FWS shifts to 3-year cycle for migratory bird hunting rules

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a direct final rule replacing the annual federal rulemaking cycle for migratory game bird hunting seasons with a memorandum issued once every three years.

The agency says the change is intended to increase efficiency, better meet state, tribal, and federal rulemaking constraints, and reduce administrative complexity and costs. Annual harvest decisions will continue unchanged. The agency says it will update the memorandum sooner than three years if its own decision frameworks require it. Tribes are already authorized under a similar process.

The rule's stated goal, in the agency's words, 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."

What Hunters and Tribal Governments Need to Know

The rule takes effect Aug. 25 unless significant adverse comments are received by July 27. If significant adverse comments are received, the agency 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 those comments.

Hunters, tribal governments, and Alaska Department of Fish and Game staff can submit comments at regulations.gov using docket FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421. Comments may also be submitted by U.S. mail to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2026-1421, Policy and Regulations Branch, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB (JAO/3W), 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803. The agency will not accept comments via email, fax, or hand delivery.