OutdoorNebraska

2026-2027 Hunting and Trapping Season Dates For more information, please consult the current Big Game, Turkey and Small Game & Waterfowl guides by visiting OutdoorNebraska.gov/Guides-Maps. WATERFOWL FURBEARER SMALL GAME BIG GAME Dark Goose North Central ...................................................Oct. 3 – Jan. 15 Platte River ....................................................... Oct. 28 – Feb. 9 Niobrara ............................................................ Oct. 28 – Feb. 9 Light Goose Statewide ..........................Oct. 3 – Dec. 30, Jan. 25 – Feb. 9 Light Goose Conservation Order * East Zone .......................................................Feb. 10 – April 15 Rainwater Basin Zone ..................................Feb. 10 – April 5 West Zone .......................................................Feb. 10 – April 5 White-fronted Goose Statewide ........................Oct. 17 – Dec. 27, Jan. 25 – Feb. 9 Early Teal Low Plains ...............................................................Sept. 5 – 13 High Plains ..............................................................Sept. 5 – 13 Duck and Coot Zone 1 ..............................Oct. 24 – Dec. 6, Dec. 19 – Jan. 17 Zone 2 High Plains ....................Oct. 3 – Dec. 15, Jan. 6 – 27 Zone 3 High Plains .................... Oct. 24 – Jan. 5, Jan. 6 – 27 Youth, Veteran and Active-Duty Military Zone 1 .......................................................................Oct. 17 – 18 Zone 2 .....................................................................Sept. 26 – 27 Zone 3 .......................................................................Oct. 17 – 18 Raccoon, Virginia Opossum Hunt only ......................................................... Sept. 1 – Oct. 31 Muskrat, Beaver Trap only ..................................................... Nov. 1 – March 31 River Otter Trap only .......................................................... Nov. 1 – Feb. 28 Bobcat Hunt and trap .................................................. Dec. 1 – Feb. 28 Raccoon, Virginia Opossum, Long-tailed Weasel, Mink, Red Fox, Gray Fox, Badger Hunt and trap .................................................. Nov. 1 – Feb. 28 Striped Skunk Hunt and trap ...........................................................Year-round Pheasant, Quail, Partridge ................Oct. 31 – Jan. 31 Youth Pheasant, Quail, Partridge * .......... Oct. 24 – 25 Prairie Grouse * .... Sept. 1 – Jan. 31 (east & west zones) Dove ............................................................... Sept. 1 – Oct. 30 Eurasian Collared Dove * ...............................Year-round Snipe ............................................................. Sept. 1 – Dec. 16 Virginia, Sora Rail ....................................Sept. 1 – Nov. 9 Woodcock ....................................................Oct. 3 – Nov. 16 Crow .......................... Oct. 10 – Dec. 10, Jan. 9 – March 11 Squirrel.......................................................... Aug. 1 – Feb. 28 Cottontail ..................................................... Sept. 1 – Feb. 28 Jackrabbit ................... Sept. 1 – Feb. 28 (west of U.S. 81) Antelope Archery ......................................................... Aug. 20 – Dec. 31 Muzzleloader ................................................. Sept. 19 – Oct. 4 Firearm .....................................................................Oct. 10 – 25 Late Doe/Fawn ...............................................Nov. 1 – Jan. 31 Elk Archery Bull ...........................Sept. 1 – Oct. 31, Dec. 16 – 31 Firearm Bull ..........................Sept. 21 – Oct. 31, Dec. 16 – 31 Landowner Antlerless ..................................Aug. 1 – Jan. 31 General Early Antlerless .............................. Aug. 1 – Oct. 31 General Late Antlerless ...............................Nov. 1 – Jan. 31 Deer Archery .......................................................... Sept. 1 – Dec. 31 October River Antlerless Firearm ........................ Oct. 1 – 15 Special Landowner .................................................. Nov. 7 – 9 November Firearm ............................................... Nov. 14 – 22 Muzzleloader ...........................................................Dec. 1 – 31 Late Antlerless Only Firearm................................ Jan. 1 – 15 Turkey Fall Archery ......................................................Oct. 1 – Nov. 30 Spring Archery ............................................ April 10 – May 31 Fall Shotgun .....................................................Oct. 1 – Nov. 30 Youth Spring Shotgun ................................ April 17 – May 31 Spring Shotgun ........................................... April 24 – May 31 Bighorn Sheep ...................................................Dec. 1 – 22 * Additional regulations may apply. See 2026-2027 Small Game & Waterfowl Guide. 12

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