Webinar Flyer USFWS- Migratory Hunting Regulations

When:

•  Tuesday March 28, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. eastern
  Click here to join the meeting using Microsoft Teams
  Or Join by phone: +1 202-640-1187, Conference ID 825371262#
• Thursday March 30, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. eastern
  Click here to join the meeting using Microsoft Teams
  Or Join by phone: +1 202-640-1187, Conference ID 825371262#

Summary:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), Migratory Bird Program is proposing a new approach to
Native American Tribal Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations. The Service deeply honors our government-to-government relationship with Tribes, and we recognize the importance that migratory birds have for many Native Americans. The purpose of this new approach is to reduce regulatory burdens and to better serve Tribes with a clear, efficient hunting regulation process that meets the legal requirements and conservation purpose of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA).

The Service is proposing to change the annual process so that Tribal hunting regulations are no longer modified annually. Instead, the Service plans to promulgate a proposed and final rule where Tribes establish their own specific annual hunting regulations. This rule would allow 1) the maximum season lengths, and 2) the selection of bag limits by the Tribe. In addition, as part of Federal Register rulemaking, a process will be identified to allow the Service to authorize hunting proposals that fall outside the scope of the Federal hunting methods regulation.

These webinars will give Tribes the opportunity to ask question on the Proposed Native American Tribal Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations published in the Federal Register during the public comment period.

The new process would benefit Tribes in that they would not have to submit annual proposals to the Service, thereby eliminating the burden of submitting proposals before the December 1st deadline.