Data / Federal rules / 2026-12951

Process for Authorizing Seasonal Migratory Game Bird Hunting

The Fish and Wildlife Service published this final rule in the Federal Register on June 26, 2026. It took effect on August 25, 2026. Comments closed on July 27, 2026.

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What the agency says

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.

Key facts

Document number: 2026-12951
Type: Final rule
Action: Direct final rule; request for comments
Agency: Interior Department; Fish and Wildlife Service
Published: June 26, 2026
Takes effect: August 25, 2026
Comments due: July 27, 2026
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.
Docket: Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421; FF09M32000-267-FXMB1231099BPP0
Regulation ID (RIN): 1018-BI04
Code of Federal Regulations: 50 CFR 20
Topics: Exports; Hunting; Imports; Reporting and recordkeeping requirements; Transportation; Wildlife
Significant: Yes, under Executive Order 12866
Pages: 21

The document on federalregister.gov PDF

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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 June 2026

Read from the Federal Register API, last updated 2026-10-23. 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.