in-20260722-IR-312260260INA: WATERFOWL HUNTING

TITLE 312 NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Notice of Public Comment Period for Interim Rule LSA Document #26-260 WATERFOWL HUNTING PURPOSE OF NOTICE The Natural Resources Commission (commission), in coordination with the Department of Natural Resources (department), is soliciting public comment on temporarily supplementing 312 IAC 9-4-2 concerning the waterfowl season dates, bag limits, and zones for the fall 2026-2027 seasons. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS Governor's Approval: 20260722-IR-312260260GAA Regulatory Analysis: 20260722-IR-312260260RAA CITATIONS AFFECTED: 312 IAC 9-4-2 AUTHORITY: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-22-6 OVERVIEW Basic Purpose and Background The department is proposing to set forth the season dates, bag limits, and zones for hunting waterfowl and other migratory birds. Prior to this year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) published the waterfowl and migratory game bird season dates, bag limits, and hunting zones for hunting waterfowl and migratory game birds in federal regulations in 50 CFR 20. However, the USFWS will no longer publish these dates, bag limits, or zones in the federal regulations and will only publish the framework or earliest starting date and latest ending date for each season and the maximum number of days allowed. Therefore, for the waterfowl and migratory gamebird season dates and bag limits to be set forth in law and enforceable, these dates must be in administrative code. These dates change each calendar year and cannot be set forth in a permanent rule due to the federal process for establishing the dates each year. Statement Justifying Requirement or Cost This rule allows individual waterfowl and migratory bird hunters to hunt these species in accordance with federal law in 50 CFR 20. Administrative expenses imposed by the rules will be approximately five hundred ninety-six dollars ($596) this year. Migratory waterfowl stamp privilege sales in the amount of two hundred thirty-seven thousand dollars ($237,000) are anticipated in revenue by having these seasons, minus the administrative expenses of five hundred ninety-six dollars ($596), totaling two hundred thirty-six thousand four hundred four dollars ($236,404). The benefits of the proposed interim rule will preserve the waterfowl and migratory bird populations in Indiana. No other federal, state, or local agency should be affected. The benefits of the proposed interim rule outweigh the costs to those affected by the proposed interim rule changes. The implementation costs of the proposed rule are not expected to exceed the threshold set in IC 4-22-2-22.7(c)(6). REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT The commission, in coordination with the department, is soliciting public comment on the proposed interim rule. Comments may be submitted in one of the following ways: COMMENT PERIOD DEADLINE All comments must be postmarked or time-stamped not later than August 21, 2026. The rule, Regulatory Analysis, appendices referenced in the Regulatory Analysis and Statement Justifying Requirement or Cost, and materials incorporated by reference, if applicable, are on file at the Natural Resources Commission, C/O Department of Natural Resources, Indiana Government Center South, 402 West Washington Street, Room W261, Indianapolis, Indiana and are available for public inspection. Copies of the rule, Regulatory Analysis, and appendices referenced in the Regulatory Analysis and Statement Justifying Requirement or Cost are available at the Department of Natural Resources central office. PROPOSED INTERIM RULE SECTION 1. (a) This SECTION is supplemental to 312 IAC 9-4-2. (b) As used in this SECTION, the hunting zones for hunting waterfowl and migratory birds are as follows: (c) An individual may hunt the following during the following dates: (d) An individual may take not more than the following per calendar day: (e) In addition to subsection (d), an individual may possess not more than three (3) times the daily bag limit of ducks, coots, and mergansers. (f) An individual may possess not more than three (3) times the daily bag limit of Canada geese and brant, with the exception of light geese that have no possession limit. (g) An individual may possess not more than three (3) times the daily bag limit of each of the following: (h) For youth hunting under subsection (c)(5), the youth hunters must be seventeen (17) years of age or younger on the day of the hunt. The youth hunter must also be accompanied by an adult at least eighteen (18) years of age. An adult may accompany more than one (1) youth, but the accompanying adult must have a valid hunting license and may not hunt waterfowl, except for veterans, as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101, and members of the armed forces of the United States on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty (other than for training). Documents Incorporated by Reference: None Received by Publisher