SS 083-22

5. Estimate of amount of time that state employees will spend developing the rule and of other resources necessary to develop the rule:

Approximately 420 hours will be needed by the department prior to and following the hearings.

6. List with description of all entities that may be affected by the proposed rule:

These rules will impact migratory game bird hunters and those who enjoy viewing waterfowl in Wisconsin.

7. Summary and preliminary comparison with any existing or proposed federal regulation that is intended to address the activities to be regulated by the proposed rule:

Migratory game bird hunting is regulated by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), in 50 CFR part 20. Under international treaty and Federal law, migratory game bird seasons are closed unless opened annually through the USFWS regulations process. As part of the federal rule process, the service annually evaluates migratory game bird populations and breeding habitat in cooperation with state provincial agencies and the Canadian Wildlife Service. After considering recommendations from the flyway councils of states and the guidance of cooperatively developed harvest strategies, the USFWS establishes annual frameworks within flyway or bird populations regions. States can then establish hunting seasons within the sideboards for each species and region. As a result, the hunting seasons of neighboring states are similar to Wisconsin migratory game bird hunting regulations because they are subject to the same federal frameworks.

8. Anticipated economic impact of implementing the rule (note if the rule is likely to have an economic impact on small businesses):

No economic impacts are anticipated. The hunting season frameworks proposed in this rule will be comparable to those in place during the previous season. These rules are applicable to individual hunters and impose no compliance or reporting requirements for small business, nor are any design or operational standards contained in the rule.

9. Anticipated number, month and locations of public hearings:

The department anticipates holding several public hearings around the state in March 2023. Exact hearing dates and locations are to be determined.

Contact Person: Taylor Finger, Game Bird Specialist, 101 South Webster Street, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921, [phone], [e-mail]

         

Preston D. Cole, Secretary

         

Date Submitted