Data / Federal rules / 2026-17733

Process for Authorizing Seasonal Migratory Game Bird Hunting

The Fish and Wildlife Service published this final rule in the Federal Register on August 31, 2026. It took effect on August 31, 2026.

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What the agency says

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) is changing 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 Service is adopting a more efficient administrative process for authorizing seasonal migratory game bird hunting. The Service will issue a memorandum to establish the limits and authorize seasonal 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: 2026-17733
Type: Final rule
Action: Final rule
Agency: Interior Department; Fish and Wildlife Service
Published: August 31, 2026
Takes effect: August 31, 2026
Dates: This rule takes effect on August 31, 2026.
Docket: Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2024-0206; 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: 22

The document on federalregister.gov PDF

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