Good News for Migratory Game Bird Hunters

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is finalizing a streamlined process for authorizing seasonal migratory game bird hunting that will allow seasons to be authorized earlier, providing sportsmen, states and tribes greater certainty for planning. The changes will also reduce unnecessary federal rulemaking.

Under the new process, federal hunting season conditions will be established through Migratory Game Bird Hunting memoranda rather than conducting annual federal rulemaking. The Service will continue to evaluate biological data and make science-based decisions on appropriate harvest levels each year, ensuring hunting remains compatible with migratory game bird populations and habitat conditions.

“Hunters and states should not have to navigate repetitive federal rulemaking every year when there is a faster, smarter way to get the job done,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “This commonsense reform cuts unnecessary red tape, gives states and tribes greater certainty to plan their hunting seasons, and maintains the science-based wildlife management that supports healthy migratory bird populations and America’s hunting traditions.” 

The streamlined process was first announced in June, when a direct final rule and concurrent proposed rule were published. The approach provided an opportunity for public comment while allowing the new process to move forward in time for the 2026–27 hunting season. The change eliminates rulemaking to establish seasonal hunting conditions, reducing administrative costs and workload.

“This commonsense change allows us to spend less time on repetitive administrative processes and more time working with our state and tribal partners to manage migratory game birds,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik. “We will continue to make science-based harvest decisions every year while providing hunters and our partners with a more efficient and predictable process.” 

Migratory game bird hunting is managed cooperatively by federal, state and tribal governments. The Service establishes federal conditions governing such factors as season dates and lengths, shooting hours, bag and possession limits, and areas where hunting may occur. States and tribes establish their hunting seasons within those federal guidelines.