Platte Rivers
Habitat: Flowing water, some backwater areas, sandbars.
When to hunt: November-January.
Primary species encountered: Mallards, other dabbling
ducks, Canada geese.
Equipment needed: Decoys may need heavier anchors to
deal with flowing water. Extra consideration of the retrieval
of shot waterfowl is needed given flowing waters.
Public hunting areas: Few.
Comments: There actually are three Platte Rivers – the
North, South and the main Platte – all of which can provide
some excellent waterfowl hunting. Most areas along
the Platte have been leased and public access is limited.
Water flows can vary both annually, as well as daily, and
may be somewhat treacherous during icy conditions. The
rivers probably have the highest densities of hunters, and
waterfowl see a lot of other decoy spreads. Making your
spread different from others and proper concealment may
help in decoying birds.
River Systems (e.g., Missouri, Loup)
Habitat: Flowing water, some backwater areas, sandbars.
When to hunt: Variable, depending on river, typically October-January.
Primary species encountered: Mallards, other dabbling ducks, Canada geese.
Equipment needed: Decoys may need heavier anchors to deal with flowing
water. For the Missouri River, including Lewis and Clark Lake, at least a 16 foot
john or other boat is necessary.
Public hunting areas: Few, mostly on Loups and Missouri rivers.
Comments: Other river systems primarily include the Missouri, Loups,
Republican, Niobrara, Cedar and the Calamus. Others may be the Elkhorn, Little
and Big Blues, Nemahas and Dismal. The vast majority of land along river
systems is privately owned – including that under the water, so permission is
required. Hunting variable and typically more late season, although hunting wood
ducks and other dabbling ducks is possible. River systems in Nebraska can offer
excellent waterfowl hunting when conditions are right and offer lower pressure on
most compared to the Platte rivers.
NEBRASKAland Magazine • Waterfowl Hunting Nebraska
Clint Sejkora of Burchard and Grant Brueggemann of Peru hunt a pumped wetland at
Langdon Bend Wildlife Management Area near Nemaha.
PHOTO
BY
JULIE
GEISER
PHOTO
BY
ERIC
FOWLER
