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

Mid-continent light goose populations (lesser snow and Ross' goose combined) has nearly quadrupled within the last 30 years, and have become seriously injurious to their habitat and habitat important to other migratory birds. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or ``we'') believes that these populations exceed the long-term carrying capacity of their breeding habitats and must be reduced. This rule authorizes the use of additional hunting methods (electronic callers and unplugged shotguns) during a normal open light-goose hunting season when all other waterfowl and crane hunting seasons, excluding falconry, are closed.