{"abstract":"This direct final rule changes the administrative process for authorizing seasonal migratory game bird hunting in the United States. Migratory game bird hunting regulations are currently promulgated annually to provide opportunities for recreation and sustenance; aid Federal, State, and Tribal governments in the management of migratory game birds; and allow harvests at levels compatible with migratory game bird population status and habitat conditions.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) is adopting a more efficient administrative process for authorizing seasonal migratory game bird hunting. The Service will issue a memorandum for migratory game bird hunting once every 3 years. The Service will continue to make annual decisions on harvest levels and will update the memorandum sooner than 3 years if changes are prescribed by our decision frameworks. The process eliminates the need for subsequent annual Federal regulation promulgation and rulemaking and is expected to increase efficiency; better meet State, Tribal, and Federal rulemaking constraints; and reduce the complexity and costs. Our goal is to better serve State partners and the hunting public while continuing to meet the legal and conservation purposes of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.Tribes are already authorized under a similar process.","action":"Direct final rule; request for comments.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR","name":"Interior Department","id":253,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/interior-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/253","parent_id":null,"slug":"interior-department"},{"raw_name":"Fish and Wildlife Service","name":"Fish and Wildlife Service","id":197,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/fish-and-wildlife-service","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/197","parent_id":253,"slug":"fish-and-wildlife-service"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2026/06/26/2026-12951.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"20","title":50}],"citation":"91 FR 38543","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":"2026-07-27","correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"This final rule is effective on August 25, 2026, without further action, unless significant adverse comments are received by July 27, 2026. If significant adverse comments are received, we will publish a notification in the Federal Register before the effective date either withdrawing all or part of the rule or issuing a new final rule that responds to any significant adverse comments.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421","FF09M32000-267-FXMB1231099BPP0"],"dockets":[{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"Final 2023-2037 Migratory Bird Hunting Regs Biological Opinion_Signed","document_id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0011"},{"title":"General Decision Frameworks Multiple Flyways","document_id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0008"},{"title":"General Decision Frameworks Atlantic Flyway","document_id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0007"},{"title":"General Decision Frameworks Mississippi Flyway","document_id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0006"},{"title":"General Decision Frameworks Central Flyway","document_id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0005"},{"title":"General Decision Frameworks Pacific Flyway","document_id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0004"},{"title":"RIA Migratory Game Bird Hunting","document_id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0003"},{"title":"FSEIS Issuance of Annual Regulations Permitting the Hunting of Migratory Birds 2013","document_id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0002"},{"title":"EAS Form Hunting Regs 04.23.2026 DFR","document_id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0001"}],"agency_name":"FWS","documents":[{"comment_count":30,"comment_start_date":"2026-06-26","updated_at":"2026-07-28T01:56:42.578-04:00","comment_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0009","allow_late_comments":false,"id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0009","comment_end_date":"2026-07-28","regulations_dot_gov_open_for_comment":false}],"supporting_documents_count":9,"id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421","title":"Process for Authorizing Seasonal Migratory Game Bird Hunting"}],"document_number":"2026-12951","effective_on":"2026-08-25","end_page":38563,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2026/06/26/2026-12951.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/26/2026-12951/process-for-authorizing-seasonal-migratory-game-bird-hunting","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2026-12951?publication_date=2026-06-26","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2026-06-26/2026-12951/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":21,"page_views":{"count":651,"last_updated":"2026-08-25 06:15:03 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-26/pdf/2026-12951.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-12951.pdf?1782391519","publication_date":"2026-06-26","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/06/26/2026-12951.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"1018-BI04":{"issue":"202504","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1018-BI04/migratory-bird-hunting-revised-regulatory-process","title":"Migratory Bird Hunting; Revised Regulatory Process","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202504&RIN=1018-BI04&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["1018-BI04"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"Final 2023-2037 Migratory Bird Hunting Regs Biological Opinion_Signed","document_id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0011"},{"title":"General Decision Frameworks Multiple Flyways","document_id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0008"},{"title":"General Decision Frameworks Atlantic Flyway","document_id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0007"},{"title":"General Decision Frameworks Mississippi Flyway","document_id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0006"},{"title":"General Decision Frameworks Central Flyway","document_id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0005"},{"title":"General Decision Frameworks Pacific Flyway","document_id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0004"},{"title":"RIA Migratory Game Bird Hunting","document_id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0003"},{"title":"FSEIS Issuance of Annual Regulations Permitting the Hunting of Migratory Birds 2013","document_id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0002"},{"title":"EAS Form Hunting Regs 04.23.2026 DFR","document_id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0001"}],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1018-BI04/migratory-bird-hunting-revised-regulatory-process","title":"Migratory Bird Hunting; Revised Regulatory Process"},"comments_count":30,"agency_id":"FWS","comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421","supporting_documents_count":9,"docket_id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421","document_id":"FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421-0009","regulation_id_number":"1018-BI04","title":"Process for Authorizing Seasonal Migratory Game Bird Hunting","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2026-07-29T08:55:03Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":38543,"subtype":null,"title":"Process for Authorizing Seasonal Migratory Game Bird Hunting","toc_doc":"Process for Authorizing Seasonal Migratory Game Bird Hunting","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Exports","Hunting","Imports","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Transportation","Wildlife"],"type":"Rule","volume":91}