Department of the Interior

Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the Fish and Wildlife Service's new rule on migratory bird hunting on certain federal Indian reservations and ceded lands for the 1997-98 early season. GAO noted that: (1) the rule is part of a series of regulations dealing with the establishment of seasons, limits and other regulations for migratory game bird hunting; (2) the rule prescribes special early-season hunting regulations for certain tribes on federal Indian reservations, off-reservation trust lands, and ceded lands in response to tribal requests to recognize their authority to regulate hunting on their reservations under established guidelines; (3) in its submission, the Fish and Wildlife Service notes that no sport hunting of migratory game birds is permitted unless regulatory schedules for seasons, daily bag and possession limits, and shooting hours are promulgated; and (4) the Fish and Wildlife Service complied with the applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.