By Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
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 250th anniversary, educational programming at Ponca SP, rainbow trout production and stocking, the 100th 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.