Process for Authorizing Seasonal Migratory Game Bird Hunting

What it does

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.

The Fish and Wildlife Service's summary, as published in the Federal Register.

What changed in the regulation

1 part of Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations:

50 CFR 20

Wording on eCFR: the day before it took effect and from the day it took effect (first part listed).

Compared with

The Fish and Wildlife Service has published 29 final rules in 2026 so far, compared with 13 in all of 2025.

Counted by the Tribune from Federal Register records since Jan. 1, 2025.

Before this

1 earlier Federal Register document under regulation identifier 1018-BI04 since Jan. 1, 2025.

• June 26, 2026 Proposed rule. Process for Authorizing Seasonal Migratory Game Bird Hunting

Since then:

• Aug. 31, 2026 Final rule. Process for Authorizing Seasonal Migratory Game Bird Hunting

What happens next and when

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.

The agency's dates, word for word.

Check it yourself

• The document in the Federal Register
• Docket FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421 on Regulations.gov
• Title 50 on eCFR

The record as published

Source: the Federal Register (public domain). The document in the Federal Register