Data / Federal rules / 2025-15703

Migratory Bird Hunting; Final 2025-26 Frameworks for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations

The Fish and Wildlife Service published this final rule in the Federal Register on August 18, 2025. It took effect on August 18, 2025.

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What the agency says

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) is establishing the final frameworks from which States may select season dates, limits, and other options for the 2025-26 migratory game bird hunting season. We annually prescribe limits (which we call frameworks) within which States may select hunting seasons. Frameworks specify the outside dates, season lengths, shooting hours, bag and possession limits, and areas where migratory game bird hunting may occur. These frameworks are necessary to allow State selections of seasons and limits and to allow harvest at levels compatible with migratory game bird population status and habitat conditions. Migratory game bird hunting seasons provide opportunities for recreation and sustenance, and aid Federal, State, and Tribal governments in the management of migratory game birds.

Key facts

Document number: 2025-15703
Type: Final rule
Action: Final rule
Agency: Interior Department; Fish and Wildlife Service
Published: August 18, 2025
Takes effect: August 18, 2025
Dates: This rule takes effect on August 18, 2025.
Docket: Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2024-0127; FXMB1231099BPP0-256-FF09M32000
Regulation ID (RIN): 1018-BH65
Code of Federal Regulations: 50 CFR 20
Topics: Exports; Hunting; Imports; Reporting and recordkeeping requirements; Transportation; Wildlife
Significant: Yes, under Executive Order 12866
Pages: 41

The document on federalregister.gov PDF

Other documents from the Fish and Wildlife Service

Document	Type	Published
Marine Mammals; Incidental Take of Polar Bears and Pacific Walruses in the Beaufort Sea and North Slope of Alaska 2026-21371	Final rule	Oct 19
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Four Species Not Warranted for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species 2026-20315	Proposed rule	Oct 5
General Provisions; Revised List of Birds Protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act 2026-20123	Proposed rule	Oct 1
National Wildlife Refuge System; 2026-2027 Station-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations; Correction 2026-19723	Final rule	Sep 25
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removal of Gila Chub From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife 2026-18470	Proposed rule	Sep 10
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Nine Species Not Warranted for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species 2026-18123	Final rule	Sep 4
National Wildlife Refuge System; 2026-2027 Station-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations 2026-17895	Final rule	Sep 1
Process for Authorizing Seasonal Migratory Game Bird Hunting 2026-17733 · significant	Final rule	Aug 31

Everything from the Fish and Wildlife Service · Rules on exports · Rules on hunting · Rules on imports · Published in August 2025

Read from the Federal Register API, last updated 2026-10-24. The document on federalregister.gov is the official record; dates and dockets can change through later corrections. Free to reuse with credit to SpecStream under CC BY 4.0.