LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider 2023-2024 waterfowl hunting season recommendations at its March 14 meeting in Kearney.
Waterfowl recommendations are developed by balancing hunter preferences with the chronology of migration, hunter harvest, and hunter participation. Most proposed adjustments are calendar dates, with the length of seasons remaining more or less the same.
Custer County, given its central location, sits in three of the five zones: its central and southern portions, including Callaway, Broken Bow, and Ansley in Low Plains Zone 2, its true north and northeast corner, including Sargent and Comstock, in Low Plains Zone 4, and its far west and northwest corner, including Arnold, in High Plains Zone 2.
Some of the biggest changes are as follows: Nebraska Game and Parks will recommend that the early teal season should last from September 2 until the 17 for all Low Plains Zones, and September 2 through 10 for all High Plains Zones. The daily bag limit will be 6, and the possession limit will be 18.
The Youth Hunt for Zones 2, both High and Low Plains is expected to be moved to September 30 and last until October 1, with the Youth Hunt for Zone 4 moving to October 14 and 15.
High Plains Zone 2 may see its duck and coot season shift to October 7 to December 19 and January 10 through 30, though no changes to the Low Plains seasons are proposed.
The meeting begins at 8 a.m. in the North Platte Room at the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, 3060 E. 1st St.
A full list of proposed waterfowl changes, as well as other agenda items, is below.
The 2023-2024 Nebraska waterfowl recommendations are:
Early Teal:
- Low Plains Sept. 2-17
- High Plains Sept. 2-10
- Daily bag limit six; Possession limit 18
Youth Hunt:
- Zone 1 Oct. 7-8
- Zone 2 Sept. 30-Oct. 1
- Zone 3 Oct. 21-22
- Zone 4 Oct. 14-15
- Daily bag Tier 1: six ducks, with restrictions; Tier II: three ducks, any species, any sex; Possession limit three times the daily bag limit
Duck and Coot:
- Zone 1 Oct. 14-Dec. 26
- Zone 2 Oct. 7-Dec. 19 and Jan. 10-31 (High Plains)
- Zone 3 Oct. 28-Jan. 9 and Jan. 10-31 (High Plains)
- Zone 4 Oct. 21-Jan. 2
- 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. 7-Jan. 19
- Daily bag limit five; Possession limit: 15
White-fronted Goose:
- Statewide Oct. 7-Dec. 17 and Jan. 25-Feb. 9
- Daily bag limit: two; Possession limit: six
Light Goose Regular Season:
- Statewide Oct. 7-Jan. 3 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
Crow:
- Statewide Oct. 14-Dec. 14 and Jan. 13-March 14
- Daily bag and possession limits: none
Falconry: Concurrent with teal, youth and regular duck season dates, plus:
- Zone 1 Feb. 25-March 10
- Zone 2 Low Plains: Feb. 25-March 10; High Plains: Concurrent with all duck season dates in High Plains Zone
- Zone 3 High Plains: Concurrent with all duck season dates in High Plains Zone
- Zone 4 Feb. 25-March 10
In other business, commissioners will consider proposed boating regulation changes to waters with special restrictions, amend wildlife regulations to allow elk harvested to be checked via telephone or internet instead of delivered to a check station before being processed, approve the 2023-2025 Nebraska Game and Parks Strategic Plan, and designate the area formerly known as the Fort Kearny Shooting Sports Complex to the Kearney Outdoor Education Complex State Recreation Area, in accordance with statutes, and to establish fees for activities at the SRA.
The commissioners also will hear a review of the 2022 big game hunting seasons and a preview of spring events in state park areas. A full agenda can be found here.
