Department of the Interior

Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the Fish and Wildlife Service's new rules on: (1) final frameworks for early-season migratory bird hunting regulations; and (2) bag and possession limits for certain migratory game birds. GAO noted that: (1) the final frameworks rule would establish the early-season frameworks from which states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands may select dates and other options available to them for the 1997-98 migratory bird hunting seasons; (2) after receiving this information, the Fish and Wildlife Service will publish the selections as the final regulations for the current hunting season; (3) the early seasons and bag and possession limits rule prescribes hunting seasons, hours, areas, and daily bag limits and possession limits for specific game birds in the contiguous states, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands; and (4) the Fish and Wildlife Service complied with applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.