Migratory Bird Hunting; Regulations to Increase Harvest of Mid- Continent Light Geese

The Mid-continent lesser snow goose and Ross' goose population has nearly quadrupled in the last 30 years. The Western Central Flyway lesser snow and Ross' goose population also has quadrupled in the last 23 years. Collectively, these central and eastern arctic and subarctic- nesting light goose populations are referred to as Mid-continent light geese (MCLG) Due to high population growth rates, a decline in adult mortality, and an increase in winter survival, MCLG are now seriously injurious to their habitat and habitat important to other migratory birds which poses a serious threat to the short and long-term health and status of migratory bird populations. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or ``we'') believes that MCLG populations exceed long-term sustainable levels for their arctic and subarctic breeding habitats and the populations must be reduced. This proposed rule will authorize the use of additional hunting methods (electronic callers and unplugged shotguns) during a normal open light-goose hunting season when all other migratory bird hunting seasons are closed. We designed the program to increase MCLG harvest and to provide a biologically sound and cost effective and efficient method for the reduction and management of overabundant MCLG populations.