50 C.F.R. Subpart K—Annual Seasons, Limits, and Shooting Hours Schedules
Title 50 - Wildlife and Fisheries
(a) The taking, possession, transportation, and other uses of migratory game birds by hunters is generally prohibited unless it is specifically provided for under regulations developed in accordance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Consequently, hunting is prohibited unless regulatory schedules are established for seasons, daily bag and possession limits, and shooting (or hawking) hours. Migratory game bird population levels, including production and habitat conditions, vary annually. These conditions differ over North America, and within the United States, by flyways, States, and frequently areas within States. Thus, it is necessary to make annual adjustments in the schedules to limit the harvests of migratory game birds to permissible levels. (b) The development of these schedules involves annual data gathering programs to determine migratory game bird population status and trends, evaluations of habitat conditions, harvest information, and other factors having a bearing on the anticipated size of the fall flights of these birds. The proposed hunting schedules are announced early in the spring, and following consideration of additional information as it becomes available, as well as public comment, they are modified and published as supplemental proposals. These are also open to public comment. Public hearings are held for the purpose of providing additional opportunity for public participation in the rulemaking process. [44 FR 7147, Feb. 6, 1979] This section provides for the annual hunting of certain doves, pigeons, ducks, coots, gallinules and snipe in Puerto Rico; and for certain doves, pigeons and ducks in the Virgin Islands. In these Commonwealths, the hunting of waterfowl and coots (and other certain species, as applicable) must be with the use of nontoxic shot beginning in the 1991–92 waterfowl season. [53 FR 24290, June 28, 1988] Editorial Note: For This section provides for the annual hunting of certain waterfowl (ducks, tundra swans, geese, and brant), common snipe, and sandhill cranes in Alaska. In Alaska, the hunting of waterfowl must be with the use of nontoxic shot beginning in the 1991–92 waterfowl season. [55 FR 35267, Aug. 28, 1990] Editorial Note: For This section provides for the annual hunting of certain doves and pigeons in the 48 contiguous United States. The mourning dove hunting regulations are arranged by the Eastern, Central, and Western Management Units. [44 FR 7147, Feb. 6, 1979] Editorial Note: For This section provides for the annual hunting of certain rails, woodcock, and snipe in the 48 contiguous United States. [44 FR 7148, Feb. 6, 1979] Editorial Note: For This section provides for the annual hunting of certain waterfowl (ducks, geese [including brant]), coots and gallinules in the 48 contiguous United States. The regulations are arranged by the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central and Pacific Flyways. These regulations often vary within Flyways or States, and by time periods. Those areas of the United States outside of State boundaries, i.e., the United States' territorial waters seaward of county boundaries, and including coastal waters claimed by the separate States, if not already included under the zones contained in §20.108, are designated for the purposes of §20.21(j) as nontoxic shot zones for waterfowl hunting beginning in the 1991–92 season. [53 FR 24290, June 28, 1988, as amended at 56 FR 22102, May 13, 1991] Editorial Note: For This section provides for the annual hunting of sandhill cranes in designated portions of the 48 contiguous United States. [55 FR 35267, Aug. 28, 1990] Editorial Note: For This section provides for the annual hunting of tundra swans in designated portions of the 48 contiguous United States. [55 FR 39829, Sept. 28, 1990] Editorial Note: For Beginning September 1, 1991, the contiguous 48 United States, and the States of Alaska and Hawaii, the Territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and the territorial waters of the United States, are designated for the purpose of §20.21(j) as nontoxic shot zones for hunting waterfowl, coots and certain other species. “Certain other species” refers to those species, other than waterfowl or coots, that are affected by reason of being included in aggregate bags and concurrent seasons. [56 FR 22102, May 13, 1991] This section provides annual regulations by which falconers may take permitted migratory game birds. [44 FR 7148, Feb. 6, 1979] Editorial Note: For This section provides for establishing annual migratory bird hunting regulations for certain tribes on Federal Indian reservations, Indian Territory, and ceded lands. [50 FR 35764, Sept. 3, 1985] Editorial Note: For
Title 50: Wildlife and Fisheries
PART 20—MIGRATORY BIRD HUNTING
Subpart K—Annual Seasons, Limits, and Shooting Hours Schedules
§ 20.100 General provisions.
§ 20.101 Seasons, limits and shooting hours for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
§ 20.102 Seasons, limits, and shooting hours for Alaska.
§ 20.103 Seasons, limits, and shooting hours for mourning and white-winged doves and wild pigeons.
§ 20.104 Seasons, limits, and shooting hours for rails, woodcock, and common (Wilson's) snipe.
§ 20.105 Seasons, limits and shooting hours for waterfowl, coots, and gallinules.
§ 20.106 Seasons, limits, and shooting hours for sandhill cranes.
§ 20.107 Seasons, limits, and shooting hours for tundra swans.
§ 20.108 Nontoxic shot zones.
§ 20.109 Extended seasons, limits, and hours for taking migratory game birds by falconry.
§ 20.110 Seasons, limits, and other regulations for certain Federal Indian reservations, Indian Territory, and ceded lands.
