Commissioners to consider 2026-2027 waterfowl recommendations

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider 2026-2027 waterfowl hunting season recommendations at its March 20 meeting at Ponca State Park.

The meeting will start at 8 a.m. at the park’s Resource and Education Center, 88090 Spur 26, Ponca.

Staff recommendations will include a transition to a three duck-zone configuration instead of four. Boundary changes to duck zones and goose units approved by commissioners last June resulted in duck Zone 4 being relabeled to Zone 1. The former Zone 1 is being absorbed into Zone 2.

There also will be a recommendation for a nine-day early teal season in both Low Plains and High Plains zones due to blue-winged teal breeding population status.

The 2026-2027 Nebraska waterfowl recommendations are:

Early Teal:

Low Plains – Sept. 5-13

High Plains – Sept. 5-13

Daily bag limit – six; Possession limit – 18

Youth, Veteran, and Active-Duty Military:

Zone 1 – Oct. 17-18

Zone 2 – Sept. 26-27

Zone 3 – Oct. 17-18

Daily bag – Same as regular season

Duck and Coot:

Zone 1 – Oct. 24-Nov. 11 and Nov. 24-Jan. 17

Zone 2 – Oct. 3-Dec. 15 and Jan. 6-27 (High Plains)

Zone 3 – Oct. 24-Jan. 5 and Jan. 6-27 (High Plains)

Daily bag – Tier 1: six ducks, with restrictions; Tier II: three ducks, any species, any sex; Possession limit – three times the daily bag limit

Dark Goose:

Platte River Unit – Oct. 28-Feb. 9

Niobrara Unit – Oct. 28-Feb. 9

North Central Unit – Oct. 3-Jan. 15

Daily bag limit – five; Possession limit – 15

White-fronted Goose:

Statewide – Oct. 3-Dec. 13 and Jan. 25-Feb. 9

Daily bag limit – two; Possession limit – six

Light Goose Regular Season:

Statewide – Oct. 3-Dec. 30 and Jan. 25-Feb. 9

Daily bag limit – 50; Possession limit – none

Light Goose Conservation Order:

East Zone – Feb. 10-April 15

West Zone – Feb. 10-April 5

Rainwater Basin Zone – Feb. 10-April 5

Daily bag and possession limits – none

The commissioners also will consider staff recommendations to crow seasons and falconry waterfowl seasons.

Also on the agenda is a staff recommendation to approve the acquisition of the 112-acre Oswald Tract in Fillmore County as an addition to Redhead Wildlife Management Area.

Staff also will give several presentations, including a look at Game and Parks’ events celebrating the nation’s 250^th anniversary, educational programming at Ponca SP, rainbow trout production and stocking, the 100^th anniversary of Nebraskaland Magazine, a review of oak blight in Nebraska, and the conservation officers’ internship program.

To view a complete agenda, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and click on Public Notices.