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Nebraska Hunting Season Dates 2026–27

Season openers, closers, and tag requirements by species. Always confirm against NE Game & Parks Commission before you hunt. Dates can change.

License: resident $13 · nonresident $80. Species tags and permits are extra. See each section below.

White-tailed and Mule Deer Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
ArcherySep 1, 2026Dec 31, 2026Deer Permit + Habitat Stamp
Special LandownerNov 7, 2026Nov 9, 2026Special Landowner Deer Permit
November FirearmNov 14, 2026Nov 22, 2026November Firearm Deer Permit + Habitat Stamp
MuzzleloaderDec 1, 2026Dec 31, 2026Muzzleloader Deer Permit + Habitat Stamp
October River Antlerless FirearmOct 1, 2026Oct 15, 2026River Antlerless Deer Permit
River Antlerless Late FirearmJan 1, 2027Jan 15, 2027River Antlerless Deer Permit
Late Antlerless Only FirearmJan 1, 2027Jan 15, 2027Antlerless Only Deer Permit
Antlerless Only Season ChoiceSep 1, 2026Jan 15, 2027Antlerless Only Season Choice Permit
Limited LandownerSep 1, 2026Jan 15, 2027Limited Landowner Deer Permit

Wild Turkey Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Fall Youth Archery and ShotgunOct 1, 2026Nov 30, 2026Fall Turkey Permit + Habitat Stamp
Fall Archery and ShotgunOct 1, 2026Nov 30, 2026Fall Turkey Permit + Habitat Stamp

Elk Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Archery Bull (first segment)Sep 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026Elk Permit + Habitat Stamp
Archery Bull (second segment)Dec 16, 2026Dec 31, 2026Elk Permit + Habitat Stamp
Firearm Bull (first segment)Sep 21, 2026Oct 31, 2026Elk Permit + Habitat Stamp
Firearm Bull (second segment)Dec 16, 2026Dec 31, 2026Elk Permit + Habitat Stamp
AntlerlessAug 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027Antlerless Elk Permit + Habitat Stamp
Antlerless, Private Land OnlyAug 1, 2026Sep 20, 2026Private Land Only Antlerless Elk Permit
Early General AntlerlessAug 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026General Antlerless Elk Permit
Late General AntlerlessNov 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027General Antlerless Elk Permit

Pronghorn Antelope Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
ArcheryAug 20, 2026Dec 31, 2026Antelope Permit + Habitat Stamp
MuzzleloaderSep 19, 2026Oct 4, 2026Antelope Permit + Habitat Stamp
FirearmOct 10, 2026Oct 25, 2026Antelope Permit + Habitat Stamp
Late Doe/FawnNov 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027Doe/Fawn Antelope Permit + Habitat Stamp

Bighorn Sheep Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular lottery seasonDec 1, 2026Dec 22, 2026Bighorn Sheep Lottery Permit

Coyote (and other nongame: porcupine, prairie dog, woodchuck) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Statewide, year-round, no bag or possession limitJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 2027Residents need no permit; nonresidents need a hunt (small game) permit. No Habitat Stamp required.

Crow Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (first segment)Oct 10, 2026Dec 10, 2026Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp
Regular (second segment)Jan 9, 2027Mar 11, 2027Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp

Dove (Mourning, White-winged and Eurasian Collared) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (statewide, single segment)Sep 1, 2026Oct 30, 2026Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp + HIP

Furbearers Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Muskrat and Beaver - trap onlyNov 1, 2026Mar 31, 2027Fur Harvest Permit
Badger - hunt and trapNov 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Fur Harvest Permit
Mink - hunt and trapNov 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Fur Harvest Permit
Bobcat - hunt and trapDec 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Fur Harvest Permit
Raccoon - hunt onlySep 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026Fur Harvest Permit
Raccoon - hunt and trapNov 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Fur Harvest Permit
Virginia Opossum - hunt onlySep 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026Fur Harvest Permit
Virginia Opossum - hunt and trapNov 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Fur Harvest Permit
Long-tailed Weasel - hunt and trapNov 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Fur Harvest Permit
Red Fox - hunt and trapNov 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Fur Harvest Permit
Gray Fox - hunt and trapNov 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Fur Harvest Permit
River Otter - trap onlyNov 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Fur Harvest Permit (one otter per season per permit holder)
Striped Skunk - hunt and trap, year-roundJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 2027Fur Harvest Permit

Prairie Grouse (Sharp-tailed Grouse and Greater Prairie-Chicken) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularSep 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp; special permit required east of U.S. 81

Jackrabbit Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (west of U.S. 81 only): West of U.S. Highway 81Sep 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp

Gray Partridge Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Youth pheasant, quail and partridgeOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 2026Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp (youth exemptions apply)
Regular (pheasant, quail and partridge)Oct 31, 2026Jan 31, 2027Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp

Ring-necked Pheasant Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Youth pheasant, quail and partridgeOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 2026Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp (youth exemptions apply)
Regular (pheasant, quail and partridge)Oct 31, 2026Jan 31, 2027Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp

Bobwhite Quail Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Youth pheasant, quail and partridgeOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 2026Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp (youth exemptions apply)
Regular (pheasant, quail and partridge)Oct 31, 2026Jan 31, 2027Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp

Cottontail Rabbit Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularSep 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp

Rail (Virginia and Sora) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp + HIP

Wilson's Snipe Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularSep 1, 2026Dec 16, 2026Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp + HIP

Squirrel (Fox and Gray) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularAug 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp

Waterfowl (ducks, coots, geese, teal) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Early Teal - Low PlainsSep 5, 2026Sep 13, 2026Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp + State and Federal Duck Stamps + HIP
Early Teal - High PlainsSep 5, 2026Sep 13, 2026Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp + State and Federal Duck Stamps + HIP
Duck and Coot (first segment) - Zone 1: Duck Zone 1Oct 24, 2026Dec 6, 2026Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp + State and Federal Duck Stamps + HIP
Duck and Coot (second segment) - Zone 1: Duck Zone 1Dec 19, 2026Jan 17, 2027Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp + State and Federal Duck Stamps + HIP
Duck and Coot (first segment) - Zone 2: Duck Zone 2Oct 3, 2026Dec 15, 2026Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp + State and Federal Duck Stamps + HIP
Duck and Coot (second segment, High Plains portion) - Zone 2: Duck Zone 2Jan 6, 2027Jan 27, 2027Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp + State and Federal Duck Stamps + HIP
Duck and Coot (first segment) - Zone 3: Duck Zone 3Oct 24, 2026Jan 5, 2027Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp + State and Federal Duck Stamps + HIP
Duck and Coot (second segment, High Plains portion) - Zone 3: Duck Zone 3Jan 6, 2027Jan 27, 2027Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp + State and Federal Duck Stamps + HIP
Youth Waterfowl - Zone 1: Duck Zone 1Oct 17, 2026Oct 18, 2026Youth waterfowl day - see NGPC qualifications
Youth Waterfowl - Zone 2: Duck Zone 2Sep 26, 2026Sep 27, 2026Youth waterfowl day - see NGPC qualifications
Youth Waterfowl - Zone 3: Duck Zone 3Oct 17, 2026Oct 18, 2026Youth waterfowl day - see NGPC qualifications
Veteran and Active-Duty Military Waterfowl - Zone 1: Duck Zone 1Oct 17, 2026Oct 18, 2026Veteran / active-duty military waterfowl day - see NGPC qualifications
Veteran and Active-Duty Military Waterfowl - Zone 2: Duck Zone 2Sep 26, 2026Sep 27, 2026Veteran / active-duty military waterfowl day - see NGPC qualifications
Veteran and Active-Duty Military Waterfowl - Zone 3: Duck Zone 3Oct 17, 2026Oct 18, 2026Veteran / active-duty military waterfowl day - see NGPC qualifications
Dark Goose - North Central unit: North Central dark goose unitOct 3, 2026Jan 15, 2027Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp + State and Federal Duck Stamps + HIP
Dark Goose - Platte River unit: Platte River dark goose unitOct 28, 2026Feb 9, 2027Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp + State and Federal Duck Stamps + HIP
Dark Goose - Niobrara unit: Niobrara dark goose unitOct 28, 2026Feb 9, 2027Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp + State and Federal Duck Stamps + HIP
White-fronted Goose (first segment) - statewideOct 17, 2026Dec 27, 2026Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp + State and Federal Duck Stamps + HIP
White-fronted Goose (second segment) - statewideJan 25, 2027Feb 9, 2027Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp + State and Federal Duck Stamps + HIP
Light Goose regular (first segment) - statewideOct 3, 2026Dec 30, 2026Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp + State and Federal Duck Stamps + HIP
Light Goose regular (second segment) - statewideJan 25, 2027Feb 9, 2027Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp + State and Federal Duck Stamps + HIP
Light Goose Conservation Order - East ZoneFeb 10, 2027Apr 15, 2027Conservation Order registration - see NGPC Waterfowl Guide
Light Goose Conservation Order - West ZoneFeb 10, 2027Apr 5, 2027Conservation Order registration - see NGPC Waterfowl Guide
Light Goose Conservation Order - Rainwater Basin ZoneFeb 10, 2027Apr 5, 2027Conservation Order registration - see NGPC Waterfowl Guide
Falconry (extended) - Zone 1: Duck Zone 1Feb 25, 2027Mar 10, 2027Falconry Permit
Falconry (extended, Low Plains portion) - Zone 2: Duck Zone 2Feb 25, 2027Mar 10, 2027Falconry Permit

American Woodcock Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularOct 3, 2026Nov 16, 2026Small Game Permit + Habitat Stamp + HIP
Verify before you hunt. These dates are compiled for planning and can change between when they're published and when the season opens, and many states vary dates by unit, zone, or WMU. Always confirm with NE Game & Parks Commission before heading out. Nothing here is legal advice.
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