Summary

GAO reviewed the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) new rule on migratory bird hunting regulations on certain federal Indian reservations and ceded lands for the 2008-09 early season. GAO found that (1) the final rule prescribes early season migratory bird hunting regulations for certain tribes on federal Indian reservations, off-reservation trust lands, and ceded lands, as well as allowing the establishment of season bag limits and harvest at levels of compatible with populations and habitat conditions; and (2) FWS complied with the applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.