback (when open), 2 redheads, 3 scaup, 1 pintail,
or 2 wood ducks. The bag limit for mergansers is 5, which would include
no more than 1 hooded merganser. The coot daily bag limit is 15.
For geese, the Tribe has requested a dark goose (Canada geese,
brant, white-fronts) season starting October 29, 2008, and closing
January 31, 2009. The daily bag limit would be three geese (including
no more than one white-fronted goose or brant). Possession limits would
be twice the daily bag limit. For white geese, the proposed hunting
season would start October 29, 2008, and run for the maximum amount of
days allowed under the final Federal frameworks for the State of South
Dakota. Daily bag and possession limits would equal the maximum allowed
under Federal frameworks.
All hunters would have to be in possession of a valid tribal
license while hunting on Yankton Sioux trust lands. Tribal and
nontribal hunters must comply with all basic Federal migratory bird
hunting regulations in 50 CFR part 20 pertaining to shooting hours and
the manner of taking. Special regulations established by the Yankton
Sioux Tribe also apply on the reservation.
During the 2005-06 hunting season, the Tribe reported that 90
nontribal hunters took 400 Canada geese, 75 light geese, and 90 ducks.
Forty-five tribal
[[Page 48113]]
members harvested fewer than 50 geese and 50 ducks.
We concur with the Yankton Sioux proposal for the 2008-09 hunting
season.
Public Comments
The Department of the Interior's policy is, whenever practicable,
to afford the public an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking
process. Accordingly, we invite interested persons to submit written
comments, suggestions, or recommendations regarding the proposed
regulations. Before promulgation of final migratory game bird hunting
regulations, we will take into consideration all comments received.
Such comments, and any additional information received, may lead to
final regulations that differ from these proposals.
You may submit your comments and materials concerning this proposed
rule by one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section. We will not
consider comments sent by e-mail or fax or to an address not listed in
the ADDRESSES section. Finally, we will not consider hand-delivered
comments that we do not receive, or mailed comments that are not
postmarked, by the date specified in the DATES section.
We will post your entire comment--including your personal
identifying information--on http://www.regulations.gov. If you provide
personal identifying information in your comment, you may request at
the top of your document that we withhold this information from public
review. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting
documentation we used in preparing this proposed rule, will be
available for public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov, or by
appointment, during normal business hours, at the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory Bird Management, Room 4107,
4501 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203.
For each series of proposed rulemakings, we will establish specific
comment periods. We will consider, but possibly may not respond in
detail to, each comment. As in the past, we will summarize all comments
received during the comment period and respond to them after the
closing date in any final rules.
NEPA Consideration
NEPA considerations are covered by the programmatic document
``Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement: Issuance of Annual
Regulations Permitting the Sport Hunting of Migratory Birds (FSES 88-
14),'' filed with the Environmental Protection Agency on June 9, 1988.
We published Notice of Availability in the Federal Register on June 16,
1988 (53 FR 22582). We published our Record of Decision on August 18,
1988 (53 FR 31341). In addition, an August 1985 environmental
assessment entitled ``Guidelines for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations
on Federal Indian Reservations and Ceded Lands'' is available from the
address indicated under the caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
In a notice published in the September 8, 2005, Federal Register
(70 FR 53376), we announced our intent to develop a new Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement for the migratory bird hunting program.
Public scoping meetings were held in the spring of 2006, as detailed in
a March 9, 2006, Federal Register (71 FR 12216). We have prepared a
scoping report summarizing the scoping comments and scoping meetings.
The report is available by either writing to the address indicated
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or by viewing on our Web site at
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds.
Endangered Species Act Consideration
Prior to issuance of the 2008-09 migratory game bird hunting
regulations, we will comply with provisions of the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543; hereinafter, the Act), to
ensure that hunting is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence
of any species designated as endangered or threatened, or modify or
destroy its critical habitat, and is consistent with conservation
programs for those species. Consultations under Section 7 of this Act
may cause us to change proposals in this and future supplemental
rulemaking documents.
Executive Order 12866
The Office of Management and Budget has determined that the
migratory bird hunting rules are significant and has reviewed these
rules under Executive Order 12866. OMB bases its determination upon the
following four criteria:
(a) Whether the rule will have an annual effect of $100 million or
more on the economy or adversely affect an economic sector,
productivity, jobs, the environment, or other units of the government.
(b) Whether the rule will create inconsistencies with other Federal
agencies' actions.
(c) Whether the rule will materially affect entitlements, grants,
user fees, loan programs, or the rights and obligations of their
recipients.
(d) Whether the rule raises novel legal or policy issues.
Clarity of the Rule
We are required by Executive Orders 12866 and 12988 and by the
Presidential Memorandum of June 1, 1998, to write all rules in plain
language. This means that each rule we publish must:
(a) Be logically organized;
(b) Use the active voice to address readers directly;
(c) Use clear language rather than jargon;
(d) Be divided into short sections and sentences; and
(e) Use lists and tables wherever possible.
If you feel that we have not met these requirements, send us
comments by one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section. To
better help us revise the rule, your comments should be as specific as
possible. For example, you should tell us the numbers of the sections
or paragraphs that are unclearly written, which sections or sentences
are too long, the sections where you feel lists or tables would be
useful, etc.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The regulations have a significant economic impact on substantial
numbers of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.). We analyzed the economic impacts of the annual
hunting regulations on small business entities in detail as part of the
1981 cost-benefit analysis discussed under Executive Order 12866. This
analysis was revised annually from 1990-95. In 1995, the Service issued
a Small Entity Flexibility Analysis (Analysis), which was subsequently
updated in 1996, 1998, 2004, and 2008. The primary source of
information about hunter expenditures for migratory game bird hunting
is the National Hunting and Fishing Survey, which is conducted at 5-
year intervals. The 2008 Analysis was based on the 2006 National
Hunting and Fishing Survey and the U.S. Department of Commerce's County
Business Patterns, from which it was estimated that migratory bird
hunters would spend approximately $1.2 billion at small businesses in
2008.
Copies of the Analysis are available upon request from the address
indicated under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or from our Web site at
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/
[[Page 48114]]
reports/reports.html or at http://www.regulations.gov.
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
This rule is a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. For the reasons outlined above,
this rule has an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more.
However, because this rule establishes hunting seasons, we do not plan
to defer the effective date under the exemption contained in 5 U.S.C.
808 (1).
Paperwork Reduction Act
We examined these regulations under the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). The various recordkeeping and reporting
requirements imposed under regulations established in 50 CFR part 20,
Subpart K, are utilized in the formulation of migratory game bird
hunting regulations. Specifically, OMB has approved the information
collection requirements of our Migratory Bird Surveys and assigned
control number 1018-0023 (expires 2/28/2011). This information is used
to provide a sampling frame for voluntary national surveys to improve
our harvest estimates for all migratory game birds in order to better
manage these populations. OMB has also approved the information
collection requirements of the Alaska Subsistence Household Survey, an
associated voluntary annual household survey used to determine levels
of subsistence take in Alaska, and assigned control number 1018-0124
(expires 1/31/2010).
A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
We have determined and certify, in compliance with the requirements
of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, 2 U.S.C. 1502 et seq., that this
rulemaking will not impose a cost of $100 million or more in any given
year on local or State government or private entities. Therefore, this
rule is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act.
Civil Justice Reform--Executive Order 12988
The Department, in promulgating this proposed rule, has determined
that this proposed rule will not unduly burden the judicial system and
that it meets the requirements of sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of
Executive Order 12988.
Takings Implication Assessment
In accordance with Executive Order 12630, this proposed rule,
authorized by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, does not have significant
takings implications and does not affect any constitutionally protected
property rights. This rule will not result in the physical occupancy of
property, the physical invasion of property, or the regulatory taking
of any property. In fact, these rules allow hunters to exercise
otherwise unavailable privileges and, therefore, reduce restrictions on
the use of private and public property.
Energy Effects--Executive Order 13211
On May 18, 2001, the President issued Executive Order 13211 on
regulations that significantly affect energy supply, distribution, and
use. Executive Order 13211 requires agencies to prepare Statements of
Energy Effects when undertaking certain actions. While this proposed
rule is a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866, it
is not expected to adversely affect energy supplies, distribution, or
use. Therefore, this action is not a significant energy action and no
Statement of Energy Effects is required.
Federalism Effects
Due to the migratory nature of certain species of birds, the
Federal Government has been given responsibility over these species by
the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. We annually prescribe frameworks from
which the States make selections regarding the hunting of migratory
birds, and we employ guidelines to establish special regulations on
Federal Indian reservations and ceded lands. This process preserves the
ability of the States and tribes to determine which seasons meet their
individual needs. Any State or Indian tribe may be more restrictive
than the Federal frameworks at any time. The frameworks are developed
in a cooperative process with the States and the Flyway Councils. This
process allows States to participate in the development of frameworks
from which they will make selections, thereby having an influence on
their own regulations. These rules do not have a substantial direct
effect on fiscal capacity, change the roles or responsibilities of
Federal or State governments, or intrude on State policy or
administration. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 13132,
these regulations do not have significant federalism effects and do not
have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a
Federalism Assessment.
Government-to-Government Relationship With Tribes
Due to the migratory nature of certain species of birds, the
Federal Government has been given responsibility over these species by
the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Thus, in accordance with the President's
memorandum of April 29, 1994, ``Government-to-Government Relations with
Native American Tribal Governments'' (59 FR 22951), Executive Order
13175, and 512 DM 2, we have evaluated possible effects on federally
recognized Indian tribes and have determined that there are no effects
on Indian trust resources. However, by virtue of the tribal proposals
contained in this proposed rule, we have consulted with all the tribes
affected by this rule.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 20
Exports, Hunting, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Transportation, Wildlife.
Based on the results of migratory game bird studies, and having due
consideration for any data or views submitted by interested parties,
this proposed rulemaking may result in the adoption of special hunting
regulations for migratory birds beginning as early as September 1,
2008, on certain Federal Indian reservations, off-reservation trust
lands, and ceded lands. Taking into account both reserved hunting
rights and the degree to which tribes have full wildlife management
authority, the regulations only for tribal members or for both tribal
and nontribal hunters may differ from those established by States in
which the reservations, off-reservation trust lands, and ceded lands
are located. The regulations will specify open seasons, shooting hours,
and bag and possession limits for rails, coot, gallinules, woodcock,
common snipe, band-tailed pigeons, mourning doves, white-winged doves,
ducks, mergansers, and geese.
The rules that eventually will be promulgated for the 2008-09
hunting season are authorized under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
(MBTA) of July 3, 1918 (40 Stat. 755; 16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.), as
amended. The MBTA authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Interior,
having due regard for the zones of temperature and for the
distribution, abundance, economic value, breeding habits, and times and
lines of flight of migratory game birds, to determine when, to what
extent, and by what means such birds or any part, nest, or egg thereof
may be taken, hunted, captured, killed, possessed,
[[Page 48115]]
sold, purchased, shipped, carried, exported, or transported.
Dated: August 8, 2008.
David M. Verhey,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. E8-18930 Filed 8-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P