# 2026-12955: Feds Propose Less Frequent Migratory Bird Hunting Plans 2026-12955, Process for Authorizing Seasonal Migratory Game Bird Hunting, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Interior Department, Fish and Wildlife Service published 2026-06-26, effective You may comment on this proposed rule until July 27, 2026.; deemed significant under Executive Order 12866; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-03). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12955 - As of: 2026-07-03 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-12955 - Title: Process for Authorizing Seasonal Migratory Game Bird Hunting - Type: Proposed Rule - Agencies: Interior Department; Fish and Wildlife Service - Citation: 91 FR 38643 - Published: 2026-06-26 - Effective: You may comment on this proposed rule until July 27, 2026. - Comments close: 2026-07-27 - Significant: yes (FR_METADATA) - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: 1018-BI04 - Last updated: 2026-07-03 ## In one line Feds Propose Less Frequent Migratory Bird Hunting Plans ## Summary The Fish and Wildlife Service is changing how it approves seasonal migratory game bird hunting. Instead of making new rules every year, they’ll issue a hunting plan every three years, updating it sooner if needed. This will save time and money, help States, Tribes, and hunters, and keep bird populations safe. ## Abstract The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) is proposing changes to 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 proposes a more efficient administrative process for authorizing seasonal migratory game bird hunting. The Service would issue a memorandum for migratory game bird hunting once every 3 years. The Service would continue to make annual decisions on harvest levels and would 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. ## Effects PRIA read - Three-Year Hunting Authorization Memo: benefit, medium. The Fish and Wildlife Service would stop issuing new annual Federal hunting regulations and instead publish a Migratory Game Bird Hunting (MGBH) memorandum once every 3 years on or before February 28. The Service will still make annual biological harvest decisions and may update the memorandum soon… - States and Tribes Set Seasons: benefit, low. Under the proposed rule, States and Tribes would establish their own migratory game bird hunting regulations so long as those seasons fall within the Federal authorization conditions in the MGBH memorandum. The Service would stop publishing State annual hunting regulations as Federal regulations, t… - Memo Schedule and Public Comment: benefit, low. The Service would issue the MGBH memorandum on or before February 28 every 3 years and publish a notice of availability in the Federal Register with a public comment period of at least 30 days. The memorandum may be updated sooner if decision frameworks prescribe changes; for the 2026-27 season the… - No New Species Without Rulemaking: cost, low. The Service would not authorize hunting through the MGBH memorandum for any migratory game bird group or specific species that was not authorized in the 2024-25 hunting season without initiating a rulemaking. The regulations list 185 migratory game bird species and 93 species had open seasons in th… - State/Tribal Violations Become Federal: cost, medium. The proposal would revise 50 CFR subpart H (Sec. 20.71 and 20.72) to state that violating Service regulations or any State or Tribal migratory game bird hunting law or regulation constitutes a violation of Federal law. ## Related documents - [2026-14633](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14633): Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations Pertaining to Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, 2026-07-21 - [2026-14629](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14629): Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations for Designating Critical Habitat, 2026-07-21 - [2026-14299](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14299): Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revised Designation of Critical Habitat for the Contiguous U.S. Distinct Population Segment…, 2026-07-16 - [2026-14195](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14195): Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act, 2026-07-14 - [2026-12951](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12951): Process for Authorizing Seasonal Migratory Game Bird Hunting, 2026-06-26 - [2026-10846](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-10846): Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, 2026-06-01 ## Sources - [2026-12955 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/26/2026-12955/process-for-authorizing-seasonal-migratory-game-bird-hunting) - [2026-12955 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-26/pdf/2026-12955.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2026-12946, Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule; Sponsor Assessment Update To…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12946) - [Next: 2026-12980, ADS-Equipped Vehicle Safety, Transparency, and Evaluation Program; Withdrawal](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12980) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12955 (as of 2026-07-03).