Migratory Bird Hunting: Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations on Certain Federal Indian Reservations and Ceded Lands for the 1995-96 Early Season

This rule prescribes special early season migratory bird hunting regulations for certain tribes on Federal Indian reservations, off-reservation trust lands and ceded lands. This is in response to tribal requests for Service recognition of their authority to regulate hunting under established guidelines. This rule is necessary to allow establishment of season bag limits and, thus, harvest at levels compatible with populations and habitat conditions. EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule takes effect on September 1, 1995. ADDRESSES: Comments received, if any, on the proposed special hunting regulations and tribal proposals are available for public inspection during normal business hours in Room 634, Arlington Square Building, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA. Communications regarding the documents should be sent to: Director (FWS/MBMO), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Room 634-ARLSQ, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron W. Kokel or Dr. Keith A. Morehouse, Office of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (703/358-1714). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of July 3, 1918 (40 Stat. 755; 16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.), authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Department of the Interior, having due regard for the zones of temperature and for the distribution, abundance, economic value, breeding habits, and times and lines of flight of migratory game birds, to determine when, to what extent, and by what means such birds or any part, nest or egg thereof may be taken, hunted, captured, killed, possessed, sold, purchased, shipped, carried, exported or transported. In the August 17, 1995 Federal Register (60 FR 42960), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposed special migratory bird hunting regulations for the 1995-96 hunting season for certain Indian tribes, under the guidelines described in the June 4, 1985, Federal Register (50 FR 23467). The guidelines were developed in response to tribal requ