9 | OutdoorNebraska�org
New for 2021
New Two-Tier regulations mean duck hunters
will now choose from two daily bag limits
Duck hunters must choose between two daily bag limits when they register for their Harvest Information
Program number this year� Nebraska and South Dakota are entering a new "two-tier" program starting with
the 2021-2022 regular duck season�
The tiers are:
• Tier I is the current traditional six-duck daily bag limit with species and sex restrictions�
• Tier II is a three-duck daily bag limit with no species or sex restrictions�
When hunters register for HIP, they are asked whether they plan to hunt ducks� If so, they will be prompted
to select a tier� Hunters will be bound to that bag limit for the entire season� The regulations will not apply
to goose limits or during the early teal season, which have their own bag limits�
Residents under the age of 16 are exempt from the HIP requirement if they choose the Tier I bag limit,
but must register for HIP if selecting Tier II� All nonresidents under the age of 16 must register for HIP
regardless of the tier they select�
Hunters who choose the Tier II option will be provided a journal, where they will record information on
hunting activity and harvest� The journal will be submitted to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission at
the end of the hunting season� In addition, postage-paid envelopes will be provided to each hunter with the
expectation that a wing from each duck harvested also will be sent� This process will be similar to ongoing
federal collection efforts to estimate harvest� Duck harvest and species composition will then be compared
to hunters using the Tier I option�
In a survey, duck identification skills were identified as a factor preventing potential hunters from taking up
the sport� The new two-tier regulations are an effort to remove the barrier associated with identification
skills�
Hunters can register for HIP at OutdoorNebraska�gov/HIP� Registered hunters are assigned a number that
they must carry with them while hunting�
The two-tier program will continue for the next four seasons, and then be reexamined to determine whether
it affected waterfowl hunter numbers and duck populations� For more information, visit OutdoorNebraska�
org/DuckTiers�
* River otter harvest to allow trapping only
* Pending approval� See OutdoorNebraska�org prior to the proposed season for more information
A river otter harvest season, in which only trapping will be allowed, has been approved� Otters, at one time
on the state threatened and endangered list, were delisted in 2020 after years of research showed otter
populations had grown and expanded to a nearly statewide distribution� The current population is estimated
to be more than 2,200� Changes to Commission orders and regulations were approved to implement a
harvest season that will allow the trapping of river otters, which now are classified by state statute as a
fur-bearing animal� The season will be Nov� 1, 2021, through Feb� 28, 2022, or close earlier once 75 otters
have been harvested� (See page 19)
