S. 2942 – Migratory Bird Framework and Hunting Opportunities for Veterans Act

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 10:01 PM UTC

The bill amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to set a uniform federal closing date of January 31 each year for the duck, merganser, and coot hunting season. It also creates a special hunting weekend in early February for youth, veterans, and active‑duty military personnel. The changes apply to hunters nationwide and are administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Key Provisions

Establishes January 31 as the federal closing date for hunting ducks, mergansers, and coots.
Allows youths, veterans, and active‑duty service members to hunt those species during the first weekend in February, even after the January 31 closing date.
Prohibits the Secretary from shortening the season length or bag limits below the 2017‑2018 levels in any flyway (Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, Pacific).
Requires the Secretary to issue implementing regulations within 60 days of enactment and to adjust the 2018‑2019 hunting rule if it has been finalized but the season has not yet started.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Environment and Public Works Committee

May 23, 2018

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 23, 2018

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Environment and Public Works Committee

May 23, 2018

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued May 23, 2018

II

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2942

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 23, 2018

Mrs. Hyde-Smith introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

A BILL

To amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to establish January 31 of each year as the Federal closing date for duck hunting season and to establish special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and active military personnel, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Migratory Bird Framework and Hunting Opportunities for Veterans Act.

2.

Federal closing date for hunting of ducks, mergansers, and coots

Section 3 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 704) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(c)

Federal closing date for hunting of ducks, mergansers, and coots

(1)

In general

In promulgating regulations under subsection (a) relating to a framework for migratory bird hunting, except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall establish January 31 of each year as the Federal closing date of the hunting season for ducks, mergansers, and coots.

(2)

Special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and active military personnel

Notwithstanding the closing date under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall allow youths, veterans (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code), and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than for training), to hunt ducks, mergansers, and coots during the first weekend in February of each year.

(3)

Prohibition

With respect to ducks, mergansers, and coots, the Secretary shall not decrease the length of the hunting season or bag limit, as compared to the length of the hunting season and bag limit for the 2017–2018 hunting season, in—

(A)

the Atlantic flyway;

(B)

the Mississippi flyway;

(C)

the Central flyway; or

(D)

the Pacific flyway.

(4)

Regulations

(A)

In general

Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations in accordance with this subsection.

(B)

2018–2019 migratory bird hunting season

The Secretary shall modify the proposed rule entitled Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed Frameworks for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations (83 Fed. Reg. 4964 (February 2, 2018)) if, before the date of enactment of this subsection—

(i)

the proposed rule has been finalized; and

(ii)

the 2018–2019 duck hunting season has not commenced in—

(I)

the Atlantic flyway;

(II)

the Mississippi flyway;

(III)

the Central flyway; or

(IV)

the Pacific flyway.

.